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Living in Sydney

Use the information here to:
Find out about Sydney
Take a virtual tour
Choose the right accommodation
Set up your home
Find out about transport options

For money and budgeting resources go to:


If you are finding the transition to University difficult you can contact Counselling and Psychological Services (CAPS).

Please contact us if you have any additional questions about finding accommodation.

Find out about Sydney

Sydney is a sprawling and diverse city of more than four million people and choosing where to live can be difficult. Many students live in suburbs some distance from the University and commute by train, and/or bus and/or ferry. Spending time commuting to work or places of study, is a normal part of daily life for many local people.

Many students want to live close to the campus they are attending. The Suburbs Information Sheet has information about suburbs close to each campus.

Alternative sources of information about different areas of Sydney can be found on websites such as Visit Sydney as well as many local government websites:

  • The University's Camperdown and Darlington, Mallet Street, Burren Street, St James and Surry Hills Campuses, and the Sydney Conservatorium of Music are all located within the City of Sydney Council area. Go to City of Sydney localities for information about suburbs within this area.

Also close by is:

Sydney College of the Arts is in the:

Cumberland campus at Lidcombe is in the:

Also close by is the:

Links to other local government areas can be found on other local government websites

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Take a virtual tour

Use the street view feature on google maps to look at different areas of Sydney. Go to google maps, choose an area you are interested in, then use the "Street View" feature under the "More" option, and take a visual stroll!

Choose the right accommodation

Different areas and different types of accommodation have their own advantages, and your choice will depend on your priorities and budget.

Affordability: Unfortunately, Sydney is one of the world's most expensive cities. If you are on a budget, you’ll need to take rent, household expenses, and traveling expenses into consideration. Remember that if you choose to live in a cheaper area, further from your campus you need to factor in traveling costs. Also talk to potential housemates about how they split utility bills and pay for household expenses.

Availability: Share houses and rental properties in Sydney are in high demand, particularly close to the Camperdown and Darlington campuses. While many students want to live within walking distance of University, it’s not always possible to find accommodation close by. The University campuses are well serviced by public transport, so there are plenty of other convenient options. See the transport section for more information.


Cultural Connections: Some areas of Sydney have strong cultural ties. You can search local council areas for more information, see the Local Council Directory

Social Activities: Sydney has a wide variety of social scenes and activities. Think about what you like to do on weekends and which suburbs are convenient. For example, do you want to live in the inner city? Or, do you want to be closer to the beach?

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Set up your home

If you are renting a property you will need to get the utilities such as phone and electricity connected, and you may also need furniture. These links will help you:

Utility Connection: Fast Connect is a free utility connection service.

Gas and Electricity supply:AGL and Energy Australia are the main gas and electricity providers in Sydney. For a list of all Gas and Electricity suppliers go here: http://www.nsw.gov.au/moving.asp

Phone connection: Telstra and Optus are the two of the main telephone companies. A web search will provide more contacts if you want to shop around for prices.

Internet Connection: Telstra and Optus package telephone and internet costs together. You can also do a web search for more internet service provides and costs. The website Broadband Choice can be used to research and compare different internet plans.

Furnishing your Home: Download a list of new, second-hand and rental furniture stores close to University campuses. Also keep your eye out for garage sales in the area as they can uncover great bargains!

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Transport

The University of Sydney campuses are well serviced by public transport.

Regular buses go directly past the Camperdown and Darlington campuses. The closest train station is Redfern, which is a 7 to 10 minute walk from campus, or Central which is about a 15 minute walk or a short bus ride. Newtown and Macdonaldtown train stations are within a 30 minute walk.

Cumberland campus and Sydney College of the Arts are well served by buses.

The Conservatorium of Music, Dental hospital and the Law Faculty are located in the City and serviced by public transport from all parts of Sydney.

Buses, Trains and Ferries
The following websites provide timetables and trip planners to help you get around Sydney:

Light Rail
The Lightrail system which runs between Central station and Lilyfield go to: www.metrolightrail.com.au

Taxis
There are a number of taxi companies in Sydney. These include:
Taxis Combined – 133 300
Legion Cabs – 131 451
Premier Cabs – 131 017

Information about the location of University campuses, including maps and public transport information, is also available from the University website.

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