traveldk.com

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.

Hostels usually have coin-operated washing machines, but if you’re staying somewhere without one, avoid the cost of laundering by going to a laundromat. If you don’t want to stick around, opt for a bag wash, which costs about $6. Otherwise, use the coin-operated machines.