January 8, 2010

photo credit: foxypar4

We hope all of our Furnished Property tenants had an amazing New Year celebration. Cheers!

December 21, 2009

One of the first things people new to living in Sydney realise is that you could split Sydney easily into 4 quadrants. The eastern (think Bondi & travellers), northern (think over the Harbour Bridge), the south (think Cronulla and below) and the west (from the inner west of Balmain to the very far beyond). The diversity and uniqueness of each of the quadrants makes it worth travellers’ time to get out and explore each in order to experience all that Sydney has to offer.

A trip to the northern beaches is a tour of the long stretching golden coastlines that span along northern Sydney from Manly right up to the north point of Palm Beach. Below is a highlight of some of the different spots that should be visited along the way.

MANLY

The best place to start is at Sydney’s 2nd best known beach – Manly. Manly is fondly referred to by locals as Man-Town. This thrilling cosmopolitan seaside city cranks with funky bars, bucket loads of modern cafes & restaurants, stacks of shopping choices (surf brands, Sportsgirl, tourist trinket shops), an amazing harbour linked wharf with ferries to the city & back, and of course, the beautiful, much loved and visited Manly Beach.

photo credit: Sir Mervs [alert level 3]

The perfect way to visit Manly is by ferry, with services regularly leaving Circular Quay during weekdays and weekends. Ensure you bring your swimmers, sunscreen, towel and something to change into when the sun sets to enjoy a bite to eat at the many tasty eateries on offer (Mortar & Pestle is recommended). Or, you can slip into a drinking hole to enjoy a nice cold beverage (Manly Wharf Bar has amazing views back over the city as the sun sets in the West and the Manly Steyne Hotel is an institution in the area for its many bars and great variety of live music).

A must-do whilst in Manly is the Manly Beach to Shelly Beach walk, which allows you to take in the spectacular views of the coastline. The walk begins at Manly Surf Club at the south of the beach and continues for about 10 minutes along a paved walkway to the pristine water inlet of Shelly Beach – a popular place for swimming and snorkeling.

• Circular Quay to Manly Timetable
• Manly Wharf Bar Hotel
• The Steyne Hotel
• Info on Shelly Beach

DEE WHY

The next stop on any journey along the northern beaches will require a new mode of transport. Perhaps a car hire (Discount Car Rental does them cheap) or the ever trusty Sydney Buses could assist you here. Let us next visit the much loved local town of Dee Why. Dee Why thrives on its ultra convenient beachside strand which is packed to the brink with tasty, buzzing eating venues. The eatery choices cater to all tastes – modern Australian, Thai, Japanese (the food at Ocean Sushi on Oaks Ave is amazing), Italian, seafood and more. Possibly the oldest restaurant along the Dee Why strip is Stella Blu, which has great food plus a cocktail bar with live music on the weekends, and is a place not only famous in the local area, but well beyond.

And besides the amazing food available, one could not forget the beach. With its wonderfully formed beachside park, Dee Why Beach makes for the best picnic venue in the area.

Bring a rug, a cooler bag of wine and cheese, and spend a few hours sipping some Australian vino while watching the world go by.

Also make sure you pack your togs because Dee Why not only offers a beautiful swimming beach, but there is a great ocean pool as well for those who prefer a dip without the waves.

• Sydney Transport Info (‘The Strand, Dee Why’ by public transport)
• Stella Blu

NARRABEEN

photo credit: 1Happysnapper(is trying to catch up )

As you continue your journey up the coast, you’ll start to notice that the further north you travel, the slower the world seems to operate. Crank the volume up on your iPod or car stereo, wind the windows down and let the freshness of the salty sea air wash over you. A must stop on your journey is the idealic town of Narrrabeen, nestled in between the beach and the lake. Those that feel like getting active should check out Prokayak on Narrabeen Lake where you can cruise the peaceful waterway in a canoe, kayak or pedal boat.

If you feel like cooling down with a swim, or lying down to soak up some rays, Narrabeen Beach is sure to allow maximum personal beach space as it stretches so long that it has 4 separate surf clubs and patrolled areas. If you start to get thirsty or hungry and need some hydration or sustenance, there are two great pubs in the area that are sure to satisfy your needs – the Narrabeen Sands Hotel (modern and relaxing) or the Surf Rock hotel (with a fabulous varandah that offers stunning ocean views). These two pubs are popular places for regulars and visitors alike. If you feel like spending the night, or two, the Collaroy YHA offers great, clean facilities close to the beach and pub at really great prices!

• Narrabeen Lake Kayak, Canoe and Pedal Boat Hire
• The Sands Hotel
• The Surf Rock Hotel
• Collaroy YHA

PALM BEACH

At the end of the line waiting for you is the ultra suave and very fabulous Palm Beach, or Palmie to the locals. Keep your eyes peeled when you roll into town as you may just find yourself looking at an Australian celeb with the likes of Nicole Kidman and Elle McPherson often frequenting this dazzling beachside retreat.

