I’m moving to Sydney… any tips?

[XAM2175]

The uni accommodation doesn't have air conditioning...

... best hope for a decent breeze then

Melbourne in summer was always especially awful because it would get hot and then stay hot - including overnight - for days on end. Brisbane, on the other hand, would at least quite often give you a cool change in the afternoon when the storms rolled in. I've not spent enough time in Sydney though to know exactly what you're in for, haha.

That said, I've spent a lot of time further north in New South Wales, mainly around Armidale, and while summer is no less oppressive autumn up there is often lovely. There are times when it's very easy to see why that region's known as New England.

 

[Pakenhamtrain]

... best hope for a decent breeze then

Melbourne in summer was always especially awful because it would get hot and then stay hot - including overnight - for days on end. Brisbane, on the other hand, would at least quite often give you a cool change in the afternoon when the storms rolled in. I've not spent enough time in Sydney though to know exactly what you're in for, haha.

That said, I've spent a lot of time further north in New South Wales, mainly around Armidale, and while summer is no less oppressive autumn up there is often lovely. There are times when it's very easy to see why that region's known as New England.

Southern Australia is more of a dry head. Up north it's tropical.

 

[185]

6 month 1st class pass for NSW Rail is £300 (A$550) or £230 for Standard. Can be used all the way up to Brisbane, Canberra, Broken Hill or Melbourne.

Discovery Pass

One of the cheapest and most cost-effective ways to travel is with a Discovery Pass, providing unlimited book travel on the NSW TrainLink network.

transportnsw.info

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

6 month 1st class pass for NSW Rail is £300 (A$550) or £230 for Standard. Can be used all the way up to Brisbane, Canberra, Broken Hill or Melbourne.

Discovery Pass

One of the cheapest and most cost-effective ways to travel is with a Discovery Pass, providing unlimited book travel on the NSW TrainLink network.

transportnsw.info

That is very interesting indeed, thank you

 

[185]

That is very interesting indeed, thank you

No worries! Valid on all their trains, unlimited and their (extensive) coach network. Booking tickets once you've got it is dead simple - all online... Of note, once you've got it, one minor fault with the train reservations page - you need an Aussie mobile number for the emergency contact field, however previously and this time too it works with any only old random (Aussie) mobile number. Even save you a few quid if doing a day trip up to the Blue Mountains.

This winter, we're doing Brisbane - Casino - Sydney - Melbourne and (The Overland, not NSW Rail) to Adelaide, several days in each city/town.

Have a good time!

 

[railfan99]

With the XPTs operated by NSW TrainLink, if travelling on a day service such as ST23 from Sydney down to Melbourne, insist on a forward facing seat in car A, the sleeping car that has nine compartments with three seats each when in dayime mode.

Often no one else will be in your compartment. You have to call NSW TrainLink as the booking engine doesn't allow selection of a seat, and most often it will book you in car B or one of the small number of first class seats in car C, which doubles as the takeaway buffet car. Call centre staff can change your seat.

Why not buy a NSWTrainLink first class Discovery Pass, as suggested above, valid for six months for A$550?

That way, you can travel to Brisbane (very scenic), and if you say leave on the first day train just after 0700, you can have lunch somewhere such as Wingham on the way, then travel a short distance on the lunchtime train ex Sydney and finally join the Brisbane-bound XPT further up the track. It has a very early arrival in Brisbane.

With Discovery Passes, if first class you can book a sleeper for A$88 one way, but there are only 18 berths on the XPTs and when I last travelled, it was only being booked at night to one per compartment (although couples could change that once on board). If back to two per compartment, I prefer a lower berth.

A bargain price that will get you by connecting road coach even to Coonamble, Bourke, Lightning Ridge with its bizarre opal mines, Adelaide twice a week from Broken Hill by road coach. A round trip is poissble: XPT to Melbourne, Journey Beyond's separate fare 'The Overland' twice a week to Adelaide, NSW TrainLink coach Adelaide to 'the Hill' and then NSW TrainLink XPlorer railcar (once weekly only - line currently affected badly by flooding) to Sydney. With the road coaches, you may need to input a different origin into the booking engine (i.e. 'Broken Hill Town' not just 'Broken Hiill', the latter being the railway station).

