Sydney
Sydney is well known for its iconic architecture and sandy beaches. You’re likely to think of the famous Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge or Bondi Beach as the must-see attractions in Sydney.
Sydney has a thriving music scene, with music festivals that invite top artists like Marshmello and The Chainsmokers. You can also chill out to live jazz and soft rock performances at bars across Sydney. Chinese New Year is a special event in Sydney, with parades, pop-up booths and lion dances adding to Sydney’s vibrant atmosphere once a year.
The University of Sydney is one of Australia’s top universities, ranking 3rd place in the QS World University Rankings 2020.
Feeling Hungry?
Here are some affordable food options near the Sydney city centre
Cafes:
Bar Cycle Walsh Boy - This is a quirky cafe that serves fresh coffee, breakfast sandwiches, french toast and other types of savory breakfast food for A$17. It’s the perfect spot to grab breakfast before exploring the Sydney city center 15 minutes away.
Playfair Cafe - Playfair cafe is among a laneway of cosy cafes and bars overlooking the sparkling Sydney Harbour. The cafe serves juicy grilled sandwiches, burgers and fresh wraps for A$9.
Asian Food:
Malay Chinese - Malay Chinese serves authentic laksa with spoonfuls of king prawns, beef or chicken and creamy curry. You can also opt for chicken rice or mee goreng which are recommended dishes there. Their dishes cost between A$9 to A$12.
Spice Alley - Spice Alley is a lane of Asian food stalls bathed in the glow of a thousand paper lanterns. They serve a variety of Malaysian food like char kway teow, hokkien mee and mee mamak. You can also try Vietnamese and Japanese chinese there. Each dish can cost between A$10 to A$20 there.
Farmer’s Market:
Northside Produce Market - This market is popular for ready-to-eat food and street snacks like fresh pasta, pastries and fried toasties with ham. They’re also rumoured to have some of the best coffee in Sydney.
Palm Beach Market - Enjoy homemade cakes, Vietnamese pho soup or fresh potato bread and jam while strolling along white sandy beaches nearby. The Palm Beach Market also invites local surfie singers to play Brazilian and retro music, adding to the laid back vibe.
Getting around
The Melbourne city center is entirely accessible through a comprehensive network of busses trains and light rails. A ferry will get you to various tourist hotspots like Luna Park or Taronga Zoo and Darling Harbour.
For A$10 you can get an Opal Card to access the public transport systems. The minimum top up for an adult is A$20.
Instagrammable Places in Sydney
Places in Sydney to take amazing photos
Bondi Beach
Find a creative way to capture the most instagrammed beach in Australia!
Image credit: Instagram @visitbondibeach
Museum of Contemporary Art
Snap some artistic weekend photos at the Museum of Contemporary Art.
Image credit: Instagram @mca_australia
Strand Arcade
Admire this Victorian era shopping center in the heart of Sydney. You’ll also find tons of quirky items on each floor from craft jewelry to vintage hats.
Image credit: Instagram @strandarcade
King’s Cross Cola Sign
Take a shot with the iconic King’s Cross Cola sign. Protip: The city skyline in the evening is definitely insta-worthy.
Image credit: Instagram @mynameiscm
Go on a Road Trip
Travel further outside Sydney’s city center for graduation trips or mini-vacations
Kosciuszko Alpine Way - This picturesque snowy mountain has a dreamy orange glow during sunset that you can’t miss! There are also plenty of sweet treats on the way up the mountain such as pastries at Sundance Bakehouse and Snowy Mountain Cookies.
Waterfall Way - Waterfall Way is 185km of scenic road surrounded by rainforests, clear rushing waterfalls and river valleys. Packing a picnic out to the Dorrigo Rainforest Centre is an amazing experience, as you stroll on bushwalking trails and hear lyrebirds that can mimic all kinds of sounds.
Darling River Run - The Darling River run has clear open roads that pass through historical towns and wide riverbanks for fishing. You can camp out in an RV or pitch a tent to see glittering stars across the vast outback sky.