Sydney Australia is one of the world's modern city. The city still has the old years vibe of having the old buildings and houses all around, I am actually living in an old apartment that looks like those apartments in Singapore and Malaysia.
In your own car, by public transportation or by just walking around the city is cool too, not having heavy traffic that I have experienced in Manila. Sydney is a walkable clean and green city. wide sidewalk with greenery along with it and a park in big vacant spaces. The weather is just amazing. it is hot during summer but there is no strong humidity like those in the middle east and southeast Asia. Winter is cold that is making the people wear their best winter clothes fashionably.
Train, Buses, Ferries are some of the public transportation that is really affordable for both work and leisure travel. They are easily accessible in a convenient bus stop, station, and wharves. During the daytime, these public transport vehicles almost come and leave every 10 minutes without having to queue in line.
Most of the people living in the suburbs and works in the City, do leave their car at the Train Station parking area and then ride the train to get to the city. One of the reasons for that is because of the conveniences of traveling by train. Another reason would be the expensive parking space in the city.
Opal Card is a prepaid card that people in New South Wales are using for their public transportation, there are cards for Adults, Seniors, and Students. For as low as $10 you can buy it from any conveniences store and can be reloaded from the shops, online or by using your mobile app. The fare is affordable for around $2 for a trip.
If you are working and living in the city you actually don't need a car.
These are the place to consider if you are looking for a place to stay within the Sydney Central Business District. Ultimo, Chippendale, Surry Hills, Haymarket, Pyrmont, Barangaroo, Woolloomooloo, Darlinghurst and maybe Glebe and Potts Point.
George Street in Sydney is considered to be the High Street and the busiest street in Sydney. It is about 3km long starting from "The Rocks" Circular Quey where the popular Opera House and Harbour Bridge is located and end at the Chippendale and Ultimo where the Sydney Central Station, Railway Square, and Central Park Mall is located. Going through the street will connect to Broadway and then Parramatta Road where the University of Sydney is located.
Right Wing of George Street
Chippendale
Chippendale is a small inner Sydney suburb where you will see the Mercure Hotel, UTS (University of Technology Sydney) just when you get out of the Sydney Central Station Grand Concourse. I used to stay in one of the apartment just behind the Mercure Hotel during my first few months in Sydney. KFC, Mc Donald, shops and other fast-food here are open until late.
Surry Hills
Surry Hills is located just on the other side of Sydney Central Station all the way to Oxford Street of Darlinghurst. Most of the houses and establishments here are old looking. I used to stay in one of the apartments here and is good because everything is easily accessible.
Darlinghurst
Darlinghurst is where the Oxford street is located, Oxford street is the home of bars and restaurants mostly related to the LGBT community but is open for everybody. Houses and apartments here are both old and modern. The other side of Darlinghurst is the popular Hyde Park where the Museum Train Station is located.
Woolloomooloo
Woolloomooloo is another inner suburb of Sydney, The first thing you will notice in the location is the Woolloomooloo Bay with high-end restaurants and big parks known as "The Domain" The Domain is walking distance to Sydney Botanical Garden, St Mary's Church, and on the other side is the suburbs of Potts Point.
Potts Point
Potts Point is located next to Woolloomooloo and is around three km from Sydney CBD. The red light district of Sydney is located in the area known as Kings Cross. Kings Cross Station is the nearest Train Station. I used to work in one of the restaurants in Potts Point while living in Surry Hills. Every day I walk around 20 minutes to get to work and 20 minutes coming back home, by bus is just around 10 minutes.
Left-Wing of George Street
Ultimo
Ultimo is the home of the University of Technology Sydney, TAFE Sydney and is actually walking distance to Haymarket Chinatown Paddy's Market or Market City.
Haymarket
Haymarket is the home of Sydney's Chinatown. Shops and restaurants are all over the place, colleges, and universities are walking distance. Residents mostly live in a highrise apartment. Very Near to Sydney Central Station. The Tram from Sydney Central Station goes through here to Pyrmont.
Pyrmont
Pyrmont is the home of Sydney's Fish Market, The Star Casino, Darling Harbour, and Cockle Bay that is adjacent to Sydney City Centre. Madama Tussaud, Sea Life, Museum and other attractions are also located within the Darling Harbor.
Barangaroo
Walking from the banks of cockle bay you're going to reach the Barangaroo, you will see the modern restaurant in the modern highrise buildings, offices, and commercial buildings. Moving on you will reach the beautiful Barangaroo Reserve/Park and the hill called Millers Point with the view of the big and beautiful Parramatta River/and Harbor Bridge. Walse bay is the next stop where museums and theatres are situated all the way to The Rocks and Circular Quey.
If you Cross the Sydney Harbour Bridge you will reach the Milsons Point, Luna Park, Kirribilli and the rest of North Sydney.
Places like Bondi Beach, Coogee Beach, Watson Bay, Manly, Parramatta, Chatswood, Cronulla, Blue Mountain, even Newcastle, Wollongong can be reach easily by public transportation such as Trains, Buses, and Ferries.
