I lived and worked in Sydney last year for 7 months, so got to know the city and surrounding areas very well. The most memorable moment was flying into the city and seeing the Opera house and the harbour bridge below me from the plane - the most incredible sight ever.
I spent the first few days just wandering around the city, which to be honest is like any city in the world, so keep mainly to the water when you visit!
Darling Harbour is full of brilliant bars and is just full of life at all times. Sitting in the bars on the waterfront is amazing.
The other memory I have which sticks in my mind, is looking for a place to live. I got the ferry out to Manly from Circular Quay in Sydney and watched the harbour bridge and opera house disappear behind me in the sunset (Sydney has the most amazing sunsets!). The ferry takes half an hour and can be very very rough at times! but seriously, you learn to love it. As soon as I stepped off the boat, I knew Manly was the place that I wanted to live. The beach is long and beautiful - a millions times better than Bondi, which I didn't like at all. There are lovely restaurants all along the sea front and if you walk from Manly beach to Shelly Beach, the walk is breathtaking, as is the cliff top view, which you cannot miss. Manly is a lovely little community and has a great craft market on weekends. The place is buzzing with life at all times.
Night life is Sydney is as good as is expected. I am not really a clubbing fan, so sought out bars...the best of which was one on George Street, called Jacksons on George. Every Friday night, there is a happy hour, fab cocktails and they deck the whole place out with balloons and streamers. Sounds tacky, but you have to see it to believe it!
Everything is much cheaper than in the UK, particularly the alcohol. Boxed red wine became my best friend at the UK equivalent to £7 for a good three litre box! I spent many a night on my balcony watching the sea, sipping wine.
For beaches, Manly and the other Northern beaches are the best places to see. Especially Narabeen, which sweeps along for miles.
The shopping is great, as with British pounds, you get great value for money. Manly has a good set of clothes shops, but the city has every shop you could need. There is also a good shopping centre near Manly called Warringer mall.
The city has great transport links, which is best seen by ferry. There bus network is also great, as are the trains.
You must try the 9km walk from Manly to Spit bridge - ask about this at one of the information centres. The views are incredible and there is a great place to get fish and chips at the spit bridge to treat yourself.
The people are warm and friendly and they truly love their city!
I cannot recommend a place more. Sydney is full of life, with great weather and great food, drink and people. I cannot wait to return!
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Advantages: It's SYDNEY, y'know the one with the opera house and the bridge? Disadvantages: It's a city that not only sleeps but also stops eating hours before bedtime
zoe_page 26.02.2006 (26.02.2006)
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Review of Sydney (Australia)
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