List of Frequently Asked Questions

The range of frequently asked questions about Sydney often begins with:

‘Why go to Sydney?’

The 50 FAQs below are in alphabetical order, for ease of finding a topic quickly – each topic is linked to an explanation.

Explanations/answers for the 50 FAQ above are grouped into sections around the following broad categories:

FREE Checklist :
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Why go to Sydney?

Why Would I Want to Go to Sydney?

Let’s be clear from the very beginning. If we can’t answer this particular FAQ, everything that follows is rather pointless.

For its visitors, and also for its residents, Sydney is a ‘City in a Playground’. Here, very briefly, are seven good reasons why YOU should visit Sydney:

If you can, spend several days in Sydney, and you will absolutely fall in love with it (I certainly did!).

About Sydney

Accommodation

What is Accommodation like in Sydney?

From 6-star luxury, to 2-star hotels, apartments, hostels, homes and private rooms, plus holiday and caravan parks, Sydney offers a range of options for accommodation to suit any budget.

It is worth noting that accommodation prices may vary considerably, based on seasonal demand, and also major events.

Accommodation can easily be found via popular internet aggregators, i.e. Booking.com, Expedia, Stayz, etc.

Accommodation information can also be found at Sydney.com:

For those who are seeking ‘sustainable’ accommodation, checkout the Sydney Harbour YHA, at:

Weather & Climate

What is the Weather like in Sydney?

Annually, Sydney averages around:
110 clear days,
127 cloudy days, and
100 rainy days

(that leaves a few days unaccounted?!)

Weather statistics also suggest that Sydney has over 300 days with some sunshine, i.e. partly cloudy.

The Sydney region has its own microclimate. This means the weather can be both variable across the region, and also quite changeable, even on the same day.

Features which can bring extreme weather to Sydney include Antarctic cold air masses from the Southern Ocean, desert-warmed air masses from central Australia, ex-tropical cyclone remnants, and the infamous ‘East Coast Lows’

On average, Sydney’s winters are sunnier than its summers.

Summer (December – February)

Great weather for the beach!

Autumn (March – May)

Great weather for coastal walks.
You might even see humpback whales, as they migrate north (from May to August).

Winter (June – August)

Great weather for snow, and skiing in the Snowy Mountains!

Spring (September – November)

Great weather to visit the gardens and the Friday night markets.

Useful links for current and forecasted weather information include:

Sydney 7-day Forecast

Alt site (labelled ‘beta’, perhaps this is to replace the one above – both work): this offers a link to Detailed 3-Hourly Forecasts

Meteye view of today’s weather
showing Sydney coastal view, with options for rainfall, wind, waves, temperature, storms, humidity, and UV

128 km Sydney Rain Radar Loop

Cost of Living & Budget

How Expensive is it to Live in Sydney?

Sydney is rated as the most expensive city in Australia. In comparison to my hometown of Melbourne (Australia), I found the cost of items such as food, and entertainment, to be slightly dearer in Sydney.

Budget Research

To research basic costs in Sydney for food, transport, entertainment, etc., I use Expatistan:

The Expatistan Cost of Living website also allows us to make a direct city-to-city comparison of costs for any chosen cities:

Cultural Diversity

How Culturally Diverse is Sydney?

According to the Australian Government:
“Australia is a vibrant, multicultural country. We are home to the world’s oldest continuous cultures, as well as Australians who identify with more than 270 ancestries. Since 1945, almost seven million people have migrated to Australia.”

Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth are all known as being amongst the most multicultural cities in the world. The 2021 Australian Census indicates that Melbourne now leads in terms of residents born overseas, and the different languages spoken at home.

Key points from the 2021 Census include:

Sydney’s City Administration rightly notes that its rich, cultural diversity is one of the City’s greatest strengths.

From the 2021 Census, the top five ancestries for people in Greater Sydney are: English, Australian, Chinese, Irish, and Scottish. Many of these people can trace their ancestors’ arrival to the period between 1840 and 1930.

Other ancestries from the Census are:

The Census also recorded that 1.7% of Sydney’s population identified as being First Nations.

For information on the languages spoken in Sydney, see:

For a summary view of Sydney’s religious makeup, see:

Emergency Numbers

What are Sydney’s Emergency Numbers?

Luggage Storage

Where to Find Luggage Storage Sydney?

A number of luggage storage services operate across Sydney.

Sydney Airports, Central Station
Facilities operated by Smarte Carte:

Sydney CBD
Facilities operated by Smarte Carte at Circular Quay, 8 am to 4 pm, 7 days a week:

Facilities operated by CBD Storage at World Square (entry from Pitt St):

8am – 6pm weekdays,
9am – 5pm weekends.

Entry from corner of Pitt and Goulburn Streets. From the ground level Lift Lobby (opposite Australia POST), elevator down to Carpark Level P6.

A number of other luggage storage services also operate across Sydney.

More information on storing luggage can be found at:

Public Holidays

What are the Public Holidays in Sydney?

Public Holidays in New South Wales:

Time Zones

What is the Time Zone for Sydney?

Depending on the time of year, Sydney (and New South Wales) follow Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) or Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT).

Daylight saving (AEDT) runs from the first Sunday in October to the first Sunday in April, the remainder of the year is AEST.

Sydney is located close to the International Date Line. This means it is:

Daylight Hours
The longest day in Sydney is usually 22 December, with around 14hrs 25mins hours of daylight.

The shortest day is usually on 22 June, with around 9hrs 53mins of daylight.

Sunrise and Sunset
In late November and early December, the earliest sunrise of the year is around 5:37 am; while the latest sunset is around 8:09 pm, in late December and early January.

In late June and early July, the latest sunrise of the year is around 7:01 am, while the earliest sunset is around 4:52 pm, in mid-June.

If you want to know why the summer and winter solstices do not coincide with the earliest and latest sunrises, you will need to visit Geoscience Australia:

For accurate sunrise and sunset timings, I use timeanddate.com:

Tourist Information

Where to Find Information on Sydney?

For travelers and tourists, a number of Visitor Information Centres are located around greater Sydney, and also across Regional New South Wales.

The Sydney CBD Visitor Centre is now at Customs House, 31 Alfred Street (opposite Circular Quay).

Website link:

Travel Insurance

Will I Need Travel Insurance in Sydney?

