Is known as the Harbour City. It's the largest, oldest and most cosmopolitan city in with an enviable reputation as one of the world's most beautiful and liveable cities. Brimming with history, nature, culture, art, fashion, cuisine, design, Sydney's set next to miles of ocean coastline and sandy surf beaches. Longterm immigration has led to the cities reputation as one of the most culturally and ethnically diverse cities in Australia and the world. The city is also home to the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge, two of the most iconic structures on this planet. Districts [ ].

Central Sydney districts The busy centre of government and finance, but also home to many famous attractions, fine restaurants, and shopping. Just to the west of Circular Quay, now a cosmopolitan area, The Rocks includes the first colonial village of Sydney and the iconic Harbour Bridge. An extensive leisure and entertainment area immediately to the west of the Central Business District (CBD).

See restaurants, boardwalks, aquariums, wildlife, and museums by foot. The Haymarket, Chinatown and Central Station area is home to markets, cafes, Chinese culture and cuisine, and some cheaper accommodation and shopping. Kings Cross, Darlinghurst, Surry Hills, Woolloomooloo and Moore Park. Busy nightlife, and coffee shops, fashion and entertainment by day. An early morning trip to the fish markets, exploring the Powerhouse Museum, finding a maritime pub or hitting The Star Casino. Greater Sydney [ ] 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 other such hidden gems. Greater Sydney districts Between the City and the sea, includes the world-famous and other city beaches, which are strong drawcards for visitors and residents in the city during summer. The area south of the CBD and north of the Georges River, including the areas surrounding Sydney Airport and Brighton Le Sands on Botany Bay. Sydney's original suburbs are now bohemian and are a hub of cheap eats, shopping and inner-city culture.

Also contains, the home of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, parks, cycling, and events. Over the Harbour Bridge are leafy residential areas stretching northwards. The North Shore also has major commercial and retail areas at North Sydney and Chatswood, many smaller boutique shopping areas, and many parks and gardens, and Sydney's famous Taronga Zoo. Includes leafy residential areas, national parks and waterways.

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From stretching North along the coast to. Contains the Northern Districts with includes Sydney's Silicon Valley at Macquarie Park, the northern side of the western reaches of Sydney Harbour, and the the largely residential area of the Hills District in the north-west of the city. Sydney's 'second' CBD, with history, shopping, eating, all just 30 minutes from the city centre. The district to the far south and east of the city centre including and Captain Cooks Landing Place.

Contains the centres of Liverpool and Campbelltown are a large swathe of residential and commercial Sydney. Stretching from out to the The Hawkesbury is a semi-rural area to the northwest of the city, centred around the Hawkesbury River. Its main towns are and. Understand [ ] Sydney is a major global city and one of the most important cities for finance in the Asia-Pacific. The city is surrounded by nature and national parks, which extend through the suburbs and right to the shores of the harbour.

Sydney's 4,757,083 residents (according to a 2013 estimate) sprawl over an area of more than 12,350km². The timezone is identical with the majority of the state of: GMT +10. The local timezone is AEST or Australian Eastern Standard Time. The city, as does the rest of the state, observes Daylight Savings time from October to April each year. Sydney became the centre of the world's attention in September 2000 when the city hosted the 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. Sydney continues to attract and host large international events History [ ]. Giraffes at Taronga Zoo Some evidence suggests that humans inhabited the area of Australia that would later become Sydney almost 50,000 years before the first European settlers arrived. How those first people arrived in Sydney still remains an unsolved mystery.

What is known is that in the late 1700's an English Lord named Thomas Townshend (aka Lord Sydney) thought it would be a great idea if England established a penal colony on the east coast of Australia, an area discovered by Captain James Cook about 16 years earlier. On January 26, 1788, a fleet of 11 (known as the First Fleet) ships, bearing around 850 prisoners, arrived at Sydney Cove. The date became known as Australia Day.

The European diseases the colonists brought with them rapidly decimated the native population. A shortage of food and lack of farming knowledge led to widespread starvation that almost wiped out the convicts and their guards. The arrival of the second fleet in 1790 was meant to bring relief in the form of supplies, but primarily brought more sick and dying convicts which only worsened the situation.

In 1810, Lachlan Macquarie became governor of Sydney and conditions began to improve. Macquarie wanted to build a city and build he did.

Under his leadership, labor forces (made up primarily of convicts) erected public buildings such as banks and churches, constructed roads and bridges, and built wharves to accommodate the rapidly burgeoning maritime trade. He also allowed convicts who had served their term to enter society as free citizens. Macquarie's tenure as governor ended in 1821 when he was recalled to London for spending too much money and ruling autocratically. Sydney continued to grow, despite Macquarie's absence.

In 1842, Sydney was incorporated and became Australia's first official city. The practice of transporting convicts ended in 1850, by which time it had a population of 35,000 people. Australia experienced an overall population depletion as citizens left the country to seek their fortune in the gold fields of California. Around 1852, though, gold was discovered in Australia and people came pouring back into the country. The Australian economy boomed.

By 1871, Sydney's population had reached 200,000. Despite a few setbacks, namely an outbreak of bubonic plague in 1900, the Great Depression and two world wars, Sydney continued to thrive. By the early 1950's, Sydney's population, boosted by a steady influx of immigrants, had jumped from 481,000 to over one and a half million.

Employment rates were high and the economy strong. Skyscrapers began to dot Sydney's landscape and its iconic opera house opened in 1973.

The 2000 Summer Olympic Games were held in Sydney, branding the city once and for all as a city worth noting. Today, Sydney is home to over four million 'Sydneysiders.' It is considered one of the most diverse cities in the world, with more than 40% of the population originally hailing from outside Australia. Its comfortable climate, iconic structures, beautiful beaches and exotic wildlife have all combined to help make Sydney one of the world's most popular tourist destinations. People [ ] When the First Fleet, under the command of Captain Arthur Phillip, landed in Botany Bay in 1788, it set off a chain of events that would forever change the population of what would later become known as Sydney. For at least 35,000 years, Aborigines had been the sole inhabitants of this part of Australia. No one knows exactly how many Aborigines lived in Sydney before Philip's arrival.

What is known for certain is that during the years following the landing of First Fleet, the native population was decimated, primarily by disease. Today, Aborigines comprise only approximately 2% of Sydney's total population. For a time, therefore, Sydney was comprised almost entirely of British convicts, their guards and the few settlers who accompanied them. In 1851, the Australian gold rush brought immigrants pouring in from all around the world and Sydney's population exploded. The biggest influx of immigrants came from the United Kingdom, Ireland, America, China and Germany.

Today, over 40% of Sydney's population cite their ancestry as English, Scottish, Irish or Chinese. After the gold rush, Sydney's population continued to grow.

Today it has the largest population of any city in Australia, although Melbourne is hot on its heels. It is considered one of the most multi-culturally diverse cities in the world. Approximately 60% of the 4.8 million people who call Sydney home were born in Australia. People identifying as English or Chinese comprise the majority of the rest of the population. This population diversity is reflected in a multitude of spoken languages. (Australian) English is considered the national language of Australia. It's similar to British English (which differs somewhat from American English) but has some of its own unique vernacular.

While the majority of people speak English, it would not be considered out of place to hear conversations in Chinese, Arabic or Greek. When taken as a whole, Sydneysiders speak over 250 languages.

When it comes to religious beliefs, Roman Catholics and Anglicans form the biggest religious groups, with Islam coming in a close third. Close to 18% of the population do not identify with any religion. The population of Sydney is comprised predominantly of young professionals. In fact, over 70% of the city's residents are between the ages of 18 and 49. The residents are pretty evenly split between men and women.

Close to 8% of the population are under 15, and approximately 11% are over 65. Sydney is recognised worldwide for its vibrant gay community. Every year, the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is celebrated on the first weekend in March, drawing people from all over Australia and the world for the celebrations. The rising housing prices and living costs in Sydney have had a negative effect on the culture and many consumer services.

Many Australians outside Sydney often describe it as having a 'rip-off' culture. Sydney enjoys over 300 sunny days each year Sydney is comfortable for travellers to visit any time of year. The city enjoys over 300 sunny days each year. Though it has 104 days of clear skies. • Summer (December to February) is the best time to enjoy Sydney's beachside outdoor lifestyle. Temperatures usually reach around 26°C (about 79°F) but it can be very hot, with temperatures climbing to over 40°C (104°F) for a few days each summer. Summer days can be humid, and sometimes have searing dry winds, but they frequently end with a 'southerly buster', a cold front sweeping up from the south, bringing a clearly noticeable drop in temperature, rain and thunder.

Within hours, the storm can pass and the evening continues cooler. Hot windy days can create a risk of bushfire, and on days of severe risk national parks and walking trails may be closed. 'Total fire bans' are also common - they will be announced on weather reports and on signs at national park entrances (also on the website of the ). Occasionally low pressure systems drift down from the tropics, giving periods of more unstable weather. You won't need to pack much more than T-shirts to visit Sydney in summer, but remember your hat and sunglasses. • Autumn (March to May) is still warm with mild nights. There can be good days for the beach in March, but you can't count on it.

