Sydney, the capital of New South Wales, is a melting pot of different cultures, with plenty of Halal dining options. To its east, it has the beaches, to its west, it has the mountains and at its heart lies the world famous Sydney Harbour. Rightly described as Australia’s most glamorous city, it has the best places to visit, shop, dine and pray. And as a Muslim, these are four things that I always take into consideration when planning a travel itinerary.
Using Google Maps is ideal for Muslim travelers planning to visit Sydney. With Google Maps accurate location tracking and option to Explore Nearby, one can see listings of mosques and recommended Halal eateries. I love to share things to do, places to eat, shop and stay, on Google Maps.
Stay & Play
There are many hotels around Sydney, that cater to Muslim guests. Most of them will cater to halal food on request and will remove any alcohol from the mini bar. Sydney is not just about Harbour Bridge and Opera, there is plenty of green space, where you can bring a picnic and spend time with your family. You haven’t seen Sydney if you haven’t visited many of its beaches. Also, don’t forget the Australian Wildlife especially the Big 5 animals. There is also a women-only ocean pool too known as McIver’s Ladies Baths. I love to share my reviews on things to do on Google Maps as it helps other Muslim Traveller and their families to enjoy Sydney in a halal-friendly way.
Eat
I love to share my experience with halal restaurants that I dined in. Be it Turkish, Lebanese, Malaysian, Indonesian or Indian, there’s a wide variety of Halal and Muslim-friendly food options in Sydney. While Muslim-friendly restaurants prominently display the halal-sign, most of them don’t. Also, some of the halal-restaurants serve alcohol, which a Muslim patron might be not comfortable dining in. So I always inquire with the restaurant staff before ordering and write a review on Google Maps, so that Muslim travelers can happily dig into delicacies. Google Maps smartly mentions the Halal food offering in the About section of the restaurant.
Shop
Sydney offers some of the best shopping malls, where one can find a range of Australian Designer Labels, high street fashion, and lifestyle retailers. Most of the malls offer kids’ indoor play area, so your kids can have fun, while you shop. Usually held over the weekends at Sydney’s outdoor markets you are guaranteed to find something offbeat and unique for a good bargain. With Indoor Maps feature of Google Maps, one can never get lost in the huge malls of Sydney. Also, my review of a particular store might help someone to find something that fits their style and budget.
Pray
Prayer facilities are something I love to share on Google Maps. In Sydney, finding a prayer facility is never a problem. Prayers rooms can be found at Airports, Universities, and Hospitals. Also, Mosques and Islamic centers can be found across Sydney. Google Maps makes it easy to add a new prayer facility or a Musalla. Also, finding Qibla is easy with the compass on the Map. While Google Maps search feature makes it easier to find a nearby prayer facility, Muslim travelers usually ask for prayer timings in the Questions & Answers section. I always make it a point to answer them with correct and updated timing to help them to be on time for prayers.
As you can see I love Google Maps as it helps me with the best places to visit, shop, dine and pray without compromising on my religious requirements, core values, and identity.