Sydney Travel Guide
Stay in Sydney
Accomodation
Insurance
Eat in Sydney
Pavlova in the Summertime, Childhood Food Memories and a Passionfruit Pavlova Recipe
Pavlova in the summertime is one of my most treasured childhood memories, so I persuaded Terence to make this passionfruit pavlova recipe over Christmas. Partly because I love pavlova –…
Chef Peter Gilmore and Quay Restaurant in Sydney – Icons of Australia’s Gastronomic Scene
Chef Peter Gilmore and Quay Restaurant in Sydney are two icons of Australia’s gastronomic scene. Gilmore is one of the most passionate and inventive of Australia’s chefs, while Quay restaurant,…
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Sydney Local Knowledge
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Sydney Essentials
WHEN TO GO
Dec-Feb Mid-Dec to the beginning Feb are the busiest months with summer school holidays. Beaches are packed and the water is warm.
Mar-May Autumn has the best walking weather, getting crisper as winter approaches and whale watching season begins. Note Vivid Festival may start in May.
Jun-Aug Wet and cold (for Sydney), this is low season for tourism, but the ski season gets fully underway in July.
Sep-Nov Weather warms up but without the humidity of summer, making it a great time to visit.
HEALTH
Sydney has a very good healthcare system, but of course always buy comprehensive insurance. Despite Australia’s reputation for dangerous creatures, you won’t find many of these in urban areas, but if you’re planning to hit the beach (and you should) pay attention to the lifesavers flags and wear sunscreen. Recommended Vaccinations
VISAS
Only New Zealanders do not need a visa for Australia. There are myriad classes of visas, but if you’re coming for a holiday (depending which passport you have) and you are staying for less than three months, apply for an ETA (Electronic Travel Authority) with a cost of UAD$20. For other visas visit the visa finder page of the Australian Government.
LOCAL TIME
Time in Sydney: //widget.time.is/t.js time_is_widget.init({Sydney_z60b:{time_format:”12hours:minutesAMPM”}});Sydney’s Time Zone is (GMT+11) Sydney’s daylight saving (one hour forward) generally starts in October and finishes in April.
WEATHER
CURRENT SYDNEY WEATHER
TRANSPORTATION
AIR/LAND/SEA
Sydney’s main airport (SYD), might be just 8km from the Sydney CBD, but it can be a frustrating journey. There’s a train, however it’s not a dedicated airport line. Take an Uber or a Taxi (about US$35) to the CBD. To get around it’s best to buy an Opal Card which works for Sydney’s embarrasingly ragtag selection of train, bus, ferry and light rail services.
Sydney Essentials
BUDGET
Daily Budget Up To:
US$150
- Hostel dorm bed: US$25–60
- Fast food, pizzas, meat pies: US$5-17
- Short bus/tram/train ride: US$3
MID RANGE
Daily Budget From:
US$200–350
- Double room in a Motel/Hotel: US$120–250
- Good cafe lunch: US$20+
- Greyhound Bus (Bris-Syd): US$100
LUXURY
Daily Budget From:
US$350+
- Boutique hotel or resort: US$250+
- Negroni Cocktail: US$20+
- Domestic Flight (Bris-Syd): US$100+