It is a good time for visiting attractions, going to the zoo, catching ferries around the harbour without the summer crowds. You may need a warm top for the evenings, especially for May. • Winter (June to August) is cool, not cold. Average July maximum temperatures are 17°C, and daytime temperatures rarely drop below 14°C, but night-time temperatures can fall to below 10°C. Most rain falls as a result of a few off-shore low pressure systems, which usually result in two or three rainy weeks during winter. The Icebergs will be in the ocean doing their morning laps, but most of Sydney will be well away from the beach.

It does not snow in Sydney, and unless you intend spending long periods outside, you can usually get by with just a warm top. Sydney is a year-round city, and only the outdoor water-parks close for the winter. If the beach isn't your scene, and you don't like the heat, winter may be your time to visit.

• Spring (September to November). Spring days are great for exploring Sydney's attractions, bushwalking, cycling, and the outdoors.

Beaches are generally patrolled from the end of October, and Sydneysiders start flocking to the beaches in November. Sydney is the driest and sunniest in spring.

Sydney's Western Suburbs, which 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 night-time warming effect of the ocean. Sydney has air conditioning in all public buildings, and on most public transport. These days it is increasingly rare to have to catch a bus or train without air conditioning on a hot day. Nevertheless, carry water during summer and remember sun protection year round. Sydney Climate and Weather information is available online at the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Literature [ ] Every year since 1998, Sydney has held the Sydney Writers' Festival.

This festival features over 300 events and brings in an audience of over 100,000. This non-profit festival brings together some of the world's best fiction and nonfiction writers, screenwriters and even musicians, scientists and journalists. At its core, however, the festival's purpose is to celebrate literature. While the festival is designed to highlight writers and performers from around the world, Sydney itself has many reasons to be proud where literature is concerned. • Award-winning author and journalist Ruth Park was born in New Zealand in 1917 and moved to Australia in 1942. Shortly after her marriage to an Australian-born author, she and her husband settled in Sydney.

One of her best known books, The Harp in the South (which later became the second book in a trilogy) was published in 1948 and is still considered a favorite read today. When published, the book, which is set in a Sydney slum, was declared by critics to be a work of pure fantasy because they did not believe slums existed in Sydney. Park, however, based the setting on the very real slum in which she and her husband lived. • Voss was written by Patrick White, who was awarded the 1973 Nobel Prize in Literature.

White grew up in Australia, was educated in England, and permanently settled in Australia after World War II. Voss is the story of an explorer (Voss) who sets out to cross Australia while his beloved remains behind in Sydney.

• Ride on Stranger is set in post-World War II Sydney. Its Australian author, Kylie Tennant, is best known for her realistic yet upbeat portrayals of Australia's underclass. • In a Sunburned Country' is written by American travel writer Bill Bryson. Bryson makes no bones about his deep and abiding love for Australia and all-things Australian. He devotes a portion of this book to his experiences in Sydney. • Award-winning author Marele Day was born and raised in modern-day Sydney.

Several of her books feature the Sydney-based female (and feminist) private investigator Claudia Valentine. • Schindler's Ark' was written by Australian-author Thomas Keneally. It was published in 1982 and was the basis for the movie Schindler's List. • Australia's two best known historical works are A Commonwealth of Thieves: The Story of the Founding of Australia' by Thomas Keneally and The Fatal Shore by Robert Hughes.

While both books focus on the time when convicts were regularly transported to Australia, the two authors assume extremely different tones. Keneally looks to provide readers with a middle-of-the road approach. His goal is to help readers understand this part of Australia's past. Hughes, on the other hand, has no time for niceties.

He prefers writing in extremes and happily condemns his homeland for attempting to ignore this part of their past. Architecture [ ]. The Queen Victoria Building (abbreviated QVB) is an excellent example of British colonial influence on Australian architecture Sydney’s skyline is large and widely recognisable. Sydney also possesses a wide array of diversity of modern and old architectural style. They range from the simple Francis Greenway's Georgian buildings to Jorn Utzon’s Expressionist 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. Sydney Tower just rising above the rest of the Sydney skyline. There are also pockets of architecturally significant housing dotted around Sydney's suburbs. The inner-eastern suburb of 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). Probably the best preserved example of federation houses in Sydney is in the Inner West suburb of Burwood. Appian Way is a circular street built around a lawn tennis courts complete with pavilion house.

The large houses are all architecturally unique and built on large expanses of land featuring old trees and lovely gardens. Further away on the lower, Castlecrag is a unique suburb, being planned by the architect Walter Burley Griffin in the 1930s. Sport [ ] Though Sydney doesn't have quite the atmosphere that it's neighbor Melbourne does when it comes to sporting events, it does have a large Rugby League following where once a year they have their world renowned State of Origin at ANZ Stadium. Another passion for Sydney 'siders' is horse racing. One of the biggest races in Australia, the Golden Slipper, is featured every March.

Itineraries [ ] •. Please see separate listing for more information. • - some ideas on how to spend a week in and around Sydney, exploring different areas Get in [ ]. Sydney Airport is a major hub for Australia's national airline, Qantas By plane [ ] Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (: SYD) is Australia's busiest airport and the main gateway to Australia. It is located around 9 km south of the in 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,,,, and have several daily flights, as do the European centres of, and (with stopovers in Asia). There are also non-stop flights to and in the. North America is connected via,, and. Travellers from can fly direct from.

Africa is connected with a daily direct flight from. You can fly to Sydney directly from all other Australian capital cities and from many major regional airports. Otherwise, you need to fly to the state capital and transfer to a Sydney flight. Sydney can be reached within an hour and a half from and with services every 15-30 minutes in peak times. It's only 45 minutes from and just under four hours from and Tip: Tweet @FlySYD on the day of travel for real-time flight information direct to your WiFi device from the airport. Airlines and terminals [ ] Check which terminal you are going to.

International terminal (T1) handles all international flights and some domestic flights. Check your itinerary and flight number because check-in, connections and customs 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 Regional Express (Rex), Jetstar, Tiger and Virgin Australia. Domestic terminal 3 (T3) handles and Qantaslink domestic flights numbered from QF400 and above which are mostly services to larger cities and towns as well as to many smaller regional centres.

Facilities [ ] 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 departure level. There are cafes on both departure and arrival levels. Good coffee and food can had for a reasonable price, but it is easy to buy poor 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, at the large central food hall in departures.

Avoid currency exchange offices (see the section). 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 check-in bay B on the departures level, through the bistro and up the elevator. A post office is in the check-in area, but it is only open during business hours. Post boxes are available after customs. 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 there too and downstairs in arrivals. Trolleys cost money landside of security. Pick one up airside where they are free, or out 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 ATMs 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. Nice Thai is available for around $15 or Hungry Jacks for normal prices.

The food hall is airside of security, but you do not need to be a passenger to pass through. 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 people to be able to get to the gate to meet you on a late arrival as they will have to wait at baggage claim if you arrive after the last departure. There is free Wi-Fi and Internet terminals available for $5 per hour. Overnight [ ] Due to curfew laws, no planes arrive or depart between 11PM and 5:30AM.

The domestic terminals (T2 and T3) close after the last flight has cleared (around 11PM) and reopen at 4AM - you cannot remain in the terminal. T1 (international) also closes around 11PM and reopens at 4AM - but there is small transit area with basic facilities that you can remain in if you are already in the terminal (landside). This is located on level 1 near the entrance to the train station. There are limited seats and it fills up quickly when security starts herding people out of the terminal. The last train service departs at 11:45PM. Transfer between terminals [ ] 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 4 km 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: • An Air-side shuttle is available free of charge if you are connecting through with Qantas or a One World partner airline. Passengers transferring Virgin Australia and a codeshare flight or other international Virgin Flight (Pacific Blue, Polynesian Blue, United Airlines, Virgin Atlantic Airways and Hawaiian Airlines) are entitled for a free pass on the T-bus (see below). • If you aren't entitled to a free shuttle, your best bet is to catch a suburban train ($5.40). It is a 2 minute journey between Domestic and International stations with around 10 minute frequency. Follow the train signs from the terminal and board any train on platform 1 for International to Domestic transfers and any train on platform 2 for domestic to international.

Travel one stop only, as the train continues to the city or into suburban Sydney. • T-bus ($5.50) outside the terminal building. The T-bus is a dedicated terminal shuttle and uses the normal roads. It is scheduled to take around 10 minutes but can be stuck in Sydney traffic at peak times. Runs at a 10-20 minute frequency and you pay the driver on boarding.

This method is slower and slightly more expensive than the train, but it stops close to the terminal and has plenty of room for baggage. • Sydney Buses ($3.50) T1 yellow bus stop outside the arrivals, or outside T3 at domestic. It is possible to use the ordinary city bus service to transfer between terminals with the same speed as the T-bus, albeit with less frequent departures and less luggage space. T1 to T2/T3 take the 400 towards Bondi Junction.

T2/T3 to T1 take the 400 towards Burwood. There is only one stop for buses going both directions, and catching the bus going the wrong way will again send you off into suburban Sydney. • Taxi ($10). The trip will take around 10 minutes, though the wait for taxis can be long at peak times.

