Video Blog

Our last blog comes in the form of a video blog. We have gone to some of the locations we have blogged about and a coupe of extras. Enjoy the video below

If the video cannot be played on the blog please find the Youtube link below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBU0dYQuSEM&feature=youtu.be

During the time of our blog, we have all posted 4 blogs each of some of our favourite places to go on a budget and have tried to provide both pictures and links for you to get an idea of why we want to talk about those places. We all chose a cool place to film for the vlog and each provided a clip to share. The video was compiled by Josh.

We hope you enjoyed the blog and will go on to enjoy some of our recommendations for Sydney on a Budget for Students!

-Josh, Shakif, Venn Loon, Derin and Jimi

Hyde Park

Australia's oldest park is also one of the most scenic and relaxing places to be in the city. Whether you want to  be enjoying a stroll in the greenery during your work break or be appreciating the gardens during the day, Hyde Park is the perfect place for anyone on a budget!

Sourced from: https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/07/af/c8/c3/hyde-park.jpg

Other than the fact that it's freely accessible by the public, this park has a lot of offer for anyone who wants to experience an array of things in one place. So time efficiency is certainly not out of the question here!

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/image/6631738-3x2-700x467.jpg

The park contains a plethora of plants and many monuments which, together, are a unique display of Sydney's natural ageing as a city and its city heritage all within a park. There are a line of Hill's Figs which line the central pedestrian avenue running from Macquarie Street to the ANZAC Memorial.

Image sourced from: https://assets.atdw-online.com.au/images/32ed8424a3d14965acb532f11252e279.jpeg?rect=0,0,2048,1536&w=800&h=60

Throughout the year, the park is a host to numerous cultural events including Australia Day, Food and Wine Fair and the annual Sydney Festival. This city icon really is one the best places to be for anyone wanting to a enjoy a relaxing day out in the city with relatively low money expenditure: on food and transport.

The Great Northern Walk

Feel like taking a break from the mayhem of Sydney? Guess what... you're in luck! Sydney is Rich with national parks and bushland that is very easily accessible. The great northern walk is a hiking track which starts in Sydney and ends all the way up in New castle. It is 240,000 m long and is easily accessible from hundreds of locations which lead onto the track. This means that depending on how adventurous you feel; the length of the hike is entirely up to you! The diversity of the Australian bush allows you to pass through various ecosystems without leaving Sydney! For just a day’s walk, you can traverse through waterfalls, walk alongside rivers, peak from the top of mountains and frolic through grass plains. this is something i would highly recommend for anyone who enjoys the outdoors or wants to try something new.

 Note: before attempting any hike please inform someone on your where about, and how long you plan to hiking for, in case of an emergency.

Derin


Image taken From: https://voyagesontheleft.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/gnw-01.jpg

Visit Asia without travelling there! - Spice Alley

Always wanted to visit Asia? But you don't have the time or budget to do so? Fret not, just visit the Spice Alley!
Spice Alley on Kensington Street is home to the renowned "Hawker Stalls" which is known throughout Asia. Spice Alley has six hawker-style eateries under a ceiling of glowing lanterns, which the laneway meanders through the landscape of Asian cuisine.

Image sourced from http://www.centralparksydney.com/what-s-on/news-events/explore-along-kensington-street

Let's travel around Asia:
Alex Lee Kitchen (Singapore) 
-Authentic Singaporean Chicken Rice served up by one of Sydney's most reputed chef, Alex Lee.
Bang Luck Thai Streetfood (Thailand)
-Thai food with a hint of Vietnamese fusion, known for their Pad See Ew which is a type of delicious noodle.
Old Jim Kee (Malaysia)
-Have a wide selection of Malaysian food including mouth watering stir-fry dishes such as Char Kuey Theow.
Hong Kong Diner (Hong Kong)
-Authentic Dim Sum without breaking the bank, and also hand made noodles.
Kyo-To (Japan) 
-Not your everyday sushi bar, they don't even serve sushi. They do however serve mean rice bowls and Japan noodles.
Viet (Vietnam)
-Looking pho some delicious Vietnamese food? They serve the iconic dish of Vietnam and much more, however everybody loves their Pho.

Imaged sourced from http://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-guide/sydney/restaurants/kopi-tiam-spice-alley

You want to spend a little more? Dine at Bar Chinois!
Bar Chinois is the watering hole where the east and west meet. It is a French-Asian fusion bar with some hip and chic. Every hour is happy hour at Bar Chinois.

Location of Spice Alley: 

Kensington Street, Chippendale, New South Wales 2008

Image sourced from https://www.kensingtonstreet.com.au/vendor/gin-lane/

Opening hours:  

Monday	11am–10pm
Tuesday	11am–10pm
Wednesday	11am–10pm
Thursday	11am–10:30pm
Friday	11am–10:30pm
Saturday	11am–10:30pm
Sunday	11am–10pm

Written by Max Yam Venn Loon

Picnic At North Head!

