Sydney is a dynamic centre for Australian economic activity and one of the most important cities for finance in the Asia-Pacific region. Sydney was also the host of the 2000 Olympic Games, which successfully raised the city's global profile. Though comprised of a large, sometimes sprawling population, Sydney nonetheless retains many large public spaces and lush green parklands. The city is literally surrounded by national parks, which extend into the suburbs and to the shores of the harbour.
Sydney has a compact city centre surrounded by suburbs sprawling over 40km to the north, west and south. The city and its suburbs form a vast metropolitan area.
Owing to the city's size and variety, the districts of Sydney are difficult to categorise.
If you are in Sydney for a holiday, or to see the sights, the major attractions of Sydney outside of central Sydney are in:
Sydney is a vast sprawling city, and the suburbs in the city metropolitan area spread for up to 100km from the city centre. The traveller visiting the suburbs will find less crowded beaches, parks, cheaper shopping, commercial centres, cultural festivals, and hidden gems. See each of the guides below for the Sydney suburbs.
Some of the areas on the far western edge of Sydney developed long before the expansion of the suburbs to their doorstep, and are still considered to some extent separate towns:
Sydney is the oldest European settlement in Australia, having been founded as a British penal colony on 26 January 1788 (now celebrated as ''Australia Day'', the national public holiday, with major festivities around the city and the Harbour).
Sydney is one of the most cosmopolitan cities on the planet, with one third of its population born overseas. European settlement largely displaced the Aboriginal peoples, and over the years, with the earliest colonists largely coming from England, Ireland and Scotland. The Australian goldrush attracted more immigrants, including a significant number of Chinese; with about one in four Australians with convict descent also having some Chinese ancestry. In the 20th century, Sydney has continued to attract immigrants from all over the world - mostly from the U.K. and Ireland, as the White Australia Policy prevented non-European peoples (and even Southern Europeans) from entering the country.
Australia's immigration patterns, and subsequently, that of Sydney, changed significantly after WWII, when migrants began to arrive from countries as diverse as Italy, Greece, Germany, Holland, China, New Zealand, India, the Phillipines, Poland, Lebanon, Iraq, Vietnam, Thailand, South Africa and the Pacific Islands. Sydney's culture, food and general outlook well reflect these contributions to the majority Anglo-Celtic institutions and social establishment.
Sydney is recognised worldwide for its vibrant gay community. Every year, the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is celebrated at the end of February, drawing people from all over Australia and the world for the celebrations.
Sydney became the center of the world's attention in September 2000 when the city hosted the 2000 Summer Olympics - officially announced by the IOC Chairman at the closing Ceremony to be the "the best games ever"! The Olympics saw a major building and renovation program take hold of Sydney, positioning it as one of the great world cities of the 21st century and will continue to hold its world city status.
Sydney is generally comfortable for travellers to visit any time of year. The city enjoys over 300 sunny days each year.
Sydney's Western Suburbs that lie away from the coast tend to be hotter during the day and a little cooler during the night. They miss the afternoon sea breezes, and the nighttime warming effect of the ocean.
Sydney has air conditioning in public buildings, and on some, but not all, public transport. Carry water during summer. Remember sun protection year round, as the UV exposure risk can be extreme at any time of year.
Sydney Climate and Weather information is available online at the Australian Bureau of Meteorology [http://www.bom.gov.au/].
Sydney_fs skyline is large and widely recognizable. Sydney also possesses a wide array of diversity of modern and old architectural style. They range from the simple Francis Greenways Georgian buildings, to Jorn Utzon_fs Expressionist, or the Sydney Opera House. Sydney also has a large amount of Victorian buildings, such as the Sydney Town Hall and the Queen Victoria Building. The most architecturally significant would be the Sydney Opera House, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, among many others. Skyscrapers in Sydney are also large and modern such as the Sydney Tower, which dominates the Sydney skyline.
There are also pockets of architecturally significant housing dotted around Sydney's suburbs. The inner-eastern suburb of Paddington is known for its terrace houses, while several inner-west suburbs contain streets lined with so-called federation houses (built around the time of Australian federation in 1901). Further away on the lower North Shore, Castlecrag is a unique suburb, being planned by the architect Walter Burley Griffin in the 1930s.
'''Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD)''' [http://www.sydneyairport.com.au/] is Australia's busiest airport and is considered the gateway to Australia. It is located 8 km from the city center at Mascot in southern Sydney on the northern shores of Botany Bay. Sydney Airport is the oldest continually operated commercial airport anywhere in the world.
Over 35 airlines fly in and out of Sydney Airport with daily flights linking Sydney to key destinations on every continent. The Asian-Pacific transport hubs of Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, Tokyo and Seoul have several daily flights, as do various European centres (especially London) via Asia. North America is connected via Los Angeles, San Francisco and Vancouver. Direct flight links also exist with many destinations within New Zealand.
Travellers from Europe and the Middle East tend to travel into Sydney via Asia. Trevellers from South America can fly direct from Buenos Aires or via either North America or New Zealand.
You can fly to Sydney directly from all other Australian capital cities and from many major regional airports. Otherwise, you will usually need to fly to the state capital and transfer to a Sydney flight. Sydney can be reached within an hour and a half from Melbourne and Brisbane, 45 minutes from Canberra and just under four hours from Perth.
This is not a 24 hour airport (there is a curfew between 11pm and 6am). If you arrive late in the evening with a view of connecting to flight departing early the following morning you cannot easily spend the night in the terminal. The domestic terminals, T2 and T3, close entirely after the last flights are cleared.
Check the terminal that you are arriving at or departing from carefully.
International terminal (T1)- handles all international flights and some domestic flights. Check your itinerary and flight number as connections, customs etc will take longer when arriving or departing from the International Terminal even on a domestic flight. You do not need a passport when travelling domestically, just hang on to your boarding pass.
Domestic terminal 2 (T2)- is the largest domestic terminal. Airlines using this terminal include Qantas & Qantaslink (Qantas flights 1600 and above), Aeropelican, Regional Express (Rex), Jetstar and Virgin Blue.
