On Friday, the southwest portion of the Sydney Metro line officially opened, connecting the North Western, North Shore and South Western regions of Sydney.

The new service means that a trip from Crows Nest to Marrickville can be as short as 20 minutes. If you’re a North Shore resident unsure what this means for you, here are a few ideas for exploring the South Western metro line. 

The Greenway via Dully

With the addition of Dulwich Hill to the metro line, Sydneysiders now have direct access to the GreenWay shared walking and cycling trail. 

The 6km of pathway runs through the Italian bastions of Haberfield and Leichardt, finishing at Iron Cove, where shared cycleways continue on to Drummoyne and Balmain. 

Marrickville Ale Trail

Since the early 2010s, the industrial area of Marrickville has developed a reputation for craft breweries, now forming much of the “Inner West Ale Trail”. 

Within walking distance of Marrickville and Sydenham stations are Batch Brewing Company, Philter Brewing and the Bob Hawke Beer and Leisure Centre. A little further north are Bracket, Grifter and Young Henrys. 

 Local bakeries 

Around the stations of Canterbury, Campsie and Belmore are a number of Lebanese bakeries selling fresh flatbread or za’atar manoushe. 

For flatbread to take home, head to Canterbury Lebanese Bread. For fresh manoushe, try Campsie Lebanese Bakery and Belmore Lebanese Bakery.

Dinner in Lakemba 

The main drag of Lakemba is host to a mix of restaurants and cuisines you’ll struggle to find north of the bridge: try bolani, a stuffed flatbread from Afghanistan; Moroccan chicken tajine; or mutton madfoon, a spicy slow-cooked Yemeni dish. Finish off with a hefty slice of knafeh.

The annual “Ramadan Nights Lakemba” is on Haldon Street in February and March.