4 Things You Must Do If You're Ever In Sydney

Tomorrow is January 12, a day worthy of a walk down memory lane for me. Four years ago on the twelfth day of January, 20-year-old Kate boarded an Air New Zealand flight to Sydney for 4 months of Australian exploration and “studying.”

That trip is where this blog got started, so if you go to the archive you can actually read about my arrival, first impressions of the land down under, and the adventures we had there. (Note: if you do go back, please forgive some of 20-year-old Kate’s statement’s. In 24-year-old Kate’s opinion she was trying just a bit too hard to be the “writer abroad.” #embarrassinginhindsight.) 

So today I thought it’d be fun (slash torturous) to share (in picture form) my memories of what feels like a life-like Australian dream now, and also offer my 4 “must-dos” in Sydney.

First things first.

Kate’s 4 Must-Dos in Sydney

1. Take the Ferry to Manly. Sydney is a harbor (excuse me, harbour) city, and it’s worth it to see the city landscape from a boat. An inexpensive way to explore the harbor is to take the ferry to Manly. Along the way, you’ll get the lay of the land (errr, water), as well as many a photo-op, and, Manly is a great little seaside town to explore, with great beaches, shopping and cafes. If you’re not looking for the budget option (as we were), there are plenty of harbor tour companies offering your choice of ways to see the coves, be it a sunset dinner or a booze cruise. 
2. Walk on the cliffs till you find the beach that’s juuust riiight. There’s a sidewalk carved into the cliffs between Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach and the beaches a few miles south of it, including Coogee, what came to be our personal fave. Along the way, you’ll see gorgeous cliff-side communities filled with cafes and surf shops, and one random (albeit gorgeous) graveyard. To get some exercise go get smoothies, we would walk the cliffs between beaches. Tough life we lived. Womp womp. Take me back.
   
3. Take the train to the Blue Mountains. Just two hours on the train gets you into the thick of Sydney’s closest mountain range, and there is plenty to do once there, and because it’s Australia, the “stuff to do” always has an adventurous edge. We chose to abseil down the cliffs and a giant waterfall. Forget the views and thrills, do it just so you can write that sentence. 
4. Visit the Paddington Market. Sydney’s markets are unlike any weekly market I’ve ever been to in the states. Handmade jewelry, clothing, perfumes, accessories, art work, and artisanal food — it’s all there, every Saturday with live music in the heart of Paddington, one of Sydney’s hippest neighborhoods. 

Now, because it’s Friday and I believe in mental vacations on this day of the week in particular, let’s end with some of the most tantalizing photos in my Down Under collection.

Don’t mind our lame narration and girlish giggles in this video of the kangas hopping (and one grandpa kanga refusing to hop for our camera).

Where did you study abroad? What’s the best place you’ve visited?

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