Travel insurance (or private health fund cover) for overseas visitors is a must, as a trip by an ambulance to the nearest hospital is not cheap!

Website links:

For interstate and overseas residents
(Note: this is a downloadable .pdf file):

Where to Stay in Sydney

Where Can I Stay in Sydney?

The Sydney metropolitan area covers almost 12,500 km², making it only slightly smaller than Beijing, or Tokyo.

Consequently, deciding on where to stay in Sydney, can be equally as important as deciding on what to see and do.

Various forms of accommodation are available in all parts of the metropolitan area. Therefore, as a traveller, you should generally able to find a place to stay in any particular area that you choose.

Naturally, different suburbs and neighbourhoods will have their own character, and each have pros and cons.

If you already have a plan for what you want to do in Sydney, it is wise to stay somewhere that minimises your commuting time, and travel costs, as you go out and about.

Or, if your approach is to arrive first, find somewhere to stay, and then decide what to see and do, you may have already limited your range of options.

Obviously, in general, the closer to the CBD that you are able to stay, the easier your access will be to popular attractions, and to public transport.

If you are into self-drive, be aware that weekday peak hour traffic times in Sydney are 6am to 10am, and 3pm to 7pm. In addition, throughout the day, there are a number of traffic bottlenecks across the inner suburbs.

For those who use public transport, Sydney’s network of trains, trams, buses, and ferries is designed to conveniently deliver commuters to most parts of the city.

However, particularly in the outer suburbs, some walking may still be required from a train station or bus stop.

The CBD offers accommodation, nightlife, a number of iconic attractions, and handy access to all forms of public transport.

The Inner East, midway between the CBD and those gorgeous East Coast beaches, offers accommodation and nightlife aplenty. Kings Cross and Paddington are two popular areas.

The Eastern Beaches, although a little further afield, offer accommodation, leisure, and beach action. Most beaches are easily reached by bus. You will also find Sydney’s top retail shopping centre at Westfield Bondi Junction.

The Inner West, from Newtown, and through Glebe and Ultimo, to Pyrmont, offer accommodation and distinctive variations of local characteristics. Sydney University, and the University of Technology, are in this precinct.

The North Shore, while less ‘touristy’, offers accommodation options. Public transport is primarily by bus, with a number of ferry terminals. There are great views of the southern side of the Harbour from Milsons Point.

The Northern Beaches begin at Manly. Manly offers accommodation, leisure, and beach action. Manly’s beach may well be on a par with Bondi (some would argue it is better!). However, the only viable access to the CBD is by ferry – which is certainly a trip worth taking!

The Inner South, from Surry Hills and Chippendale, to Redfern, offer accommodation, with public transport connections.

Parramatta, which may seem a bit far from the centre of Sydney, offers accommodation. With an express train to Sydney, it is also closer to Sydney Olympic Park, and the Blue Mountains. Parramatta, once called Rosehill, is also the home of a number of colonial era attractions, such as Elizabeth Farm.

Attractions in Sydney

Best Things to See & Do

What are the Best Things to Do Sydney?

Because we are all individuals, we each visit different destinations for our own reasons. This makes suggesting the ‘best things to see or do’ in Sydney a little tricky…so I am going to take a slightly different approach.

Sydney is a ‘City in a Playground’; an adventure wonderland that has year-round attractions, which appeal to all interests, and all generations.

Let me now guide you through a ‘smörgåsbord’ of Sydney’s offerings. From ‘food, art and culture’, to ‘history and architecture’, then ‘nature, outdoors and recreation’, on to ‘shopping and leisure’, next up ‘sports and events’, and finishing with ‘weird and wonderful’, Sydney has it all!.

1. Food, Art, Culture

Sydney’s cuisine scene reflects its diversity and multiculturalism, with over 45% of its residents having been born outside of Australia.

The once traditional British diet was disrupted by post WW2 migration from central and southern Europe, bringing Greek and Italian influences. In turn, subsequent arrivals from eastern Europe, the Middle East, and various nations of Asia have brought with them a wealth of international cuisines.

Sydney has a number of art galleries and museums that offer free entry. But some of the best free art in Sydney is to be found in back-streets and secluded laneways.

Also around the Sydney area, there are numerous examples of First Nations Rock Art engravings. These are a valuable part of the history of Sydney, and of the people that lived here prior to arrival of Europeans.

2. History & Architecture

The central city area holds a range of architectural styles that illustrate more than 200 years of European history. This includes several well-preserved examples from the early-19th century colonial period.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge signalled Sydney’s arrival on the world scene, while the City’s architectural showpiece is clearly the Opera House. In recent times the City has also acquired a number of impressive pieces of modern architecture, many of these around the waterfront.

3. Nature, Outdoors, Recreation

Sydney, built around one of the most beautiful harbours in the world, and surrounded by National Parks and nature reserves, is the ultimate outdoors city.

The geography of the Sydney Basin offers an abundance of opportunities for immersion in nature and various outdoor recreational activities, such as surfing, swimming, diving, kayaking, fishing, hiking, climbing, camping, etc.

And, Sydney’s sub-tropical climate allows Sydneysiders (and visitors) to take full advantage of these incredible opportunities and assets, all year round.

4. Shopping & Leisure

For those who like to shop, Sydney offers numerous opportunities for retail therapy, both within the inner-city area, and in several of the outer suburban centres.

Upmarket international, and local designer brands, can readily be found in a number of department stores, and also in specialty stores, across the city. My personal favourite shopping centre is Westfield, at Bondi Junction.

For those seeking health and wellness retreats, Sydney can offer several options. And for those into serious sunbathing, there are beaches galore, including some which offer a degree of privacy.

5. Sports & Events

In the year 2000, Sydney hosted the Olympic Games. Today, Sydney regularly hosts a number of international sporting events. Sydney is also the base of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, which is home to the famous annual Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race.

Throughout each year, venues across Sydney also conduct a number of festivals and exhibitions, celebrating music, arts, film, and numerous other themes. At the same time, the Opera House offers a busy program year-round, across an extensive range of genres.

6. Weird & Wonderful

Sydney offers a number of items which fit this description. Some of these are really ‘hidden gems’. One candidate is the antique cast-iron urinal, found at the top end of George Street, beneath the Harbour Bridge.

