Sydney

From Wikitravel

  The iconic Sydney Opera House

Sydney [1] is the capital city of the south-eastern Australian state of New South Wales, situated on Port Jackson, a waterway including Sydney Harbour, Middle Harbour, North Harbour, and the Lane Cove and Parramatta Rivers. With a population of over four million, Sydney, the "Harbour City", is the largest, oldest and most cosmopolitan city in Australia. Sydney holds a reputation worldwide as one of the world's most beautiful and liveable cities, brimming with historical associations and globally influential in the realms of culture, art, fashion, cuisine and design. The city is also home to many unique architectural styles, including the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge, two of the most iconic structures on the planet.

Sydney is a dynamic centre for Australian economic activity and one of the most important cities for finance in the Asia-Pacific region. Sydney was also the host of the 2000 Olympic Games, which successfully raised the city's global profile. Though comprised of a large, sometimes sprawling population, Sydney nonetheless retains many large public spaces and lush green parklands. The city is literally surrounded by national parks, which extend into the suburbs and to the shores of the harbour.

 Districts

Sydney has a compact city centre surrounded by suburbs sprawling over 40km to the north, west and south. The city and its suburbs form a vast metropolitan area.

Owing to the city's size and variety, the districts of Sydney are difficult to categorise.

 Central Sydney

• The City - The busy centre of government and finance, but also home to many of Sydney's famous tourist and cultural attractions.

• The Rocks - Just to the west of Circular Quay, The Rocks includes the first colonial village of Sydney and the iconic Harbour Bridge.

• Darling Harbour - An extensive leisure and entertainment area immediately to the west of the CBD.

• Haymarket and Chinatown - On the southern side of the city centre, near Central Station, are markets, cafes, chinese culture and cuisine.

• East Sydney Kings Cross, Darlinghurst, and Surry Hills. Nightlife, bars, and more at night, coffee shops and fashion by day.

 Other Destinations

If you are in Sydney for a holiday, or to see the sights, the major attractions of Sydney outside of central Sydney are in:

• Sydney/Bondi Beach - Sydney's world famous beach, for swimming, surfing, eating, walking, or to see and be seen.
• Manly - The Manly ferry leaves from Circular Quay out to the heads every 30 minutes.
• Sydney Olympic Park - The home of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, parks, cycling, and events.
• Parramatta - Sydney's "second" CBD, with history, shopping, eating, all just 30 minutes from the city centre.

 Sydney suburbs

Sydney is a vast sprawling city, and the suburbs in the city metropolitan area spread for up to 100km from the city centre. The traveller visiting the suburbs will find less crowded beaches, parks, cheaper shopping, commercial centres, cultural festivals, and hidden gems. See each of the guides below for the Sydney suburbs.

 North of the Harbour

• The North Shore - 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.

• The Northern Beaches - From Manly stretching North along the coast to Palm Beach.
• The Northern Districts area includes Sydney's Silicon Valley at Macquarie Park, and the northern side of the western reaches of Sydney Harbour
• The largely residential area of the Hills District in the north-west of the city.

 

Aerial showing primarily the city's Eastern suburbs - its smallest division

 Heading East

• The Eastern Suburbs - Between the City and the sea, includes the world-famous Bondi Beach and other city beaches, which are strong drawcards for visitors and residents in the city during summer.

 Heading West

• The Inner West - Sydney's original suburbs are now bohemian and are a hub of cheap eats, shopping and inner-city culture.

• The Outer West stretching from Parramatta out to the Blue Mountains
• The South West centers of Liverpool and Campbelltown are a large swathe of residential and commercial Sydney.

 Heading South

• Southern Sydney - 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.

• Sutherland Shire- Is the district to the far south and east of the city center including Cronulla and Captain Cooks Landing Place.

 Satellite towns

Some of the areas on the far western edge of Sydney developed long before the expansion of the suburbs to their doorstep, and are still considered to some extent separate towns:

• Richmond.
• Windsor.

 Understand

 History

Sydney is the oldest European settlement in Australia, having been founded as a British penal colony on 26 January 1788 (now celebrated as Australia Day, the national public holiday, with major festivities around the city and the Harbour).

 People

Sydney is one of the most cosmopolitan cities on the planet, with one third of its population born overseas. European settlement largely displaced the Aboriginal peoples, and over the years, with the earliest colonists largely coming from England, Ireland and Scotland. The Australian goldrush attracted more immigrants, including a significant number of Chinese; with about one in four Australians with convict descent also having some Chinese ancestry. In the 20th century, Sydney has continued to attract immigrants from all over the world - mostly from the U.K. and Ireland, as the White Australia Policy prevented non-European peoples (and even Southern Europeans) from entering the country.