Domestic terminal 3 (T3)- handles only Qantas flights from 450-1599, which are mainly the inter-capital services. Qantas Cityflyer flights generally depart and arrive at Terminal 3.
'''T1''' (International terminal) has food and shopping both before and after immigration and security. There is an open air beer garden and bistro by check in Bay A on the departures level. There are cafes on both departures and arrivals level. Good coffee and food can had for a reasonable price, but it is easy to buy bad overpriced coffee and food too. Departures has cheaper prices than downstairs at arrivals. There is a better and cheaper choice of food before going through security, although food hall before security is boxed in, and the eating area beyond security has the full height glass windows. An ANZ bank, and a Travelex exchange is available before security in departures and downstairs in arrivals. A Travelex desk is also available airside. Exchange rates in the airport are worse than in the city, don't believe the $6 flat commission, look at the rate carefully. Two free showers for both males and females are available by check in bay 'A' on the departures level. There is also an open air observation deck, with the entrance next to Bay B on the departures level, through the bistro and up the elevator. A post office is located in the check in area, but it is only open business hours. Post boxes are available after customs. There is a small kids play area after security. There is a large duty free shop selling alcohol, cigarettes, perfume and electronics available when departing and arriving. There are some free Internet terminals in departures, even a few before security. There are paid Internet terminals too, and downstairs in arrivals. Trolleys cost money landside of security. Pick one up airside where they are free, or our in the carpark where they have been left by previous users.
T2 has a large food and shopping area, with a large selection of food outlets located to the right after you go through security. There are also gift shops, bookshops and some clothing stores. There are nice views over the tarmac from the eating area. There are ATM's before and after security. Everyone is able to go through security, whether travelling or not.
T3 (Qantas Domestic) has a food hall with a variety of food and coffee. The food hall is the after security, but you do not need to be a passenger to pass through security, you can be a visitor or accompanying someone else. Most food and drink places and the security checkpoint close 30 minutes or so before the last departure. Don't expect to be able to get anything at all if you are arriving on a late flight. Don't expect someone to be able to get to the gate to meet you on a late arrival, they will have to wait at baggage claim if you arrive after the last departure.
Transfer between domestic terminals T2 and T3 must be done on foot. Follow the signs either via the railway station underground, or across the car park.
Transfer between T1 and T2/T3 is 4km by road, as the terminals are on opposite sides of the airport tarmac. You will have to use one of the following methods to transfer.
Sydney airport is world class in many respects, but terminal transfers are clumsy, and will surprise those who are used to terminal shuttles in other developed airports worldwide.
Sydney Airport is only 13 km from the city centre. Although driving, taxi or the train may seem like the only options to get to the city when you're at the airport, there are cheaper ways to get there if you're not already hiring a car.
It is worth considering what your travel arrangements will be while in Sydney before purchasing a public transport ticket to the city as many multi-day and tourist tickets include some or all of the travel cost to to the city.
It is possible to drive to Sydney from Brisbane or Melbourne in a full day. Around 9 hours non-stop to Melbourne, or 11 hours to Brisbane. A comfortable drive would allow two days from Melbourne or Brisbane, and three to Adelaide. The Melbourne drive is mostly dual carriageway high quality road. The same can't be said for the Brisbane drive, which while it has high quality sections, it also has some very narrow winding sections, carries high traffic volumes, and has many stoppages from roadworks.
If renting a car, check the daily distance allowances and any one-way charge that may apply. Cars may be rented at the airport and elsewhere from major rental companies, or at smaller, less conveniently located, cheaper companies such as Bayswater Car Rental [http://www.bayswatercarrental.com.au/] in Kings Cross.
There are tolls applicable to all motorways coming into Sydney, and not all routes accept cash. See "Tolls" section below.
Coach companies operate to Sydney from all capital cities, and many New South Wales regional centres. The Sydney coach terminal is located adjacent to Sydney Central train station. Follow the signs.
Coach travel usually offers quicker, cheaper and more frequent trips than train travel to Sydney. Online and advance booking specials are usually available.
The New South Wales long distance train service '''CountryLink''', (13 22 32 within Australia) [http://countrylink.info/] runs at least daily services to Sydney from Brisbane, Melbourne, Canberra and many regions of New South Wales including the Mid-North Coast, New England, the Central West and the Southern Highlands. It also services Broken Hill weekly. Travelling time from Melbourne and Brisbane is around 12 hours. Fares range between $30 and $100 for standard class seats, and reservations tickets can be purchased online, by phone, or at the station. The long distance trains between Melbourne and Sydney, and Brisbane and Sydney can be a less stressful alternative to driving, but they do not average particularly high speeds and take longer than driving. It is often possible to get a discount airfare around the same price or cheaper than the adult train fare.
The '''Indian Pacific''' [http://www.gsr.com.au/indian/] (13 21 47 within Australia or +61 8 8213 4592 internationally) train service runs from Perth to Sydney via Adelaide and Broken Hill. Adult fares from Perth are $1250 for a sleeper cabin and $513 for a seat. Children's fares are $805 for a sleeper cabin and $139 for a seat. The train departs from Perth on Wednesdays and arrives at Sydney on Saturdays. Note that these fares are much higher than return plane fares to Perth, this journey is really for train journey enthusiasts who want to see the interior of Australia. It also gives you the ability to take your car on the train for an additional fee.
All long distance (Countrylink and Great Southern Railway) trains to Sydney terminate at platforms 1-3 of Sydney's '''Central Station''' in the south of the CBD area. Travellers can transfer to Cityrail trains, the light rail service to Darling Harbour, city buses, as well as taxis. It is also easy to transfer to other long distance trains and coaches. There is free short term parking up the ramp in front of the station, and you can meet the trains on the platform. There are ATM's, a choice of food outlets, cafes open until late, and a railway heritage society display and bookshop in the terminal.