Other candidates include the symbolic ‘Underwood Ark’ suspended Blackbutt tree, close to Circular Quay; the Domain Travelator; the Mortuary Station in Chippendale; the Paddington Reservoir Gardens; and the Woolloomooloo Finger Wharf. And little further afield, you can find the Floating Forest, at Homebush Bay.

Perhaps the weirdest quality about Sydney is its weather. The sub-tropical climate means it is always wise to be prepared for rain. Sometimes it will come and go quickly, other times it will stay for a while. Just be prepared!

Best Time of Year to Visit

What is the Best Time to Visit Sydney?

Depending on your interests, there are probably several ‘right’ times of the year to visit Sydney.

As a ‘City within a Playground’, with its array of art galleries, museums, festivals, and events, Sydney offers a wide range of things to see and do throughout the entire year.

Summer’s long, lazy beach days can start as early as October, and go through until early April.

During February-March, the annual Sydney Mardi Gras festival is held, culminating in the renowned Mardi Gras Parade, which is followed by the Mardi Gras Party.

From early May to late November, Humpback whales travel along the coast, as they migrate from their southern feeding grounds, to their winter breeding grounds by the Great Barrier Reef.

May is also the start of the festival season of fashion, film and food. From late May until mid-June, the night is alive with Vivid Sydney, an annual festival of light, music and ideas.

In September, which is the start of Spring, the festivals continue with the Fringe festival. Meanwhile, the Royal Botanic Gardens, only a short walk from the Opera House, is in full bloom.

New Year’s Eve in Sydney is always spectacular, with the Midnight Fireworks display, centred on the Harbour Bridge, lasting for around 12 minutes. A slightly shorter ‘family fireworks’ usually goes off at 9pm.

Free Attractions

Are there Free Attractions in Sydney?

Below, I have used a list of the ‘Top 10 Freebies’ for Sydney, according to Sydney’s official tourism website, and I have added details about each, from my own research notes:

1. Walk across the Sydney Harbour Bridge

Take the pedestrian walkway, along the eastern (Opera House) side of the bridge, to Milson’s Point. The walkway offers views over Sydney, from the Opera House, to Kirribilli Point.

An elevator on Cumberland Street, beside the Argyle Cut overbridge, provides easy access to the walkway.

From the Cumberland Street elevator, to an elevator beside the Milson’s Point Train Station, the distance is around 1.5 km (0.95 miles). The walk should take around 30 minutes in one direction.

2. Catch a Wave at Bondi or Manly

Sydney’s two most popular, and most photographed, beaches are Bondi and Manly.

Both are free to visit, however you might need to use public transport to reach either/both.

The ferry ride from Circular Quay to Manly offers great views of the inner harbour. Bondi Beach can be reached by train to Bondi Junction, then by bus to the beach, or by taking the bus all the way from Circular Quay.

If you do intend to take to the water, be sure to look for the beach safety flags (red on yellow combination) that mark the supervised area for swimmers.

As ocean beaches, both Many and Bondi will have rip-currents, which are caused by a strong flow of water, running from the beach, as it returns to the ocean.

3. Be Guided Around the Royal Botanic Gardens

From March to November, Guided Walks, with a knowledgeable volunteer guide, are conducted daily at 10:30am. Walks last until around 12:00pm noon. While this is a ‘free’ service, a donation is requested.

As only 15 places are available on each walk, online bookings are required.

Walks are not conducted on days when temperatures are forecasted to exceed 35°C (95°F), or when extreme weather events are forecasted.

For more information, including the link for making an online booking, check out:

4. Take the Bondi to Coogee Walk

This iconic walk follows the coastline for around 6km between these two amazing East Coast beaches. Both ends of the walk are well served by public transport.

Along the way you get views of stunning ocean cliff scenes, and several golden beaches, including Tamarama, Bronte, and Clovelly.

The direction you choose to walk in is entirely up to you. Although the elevation changes along the walk are relatively gentle, there are a number of sets of steps to negotiate.

At a comfortable walking pace, your destination is about 2½-3 hours in front of you. This will also allow ample time for frequent pauses along the way, to catch and enjoy the many absolutely stunning coastal views.

Should you choose to walk at a fast rate, the journey time will be around 75-90 minutes.

If you decide to take the walk during the weekend, especially in the morning, expect to share the pathway with many locals, some of whom will be joggers.

5. Sample the Sydney Fish Markets

For lovers of good seafood, a visit to the historic Sydney Fish Markets should be high on the list of things to do when in Sydney.

Sydney’s original Fish Market was established at Woolloomooloo, in 1871. In 1911, a new Municipal Fish Market was opened in Haymarket.

After the State Government established the Fish Marketing Authority, in 1964, the Fish Market was relocated to its present site, at Pyrmont’s Blackwattle Bay, in 1966.

While the new Sydney Fish Market, right next door to the current site, is due for completion in ‘Late 2024’, the current historic Market is still well worth a visit.

As one of the world’s largest fish markets, it offers wonderful sights and smells of a wide variety of seafoods.

And do take the opportunity to treat yourself to some of the freshest seafood delights that can be found anywhere!

6. Snap a Selfie with the Sails (or the Coathanger)

The unique Sydney Opera House is one of Sydney’s icons, with its intricate roofline of sails (or, are they shells?).

Visit Bennelong Point for a close-up view, and while there, add a few selfies to your collection.

From the Circular Quay side of the Opera House, you will also find a number of selfie opportunities with Sydney’s other icon, known locally as the ’coathanger’, across on the other side of Sydney Cove.

Should you want to be a little more creative (and energetic), take a 1km walk around the foreshore of the Botanic Gardens, towards Mrs Macquarie’s Chair. Once through the Yurong Gate, you can frame the Opera House against the Harbour Bridge, as a ‘2-in-1’.

7. See Fireworks at Darling Harbour

Every Saturday evening, at 9pm during summer, or 8:30pm in winter (except during the Vivid Sydney festival), the sky above Darling Harbour come to life with a fireworks spectacular over Cockle Bay.

Find yourself a vantage spot along the harbour’s edge to enjoy the bright lights and beautiful colours that light up the night.

During the three weeks of Vivid (late May-mid-June), Darling Harbour will be illuminated with a choreographed show of liquid light, art, creativity and exploration.