Australia's immigration patterns, and subsequently, that of Sydney, changed significantly after WWII, when migrants began to arrive from countries as diverse as Italy, Greece, Germany, Holland, China, New Zealand, India, the Phillipines, Poland, Lebanon, Iraq, Vietnam, Thailand, South Africa and the Pacific Islands. Sydney's culture, food and general outlook well reflect these contributions to the majority Anglo-Celtic institutions and social establishment.

Sydney is recognised worldwide for its vibrant gay community. Every year, the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is celebrated at the end of February, drawing people from all over Australia and the world for the celebrations.

Sydney became the center of the world's attention in September 2000 when the city hosted the 2000 Summer Olympics - officially announced by the IOC Chairman at the closing Ceremony to be the "the best games ever"! The Olympics saw a major building and renovation program take hold of Sydney, positioning it as one of the great world cities of the 21st century and will continue to hold its world city status.

 Climate

Sydney is generally comfortable for travellers to visit any time of year. The city enjoys over 300 sunny days each year.

• Summer (December to February) is the best time to enjoy Sydney's beachside outdoor lifestyle. Temperatures usually reach around 26°C but can be very hot, with temperatures climbing to over 40°C for a few days each summer. Summer days can be humid, and sometimes have searing dry winds. Hot summer days frequently end with a "southerly buster", a cold front sweeping up from the south, bringing a clearly noticeable drop in temperature. Within hours, the storm can pass and the evening continues cooler. Hot windy days can close national parks, walking trails, and ban fires because of the fire risk. Rain is usually in the form of afternoon thunderstorms, that can be intense but usually pass quickly. 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) March and April, especially, tend to have clear, warm days with mild nights. There can be good days for the beach in March, but you can't count on it. Good time for visiting attractions, going to the zoo, catching ferries around the harbor without the summer crowds. You may need a jumper for the evenings, especially for May.

• Winter (June to August) is cool, not cold. Average July maximum temperatures are 17°C. 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 sweater. Sydney is a year-round city, and very few attractions outside of 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). September is Sydney's driest month, and 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's Western Suburbs that lie away from the coast tend to be hotter during the day and a little cooler during the night. They miss the afternoon sea breezes, and the nighttime warming effect of the ocean.

Sydney has air conditioning in public buildings, and on some, but not all, public transport. Carry water during summer. Remember sun protection year round, as the UV exposure risk can be extreme at any time of year.

Sydney Climate and Weather information is available online at the Australian Bureau of Meteorology [2].

 Architecture

Sydney’s skyline is large and widely recognizable. Sydney also possesses a wide array of diversity of modern and old architectural style. They range from the simple Francis Greenways Georgian buildings, to Jorn Utzon’s Expressionist, or the Sydney Opera House. Sydney also has a large amount of Victorian buildings, such as the Sydney Town Hall and the Queen Victoria Building. The most architecturally significant would be the Sydney Opera House, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, among many others. Skyscrapers in Sydney are also large and modern such as the Sydney Tower, which dominates the Sydney skyline.

There are also pockets of architecturally significant housing dotted around Sydney's suburbs. The inner-eastern suburb of Paddington is known for its terrace houses, while several inner-west suburbs contain streets lined with so-called federation houses (built around the time of Australian federation in 1901). Further away on the lower North Shore, Castlecrag is a unique suburb, being planned by the architect Walter Burley Griffin in the 1930s.

 Itineraries

• Walking tour of Sydney. Please see separate listing for more information.

 Get in

 By plane

Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD) [3] is Australia's busiest airport and is considered the gateway to Australia. It is located 8 km from the city center at Mascot in southern Sydney on the northern shores of Botany Bay. Sydney Airport is the oldest continually operated commercial airport anywhere in the world.

Over 35 airlines fly in and out of Sydney Airport with daily flights linking Sydney to key destinations on every continent. The Asian-Pacific transport hubs of Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, Tokyo and Seoul have several daily flights, as do various European centres (especially London) via Asia. North America is connected via Los Angeles, San Francisco and Vancouver. Direct flight links also exist with many destinations within New Zealand.

Travellers from Europe and the Middle East tend to travel into Sydney via Asia. Trevellers from South America can fly direct from Buenos Aires or via either North America or New Zealand.