A very good trip is NSW XPlorer railcars 'Northern Tablelands Express' to Moree, then road coach across country all the way to Grafton City, connecting to the XPT back to Sydney. You will need to stay in a motel in Moree. However there may be Inland Rail works when you visit, perhaps still closing the line north of Narrabri. The 'NTE' has a small on train buffet and allows you to observe the huge procession of (thermal) coal trains between just out of Broadmeadow, NSW through Maitland and Singleton to Muswellbrook and Narrabri (empty northbound, loaded southbound). Newcastle NSW is the busiest coal port in the world and thermal coal is now even being sold to Europe far more than it used to be. The 'NTE' splits at Werris Creek with its mini rail museum - other section goes to scenic Armidale NSW via Tamworth, an alternative if the Moree section is partly shut. You would need to connect by coach to Glen Innes to then next day join the crosscountry coach across to Grafton City:

https://transportnsw.info/regional-network-map

 

[WizCastro197]

… not for good - just for five months, but it’s still going to be rather daunting all the same!

I've accepted an unconditional offer to study at the University of Sydney from early February to early July, as part of the 2nd year exchange partnership programme offered by my current University (where I will of course remain a permanent student and return in the Summer to take third year there) Of course, I'm very excited, but this is an enormous thing to get my head around.

Therefore, if anyone has any advice or tips, or interesting/helpful information about living in Sydney as a student, then I'd love to know. Many thanks in advance.

PS: Don't mention snakes unless it's to reassure me that I won't see any in the city centre. Too much talk of snakes and I'll end up cancelling the exchange

Good Luck! I hope you have so much fun. I am sure it will be lovely.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

With the XPTs operated by NSW TrainLink, if travelling on a day service such as ST23 from Sydney down to Melbourne, insist on a forward facing seat in car A, the sleeping car that has nine compartments with three seats each when in dayime mode.

Often no one else will be in your compartment. You have to call NSW TrainLink as the booking engine doesn't allow selection of a seat, and most often it will book you in car B or one of the small number of first class seats in car C, which doubles as the takeaway buffet car. Call centre staff can change your seat.

Why not buy a NSWTrainLink first class Discovery Pass, as suggested above, valid for six months for A$550?

That way, you can travel to Brisbane (very scenic), and if you say leave on the first day train just after 0700, you can have lunch somewhere such as Wingham on the way, then travel a short distance on the lunchtime train ex Sydney and finally join the Brisbane-bound XPT further up the track. It has a very early arrival in Brisbane.

With Discovery Passes, if first class you can book a sleeper for A$88 one way, but there are only 18 berths on the XPTs and when I last travelled, it was only being booked at night to one per compartment (although couples could change that once on board). If back to two per compartment, I prefer a lower berth.

A bargain price that will get you by connecting road coach even to Coonamble, Bourke, Lightning Ridge with its bizarre opal mines, Adelaide twice a week from Broken Hill by road coach. A round trip is poissble: XPT to Melbourne, Journey Beyond's separate fare 'The Overland' twice a week to Adelaide, NSW TrainLink coach Adelaide to 'the Hill' and then NSW TrainLink XPlorer railcar (once weekly only - line currently affected badly by flooding) to Sydney. With the road coaches, you may need to input a different origin into the booking engine (i.e. 'Broken Hill Town' not just 'Broken Hiill', the latter being the railway station).

A very good trip is NSW XPlorer railcars 'Northern Tablelands Express' to Moree, then road coach across country all the way to Grafton City, connecting to the XPT back to Sydney. You will need to stay in a motel in Moree. However there may be Inland Rail works when you visit, perhaps still closing the line north of Narrabri. The 'NTE' has a small on train buffet and allows you to observe the huge procession of (thermal) coal trains between just out of Broadmeadow, NSW through Maitland and Singleton to Muswellbrook and Narrabri (empty northbound, loaded southbound). Newcastle NSW is the busiest coal port in the world and thermal coal is now even being sold to Europe far more than it used to be. The 'NTE' splits at Werris Creek with its mini rail museum - other section goes to scenic Armidale NSW via Tamworth, an alternative if the Moree section is partly shut. You would need to connect by coach to Glen Innes to then next day join the crosscountry coach across to Grafton City:

https://transportnsw.info/regional-network-map

Cheers for the info.

Good Luck! I hope you have so much fun. I am sure it will be lovely.

