Head over heels... in Sydney

If New York and London were to have a love child, I imagine it would look a lot like Sydney. Joggers bob up and down the promenade of Bondi Beach, while the rest of us stroll around the brash Darling Harbour eating ice-cream amongst the “suits” going for after-work drinks. Martin’s Place whispers “work hard” while Circular Quay shouts “play hard”, its glamorous bars overlooking the Opera House buzzing with excitement. And while all this is going on, the surrounding suburbs - Sydney’s real attraction - laze around looking pretty, waiting for the barbecues to heat up.

We managed to make it to the capital of the New South Wales region for our deadline, but this time we were glad to give the camper van back. Tired of the routine of driving for hours on end and finding somewhere to park, we felt relieved to be staying with friends for the next few days. The sudden presence of creature comforts such as a bedroom where you couldn’t touch the ceiling was almost overwhelming, not to mention a social life with the ex-pat community thrown in for free! It’s true that we will always remember Sydney in a more positive light because of such luxurious circumstances.

Staying with friends living in this city had benefits besides a power shower and great home-cooked food - we got insider’s tips on where to go. So rather than the quick compulsory visit to Bondi, we went there via a cliff-top coastal walk from Coogee, an easy 6k that takes you through some of the highlights of Sydney’s seaside. And rather than spending time on Bondi’s famous beach we went to the local favourite, Manly, where we sat mesmerised by surfers riding champagne waves until it was time to visit Spanish friends in Maroubra, a residential suburb with some spectacular views of the sea. Our last stop in Australia was definitely making an effort to give us a good send off.

So what’s the catch? Well, as everyone knows, Sydney is one of the world’s most expensive cities and although New Zealand had prepared us for the currency shock, we still had to keep making sure we weren’t draining our funds for 8 months in a matter of days. But I guess that’s what Sydney does to you - it woos you with fine dining and drowns you in wine, before taking you dancing until dawn… and just when you start to flirt with the idea of a long distance relationship it leaves you with a bill to remind you that the best things in life aren’t actually free.

Guess what I found out in Sydney?

1. The Sydney Harbour Bridge is the widest long-span bridge and tallest steel arch bridge in the world and has been nicknamed 'The Coat Hanger' by locals due to its distinct shape.

2. Hundreds of films have been set in Sydney, one of the most commercial being The Matrix. Sydney Harbour was also the setting for the computer animated film, Finding Nemo.

3. Someone who lives in Sydney and its suburbs is colloquially known as a "Sydneysider".