traveldk.com

Late spring (October–November) and early autumn (March-April) are the best times to visit Sydney. The days are warm and the evenings mild. Sydney’s winters are cool to mild, but summer can be hot and unbearably humid with the occasional downpour.

Sydney fashion is casual, so a selection of light mix-and-match clothing should suffice. Be sure to pack beach gear and walking shoes.

One week will allow you to cover all the top 10 sights, in two weeks you’ll be able to explore the Around Town section, and three weeks will be enough time to experi-ence the national parks and outlying regions.

Sydney has three major dailies. The Sydney Morning Herald , The Daily Telegraph and The Australian , all of which have websites. The Sydney Morning Herald is probably the best starting point to research events in Sydney.

The New South Wales (NSW) govern-ment portal is an inform-ative site, and its Culture and Recreation section is useful for planning a holiday. The Australian Tourist Commission site provides information on various events and lists worldwide Australian travel agencies.

All foreign visitors to Australia must have a valid passport. If you are a New Zealander you will receive an electronic visa. If you are from any other country, you will require an entry visa or ETA (Electronic Travel Authority). Visa forms are available from travel agencies and the Australian government’s immigration website.

Australian consulates, embassies and missions are found in almost every country’s capital city. They can provide inform-ation about Sydney and answer questions regard-ing visas. To locate the consulate in your city, visit the site listed under “Consulates”.

Although travel in Australia is generally straightforward, and hospitals won’t turn you away if you’re uninsured, it’s always best to be insured when traveling. Before any challenging outdoor activity, read the fine print to ensure that you will be covered in emergency.

Drivers with a valid overseas license can drive in Australia. Carry your license with you all the times if you are driving and present it to the police if requested. Seatbelts are compulsory.

Sydney’s only international airport is 9 km (5.6 miles) south of the city centre. Most domestic flights also arrive and depart from here. The international (T1) and domestic terminals (T2 and T3) are far apart, so you’ll need to catch a taxi, bus or train to travel between them. Airport Link takes 2 minutes, but first check if your airline offers a free shuttle.

Trains provide a fast and easy way to get into the city, particularly at peak hour when traffic is heavy. The trip takes only 12 minutes. Use the elevators to get to the stations, directly below the terminals.

Though very cheap, buses are only a good option if you are heading to Randwick, Coogee or Bondi Junction. Private shuttles such as Super-shuttle and Sydney Airporter are more expensive, but can be booked for specific times and will take you right to your destination.

Can’t make up your mind where to go or what to do next? Visit the NSW Tourism Information Desks at the airport and at Central Station.

A taxi from T1 to the CBD costs about $30. There are ranks outside each terminal. Taxi queues are longest on weekdays at 7–9am and 5–7pm, the airport’s peak hours.

Car companies, such as Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, Red Spot and Thrifty, all have desks at the airport. Hiring a small car will cost $40-$80 per day, so it’s advisable to shop around.

All interstate and regional trains terminate on the upper level of this station. Many coach services drop passengers here, at the Sydney Coach Terminal on Eddy Avenue. Suburban train services run from the lower level, buses to the eastern suburbs leave from Eddy Avenue, and those to the inner-west suburbs from nearby Railway Square. There is a taxi rank at the upper level entrance.

Both passenger ports, the Overseas Passenger Terminal (OPT) at West Circular Quay and Wharf 8 at Darling Harbour, are excellent places to arrive, centrally located and close to many hotels. The OPT is spectacular as it faces the Opera House.

Due to new security policies, lockers are not available at the airport. Luggage can be left in the baggage storage areas of the arrivals hall in each terminal. There are no left luggage facilities at Central Station or at the ports.

Bus services run frequently and are a good, cheap way to get around, although traffic can be very heavy at rush hour. Routes denoted with a “L” or “X” indicate services that travel a greater distance between stops. Many buses leave from Circular Quay, so look out for the signs and maps.

Trains to most areas leave from the Town Hall and Central stations. Services run frequently from 6am until midnight. There are heavy fines for smoking, littering or placing feet on seats.

Sydney ferry services (see On the Water) operate from Circular Quay to 37 wharves. The 30-minute ride from Circular Quay to Manly is extra special, but those who find it too long can catch the Jet Cat. Though not cheap, ferries are a great way to see Sydney and to experience the harbour.

A pleasant and fast way to get around, this is easily the best direct transport from the CBD to the Fish Market.