Drivers may also give you attitude as they have to line up for a long time and generally want bigger fares. To walk between the domestic and international terminals will take around an hour. There is an uncovered road footpath and planes taking off metres above your head. From T1 walk across the car park, across the crossing, under the underpass, and follow the Airport Drive footpath/cycleway to the right (east), keeping the Alexandra Canal on your left, and airport on your right. From T2/T3 follow the road out of the airport, and turn left onto Qantas drive, and keep the airport on your left.

Between the airport and the city [ ] Sydney Airport is 9km from the city centre and reaching the city centre or other suburbs is easy, whether it be by suburban rail, bus or car. If you're going to the city centre the following methods are your best bet: • Suburban trains operated by Sydney Trains depart frequently from Domestic and International rail stations, which are connected to the airline terminals via lifts and pedestrian subways. An Adult Opal card fare is $16.38 peak, $15.36 off peak), which includes an airport station surcharge ( Airport Station Access Fee) of $12. The airport is located on the T2 Airport Line and is served by a train every 10 minutes during off-peak, and every 7 minutes during peak. Passengers for the city centre should take a train from Platform 1.

The trains are used by commuters during peak hours, so at these times you are unlikely to get a seat. Travelling closer to the front or back of the train, rather than the middle, will increase your chances of a comfortable journey. • Local buses. If you want to skip the Airport Station Access fee, an option is to take the 400 local bus route towards Bondi Junction. This bus stops about 200m from the Mascot suburban rail station, which is one train-stop from the Domestic Airport but free from the airport fee.

Walk out of the Mascot rail station (heading south), cross the street at the light, and continue walking straight - it will be on the left side of the street. The bus costs $3.50 and the train $3.38 for peak hours, $2.36 off-peak with an Opal card. If you're travelling from the domestic terminal, the M20 bus will take you to Central, Wynyard, Town Hall and North Sydney stations.

At the airport, the bus stops are located outside T1 and T3 (but not T2). There is only limited luggage space on the bus, but if you can manage backpacks or suitcases by yourself it should not be a problem. • You can get complete information on bus and train journeys from • Shuttle Bus will drive passengers to the city and deliver them to the door of their hotel. You can buy a ticket for a shuttle bus to your hotel from the information desk at T1 or T3 for $18.

The cheaper option is to book online in advance, which will be around $12. • Taxis to the city centre should cost approximately $40 (including tolls), and more to other Sydney destinations (The Rocks $40-45, North Sydney $45, Manly $50, Parramatta $80-100 etc.) You can expect to pay a $3.80 airport taxi levy and a $5.50 Eastern Distributor toll on top of the metered fare. If you are arriving on a Friday evening, you may face a long queue for taxis. Asking the driver to take O'Riordan Street is a little slower but shorter and cheaper than the Eastern Distributor tollway which frequently experiences traffic congestion during peak times. • Uber are now (but weren't previously) allowed to pick passengers up from the passenger pick up areas - follow the signs marked from the airport exit.

These will be significantly cheaper than regular taxis and sometimes more comfortable, depending on your luck. • Vehicle rental is available at all terminals from a variety of rental companies (see Sydney Airport website for current list ). After you rent a vehicle, you will be directed to pick it up at a parking space in the adjacent parking garage. You return the vehicle to the same area. • Having someone pick you up.

At T1 (International), a private car can not stop legally at the arrivals area to pick up someone from the curb. If you exit the car park within 15 minutes, it is free, otherwise it is $7 per half hour. At T3 (domestic terminals), cars can stop at the pickup area only if there is someone already at the kerb.

At T2, there is a pick up area inside the paid car park. Follow the yellow stenciled signs outside the terminal. Car park charges apply if you stay longer that 10 minutes. Fines apply for waiting at the arrivals areas or for picking up at the departures areas.

Leaving your car is out of the question. The parking officers can photograph your car and licence plate and fine you without warning you to move along. Wolli Creek and Cooks River viewed from near T1 • Walk and train from T1.

T1 (the international terminal) is less than 2km from Wolli Creek Station, from where a train to the city costs $4.20 peak and $2.94 during off-peak hours with an Adult Opal card. The walk isn't specifically signposted, but there are some signs indicating the direction for the pedestrian path for the Marsh Steet bridge. The sidewalks may be to rough for luggage with small wheels. It may be very quiet after dark.

It is all surfaced, has only one set of three steps (in the airport, near the customs building), and takes in some nice scenery by the Cooks River. Exit straight from the international terminal (T1), follow the pedestrian path under the multistory car park (south side), and continue on the sidewalk on the left (south) side of the customs building. There is a small set of steps at the end of this sidewalk (southwest corner of customs building), but a large wheeled luggage cart can go down the grass slope. After the steps at the southwest corner of the customs building go across the the pedestrian crossing.

Go under the road, as indicated by a green Marsh Street sign until, you run into a green fence with the canal directly in front of you. Follow the path up to your right around and back over the path you just walked on up to the Marsh Street bridge. Cross the Cooks River on the footpath on the right of Marsh St. At the end of the bridge's fence turn a sharp right (north) down a slight hill and through a pedestrian crossing and then proceed along the brick cycleway through the park and along Cooks River (signposted to Tempe), keeping the river on your right. Near the northeast corner of the park cut across the corner of the park to the park's carpark.

When you reach the Princes Hwy (6 lane road), cross at the pedestrian crossing lights. This is about in the middle of the park's carpark and runs along the east side of Woolworth's grocery store. At the northeast corner of the Woolworths (loading docks) is a roundabout. Take the road to the right (north) and the station entrance will be on the left (west).

The walk will take about 20 minutes and will save you $12 ( airport fee) on the train fare. Trains from Wolli Creek are even more frequent than from the airport since Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra line trains also stop there. • Walk and train from T2 & T3. The Domestic terminals (T2 and T3) are about 1.7km from Mascot train station. The walk along suburban pavements takes about 20 minutes. Follow the road out of the domestic terminal and on to O'Riordan Street. Follow O'Riordan Street and then veer left onto Bourke Street.

Cross Coward Street and then John Street, Mascot train station is on your right. An adult fare to the city (Central) from Mascot is $4.20 peak and $2.36 off-peak with an Opal card. Provides a good comparison tool for the different airport transport options from Sydney Airport and the other major airports in Australia. By car [ ] It is possible to drive to Sydney from or in a full day, around 8.5 hours non-stop to Melbourne or 11.5 hours to Brisbane on the most direct routes. A comfortable drive would allow two days from Melbourne or Brisbane, and three to. The Melbourne drive is 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. • - Sydney = 862km via (Hume Highway). • - Sydney = 1,029km via (Princes Highway). The Princes Highway is a longer drive at over 12 hours, though passes through many small coastal towns and is a far more enjoyable trip. • - Sydney = 1422km via or 1659km via (National Highway 32).

• - Sydney = 938km via the coast (Pacific Highway) or 961 km via (New England Highway). The Pacific Highway passes through more towns, attractions, and has more facilities compared with the New England Highway, but it can get congested moving through the towns around holiday times. Although the Pacific Highway route follows the coast, you won't see the ocean except for some brief glimpses. There are rivers all the way up the coast, and the river mouths are wide, causing the road bridges and the towns to be a little inland. If you have time, look for the tourist route diversions to see more of the and on the way down (the beaches will be less crowded than Sydney!). If you are renting a car, check the daily distance allowances and any one-way charge that may apply when driving from less popular destinations to major cities. Cars may be rented at the airport and elsewhere from major rental companies, or at smaller, less conveniently located, cheaper companies.

Ride-sharing can be arranged with other travellers. You can find a wide range of carpool offers on the Internet or in hostel noticeboards, etc. Usual warnings apply. There are tolls applicable to most motorways coming into Sydney, and all tolling is electronic - no cash is accepted. See 'Tolls' section below. By bus [ ] 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 in the. Follow the signs. Coach travel to Sydney is usually quicker, cheaper and more frequent than train travel. Online and advance booking specials are usually available. • has the most extensive bus network in Australia.

• operates an express coach service between and Sydney. • operates a coach service from Parramatta, Liverpool and Campbelltown stations to the Southern Highlands, Kangaroo Valley and the South Coast. By train [ ]. Sydney Central Station The New South Wales long distance train service NSW TrainLink, (13 22 32 within Australia) runs at least daily services to Sydney from,, and many regions of including the,, the and the.

It also services 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 flying.

It is often possible to get a discount airfare around the same price or cheaper than the adult train fare. The Indian Pacific (13 21 47 within Australia or +61 8 8213 4592 internationally) train service runs from to Sydney via and. Adult fares from Perth are $1250 for a sleeper cabin. Children's fares are $805 for a sleeper cabin. The train departs from Perth on Wednesdays and arrives at Sydney on Saturdays. 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, although car carrying is no longer available from Sydney (you will need to drive or get your car taken to Adelaide).

All long distance (NSW TrainLink and Great Southern Railway) trains to Sydney terminate at platforms 1-3 of Sydney's Central Station in the south of the area. Travellers can transfer to Sydney trains, the light rail service to, city buses, as well as taxis. It is also easy to transfer to other long distance trains and coaches. There is short term metered parking so you can meet the trains on the platform. There are ATM's, a small choice of food outlets, cafes open until late, and a railway heritage society display and a bookshop in the terminal. NSW TrainLink also runs services several times a day from close regional cities: via the, via the, via the and via the.