The '''Cityrail'''[http://www.cityrail.info/] network runs services several times a day from close regional cities: Newcastle via the Central Coast (New South Wales), Goulburn via the Southern Highlands, Nowra via the South Coast and Lithgow via the Blue Mountains.
Cruise ships generally dock at the International Passenger Terminal at Circular Quay or at Darling Harbour.
'''Circular Quay''' is a spectacular place to dock, right by the Harbour Bridge, and you can walk off the ship into the centre of the The Rocks.
'''Darling Harbour''' passenger terminal at Barangaroo seems a little more remote when you disembark, but it is still easy walking distance to the main attractions, Wynyard Station, and Darling Harbour itself. The terminal is immediately adjacent (north) of the King St Wharf precinct, at Darling Harbour, but immigration makes sure you exit away from the water where you can't see it. Just turn right and follow the road, it is only a short walk. It is less than 15 minutes walk to the city centre and The Rocks. It is a 5 minute walk to Wynyard station. There is also a Sydney Explorer bus stop in Sussex St nearby.
'''White Bay''' is being developed as a new wharf for passenger arrivals, to replace Darling Harbour as Barangaroo is re-developed. Currently it is only used if their are already two passenger ships in the harbour. White Bay is not easy walking distance to anywhere. You could potentially walk up to Victoria Road and get a bus to the city, or you could walk over the Anzac Bridge into Darling Harbour. Expect the walk to take about an hour. Probably best to rely on the shuttle buses supplied arranged by the cruise company unless you are keen to save a few dollars.
You can drive around Sydney reasonably freely, and outside of peak times travelling by car is usually at least as quick as any method of public transport. Congestion can be expected on roads to the city from 6:30am until 9:30am, and roads away from the city from around 4pm until 6:30pm. Congestion is considerably worse heading away from the city during Friday afternoon peak.
Roads are generally well signposted to the next major suburb or suburbs along the route. Only a handful of cross-city met-roads are signposted by number.
Congestion can be expected around Bondi Beach, and the other eastern suburbs beaches on summer weekends.
Travel times from the CBD to the Sydney outskirts can take around 45 minutes in good traffic.
Some motorways, tunnels and bridges in Sydney charge tolls. They are the M2, M4, M5 & M7 Motorways, the Falcon Street Gateway to the Gore Hill Freeway (but not the freeway itself), the Lane Cove Tunnel, Cross City Tunnel, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Tunnel (southbound only), and the Eastern Distributor Motorway (northbound only). Parts of the M4 and M5, the northbound lanes of the Harbour Bridge/Tunnel and the southbound lanes of the Eastern Distributor are not tolled, however. The tolls vary between $2.50 and $7.00 depending on the road, and using multiple toll roads can easily exceed $20 or so in a day. Harbour Bridge and Tunnel tolls are more expensive during peak times (6.30-9.30am and 4.00-7.00pm) which are best avoided on any of Sydney's roads.
The Harbour Bridge and Tunnel, Cross City Tunnel, Lane Cove Tunnel, and M7 use '''electronic tolling''' only. To use an electronic toll road, you must have pre-fitted a '''tag''' or acquire a temporary '''pass'''. Most of these electronic tolls can be bypassed using longer alternative routes, except the Harbour Bridge and Tunnel. If you are in the City and driving north, for example to the zoo, or to the Northern Beaches you will need to contend with electronic tolling.
A capital 'E' marked on the lane indicates it accepts a tag. A lower case 'e' indicates it accepts a pass.
If you are in a rental car and do not pay the toll, the rental car company may charge an administration fee in addition to the toll and the fine to your credit card, if you do not make the effort to pay. Take care to cancel your pass account if it is linked to a hire car registration number. The RTA [http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/myrta/myetoll/index.html] will allow you to specify start and end times for the e-pass period to avoid these problems.
CBD hotels invariably charge for parking for the guests.
Similar prices are charged in North Sydney.
Parking in many major suburban centres and beaches can be a matter of spending time cruising and searching for parking spots. All day street parking is rare around the city suburban shopping centres.
Some train stations have all day free commuter parking. A major stations this can be full by 8am. Smaller stations with less frequent train service tend to have better parking availability. Weekends are generally no problem.
Parking at some beaches on summer weekends can often be near impossible. Some beaches are in suburban neighbourhoods, without large car parking facilities. Check the appropriate destination guides for more information.
Parking fines in Sydney are $80 if you exceed the allowed parking time. Reloading the meter, or moving your car within the same parking zone will not get you out of a fine. If you park illegally and wait with your car, you may find you have the licence place photographed and fined before you have the chance to move on, don't expect a warning. If you park illegally in a disabled spot, the fine is $375. If you do get fined for exceeding time, you will not be fined again the same day - so enjoy your parking spot.
Be aware of parking in clearways, which are no stopping zones on main roads during peak periods. Fines will be around $400 to reclaim your car after it is towed away. Clearways also offer parking opportunites if you try to park at 10am or 7pm when the clearway periods end.
Speed limits can change frequently even when following the same main road. Speed limits drop for areas of pedestrian activity, schools, as well as driving conditions. Every road in Sydney has a signposted speed limit, and in every case you will need to read the signs, as you cannot tell the speed limit just by looking at the road. The speed limit is usually 50km/h on residential streets, 60km/h or 70km/h on main roads, and 80km/h and above on freeways or freeway sections.
Some speed limits vary throughout the day. School speed zones (40 km/h) are enforced between 8.00 AM to 9.30 AM and 2.30 PM to 4.00 PM on school days. Some have flashing lights, and some just a sign. It is up to you to check the time and know if it is a school day or not. Some other roads have variable speed limits that drop during busy traffic times. Variable speed limits also drop for road maintenance. These areas are signposted, and you need to read and obey the signposted speed. Speed cameras monitor school zones, and enforce variable speed limits. For example, if there are roadworks in the Lane Cove Tunnel, the variable speed will drop, and the speed camera in the tunnel will enforce the lower speed. By law stationary "Fixed" speed cameras must be signposted before their location to warn motorists, but the signs can be easy to miss.