Enjoy a picnic with an awesome view at North Head in Manly.

Located right at the mouth of Sydney Harbour, you can make your way up to the top of North Head and delight in the view of the vast ocean and the cityscape. 

Make sure, when you enjoy this cheap day out in Sydney, that you take your picnic blanket with you, as well as some food and drink for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, or dinner, and spend some time with friends or family at this lovely location.

(Image from: https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/lookouts/north-head)

There are also plenty of walks that can be enjoyed up at North Head, as well as the Bella Vista Café, which is open from 9am- 4pm, and offers a variety of food and drinks.

Have fun on you picnic up to North Head!

See you soon, Jimi.

Visit the Blue Mountains on Sunday!

Why visit the Blue Mountains on Sunday? That is because the Opal card charges a maximum of $2.60 on Sunday for the regular opal card! Other methods of travelling to blue mountain will cost a large sum of money ranging from 50 - 80 dollars.
How do you go to the blue mountains? 
First off, you will need to go to Central station which is in the main heart of Sydney. Then you will need to go on trains which lead to Mount Victoria Station. The train ride will take around 2 hours, so you have time to sit back and relax on the train. Once arriving at Mount Victoria Station, you will need to walk for 1600 meters to arrive at Blue Mountains!

Image sourced from https://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/blue-mountains?

Blue Mountains Blue Mountains is one of the most spectacular parts of the country. Blue Mountains has some of the country's most dazzling natural attractions. The view from the top of the mountain is phenomenal and speaking from someone who has visited the Blue Mountains, it's not a place you would want to skip out on. You can also experience wonders at Scenic World, where there are glass-topped carriages which take you on a ride into the Jamison Valley. You are allowed to bushwalk and camp in the Jamison Valley. Besides that, Blue Mountains is known for the three sisters. Who are the three sisters? Are they celebrities? No, the three sisters is an iconic formation that you must see at least once in your lifetime. It is honestly a breathtaking experience visiting the Blue Mountains.

Written by Max Yam Venn Loon

Image sourced from https://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/blue-mountains?

Image sourced from https://www.bluemts.com.au/info/thingstodo/threesisters/

Sydney Noodle Market (limited Time)

FOODIES UNIT, or if you feel like doing something different that too. The Sydney Noodle Market is an annual event celebrating food. This year it is running between the 5^th of October to the 22^nd of October. This magnificent market has 40+ mouthwatering food stalls serving up the best street food from across the Asian region. There are also amazing DJs, Dancing Dragons and other marvels to feast your eyes on. Located in Hyde park, only a couple minutes’ walk from various city stations, this is a must for anyone who has a free night available and enjoys food!

-Derin

Image taken from: http://sydsocial.melbournesocial101.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2015/10/Noodle.jpg

Museum of Contemporary Art

If art is your thing, or you want to try something new then the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) could be for you. Located at Circular Quay, and in close proximity to The Rocks, the MCA is in a easy to find location and can be paired with a walk around the iconic area.

Upon your free entry into the museum, immerse yourself in the exhibits ranging from traditional methods of painting and photography to modern methods including moving image and creative technology use.

The museum is filled with over 4000 works of art by Australian artists, showing their Aussie pride and affording the opportunity for locals and non-locals alike to better understand our people and culture.

MCA also have a revolving door of guest exhibits, changing the experience there every time you visit. Also on offer are guided tours from the knowledgeable staff.

For more info check out: https://www.mca.com.au/

Enjoy!

Josh

Images sourced from biennaleofsydney.com.au, mca.com.au

A Walk with a View: Spit to Manly Walk

Hey everyone,

Hope your weekend is going well!!

Another idea on enjoying Sydney on a Budget is to take a walk along the waters edge from the Spit Bridge to Manly.

This incredible walk is about 10km in total and will take most about 3-4 hours to complete, so be sure to take your water bottle, a few snacks, and your hat!

(Image from: https://www.sydney.com/things-to-do/nature-and-parks/walks/manly-to-spit-bridge-walk)

There are many pit stops on the way when you need a rest. You can enjoy a swim in the ocean as the trail follows the waters edge around the harbour all the way to Manly. Pack you swimmers as well!

This is an absolute must-do in Sydney for the day. There's plenty of transport to the Spit bridge from the CBD and also plenty of transport back into the CBD from manly.

To find out more, check out: https://www.sydneycoastwalks.com.au/spit-to-manly-walk/

Have fun on your scenic walk, see you soon, Jimi.

Sydney Paddy's Market

Sydney Paddy's Market is an icon of Australian consumerism and multicultural unification. Located at the southern end of George street in the central business district, the Paddy's Market is officially one of the cheapest places to experience what Sydney has got to offer. The market is probably the most affordable place, anywhere in Sydney, to buy souvenirs for family and friends.

Sydney Paddy's Markets has been around for about 150 years with a convenient location at the heart of the central business district, George Street. It is easily accessible if you want to walk around and scope the city sights.