To take public transport, the only bus that will take you all the way is the L90 which leaves from Central Station regularly weekdays and weekends. To enjoy the best views of Palm Beach and its stunning surrounds, take a short hike up to the Barrenjoey Lighthouse where you are sure to find the 400m beach walk worth the effort at the top. For those light house buffs, you can even take a tour for a few dollars as well. For those with a bit of time up their sleeve, the Palm Beach Ferry operates to Ettalong Beach (Central Coast) on weekdays and weekends from the Palm Beach Wharf. Hop off at Ettalong and enjoy a relaxing meal before catching the ferry back to Palm Beach later in the day.

If real estate is your thing, spend some time taking in the many amazing properties lining the streets, some of the most expensive real estate in Australia. For the Home and Away groupies – don’t miss the beach where the show is filmed!

• Barrenjoey Lighthouse
• Palm Beach Ferry
• Home and Away Walking Tours

This post was brought to you by one of our wonderful staff accountants, Elysha! Elysha is a little bit camera shy, but the lucky few Furnished Property patrons will get to make her acquaintance.

December 7, 2009

The Christmas season is just around the corner, and many of our Furnished Property tenants might not be noticing since there is a lack of winter holidays atmosphere here in the Sydney summer. While Aussies are quite used to hearing strange “White Christmas” type songs when it is a blazing 40 degrees outside, some tenants are caught off guard when December 25th actually rolls around and they realise they haven’t even sent their families a simple holiday card.

Without those cooling weather cues, it can just be hard for working holiday visa holders to get into the Christmas mood. So, for those who haven’t yet realised, it is time to start that gift shopping, especially if planning to send them to family overseas.

I’ve compiled a little help guide here in case anyone living with Furnished Property needs some tips for sending their families some Aussie Christmas cheer!

1) Christmas Cards – Some tenants might be a bit strapped for cash and just can’t afford much more than a card. But, who can really imagine sending a traditional card with snowmen and burning fireplaces when Christmas in Australia is the exact opposite?! So family and friends back home can get a real taste, try sending them Australian Christmas themed cards, such as this one with Santa surfing. Aldi has packs for under $5.

2) Fun Gifts – Sydney shops are filled with heaps of typical souvenirs that loved ones might enjoy back home, but for those looking for a more ecclectic gift, there is always the opportunity to send a real piece of Australian wildlife. Kangaroo scrotum keychain, anyone?

3) Thoughtful Gifts – Since our tenants are primarily working travellers or international students, families back home will be missing their presence at holiday events. What mother wouldn’t love to receive a framed photo of their child as a present? To accomplish this task, tenants can find a particularly nice photo of themselves in Australia, upload it to a local (based in their family’s area) photo printing shop, and have it sent out in time for the holidays.

Postage

When choosing to send a package from Australia to home, allow sufficient time for shipping. It is the holiday season, afterall, and it is always nice to be punctual with gifts. Besides this, there are a couple other things to be aware of:

1) Customs – Be as honest as possible with the customs declaration form. Otherwise, the item could be delayed, or not make it at all.

2) Know What You Can Send – It is a good idea to investigate if there might be any restrictions on any items being shipped. There are different regulations for different countries.

Hopefully, this gives the temporary Australia resident, working holiday visa holder, international student, or any other Furnished Property tenant a little bit of guidance when it comes to preparing for the fast approaching holidays.

December 4, 2009

photo credit: markg6

November 20, 2009

As a majority of Furnished Property tenants are in Sydney on a working holiday visa, they immediately start to think of all the ways they can apply for their second visa when they discover the joys of an Australian summer. To do this, however, involves spending 3 months taking part in regional work during the first working holiday, and fruit picking – duh duh duhhhh – is definitely the easiest and most popular form of regional work around.

Easiest? I guess the term is relative to what you consider easy. Long days in hot weather surrounded by bugs and getting covered in sweat and dirt doesn’t sound easy to me. What I meant is that the jobs are more flexible than most, and, as long as you can get there in time, there is probably plenty to go around.

A typical day might look a little like the following:

Initially, the idea of performing this repetitive and body-killing task might be quickly brushed aside. Why the heck would someone want to take part in physical labour during your time down under? Ah, but flash that little pass for an extra 12 months of Aussie bliss, and people will quickly change their tune.

Besides this bonus, there are plenty of other reasons to want to take part in fruit picking while in Australia.