You can fly to Sydney directly from all other Australian capital cities and from many major regional airports. Otherwise, you will usually need to fly to the state capital and transfer to a Sydney flight. Sydney can be reached within an hour and a half from Melbourne and Brisbane, 45 minutes from Canberra and just under four hours from Perth.

This is not a 24 hour airport (there is a curfew between 11PM and 6AM). If you arrive late in the evening with a view of connecting to flight departing early the following morning you cannot easily spend the night in the terminal. The domestic terminals, T2 and T3, close entirely after the last flights are cleared.

 

 

 Airlines and terminals

Check the terminal that you are arriving at or departing from carefully.

International terminal (T1)- handles all international flights and some domestic flights. Check your itinerary and flight number as connections, customs etc will take longer when arriving or departing from the International Terminal even on a domestic flight. You do not need a passport when travelling domestically, just hang on to your boarding pass.

Domestic terminal 2 (T2)- is the largest domestic terminal. Airlines using this terminal include Qantas & Qantaslink (Qantas flights 1600 and above), Aeropelican, Regional Express (Rex), Jetstar and Virgin Blue.

Domestic terminal 3 (T3)- handles only Qantas flights from 450-1599, which are mainly the inter-capital services. Qantas Cityflyer flights generally depart and arrive at Terminal 3.

 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 departures level. There are cafes on both departures and arrivals level. Good coffee and food can had for a reasonable price, but it is easy to buy bad overpriced coffee and food too. Departures has cheaper prices than downstairs at arrivals. There is a better and cheaper choice of food before going through security, although food hall before security is boxed in, and the eating area beyond security has the full height glass windows. An ANZ bank, and a Travelex exchange is available before security in departures and downstairs in arrivals. A Travelex desk is also available airside. Exchange rates in the airport are worse than in the city, don't believe the $6 flat commission, look at the rate carefully. Two free showers for both males and females are available by check in bay 'A' on the departures level. There is also an open air observation deck, with the entrance next to Bay B on the departures level, through the bistro and up the elevator. A post office is in the check in area, but it is only open business hours. Post boxes are available after customs. There is a small kids play area after security. There is a large duty free shop selling alcohol, cigarettes, perfume and electronics available when departing and arriving. There are some free Internet terminals in departures, even a few before security. There are paid Internet terminals too, and downstairs in arrivals. Trolleys cost money landside of security. Pick one up airside where they are free, or our in the carpark where they have been left by previous users.

T2 has a large food and shopping area, with a large selection of food outlets located to the right after you go through security. There are also gift shops, bookshops and some clothing stores. There are nice views over the tarmac from the eating area. There are ATM's before and after security. Everyone is able to go through security, whether travelling or not.

T3 (Qantas Domestic) has a food hall with a variety of food and coffee. The food hall is the after security, but you do not need to be a passenger to pass through security, you can be a visitor or accompanying someone else. Most food and drink places and the security checkpoint close 30 minutes or so before the last departure. Don't expect to be able to get anything at all if you are arriving on a late flight. Don't expect someone to be able to get to the gate to meet you on a late arrival, they will have to wait at baggage claim if you arrive after the last departure.

 Transfer between 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 4km by road, as the terminals are on opposite sides of the airport tarmac. You will have to use one of the following methods to transfer.

• An Air-side shuttle is available free of charge if you are connecting through with Qantas or a One World partner airline, or between Virgin Blue and a codeshare flight or other international Virgin Flight (for example United Airlines).

• T-bus ($5.50) outside the terminal building. The T-bus is a dedicated terminal shuttle and uses the normal roads. It will 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.

• Catch the train ($14.60), which is part of the Sydney suburban train system, not a terminal shuttle train. It is a 2 minute journey with around 10-15 minute frequency. Follow the train signs from the terminal. Make sure you are going the right way, and only stay on the train a single stop (note the discounted transfer tickets between terminals are no longer available).

• Taxi ($10.00). A taxi driver may not be happy transferring you between terminals, as he/she would have been expecting a trip to the city or further, and may have been waiting in a queue for an hour or so. Still, you want to get between terminals, so load up your luggage in the boot, sit firmly in the seat, close the door, tell the driver where you want to go, and ignore everything else. The trip will take around 10 minutes. It is a legal requirement for the taxi driver to take you there, but unfortunately not a legal requirement for them to smile while doing so. This problem has been slightly reduced by a new system that allows the driver to tell the taxi controller that they received a short fare, they are then allowed to jump the queue.