Taxis are a convenient way to get around Sydney. They can also be the only transport option available to some locations late at night when the trains and buses stop.
It is usually easy enough to flag a taxi down at the kerb in the CBD, or catch one at taxi ranks located in most suburban centres. A taxi is available if its light is on, and engaged if its light is off.
Beware the 3pm change over and the Friday evening rush. It can be near impossible to get a taxi between 2:30pm and 3:15pm, and similarly between 2:30am and 3:30am, as almost all of the drivers changeover their shifts at the same time. They are similarly scarce on a Friday and Saturday evening. Booking in advance is no guarantee, as these jobs are simply offered electronically to drivers, who will usually reject telephone jobs if there is plenty of work at the kerb. It is easily possible to wait an hour or more for a taxi booked 24 hours in advance on a Friday and Saturday evening. Ringing the taxi company back and complaining will often help (if the operators can relate to your problem they have the ability to offer a taxi driver an incentive to take your fare). Canceling your job and ringing another taxi company in frustration never helps as the taxi companies have handover systems which would have seen your job handed over if another company had more capacity. You will just end up at the back of the queue again. Evenings other than Friday and Saturday are usually fine.
During busy times it is also not uncommon for a taxi driver to leave the door locked and ask where you are going through the window and drive off if the destination is too close or not on their way home, even though this is illegal.
There are '''two meter rates''': a day rate (rate 1) with a flag fall of $3.00, a distance rate of $1.79 a kilometre, a "waiting" rate of $0.77 a minute and a booking fee of $1.50; and a night rate (rate 2) which adds a 20% surcharge to the distance rate. The night rate applies for journeys commencing between 10pm and 6am. You can check the rate your taxi is using by looking for a 1 or a 2 next to the current charge: if it's set to 2 it is using the night rate. The so called "waiting" rate is charged whenever the speed drops below 25km/h. For trips in congested traffic it is possible for large amounts of the trip to be charged at the "waiting" rate. All Sydney taxis are metered and taxi drivers will always charge the metered rate, adding the charges for tolls manually. Silver Service taxis are more luxurious vehicles, but they are charged at the same rate as standard white taxis.
Taxis all accept all major credit cards. They charge an extra 10% on top of the fare for this.
Passengers are required to pay all tolls for their trip. In addition, passengers who are taken north over the Harbour Bridge, for which there is no toll, are required to pay the driver's southbound toll for the return into the city (currently $3). Drivers will usually take the toll roads unless you ask them not to. If you are unsure why they are asking for an amount above that shown on the meter, just ask.
Passengers have the right to control the air conditioning and the radio - don't be afraid to ask the driver! Whilst most taxi drivers behave acceptably, there have been reported incidences of taxi drivers behaving inappropriately towards women - it is always safer to sit in the back of the car.
Tipping is not required or generally expected. However, rounding up a taxi fare the next dollar (or five or ten dollars, depending on the base fare) is fairly common. On the other hand, don't be surprised if the driver rounds the fare ''down'' to the nearest dollar - accept with grace and good cheer.
Sydney has a good public transport system, especially in areas closer to the city area where many attractions are. The further away from the city you travel, the less frequent and comprehensive public transport services will tend to be.
The system consists of an extensive rail network, multiple buses and ferries, a single light-rail line and a tourist-oriented monorail.
The ticketing system for Sydney's public transport is antiquated and poor. There is no comprehensive system, and there is no stored value card. There are well over 20 ticket types in common use. It can be worth spending a little time understanding where you will be travelling, as some of the tickets can save considerable amounts over multiple trips, especially if you are going to be taking ferries. Bus drivers will check you buy or validate a ticket on entry. Ferry hands will check tickets. Trains have ticket barriers at city and major suburban stations. Minor suburban stations are open. Inspectors are renowned for their intimidating behaviour and will generally not accept any excuses. They issue a ticket on the spot, and post you a reminder to pay.
Children are aged 15 years and under, and are entitled to a discount, except on private buses, where they must be 14 or under. In addition, on ferries (except private ferries), buses (except private buses) and trains, you only pay for the first child when accompanied by a parent or grandparent, the other children in the same family travel free. No family identification is ever required, so anything that resembles a family unit will only have to pay for the first child. Children 3 years and under travel free.
Cityrail train tickets allow you to make as many transfers as required but you may not break your journey (i.e. leave a station), or your ticket will become invalid.
<listing name="Transport Infoline" phone="13 15 00" url="http://www.131500.info" hours="24 hours">Information on fares and route planning for all public transport in Sydney. Available online and by telephone</listing>
<listing name="TransitShops" address="Circular Quay (cnr of Loftus & Alfred Sts) or Wynyard under Wynyard Park" phone="" url="" hours="">Information on fares and route planning for all public transport in Sydney, all travelpass and travelten sales, accepts credit cards</listing>
Sydney has an extensive suburban rail network operated by CityRail [http://www.cityrail.info/ ]. Sydney trains are often very crowded in peak hour, but a CityRail train may be the fastest way to get to the CBD. Expect severe congestion around Town Hall at peak hour. The complex rail network sometimes experiences delays, especially during rain.
The majority of Cityrail's suburban trains are not equipped with destination displays on the train and announcements are often non-existent or inaudible. The displays on the platform are usually clear, but you need to make sure you know where you're going and keep track of the station stops.
Cityrail operates with at least a 30 minute frequency to all metropolitan stations (apart from the (dark blue) Carlingford Line and stations between Riverstone and Richmond on the (yellow) Western Line). There are usually 15 minute frequencies to major destinations and transit hubs such as Chatswood, Bondi Junction, Hurstville, Parramatta, Bankstown, Blacktown and Liverpool. The Cityrail timetable has a weekday service and a weekend and holiday service.
Cityrail also operates lines to regional cities such as Newcastle and Wollongong and into the Blue Mountains at hourly frequency. This allows you to sit back and enjoy the journey rather than suffer the hassle of driving in foreign conditions, but offers less freedom upon arrival.
