Sydney vs Melbourne
The battle between Melbourne and Sydney, in deciding which comes out on top, is both compelling and fierce. Melbourne boasts a reputation as Australia’s most cosmopolitan metropolis, and is a fixture at the top of the list when it comes to the world’s most liveable cities, while Sydney is a culturally rich place bursting at the seams with epic sights.
Most visitors to Australia will earmark Sydney as a primary destination, and there’s plenty to occupy your time there. A favourable location towards the bottom of the east coast makes it a great place for many travellers to fly into, or out of during any trip Down Under, contributing to a thriving backpacker scene.
Sydney’s iconic sights include the Harbour Bridge and Opera House, ideal for those obligatory Kodak moments, and great for refreshing that out of date profile picture or cover photo. The shoreline upon which Sydney is elegantly sprawled is a real draw, giving birth to an attractive harbour and popular beaches.
A visit to Bondi Beach is mandatory for any visitor, as is a ferry ride around the harbour and to Manly, where surfing is rife. Walks around the coastline are a great way to explore, as is a wander around the Royal Botanic Gardens, and a trip to the Northern Beaches; where you’ll be met by seemingly endless stretches of inviting sands.
Sydney is a great city to be in when it comes to exploring mountain ranges, as it only takes around an hour and a half to reach the spectacular Blue Mountains. Drive yourself, hire a car, take a tour or find some mates on a couch surfing website. However you get there, get ready to enjoy the great outdoors and prepare to be awe-struck as the colours in front of you evolve as evening draws in.
While Melbourne may not boast such a thriving beachside culture as Sydney, it does feature a beautiful coastline to the south of the city; with the town of St Kilda representing something of a mecca for travellers. The laid back vibes and great bars, where live music is prevalent, are great for a night out, while a walk down the breakwater pier as dusk approaches, leads to a colony of small penguins that call Melbourne home.
If you’re into your sport then Melbourne is the city for you, be sure to check the calendar for what events are on during a visit. The offerings include tennis at the Australian open in January, the Formula One Grand Prix in March, October’s MotoGP motorcycle race on Phillip Island, horse racing at the Melbourne Cup and cricket at the MCG. Melbourne is also the birthplace of Aussie Rules football.
Meanwhile the Great Ocean Road lies just an hour away from the city centre. This not only makes for a stunning drive towards the renowned Twelve Apostles, but also provides the opportunity to surf some waves, at spots like the world-famous Bells Beach. Also, close to town lie the Dandenong and Yarra ranges, offering quiet countryside, beautiful roads, hiking and exploration opportunities, as well as sweeping vistas back towards the city.
Nights Out
Melbourne and Sydney are both great for a night out, equipped with lots of bars and restaurants to keep you fed and watered. Melbourne is well-known for its café culture, vibrant Chinatown, huge casino, rooftop bars and buzzing music scene. While Sydney may be a little more expensive but also has an array of rooftop drinking spots, backpacker bars and cocktail joints; Bondi is always a safe bet for a lively night out.
All in all Melbourne and Sydney are tough to separate when it comes to picking a city to spend some time in, the latter is more of an international city and the former perhaps more intimate; but in truth, you really should visit both.