Expensive but great fun, the monorail snakes through Sydney’s CBD in a loop that takes in the Galeries Victoria, city centre, Darling Harbour, Powerhouse Museum, Chinatown and World Square. The trains depart every 5 minutes.

Make bookings if you want to arrive at an exact time, especially at peak hours and on weekend nights. If drivers don’t know the way, you are entitled to have them turn off the meter while they look up the street directory. Fares are regulated and cost more after 10pm. Smoking is not allowed and a driver may refuse to take you if you are drunk.

Running from most piers, they’ll pick you up from anywhere they can navigate. Prices vary, but expect to pay a flagfall of about $45 and an additional cost per person. Look for them at Circular Quay, or call to book one.

Great value tickets allow you to get on and off the buses at will, and frequent services run the loop. A two-day twin ticket allows you to travel on both Sydney and Bondi Explorers.

While the public transport network is excellent, having a car in Sydney makes getting around easy, particularly in the outer suburbs. A good street directory is essential, and you can use your usual license if you show proof that you’re just visiting.

The Sydney Visitors Centre at The Rocks (see Sydney on a Budget) and Darling Harbour offer information and maps. You’ll find City Host information kiosks at Circular Quay, Sydney Square and Martin Place. The Visitors Centre at Sydney Airport handles accommodation and travel bookings.

Several nations have consulates in Sydney, which can be located in the Yellow Pages telephone directory.

Travellers with disabilities will find the Access Foundation’s site an excellent resource for news, entertainment, travel, accommodation, transport and links to community resources.

The Gay and Lesbian Tourism site provides accommodation information, while the Sydney Star Observer has news and entertainment listings. Gay Travel Guides publishes the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Visitor’s Guide . Lesbians on the Loose has information, contacts and classifieds.

Sydney’s Child is a free monthly magazine with tips for parents. Many venues also host kids programmes, so call ahead for information.

The Senior Card and Seniors Information Service sites offer event listings, news and links to relevant organizations. Get Up and Go magazine contains information on travel agencies.

The City of Sydney and City Search websites cover sports, festivals, music, travel, exhibitions, tours, the arts and more.

Five free TV stations include SBS and ABC. Triple J (105.7 FM) is an alternative music station, and 2SER FM (107.3) and FBI FM (94.5) are also worth checking out. 702 ABC (702 AM) serves up current affairs and drive-time formats while Radio National (576 AM) presents current affairs, music and culture.

City Weekly and 9 to 5 are weekly newspapers covering entertainment and leisure. The Sydney Morning Herald’s Metro section offers information on Sydney events.

The Australian dollar is divided into 100 cents. There are $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 plastic notes. A 10 percent tax is levied on most goods and services (GST), but tourists may be entitled to refunds from Customs through the Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS). Be sure to ask for a “tax invoice” for purchases over $300, just in case.

Most banks are open from 9/10am–4/5pm Monday to Friday. Australia Post branch hours vary, but most are open from 9am–5pm Monday to Friday. The GPO is open from 8:15am–5:30pm Monday to Friday and 10am–2pm Saturday. Poste Restante mail should be addressed to the GPO, 1 Martin Place, Sydney 2000.

Banks, post offices and most government agencies are closed on these public holidays: New Year’s Day, Australia Day (26 January), Good Friday and Easter Monday, Anzac Day (25 April), Queen’s Birthday (2nd Monday in June), Bank Holiday (1st Monday in August), Labour Day (1st Monday in October), Christmas Day and Boxing Day (26 December). The summer school break extends from late December to late January. There are usually two-week breaks in April, July and September.

Bureaux de change at the airport open between 5am and 6am and close between 9:45pm and 11pm daily. There are numerous bureaux de change in the CBD.

Traveller’s cheques are still accepted by major hotels, banks and the like, but personal cheques from foreign accounts are not.

Most ATMs are located outside banks, and can also be found in many pubs and clubs. If your bank’s debit card is linked to an international system such as Cirrus, you can use your card at retail outlets. Make sure that your PIN applies to Australian ATMs.

MasterCard and Visa are the two major credit cards in Australia, although numerous establishments also accept American Express and Diners Club. Cash advances against your credit card are also possible. In most cases you’ll need a credit card to hire a car in Sydney.

Public telephones accept coins, phone cards and sometimes credit cards. A local call costs 40 cents. Phone cards are available at newsagents and convenience stores; make sure the card allows international calls before buying one. You can also rent a mobile phone for the duration of your stay.