Sydney is the most crowded city in Australia, So many people from different country are here to study and to work.
gumtree.com.au flatmates.com.au realestate.com.au domain.com.au lhooker.com.au are some of the websites where you can search, checked and book a place for long-term stay.
Coming from Kuala Lumpur, I arrived in Sydney and stay in a backpacker hostel in a room with 5 double decker bed for the first two nights (www.abroadero.trvl.com). With the help of my sponsor, I then moved to an apartment dormitory with 4 beds in the room and 4 beds in the living room. We are a total of 10 people staying in the apartment.
The apartment is fully furnished and all you need is your food and your personal needs. Internet, electricity, water are included with the rent of $125 every week.
The apartment is obviously crowded and is not properly maintained, I keep on looking for a new place to stay at gumtree.com.au, flatmates.com.au domain.com.au realestate.com.au and in the local noticeboard and classified ads.
Then I moved to a single room paying A$200 per week with everything included except the food. It was my friend who referred me to this apartment. This is a two-floor apartment with three rooms and one toilet. We are four people including my landlord staying in this apartment.
Before coming to Australia I made a research on how it is to arrive at Sydney International Airport. There I learned that it is better not to bring anything aside from my clothing and my gadget, no food of any kind. One thing for sure, of all the immigration entry procedure in a different airport that I have been trough...they are the most strict.
One of the best things about Sydney International airport is the convenience of going to different places, public transport is just around the corner. Buses, taxi, and train are just there arriving and departing on time. But taking a train from Sydney Airport Station going to your destination is sure more costly than the normal train ride coming from other station. They collect airport access fee of $12.80 for kids and $14.30 for adults plus the normal fare. If you are coming from Sydney Central Station to Sydney Airport they charge you just the normal fare of just around 2 or 3 dollars, But if you are coming from the airport to your destination expect a deduction of at least 15 dollars from your Opal card. (Opal Card is a prepaid card to pay for the daily public commute with the bus, ferry, and trains).
The best thing is that Sydney is a walkable city and whenever I am arriving at Sydney Airport, I just walk going to the nearest next station and I save at least $14.30. Watch the video on how I do it.
Sydney is the cleanest and Greenest City I have ever been after traveling to more than 10 countries. Cleanliness is not just around the city but it is absolutely everywhere.
Sydney is surrounded by peaceful suburbs with amazing beaches, beautiful and safe to explore mountains and parks with a dedicated track for the walker, biker and 4WD adventurer.
Manly
One of the best ways to get to manly is via ferry ride with stunning scenery along the way coming from Sydney Circular Quay.
Watson Bay
The amazing ferry ride is the best way to get to Watson Bay coming from Sydney Circular, a bus ride is also an option that will go through Bondi Beach all the way to Watson Bay.
Mosman Bay
Mosman Bay is another short ferry ride from Sydney Circular Quay.
Blue Mountain
Train from Sydney Central Station is the cheaper way to get to Katoomba for amazing Blue Mountain trip
Bondi Beach
From Sydney CBD take a train ride to Bondi Junction then take a bus ride to Bondi beach. You can also take a bus direct from Sydney CBD all the way to Bondi Junction.
Cronulla Beach
A train or bus ride will bring you to this beautiful suburbs with the vibe of Manly having many shops and restaurants walkable to the beach.
Coogee to Bondi Beach Long Walking Trail
We did walk this trail and took us around four hours of relax walking along the coastline, the scenery is amazing.
Sydney Harbour Bridge
Together with the Sydney Opera House, Harbor Bridge is another stunning structure situated within the Circular Quay and The Rocks area.
Sydney Darling Harbour
Darling Harbor is a few minutes' walks from the Sydney CBD's Town Hall Train Station. This is where big museums, hotels, shopping malls, and convention centers are located.
Surry Hills
This is located just on the other side of Central Station and the popular Oxford Street at Darlinghurst.
Parramatta
Parramatta is almost the second Central Business District of Sydney having many establishments in the center.
Sydney China Town
Sydney China Town is located in Haymarket which is a few minutes walk from Central Station through the Sydney's main Road called George Street.
Potts Point
Potts Point is a classy suburb of Sydney located next to the popular Kings Cross and the beautiful Elizabeth Bay.
Royal National Park
This place is so huge that you can have access by coming from Cronulla and you can also take the train going to the Illawarra.
Newtown Sydney
A short ride from Sydney CBD will bring you to this beautiful old looking town.
Maroubra
A short bus ride coming from Sydney CBD.
Kiama
This is an hour or two train ride coming from Sydney CBD. This place is known for its blow hole.
Palm Beach
Palm Beach is an hour bus ride coming from Sydney CBD Wynyard Station. Palm Beach is the filming location of the popular Australian TV Show called "home and away"
Morisette
Morisette is popular having friendly kangaroos in the wild. The place is a two-hour train ride coming from Sydney CBD
La Perouse
Is a short bus ride coming from Sydney CBD, The place is popular with its scuba diving site.
Those places are just a few of the reasons why Sydney is the best city in Australia.