• See rural Australia. Sadly, some people only see the big stuff while in Australia – the cities, the beaches, and all the big tourist spots. By taking part in fruit picking / harvest work, backpackers can see another side of this massive country.
• Enjoy nature. Ever feel the need to escape the hustle and bustle of city life and kick back in the quietness of nature? Fruit picking provides a means of experience the calming tranquillity and beauty of the rural landscape every day.
• Get fit. It’s not uncommon for fruit pickers to see a noticeable difference in the way their body looks after only a few short weeks of work. The constant activity provides and excellent way to get beach fit while gaining some cash.
• Meet other backpackers. Make friends for life by living in cheap shared accommodation and working with other backpackers while fruit picking. Who knows what future travel plans may emerge after a short stint on the farm.

Harvest work is not a relaxing job, to say the least, but by playing the cards right, a backpacker or former Furnished Property tenant might be able to step away with a hefty wad of cash in tow. There’s nothing quite like celebrating a job well done by having some money to be used for further travels around Australia.

What about you? Do you plan to fruit pick in order to get your second working holiday visa?

November 11, 2009

It appears that the old saying of the grass is always greener is true no matter where you come from. Caroline, a 21 year old working holiday maker, arrived in Sydney about 3 months ago and decided to make the move because she was just tired of Sweden. She quit her former life as the manager of a food joint, gave up her apartment, and booked a one-way ticket to Australia. Now, Caroline talks about her less-than-normal life as a Furnished Property tenant in the heart of Sydney’s Kings Cross, full of unexpected coincidences and experiences that let us know that there is something to gain by being such a positive light.

“I was walking down the street last week wanting to know how much it was to get into Club Soho, which is kind of expensive. I went up to a guy on the street wanting to find out – a very good looking guy – and he said, ‘Oh my god, I’m promoting for this night club. Do you want to get in for free? I’ll walk you… as long as I get a few cigarettes.’ It’s like you never know what’s going to happen.”

Kings Cross is notorious around the world for its vibrant night life, and that draws in a large amount of backpackers and tourists throughout the year. Caroline agrees with the hype surrounding this location, which is why she lives there, and even states, “I think it’s better than living outside [Kings Cross]. I pay a bit more, but it’s so close to everything.”

Everything here includes the pubs and clubs that shape the local atmosphere, and, after three long months, Caroline is still not tired of being considered a tourist amongst backpackers. Actually, Caroline prefers the backpacker establishments when it comes to going out in Sydney because “you get to meet a lot of new people”. And, when it comes to the cost of a night on the town, she suggests to either have a pre-party at home first to save some money, or (she jokes) to just find a nice Australian guy to buy the drinks all night.

Besides laying back and enjoying the spontaneity of entertainment brought about by living in a city a lot larger than her hometown in Sweden, Caroline explains that it was her positive attitude that helped her to find two jobs within the first two weeks of being here, and now a third.

“I found another job at a coffee place. I just went there and said, ‘Hi, are you in need of staff? I would love to work for you.’ They told me to come back next week, on Wednesday. Two minutes. It was that easy.”

Caroline continues, “Be very open, and don’t be negative. Don’t say, ‘Oh, I won’t get an apartment, I won’t get a job,’ ’cause then you won’t get either. Being positive is good for jobs. …If you are happy and speak English, it should be easy to get a job. Just smile.”

Being from Sweden, Caroline has been trained to want things a certain way, but this has not stopped her from adopting the “no worries” Aussie lifestyle while here. Sure, the buses might come 10 minutes late, but she has learned to adapt and accept the good that comes her way. She even met some of her best friends while sitting on a bus! Caroline is definitely a roll with the punches type of gal, and this image exudes from her personality and every word she speaks. I found it a bit hard to imagine, but she was actually a little excited about the idea of fruit picking.

“Actually, I did think about fruit picking because of the second year visa. But, it would be cool, even doing it for a couple of weeks really… just going out there and just doing it. It’s the experience, so you can say you’ve done this.”

Caroline wants to experience all that Australia has to offer. She has recently discovered a love for surfing, and she would even say that it is more amazing than the skydiving she did last Friday. However, more than just adventure, Caroline is looking for the authenticity that the normal daily life can bring.

“So many backpackers come to Australia, and they are so into doing all the backpacker things. They go to all the places that everyone else goes to, and I think it’s underrated to do real Australia things, like hang out with real Australian people. It creates a whole different view of it… it’s their real life, and that’s what I’m trying to do.”

Caroline has no real plans for after her time in Sydney, but I’m sure that with such a positive attitude she will have no problems in taking the next step.

November 11, 2009

Pay for a couple of entrance fees, a few beers, a round of drinks, a greasy late night snack and a taxi fare, and your night out in Sydney has probably cost you close to next week’s rent!

It’s not easy making a budget night out for Sydney flatshare tenants. You all know the drill – You head out with good intentions, reminding yourself that you will only have a few before calling it a night. You say “hi” to some friends and decide to have just one more because everyone is having such a great time. One more turns into a few and before you know it, it’s 3 am and you’re stumbling into bed a lot less richer.

