Sydney

Having a meal at Sydney’s Circular Quay is one of the best ways to enjoy spectacular views of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. You might even like to check online to see what’s playing at the Opera House while you’re here. There are plenty of options for dinner including Miss Chu at the Opera Kitchen, the Opera Bar, or Quay Restaurant for a special occasion.

You could also opt for a drink at the Opera Bar, where many travellers mix with Sydney locals against the stunning backdrop of the Harbour Bridge.

We recommend Centennial Park for a chance to stretch your legs and enjoy a breath of fresh air right in the heart of the city. If you’re feeling active you can walk or run the 5 kilometre track under the shade of the trees, or even hire a bicycle for $20 an hour at the Centennial Park Cycle stand.

If you’d prefer to take it easy, you could also pack a picnic and feed the swans at one of the many lakes or visit the café located right in the middle of the park.

Grab your walking shoes and get ready to see the very best of Sydney’s magnificent coastline on this 6-kilometre walk. From Coogee to Bondi beach, the walk should take about 3 hours at a brisk pace.

If you prefer to take it slow, you can also stop off en route and treat yourself to an ice cream at Bronte beach, watch snorkelers in the marine reserve at Gordon’s Bay, or stop in for a drink at the world-famous Bondi Icebergs Bistro.

Don’t forget to take good walking shoes, hat and sunscreen, bathers and a camera.

Even locals never tire of the magnificent harbour views on the 30-minute ferry ride between Circular Quay and Manly. If you have a few hours to spare, you could even hop off the ferry, grab an ice-cream on The Corso and walk over to Manly beach (5 minutes) to watch the surfers.

The ferry trip to Manly is just as beautiful in the evening with Sydney’s iconic landmarks lit up in the night sky.

If you’d like to make the most of Sydney’s fantastic shops then Pitt Street Mall in Sydney’s CBD is a good place to start. Shops generally open between 9:00am and 6:00pm, with late night trading until 9:00pm on Thursday nights. Closer to Central station, Central Park is a new complex critically acclaimed for the stunning vertical garden cascading down its sides.

Westfield at Bondi Junction is another great large shopping centre with a range of designer boutiques and department stores quite close to UNSW. Surry Hills, Bondi Beach and Newtown are also great for smaller designer stores, with cute cafes and excellent people-watching!

There is a wide range of great restaurants and cafés close by the UNSW campus. If you’re staying in Coogee, Barzura is a local favourite serving ‘modern Australian’ cuisine with a fantastic view. 

Even closer to the campus we recommend a cute little area called 'The Spot' where you could try ‘The Spanish Fly’ for Tapas or ‘Spatchcock’ for delicious Thai. The Spot also has a historic cinema for anyone looking for entertainment in the evening. There are also many small cafes and restaurants on Avoca Street in Randwick which are perfect for breakfast or a quick lunch.