Trip to Circular Quay

Circular Quay (pronounced key) is Sydney's main pier with ferries, connecting destinations like Taronga Zoo and Manly Beach. There are many, many transportation options to get here as a major tourist destination. Light rail, trains, metros, buses, you name it. Speaking of transportation, Sydney utilizes their Opal card system. You could get an Opal card at various locations, such as when you arrive at the airport or at a Metro (Woolworth), or you could tap any widely accepted credit/debit card. As an exchange student, you are not eligible for a concession card for cheaper fares. Please note that only Sydney uses Opal and allows tapping any widely accepted credit/debit card. If you travel to a different city, such as Melbourne, you most likely need to source their region specific transportation card.

Circular Quay is also home to very famous Australian landmarks, such as the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbor Bridge. While they look exactly like the pictures, something about seeing the sheer size of them in comparison to yourself provides a sense of grandeur. If you want different vantage points of these landmarks, try taking a ferry to Manly or Taronga Zoo! There's a gift shop in the downstairs area; just go down the escalator you see from walking from the train station to the opera house. While the items are more expensive than the souvenir shops at Circular Quay, I would much rather directly support opera house. Not only for it's authenticity, but also the souvenir shops have TONS of AI generated items. I strongly urge you to please support genuine artists from the official sources or smaller artist pop-ups.

While not a famous landmark, if you wanted a nice place to walk or have a picnic, the Royal Botanical Garden is only a five minute away from the opera house. Let me preface by saying, the Royal Botanical Garden is absolutely massive. Sunscreen, water, and light clothes are a must. There's a gorgeous waterfront view from the main area of the gardens. It's a great place to get the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbor Bridge in one photo. While still well kept, I must have gone during an off-bloom season, so flowers weren't a prominent feature. However, because they are most likely native to the area, wildflowers were in bloom and there were beautiful pops of color in their section. It was interesting to see so many different botanicals and varieties (and statues!) there. Make a day out of it and enjoy wandering aimlessly.