Macquarie University is known as Australia's "Innovative University". Founded in 1964, Macquarie University has become known for its flexible learning programs with an interdisciplinary approach, high quality and pioneering research, an international outlook and its excellent support services. Macquarie is a top quality institution and has won acclaim in several areas. Macquarie University is located in the Sydney suburb of North Ryde, which is about 30 minutes drive from the harbor and central Sydney. The campus is spread over 135 hectares of bushland. Lane Cove National Park is nearby, and there is a large shopping center just across the road. Studying at Macquarie gives students the opportunity to experience life in Sydney with all the excitement a large, cosmopolitan city has to offer. Sydney has been named the "World's Best City" eight times by Travel + Leisure magazine. The public transportation system is quite good which allows students to access the city and its beaches from the campus