Many students who arrive in Sydney often ask the same question; where is the Sydney Opera house and how can I get there?
You’re first thought should be, how you are going to arrive at school and settle in to your new hometown, but that’s ok.
It may be intimidating at first, but getting around Sydney is actually really easy.
Here in Sydney, we use an OPAL card system. Essentially, you obtain a prepaid card and link it to an Application on your phone. From there, all you need to do is transfer the desired amount of funds to the account (usually from a Visa/MasterCard). The next time you get on public transport it is as easy as “Tap On, Tap Off”.
Great, so you’ve got your card and your phone is all set up, where to now?
Well, the great part about living in Manly is that it is so far from everywhere, but at the same time, so close.
It is only a 20 minute ferry ride from Manly Wharf to Circular Quay and the views do not get any better than that.
From Circular Quay, you can take a train, bus, or light rail, across the city or through to the many varying suburbs that offer so much.
- There’s Bondi and it’s world famous beach. You can also do the coastal track and if it is too much, simply hop on a bus and you’re back to square one.
- Newtown is great for nightlife and restaurants. If you like a groovy bar, or even want to try out a new cuisine, then Newtown is the place to go.
- Botany Bay is great for a scenic walk, there are lots of nice cafes and parks to sit and relax in. Even a good spot to study English.
- Darling Harbor, is just around the corner from Circular Quay. You can either catch a ferry, light rail or walk. Everything is just so close. Darling Harbor is great for being by the Marina, going to the museum and aquarium, even a nice place to catch some sun.
Sydney, may seem like a small place, but once you get on the public transport and make your way around, you’ll find that there is so much on offer. Don’t forget to sign up on Monday for the weekly walk and talk, where every week we go to a different spot in Manly and have some fun conversation along the way.
