Saying goodbye to Sydney :( some final recommendations and realities

By Logan Tilley, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

It has taken me a couple of months to get around to writing my final blog about Sydney as it just doesn’t seem real that it isn’t my home anymore. I remember seeing these goodbye blogs when I was excited to leave for my year abroad not too long ago and I didn’t think too hard about it as it was so far away. But, one of the realities of such an incredible experience to study abroad is that time does feel like it flies by quickly. Days are filled with new and exciting things to do and see and Sydney, in particular, is not short of activities. Life can feel slower when you come back home, but that is not something to fear.

Firstly, the reality is that we all have to come back to the UK after such an incredible experience and I wouldn’t change a thing about it and this blog is here to reiterate that. Of course, it isn’t all awful, as I am reuniting with the friends and family I had been missing after 11 months away. I didn’t spend the last few months I had in Sydney watching the clock and counting the few precious days I had left. I continued to stay in the moment and relish each day as a new opportunity to explore the world and take advantage of the environment I was in. My favourite place to do this during my time in Sydney was in the Blue Mountains where I had two of the best days of my whole exchange hiking down into the peaceful valley forest to camp by a river with two of my friends. Just a few hours from the city lies this oasis of tranquility, something that made life go slower and helped me truly appreciate my time.

However, one of the main recommendations that I have for any future exchange student is not to fear taking each day as it comes. I found myself on a number of occasions stressing about “making the most of my time”, but in the process just making myself feel worse about doing what I wanted to do. Of course, take every opportunity as it arises, but don’t force yourself to do more than you are comfortable doing. This experience is about experiencing a new environment and you can only do that properly if you let yourself relax. I made sure to take days to myself to just wander around Sydney and I ended up getting to know most of the city, which made me feel much more at home. I highly recommend getting to know your environment well when you get to your future home, so that the distance between you and your old home doesn’t feel so great.

As my last few weeks in Sydney crept up on me, I didn’t feel scared or too sad, I felt ready. I felt pleased with everything I had done in my year and it was time for the chapter to come to an end, and it is just that. A chapter. While it isn’t easy, it was worth it to go. For anyone that might end up in Sydney, I have to let you know some of my favourite spots for the best food, beaches, and locations that this great city has to offer, as well as vital information for when you move.

Sydney has plenty of incredible food from cultures around the globe, but lots of it isn’t within the budget for most students so I’ve got you covered for the best spots that won’t break your bank:

• Xcel Roll, and Hot Rolls Vietnamese in Coogee for the best banh mi around. Trust me, you’ll get addicted just like I did.
• Ayam Goreng 99 in Kingsford (just round the corner from UNSW 😉 for anyone heading over there) and Medan Ciak in Haymarket for Indonesian food and the best fried chicken you’ll ever have. I am dead serious.
• Baker Bleu in Double Bay and Norma’s in Manly for some sensational sandwiches.
• All of King Street in Newtown. This is the spot to go if you don’t know what you want and you want a reasonably priced drink afterward (at Coopers or Newtown Hotel)
• Gumshara in Haymarket for one of the best bowls of Ramen I have ever had but be warned I could hardly stand to walk after I was so full and satisfied.
• Messina (everywhere) for the most wonderful gelato around. If you dare spend money in Yochi instead of here I will never forgive you. They do weekly special flavours that will knock your socks off.
• The Bat and Ball Hotel in Surry Hills/Redfern for the best night of pub trivia you can get on a monday night. My friends and I went here every week and they have high-tier pub grub for sure – amazing roasts and an incredible fried chicken burger alongside some decent beer choices.
• There are many more but one of the best parts about the experience was finding places for myself so I’m leaving it there.

If you find yourself at a beach in Sydney, chances are its gorgeous, particularly from the British eye. Spoiler alert, I am not saying Bondi:

• Coogee beach – The go-to if you’re at UNSW like I was but it just has such a good vibe. The best sunrises in the city are seen from the sand on this shore, where I was lucky enough to spot whales and dolphins on occassion. There’s a bustling street just behind it with plenty of food and drink options. Very well connected and a popular option for a reason.
• Shelly beach – A quiet cove contrasting to the busy streets of nearby manly. The calm water makes for excellent snorkelling on a good day. The walk to this beach is pleasant and gets you next to a nice restaurant/bar too. Though do beware of the bush turkeys – you’ll know exactly what I mean if you go.
• Shark beach – This spot in Vaucluse is not well known with tourists but is a local’s favourite. It is recently renovated, calm, and definitely does not actually have sharks. It has a nice little cafe and is right around the corner from one of the best spots in the entire city that I will mention in a moment.
• Clovelly beach – the smallest on the list by far but a contender for my favourite. The swimming area is protected and deep so perfect for swimming. It still gets the sun despite the cliffs and is a perfect stop on the famous coastal walk.
• Palm beach – not technically in Sydney city but 100% worth visiting. This beach is incredibly calming and extends out beautifully into the water. The nearby towns are lovely to walk through and make a day out of the beach.

The final mini list of recommendations is worth staying for. These places made me want to make this blog itself, as I had to share with anyone that is coming to Sydney so they don’t miss out:

• Sunset place in Vaucluse – This spot became incredibly important to me, as it was where I first realised how beautiful Sydney really was. It isn’t the easiest place to get to, but the view of the sun setting down the harbour behind the city is one that is burned into my memory. There isn’t a better place to sit, listen to the waves and the wind, and just experience life.
• Anvil Rock Lookout in the Blue Mountains National park – Few places have ever made me just stand in awe. The pure and complete silence that I experienced at this place was unbelievable. It was where I first realised why it was named the Blue Mountains. This forest holds infinite wonders, but this is the one that stuck with me.
• Circular Quay Harbour Looukout in the Rocks – it’s cliche but for a reason. The best place to see the two most iconic landmarks in Australia does not dissapoint. It’s where I stood on my first and last day in Sydney, a full circle moment that I will always cherish.

Finally, for the vital information in Sydney:

• Going on exchange in Sydney will change your life. It is far from home and it gets hard. Missing your friends and family catches up to you, especially due to the time zones. But it also changes your life in that you become even stronger than you thought you were. Every moment is worth it, even coming back to the UK to see your friends graduate when you have another year left.
• Your work/life balance will improve. I found that I prioritised my mental health and got outside so much more in Sydney. It is a change that I will bring back to the UK as much as I can (if the weather permits).
• You will not lose your friends. When I left, I was terrified that the distance will separate me from those who were most important to me. But, in the end, it didn’t happen. We all made an effort to stay in contact and updated about each others’ lives and speak as regularly as we could. While we may not be in university together again, we all understood how unique this opportunity was and we will always be friends with each other. For the friends I made in Sydney, I will continue to make the effort in the other direction. Those who matter most to me will always know and they will always have a friend in me.