• Walk. If you have little luggage, and some time to kill, the walk will take around an hour. There is a footpath the whole way, and has good views of planes taking off metres above your head, and of the Alexandria Canal. From T1 walk across the car park, across the crossing, under the underpass, and follow the Airport Drive footpath/cycleway to the right, keeping the 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. The route is not covered.

Sydney airport is world class in many respects, but terminal transfers are clumsy, and will surprise those who are used to terminal shuttles in other developed airports worldwide.

 Between the airport and the city

Sydney Airport is only 13 km from the city centre. Although driving, taxi or the train may seem like the only options to get to the city when you're at the airport, there are cheaper ways to get there if you're not already hiring a car.

It is worth considering what your travel arrangements will be while in Sydney before purchasing a public transport ticket to the city as many multi-day and tourist tickets include some or all of the travel cost to to the city.

• A train service known as Airport Link [4] connects Sydney Airport and the CBD. The Airport railway line is part of the CityRail [5] commuter rail system and shares a ticketing system, but the airport stations are privately owned and require a hefty surcharge on top of a normal fare. Single fares from the International Terminal station to the city are $15.20 for an adult, or $10.20 for child and $14.60/$9.90 from the Domestic Terminal station. At the airport you can buy a ticket directly to any Cityrail destination. The trains can be busy weekdays during the morning peak [07:30-09:30] as trains that service the Airport also carry commuters to the City. It is always possible to fit on, but sometimes you may need to stand. If there are three or more people travelling together, a taxi will usually be cheaper, and just as quick outside peak hours.

• Mini-bus operators will drive a group of passengers to the city and deliver them to their hotels - a typical charge is $13 per passenger.

• Taxis to the city centre should cost approximately $30 (including tolls), and more to other Sydney destinations (The Rocks $35-40, North Sydney $35, Manly $50, etc.) You can expect to pay a $2.50 airport taxi levy, and a $5.00 Eastern Distributor toll on top of the metered fare. If arriving on a Friday evening is is possible to face long queues for taxis. Asking the driver to take O'Riordan Street is a little slower but shorter and cheaper than the Eastern Distributor tollway.

• Vehicle rental is available at all Sydney Airport terminals from a variety of rental companies (see Sydney Airport website for current list [6]).

• Local Buses. The only local bus route is 400 bus running between Bondi Junction and Burwood via Rockdale and Banksia Station. The 400 bus to Rockdale and/or Banksia Train Station($2.90/International $3.90/Domestic) then train to the city ($3.40) is the cheapest way to get to the city. The 400 bus runs ever 20-30 minutes, from outside T3 and T1. If you are at T2 you have to walk to T3 to catch it. The bus destination sign will show "Burwood". The Bondi Junction bus is going the other way. # Alternatively with bus route 400 to "Bondi Junction", ask the bus driver to drop you off at "Mascot Shops" in Botany Road($2.90 Intl/$1.80 Dom), then get off the bus, go across the street to catch another Bus Route 309 or 310 or similar bus destination to Circular Quay which is end of CBD($2.90). # There is no luggage space on the bus, but a backpack or suitcase won't be a problem if you can manage it yourself. If you purchase a "Red" bus/train/ferry travelpass for $35 it lasts for 7 days and covers this entire route to the city, and most bus and train travel in and around the city and the ferry to the zoo and Watsons Bay. You need to purchase the travelpass from the train station, as they are not sold on board the bus. A $10.80 surcharge (gatepass) is payable to use the Airport Link train.

• Having a friend pick you up. At T1 (International) a private car can not stop legally at the arrivals area to pick up someone from the curb. Each car has to park at the short term car park for $7 per half hour. At the T2 & T3 (domestic terminals) cars can only stop at the pickup areas if there is someone already at the curb. 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 a 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 is $3.80 to the city. The walk isn't signposted and not recommended after dark. It is all surfaced, only has 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 path under the multistory car park and exit on the undercover path on the far side, and follow the path on the left of the customs building to the pedestrian crossing (follow the green sign, marked Marsh Street). Then go under the road using the underpass (lots of mirrors), 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 and then proceed along the cycleway next to the Cooks River (signposted to Tempe), keeping the river on your right. When you reach the Princes Hwy (6 lane road), cross at the pedestrian crossing lights, and continue straight on, past the apartment blocks, shops, to the end of the road, then turn right up to Wolli Creek Station. The walk will take less than half an hour, and save you $11 on the train fare. Trains from Wolli Creek are faster and more frequent than trains from the airport.