Most hotels are set up to allow you to log on the net. There is also no shortage of Internet cafés across the city.

Sydney is a safe destination, but the usual “Big City” rules apply. Don’t leave valuables in unlocked cars, don’t use ATMs late at night, and be alert to pickpockets at train stations. Baggage storage is available at the airport, and lockers at the State Library, most swimming pools and at Bondi and Manly.

Avoid parks, barren areas and the back-streets of Kings Cross late at night. If you’re travelling on a train alone at night, sit near the guard’s compartment.

Sydney Hospital, St Vincent’s Hospital and the Sydney Children’s Hospital are the most central facilities that accept emergency admissions. If you require an ambulance, dial 000. Make sure your travel insurance covers ambulance fees, which can be expensive.

Pharmacies are found all over Sydney. In some suburbs they open on weekends according to a roster. If one is closed, there is usually a sign indicating the nearest open pharmacy. It’s advisable to carry your prescription if you require regular medication.

Sydney can be “blokey” (macho), but women travellers mostly find it a relaxed and casual city. The WIRS (Women’s Information and Referral Service) has information on women’s services and organizations. The Rape Crisis Centre can also help in an emergency.

Sydneysiders are obsessed with creatures that bite and sting, such as sharks and blue-ringed octopus, but you’d be unlikely to encounter them. Blowflies and “mozzies” can be annoying in summer, but they don’t carry malaria. Do wear sturdy shoes and long trousers if walking in bushland.

Bush ticks are small insects that drop from foliage and burrow into your skin; check your scalp if you’ve been bushwalking. They are usually removed with metholated spirits, and can cause poisoning if left untreated.

Take precautions against the strong Australian sun, for even overcast days can have a high UV rating. Keep in mind that water amplifies the intensity of UV rays.

Unless you are an experienced open-water swimmer, stick to beaches patrolled by lifeguards. If caught in an undertow (see Swimming Outside the Flags), don’t try swimming against the current; wait until help arrives or the rip peters out.

Although Sydney beaches are idyllic, their unpredictable rips (undertows) can be hazardous. Always swim between the flags and ensure that you are being watched by a lifeguard. If you get into trouble, try to relax and raise an arm to alert the lifeguards.

If you wander into one of Sydney’s pubs and the bloke next to you places his empty “schooner” upside down on the beer-soaked counter, make a beeline for the exit. This is shorthand for “I’ll take on all comers”. And don’t ever try it yourself.

Age restrictions apply to entry to licensed premises and gambling venues, 18 years in both instances. Cigarettes are not sold to under 18-year olds and there are stiff penalties if caught buying for minors. There are also heavy penalties if caught with illicit drugs.

If you’re fresh off the plane from Los Angeles or New York and feeling a little jetlagged, look both ways before stepping off the pavement (sidewalk): Australian cars drive on the left-hand side of the road, not the right.

Like any big city, Sydney has its share of homeless beggars, most of whom present no danger. Some of them are registered street vendors of The Big Issue ; purchase a copy if you’d like to support those trying to get back on their feet. They get half the proceeds and it’s a good read.

Drink driving is a problem in Australia and police are equipped to test drivers for alcohol. The legal limit is 0.05. “Booze buses” (police teams with testing equipment) randomly target major roads at odd hours. If caught, your car keys will be confiscated and you will face a hefty fine. It’s just not worth the risk, so catch a taxi.

Sydney’s central underground railway stations are frantic at peak hour. Not just busy, they can be stiflingly hot, especially in summer. Like all congested city venues they are frequented by pickpockets, so be careful.

There is a long and robust history of rivalry between Sydney and Melbourne. If you visited Melbourne and were impressed by the southern city’s Victorian charms, don’t go on about them to the first Sydneysider you meet. Sydney’s residents are firmly convinced they are living in God’s Own City, and nothing will annoy them more.

North Americans are prone to stumbling into this minefield. Bondi is pronounced “Bond-eye”, not “Bond-ee”. For some reason Sydneysiders find this mistake particularly irksome. Some other pronunciation pitfalls include “Mel-born” instead of “Mel-bun” for Melbourne, and “Coogee” instead of “Could-gee” for Coogee Beach. French speakers will probably be horrified at the Australian pronunciation of the southern suburb of Sans Souci.