Believe it or not, there are ways that you can combat this vicious cycle. Just by making a few small changes to your routine, nights out in Sydney can be more budget friendly. Here’s how:

1. Have a few drinks at home. Drinks are usually much cheaper at the store than they are at the pub or club. Start your night off at home so you will hopefully spend less when you finally head out.

   *Please be aware that alcohol is not to be consumed in Furnished Property guest houses. You may have to find a cheap, local pub to get you started.

2. Go out later. If you are the type of person who loves to stay out all night, then try to start your adventures at a later hour, thus lessening the amount of time actually spent at the club buying expensive drinks.
3. Alternate with soft drinks. What makes drinking so expensive? That’s right… the alcohol. Space out the fun by mixing in a couple of soft drinks here and there. Trust me, your body and your wallet will thank you.



4. Avoid buying rounds of drinks. Rounds of drinks can cost a lot depending on the amount of people in the group, and who knows if everyone will still be around to get their shout when the time actually comes. Make it clear early on that you will be buying and drinking at your own pace so you don’t feel obligated later on.
5. Gather a group for the taxi. If you think you’ll be taking a taxi home, then try your best to fill it up in order to spread the cost over as many people as possible. Try looking into night rides if and when the opportunity arises.
6. Drink what’s on special. It may not be your favourite, but it may very well save you some cash by imbibing the discount drink of the evening. Even if it only saves you an extra few dollars per drink, it will seem like much more when it starts adding up!
7. Keep your tolerance low. Avoid alcohol during the week in an attempt to keep your alcohol tolerance low. If your body becomes used to a certain level of alcohol, you will start to feel like you need more in order to have the same effect, thus raising the cost of your nights out.



8. Make alternative nights out. Over time, the pizzazz of the same old every weekend activities can fade. Try to regain that sparkle and shine by giving it a break for a bit. Maybe a night of bowling, a low-key visit to the movie theatre, or even inviting a few friends to your home every once in a while can help you maintain your budget, and make going out on the town exciting again.
9. Take only the money you want to spend. Of course, there is always the tempting ATM around to magically dispense cash at the push of a button, so even this option can easily fail. While leaving the ATM card at home is also an idea, it may actually be good in cases of emergencies. Either way, perhaps the extra step of having to search out a machine when low cash flow emerges will better deter overspending.
10. Avoid club-hopping. Cover charges alone can make a huge impact on the cost of a night out. Pick a place and stick around for a bit if you can in order to spread the cost out over a larger amount of time.

And just when you thought the list would never end, I will impart yet another piece of hopefully enjoyable information upon your laps. For those looking for the best drinking deals during the week, be sure to take a look at Sydney Happy Hour for a mapped out view of the best locales to get your drink on from Monday to Friday.

Hopefully this guide can be of assistance to our budget Sydney flatshare tenants, as well as anyone needing to cut back their weekly night out spending habits. Cheers!

November 11, 2009

November 2, 2009

photo credit: Predrag_Bubalo

October 28, 2009

For foreigners coming to Sydney, many of the suburbs can have long, funny-sounding and hard-to-pronounce names. I mean who ever thought that Woolloomoolo should be pronounced like “Woolah-mahloo” instead of how it’s spelt?! Anyway, the reason these suburbs actually have such exciting sounding names is because they come from Aboriginal words.

Ah, yes, you probably knew this already, but did you happen to know that Woolloomooloo means “place of plenty” according to some sources?

Well how about these other Sydney suburbs?

• Bondi - Bondi is said to mean “the sound of breaking waves”, which seems suiting enough since Bondi is a coastal area and all.
• Coogee - I am so sorry to inform our tenants in furnished flatshares Coogee that the etymological meaning of your suburb is actually “smelly place” or “stinking seaweed”. Now, however, Coogee does not smell bad whatsoever since the beach is kept quite clean, but long ago, this word referred to the smell of kelp that washed onto the shores and was left to sit there. So, it is OK to look for furnished flatshares in Coogee today… more like great, and Furnished Property Group can help!
• Parramatta – Parramatta comes from an aboriginal word that means “head of waters”.
• Woy Woy – Woy Woy is not really so close to Sydney, but if you ever get on a train, you might have heard this city name over the loudspeaker. Woy Woy is said to come from the Aboriginal for “much water” or “big lagoon”. It is interesting to point out that repeating a word will mean “many” or “much” as in the case of Woy Woy.

Besides city names, Aboriginal words also contribute to naming wildlife. Kangaroo, for example, is said to come from the Aboriginal word “gangurru”, as recorded by James Cook. There was controversy for a while when Philip King could not confirm this record and thought that gangurru actually meant “I don’t know”.

Imagine the Scenario

James Cook: “What is it?”
Native: “Gangurru (I don’t know).”

This theory has since been denounced.