8. Take the Manly to Spit Bridge Coastal Walk

Are you are up for a ½-day trail walk of 10km (6.2 miles)?

Sydney.com describes this majestic walk as taking in “…million-dollar views, hidden bays, inlets and rock pools, elevated lookouts, playgrounds, beaches, parks, and more…”?

What is not mentioned here is the opportunity to view a number of First Nations rock engravings, including a giant kangaroo, boomerangs, a whale, and several small fish.

For an informative description of all aspects of the walk, visit:

The Sydney Harbour National Parks offer a .PDF downloadable overview map of the walk at:

9. Explore Centennial Park

Centennial Park lies at the south-eastern end of Paddington, in the Eastern Suburbs.

In the early days of the colony, part of this area was known as the Kangaroo Grounds. Prior to European settlement, it is likely this was a popular hunting ground for the local Gadigal Clan.

There is evidence that they regularly used fire to keep the undergrowth clear, to attract game, such as kangaroos, into the area.

In late 1811, Governor Macquarie designated the area as the Sydney Common, for public use as common grazing land. By 1820, the eastern part had been set aside as a water reserve.

As Sydney’s main water supply, the Tank Stream, began to fail, in 1827, work was started on building a gravity-fed water pipeline, from the Lachlan Swamp, within Centennial Park, to a distribution point in Hyde Park.

Known as Busby’s Bore, the pipeline was completed in 1837, serving as Sydney’s main water supply until 1859.

Centennial Park was established in 1888, to commemorate Australiaʼs first Centenary. On 1 January 1901, Centennial Park was the site of the official ceremony for the federation of the Australian colonies, and the creation of the Commonwealth of Australia.

In 1988, a sandstone cairn was placed on Centennial Park’s Grand Drive, approximately 100 metres inside the Robertson Road Gates, to commemorate Busby’s Bore.

Steeped in history, today’s Centennial Park is a rolling open space of grass, gardens, wetlands, sports fields, and wide avenues with cycle tracks. It is also a haven for picnics. Less than 3km (1.9 miles) from the CBD, it is a place where Sydney-siders, and visitors, can go to relax, to train, and to be entertained.

If you do explore Centennial Park, the Paddington Reservoir Gardens, about 800 metres along Oxford Street, towards the CBD, are also worth a visit.

10. Tour the NSW State Library

Within its catalogue of over 6 million historical and contemporary items, the NSW State Library holds collections of books, manuscripts, photography, artworks, and other artefacts of international and national significance.

With free entry, the various Galleries alone are well worth paying a visit, while other amenities such as reading rooms, family facilities, accessible bathrooms, a café, free wi-fi, and a bar (!), are part of what you are missing (if you don’t visit).

As Sydney’s first library, the Australian Subscription Library began operations in late 1827. Initially its reading rooms were in rented premises, at No. 1 Terry’s Buildings, in Pitt Street.

After several relocations, eventually a dedicated library was opened in 1845, on Macquarie Street. In late-1869, the library operation was purchased by the NSW Government, becoming the Sydney Free Public Library.

Renamed the Public Library of NSW in 1895, in the early 1900s, the offer of the D.S. Mitchell collection led to construction of a new building, which was opened in 1910, as the Mitchell Library.

In 1929, another wing was completed, to house the collection of Sir William Dixson, becoming the Dixson Library.

The Public Library of NSW was renamed as the State Library of NSW in 1975. In 1988, the Macquarie Street Wing was opened by Queen Elizabeth II, at the time of Australia’s bicentenary.

In the pre-covid era, daily free tours were conducted; however these have since been suspended – perhaps they will return in the future?

Useful links for the State Library include:

To this list of 10 Freebies, I would also add:

11. Customs House Scaled Model of CBD

This scaled model of the CBD, seen beneath the transparent glass floor inside the Atrium, shows a 10 square kilometre section of downtown Sydney.

By night, the model is illuminated with hundreds of fibre-optic lights. The model is regularly updated.

For visitors to Sydney, the model offers a useful perspective of the inner-city precinct. It also provides an interesting spot for a selfie (if you can work with the reflections).

12. Free Museums in the CBD

Museums within Sydney’s CBD that offer ‘walk in’ free entry for visitors, without any need for pre-booking, include:

First is The Rocks Discovery Museum, which tells the story of The Rocks (unfortunately, restrictions within the heritage building make the museum inaccessible to wheelchair users).

Second is the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA), on the Harbour Bridge side of Circular Quay. The MCA has step-free access throughout, and offers an accessible public toilet.

Third is the Australian Museum (AM), which is opposite Hyde Park. Also Australia’s oldest museum, the AM provides access to all areas for wheelchairs and mobility scooters.

For more on each of the above, see:

13. Sydney Conservatorium of Music

If you do visit the Royal Botanic Gardens, take the time to check the former Government House stables, which were commissioned by Governor Macquarie in 1816. In 1915, the building became the Conservatorium of Music.

It would seem the stables building was a prime example of alleged extravagance, as directed by Commissioner Thomas Bigge, at Governor Macquarie, and his public works program.

These ‘grand stables’, intended as companions for a future government house, were designed by the then Acting Civil Architect, Francis Greenway. Supposedly, the inspiration for the design was the medieval Thornbury Castle, in Gloucester, UK, which was about 20km (12 miles) north of Greenway’s native Bristol.

In his 1822 report into the State of the Colony of NSW, Bigge questioned Macquarie’s and Greenway’s fondness for architecture ‘finished in a style of ornament and decoration little suited to the limited means of so young a colony as New South Wales’.

In spite of the deteriorating condition of the then Sydney Government House, it would not be until 1837 that a start was made on building the second (current) Government House in Sydney.

History of Sydney

What is the Short History of Sydney?

Note:

Summary: Short History of Sydney – From Pre-Antiquity to Federation

In The Beginning…
Sydney’s first migrants arrived around 45,000 years ago. They were descendants of the First Australians, who had reached the Australian continent’s ancient predecessor, Sahul, around 20,000 years earlier.

First Nations Clans of Sydney…
Known as the Eora (pronounced ‘Yura’) Nation, there were around 30 clans across the Sydney area. Their lifestyle was in harmony with, and dependent on, the natural resources of the harbour and surrounds.