Circular Quay, with the Queen Mary 2 docked, as seen from the Sydney Harbour Bridge Cruise ships generally dock at the Overseas Passenger Terminal at Circular Quay or at the new (Dec 2013) White Bay Cruise Terminal to the west of the old facility it replaced. Circular Quay is a spectacular and convenient place to dock, next to the Harbour Bridge and just west of the Sydney Opera House. You can walk off the ship into the city centre and or to the Circular Quay Train Station.

White Bay in the is a new wharf for passenger arrivals on cruise ships that are able to sail under the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The best access to this terminal is via taxi from Central or Town Hall railway stations (approx A$20 as at November 2014), or via a shuttle bus. Most cruise lines will have airport or Central railway station buses available for a fee (P&O A$30pp to Central as at November 2014). There can be a long wait for a taxi back to the city. This area is closed to the public during non cruise days. Note that there is no convenient public transportation and no long term parking or hire car facilities available at White Bay Cruise Terminal. Cruise ship passengers departing from White Bay may have a spectacular view of Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House on the sail away.

Recently some cruises have been anchored off Taronga Zoo on the and the passengers tendered to Circular Quay (a sight not seen in Sydney for many years previously). If this happens to you, your tender will drop you at the Overseas Passenger Terminal to complete immigration, etc. Get around [ ] By public transport [ ] The public transport system consists of commuter rail, bus, ferry and light rail. Combined, they can get you virtually anywhere in the metropolitan area.

☎ 13 15 00 provides information on fares and route planning for all public transport in Sydney 24/7. TransitShops, Circular Quay (cnr of Loftus & Alfred Streets), Wynyard under Wynyard Park, QVB west has information on fares and route planning for all public transport in Sydney, together with ticket sales and accepts credit cards. • & are free iPhone, iPad & Android Apps that provide directions for all transport modes around Sydney, Newcastle, the Blue Mountains & Wollongong. They show cost, time and carbon output for each trip.

Opal Travel is a free iPhone, iPad and Android official app made by Transport for NSW. It shows Opal card details and includes a trip planner with times, options and fares for each trip and fare type. It can be used for trips in all areas in NSW, even reserved NSW TrainLink services. As of 2012, Google Maps can also be used to plan Sydney public transport routes. Public transport in Sydney has historically been poorly integrated and the ticket system can be confusing, though this has been alleviated somewhat with the introduction of the Opal Card (see below). Alternatively, one can purchase individual tickets to access each mode of transport. If in doubt check with a driver or station attendant as transit officers do not accept any excuses and you'll be stuck with a $200 fine.

Opal Card [ ] In 2014 Sydney implemented a new stored-value card, like London's Oyster Card or the Hong Kong Octopus card. This is called the. The Opal card is a touch-and-go contactless card that you pre-load with value. The major advantage of the Opal card is that one ticket will work on all modes of transport and that your fares are automatically calculated. For travellers it holds an extra bonus in that after eight paid journeys have been attained, all further travel for the week is half-price. Once a designated weekly maximum spend (as of February 2017, $60) has been reached, all further travel for that week is 50% off. Additionally, there is a $15.00 daily cap to how much you can spend ($2.50 cap on Sundays), which is especially useful if you wish to see the outlying areas of the city on a low budget.

There is a $2 discount for each transfer between modes made within 60 minutes of the last tap off - e.g. Train $4.20 + bus $2.10 = $6.30 - $2 transfer discount = $4.30.

There is also a 30% discount on train fares when travelling off-peak (peak period is 7-9am and 4-6.30pm on weekdays). Different peak periods apply to some outer suburban stations (Lithgow for instance has a 6-6.45am and 4-6.30pm peak). Definitions of Opal travel terms: Trip: travel on one route, on one mode. When you transfer to another route or service, you are commencing a new trip. Journey: consists of one or more trips on eligible services where transfers between services occur within 60 minutes. Transfer: occurs at the end of a single trip. It is a change of transport mode or route, to another service or route, to continue a journey.

Transfers made within a standard transfer time of 60 minutes combine trips into a single journey. Cards can be bought through the official website or at over 1000 retailers throughout the city. To use the Opal card you hold it against the card reader until the reader 'dings' and then do the same again when you get off the bus or exit the ticket gates. This enables the system to calculate how far you travelled and deduct the appropriate amount from your card balance. If you forget to 'tap off' you are charged a 'default fare' that assumes you travelled the maximum possible distance on that mode of transport - which may be significantly more than fare you would have paid if you had 'tapped off' appropriately. Opal readers are at the doors of buses, on ferry wharves, on ticket barriers at major train stations and on free-standing poles near the entrances to outer-suburban train stations that do not have barriers. The Opal card covers all the railway network, ferries, buses and light rail.

The coverage of the Opal card is vast to say the least - not only does it encompass Sydney, and all places in between, it is now valid for all train services as far as (225km to the south of Sydney), (240km to the west) and Scone (some 315km to the north). Though the card itself is 'free', it can only be topped up in multiples of $10 - and getting a refund for the unused credit is cumbersome - requiring you to download a form from their website and then sending it back along with the Opal Cards to an address in Australia. The refund is then sent by cheque. Single tickets [ ] As of 1 August 2016, all paper tickets except Opal single-trip tickets have been discontinued. Travellers doing a one-off trip through Sydney that need to catch public transport can purchase a.

These are more expensive than Opal fares and no concession fares are available (except for children or youth under 16). Any person travelling through Sydney for more than a brief trip is advised to purchase an Opal Card. You can buy single trip tickets at machines at most stations in Sydney and the Opal network on the same machines where you can top up an Opal card.

By train [ ]. A Sydney Train Sydney has a vast suburban rail network operated by Sydney Trains, covering 882km of track and 176 stations. The train network will take passengers to most of the metropolitan area, with the exception of the north-west and northern beaches. Trains service every station in the metropolitan area at least every 30 minutes (except for the Carlingford line) Frequency is higher in the city, and major centres (Chatswood, Parramatta, Bondi Junction, etc) usually see a train every 10 minutes or so. Peak times (7AM-9:30AM and 4:30PM-7PM) have more frequent and also crowded trains, as well as some express services that skip more stations. Expect congestion around Central and Town Hall.

There are different styles and ages of trains running on the network. Most often, you will get a clean modern train, air-conditioned with comfortable seating and clear station announcements. Alternatively, you could get a train like a sauna packed in like sardines in the summer afternoon peak, with station announcements that are barely audible, if at all. Prepare yourself with a network map and a bottle of cold water, just in case. Most train services do not stop at every station and do not travel to the furthest extent of the line. Look at the departure screens at the station concourse which indicate when the next train will arrive, its destination, the platform it will depart from, and the stations it will stop.

Alternatively, you can also listen to announcements that will regularly play before and when a train arrives at the platform. Or if you have mobile Internet services use the Transport Info trip planner. Outside of operating hours, between midnight (1AM on Fridays and Saturdays) and 5AM, NightRide buses run at least every hour. Any train ticket is valid for the equivalent NightRide bus except a single.

If you have no ticket, you must buy a NightRide single from the driver, which is more expensive than a single for the train. NightRide buses stop at most stations and a few additional stops, but they do not 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 with the Transport Infoline. Buses can be crowded on Friday and Saturday nights.

Exercise caution whilst travelling on trains after 8pm, particularly if the carriage is mostly deserted and if travelling to greater western Sydney, as it is not uncommon for undesirables to be found on trains during these times. 99% of the time they will not cause you any more trouble other than being loud, vulgar and obnoxious, but it is best to avoid them as unwanted altercations may follow. Moving to other carriages would be a good idea.

Otherwise, travel in the middle carriage with the train guard (marked with a blue light). The guard has contact with police and the driver if there is any trouble on the train.

On weekends, check for trackwork before leaving for the station; Sydney Trains will transfer passengers to buses if lines are closed for trackwork, and the process will add at least half an hour to a typical journey. Trackwork is common on weekends and will be advertised at the station and the Sydney Trains website for about a week before it begins.

You need the same Sydney Trains ticket for the trackwork buses as you would for the train. By bus [ ] Sydney has an extensive bus network, including some free shuttle loop buses in the and and other centres. Some buses run from distant suburbs such as those on the Northern Beaches and North West all the way to the city, but there are also shorter feeders to suburban rail stations from surrounding suburbs. Buses are operated by the government-owned Sydney Buses in the inner suburbs bounded by Miranda in the South, Bankstown in the South-West, Parramatta in the west, Beecroft in the North-West and Palm Beach in the North.

Outside of these area, various privately owned companies are contracted by the government to operate public bus services. It is a good idea to plan your bus trips in advance where possible. The Sydney Buses website has a helpful trip planner feature to assist you, as well as route maps and schedules to print.

Buses are far less regular at night, and there are only that run 24 hours, so if you're planning on staying out late, keep this in mind. Most bus stops have timetables posted, as well as a route map for the routes servicing that bus stop. You must flag down buses with an outstretched hand if you want them to stop for you and you must press the STOP button on board to disembark. They will not automatically stop unless they are signalled to do so.

