During my time as the American Outsider in Australia, I have had the pleasure of exploring both Sydney and Melbourne. I was very distraught to hear about the flaming rivalry between the two cities because they both bring such different elements to the table. They may be comparable, but their strengths lie in completely different places.
Before I begin, I’d like to apologize to Melbourne beach lovers. St. Kilda has nothing on Bondi Beach. I’d also like to apologize to inner-city Sydney lovers because The Rocks and Darling Harbour are a far cry from the elegance found on Flinders Street, Hosier Lane, Federation Square or Southbank. See what I mean? Despite them both being well-populated port cities, they are polar opposites.
When it comes to their Central Business Districts, Melbourne is the brilliant, artistic, musical, new-wave hipster, and Sydney is majestic, Victorian, iconic, public figure. Melbourne is Bono and Sydney is Barack Obama (within reason, c’mon). Though Sydney is a huge, thriving, well-known city, it was Melbourne’s CBD that truly blew me away with its unique aesthetic. The quaint, intricate cafes, the art that lines the streets, and the lively music on every corner bring the city to life in a way that Sydney’s CBD does not.
When it comes to their beaches, Sydney offers some of the finest beaches in the world; Bondi, Coogee, and Manly Beach. Melbourne offers St. Kilda, Brighton, and Half Moon Bay. Both offer the world a great surf, iconic backdrop, great bike paths along the coast, beautiful shops, pubs, and boutiques along the shoreline worth spending a little money in. However, the moment you step onto Bondi Beach or arrive off the ferry onto Manly Beach, you feel an immediate wave of relaxation. You can pick a spot anywhere along the wondrously wide beach, read a good book or doze off to the sound of crashing waves until the sun goes down. Brighton may have famously photographed huts along the beach, but the beach itself stands nowhere near the greatness of the soft, white-sand Manly or Bondi Beach.
One way the cities simulate is through the design of their waterfront entertainment districts. Both offer fantastic marina views right from your seat at the table. In Sydney, you can enjoy Darling Harbour or The Rocks whereas Melbourne offers the elegance of Southbank. Melbourne’s finest restaurants sit in between the river and the towering, yet eventful business district, but because your view is the calmness of the Yarra River, the guests are not reminded of their busy days and offices behind them.
Sydney’s CBD waterfront offers guests two main destinations along the iconic Harbour. You can sit and eat in The Rocks, an urban tourist precinct and historic area that is lined with historic pubs and cobblestone walkways, or you can choose from one of the multiple eateries that line the colorful ship and dockyard in Darling Harbour. The Rocks offer restaurants ranging from The Opera Bar outside the steps of the Opera House, Blu Bar with an iconic view of the Harbour, or Philip’s Foote outside of Circular Quay where restaurants are only a short walk from the architecturally aesthetic Sydney Opera House. Darling Harbour, on the other hand, is lined with high-end restaurants and pubs making it a very popular Friday night destination for those young and old. They both offer outdoor seating, a beautiful waterfront breeze, and a multitude of bars to create the perfect night out on the town.
What if I said I knew a place that was the best of both worlds? What if I told you there was somewhere with iconic beaches, quaint artistic café-filled streets, a bustling university, and a waterfront pub and restaurant district? Would you believe me if I told you it was Newcastle?
After traveling to both Melbourne and Sydney, I cannot help but notice that Newcastle has pulled my favorite aspects from each of the two cities and molded it into one. Very clever, Newcastle. Sneaky, but clever. Darby Street is undeniably the perfect combination of George Street in Sydney and Queen Street in Melbourne. Newcastle’s city murals may span over the entirety of our city, but they replicate the artistic ability showcased in Hosier Lane, Melbourne. Hunter Street is a small scale City Centre with its bustling cafes and cobblestone street. Honeysuckle boasts the same quality waterfront entertainment district by utilizing the best mix of Darling Harbour and Southbank. Our weekly markets, (Hunt & Gather Markets, The Olive Tree Market) assimilate to the Victorian Markets of Melbourne on a smaller, yet still as valuable scale. Doughheads in Newcastle can kick a sweet tooth the same way Doughnut Time Melbourne does. Sprout in Sydney screams out for it’s long lost brother Momo in Newcastle. Good Brother Espresso could easily be mistaken for Pellegrini’s in Melbourne. We have Kotaras, a light rail on the way, a secret bar and an underground Café. What more could we need? Oh right, beaches. But don’t worry we have those too. Memorial Drive and Marine Parade in St. Kilda hold the same oceanic views, and Merewether Surfhouse might as well be The Bucket List of Bondi’s twin. Our ANZAC Walk could dual as Sydney’s Bondi to Coogee coastal walk, and though Civic and Pacific Park may not be as big as the Botanical Gardens, or ever take the place of Bondi Park, in essence, they will do.
Noticed how no one mentioned their undying love for towering big buildings? Well, people don’t move to big cities for the skyscrapers. They move into cities because of what goes on below the skyscrapers. Well, I am here to tell you that Newcastle has exactly what goes on below, without even having the scrapers above! Newcastle is in the period of renewal and revival. Its economy is on the rise, and businesses are sprouting up everywhere you turn. Newcastle has the nightlife, it has the city, it has the beaches, it has the transportation, it has the shops and cafes, and it has the history. So what more there to discuss?
Newcastle has the inner city vibes of Melbourne and the beachy blues of Sydney. So why not stop the fighting and bickering about which city is better, and move to Newcastle, already.
It is truly the best of both worlds.
xoxo,
-sp