• Walk and Train from T2 & T3 The Domestic terminals (T2 and T3) are about 1.7km from Mascot train station. The walk takes about 20 minutes and is along suburban pavements that can be uneven at times. 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 $5.80.

• Walk at Bus from T2 & T3. Sydney Buses 309/X09/310/X10 run between the City and Mascot Shops. It is 15-20 minutes easy walk from there to the domestic terminal. ($4.00). You can get the 400 bus towards Bondi Junction to Mascot Shops from T2 & T3 ($1.80), or from T1 ($3.00).

 By car

It is possible to drive to Sydney from Brisbane or Melbourne in a full day. Around 9 hours non-stop to Melbourne, or 11 hours to Brisbane. A comfortable drive would allow two days from Melbourne or Brisbane, and three to Adelaide. The Melbourne drive is mostly dual carriageway high quality road. The same can't be said for the Brisbane drive, which while it has high quality sections, it also has some very narrow winding sections, carries high traffic volumes, and has many stoppages from roadworks.

• Melbourne - Sydney = 862 km via Albury-Wodonga (Hume Highway).
• Adelaide - Sydney = 1422 km via Mildura or 1659km via Broken Hill (National Highway 32).
• Brisbane - Sydney = 938 km via the coast (Pacific Highway) or 961 km via Armidale (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 Mid-North Coast and Northern Rivers on the way down (the beaches will be less crowded than Sydney!).

If renting a car, check the daily distance allowances and any one-way charge that may apply. Cars may be rented at the airport and elsewhere from major rental companies, or at smaller, less conveniently located, cheaper companies such as Airport Car Rental [7] at Sydney Airport or Bayswater Car Rental [8] in Kings Cross.

There are tolls applicable to all motorways coming into Sydney, and not all routes accept cash. See "Tolls" section below.

 Car rental companies

• Airport Rent A Car Sydney, [9].

 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. Follow the signs.

Coach travel usually offers quicker, cheaper and more frequent trips than train travel to Sydney. Online and advance booking specials are usually available.

• Greyhound Coaches[10]. National bus line.

 By train

The New South Wales long distance train service CountryLink, (13 22 32 within Australia) [11] runs at least daily services to Sydney from Brisbane, Melbourne, Canberra and many regions of New South Wales including the Mid-North Coast, New England, the Central West and the Southern Highlands. It also services Broken Hill weekly. Travelling time from Melbourne and Brisbane is around 12 hours. Fares range between $30 and $100 for standard class seats, and reservations tickets can be purchased online, by phone, or at the station. The long distance trains between Melbourne and Sydney, and Brisbane and Sydney can be a less stressful alternative to driving, but they do not average particularly high speeds and take longer than flying. It is often possible to get a discount airfare around the same price or cheaper than the adult train fare.

The Indian Pacific [12] (13 21 47 within Australia or +61 8 8213 4592 internationally) train service runs from Perth to Sydney via Adelaide and Broken Hill. Adult fares from Perth are $1250 for a sleeper cabin and $513 for a seat. Children's fares are $805 for a sleeper cabin and $139 for a seat. The train departs from Perth on Wednesdays and arrives at Sydney on Saturdays. Note that these fares are much higher than return plane fares to Perth, this journey is really for train journey enthusiasts who want to see the interior of Australia. It also gives you the ability to take your car on the train for an additional fee.

All long distance (Countrylink and Great Southern Railway) trains to Sydney terminate at platforms 1-3 of Sydney's Central Station in the south of the CBD area. Travellers can transfer to Cityrail trains, the light rail service to Darling Harbour, city buses, as well as taxis. It is also easy to transfer to other long distance trains and coaches. There is free short term parking up the ramp in front of the station, and you can meet the trains on the platform. There are ATM's, a choice of food outlets, cafes open until late, and a railway heritage society display and bookshop in the terminal.

The Cityrail[13] network runs services several times a day from close regional cities: Newcastle via the Central Coast (New South Wales), Goulburn via the Southern Highlands, Nowra via the South Coast and Lithgow via the Blue Mountains.

 By ship

Cruise ships generally dock at the International Passenger Terminal at Circular Quay or at Darling Harbour.

Circular Quay is a spectacular place to dock, right by the Harbour Bridge, and you can walk off the ship into the centre of the The Rocks.

