Of all the international places I have visited in my life, none feel more like home than Australia. The accents are different and they drive on the left side of the road, but the people and the overall personality of Sydney is quite similar to the American lifestyle.
Sydney is not filled with an overwhelming number of historic sites and must-see tourist attractions, which actually made my trip seem more relaxed. I was able to enjoy the city like a local without feeling obligated to take pictures around every corner.
The one tourist attraction that is absolutely worth visiting is the iconic Opera House. The Opera house sits at the tip of Bennelong Point and is, in my opinion, the only building that provides an identity to Sydney. There is a long list of performances each week, but none particularly appealed to me so I opted for a guided tour instead. The tour was really interesting and provided a lot of great facts. Being a numbers guy, I was particularly impressed with the information that the roof contains over 1 million pieces of tile and that there are actually 1,000 rooms in the building (mostly underground).
I was lucky enough to get a direct view of the Opera House whenever I looked out the window of my hotel, which continued to 'wow' me throughout my two week trip.
The weather during the autumn season in Sydney is really nice, and I was lucky to get some beach weather for Good Friday. I boarded a ferry at Circular Quay and enjoyed the quick, 30-minute trip to the Northern coast. Even though Manly can also be reached by car, the ferry is perhaps the best way to ease one's mind into relaxation mode (not to mention incredible views).
Sydney is not filled with an overwhelming number of historic sites and must-see tourist attractions, which actually made my trip seem more relaxed. I was able to enjoy the city like a local without feeling obligated to take pictures around every corner.
The one tourist attraction that is absolutely worth visiting is the iconic Opera House. The Opera house sits at the tip of Bennelong Point and is, in my opinion, the only building that provides an identity to Sydney. There is a long list of performances each week, but none particularly appealed to me so I opted for a guided tour instead. The tour was really interesting and provided a lot of great facts. Being a numbers guy, I was particularly impressed with the information that the roof contains over 1 million pieces of tile and that there are actually 1,000 rooms in the building (mostly underground).
I was lucky enough to get a direct view of the Opera House whenever I looked out the window of my hotel, which continued to 'wow' me throughout my two week trip.
 |
| View of the Opera House at dusk |
The weather during the autumn season in Sydney is really nice, and I was lucky to get some beach weather for Good Friday. I boarded a ferry at Circular Quay and enjoyed the quick, 30-minute trip to the Northern coast. Even though Manly can also be reached by car, the ferry is perhaps the best way to ease one's mind into relaxation mode (not to mention incredible views).
 |
| View of Sydney from the ferry to Manly |
 |
| Sydney Harbour Bridge |
 |
| Coastline near Manly Wharf |
From the Ferry terminal to the beach, you walk through a pedestrian-only street lined with souvenir shops, fish & chip takeaway restaurants, and a surprisingly large number of pharmacies. Despite being so close to the city, I felt like I was in a completely different world.
In my opinion, a major city with such easy access to resort-style beach environments is a rare treasure. I was lucky enough to live in one of these cities (Barcelona) and I hope to one day return to a place where I can enjoy the amenities of both a big city and also a relaxing vacation atmosphere. (I know Chicago has beaches but it certainly does not feel like vacation when cars are whizzing by on Lake Shore Drive and the cold weather makes them virtually inaccessible for 8 months per year).
Anyhow, I digress. Back to Manly beach...
So I was walking down the boardwalk and I noticed a crowd starting to form up ahead. I asked someone what was happening and was told that the the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were planning to visit. I decided to wait and it turned out to be an excellent decision because I ended up with almost a front row seat.
Kate is even more stunning in person and she definitely took the spotlight. Both she and Will watched a lifesaving demonstration and spoke with young lifeguards who seemed completely relaxed about the entire experience. Only two days had passed since my run-in with Hollywood celebrities, so I was feeling pretty good about my celebrity magnet in Australia!
