Experience Sydney

Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House and Bridge

Situated on a breathtaking harbour, Sydney is one of the world's most attractive and exciting cities. With its rich mix of colonial and indigenous history, multicultural cuisines and festivals, museums, exhibitions and theatres - Sydney is an experience waiting to happen. Recreation, exploration, adventure and relaxation await you in this city bursting with unique attractions, fine dining, world class accommodation, non-stop shopping and a diverse range of entertainment.

Take the time, either before or after the Conference, to explore this beautiful city. Take a spectacular climb to the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, a guided tour behind the scenes of the very famous Opera House, or a visit to The Rocks and other historic sites.

Experience the famous Manly and Northern Beaches, the world heritage Blue Mountains, the natural wonders of the scenic Central Coast and wineries of the Hunter Valley.

The city is home to approximately 4.7 million people and enjoys a temperate climate with more than 340 sunny days per year. Visitors in June can expect an average of 16 degrees Celsius during the day and around 10 degrees Celsius at night.

The Kingsford Smith Airport, the main international and domestic airport, is located approximately 10 kilometres southwest of the central business district and Darling Harbour. A regular train service links the airport to the city centre. Central Station is the main junction for interstate and intrastate rail services.

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Shopping and dining

Sydney shopping

Embark on a world-class shopping experience in Australia's leading shopping destination, Sydney city. See how old meets new, where local meets international, and enjoy shopping, dining and being entertained.

For more information visit: www.sydney-shopping.com.au
or www.urbanwalkabout.com

Sydney dining

Food, glorious food. Sydney city caters for all tastes from international cuisine and fine dining restaurants through to contemporary eateries, pub fare and cheap eats

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Information for visitors

Transport and access

Kingsford Smith Airport, the main international and domestic airport, is located approximately 10 kilometres southwest of the central business district and Darling Harbour.  A regular train service links the airport to the city centre. Central Station is the main junction for interstate and intrastate rail services.

Climate

Sydney enjoys a temperate climate with more than 340 sunny days per year. Visitors in September and October can expect an average of 20 degrees Celsius during the day and around 10 degrees Celsius at night.

Shopping hours

Generally 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday; 9am-9pm, Thursday; 8.30am-4pm, Saturday. Shops in tourist areas may be open on Sundays.  Post offices are open from from 9am until 5pm Monday to Friday.

Banking and currency

Banking hours are generally 9.30am-4pm Monday to Thursday, and 9.30am-5pm Friday, but some banks offer extended hours and some are open on Saturday mornings.

Travellers cheques are widely accepted, as are major credit cards Visa, MasterCard, AMEX and Diners Card. Most banks will offer a foreign currency exchange.

The Australian currency is dollars and cents. Notes come in denominations of $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 bills. Coins are 5 cents, 10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents, $1 and $2. 

Health

Sydney, like most parts of Australia, presents no real health risks for foreign visitors. Tap water is good, restaurants and eating places are required by law to maintain a high standard of food preparation, and the city is generally clean.  Sun exposure can be a problem for those who are fair-skinned, even in September and October.  Swimmers with little experience in the surf should be cautious when swimming at Sydney's famous surf beaches, Bondi and Manly, and should always swim between the warning flags erected by lifeguards. Travel insurance is recommended.

Entry Requirements

All visitors to Australia need a valid passport and Visa. Applications for Visas can be made through Australian Embassies or Consulates in major cities around the world or in some cases through your travel agent.  Ask for a business Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) for Australia.

For information about Australian missions overseas, how to apply for visas and further information on ETAs, Customs clearance, Quarantine regulations, health issues, arrival and departure and more, contact the Australian Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs - www.immi.gov.au/index.htm. You are advised to action your application early.

Other travel essentials

  • Time zone: during the conference, Sydney will operate on Australian Eastern Standard Time, which is GMT plus 9 hours
  • Electricity voltage: 240
  • Units of measure: metric
  • Public phones: 40-cent local calls (Sydney metropolitan area)
  • Phone directory assistance: 013 (Sydney area), 0175 (Australia), 0103 (International)
  • Coffee: around $3.50 a cup, sometimes less, quite often more in tourist areas
  • Petrol (gas): varies but is generally around $1.30 a litre
  • Emergency (police, ambulance and fire) phone 000
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