Britannia Expands her Colonies…
After Captain Cook’s visit in 1770, Britain decided to establish a penal colony in the Territory of New South Wales. A First Fleet of 11 ships, carrying convicts, Marines, and officials arrived in January 1788.

Competition for Resources…
During their first winter in Sydney, the colonists tried to supplement their ‘hard’ Royal Navy rations with locally sourced food. However, this soon brought them into conflict with local First Nations clans.

Sydney’s First Epidemic…
Just over a year after the colonists arrived, a disease epidemic decimated the First Nations clans around Sydney Harbour. The ‘who, when, why, and how’ of this epidemic remain unanswered, almost 250 years later.

Convict Numbers Continue Growing…
A Second Fleet carrying convicts arrived in mid-1790, followed by a Third Fleet, just over 12 months later. The Second Fleet had a particularly high death-rate. By the end of 1792, the colony had a population of 4,203.

Through Starvation Towards Self-sufficiency…
The first five years of colonial settlement are sometimes called the ‘starvation years’, as the supply of rations from Britain became precarious. By late 1792, farming ventures were finally beginning to succeed.

Free Settlers Begin Arriving…
The first ‘free settlers’ were a brave family group. As more free settlers followed, the makeup of Sydney’s population changed, as did the nature of the settlement. But tensions simmered, between those who ‘came free’, and those who were ‘free by servitude’.

A Time of Rebellions…
In the short space of four years, the colony experienced two rebellions. The NSW Corps were involved in both. In the first, they subdued over 200 escaped convicts; in the second, they rebelled against the Governor.

Governor Macquarie Brings a Vision…
Macquarie’s vision for Sydney was clearly ahead of its time, and brought him into much conflict with powerful figures in the colony, and with their influential friends in London. Over 200 years later, parts of his legacy are still standing.

Convict Transportations Ends…
The transition from penal colony to free settlement brought a shift in public opinion. The presence of convicts, many of them Britain’s ‘hard core’ social rejects, became a political issue. In 1840, transportation of convicts to Sydney, was officially ended.

Drought, Depression, and Irish Orphans…
The late 1830s saw a period of drought, which led into an economic depression during the early 1840s. On the other side of the globe, the Great Potato Famine in Ireland, resulted in over 4000 orphaned Irish girls being brought to Sydney.

Gold Brings More Migrants…
Discovery of gold in 1851, first in NSW, then in Victoria, quickly led to waves of immigration. Over the next 10 years, Sydney’s population grew from around 39,000 in 1851, to 56,000. By 1881, the population had reached 221,000.

Bubonic Plague, Followed by Federation…
The final year of the 19th century began in Sydney with an outbreak of bubonic plague, resulting in over 100 deaths. Less than a year later, the 20th century was welcomed in with the Federation of the six British colonies, to form the Commonwealth of Australia.

Advance Australia Fair…
Although it was Australia’s original colonial-era city, Sydney did not become the seat of Parliament for the new Commonwealth (the Federal Parliament met in Melbourne until 1927). The opening of the Harbour Bridge in 1932 brought the northern and southern parts of Sydney together, with the Bridge soon becoming a global icon. Sydney’s second global icon, the Opera House, was opened in 1973, following its drawn out and controversial period of construction, which began in 1958.

Indigenous Art

Where is the Indigenous Art in Sydney?

There are two forms of Indigenous Art to consider if you are a visitor to Sydney.

First, there are a number of examples of ancient engraved Indigenous Rock Art to be found around the city area. Second, modern-day pieces of Indigenous Art can be found on display, and for sale, in a number of galleries, and also markets and tourist shops.

Modern-day Indigenous Art

While there is little doubt about the authenticity of the ancient engraved pieces of Indigenous Rock Art, the same is not true for a substantial amount of the indigenous artwork sold in markets and tourist shops. Much of this, in the form of souvenir pieces, was not created by First Nations artists, nor was it made in Australia.

The root of this problem lies with Australia’s Intellectual Property (IP) laws, which currently protect writing, music, art, and scientific inventions. However, Australia does not have any specific laws protecting Indigenous cultural IP.

In some cases, items that do not carry the ‘Made in Australia’ green triangular logo, are labelled to indicate there is a licence royalty being paid to Australian First Nations. In other cases, labelling does not identify where the item was made, but does show the word ‘Australia’.

For visitors wishing to buy an item that is genuinely ‘Made in Australia’, by First Nations hands, there are three questions to ask of the retailer:

Indigenous Rock Art

Australian Indigenous Rock Art consists of paintings, drawings, engravings, and hand-stencils. It is found in caves and rock shelters, and on rock platforms and boulders. Across Australia, as many as 100,000 individual rock art sites are thought to remain. Many of these have been dated to the period before the last ice-age, with the oldest being perhaps around 35,000 years old.

While the purpose behind the Rock Art is not fully known, some pieces appear to be connected to ceremonies and rituals, others perhaps show a bond with country, and yet others appear to record events, such as hunting, or possibly a shark attack. It is also thought that in some places, animals were often painted to increase their numbers, and to ensure successful hunting.

Unfortunately, many indigenous heritage sites are afforded little effective protection, unless they are within the boundaries of a National Park. In May 2020, the mining multinational Rio Tinto knowingly, and legally, destroyed ancient First Nations rock shelters at Juukan Gorge, in Western Australia’s Pilbara.

These rock shelters had been dated as being around 46,000 years old. The destruction happened in spite of protests by traditional owners. Following the destruction, the almost immediate surge of public opinion led to the resignation of the CEO.

Also in 2020, but apparently before the destruction of the Juukan Gorge rock shelters, Rio Tinto had agreed to preserve indigenous rock art at the proposed site a neighbouring mine. This art included painted panels, featuring boomerang shapes grouped together, as well as animal figures, such as kangaroos.

Curiously, the following year, the new CEO was forced to admit that at another iron ore mine site in the Pilbara, Rio Tinto had accumulated a debt from ongoing underpayment of royalties to First Nations traditional owners. The payments had begun in 1997; in 2020 Rio Tinto had offered a one-off payment of $40M, as settlement. The debt was estimated to be around $400M.

Within the greater Sydney area, various reports suggest there may be well over 1000 pieces of Indigenous Rock Art. However, it seems that many of these are not publicly known, presumably as a means of protecting them from damage.

