Whether you’re travelling on a quick vacation down under, planning a gap year to work while enjoying a new place, or just planning to uproot and move somewhere new, Sydney is a great place to explore. You’ll find good eats, fun attractions to visit, and nicer weather all around than the UK. Also, if you are just going for a short period of time, you can potentially score yourself a two-summer year, with the seasons being reversed! Here are all the best things to know about before you make your journey.
Try the Local Foods
Adventurous eaters, get hyped! Australia is known for a variety of foods whose popularity has not quite spread elsewhere in the world. Don’t worry though, none of these foods are too out there. For starters, Australians love their vegemite, a salty and somewhat bitter spread often used on sandwiches, toast, and crackers. Another Aussie fav, Tim Tams, two biscuits with a chocolate cream filling all covered by a layer of chocolate. They’re the Aussie version of a Penguin. Common to both Australia and New Zealand is Fairy Bread. It’s literally just buttered toast with rainbow sprinkles on it, so I guess you could try this one at home if you wanted. Lastly, is Barramundi, also known as Asian sea bass, which is a popular fish to eat in the area because of how plentiful it is in the local waters. It is considered a mellow flavoured fish (aka not fishy tasting), with sweet and buttery notes.
See a Rugby Game
The capital of Sydney has 9 local teams that participate in the National Rugby League (NRL). Some of these teams include the Sydney Roosters, the South Sydney Rabbitohs, and the Wests Tigers. The NRL season generally runs from early March to early October. This means that if you’re planning your trip to be during the Australian summer (our wintertime), you can catch an early season game! The Rugby League World Cups in Mens, Womens, and Wheelchair are also all running right now and will end throughout November if you’re heading to Sydney sooner.
Visit the Sydney Opera House
We’ve all seen it in pictures, maybe you’ve even seen the outside already before, but have you ever attended a performance at the Sydney Opera House? If you haven’t, now is a great opportunity! They have tons of performances always going on. Hint: don’t get scared by the first ticket prices it shows you. You’ll find tickets in the $50-100 range if you scroll past those premium seat options . And if you don’t have time for a show, you can at least snap a selfie with the iconic building!
Hit up the Free Museums
If you’re looking for something free to do, Sydney has a number of museums that offer free admission on a regular basis. Some of the favourites are The Australian Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Art Gallery of NSW. These museums can offer you both education and entertainment (and some air conditioning too!).
Hop from beach to beach
There are over 100 beaches in Sydney alone. How many can you get to on your trip? Will you be suntanning, surfing, or day drinking? There are also plenty of boardwalks and piers you can explore when you get tired of sitting or swimming. One more beachy suggestion: Visit the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk (or at least a portion of it), a 3.5 mile walking trail with gorgeous ocean views into Bondi beach and Coogee beach.
Now that you’ve got your itinerary all planned out, go book that flight!
