What does a foreigner recommend doing in Sydney? Tips from an expert expat
The expat
Originally from the Bavarian town of Landsberg am Lech in Germany, property technology entrepreneur Quirin Schwaighofer visited Australia in 2006 and fell in love the minute he landed. He moved to Australia in 2008 and spent two years in Perth before moving to Sydney in 2010. He now lives in the Hills District with his Venezuelan wife and their three young children. See madecomfy.com.au
See
Curious giraffes peering over their enclosure at Taronga Zoo, a great place to bring visitors.
Taronga Zoo is one of my all-time favourites, especially with family or overseas friends. With Sydney Harbour as the backdrop, the scenery is unique and the kids usually set the tone here; we love the seal show, the giraffes and we always see the koalas. See taronga.org.au
Do
I love to take the ferry to Cremorne Point, walk or run along the reserve to Mosman and back, and follow with a swim in the Maccallum ocean rock pool before a picnic overlooking Sydney Harbour. It’s the Sydney version of our German health practice of a sauna followed by a cold shower, which we believe strengthens your immune system and blood flow.
Swimming in Maccallum Pool at Cremorne Point.
Eat
Kaiser Stub’n in Terry Hills has the best authentic German and Austrian food – try the pork medallions wrapped in bacon with mushroom sauce and spaetzle (a Bavarian type of pasta), or the roasted duck (see kaiserstubn.com.au). Una’s in Darlinghurst still has the best schnitzel in Sydney – they are gigantic, and the potato roesti and cabbage salad on the side are amazing. A real Vienna schnitzel is always veal, otherwise schnitzel is made with pork. And fun fact; there is no such thing as chicken schnitzel in Germany. (See unasrestaurant.com.au)
Quirin Schwaighofer at home in Sydney.
Drink
For a late-night drink, I’ll have an old fashioned or a whiskey sour at Palmer & Co (see merivale.com) in the city, and the steak tartar is amazing for a snack. Otherwise, I’ll have any pale ale from the tap at The Squire’s Landing (jamessquire.com.au), which has a unique atmosphere beside the harbour in the Overseas Passenger Terminal at Circular Quay West. For my best cafe, I nominate Social Brew Cafe in Pyrmont for an almond-milk cappuccino, and you have to try their truffle mushroom and parmesan bruschetta (socialbrewcafe.com.au).
Avoid
Bondi Beach on a sunny weekend is simply too crowded. I usually take visiting friends to Bronte Beach, Watsons Bay or Balmoral Beach instead.
Thrive
A German health tip is that alcohol-free beer can be amazing; we’ve had it for decades. Beer is part of our culture in Bavaria, but we drink it for the flavour, less for the sake of getting drunk. Try to get your hands on the Paulaner Weissbier, an alcohol-free wheat beer sold at Aldi.
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