All stations are equipped with CCTV and trains at night have designated '''NightSafe''' carriages and station areas with emergency intercoms and security patrols, making catching trains at night a viable (and cheaper) alternative to taxis.
Outside of operating hours, between 12am (1am on Fridays and Saturdays) and 5am, '''NightRide buses''' are available on most routes within Sydney. Any CityRail train ticket is valid for the equivalent NightRide bus except a single. If you don't have a ticket, you'll need to buy a NightRide single from the driver, which is more expensive than a single for the train. NightRide buses stop at most CityRail stations and a few additional stops, but they don't travel on the same routes. If you intend catching a NightRide bus home, check the NightRide route map on the back cover of each timetable or at the station while you are waiting for your train.
On weekends check for trackwork [http://www.cityrail.info/trackwork/] before leaving for the station; CityRail will transfer passengers to buses if lines are closed for trackwork, and the process will add about half an hour to a typical journey. Trackwork will be advertised at the station for about a week before it begins. Train tickets, single, return or travel card, are valid on trackwork buses between the same stations.
You must always purchase a ticket for the entire journey ''before'' boarding a train from either the ticket office or from the ticket machines that are located on most stations. There is no opportunity to buy a ticket onboard or at the destination. Ticket offices have limited opening hours at suburban stations, and outside of these hours you will need to use a machine. The ticket machines accept up to $50 notes but will only give $19.90 in change (in coins). They will also only accept 10 coins. Ticket offices accept Visa or Mastercard for a total ticket value over $20. A handful of ticket machines also accept Visa or Mastercard at major stations.
If you are caught travelling without a ticket the on-the-spot fine is $200. If you are found with a student or pensioner ticket and you don't have the appropriate authorisation card, the same fine applies. Ticket inspectors will not hesitate to fine you and generally don't accept any excuses - unless the ticket machine was broken at the station which you boarded the train. If you accidentally stuff up, and buy the wrong ticket, or forget to buy a ticket, honesty is not necessarily the best policy.
Within the city area there is a light rail system run by Metro Light Rail [http://www.metrolightrail.com.au/]. It connects Central station to Sydney/Darling Harbour, Star City Casino and the inner western suburbs.
Sydney has an extensive bus network.
Most of the buses in the inner city and inner suburbs are run by the government owned '''Sydney Buses''' [http://sydneybuses.info/] The rest of the commuter network (primarily around the outer suburbs) is run by private bus companies. These services do not compete so you will usually only have one way of getting somewhere by bus.
You must flag down buses if you want them to stop for you - they will not automatically stop unless they need to pick someone off or drop them off.
A Sydney bus fare depends on how far you are travelling, measured in sections of about 1.6 kilometers. Tickets can be bought in cash when boarding the bus, except on prepay-only routes and bus stops in the city centre on weekdays. For prepay-only routes there is usually a non-express alternative. If buying a ticket on the bus, state your destination to the driver. Drivers may be able to give change for a $20 note, but it pays to use lower-denomination coins and notes. One day bus-only tickets (Bustripper/$11.70) are also available when boarding the bus. All other discount tickets (10-ride Travelten or 7-day Travelpass) must be bought in advance from newsagents or railway stations before getting on the bus. If you have to buy a single ticket from a newsagent, before you get on the bus, you have to know how many sections your journey will be. Section ranges correspond to a colour of ticket. You can find out how many sections your trip is by calling the transport infoline [http://www.131500.info], asking at a transit shop at Wynyard or Circular Quay, or looking at the route map in the printed timetable or online. Every section you travel in counts as a section. So to travel from Wynyard to North Sydney Station is 2 sections, because you travel in sections 2 and 3. If you boarded one stop before Wynyard, and exited one stop after North Sydney Station, you would have travelled in sections 1, 2, 3 and 4, so you would need a 4 section ticket.
There are two main bus termination points in the CBD, at Wynyard and Circular Quay. These two points are about 10 minutes walk from each other or a one-stop train trip. You will need to make this walk if connecting from buses arriving from north of the harbour bridge to buses heading east or west, or vice-versa. Bus information centres are located at both Wynyard and Circular Quay.
A free green coloured CBD Shuttle bus service, route 555, runs a loop through the city in both directions approximately every 10 minutes. The operating hours are only between 9.30am and 3.30pm, and a little later on Thursdays and weekends.
The red coloured Metrobus (route 10) which runs between Leichhardt and Kingsford via the city and Oxford Street is also operated by Sydney Buses, and accepts all prepaid travel cards.
Bus stops are not numbered and there is nothing on the bus to tell you which stop you are approaching or which stop you are at (except on the Metrobus and free bus service). There are no poster maps on the bus either. If you are not sure where you are getting off pick up or print out the timetable, which has a route map on it. Also make sure that if you take a bus marked "Limited Stops" or "Express" (the route number will start with an L or an X) that the bus stops where you want it to! Ask the driver if you're unsure.
From midnight to 5am, most buses cease running with the exception of a few trunk routes that run at a reduced frequency including the 373 which runs 24 hours between the city and Coogee.
Outside of the city and inner suburbs, private bus companies provide services to varying degrees of frequency and reliability (but generally significantly less frequent during off-peak periods and weekends). Expect many service to stop running around 9pm. They do not accept tickets from government buses or multi-modal tickets, although single fares cost the same.
More than just a utilitarian means of transport, the ferries are a great way to see the harbourside. The best ferry excursion for visitors is from Circular Quay to Manly. Be prepared to take a stunning photograph of the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge as you leave Circular Quay.
At peak periods the Parramatta River ferries can fill to capacity, and you should ensure that you have an alternative for completing your trip. Passenger counts are strictly enforced. Peak periods are weekends around 4pm-6pm at Parramatta and Circular Quay, and school holiday weekdays from 4pm-6pm at Darling Harbour (heading to Parramatta). The Manly and inner-harbour ferries can get busy, but very rarely do they reach capacity.
