Essential Information
Climate
Sydney has warm to hot summers, often accompanied by high humidity. Sub-tropical thunderstorms are common from November to February. June to August is cool. Most rain falls from April to July.
Opening hours
Shops
Generally Mon-Fri 9am-5:30pm; Sat 9am-4pm. Late-night shopping until 9pm on Thu. Large stores open Sun until 4pm. Suburban corner shops often open daily 8am-8pm or later.
Banks
Mon-Thu 9:30am-4pm; Fri 9:30am-5pm
Public holidays
1 January, 26 January (Australia Day), Good Friday, Easter Monday, 25 April (Anzac Day), 2nd Mon in June (Queen's birthday), 1st Mon in August (banks only), 1st Mon in October (Labour Day), 25-26 December.
School summer holidays are mid-December to late January. Transport, accommodation and tourist facilities are heavily booked.
Public Transportation
For all timetable and ticket enquiries (buses, ferries and CityRail trains), call 13 1500 (daily 6am-10pm). For Monorail information call 8584 5288, and for CountryLink (regional NSW, linking Melbourne and Brisbane)
train details call 13 2232 or www.131500.com
Trains - Welcome to CityRail
CityRail operates more than 300 stations throughout the suburban and metropolitan area of Sydney including further afield destinations such as Goulburn, Newcastle, Wollongong and the Blue Mountains. There are stations throughout the city centre, which makes it easy and quick to get around. Why not purchase a DayTripper ticket from CityRail stations - an all-in-one-day ticket that gives you unlimited* travel within the Sydney suburban area, unlimited travel on all Sydney Buses, and unlimited travel on all Sydney Ferries.
Perhaps all you need is a CityHopper - all day train travel throughout the city area between Central, Museum, St James, Kings Cross, Martin Place, Town Hall, Circular Quay and Wynyard stations as well as access to Redfern, Milsons Point and North Sydney stations all day.
Of course, there's a multitude of ticket types for one way and return travel. Call the Transport Infoline 131 500 or visit www.cityrail.info for timetables, fare calculations and general train information. *The DayTripper ticket area is bounded by Cowan, Emu Plains Richmond, Carlingford, Macarthur, Cronulla, Otford and Bondi Junction stations. All day travel includes up to 4am the following day. A station access fee applies to arriving or leaving Green Square, Mascot, Domestic and International stations. Ferry services exclude premium services and cruises as well as all tourist and airport buses.
Buses
Sydney's buses are blue and white, except the Explorer buses. Ordinary tickets can be bought on board, but special passes should be bought from the driver or State Transit sales outlets. Visit the Sydney Explorer website at www.sydneypass.info/
Ferries
Ferry services operate from four wharves on Circular Quay to destinations around the harbour, and upriver towards Parramatta. Buy tickets from the Circular Quay counters. www.sydneyferries.info
Trams
A 15-minute light rail service connects Central Station to Chinatown, the University of Technology, Darling Harbour, Star City Casino, the Sydney Fish Market and Wentworth Park.
Monorail
The monorail runs every few minutes (early morning to late night) in a loop above the city, Darling Harbour and the Chinatown area. Use it for the Sydney Aquarium, National Maritime Museum and Powerhouse Museum.
Taxis and water taxis
Taxis are abundant, meter-operated and conspicuously marked with a 'Taxi' sign on top of the vehicle. There is a minimum flagfall charge and the remainder of the fare is calculated on a per km/time-of-hire basis.
Taxi operators include:
- ABC Radio Taxis 13 2522
- Taxi Combined Services 133 300. Web: www.taxiscombined.com.au
- Silver Service Taxis 13 3100
- Wheelchair Accessible Taxi Service 8332 0200
Water taxis operate to and from virtually anywhere on the harbour. Call Yellow Water Taxis based at Darling Harbour and Circular Quay on 9299 0199 .
Car rentals
You must be over 21 to hire a car. Compulsory third-party insurance is included in rental prices that cost on average $40-$90 per day. Visitors are permitted to drive on either an overseas or international licence.
Sydney hire-car companies:
Discount Car Rentals 9389 7377 www.discountcar.com.au
Emergencies
- POLICE, AMBULANCE OR FIRE: 000
- Sydney Hospital Emergency: 9382 7111
- Dental emergency: 9369 7050
- Emergency prescription service: 9235 0333
- Lifeline: 131 114
- Poisons Information: 913 1444
GETTING AROUND BY CAR
Car Hire Sydney
When it comes to car hire Sydney offers the full range of car hire operators. Because there is such a range to select from, you'll find car hire Sydney rates very competitive.
There is a range of vehicles to choose from, including small manual hatchbacks, medium-sized cars, sedans and SUV type vehicles. You'll find a small car is economical for city driving and, when you want to find a parking place, they are easier to park.
Car hire Sydney locations include Sydney Airport, Kings Cross, Bondi Junction, central Sydney and Parramatta in western Sydney.
Booking your car rental Australia is easy. Just make a selection from the list of operators and compare hire rates and conditions. If you are planning ahead, many of the car rental Australia agents offer discounts based on the season and car hire period. One-way car rental Australia is another possibility. You might, for instance, rent a car in Sydney and leave it in Cairns.
Discount Car & Truck Rental
Bondi Junction - Parramatta - City/Ultimo - Taren Point
Ph: 1800 037 483
www.discountcar.com.au
Taxis
Taxi operators include:
- ABC Radio Taxis 13 2522
- Taxi Combined Services 133 300. Web: www.taxiscombined.com.au
- Silver Service Taxis 13 3100
- Wheelchair Accessible Taxi Service 8332 0200
Cruises -Sydney Ferries
www.sydneyferries.info
Public Transport
Country Link
Ph: 9379 1098
www.countrylink.nsw.gov.au
Bondi Explorer - 131 500
Sydney Explorer - 131 500
Web: www.sydneypass.info/
Sydney Ferries - 131 500
Web: www.sydneyferries.info
Tourist Info
- Australian Travel Specialists 9555 2700 www.atstravel.com.au
- Sydney Visitor Information, The Rocks 9255 1788 www.sydneyvisitorcentre.com
- Manly Visitor Information Bureau 9977 1088
- Sydney Visitor Centre, Darling Harbour 9281 0788 www.sydneyvisitorcentre.com
- Parramatta Visitors Information Centre 9630 3703
- Blue Mountains Visitor Information 1300 653 408
- Hunter Valley Visitor Information 4990 4477
- Port Stephens Visitor Information 1800 808 900
- Newcastle Tourism 1800 654 558 www.visitnewcastle.com.au
- Central Coast Tourism 1300 725 105 www.cctourism.com
- Orange Tourist Information 1800 069 466 www.orange.nsw.gov.au
- Cowra Visitor's Centre 6342 4333 www.cowratourism.com.au
|
