About Sydney

Sydney is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. With a population of over 4 million people, Sydney has all the excitement of a big city but is surrounded by beaches and mountains. The relaxed lifestyle of Australians and the natural beauty of the country make Sydney a perfect destination for studying English!

The Harbour City

Access Language Centre, Sydney is very centrally located in inner Sydney where you can find most popular tourist attractions. Near the school is Darling Harbour, Sydney's favourite destination for leisure and entertainment. In the centre of the city there is the historic waterside Rocks area, the place where Sydney's earliest settlers lived. These days, the area offers many restaurants, bars, cafes and shops where you can pick up unique Australian souvenirs. Framing the Rocks is Sydney Harbour Bridge - climb to the top and get a bird's eye view of the city, including Circular Quay where ferries leave for stops all round the harbour, and the stunning Sydney Opera House, Australia's most famous building. A short stroll from Sydney Opera House are theBotanical Gardens and the Art Gallery of NSW - both well worth a visit.

Outdoor Lifestyle

Bondi, perhaps Sydney's best known beach with its white sand and sparkling blue waves, is only a 15 minute drive from Access. But there are also many other beautiful beaches to visit just a little further away from the school. To the north, Palm Beach and Whale Beach offer great swimming and surfing, as does Manly Beach, which can be reached by taking a scenic ferry ride from Circular Quay. South of Bondi are Bronte, Coogee and Cronulla Beaches - each with its own special character.

Cultural Sydney

Life isn't all outdoors in Sydney - there is also a very vibrant cultural scene, including regular art festivals that attract performers from all over the world. Staff at Access will give you all the information about what's on and where to go. Try to catch some traditional Australian Aboriginal dance performances and see the fine collection of Aboriginal art in the Art Gallery of NSW. Compared to many big cities, going to the theatre or a music concert is often surprisingly affordable. In fact, during summer, there are many free concerts of opera and classical music held outside under the stars. Just take a picnic, find a spot on the grass and enjoy yourself. For those who like the latest in music, from rock to techno and jazz, there are numerous night clubs with live bands. Many of these are in areas only minutes away from Access.

Time for Fun

While at Access Language Centre, Sydney, students will not only learn a language but also form life-long friendships with fellow students and staff. We believe that an essential part of any student's experience is meeting new people and sharing new adventures, so we organise many social events such as school picnics and special occasion parties like Melbourne Cup day festivities. Outings are organised by the centre for groups of students to places like Taronga Park Zoo where you can see Australia's koalas, kangaroos, emus and crocodiles, or just a short distance from the school, watch the divers feed the seals and man-eating sharks at the Sydney Aquarium and then head up to the Sydney Skytower for stunning city views.

Find out more about Sydney with our favourite links and have a look at our calendar of social activities.
See for yourself why studying English at Access Language Centre, Sydney is so much fun, check out some photos of our activities and school events!