Darling Harbour passenger terminal at Barangaroo seems a little more remote when you disembark, but it is still easy walking distance to the main attractions, Wynyard Station, and Darling Harbour itself. The terminal is immediately adjacent (north) of the King St Wharf precinct, at Darling Harbour, but immigration makes sure you exit away from the water where you can't see it. Just turn right and follow the road, it is only a short walk. It is less than 15 minutes walk to the city centre and The Rocks. It is a 5 minute walk to Wynyard station. There is also a Sydney Explorer bus stop in Sussex St nearby.

White Bay is being developed as a new wharf for passenger arrivals, to replace Darling Harbour as Barangaroo is re-developed. Currently it is only used if their are already two passenger ships in the harbour. White Bay is not easy walking distance to anywhere. You could potentially walk up to Victoria Road and get a bus to the city, or you could walk over the Anzac Bridge into Darling Harbour. Expect the walk to take about an hour. Probably best to rely on the shuttle buses supplied arranged by the cruise company unless you are keen to save a few dollars.

 Get around

 By car

 Travel times and routes

You can drive around Sydney reasonably freely, and outside of peak times travelling by car is usually at least as quick as any method of public transport. Congestion can be expected on roads to the city from 6:30AM until 9:30AM, and roads away from the city from around 4PM until 6:30PM. Congestion is considerably worse heading away from the city during Friday afternoon peak.

Roads are generally well signposted to the next major suburb or suburbs along the route. Only a handful of cross-city met-roads are signposted by number.

Congestion can be expected around Bondi Beach, and the other eastern suburbs beaches on summer weekends.

Travel times from the CBD to the Sydney outskirts can take around 45 minutes in good traffic.

 Tolls

Some motorways, tunnels and bridges in Sydney charge tolls. They are the M2, M4, M5 & M7 Motorways, the Falcon Street Gateway to the Gore Hill Freeway (but not the freeway itself), the Lane Cove Tunnel, Cross City Tunnel, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Tunnel (southbound only), and the Eastern Distributor Motorway (northbound only). Parts of the M4 and M5, the northbound lanes of the Harbour Bridge/Tunnel and the southbound lanes of the Eastern Distributor are not tolled, however. The tolls vary between $2.50 and $7.00 depending on the road, and using multiple toll roads can easily exceed $20 or so in a day. Harbour Bridge and Tunnel tolls are more expensive during peak times (6.30-9.30AM and 4.00-7.00PM) which are best avoided on any of Sydney's roads.

The Harbour Bridge and Tunnel, Cross City Tunnel, Lane Cove Tunnel, and M7 use electronic tolling only. To use an electronic toll road, you must have pre-fitted a tag or acquire a temporary pass. Most of these electronic tolls can be bypassed using longer alternative routes, except the Harbour Bridge and Tunnel. If you are in the City and driving north, for example to the zoo, or to the Northern Beaches you will need to contend with electronic tolling.

• You can purchase a tag (also called an E-tag) which is a RFID transponder stuck to the inside of your windscreen, and linked to a account you set up. You can putchase a visitor's tag from any motor registry before travelling on a toll road, and set up an account linked to your credit card. Worthwhile if you will be spending some time in Sydney, driving on many toll roads. The tags work on all electronically tolled roads in Australia. There is a cost for the tag (around $5), you have to top up the account in advance, but you only pay the actual road toll. You can use the tag on all toll roads, whether they have electronic tolling or not.
• Visitors to Sydney without an e-tag, or driving a rental car, can purchase a pass (also called an e-pass) up to 48 hours after travelling on a toll road. A pass involves registering your licence plate number and credit card on the website. The Sydney Motorways website [14] provides links to pass providers. You can get a visitor e-pass that lasts for up to 30 days. The cost is $1.50 to register a pass online, and 75c on top of each toll as a processing charge. You can't use the e-pass on motorways that accept cash - but why would you want to, as it will cost you 75c more than you would in the cash lane. You don't actually get anything when you buy a pass - in effect it is just a licence plate matching service. You can't use an e-pass outside of Sydney.

A capital 'E' marked on the lane indicates it accepts a tag. A lower case 'e' indicates it accepts a pass.

If you are in a rental car and do not pay the toll, the rental car company may charge an administration fee in addition to the toll and the fine to your credit card, if you do not make the effort to pay. Take care to cancel your pass account if it is linked to a hire car registration number. The RTA [15] will allow you to specify start and end times for the e-pass period to avoid these problems.

 Parking

Parking your car in the Sydney CBD is always possible but expensive. Expect to pay up to $70 per day or $25 per hour at some central parking lots, and around $25 even with specials. Reduced parking charges are 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 [16] for $16 provides you enter before 10AM and leave between 3PM and 7PM. There is no grace period, so you can't 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.