You can also access the markets via regular buses at Central station. The N30 and N50 bus service will take you to your destination. You can also take a 10 minute walk route from Central station to the markets.

No matter what the occasion, be it a relaxing weekend stroll, hanging out with friends and family or even date night, Sydney Paddy's Market in Haymarket will fit the suit! Its relatively cheap prices and convenient location around other restaurants, bars and shopping complexes is guaranteed to have you exhausted with satisfaction by the end of the day. It's the perfect place for anyone looking to explore Sydney on a budget!

Hope you enjoy!
Shakif

Heritage listed estate tour – Dame Eadith Walker

Have you ever wanted to do a ghost tour, but didn’t know where to go? The Dame Eadith Walker Estate runs ghost tours multiple times throughout the week. If you don’t like being scared, then they also run normal tours of the estate. The tours go for 1 hour and cost 15$ for adults, 10$ for concession and are free for children. The tours give you a rich history of the Estate but also the history of the previous residents. Oh, and If I forgot to mention... they also filmed The Great Gatsby on the estate and it is always fun to play which location was in the film. Some say Dame is still on the grounds reading letters from her loved ones. I may or may not have seen her, I can’t be sure. The only way for you to know is if you go yourself!

-      -  Derin

Images taken from: https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/97/232575381_a3a56cba0f_z.jpg?zz=1
                                https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/26/YarallaMansion.JPG
                               https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8602/16455401849_0dfd2b5a33_b.jpg
                                https://i.pinimg.com/236x/72/7e/96/727e964ae9b9d2e3f95f43d1abb8f46c.jpg 

Can you handle an ENORMOUS burger??!!!?!?! FREE burger if you can!!!

You vs the Mega Burger!

If you enjoy a good challenge, and if you're feeling hungry, and I mean very very hungry, you could have a go at a massive burger challenge in the heart of Sydney. 

At Goodtime Burgers, they offer a challenge to you to finish their juggernaut burger in under 8 minutes.

(Picture from: https://static.wixstatic.com/media/02e190_00f659f07f654dd0b14931564dc2ad4b~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_870,h_580,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/02e190_00f659f07f654dd0b14931564dc2ad4b~mv2.jpg)

If you complete the challenge, then you don't just get your face on the Wall of Fame, you also get the burger completely FREE!!

Make sure you get down to Goodtime Burgers, and have a go at the massive burger, because you could walk away with a full stomach, and minor stardom. 

The Address for Goodtime Burgers is

           500 Oxford Street

           Bondi Junction, 2022
           Sydney, Australia

See you Soon, Jimi.

Relax in the Sun at Manly Beach!

A Day at Manly Beach

It's a lovely day out in Sydney today, and a great way to spend a sunny spring day is to get down to the beach with yourself or a few friends.

One beach in particular to spend the day at is the infamous Manly Beach on the northern beaches.

(Image from: https://www.sydney.com/destinations/sydney/sydney-north/manly)

This large stretch of beach is perfect to spend a day at if you don't want to spend money on activities.

You'll have a great time strolling along the beach and feeling the sand between you toes, and exploring the vibrancy of Manly.

On the beach you could:

           - Sunbath and soak in some sun

           - Go for a walk to Shelley beach and enjoy the scenic walk

           - Get a nibble to eat at one of the many cafes and restaurants

           - Borrow a surfboard and try get a wave


Manly is easily accessible via public transport, either bus or the awesome Ferry that runs through harbour over to Manly wharf. There is also plenty of street parking available, free 2hr parking buildings, and other parking options.

Make sure to get down to manly to enjoy a fun, easy and cheap day out in Sydney.

See you soon, Jimi.

Sydney Harbour Bridge

Sydney has many iconic landmarks, but one of the most well-known and easily recognisable is the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Lovingly called the coat hanger by locals, the bridge links the north of Sydney to the city, overlooking the beautiful harbour below.

The harbour itself is always buzzing with activity between the speedboat rides, the ferry rides and those fortunate to have their own boats sailing around the scenic waters.

Whilst the bridge is predominately used by cars and the trainline, it also has a free walking path along the outside. This 15-20 minute walk will give you a brilliant view of Sydney Harbour, Luna Park and the city itself. Stop wherever you like to get a few quick snaps and save yourself on buying the postcards.

For an extra treat, check out the pylon lookout, a true hidden gem in Sydney that not even many locals know about. Climbing up the 200 steps to be 87 metres above sea level with an even better view than the bridge itself!

The pylon lookout is open 7 days from 10am to 5pm and although there is a cost it is minimal (maximum $15) and it completely worth the small cost.

For more info check out: http://www.pylonlookout.com.au/

If money is no worry for you, then you might also want to check out the harbour bridge climb, where you have the opportunity to join a group tour and climb up and over the top of the bridge. Although prices start from $158 this is an experience you will never forget!

For more info check out: https://www.bridgeclimb.com/

Enjoy!

Josh

Images sourced from sydney.com, remarkablesydneytraveltips.com, experienceoz.com.au