One tourist attraction that I think can easily be avoided is the Harbour Bridge Climb, which charges upwards of $350 for the opportunity to wear a hilarious jumpsuit and climb over the bridge on a narrow catwalk. Throughout the day, I saw groups of people climbing up the steps like lines of ants and it did not look fun to me at all. Instead, I climbed one of the four Pylons for a similar view of the harbor. This option allows everyone to wear their own clothes and carry cameras with them.
One morning at breakfast, I overheard some New Yorkers exclaiming how they found Sydney to be boring. They all agreed that it is possible to see everything in a single day and I just rolled my eyes because I feel like they completely missed the subtle appeal of the city. In my opinion, the key to enjoying Sydney is to open your eyes and discover the hidden gems that are not listed in the guide books. Talk to people at the street markets, enjoy the views from the ferry, and wake up early to run through Hyde park.
Sydney is consistently rated among the best in the world for quality of life and I could not agree more. Although I only spent two weeks in the city, it was such a pleasure to live like a local.
 |
| Pedestrian street between Manly Wharf and the beach |
 |
Manly Beach on Good Friday, 2014
|
In my opinion, a major city with such easy access to resort-style beach environments is a rare treasure. I was lucky enough to live in one of these cities (Barcelona) and I hope to one day return to a place where I can enjoy the amenities of both a big city and also a relaxing vacation atmosphere. (I know Chicago has beaches but it certainly does not feel like vacation when cars are whizzing by on Lake Shore Drive and the cold weather makes them virtually inaccessible for 8 months per year).
Anyhow, I digress. Back to Manly beach...
Kate is even more stunning in person and she definitely took the spotlight. Both she and Will watched a lifesaving demonstration and spoke with young lifeguards who seemed completely relaxed about the entire experience. Only two days had passed since my run-in with Hollywood celebrities, so I was feeling pretty good about my celebrity magnet in Australia!
 |
| Kate runs across the beach in high heel shoes |
 |
| Prince william meets some lifeguards before a demonstration |
My favorite area of Sydney is The Rocks, which is the most historic area of the city. Many of the buildings have retained their original facades and it was fun to imagine what life must have been like before Sydney became a sprawling urban hub. These days, The Rocks is home to many restaurants, bars, and specialty shops.
 |
| The old Police Station in The Rocks |
 |
| Al Fresco dining in The Rocks |
 |
| The Sailors' Home was adjacent to the Harbour |
Sydney also offers a lot of shopping options but none of them are a haven for bargain hunters. There is a large mall in the center of the city for anyone who likes chain stores, but I spent my time at the local designer boutiques in Paddington. Sure, the prices are higher, but the quality of construction and unique designs completely justify the cost. Paddington also hosts a weekly market and everyone was incredibly friendly (especially once they heard my American accent).
 |
| Weekend market in Paddington |
 |
| Boutique shopping in Paddington |
One tourist attraction that I think can easily be avoided is the Harbour Bridge Climb, which charges upwards of $350 for the opportunity to wear a hilarious jumpsuit and climb over the bridge on a narrow catwalk. Throughout the day, I saw groups of people climbing up the steps like lines of ants and it did not look fun to me at all. Instead, I climbed one of the four Pylons for a similar view of the harbor. This option allows everyone to wear their own clothes and carry cameras with them.
 |
| Looking up at the bridge from the walking path along |
 |
| View of Circular Quay and Sydney CBD from the Harbour Bridge |
One morning at breakfast, I overheard some New Yorkers exclaiming how they found Sydney to be boring. They all agreed that it is possible to see everything in a single day and I just rolled my eyes because I feel like they completely missed the subtle appeal of the city. In my opinion, the key to enjoying Sydney is to open your eyes and discover the hidden gems that are not listed in the guide books. Talk to people at the street markets, enjoy the views from the ferry, and wake up early to run through Hyde park.
Sydney is consistently rated among the best in the world for quality of life and I could not agree more. Although I only spent two weeks in the city, it was such a pleasure to live like a local.
No comments:
Post a Comment