On most buses there is nothing on the bus to tell you which stop you are approaching or which stop you are. 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 (found on the Sydney Buses website), which has a route map on it and watch for landmarks as you pass - and don't be scared to ask. Also, if you take a bus marked 'Limited Stops' or 'Express' (the route number will start with an L or an X), make sure that the bus stops where you want it to. Limited stops services stop only at major stops so they may make you walk around 750 metres or so if they skip your stop.

However, express services can run very far from the city without stopping at all, before resuming a normal stopping pattern (express buses only operate during peak hours). All normally numbered buses stop at all stops, so missing your stop or getting off one stop early is a less serious mistake. Red Metrobuses (routes numbers starting with M) are longer route, cross city buses, running at 10-20 minute frequencies during their operational hours. These buses also have a screen displaying the next stop and onboard announcements as well (though don't count on them working). Metrobus stops usually have a name on top of the stand which easily indicates a Metrobus services the particular stop. There are two main bus termination points in the, at Wynyard and Circular Quay. These two points are separated by a one-stop commuter train trip.

You will need to make this trip 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.

If you don't have an Opal Card, you can buy a single ticket on the bus, except if you are in the City area, Bondi Junction, Parramatta Rd, Norton Street, Anzac Parade, Military Road or on most of the limited stop services or M10, M20, M30, M40, and M50 Metrobus routes or any other pre-pay bus services during peak times which run through the city (which are done to help buses run on time). There are three distance based fare bands. Drivers in non-prepay buses in may be able to give change for a $20 note, but it is best to use only coins and lower-denomination notes. A few trunk routes run to the Eastern Suburbs and to Newtown 24 hours a day. Additional services operate late Friday and Saturday night to the Northern Beaches and to the North West. By Sydney ferries [ ]. A Sydney ferry • central hub is at Circular Quay at the north of the.

Ferries run up the Parramatta River via Balmain and Olympic Park, across to Luna Park, around to Darling Harbour, and out to Manly, across to the Zoo and to Watsons Bay. Also, they also go to Garden island and Cockatoo Island. They run only within the harbour, so you can't get a ferry to Bondi.

Ferries run to most destinations at least every hour, with additional peak services, and half hourly services to Manly and Darling Harbour. At Circular Quay and Darling Harbour, each wharf has a large screen showing ferry departures and general information. Find your destination on the screen which shows when your ferry service is departing and from which wharf. 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. Be prepared to take a stunning photograph of the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge as you leave Circular Quay. Trips to and offer other great excuses to take a ferry trip under the Harbour Bridge.

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 and Circular Quay, and school holiday weekdays 4PM-6PM at Darling Harbour (heading to Parramatta) (you are okay if you board at Circular Quay, where the ferry originates).

The Manly and inner-harbour ferries can get busy, but it is very rare that they reach capacity. Opal fares are calculated in two zones - for trips under 10km and trips over 10km respectively. The cheaper fare covers anywhere to the east of the Harbour Bridge except Manly, which is a higher fare. Note that many ferry wharves do not have a ticket machine. By Sydney and Manly fast ferries [ ] Sydney Fast Ferries and Manly Fast Ferries run a competing services against the government owned Sydney Ferries.

Both Sydney Fast Ferries and Manly Fast Ferries runs a service between Circular Quay and Manly. Opal Cards are not valid on these services, and they issue their own tickets. By light rail [ ] There's a single 12.8km light rail line in Sydney which is useful for travelling between and western, the casino, and Pyrmont, and runs from Central to Dulwich Hill. You can use Opal Cards on the network and Opal Single Trip Tickets are sold at most but not all of the light rail stops. The light rail is convenient for western Darling Harbour and its sights, but you will most likely use it a lot less than other forms of transport. Access [ ] Some suburban train stations are easy access, with lifts to all platforms and ramps operated by station staff to allow wheelchair access to trains.

Some buses have disabled access. All light rail stations have lifts and level access to the car. Station facilities and bus times are available from the transport infoline, online or by phone. By car [ ] Car Hire [ ] There is numerous choice for car rental from Sydney airport and Sydney CBD. The majors with desks at the airport terminal and vehicles parked within a walking distance from the airport terminal are the following: Redspot, Apex Car Rentals, Avis, sydney Hertz, Europcar, Webjet Car Hire. There are also a number of choices for car rental in Sydney not located within the airport vicinity, but offer more competitive rates: Bayswater Car Rental. East Coast Car Rentals.

Minibus Hire [ ] If you are in a group, you may need to hire a minibus. Minibuses have 8, 12 and 21 seat options. 8 & 12 seat minibuses can be driven with a regular driver's licence.

Most minibus companies offer pickup and drop off at Sydney Airport using a 'meet & greet' service. Travel times and routes [ ] Sydney traffic is always busy, but outside of peak weekday 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 6:30AM-9:30AM, and roads away from the city 4:30PM-6:30PM. Allow double the normal travel time during these periods - longer if you are using motorways. Congestion is considerably worse and longer in both directions during the Friday afternoon peak, or when there are special events such as Vivid Sydney or State of Origin rugby matches. Some roads experience congestion at other times and roads heading to shopping, sports, parks and beaches can be heavily congested on weekends also - particularly on Saturday mornings and Saturday evenings. Roads around Bondi Beach and the other eastern suburbs beaches experience gridlock on summer weekends, with buses often caught in the same traffic as cars.

Roads are generally well signposted to the next major suburb or suburbs along the route. Only a handful of cross-city 'A' and 'B' roads are signposted by number. The airport is signposted from many major routes with an aeroplane symbol. Travel times from the to the Sydney outskirts can take around an hour in good traffic. Tolls [ ] Some motorways, tunnels and bridges charge tolls.

As of July 1, 2013, you can no longer pay in cash anywhere on the Sydney Orbital Network. There is no toll payable on the Eastern Distributor heading away from the city towards the airport.

The Harbour Bridge and Tunnel, Cross City Tunnel, Lane Cove Tunnel, M7, M5, and the Falcon Street northbound motorway entrance only use electronic tolling and if you use these you need to decide how you will pay the toll. You can easily avoid the Lane Cove Tunnel, M7 or Falcon Street on-ramp, however, it is hard to avoid the harbour crossings if you are going to, the or the zoo by car. Your choice is to have a pass or a tag. • A pass (also called an e-pass) is the simplest way to pay tolls. Just register your licence plate and credit card up to 48 hours after travelling on a toll road and tolls will be deducted automatically from your card.

The Sydney Motorways website provides links to pass providers. The cost is $1.50 to register online, and 75c on top of each toll as a processing charge.

Make sure you enter the dates you will be in charge of the car, so you don't end up paying for someone else's toll. • A tag (also called an E-tag) is a transponder stuck to the inside of your windscreen. You can purchase a visitor's tag from any motor registry before travelling on a toll road for $5 and set up an account linked to your credit card. Allow about 30 minutes at the registry to sort it all out. It is worthwhile considering only if you are staying in Sydney for a while or travelling on toll roads in and as well. You will end up ahead only if you need to pay six or more toll charges.

A capital 'E' marked on the lane indicates it accepts a tag and a lower case 'e' indicates it accepts a pass. Not paying a toll incurs a $10-$15 administration fee in additional to the toll. If you are in a rental car, the rental car company will charge an additional fee for this to your credit card. Some rental car companies, for example Avis, supply an etag with each car, and a service fee for each day it is used. You have no option to buy your pass or tag.

Others, for example Bayswater, give you an option to rent one from them for a fixed fee, and you have a choice to obtain your own pass as an alternative. Check with your rental company. Parking [ ] Parking your car in the in parking stations is always possible but very expensive. Expect to pay up to $70 per day or $25 per hour at some central parking lots and around $30 even with specials on weekdays.

Prices generally reduce significantly on weekends however, and you may only pay $15 - $20 or so for a full day's parking. Reduced parking charges are also made for early bird parking, where you must enter and leave within prescribed times. For example you can park all day at the Opera House for $16 provides you enter before 10AM and leave 3PM-7PM.

There is no grace period, so you cannot get out even one minute before 3PM, and you will be charged the day parking rate of $42 if you are 10 seconds late. Most city parking lots offer reduced flat fees (around $15-$25) for evening and weekend parking. Street parking in the CBD is generally only possible before 8AM and after 6:30PM. On weekdays and, even then, is almost invariably metered until 10PM at $2.20-3.30 per hour.

On weekends, most parking spaces have a 4 hour limit, again metered at $1.10-2.20 per hour. All day street spots are sometimes available in the Domain/Mrs Macquarie's Chair and Hickson Road, but these spots are often taken up by commuters, and, since they are metered, an early bird deal may work out cheaper than the metered rate. Parking meters increasingly accept credit card payment, but have cash just in case. Similar prices are charged in. Hotels invariably charge for parking for the guests. Parking in many major suburban centres and beaches can be a matter of spending time cruising and searching for parking spots.

Usually parking within easy walking distance of these centres has a time limit restriction - often 2-3 hours. Shopping mall car parks usually have a similar restriction. Some train stations have all day free commuter parking. At major stations, this can be full before 8AM. Smaller stations with less frequent train service tend to have better parking availability. On weekends it is easy to find a spot in the commuter parking lots.