On Sydney’s North Shore, at Grotto Point (which is on the popular Manly to Spit Bridge Coastal Walk), a signposted site offers a number of First Nations rock engravings, including a large kangaroo, boomerangs, a whale, and several small fish.

At Bondi Beach, beside the stairs leading down to the shoreline from the Ray O’Keefe Reserve (at Ben Buckler), there is a turtle of about 1.5 metres long. Apparently, nearby engravings of a whale, and three elongated figures, were either buried or destroyed when the path and staircase were built. The turtle was re grooved by the Waverley Council in 1964.

Also at Bondi Beach, there are several engravings, including sharks, fish, men and women, on the golf course at North Bondi (which is near to Ben Buckler). These engravings are above the cliffs, close to the North Bondi Golf and Diggers Club Tower.

A third engraving near to Bondi Beach is found beside the clifftop walkway which leads south to Tamarama Beach. This is probably a whale, which is carved into the rock surface, above the cliffs. It is visible about 75 metres after the trail passes the Lookout, beside the old coastal gun site. at Mackenzie’s Point.

Indigenous Rock Art is an important link for today’s First Nations people with their culture, and with their history. Engravings and paintings also often hold clues about changes in an area’s landscape and ecosystems.

Paintings in Arnhem Land that depict Bilbies, and paintings at nearby Kakadu depicting a Thylacine (aka Tasmanian Tiger) are examples. Since European settlement, Bilbies have only been found across the arid and semi-arid areas, which lie about 200 km south of Arnhem Land. The Thylacine has been extinct on mainland Australia for at least 2000 years.

[The Bilby is an Australian Marsupial, about the same size as a rabbit. Its appearance is similar to a long-nosed rat, with rabbit-shaped ears. The word Bilby means ‘long-nosed rat’, in the language of the Yuwaalaraay people of northern New South Wales.]

Please note that within NSW, all Indigenous Rock Art is protected by State law.

Further information about First Nations art in Sydney, checkout:

Museums & Galleries

Which are the Best Museums in Sydney?

Sydney has some wonderful museums and art galleries. Many of these offer free general entry, with an admission fee for special exhibitions and events. The next three are among my favourites:

The Rocks Discovery Museum

Housed in a colonial-era warehouse complex dating from the 1840s, this small but particularly impressive Museum has a lot to offer. Its standing exhibitions about The Rocks provide insights into:

This is a family-friendly Museum, with a number of interactive displays, touch screens, and multi-media pieces.

Open daily, 10am to 5pm (except Good Friday and Christmas Day), entry to the Museum is free!

Please note, mobility site wheeleasy.org rates this Museum as “inaccessible to wheelchair users”.

For further information, checkout:

The Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA)

The MCA, located on the edge of The Rocks, is partly housed in the heritage former Maritime Services Board building, which stands on the site of the colonial-era Commissariat Store.

Built between 1946 and 1952, the MSB building is an example of late Art Deco architecture. After refurbishment, it became part of the MCA in late 1991.

The adjoining 5-storey wing was opened in 2012, as a ‘cutting-edge’, custom-designed addition, increasing the MCA’s total size by almost 50%.

The ground below the new wing contains remains of the colony’s first government dockyard.

Alongside its permanent collection, the MCA also hosts a range of continually changing exhibitions of modern art. Exhibitions regularly display works by Australian First Nations artists.

The rooftop MCA Café offers fabulous views across Sydney Cove, towards the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. In October 2024, the former rooftop café became a ‘fine-diner’ restaurant.

The MCA also offers daily free guided tours, with volunteer guides.

For more details about visiting the MCA, checkout:

The Art Gallery of NSW

Amongst its offerings, the Art Gallery of NSW holds one of the world’s largest permanent exhibitions of First Nations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) art.

Other permanent collections on display cover both Australian and international art, including Asian and Pacific art, plus several European Masters.

Also inside, visitors will encounter one of Sydney’s finest marble staircases, built around the turn of the 20th century, apparently by prisoners from the Bathurst Gaol.

The Gallery is located on the edge of The Sydney Domain, and overlooks Woolloomooloo’s historic Finger Wharf. When the first exhibition of the Gallery was opened in 1874, it was located in Elizabeth Street.

After a number of moves, the current sandstone buildings, were constructed in four stages, over the period 1896-1909. At the time, the Government Architect had been instructed to make the building ‘as strictly classical as possible’.

One curious aspect of the exterior of the building is the names in bronze, seen around the façade, above the columns. They do not reflect the collections inside; rather, they were an aspirational challenge to Australian artists.

On the far left of the main entrance, the name ‘Michael Angelo’ presumably reflects Renaissance artist Michelangelo (1475-1564), rather than Flemish artist Michael Angelo Immenraet (1621-83).

A second curious aspect is the set of four bronze reliefs, also on the exterior of the building, to the right of the main entrance. While the reliefs appear to relate to the names of artists above, there is no such connection.

Originally this was intended to be six panels, to illustrate the ‘distinctive historical art periods’ (Assyrian, Egyptian, Grecian, Roman, Gothic and Renaissance).

Following design competitions, the first panel was installed in 1903, with the next two panels being installed in 1907 and 1908. The fourth panel was not unveiled until late 1931.

However, the force behind this fourth panel, Sir John Sulman, president of the trustees, died in 1934, leaving the space for Gothic and Renaissance panels to remain empty ever since.

In November 2019, just before the first reports of covid-19, work began on a new standalone building which would almost double the space available for Gallery displays.

Sited on the harbour side of the historic Gallery building, the new complex overlooks Woolloomooloo. It was opened in early December 2022, and now provides a new space to showcase the Gallery’s collection of First Nations art.

The Gallery is open daily (closed Easter Friday and Christmas Day); admission is free, while charges may apply for some exhibitions.

The Gallery offers free daily guided tours, and also provides a range of free family-focused offerings.

For more details about visiting the Art Gallery of NSW, checkout:

The Australian Museum (AM)
(not to be confused with Canberra’s National Museum of Australia)

Founded in 1827, this Museum, located opposite Hyde Park, was reopened in late 2020, following a ‘transforming renovation’.

Amongst other things, the ‘AM’ lays claim to being the best First Nations’ museum in the country. The ‘Surviving Australia’ exhibition has displays of some of Australia’s weird and wonderful wildlife, including extinct giant megafauna, a number of which survived until around 20,000 years ago.

