findatime is a free social scheduling app that finds when you and your friends are both free. You mark your available hours each week, share a single link, and findatime automatically surfaces the times that overlap — so you can stop the back-and-forth of 'when are you free?' texts and just make the plan.

How do casual plans work on findatime?

Instead of polling a group chat, you post what you're up for — a gym session, a hike, a coffee — along with a time. Share it with a Group so the whole crew sees it at once. Friends who are free tap 'I'm Keen'. No RSVPs to chase, no one feels pressured.

Does findatime sync with my calendar?

No. findatime does not sync with Google Calendar, Outlook, or any calendar app. You manually mark the hours you're free each week, which takes about 30 seconds. Your contacts and calendar data stay completely private.

Can I use findatime to catch up with friends overseas?

Yes. findatime works across timezones. You mark your free hours in your local time, your friend marks theirs in their local time, and the app shows you the overlap in your own timezone — no mental math required.

Yes, findatime is free to use. Set your availability, share your link, and start making plans at no cost.

How is findatime different from a group chat?

Group chats require back-and-forth messages to find a time everyone's free. findatime eliminates that: you mark your availability once, share a link, and the app shows the overlap automatically. For casual plans, you post once and see who's keen — no chasing RSVPs.

How to Make New Friends in Sydney

Why Sydney is a great place to build a social circle

Sydney is a city of transplants. Nearly two-thirds of residents were born overseas or moved here from another part of Australia, which means most people you meet are also looking for friends. The city's mix of beaches, bush, and dense inner-city neighbourhoods creates dozens of natural social anchors — surf clubs, running groups, co-working spaces, and weekend markets — where the same faces show up week after week.

The trick isn't meeting people once. It's turning a one-off encounter into a recurring plan. That's where most people stall: you swap numbers, say "we should grab a coffee," and then... nothing. This guide is about closing that gap.

The best ways to meet people in Sydney

1. Join a recurring activity

One-off events are fun, but recurring activities are where friendships form. You see the same people every week, which gives familiarity a chance to build into something real.

Run clubs: Sydney has a thriving run-club scene. The Bondi Run Club, Sydney Striders, and Parkrun (free, every Saturday morning at 30+ locations) are all beginner-friendly and social.
Surf culture: If you're near the coast, a learn-to-surf program at Bondi, Manly, or Cronulla is one of the fastest ways to meet people. You're all beginners, you're all slightly terrified, and that shared vulnerability breaks the ice fast.
Indoor climbing: 9 Degrees and Sydney Indoor Climbing Gym have a strong social culture. Bouldering in particular is social — you're resting between climbs, chatting with whoever's on the wall next to you.

2. Use your neighbourhood

Sydney's inner suburbs — Surry Hills, Newtown, Glebe, Marrickville — have a village feel. If you go to the same cafe, the same park, the same dog park at the same time each week, you'll start recognising people. Familiarity breeds friendship.

Become a regular somewhere. One coffee shop, same time, three weeks in a row.
Walk the same route. The Bay Run, the Coastal Walk from Bondi to Coogee, or the Glebe foreshore.
If you have a dog, you've already won — dog parks are the easiest social entry point in any city.

3. Co-working and community spaces

If you work from home, isolation is your biggest barrier. Co-working spaces like Fishburners, Tank Stream Labs, or your local library's study area put you around other people who are also looking for a reason to take a lunch break.

4. Say yes to the second invitation

The first invite is easy to accept — it's novel and exciting. The second one is where most people drop off, because the novelty has worn off and it feels like effort. But the second and third hangout are where a acquaintance becomes a friend. Push through the awkwardness of the early stage.

The part nobody talks about: actually scheduling the catch-up

Here's the pattern that kills most new friendships in Sydney (and everywhere else):

You meet someone at a run club / cafe / friend's BBQ
You say "we should grab a coffee sometime"
You exchange numbers
A week later, one of you texts: "Hey! Free this week?"
The other person: "Yeah let me check and get back to you"
Neither of you follows up
The connection fades

The problem isn't that you don't want to meet. It's that scheduling is friction. You don't know when they're free. They don't know when you're free. Nobody wants to be the one who sends the "how about Thursday at 2?" text and gets a "sorry I'm busy" response.

This is exactly what findatime solves. You mark the hours you're free each week, share a single link, and the other person does the same. findatime shows you the overlap — the specific times you're both free — so the "when are you free?" text becomes a "I'm keen on Wednesday at 10" tap.

Turning a first meeting into a recurring plan

The strongest friendships are built on recurring, low-effort contact — not grand one-off events. Here's a simple framework:

Meet once at a group activity or through a mutual friend.
Share your findatime link instead of just a phone number. It's lower-pressure than a direct "let's meet Thursday" because they can just mark their availability on their own time.
Find the overlap and tap "I'm Keen" on a time that works for both of you.
Make it recurring. If the first coffee goes well, don't leave the next one to chance. Share your link again and make it a fortnightly thing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it weird to make friends as an adult in Sydney?

Not at all — it's the norm. Most people in Sydney moved here from somewhere else and are actively looking for friends. The awkwardness is in your head, not in the room.

How long does it take to make a real friend?

Research suggests it takes about 50 hours of shared time to move from acquaintance to casual friend, and 200+ hours to become a close friend. That's why recurring activities beat one-off events — they rack up hours without you noticing.

What if I'm introverted?

Recurring activities are actually better for introverts than big social events. You don't have to "work the room" — you just show up to the same climbing gym or run club each week and let familiarity do the work.

How does findatime help if I'm new to a city?

When you meet someone new, sharing your findatime link is lower-pressure than asking for their number. They can mark their availability without committing to a specific time, and you both see the overlap when it appears. No awkward "are you free Thursday?" texts.