The Metro Light Rail is cheaper, and goes further than the monorail.
If you are a fit and experienced urban cyclist, used to riding on multi-lane roads in heavy traffic, then just get on your bike. Cyclists are permitted just about everywhere on Sydney's roads, with the exception of some freeway tunnels where bicycle signs will usually direct you to the alternative route. Kerbside lanes are often narrow, so ride assertively, be seen, and take the full lane when you know there is insufficient room to be passed.
Central Sydney is not particularly cyclist friendly. Also, Sydney is not a flat city and you can expect regular hills but no marathon uphill climbs. The weather is, however, usually good for cycling.
If you are looking for a quieter ride, a number of quiet on-road and shared pedestrian/cycle paths are available, but can be hard to find. A good place to start is at Sydney Olympic Park where you can get your cycle legs on the extensive off-road trails, and then if you feel inclined you can follow off-road/quiet road trails out to Parramatta or following the Cooks River to Botany Bay in Southern Sydney. The Harbour Bridge has a dedicated cycle lane, suitable for all ages, but as soon as you get off the bridge you are back onto urban streets in Milsons Point.
It is illegal to ride bicycles on footpaths unless cycling with children under 12. In reality this is fairly weakly enforced out in the suburbs, but it is common for people to be fined for cycling through pedestrian malls in the city like Pitt St Mall or Martin Place. Bicycle helmets are required by law, as are lights and reflectors at night. Road rules applying to cyclists and maps of cycleways in the greater Sydney area are provided by the state government authority [http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/usingroads/bicycle/index.html], but are not comprehensive, and indicated cycle routes can sometimes be busy roads with car-door lanes.
Bicycles can be taken on all Cityrail trains, but a child fare should be paid if any part of the journey is made before 9am or after 3:30pm on weekdays. Check trackwork schedules on weekends [http://www.cityrail.info/trackwork/], when buses replace trains and make taking bicycles more challenging.
Bike hire is available in many locations in Sydney. Unfortunately, bike hire for two bikes for a day usually costs more than hiring a small car and petrol for the day; however, for shorter periods some places may be reasonably priced (for example Sydney Olympic Park. In addition you have to consider the cost if the bikes are stolen or damaged. However, they are much easier to park, are greener and can be more fun. See the district articles for bike hire listings.
There are tours around Sydney offered by bus, hike, walking, motorcycle, and in a variety of other forms. See the district articles for listings.
Museums and galleries are concentrated in the city and in Darling Harbour. Highlights include:
Sydney's large natural harbour was the reason that the original penal settlement was established in the area. The first fleet arrived in the area now known as Circular Quay. It is now well developed, with skyscrapers, highrises, and houses all around its shores, but it is still very beautiful.
The harbour is served by '''ferry''' services that transport passengers around the harbour. An excellent way to see both the harbour and Sydney attractions is to take a ferry east from Circular Quay to Taronga Zoo or Manly or west under the Harbour Bridge towards Parramatta. These are reasonably priced and a favourite for tourists. If time is short, for a shorter route, the ferry between Circular Quay and Darling Harbour will let you ride under the Harbour Bridge and see the central part of the harbour.
Sydney Harbour can be viewed from the city or from on of the many walks next to it, most of which are easily accessible by ferry or bus.
There are a number of '''islands''' in the centre of the harbour that you can visit for a picnic. These include Shark, Goat, Clark, Rodd, Cockatoo and Garden Islands. These are all distinct and beautiful islands and have magnificent views of sailing boats on the harbour and of Sydney's harbourside buildings. At most times of the year they will be nearly deserted.
You can arrange a guided tour of the islands by contacting the Sydney Visitors Centre at Cadmans Cottage, 100 George Street, The Rocks, ph 02 9247 5033. fax 02 9241 3303.
The world famous '''Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race''' begins every year on Boxing Day, on Sydney Harbour. Thousands of spectator craft take to the water to farewell the yachts as they set off on their grueling journey to Hobart. Seaworthy craft can follow the yachts through the Sydney Heads into the open ocean. You can also see the race from a harbour vantage point like Watsons Bay. where you can see them sail towards you across the harbour, and then cross to the gap to see them sail down the coast.
There are many picturesque and interesting walks throughout Sydney. The following are just a few of the better-known routes.
Sydney has three indoor ice skating centers in the suburbs. The closest to the city centre is:
The Sydney Harbour Bridge has an excellent view of the city, especially at dawn and dusk, although the drivers and train passengers relegated to the middle of the Bridge don't see it. There are several things to do on the Bridge:
Sydney is home to a number of major and minor festivals and calendar events each year. Listed chronologically these are:
You can take language classes, join a cafe book group, learn to draw, sign up for historical or foodie walks, or take computer or business classes at City of Sydney Library, where you can sign up to borrow books or just read magazines in their cafe as well.
See the Sydney District Pages for things to buy in the City, and other Sydney districts.
While cities such as London, Milan, Tokyo, Paris, and New York City are traditionally regarded as the fashion centres of the world, these days Australia's unique style and creativity means Sydney is also mentioned as 'must-visit' centers on the international fashion circuit. When it came to fashion, Australia used to be seen as isolated and out-of-touch. That notion is now out-of-touch itself, as designs from Australians such as Wayne Cooper, Collette Dinnigan, Akira Isogawa, Lisa Ho, and Easton Pearson are seen around the globe. In fact, around 60 Australian labels are currently exporting their designs to boutiques and department stores in Asia, Europe and the United States.
Anything and everything you could possibly want to buy is probably available in Sydney, it may be scattered all over the city, but it will be there. Areas range from the more up-market to bargain and moderately priced items.
For essential supplies or those looking to cook their own food, the main '''Supermaket Chains''' in Sydney are Coles [http://www.coles.com.au], Woolworths [http://www.woolworths.com.au], Franklins [http://www.franklins.com.au] or Aldi [http://www.aldi.com.au]. Next to Town Hall or Wynyard stations in CBD and in many suburban locations.