The stations with commuter parking are marked on rail maps. Parking at some beaches, on summer weekends, can often be almost 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 $88 if you exceed the allowed parking time or don't pay the fee in a legitimate parking space. Reloading the meter or moving your car within the same parking zone will not get you out of a fine.

Parking in a no stopping zone will cost you more. 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 $441. If you do get fined for exceeding time, you will not be fined again the same day. Clearways are no-stopping zones on main roads during peak periods, marked with clearway signs and a broken yellow line on the kerb. Fines will be around $400 to reclaim your car after it is towed away. Clearways also offer parking opportunities if you want to park just after 10AM. Sydney driving speeds [ ] Speed limits can change frequently, even on 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 to 80km/h on main roads, and sometimes higher on freeways or freeway sections. Some speed limits vary throughout the day.

School speed zones (40 km/h) are enforced 8AM-9:30AM and 2:30PM-4PM on school days. Some have flashing lights, 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. There are plenty of warning and reminder signs along the way.

By taxi [ ] 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 regular 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. The availability of a taxi is indicated by an illuminated 'taxi' sign positioned on top of the vehicle.

If the light is on, it is available for hire; if the light is off, the cab is occupied. You can also book a taxi by calling one of the taxi companies or booking online. Beware the 3PM change over and the Friday evening rush. It can be almost impossible to get a taxi 2:30PM-3:30PM.

It is just as difficult 2:30AM-3:30AM, as almost all of the drivers change over their shifts at the same time. They are similarly scarce on a Friday and Saturday evenings. Booking in advance is no guarantee, as these jobs are simply offered electronically to drivers, who may or may not accept the job. 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). Cancelling your job and ringing another taxi company in frustration never helps as the taxi companies have handover systems that 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, some unscrupulous drivers may try 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. If you can, get in before you tell them your destination - by law, they have to take you.

There are two meter rates: a day rate (rate 1) with a flag fall of $3.30, a distance rate of $1.99/km, a 'waiting' rate of $0.85/min, and a booking fee of $2.50; and a night rate (rate 2 - applicable to journeys commenced between 10PM-6AM), which adds a 20% surcharge to the distance rate. You can check the rate your taxi is using by looking for a 1 or a 2 next to the current charge: if it is set to 2, it is using the night rate. The so called 'waiting' rate is charged whenever the speed drops below 25km/h.

Скачать Freemake Video Converter Torrent. 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 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 taxis. Taxis accept all major credit cards.

They charge an extra 11% 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 (Time of day tolling applies, and the toll varies between $2.50 and $4). 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 so 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 to the next dollar (or five or ten dollars, depending on the base fare) is fairly common. On the other hand, if the driver rounds the fare down to the nearest dollar, accept with grace. It is very common for taxis in Sydney to overcharge tourists and people with foreign accents.

Many taxi drivers observe their passengers along the way to see if they seem perceptive and alert. When they see that the passengers are relaxed or tired and not paying attention to the meter the drivers tend to overcharge about 50% by manually entering the fee into the bank card reader / EFTPOS Terminal.

Always be alert when using taxis in Sydney and check the meter and the receipt if possible. It is best to pay taxis in cash to avoid this from happening. However, when overcharging does occur the best way to resolve these situations is simply to tell the driver assertively that either they give you back the overcharged amount in cash or you will call the police. Uber is also available throughout most areas of Sydney, and are generally (beware of surge pricing!) cheaper and provide a better level of service - they have to maintain at least a 4 star rating or they can no longer drive. By bike [ ] 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, except for 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. Bikes are permitted in bus lanes (like the city streets), but not bus only lanes (like the harbour bridge, and T-ways).

The is not particularly cyclist friendly traffic-wise. It is not flat either - 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 where you can get your cycle legs on the extensive off-road trails; then, if you want to, you can follow off-road/quiet road trails out to or following the Cooks River to Botany Bay in. 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. The Bourke St cycleway is a newly opened north-south route in the the City East and a cruisy place to cycle between Woolloomooloo, Darlinghurst and Surry Hills.

Lots of shade and cafes to break the trip. Some other separated cycleways have opened in the City centre, but they are yet to form a cohesive network, and your trip may easily end up on a busy and unforgiving city road if you haven't planned well in advance. Other cycleways are often just converted footpaths, so be on the lookout for bollards, street signs, roots and branches strategically placed across cycle paths - as well as pedestrians. If cycling at night ensure you have lights bright enough to light your path.

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. Out in the suburbs you can often follow quiet streets, and hop onto the footpath for a short stretch if things get too hairy. Bicycle helmets are required by law, as are lights and reflectors at night.

Bicycles can be taken on all Sydney Trains, but a child fare should be paid if any part of the journey is made before 9AM or after 3:30PM on weekdays. In the city centre during the evening peak you will be lucky to fit your bike onto a train. Check trackwork schedules on weekends, 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 (around $50 per bike).

However, for shorter periods some places may be reasonably priced (for example ) charges $15 per hour. Also, you have to consider the additional cost if the bikes are stolen or damaged. However, they are much easier to park, are greener and can be more fun. See the for bike hire listings. If you just want to have a ride, most bicycle user groups around Sydney organise weekend rides for various levels of fitness. There is usually no charge to join in.

See [ ] [ ] Sydney is one of those cities that invites tourists to custom-design their sightseeing. Unlike many cities throughout the world, Sydney is not a city where people come to see 'X' or experience 'Y.' That's because Sydney is home to museums, cafes and restaurants, shopping and historical sites. It can be explored both on foot and via the water. While all of Sydney has sights worth visiting, much of its glory is housed in the City Centre. Here, visitors can choose to start their visit with a journey back in time at, site of the first European settlement in Australia. If you want to learn more about Australia's past, present and future, you can visit the multitude of museums found in City Centre.

Some museums are free to enter year-round while others charge admission. The Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House are two of Sydney's famous landmarks that can be visited when exploring Sydney on foot.

While these are two of the best-known landmarks, Sydney's City Centre has a host of less famous buildings and structures that are worth a visit. Australia is nothing if not renowned for its vast and unique variety of wildlife. There are numerous opportunities to spot birds, bats, opossums and the occasional kangaroo or wallaby in Sydney's national parks. The only trick is that most of these animals are primarily spotted at sunrise and sunset when the weather is coolest.

Those wishing to guarantee animal sightings can head to the Taronga Zoo in the Lower North Shore or the Wild Life Sydney Zoo in Darling Harbour. Darling Harbour is also home to the Sea Life Sydney Aquarium. The aquarium offers visitors an opportunity to truly see life 'down under', down under the water anyway. For a different type of animal sighting, visitors can head to Sydney's Eastern Suburbs to find the famous Bondi Beach. This beach attracts thousands of visitors every year, making it a great place for people watching. After exploring Sydney by land, stop by Sydney Harbour to explore it by water. Ferries, cruises and whale watching excursions depart regularly from this part of Sydney.

Landmarks [ ]. Sydney cityscape at dusk, viewed from the North Head lookout • crosses the harbour from the to. There are many different experiences centred around the bridge. You can walk or cycle across, picnic under, or climb over the Harbour Bridge. See the details in. • The Sydney Opera House.

The Sydney Opera House is simply one of the most famous structures ever built. It is in the. • is a large entertainment precinct and includes a range of activities, restaurants, museums and shopping facilities. Home of the 2000 Olympics and now parklands and sporting facilities. • Luna Park, 1 Olympic Dr, Milson's Point, tel.

02 9033 7676. Is a large theme park situated near the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Its mouth-shaped entrance can be seen from many areas of Sydney as well as the large Ferris Wheel. • Sydney Tower also called Centrepoint Tower or AMP Tower. The tallest structure in Sydney, the tower contains a buffet, cafe and a rather large restaurant and attracts many visitors a year.

The tower is in the • St Mary's Cathedral. Sydney's main catholic cathedral. Corner of St Mary's Road and College St. The cathedral is in the. • Royal Botanic Gardens- The Royal Botanic Gardens were first established in Sydney by Governor Bligh in 1816.

The gardens cover 30 hectares and adjoin the 35 hectares making up the Domain, there are over 7500 species of plants represented here. The gardens are at the north eastern corner of the and overlook Sydney harbour. Historical areas [ ]. La Perouse • has sites preserved from Sydney's early settlement.

• to the west of Sydney is the site of many of Sydney's oldest buildings from colonial times. • Macquarie Street in the has a string of historical sites, from the first hospital in the colony, to the Mint to Hyde Park Barracks, to the Conservatorium which was the original government house stables.

Sydney Hospital was first known as 'The Rum Hospital', it was the first major building established in the colony. • La Perouse, near Botany Bay, in Sydney's contains the grave of an early French explorer, museum, and old fort. • The walk from to Middle Head passes many coastal artillery fortifications built into the cliffs of Sydney Harbour during the late nineteenth century. • Mrs Macquarie's Chair and walk near the Botanical Gardens in the • Anzac War Memorial at the eastern end of Hyde Park in the. The memorial commemorates the memory of those Australians who lost their lives during war.

