Experience in Sydney, Australia by Alison

What is it like to live in Sydney? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

Living in Sydney is a great experience, especially if you live near the centre. However, when outside the city transport is very difficult and it is highly reliant on transport by car. I would recommend living in Sydney, the food, culture and nightlife is pretty great. There are also beaches close by and plenty of national parks. People are friendly and the weather is quite pleasant.

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What is the student lifestyle like in Sydney?

The student lifestyle is quite relaxed and not too competitive. There are also plenty of breaks during the academic year! The culture of students is largely going out into the city to a bar or club for drinks.

How much does it cost to live in Sydney?

The cost of living in Sydney is really quite high, especially in terms of accommodation so plan ahead for this!

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Sydney? Is there any advice you can give?

It isn't difficult to find accommodation and shared accommodation with other students can easily be found, however for quality accommodation and low prices, you will need to look outside of the city.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

The food here is quite good, it is very multicultural and any type of food can be easily found, especially in the city centre. My favourite dishes are definitely any vegetable dish from a local Thai or Chinese restaurant.

What places would you recommend visiting in Sydney?

Apart from the obvious Harbour Bridge, Opera House and Bondi beach, I would suggest visiting beaches outside of the city and making a trip up the coast. For hiking the Blue Mountains is a great choice as is the great ocean walk from Coogee to Bondi. I also highly recommend visiting Newtown and having a bite to eat at one of their many unique eateries. The culture during the day and night is pretty cool there! Visiting China Town in the city is also a must and if you want a good night out I suggest World Bar in Kings Cross.

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Is it good to eat out in Sydney? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

It is really great to eat out in Sydney. There are so many opportunities! My favourite spots are probably Newtown and Bondi. In Newtown, I recommend visiting Lentil As Anything and Gelato Blue, and in Bondi Milky Way is a pretty cool place to try out! Also Ungaro Raw in Rozelle is pretty great!

Is the nightlife good in Sydney? Where is good to go?

The nightlife is pretty good as long as you get in early because of lock out laws. Entry can be kind of expensive in some clubs so I suggest looking for guest lists on the club's Facebook account to get a free/discounted entry. My favourite places are World Bar in Kings Cross and Scary Canary near Town Hall.

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What advice would you give future students heading to Sydney?

I would recommend travelling outside the city as much as you can as there are some really beautiful ecosystems just outside the city! Also, try and see lots of different parts of the city as they are so diverse and they often differ in culture from one another.