By Issy Tunill, Third Year, Anthropology
The Croft Magazine//Ever dreamt of a life down under? Allow Issy Tunill to fuel your fantasy as she tells you about her six month stint hoping from beach to bar in Sydney.
From beautiful beaches to wild nights out, Sydney has everything a student could wish for. After studying abroad there last semester, I fell in love with its outdoor living and, whilst it may not be the easiest place to travel to from the UK, it is undoubtedly worth every hour it takes to get there. Sydney’s many suburbs and bays offer endless places to discover, and it was impossible to experience them all in only 6 months: here are the things you cannot miss out on when visiting this incredible city.
The most magical aspect of the city has to be its beautiful beaches that the Australian weather allows you to enjoy all year round. The perfect way to see the coastline is the Coogee to Bondi coastal walk. This easy and stunning route takes you past many beaches, and is a great chance to scout out the Aussie surfers.
If you fancy some food beforehand, I would recommend Beach Burrito in Coogee and taking advantage of their $3 Taco Tuesday deal (trust me, they’re delicious). If you would prefer to grab food in Bondi, then pop into Speedo’s cafe for a classic açai bowl.
Another go-to place is Manly whose beach is one of the most popular in Sydney. The Manly Surf School has run since 1983, making it a great place to take surf lessons. You can also follow a short path along the ocean to reach Shelly beach, a smaller, secluded spot perfect for sunbathing.
The best way to get here is by boat from Circular Quay: the twenty minute ferry ride is an ideal opportunity to gaze at Sydney Harbour, with great views of the iconic Harbour Bridge and Opera House. Sunset is the most beautiful time of day to visit the picturesque quay. To enjoy it from a different angle, you can catch another ferry to Watson’s Bay to witness a breathtaking sunset over the skyline.
Sydney’s inner suburbs also have just as much to offer as their coastal counterparts. For example, Newtown. This cool, artistic suburb has unique markets and vintage stores, perfect for thrift shopping. It is full of quirky cafes and bars, and an incredible vegan ice-cream parlour, Gelato Blue. Glebe is another suburb I would recommend visiting, especially on a Saturday when its markets are open, a place full of affordable food and second-hand clothing stalls to spend hours exploring.
The nightlife is also a key feature of Sydney’s inner suburbs. For a fun evening out, treat yourself to frozen margaritas at El Camino’s happy hour, a classic Tex-Mex bar in The Rocks that serves free nachos and salsa. Another spot to go for an evening with friends is Holey Moley, a themed indoor crazy golf club, along with a bar for all your cocktail needs.
If you’re then wanting to carry the night on to a club, you must go to the legendary Ivy Bar. It’s unlike any club I have been to before, with multiple floors and a stylish rooftop pool bar. Other classic outings for backpackers and students consist of clubs such as Scary Canary, Cargo and Side Bar, or if you fancy them all, why not join a bar crawl through the city?
If Sydney still isn’t enough, there are countless road trip opportunities just outside the city. There are the dramatic Blue Mountains less than 2 hours drive away, as well as the Royal National Park offering an epic hike to the figure of 8 pools, and Palm Beach to the north, with a stunning viewpoint to spot whales and dolphins from. Sydney evidently has so much to offer, and should definitely be on everyone’s bucket list.
Featured Image credit:Epigram/Issy Turnill
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