Most stores are open daily 9am–5:30pm, with some closing early on Sundays. Late-night shopping on Thursdays sees shops open until 9pm. In areas such as Paddington, Balmain and Double Bay, shops open between 10 and 11am and close at 6pm. Many shops in Chinatown are open until 7pm daily.

While boutiques no longer stick to a firm schedule of sales, department stores have huge sales in December and again in June. There are great bargains, especially on homewares. Sales are usually advertised in The Sydney Morning Herald (see Free Publications & Listings).

A Goods and Services Tax (GST) of ten percent is applied to most items. If you spend more than $300 at any one shop within 28 days of leaving Australia, you are entitled to reclaim the GST. Take your receipts to the booth at Sydney Airport.

All stores accept credit cards, though some claim a surcharge on credit card purchases. Some larger stores, souvenir shops and duty free stores may accept traveller’s cheques with passport identification.

Many local chain stores and manufacturers have warehouse outlets in inner city suburbs such as Alexandria. The best way to check them out is on a day tour. Try Sydney Shopping Sprees, which has six city pick-up points and includes lunch.

For stuffed koalas, you can’t beat the discount shops on Pitt and Park Streets. Most attractions offer quality keepsakes; try the Museum of Sydney and Opera House Store. Buy opals and boomerangs in The Rocks (see Opals On The Rocks), swimwear and T-shirts at surf shops (see Mambo Friendship Store) and sheepskins in the QVB. Try the weekend market at The Rocks for handmade items.

You’ll find high-end designer fashion in Double Bay and in the WBJ luxury mall. A younger crowd shops in the Galeries Victoria (see Galeries Victoria), Paddington (see Fashion & Homewares) and Woollahra for casual and party clothes. Try Newtown (see Funky Shops) for alternative and secondhand shops, including goth shops lining Enmore Road. Find kids’ clothes at David Jones and WBJ.

The best of Australian and international design can be found in Surry Hills and Alexandria. A stroll around the streets near Central station will unearth gems. Crown Street between Foveaux and Devonshire is also a great strip (see Planet). The Object store has a great range of Australian design crafts.

The big supermarkets are mostly found in the suburbs, but there is a Woolworths at Town Hall station and a Coles at Wynyard. Delicatessens offer great sandwich fillings, small goods and cheese. David Jones’ food hall offers gourmet goodies as well as pre-cooked dinners. Grower’s markets, advertised in The Sydney Morning Herald on Tuesdays, are a wonderful way to shop.

There are often cheap tickets to Australia available in the low season, from mid-April to end-September. If flying in from elsewhere in Australia, check out the websites of discount air carriers Virgin and Jetstar for good deals.

Look for packages that offer free or very cheap accommodation when you buy your flights. You can also find cheap rates by booking hotels online, or by making week-long reservations (see Accommodation Tips).

Staying in hostels is not just for backpackers, as most have comfortable double and twin rooms available for modest prices. You’ll also benefit from the use of the kitchen, fridge, laundry and lounge areas. Many hostels have swimming pools.

An International Student Identification Card, available from STA travel agents, will get you a concession entry into most attractions, galleries and museums, but not the concession rate on public transport.

Weekly passes for unlimited trips on buses, trains and ferries can save plenty of money. A green TravelPass should take you anywhere you want to go. It is great value, particularly if you’re planning on making more than two trips on public transport a day. TravelTens, which don’t expire and can be shared, also save money; buy a blue ten-trip bus pass and dip it twice if you’re going further than two zones. However, these passes cannot be used on the monorail and light rail services.

Convenience stores all over the city sell international calling cards, so shop around for one with good rates. Buy a Telstra phone card to use for local calls.

Sydney has myriad cheap and cheerful restaurants. The best are often small local diners offering Thai, Chinese, Indian or Lebanese food. To save more money, bring your own wine or beer and stop by a gelataria for an ice cream or gelato dessert.

There are often vouchers for Sydney’s top restaurants among the brochures in high-end hotel lobbies. Stop by one of these hotels and rummage through the racks; you may find offers such as two main courses for the price of one. More coupons may be available at the Sydney Visitors Centre.

Buying lunch every day can be expensive. Instead, buy staples such as bread, fruit and cheese and store them in the fridge at your hostel or hotel room. Make a picnic lunch and pack it for the day. Sydney’s tap water is good quality, so buy a bottle of water and keep refilling it.