The AM is open daily, except Christmas Day. Since reopening, admission to all permanent exhibitions has been free.

For admission and visitor information, check out:

The AM Visual Story offers a useful pre-visit guide of what to expect.

Other Free Museums within the City area
Other free museums within the city area of Sydney include a number under the banner of the Museums of History NSW (MHNSW):

Since January 2023, MHNSW has offered free entry to all of its museums. Note that most ‘recommend’, and some ‘require’ online pre-booking of a (free) ticket.

For more details about each of the MHNSW Museums, including those outside of the CDB area, check out:

Also within the city area is the Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences (MAAS) Powerhouse Ultimo Museum. In February 2024 this was closed for a 3-year $250 million ‘significant heritage revitalisation’. Prior to closing, entry was free.

For information on Sydney’s MAAS museums, checkout:

Street Art

Where to Find good Street Art in Sydney?

Perhaps Sydney’s first street art was rock art, created by its First Nations inhabitants. While only a few examples of this remain around the city area, it is possible, perhaps even likely, that there were others when the colonists of the First Fleet arrived.

Newtown is my favourite suburb for viewing painted street art, while nearby Redfern and Chippendale are other hot locations worth visiting. There are also more pieces in other parts of Sydney.

Because painted street art tends to come and go, if you are wanting to explore Sydney’s offerings, my suggestion is to use Google Search, with Search tools set to ‘Past year’.

I also consider street sculptures as being street art. Here are two of my favourite pieces in the Sydney CBD.

In Angel Place, near to the George Street end of Martin Place, you will find 180 suspended birdcages, known as ‘Forgotten Songs’, which remind us of 50 bird species forced out of Sydney Cove since colonial settlement in 1788.

The calls of the different birds are played from speakers in the cages at various times of the day and night, in keeping with their habits.

While the suspended cages are the natural focus of attention, underfoot, the names of the missing birds are inlaid into the pavement as a second reminder.

This was once a small valley, with a bubbling stream tumbling over a series of rocky waterfalls, as it made its way down to the harbour. Overhead was a canopy of tall trees, some with girths of several meters. At ground level, smaller bushy trees gave a protected habitat to the songbirds.

Originally known as “The Spring”, the fresh waters of the Tank Stream were a key reason why the settlement began at Sydney Cove. This was the main water supply of the early colony for many years.

Over time, the stream became badly polluted, leading to it being completely covered over during the late 1850s. Today, it is a stormwater drain.

In his Journal of “the English Colony in NSW”, David Collins, the Judge Advocate, described the stream: “…the run of fresh water, which stole silently along through a very thick wood, the stillness of which had then, for the first time since the creation, been interrupted by the rude sound of the labourer’s axe, and the downfal of its ancient inhabitants…”.

Forgotten Songs was first installed as a temporary display in October2009, before being recommission in 2012. A quick view of Forgotten Songs is available in a short video (1¼ mins) at:

The City of Sydney offers a description of this artwork at:

In Underwood Street, close to Circular Quay, you will find the ‘Underwood Ark’, a mature blackbutt eucalyptus tree of around 35 metres, weighing about 18 tonnes, suspended horizontally 10 metres above street.

Nearby, and beneath the ground, is the now covered over Tank Stream. The Underwood Ark is symbolic of a vessel floating down the once existing stream, prior to colonisation. It asks us to reflect on our connection to the land, and to the natural world.

The trimmed root ball of the tree, which protrudes into nearby Dalley Street, would appear to be around 2 metres in diameter, or almost 6¼ metres (7 yards) in circumference.

The Sydney Gazette of 7 August 1803 tells us of a similar sized tree stump, of 9 yards in circumference, that took 16 men six days to loosen it, and then needed 90 men to roll it away.

The story of the Underwood Ark is told in a short-ish video (5½ mins) at:

Environment & Sustainability

Air Quality

How Good is the Air Quality in Sydney?

Australia’s air quality is generally among some of the cleanest in the world, however short-term pollution spikes can become extreme due to bushfire and dust storm events.

Sydney’s air pollution levels are on par or close to other Australian State capital cities. During summer months, Sydney can suffer from air pollution due to bushfires, dust storms and heat waves. During winter months, use of domestic solid fuel combustion heaters, found mostly in outer regional areas, can cause wood smoke pollution.

For current information on Sydney’s air quality, checkout:

Drinking Water

Is Sydney’s Water Safe to Drink?

According to Sydneywater.com “The water you use every day is water you can trust – and we can prove it.”

Much of Sydney’s drinking water comes from regional lakes and rivers, which are surrounded by unspoilt native bushland, in the Blue Mountains and the Southern Highlands.

A desalination plant at Botany Bay can also be used to treat ocean water during times of drought, when water from lakes and rivers is scarce.

For more details about Sydney’s fresh water, checkout:

Plastic Bags

Can I Use Plastic Bags in Sydney?

On 1 June 2022, a ban was introduced on single-use lightweight plastic shopping bags in NSW.

Also banned, from 1 November 2022, are various other single-use plastic items, including plastic straws, stirrers, cutlery, plates, bowls, and cotton buds.

Other items on the ‘out’ list are expanded polystyrene food ware and cups, and rinse-off personal care products, containing plastic microbeads.

Thicker reusable plastic bags, produce bags, and waste bags can still be used.

Recycling & Waste

What is Sydney’s Waste Management?

Sydneysiders have been asked to apply the 4 Rs:– Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle, to minimise landfill waste.

All major shopping centres use separate bins for General Waste and to Recycle items. Shopping centres managed by Lendlease offer coffee cup recycle bins. Across Sydney’s retail shopping areas, there are over 1400 street litter bins, for ‘casual’ public use.

Waste management for Sydney is an ongoing challenge, as the City’s population continues to increase, and with it, the demand for construction. While there is a ‘zero waste by 2030’ strategy in place (since 2017), in 2019 New South Wales was rated as the second-highest per-capita producer of waste in the world.

Some progress has been made in this area, however, as the amount of waste generated across NSW has been falling since a peak in 2011, with overall recycling now reaching over 60%. Elsewhere, waste experts calculate that Australia’s waste six times greater than its population growth, which is unsustainable.

Getting Out & About

Accessibility

How Accessible is Sydney?