CBD hotels invariably charge for parking for the guests.

Similar prices are charged in North Sydney.

Parking in many major suburban centres and beaches can be a matter of spending time cruising and searching for parking spots. All day street parking is rare around the city suburban shopping centres.

Some train stations have all day free commuter parking. A major stations this can be full by 8AM. Smaller stations with less frequent train service tend to have better parking availability. Weekends are generally no problem.

Parking at some beaches on summer weekends can often be near impossible. Some beaches are in suburban neighbourhoods, without large car parking facilities. Check the appropriate destination guides for more information.

Parking fines in Sydney are $80 if you exceed the allowed parking time. Reloading the meter, or moving your car within the same parking zone will not get you out of a fine. If you park illegally and wait with your car, you may find you have the licence place photographed and fined before you have the chance to move on, don't expect a warning. If you park illegally in a disabled spot, the fine is $375. If you do get fined for exceeding time, you will not be fined again the same day - so enjoy your parking spot.

Be aware of parking in clearways, which are no stopping zones on main roads during peak periods. Fines will be around $400 to reclaim your car after it is towed away. Clearways also offer parking opportunites if you try to park at 10AM or 7PM when the clearway periods end.

 Sydney driving speeds

Speed limits can change frequently even when following the same main road. Speed limits drop for areas of pedestrian activity, schools, as well as driving conditions. Every road in Sydney has a signposted speed limit, and in every case you will need to read the signs, as you cannot tell the speed limit just by looking at the road. The speed limit is usually 50km/h on residential streets, 60km/h or 70km/h on main roads, and 80km/h and above on freeways or freeway sections.

Some speed limits vary throughout the day. School speed zones (40 km/h) are enforced between 8.00 AM to 9.30 AM and 2.30 PM to 4.00 PM on school days. Some have flashing lights, and some just a sign. It is up to you to check the time and know if it is a school day or not. Some other roads have variable speed limits that drop during busy traffic times. Variable speed limits also drop for road maintenance. These areas are signposted, and you need to read and obey the signposted speed. Speed cameras monitor school zones, and enforce variable speed limits. For example, if there are roadworks in the Lane Cove Tunnel, the variable speed will drop, and the speed camera in the tunnel will enforce the lower speed. By law stationary "Fixed" speed cameras must be signposted before their location to warn motorists, but the signs can be easy to miss.

 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 buses stop.

It is usually easy enough to flag a taxi down at the kerb in the CBD, or catch one at taxi ranks located in most suburban centres. A taxi is available if its light is on, and engaged if its light is off.

Beware the 3PM change over and the Friday evening rush. It can be near impossible to get a taxi between 2:30PM and 3:15PM, and similarly between 2:30AM and 3:30AM, as almost all of the drivers changeover their shifts at the same time. They are similarly scarce on a Friday and Saturday evening. Booking in advance is no guarantee, as these jobs are simply offered electronically to drivers, who will usually reject telephone jobs if there is plenty of work at the kerb. It is easily possible to wait an hour or more for a taxi booked 24 hours in advance on a Friday and Saturday evening. Ringing the taxi company back and complaining will often help (if the operators can relate to your problem they have the ability to offer a taxi driver an incentive to take your fare). Canceling your job and ringing another taxi company in frustration never helps as the taxi companies have handover systems which would have seen your job handed over if another company had more capacity. You will just end up at the back of the queue again. Evenings other than Friday and Saturday are usually fine.

During busy times it is also not uncommon for a taxi driver to leave the door locked and ask where you are going through the window and drive off if the destination is too close or not on their way home, even though this is illegal.

There are two meter rates: a day rate (rate 1) with a flag fall of $3.00, a distance rate of $1.79 a kilometre, a "waiting" rate of $0.77 a minute and a booking fee of $1.50; and a night rate (rate 2) which adds a 20% surcharge to the distance rate. The night rate applies for journeys commencing between 10PM and 6AM. You can check the rate your taxi is using by looking for a 1 or a 2 next to the current charge: if it's set to 2 it is using the night rate. The so called "waiting" rate is charged whenever the speed drops below 25km/h. For trips in congested traffic it is possible for large amounts of the trip to be charged at the "waiting" rate. All Sydney taxis are metered and taxi drivers will always charge the metered rate, adding the charges for tolls manually. Silver Service taxis are more luxurious vehicles, but they are charged at the same rate as standard white taxis.