Modern Australian cuisine is generally a fusion of Asian and Eastern flavours with European technique. Experimental Australian chefs draw on the highly multicultural population and a diverse climate that ranges from tropical to cool-region conditions.

The quest for the exotic generates menus loaded with foreign terms and regional Australian names. Bangalow and Barossa refer to regions; Wagyu and Hiramasa to quality; assiette, confit and panacotta to French and Italian techniques. Menus are sometimes in a different language, and Chinese restaurants often have an English and a Chinese menu. Staff are usually happy to translate.

Pre-dinner nibbles are called hors d’oeuvres or canapés. The first course is the entrée, and the second is the main course. These are followed by dessert and coffee, or sometimes by a cheese course.

This French word means to take a small amount into the mouth and test its quality. A Sydney trend, dégustations offer 7–12 small set courses instead of orders from the menu. These courses allow chefs to take advantage of the freshest ingredients and to show off their skills.

The more expensive the restaurant, the further ahead you’ll need to make your reservation. Sydney’s top restaurant, the dégustation-only Tetsuya’s, takes bookings three months in advance. Vegetarians and those with special dietary requirements should book at least a day ahead. Some restaurants don’t take bookings but will send you to a nearby pub and call you when your table is ready.

Usual but voluntary, tipping is a way to express your enjoyment of or dissatisfaction with a meal. If the food and service are of good quality, leave about 15 percent. You may want to leave more for extraordinary service, and less or no tip if service has been shoddy.

Most expensive restaurants have helpful sommeliers who are experts at matching food and wine, so you can leave the choices up to them. You might tell them that you wish to taste a variety of Australian wines. When buying wine from a bottle shop, be aware that Australian names refer to the grape variety and not the region.

Some types of food are highly spiced and do not go well with most wines. Choosing a beer to go with Thai, Indian and Chinese food is a good option. Good Australian beers include Boag’s, Cascade, Hahn Premium, James Squire, Cooper’s and Redback.

The popular latte is a single shot of coffee with milk topped with frothed milk, and a flat white has milk but not froth. Black coffee drinkers choose a long black or the stronger espresso. Try a macchiato, an espresso shot topped with a burst of froth. Decaf, soy and light milks are common.

Staying at the beach means a refreshing dip is only moments away. Hotels on the fringe of the CBD, especially those with harbour views, are a relaxing option for business travellers. Those with children might avoid areas around Potts Point and Darlinghurst, which necessitate walking through the red light district of Kings Cross.

It is advisable to make reservations. Book well in advance when Sydney is busiest, from mid-December until the beginning of February, during Mardi Gras in early March, and in the the first two weeks of April, July and October. Reservations can be made by contacting the hotel directly or through your travel agent.

Some hotels offer significant discounts for last minute bookings and walk-ins. Hotel websites sometimes offer great rates. If you are prepared to make a non-refundable booking, you might get as much as a 50 percent discount on rooms.

Some hotels, particularly hostels, budget and boutique hotels, reward guests for lengthy stays with reduced weekly rates. Many hostels set a limit of a 14-day stay. Serviced apartments may offer incentives for stays of up to a month.

Most airline frequent flyer programmes have lists of hotels where members can accrue points. Existing points can usually be used for room upgrades or special packages. Airline bookings sometimes offer a discount.

While many hotels are situated at the water’s edge, the standard room rate usually applies to a room without a view. Expect to pay a premium of about $50–$100 above the standard rate. You might find better value in the best room of a smaller or lower-rated hotel.

Even the most basic breakfast can be expensive in the large CBD hotels, so head to a nearby café or bakery. Drinks and snacks provided in the minibar are often double their retail cost, so check the prices first. Avoid surcharges on phone calls by using a public phone in the lobby. Other services, such as late checkouts, parking, laundering, Internet access, in-house movies and receiving faxes usually incur a fee.

Children under 12 usually stay for free using existing bedding. This can be a good arrangement in twin rooms that offer a double and single bed, or in studios that include sofa beds. Where offered, there is a fee of approximately $30 for rollaway beds. Many hotels can arrange interconnecting rooms.

Regulations force larger hotels to offer rooms with full disabled access, and some hotels have as many as ten such rooms. The same rules don’t apply to small hotels and B&Bs in converted mansions or heritage buildings. It’s best to enquire about facilities when making reservations and to check that there is room to manoeuvre a wheelchair.