<!-- This section for adding general details on eating in Sydney. Add specific eateries to the relevant district articles -->
Cafes serving breakfast start opening at 6am and breakfast is usually served until 11am, or occasionally all day. Orders for lunch start at about noon and continue until about 3pm. Many cafes will start closing late afternoon, although a few may remain open for dinner.
Restaurants usually open for dinner around 5pm-6pm and while there are exceptions (usually concentrated in areas with active nightlife), last orders for dinner are typically taken around 10pm. Restaurants in business areas open for lunch as well. It is common for restaurants in suburban locations to sometimes be closed on Sunday, Monday or Tuesday nights.
It is more expensive to get a sit down meal in the evening, than it is for lunch.
Just about every suburb of Sydney will have a restaurant or two, a cafe or coffee shop, and a place that sells takeaway food.
There are a large number of restaurants, takeaways, and food of every description in the City. There are several other districts well known for having a large amount and variety of restaurants. In the north, try Crows Nest, Cremorne, Chatswood, Neutral Bay, Mosman and Lane Cove. In the west - Parramatta, Beverly Hills and Cabramatta each have large restaurant districts. In the East/Inner-city - Surry Hills, Darlinghurst, Bondi, Coogee are well-known eating spots.
Take away food in Sydney can be as cheap as buying the ingredients and making it yourself, and many stores specialise in take-away food. There will usually be a picnic table, park or beach nearby to eat whatever you can select.
Most restaurants will do take-away food as well, but almost certainly at a premium to the cost of buying food from a take-away. Outside of the city an occasional restaurant may offer a 10% discount for take-away.
Thanks to Sydney's multicultural mix, the range of food available is huge and isn't necessarily expensive. It is usually possible to find a restaurant of any nationality, specializing in almost any cuisine.
Sydney is also home to some of the world's best restaurants (though none are Michelin rated). In the City itself, try Tetsuya's [http://www.tetsuyas.com/] in Kent Street (be warned, there are no walk-ins and bookings are taken only one month in advance, often filling up on the first day of bookings), Becasse [http://www.becasse.com.au/] in Clarence Street or Rockpool [http://www.rockpool.com/rp_home.aspx] at The Rocks.
Vegetarians are well catered for. Every restaurant will usually have at least one vegetarian dish. Indian retaurants can be relied upon to provide a wider selection. The trendy East Sydney and Inner West suburbs are likely to give you a large choice as well.
There is an awareness of gluten-free and dairy-free diets in Sydney, and again the more trendier inner city suburbs are more likely to cater for these diets.
The general rule on tipping in Australia is that it is not compulsory and generally not expected. This remains true for most cafes, and for counter service in Sydney. However for a full service restaurant in a tourist areas a tip would be expected by the waitstaff, Many Australians will still not tip, on principle and you should feel free to follow their lead should you wish to. Nobody will follow you or give you a hard time. Otherwise a 10% tip added to the bill will usually meet their expectations. They may be expecting a little more if you have an American accent, as they are well aware of what Americans tip at home.
Sydney has an enormous number of places to drink and party. A limited number of venues have 24 hour licenses, however the majority close before 3am and some as early as 11pm, particularly if there are nearby residents. Most venues will have door staff checking photo identification to determine that you are over 18. Admission is also commonly refused to those who seem visibly drunk to the staff. More popular venues have discriminatory door practices, the most common of which is refusing entry to groups of men who are not accompanied by women.
Most places have at least a basic dress code. If you're not sure where you're headed and want to get into most generic pubs and clubs you come across, men should wear a collared shirt, neat full-length pants (not jeans) and business-style shoes. Cheaper pubs have looser requirements, and of course different groups follow different fashions. This recipe won't work for entry to a goth club. In almost all cases, women can dress more freely, but a small number of places require closed shoes.
Entry charges for live music or DJs are usual and range from $5 to $30 depending on clientele. Entry charges are rare if you're going into a pub for a drink.
Note that there is a taxi shift change at 3am, and it is notoriously difficult to catch a taxi anywhere between 2:30am and 3:30am. Also beware that there is currently a government enforced lockout at many establishments between 2 and 5am - which means that you need to stay inside or you won't be able to get back in - even if you go out for a cigarette (smoking is illegal inside). Ask the bouncers or some locals if you're unsure and they will tell you which places are affected by the lockout and which aren't.
Some types of nightlife are concentrated in particular areas:
There are many great nightclubs in Sydney, unfortunately they are very spread out so it would be a good idea to get an idea of were you want to go. A free magazine called 3D world can be picked up at most clothing stores and music shops which hosts a large range of night spot opportunities. Also a new website GuestlistSydney [http://www.guestlistsydney.com/] lists a large number of nightclub events each week.
''Sydney is such a large city that we've put individual hotel listings in the district pages-- here are some suggestions for districts to stay in''
<!-- NOTE: DO NOT put individual listings for hotels, motels and hostels here. This means DO NOT PUT THE NAMES OR ENTRIES FOR ANYTHING HERE. This section is a GENERAL OVERVIEW of accommodation in Sydney. Put actual individual listings in the district article. -->
<!-- NOTE: DO NOT put individual listings for hotels, motels and hostels here. This means DO NOT PUT THE NAMES OR ENTRIES FOR ANYTHING HERE. This section is a GENERAL OVERVIEW of accommodation in Sydney. Put actual individual listings in the district article. -->
Sydney has a wide range of backpackers' hostels - popular districts for these include the southern half of the CBD and Haymarket , Glebe and Kings Cross, the Eastern Suburbs(Bondi, Coogee) and the Northern Beaches (Manly).