It houses a small museum, an impressive statue and the Pool of Remembrance. Sydney's Anzac War Memorial was built in the 1930s. • Waverley Cemetery: Cemetery on top of the cliffs at Bronte in the eastern suburbs. Museums and galleries [ ] Some of Sydney's museums are free to enter including the Art Gallery of New South Wales and the Museum of Contemporary Art. You may be charged to enter certain exhibitions. Sydney Museums generally do not have 'free days' that you can find in other parts of the world but some historic houses may be free on certain public holidays, though tend to attract large crowds. • The Australian Museum is much the old style natural history museum.

Usually a special exhibition on as well. The museum is near Hyde Park in. • The Australian National Maritime Museum has inside and outside exhibitions - much of the history of Australia is a maritime one, and much of it is in this museum in. • The Art Gallery of NSW has mostly classical, but some modern and Aboriginal art. Near the Botanical Gardens in the.

• The Powerhouse Museum has some buttons to push, some technology, but some interesting displays of Sydney in the 1900s, in the in Ultimo, right on the boundary with Darling Harbour. Exhibits designed for children also. • The Museum of Contemporary Art in the, near Circular Quay.

• The Museum of Sydney in the. Or see one of the smaller chic Art Galleries in. Wildlife [ ] In captivity [ ]. Taronga Zoo • Taronga Zoo Large zoo whose animals have the best view in the world, a short ferry trip from the City on the.

• The Koala Park Sanctuary in the. • Sydney Aquarium in. • Sydney Wildlife World' adjacent to the aquarium in. • Featherdale Wildlife Park in and just out of Sydney, the • Australian Reptile Park, about an hour north of Sydney, has kangaroos, wallabies, dingos, and more. • Symbio Park in.

In the wild [ ] • Whale Watching see whales migrating the Pacific coast. There are boats from. • Bats (Flying foxes) nest next to the fernery in the Botanic Gardens in, and fly to feed over the city buildings and Harbour Bridge at dusk, you can see them on the eastern side of the Opera House at sunset. • Rainbow Lorikeets swarm around the trees in many suburbs at dusk, making a tremendous chatter Sulphur Crested Cockatoos are commonly seen in the leafier suburbs all day. • Ibis are an unusual wader bird, that has made its home in the suburbs, especially in Hyde Park in the • Possums are a native marsupial at home in the urban environment. Look up carefully in tree lined streets, or in Hyde Park after dark. Locals regard these critters as somewhat of a nuisance as they have a habit of nesting in the warmth of house roofs and love to brawl noisily at about 2am above your bedroom.

• Kangaroos & Wallabies. These can be spotted with patience in most of the Sydney National Parks, including the, ask the local rangers where they tend to be seen in the late afternoons. This is a great way to experience Australia’s native wildlife in their natural habitat compared to seeing these amazing animals confined in zoos, but requires considerably more time and patience. Sydney Harbour [ ]. Yachts in Sydney Harbour; business district in background Sydney's large natural harbour was the reason that the original penal settlement was established in the area, near what is 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 to Taronga Zoo or or west under the Harbour Bridge towards. These are reasonably priced and a favourite for tourists. Elm 327 Abs Software Scan.

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. Catch a ferry from Circular Quay to.

Before returning to the Sydney CBD, walk from the Manly ferry wharf along the Manly Corso to famous Manly Beach. A great day, afternoon or evening out at a fraction of the price of a commercial harbour cruise. You can take a cruise on Sydney Harbour. There are many cruises to choose from and they depart from.

For a bigger adrenalin rush, try the jet boats that zip around the harbour at breakneck speeds. Sydney Harbour can be viewed from the or from on of the many walks next to it, most of which are easily accessible by ferry or bus. 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. You can visit the by ferry or water taxi. Swing by the Royal Botanic Gardens and the Art Gallery of New South Wales on the edge of the gardens.

While you're in the area visit Mrs Macquarie's Chair for a picture postcard view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House in one picture. You may have to compete with the numerous wedding couples on weekends. • Scenic Flights Adventures and Flight Training, +61 2 9791 0643 (). A fantastic way to see Sydney Harbour is from the air.

Red Baron Adventures do scenic flights over Sydney Harbour and the Northern Beaches most days of the year (weather permitting) in an open cockpit Pitts Special bi-plane. They also have heart stopping Aerobatic Flights available for the more adventurous (note: these are not done over Sydney Harbour). Flights range from $440 to $660 and go for between 45 min and 80 minutes. Aboriginal Sydney [ ] Far from being confined to the inland areas, Aboriginal people extensively occupied the Sydney area prior to the arrival of European settlers. • Rock Carvings, can be seen in the - catch the train and ferry to Cronulla and Bundeena.

There are extensive carvings in Kuringai National Park, near West Head that are accessible only by car. Closer to the city, there are examples at Balls Head and Berry Island, near to Wollstonecraft station. There is an interpretive walk at Berry Island. • Meeting of Civilisations. Interpretive centre is at the site of the landing place of Captain Cook, at Kurnell. • Bangarra Dance Theatre, is a modern dance company, inspired by indigenous Australian themes.

• Aboriginal Art. A wander through and you will find many places exhibiting and selling contemporary Aboriginal art. The Art Gallery of New South Wales the has an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Gallery, which is free to visit.

Do [ ] [ ] • Rockfish Catamaran Hire ( Rockfish Sailing), 2 Lee Street ( Nr Central station), ☎,. Rockfish offers charter hire for catamaran cruises on Sydney Harbour. Swim [ ] • Swim at one of Sydney's many surf beaches. Try,,, or, or get off the tourist trail at one of the other beaches in Sydney's. Cycle [ ] • Cycle around Centennial Park in the or Bicentennial Park at Kayak and Canoe [ ] Sydney's Waterways offer great canoeing and kayaking, and you can explore Sydney's bushland, history, and exclusive waterfront properties. There are lots of places to hire them from, or to even go on a guided tour. • The Spit or Manly to Kayak the Harbour.

• Lane Cove National Park and the Royal National Park have canoes and kayaks by the hour - see turtles and birdlife as you paddle • You can paddle on the Georges River from Wororora, or the Port Hacking river from Bundeena. Surf [ ] • Surf at one of Sydney's many surf beaches, a quintessentially Australian experience. The major beaches (Bondi, Manly) have surf schools and places where you can rent surfboards. Sydney Surfboard Rental and Hire offers boards for hire. Fish [ ] • If you've got the time and inclination, Sydney offers decent fishing during the warmer months.

It's not recommended to fish in Sydney Harbour due to pollution. Do NOT eat fish caught in the harbour, it has been found Sydney Harbour fish are tainted with dioxin which is harmful to humans. However signing up with a fishing charter to take you out of the Harbour into open water, Middle Harbour or Pittwater is a rewarding experience. You'll likely catch something of decent size and even if you don't, being out on a boat in Sydney is one of the great Sydney experiences in the warmer months (if you can afford it). Sports fixtures [ ] • Winter: The winter football season generally begins with trial matches in February, before the season proper kicks off in March and runs to late September or early October. Sydney's most popular winter football code is rugby league (often just called 'football' or 'footy' by locals - although never just 'rugby', which refers to rugby union).

Nine teams from the are based in Sydney and the sport is an important part of the city's culture - many teams play at least some of their games at intimate grounds in their suburban heartlands, and this can be a good way to experience the traditional heart of the sport. There are also State of Origin games, where the best of New South Wales and Queensland players are matched against each other. This is significantly rougher.

Other major sporting teams playing in Sydney over the winter are the Sydney Swans and Greater Western Sydney Giants (AFL), the NSW Waratahs (rugby union) and the Sydney Swifts (Netball). • Summer: Sydney's primary summer sport is cricket, which you'll find being played (in somewhat modified form) on beaches and in backyards across the city. The professional stuff is largely based at the Sydney Cricket Ground close to the CBD: the traditional New Year's Test, between the Australian team and whichever foreign team is touring at the time, commences around the 3rd of January and runs for four to five days. Later in the summer, international one-day and/or Twenty20 matches are held at the SCG. The primary domestic tournaments, contested between Australian state teams, are the Sheffield Shield (first-class), Ford Ranger Cup (one-day) and KFC Big Bash (Twenty20): they are usually sparsely attended and so are much cheaper to attend than internationals. Some one-day and Twenty20 matches are played at ANZ Stadium at Olympic Park rather than at the SCG, but the cavernous stadium is far inferior to the grand old ground if you really want to get a feel for cricket culture.

Australia's professional Association Football tournament, the A-League, runs over the summer. Sydney has 2 teams; Sydney FC, who play at the Sydney Football Stadium and Western Sydney Wanderers who play at Parramatta stadium. Walk [ ] Sydney has a huge amount of green space, much of it beside the sparkling harbour or ocean, so walking is a great way to experience the city's parks, reserves and remnant bushland.

There are also great walks through the more built-up areas, allowing you to check out the city's modern architecture and its colonial heritage. The following are just a few of the better-known routes. • Across the Harbour Bridge from on the south side to Milsons Point on the north side (or vice versa). • Coogee Beach to Bondi. Following the eastern coastline past several of Sydney's beautiful beaches - stop off for a swim if you get too hot. • Manly to the Spit.

Along the foreshore of Sydney Harbour. • Bradleys Head. Take a ferry to Taronga Zoo wharf and then head to your right along the promontory. There's pristine bushland (almost unchanged from the time of European colonisation), quiet beaches, and knockout views across the harbour, and in the warmer months you'll spot plenty of Eastern Water Dragons, a type of large lizard.