Taxis all accept all major credit cards. They charge an extra 10% on top of the fare for this.

Passengers are required to pay all tolls for their trip. In addition, passengers who are taken north over the Harbour Bridge, for which there is no toll, are required to pay the driver's southbound toll for the return into the city (currently $3). Drivers will usually take the toll roads unless you ask them not to. If you are unsure why they are asking for an amount above that shown on the meter, just ask.

Passengers have the right to control the air conditioning and the radio - don't be afraid to ask the driver! Whilst most taxi drivers behave acceptably, there have been reported incidences of taxi drivers behaving inappropriately towards women - it is always safer to sit in the back of the car.

Tipping is not required or generally expected. However, rounding up a taxi fare the next dollar (or five or ten dollars, depending on the base fare) is fairly common. On the other hand, don't be surprised if the driver rounds the fare down to the nearest dollar - accept with grace and good cheer.

 By public transport

Sydney has a good public transport system, especially in areas closer to the city area where many attractions are. The further away from the city you travel, the less frequent and comprehensive public transport services will tend to be.

The system consists of an extensive rail network, multiple buses and ferries, a single light-rail line and a tourist-oriented monorail.

 Tickets

The ticketing system for Sydney's public transport is antiquated and poor. There is no comprehensive system, and there is no stored value card. There are well over 20 ticket types in common use. It can be worth spending a little time understanding where you will be travelling, as some of the tickets can save considerable amounts over multiple trips, especially if you are going to be taking ferries. Bus drivers will check you buy or validate a ticket on entry. Ferry hands will check tickets. Trains have ticket barriers at city and major suburban stations. Minor suburban stations are open. Inspectors are renowned for their intimidating behaviour and will generally not accept any excuses. They issue a ticket on the spot, and post you a reminder to pay.

Children are aged 15 years and under, and are entitled to a discount, except on private buses, where they must be 14 or under. In addition, on ferries (except private ferries), buses (except private buses) and trains, you only pay for the first child when accompanied by a parent or grandparent, the other children in the same family travel free. No family identification is ever required, so anything that resembles a family unit will only have to pay for the first child. Children 3 years and under travel free.

Cityrail train tickets allow you to make as many transfers as required but you may not break your journey (i.e. leave a station), or your ticket will become invalid.

• Single tickets are generally available for all forms of public transport, covering a single trip (one bus, one ferry, or until you leave the train station). Fares are distance based, and you have to nominate your destination when purchasing. You can buy tickets for cash on all services except prepay-only buses, for which there is usually a cash alternative (i.e. a slower bus). Single bus tickets are also available at newsagents and convenience stores near bus stops. Note that all bus stops within the Sydney Central Business District are pre-pay only on weekdays between 7AM and 7PM from mid-2009 onwards. If boarding a bus at any of these stops you will not be able to pay on the bus and will need a pre-pay ticket.

• Ten bus or ten ferry tickets are available at a 20% discount over normal fares, these are called travelten or ferryten. You can use them for multiple passengers travelling together, i.e 5 trips for two people. Tickets are distance based, so the trips must all be to the same ferry zones or number of bus sections. There is no equivalent on the trains. You can buy travelten tickets at newsagents or convenience stores near bus stops, or at train station ticket windows (even though you can't use them on the train). The tickets do not expire.

• Return tickets on the trains after 9AM in the morning or on weekends are considerably cheaper. There is no discount before 9AM on weekdays. The return trip can be made anytime up to 4AM the following day, or on a nightride bus the next morning. There are no return tickets on buses or ferries. The off-peak discount is not available for single tickets. Children pay a maximum of $2.60 to for a return trip in Sydney on the trains off-peak (plus the airport gate fee for airport line stations).

• For unlimited use of Sydney Buses (not private buses), trains and Sydney Ferries (not private ferries) you can purchase a single day unlimited use daytripper ticket (adults $17, children $8.60).

• If you are considering purchasing daytrippers [17] for more than three days, consider a travelpass, which is valid for 7 days. These are based on colour and zones. A red one ($38) will cover everything within 10km of the city - which is pretty much all the average tourist needs. A green one ($46) covers everything the red one does, and includes Manly and Parramatta by ferry and Olympic Park by train; a yellow one ($50) will get you to Parramatta by train; a purple one ($60) will get you all the way to Palm Beach and Royal National Park for 7 days. Purchase after 3PM and you get the remainder of that day, and the next 7 days. Daytrippers and travelpass tickets cannot be used on