A West Aussie’s view from the east: Six reasons why Sydney outshines Perth

I remember the moment I thought I could tolerate living in Sydney for a year or two after my daughter declared Perth horrifically boring and surreptitiously (and successfully) applied to finish high school in a locale that had an actual “vibe”.

It was July last year. I was rabbit-sitting for an old friend in the inner-west suburb of Leichhardt, known for its rich Italian heritage.

Sydney? Yeah, it’s not so bad. Credit: Nine

One afternoon I strolled down to the Palace cinema to catch the feral arthouse flick Kinds of Kindness. There were three of us in the cinema – myself, an older gentleman, and a woman in her 50s.

After the absurd movie ended, I struck up a conversation with the woman, whose laugh lines and persona hinted at a life rich with revolutions and wild love affairs. She allayed preconceived notions that Sydneysiders could be judgy and aloof, preferring the company of those in their inner sanctum.

So, three months into my Sydney residency in the North Shore suburb of Dee Why, how does this city of 5.5 million people stack up to sleepy Perth? And what does the nation’s biggest city do better than the most isolated capital in the world?

Expansive public transport system

A rapid bus services that services the northern beaches gets you into the city in 40 minutes. Credit: Max Mason-Hubers

My car took two weeks to make its journey across the Nullarbor. Did I miss it? Nope. Sydney has nailed (almost) its public transport system, with its B Line bus service that rolls up to the stop every few minutes during peak hour. It’s a rollicking 42-minute bus ride to the CBD that’s so popular it’s packed even on the weekends.

It’s the type of rock-up-and-go service WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti has publicly stated she is aiming for with Metronet, one where timetables are redundant because passengers can expect a train any minute now.

But like the delays plaguing the $12 billion transformation of Perth’s rail network, the B Line is not without its own dramas. Office folk regularly find themselves waiting at bus stops for long periods due to cancellations and packed services.

But Transport NSW is prepared to explore the unconventional introducing Keoride, an immensely popular on-demand public transport model introduced with the start of the B-Line service.

Overall, Sydney generally excels in public transport due to its extensive network, including ferries, high-frequency services, and better connectivity across the suburbs compared to Perth, which struggles to cater to its outer suburbs, forcing residents to rely on cars.

Mid-rise apartments abound

Sydney has embraced mid rise living as pictured in this waterfront apartment in Dee Why. Credit: Vaida Savickaite

Oh, we Perth folk really haven’t embraced mid-rise apartment living. Our cultural attachment to building our suburban castle out in the boonies is strong.

But it’s a trade-off. More space on the urban sprawl frontier, but often, less amenity like shops, schools and public transport.

Given Sydney is massive both geographically and culturally, locals tend to base themselves around a few suburbs. It’s part of the benefit of density: you can reduce the distance to travel to where you need to go, a must in a congested city like Sydney.

If you told this rusted-on Hills-dweller that she’d leave her house on a bushy block to move to a shoebox apartment in Dee Why, I’d have thought of no conceivable reason why that would ever happen. Or why I’d even want to do that. Yet here I am.

Apartment living takes getting used to. There’s the initial hassle of hauling furniture up three flights of stairs. The medley of odours wafting under the doors from unseen MasterChefs. The symphony of noises from your neighbours.

And after the freedom of a half-acre backyard, it can feel a little claustrophobic when your new outdoor space – a balcony – is smaller than 5 square metres.

But there’s the time you gain from not mowing the lawn, scooping leaves out of the pool and maintaining an old house that opens up a world of opportunities on how you spend your spare time.

It’s greener. And there’s water everywhere

Morning swimmers at Mahon Pool in Maroubra. Credit: Louise Kennerley

For me, that spare time is being used to stretch my legs in Sydney’s world-class national parks which are integrated into the city. National parks and reserves are one of the best things about Sydney. You can feel like a Survivor contestant in the middle of a rainforest with a population of blood sucking leeches within five minutes.

And then there’s the Blue Mountains, which is essentially Mother Nature showing off with waterfalls, canyons, and views that scream, “get off your couch and come feel insignificant next to me”.

And let’s not forget the water, starting with the Beyoncé of harbours that is more iconic and graceful than not just any in Australia, but pretty much anywhere on Earth.

Rather than the long lines of white sandy beaches in Perth, the beaches in Sydney are dotted with cosy coves with real ocean pools, unlike the heated chlorine bomb that is Scarborough Beach Pool.

A public education system that outsmarts a private school in Perth

Students sit an exam at Sydney’s Northern Beaches Secondary College.Credit: Dominic Lorrimer

My daughter can’t stop praising the outstanding teachers in her free public school, which got me thinking: why was I paying more than $15,000 a year for her to attend a private school?

And all textbooks are supplied. A far cry from the near $1000 I forked out for my son’s year 12 booklist in Perth.

They know how to throw a party

Views of Global Rainbow light installation from Sydney Tower Eye’s external Observation Deck. Credit: Wolter Peeters

From the NYE fireworks to the Mardi Gras and Vivid concerts, Sydney knows how to turn it on for the crowds.

Known worldwide for its stunning fireworks display over the Sydney Harbour Bridge, this is one of the biggest New Year’s celebrations globally, attracting millions of viewers each year.

The city’s Mardi Gras is also one of the world’s most famous LGBTQIA+ celebrations.

Meanwhile poor old Perth is increasingly being left off the list from major acts tour schedules citing economic and logistical challenges. From Billie Eilish to Taylor Swift and now Lady Gaga the list of artists skipping the west has grown each year since the pandemic.

Suburbs designed for pedestrians, not cars

The Strand in Dee Why prioritises people over cars.

Many Sydney suburbs view streets as shared spaces that are foot-friendly. It makes it conceivable to ditch the car. In Dee Why on the main thoroughfare, a 30km/h speed limit has been implemented, along with other changes like one-way traffic flow, a two-way cycleway, and increased pedestrian space.

Council created additional pedestrian crossings and a reduction in the speed limit to 40km/h. I can tell you it never gets old being given preferential VIP treatment over a car when crossing the street.

Whether Sydney charms me into staying beyond 2026 remains to be seen, but it certainly has views so iconic it could charge rent.

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