With its magnificent harbor, ocean side beaches, modern skyscrapers, and multi-cultural population, you'll quickly understand why Sydney is such a popular destination for students from around the world. The vibrant life of this city of more than 4 million people means that you'll never be at a loss for things to do.
Much of the life of the city is centered around the water. Sydney Harbour serves as a main transportation artery for ferries, and a recreation venue with sailboats and pleasure craft. The Sydney Opera House and Darling Harbour are just two of the locations where you will find performances and festivals right on the water. Oceanside beaches like Manly, Bondi, and Coogee are popular venues for surfing, swimming, and enjoying a sunny day in Sydney.
While its physical beauty is impressive, the history and diversity of Sydney are equally important contributors to making it such a great place to study. Sydney was Australia's first settlement, and there are plenty of opportunities to explore this history in museums throughout the city as well as simply wandering through some of the residential neighborhoods. These neighborhoods will also provide a vivid picture of the diversity of Sydney. It's not hard to find Italian, Vietnamese, Chinese, Greek and Lebanese neighborhoods, just to name a few of the diverse cultures which make up Australia today.
If you're interested in exploring beyond the city, commuter trains will put you into the Blue Mountains a rugged wilderness area within easy day trip distance of Sydney. Ocean beaches north and south of the city are less than an hour away.