Once you reach the tip of the headland, you can either amble back to the wharf or - if you're feeling more ambitious - follow the track several more kilometres to Clifton Gardens, ogling the gigantic houses along the way. From there, you can either hike all the way back to Taronga or get a bus to a ferry wharf. • Circular Quay and surrounds.

Start underneath the Sydney Harbour Bridge, then walk past, Circular Quay, the Sydney Opera House, the Royal Botanic Gardens and Mrs Macquarie's Chair. For an extended tour of the city centre, covering these and other major sights, see. • The Colony Walk. The way of the earliest European colonists. Bondi Beach Skate [ ] Sydney has four indoor ice skating centres in the suburbs. The closest to the city centre is: • Macquarie Ice Rink.

Macquarie Ice Rink is in the vast expanse of Macquarie Shopping Centre in North Ryde. Activities include training sessions, birthday parties and casual visits. Skates are available for hire (usually a bit worn and not necessarily sharp), or bring your own. Phone to enquire about public session times as the ice is shared between many other users (like hockey teams) and may not be available for the whole day. It is located within a 2 minute walk from Macquarie University railway station.

But there are three others; one near Canterbury station, one west of Liverpool and one next to Norwest in North West Sydney. Performing Arts [ ]. Bondi Beach - Australia's most iconic beach If you are going to the beach, take the same precautions as you do anywhere in Australia. The biggest thing to remember when swimming at any Sydney beach is swim between the yellow and red flags. These flags are places by the lifeguards and indicate the safest place to swim at the beach away from dangerous currents. If you get into trouble while swimming, try to remain in one spot and raise your hand straight up into the air (do not wave).

The lifeguards will rescue you if necessary. Sydney is generally sunny and UV radiation is higher than in the places where many tourists come from (Europe and North America). Make sure to wear a hat, sunglasses, and apply sunscreen (minimum SPF 30+) regularly. 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. The best way to remove the pain is to run the affected area under the hottest water you can stand. 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. Other risks [ ] Take note of the general issues regarding. Stay healthy [ ] If you need an ambulance, call 000. Medical centres with general practicioners are available for minor ailments without an appointment around the city and suburbs. Expect to wait around an hour or so to see a doctor. Upfront charges are usually around $50 for a standard consultation, and most centres accept credit cards. Many medical centres remain open until 10PM or so, and a few remain open 24-hours.

Those with an Australian Medicare card will find many medical centres in Sydney that 'bulk-bill'. Most hospitals in Sydney have emergency departments, but check before attending as some do not. Those emergency departments are open 24-hours. See the article for more details on health charges. Many pharmacies stay open after normal business hours, often in proximity to medical centres, and there are a few that stay open 24-hours. You can call +61 2 9467 7100 to find the location of your closest after hours pharmacy. Contact [ ] See the Sydney district guides for local information, or the for broader options.

Cope [ ] Consulates [ ] • Argentina, Level 20, 44 Market St, ☎ +61 2 9262-2933 (, fax: +61 2 9262-3998),. • Bangladesh, 9 Rochester St, ☎ +61 2 6290-0511,.

• Brazil, Level 6 45 Clarence St, ☎ +61 292 674 414 (),. • Canada, Level 5, Quay West 111 Harrington St, ☎ +-3000 (, fax: +61 2 9364-3098),. • Chile, Level 18, 44 Market St,, ☎ +61 2 9299-2533 ( fax: +61 2 9299-2868),.

• China, 39 Dunblane St, ☎ +-8012 (, fax: +61 2 8598-8011),. • Egypt, Level 3, 241 Commonwealth St - Surry Hills, ☎ +-4844 (, fax: 61 2 9281-4344),.

9:00 AM - 15:15 PM. • Fiji, 100 Walker St, ☎ +-0476 (, fax: +-0376),.

• France, Level 26, St Martins Tower 31 Market St, ☎ +-2431 (, fax: +-9649),. • Germany, 13 Trelawney St, ☎ +-7733 (, fax: +-9649),. • Greece, Level 2, 219-223 Castlereagh St, ☎ +-9130 (, fax: +-6135),. (, '.) • India, Level 3, 109 Pitt St, ☎ +61 2 9223-2702 (, fax: +61 2 9231-2299),. 9:00 am to 11:30 am (Mon-Fri).

• Indonesia, 236-238 Maroubra Rd, ☎ +-9933 ( fax: +-6854),. • Iraq, Level 11, 5 Elizabeth Street, ☎ +-0600,. • Italy, Level 19, 44 Market St, ☎ +-7900 (, fax: +61 2 9392-7980),. M-F 9:00-11:00. • Japan, Level 12 1 O'Connell St, ☎ +-1000 (, fax: +-6600),. • Republic of Korea, Level 13, St James Centre 111 Elizabeth St, ☎ +-0200 (, fax: +-0202),.

• Lebanon, Suite 308, Level 3, Edgecliff Centre 203 - 233 New South Head Rd, ☎ +-3711 (, fax: +-8722),. • Malaysia, 67 Victoria Rd, ☎ +-7565 (, fax: +-1257),. • Netherlands, Tower 2, 101 Grafton Street, ☎ +-6644 (, fax: +-3962),. • New Zealand, Level 10, 55 Hunter St, ☎ +-2000 (, fax: +-0223),.

• Russia, 7-9 Fullerton St, ☎ +61 2 9326-1702 (),. • Papua New Guinea, Level 2, Clarence St, ☎ +61 2 9283-9020 (, fax: +61 2 9283-5424),. • Pakistan, 7/32 Martin Pl, ☎ +61 2 9222-1806 (),. • Philippines, Level 1, Philippine Center 27-33 Wentworth Ave, ☎ +-7377 (, fax: +-7355),. • Samoa, Suite 1, Ground Floor 45-47 Scott St, ☎ 61 2 9602-1967 (, fax: +61 2 9602-1346),. Martins Tower, Level 24, 31 Market Street, ☎ + 2433 (, fax: + 1695),. • Sri Lanka, Level 11, No 48, Hunter St, ☎ +61 2 9223-8729 (),.

• Taiwan (Taipei Economic & Cultural Representative Office), Suite 1902, King Street, MLC Centre, ☎ +61 2 6120-2000 (, fax: +61 2 9223-0086),. • Thailand, 131 Macquarie St, ☎ ++61 2 9241-2542 (),. • Turkey, 66 Ocean St, ☎ + 61 2 9302-4600 (, fax: + 61 2 9362-4533),. • United Kingdom, Level 16, Gateway Building, 1 Macquarie Pl, ☎ +-7521,. M-F 09:00-13:00.

• United States, Level 59, MLC Centre, 19-29 Martin Pl, ☎ +-9200 ( fax: +-9184),. Make sure to use the facilities before going through security as there are none in the Consulate itself. There are shops in the malls below offering passport photos and a post office where you can buy pre-paid, tracked, envelopes. • Vietnam, Suite 205, Level 2, Edgecliff Centre 203-233 New South Head Rd, ☎ +-2539 (, fax: +-1653),. • Custom Luggage Repair Centre, 317 Sussex St, ☎ +61 2 9261-1099. Luggage repair services.

• Newspapers. Sydney has two major dailies: The Sydney Morning Herald, which is considered the city's newspaper of record, and a populist, generally right-leaning tabloid, The Daily Telegraph. Leafing through the Herald can be a good way to get an idea of what's happening in the city, and of attempting to understand the complicated morass that is Sydney politics. Newsagents also stock The Australian, a right-leaning national broadsheet, and The Australian Financial Review, as well as one or more local suburban papers (usually weekly, although larger ones publish more often Get out [ ] There are a number of good one or two day trips from Sydney: • Drive across the Bell's Line of Road over the Blue Mountains to the Western Plains. Buy produce (apples, pears, chestnuts and berries) from the orchard vendors at the side of the road if driving over in autumn. A few of these orchards also offer pick-your-own.

Towns to stop by include Lithgow, which is at the foot of the mountains; Bathurst, home to the Mount Panorama motor racetrack, and Orange (3 hours from Sydney), a beautiful rustic town with a great (cold climate) wine district and several fantastic restaurants by eminent chefs, and which is fast becoming a wine-and-foodie region of New South Wales to upstage the Hunter Valley. • Travel up into the wilderness area of the. There are a number of good day walks in the Katoomba area, or you could tour.

These are easily accessible on the NSW TrainLink network to Katoomba. •, in the south of Sydney and accessible by train has nice 1 to 2 day walks. • Newnes Glen in.

• Take a tour of the. • is a lovely small city south of Sydney, accessible by driving down the F6 freeway or taking an hourly NSW TrainLink train. • Head up to or for some quieter, but picturesque beaches.

Both of these Astowns are accessible by the Central Coast and Newcastle NSW TrainLink lines. • Head up to the regional city of by NSW TrainLink and take in some of the Victorian architecture and fantastic city beaches.

Or if you are moving on: • Travel to, Australia's cultural and sporting capital. • Its 1000km closer and often cheaper to get to than it is to get to. • 3000km drive to. At least a 3 night trip, stopping at, &.