<!-- NOTE: DO NOT put individual listings for hotels, motels and hostels here. This means DO NOT PUT THE NAMES OR ENTRIES FOR ANYTHING HERE. This section is a GENERAL OVERVIEW of accommodation in Sydney. Put actual individual listings in the district article. -->
You find many mid-range accommodation providers within the CBD, and within a short distance of the city by public transport, including in North Sydney, the Inner West and the North Shore. Sometimes a cheaper motel style accommodation can be obtained on the roads leading into Sydney, particular in South Western Sydney
<!-- NOTE: DO NOT put individual listings for hotels, motels and hostels here. This means DO NOT PUT THE NAMES OR ENTRIES FOR ANYTHING HERE. This section is a GENERAL OVERVIEW of accommodation in Sydney. Put actual individual listings in the district article. -->
There are luxurious hotels that can be found all over Sydney. The most expensive hotels are generally located in the CBD and the Rocks district, near the business hub of Sydney, close to many restaurants, often featuring spectacular harbor views. Some other high quality hotels are located in Darling Harbour.You may check the list below for specific locations.
Please visit one of the various Sydney districts described in the Districts section above to see the accommodation listings.
<!-- NOTE: DO NOT put individual listings for hotels, motels and hostels here. This means DO NOT PUT THE NAMES OR ENTRIES FOR ANYTHING HERE. This section is a GENERAL OVERVIEW of accommodation in Sydney. Put actual individual listings in the district article. -->
Serviced, short-term apartments are widely available throughout Sydney and are available for stays as short as one night. Amenities typically include kitchen, washer and dryer, and separate bedrooms. A range of properties exist from budget to five-star.
Please visit one of the various Sydney districts described in the Districts section above to see the accommodation listings.
Sydney has similar crime issues to most large western cities. Be on the lookout for the usual big city crime problems such as pickpocketing, and exercise caution on the rail system late at night, as you would in other cities. It is generally advisable to travel in the carriage closest to the guard's compartment, which is marked with a blue light on the outside of the train. Drunk people are common on trains late at night, particularly on Friday and Saturday nights.
Homeless people begging for money or cigarettes may come off as intimidating to some tourists, but they are generally harmless. They will often make up elaborate stories about needing a train fare etc. If you don't wish to give them money (you can generally tell which ones are genuine), simply say "Sorry, no" or pretend to not speak English and continue walking and they will leave you alone.
Take care walking around George Street, The Rocks or Oxford Street especially on Friday and Saturday nights as there are many drunk people around who can get into fights. Usually fights with drunks are not completely random, and start with some sort of engagement. Avoid trouble, and don't hesitate to call police if you feel threatened.
There are few complete no-go areas in Sydney.
''The Block'' on Eveleigh Street in Redfern, directly opposite Redfern station, is still to a certain extent an area demonstrating urban Aboriginal disadvantage. It is slowly being redeveloped, and the murals, vandalism, drugs and hopelessness being bulldozed. Common sense would tell you to avoid this area, unless you have a desire to see this side of Sydney, in which case take care.
Some areas of South Western Sydney, like Cabramatta, Lakemba, have a reputation. The reality is that the risk of violent crime to travellers is no greater here than in the city, especially during the day, when they are busy, vibrant centres. These areas commonly host Vietnamese nationlist violence.
Be careful in the red light area of Kings Cross at night. Although the main street in this area has been cleaned up immeasurably by the police, crime does still occur and pickpocketing or mugging can happen to the unwary, especially in quiet laneways. Women should take care at bars and keep an alert companion at hand, especially in the central hostel area, and take precautions against spiked drinks.
After 9pm, smaller outer suburban stations can be very quiet, and many are totally unstaffed after this time. The trains can also be empty when they get towards the end of the line at this time. Don't expect a taxi to be waiting at every station - only usually the major ones will have a well patronised taxi rank.
Nightride buses, which replace trains after midnight, can arrange for a taxi to meet you when you get off, if you speak with the driver.
If you feel uncomfortable on a Cityrail train, you can call 1800 657 926 to speak with Cityrail security, then can usually arrange for a transit patrol to board the train and provide assistance. In more modern trains you can press the button in the entry area to speak with the guard. Every train station has an orange emergency help point monitored by CCTV that connects to Cityrail security, usually towards the centre of the platform.
If you are going to the beach, take the same precautions as you do anywhere in Australia. See Beach going.
Sydney has no really dangerous jellyfish. Bluebottles (Portugese Man-Of-War) are blueish-purple stingers that hit the Sydney beaches a couple of days every summer, when the wind direction is right. They have an air-bladder that floats on the water, and stinging tenticles. Often the air-bladder can be no bigger than a coin. You will see the evidence of them with their air-bags washed up on the beach if they are present. They can give a painful sting - even when on the beach - but it won't keep everyone out of the water. Apply a heat pack if you can, or ice, or salt water. Vinegar is useless. Sometimes small transparent jellyfish appear in the harbour and estuaries. You can usually avoid any groups of them, but they are mostly harmless. More rarely larger purple jellyfish are in the harbour and other estuaries. If you see these in the estuaries, best to stay out of their way. Probably more of an issue to water skiers than to swimmers.
Sydney ocean beaches all have shark mesh nets around 100 metres out to sea, and are regularly patrolled by air for sharks. A shark alarm will sound if any are sighted, and you should get out of the water. The risk of shark attack swimming on a patrolled beach between the flags is virtually nil. Shark attacks are rare on Sydney beaches, but they have occurred, although there have been no fatal attacks for 45 years. Advice is to avoid swimming in murky water after storms, or at dusk or at dawn, and to swim in the netted enclosures within the harbour and other estuaries.
Take note of the general issues regarding staying safe in Australia.
There are a number of good one or two day trips from Sydney:
Or if you are moving on:
|directionl1=N |majorl1=END |minorl1= |directionr1=S |minorr1=Mittagong |majorr1=Albury |image1=Australian National Route 31.svg.png |imagesize1=22
|directionl2=N |minorl2=Central Coast |majorl2=Newcastle |directionr2=S |minorr2=Wollongong |majorr2=Kiama |image2=Australian Route 1.svg.png |imagesize2=22
<!--es:Sydney--> <!--nl:Sydney--> <!--sv:Sydney-->