Thank you very much indeed

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

The main University campus is close to Sydney Central station, from what I remember.
So easy access in all directions really. The Opal card is the equivalent of Oyster in London.
Apart from Sydney Trains (double-deck EMUs) the new trams go from Central past the cricket ground (SCG), and through the main business/shopping area to Circular Quay the other way.
On my first trip I was won over by the ferry trip to Manly at the harbour entrance, and the train trip down to Kiama on the south coast beyond Wollongong is impressive.
It's also a nice easy 3-hour run to Canberra (where my son lives).
Canberra is an easygoing place, unlike frenetic Sydney.
It has excellent national museums and buildings, and you can attend a session of parliament and watch the politicians being ruder to each other than they would be here.
Food, and wine, is pricy, especially if you eat out.
Dymocks is the best book shop in town, which you'll need for Uni.
It's a big cruise ship destination, so avoid the crowds if you can.
Excellent art, music and opera at the Opera House.
Lovely beaches if you are so inclined, not just Bondi, and there are vast inlets mainly to the north for sailing and such.
It has been the wettest year on record in Sydney and northwards, they are still recovering from the floods.
That's after the longest drought and destructive bush fires to the west in 2021.
Like London (and Melbourne) the suburbs go on for ever (30 miles or so), but the harbour penetrates a long way west.
You won't be bothered by wildlife in Sydney, but you'll find plenty in the countryside.
Beware the sulphur crested cockatoos and musical magpies!

 

[railfan99]

... best hope for a decent breeze then

Melbourne in summer was always especially awful because it would get hot and then stay hot - including overnight - for days on end.

As a lifelong Melbourne resident, no.

We usually have a cool change after two oppressive days. Rare for this not to occur, and last summer was not as hot.

The trend in Melbourne has been for December to be perceived as cooler than 30 years ago, and March to even early April somewhat warmer than I recall.

 

[Chriso]

They have a $2.50 cap on the NSW suburban/intercity network on Sundays which is a bargain to get out to the Blue Mountains which over 2 hours from Sydney Central . The cap also works on the local buses from Katoomba to the look out points

You can use your contactless bank card like London too.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

They have a $2.50 cap on the NSW suburban/intercity network on Sundays which is a bargain to get out to the Blue Mountains which over 2 hours from Sydney Central . The cap also works on the local buses from Katoomba to the look out points

You can use your contactless bank card like London too.

The equivalent of £1.50 to the Blue Mountains? Bargain.

 

[Chriso]

I should add this is a daily cap so the $2.50 gets you back too and any other trains , trams or buses you want to use that Sunday

Good luck with your adventure

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I should add this is a daily cap so the $2.50 gets you back too and any other trains , trams or buses you want to use that Sunday

Good luck with your adventure

Ridiculously cheap. Many thanks.

 

[railfan99]

The NSW Central Coast line (otherwise known as 'the Short North') has excellent scenry (Brisbane Water) between north of Hornsby and Gosford.

It's worth catching the XPT from Brisbane as the first few hours are extremely scenic, including famous Border Loop where trains loop over one another. The whole line down to Hornsby is attractive.

The Melbourne XPT goes through more typical Oz countryside but has lovely historic stations and road overbridges. Returning to Sydney, there is the famous Bethungra Spiral.

You could also travel on V/Line train Melbourne to Bairnsdale and connect with its road coach to Canberra via the very scenic route through Cooma. This runs twice a week (3x/wk school hols).

https://www.vline.com.au/getattachment/0fba9309-1c29-439c-ae0e-9e7137658aea/Canberra-Melbourne-(Capital-Link)

All these trains are compulsory seat reservations as is the coach. You can't use a Discovery Pass on V/Line.

 

[Taunton]

Just seen this. One of our Australian offices is in Sydney, and I've always found plenty of interest there at weekends, several mentioned above.

The bus museum has a substantial collection, and it's mostly British-built until recent times. It's only open on odd Sundays but is interesting to dig out, and they run old buses back to the city.

Always like the train trip across The Bridge (only one qualifies for that expression) northbound, which starts at Wynyard in the tunnel and suddenly springs out across it. Get off at Milsons Point on the north side and walk back over the footway.

Ferry trip from the city to Manly, and walk up the street (which is reminiscent of Hawaii) to the ocean beach. From the ferry you can take classic photos of The Bridge and Opera House together, to send home.

The underground rail network in the city is a substantial and interesting setup, with its share of abortive tunnels, platforms that were never used, and complex layouts. A good number of the stations on the network have some very familiar names - Lewisham, Stanmore and Croydon are all consecutive. On the routes along the main lines there's more freight than one might imagine, with big GM diesels, such as substantial coal and grain trains for export.

The Australian railway society has a bookshop near Redfern inner suburban station which has just about everything published there on railways.

All the transport uses an Oyster-like ticket system called Opal, which uses the same technology from the same supplier. However, London Oyster cards don't work the gates - I've tried!

 

[railfan99]

If you want to see the huge number of coal trains in one day, travel on the daily 'Northern Tablelands Express' to either Armidale or Moree, departing daily from Sydney Central at 0930. Include on your Discovery Pass. Both sections (splitting at Werris Creek) have a small on-train buffet.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

The NSW Central Coast line (otherwise known as 'the Short North') has excellent scenry (Brisbane Water) between north of Hornsby and Gosford.

It's worth catching the XPT from Brisbane as the first few hours are extremely scenic, including famous Border Loop where trains loop over one another. The whole line down to Hornsby is attractive.

The Melbourne XPT goes through more typical Oz countryside but has lovely historic stations and road overbridges. Returning to Sydney, there is the famous Bethungra Spiral.

You could also travel on V/Line train Melbourne to Bairnsdale and connect with its road coach to Canberra via the very scenic route through Cooma. This runs twice a week (3x/wk school hols).

https://www.vline.com.au/getattachment/0fba9309-1c29-439c-ae0e-9e7137658aea/Canberra-Melbourne-(Capital-Link)

All these trains are compulsory seat reservations as is the coach. You can't use a Discovery Pass on V/Line.

Just seen this. One of our Australian offices is in Sydney, and I've always found plenty of interest there at weekends, several mentioned above.

The bus museum has a substantial collection, and it's mostly British-built until recent times. It's only open on odd Sundays but is interesting to dig out, and they run old buses back to the city.

Always like the train trip across The Bridge (only one qualifies for that expression) northbound, which starts at Wynyard in the tunnel and suddenly springs out across it. Get off at Milsons Point on the north side and walk back over the footway.

Ferry trip from the city to Manly, and walk up the street (which is reminiscent of Hawaii) to the ocean beach. From the ferry you can take classic photos of The Bridge and Opera House together, to send home.

The underground rail network in the city is a substantial and interesting setup, with its share of abortive tunnels, platforms that were never used, and complex layouts. A good number of the stations on the network have some very familiar names - Lewisham, Stanmore and Croydon are all consecutive. On the routes along the main lines there's more freight than one might imagine, with big GM diesels, such as substantial coal and grain trains for export.

The Australian railway society has a bookshop near Redfern inner suburban station which has just about everything published there on railways.

All the transport uses an Oyster-like ticket system called Opal, which uses the same technology from the same supplier. However, London Oyster cards don't work the gates - I've tried!

Thank you very much

 

[railfan99]

Don't worry about snakes......
spiders have eat all the snakes.

There's other things one has to worry about such as sulphur crested cockatoos extracting revenge:

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/cheeky-cocky-caught-in-the-act-bombing-streets-with-flower-pots/news-story/6bcf4017e71b71eb81ef16cdf6d29910

https://www.instagram.com/browncardigan/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=721e4ba7-f4af-4412-bfa3-338d5c047982

 

[Taunton]

... or your horse saddle being chewed by a crocodile overnight ... as happened to my grandfather doing a railway project there more than 100 years ago (described in para 2 here) :

"...and our fathers that begat us..."

A bit of, perhaps, sentimental whimsy – seen as at least a little appropriate for this time of year; when sentimentality, and family-related matters, are traditionally accorded house-room. A theme (memories talked of, by one’s elders) which I – tending toward dwelling in the past – have...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[railfan99]

If you can, do a 'Cockatoo Run' train or even better a very occasional NSW Rail Transport Museum (not in summer) tour along the famed Unanderra to Moss Vale important crosscountry line. This has steep gradients and was recently closed for more than six months due to landslides, but has reopened.

https://eastcoastheritagerail.com.au/cockatoorun/

What's on | NSW Rail Museum

www.nswrailmuseum.com.au

 

[railfan99]

In this video, the double line in the foreground is the Melbourne - Seymour - Shepparton (Victoria) - Tocumwal NSW broad gauge line (1600mm).

The single track at rear is the Melbourne - Sydney main line (standard gauge 1435mm), same as UK.

When you come you'll be able to travel on these lines.