In general, for tourists and travellers with mobility limitations, most parts of the city offer reasonable to good street access. The inner-city CBD area is well sign-posted.

Many of Sydney’s popular tourist attractions, e.g. the Opera House, the Royal Botanic Gardens, most museums, galleries and shopping areas, are accessible for wheelchair users.

However, many parts of Sydney are sloping or hilly, meaning that some parts of the city, such as The Rocks, are difficult going for wheelchairs.

For public transport, Light Rail trams are of low-floor design.

Street curbs at most bus and tram stops have ramps.

Harbour ferries provide a pedestrian ramp from the wharf to the ferry.

However, not all buses are of a low-floor design.

Wheeleasy.org

Wheeleasy is a Sydney-based charity, established in 2016 with a simple mission: “To provide wheelchair users, their families and friends with better access to the leisure activities that the rest of us Australians take for granted”.

From either their App, or their website, you can obtain location information, e.g. accessible parking, toilets, reserves, places to eat, etc. This is a handy tool for everyone:

The NSW Transport website offers a page about Accessible transport options:

Australia.com offers a page on Sydney’s best accessible attractions:

Child Friendly

How ‘Child Friendly’ is Sydney?

Sydney is generally a child friendly city, with good footpaths, and controlled pedestrian crossing throughout. Parts of the city area, and particularly The Rocks, do have some steep areas to negotiate.

Most shopping centres have ‘pram friendly’ bathrooms; the larger centres will offer a ‘parent’ room.

There are plenty of free attractions (e.g. parks and gardens) where children of all ages can safely expend some energy. In addition, around Sydney there are numerous outdoor playgrounds, and indoor play areas.

Public Safety

How Safe is it for Me to Go to Sydney?

Australia generally is a very safe country to visit, with a stable political system, and a low crime rate. If you are visiting Australia, you should follow the same practices for your personal safety and possessions, as you would when visiting anywhere, whether at home, or abroad.

If you Google “Is Sydney safe for tourists?”, the result is likely to tell you that Sydney rates highly as a ‘safe city’.

In Australia, the general public do not carry firearms, or other weapons. While there are incidents of petty crimes in Sydney, there is no evidence to suggest that visitors to the city are any more likely to be targeted, than are local Sydneysiders.

Perhaps the most important pieces of advice I have ever been given about travel safety are:

While Sydney might be a ‘safe’ place to visit, there is, however, one aspect of safety that all visitors to Sydney MUST be aware of. This is called ‘Sun Safety’. The Sydney sun can be very strong, even on partly cloudy days.

If you are going to be out in the sun for a prolonged time, you need to protect yourself from severe sunburn. Be ‘sun smart’ by wearing sun-protective clothing, a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses with UV protection, and footwear that covers your toes.

Also regularly apply water-resistant, reef-friendly sunscreen (SPF30 or higher). Finally, protect yourself from heat exhaustion by drinking plenty of water to avoid dehydration, and finding shade to sit in.

Public Toilets

What are Public Toilets like in Sydney?

Public Toilets can be found in shopping malls, bigger stores, or cafés (buy something, and you can then use their facilities). Most transport hubs (e.g. bus and train stations) also offer public toilets.

For those not in hurry just to ‘spend a penny’, some of Sydney’s loos deserve a longer linger.

At the Queen Victoria Building, the ‘retro’ Ladies’ Powder room on Level 1 (northern end) has been beautifully restored. The Art Deco floor tiles, wide free-standing porcelain wash basins and a full-length mirror offer a glimpse of the past. The nearby Men’s bathroom on the same level has also been restored.

The City of Sydney’s 2014 Public Toilet Strategy is for a “safe and accessible network of public toilets to meet the current and future needs of a world-class city”. This includes 13 automatic public toilets; by 2022, four had been delivered [Council websites do not appear to have been updated since].

Most automatic public toilets will be open 24/7. After each use the bowl and floor is automatically cleaned and disinfected. These loos are fully wheelchair accessible, include a fold-up baby change table, and have braille and audio ‘how to use ‘instructions.

The maximum allowable visit time is capped at 20 minutes, when an alarm will sound before the door opens. An emergency button links directly to the facility operator. Parents should accompany small children, as automatic sensors require 25kg of pressure to activate.

Sydney’s Antique ‘Dunny”

For any connoisseurs of plumbing, a solitary antique cast iron outdoor urinal, known as a ‘pissoir’, stands forlornly below the Harbour Bridge, at the top end of George Street.

The figures 24 10 90 on the inside of the panels suggest it was cast on 24th October 1890. While it is still in use, this piece of Sydney’s heritage shows multiple signs of serious deterioration – perhaps one day it will be rescued, and sent to toilet heaven?

Public Toilet Map

Anywhere in Australia, you can find the nearest loo, by using the Find option on the National Public Toilet map tool (or App):

Public Transport

What is the Public Transport in Sydney?

Public transport in Sydney is provided by NSW Transport, which manages the entire rail, bus, ferry, road, maritime and taxi services and related transport infrastructure across NSW.

Sydney is well served with a network of transport options, from the ferry, light rail (trams), buses, metro and trains. See below for useful links for getting around in Sydney.

Public transport fares calculations are based on a number of things, e.g. the mode of transport (bus vs train), the distance you travel between tap on and tap off, and how you pay. Also, during weekends, and on public holidays, there is a fare travel cap.

See a link below to public transport fares.

Contactless ticketing is used across the entire transport network. You can use either Opal or a Contactless credit or debit card. Cards with contactless technology display the Wave (wifi) symbol on the front of the card.

There is no charge to get an Opal card, however the minimum ‘top up’ amount is $20 for adults, $10 for a child, when purchasing from Opal retailers, convenience stores, or newsagents.

You can also purchase single trip Opal tickets, however these are not sold by all outlets, and they are more expensive.

See a link below on how to get an Opal card.

Tip:
If you do not have an Opal card, it may be easier to travel using a contactless credit or debit card, rather than purchasing an Opal card or ticket.

Note 1:
Daily and weekly cost caps are applied to all forms of Public Transport; daily caps also apply to travel on weekends and Public Holidays. These are for payments by both Opal cards, and contactless credit/debit cards.

Note 2:
A privately operated fast ferry service operates between Circular Quay and Manly. This requires a separate ticket.

Visit Transport NSW to see the different transport options available in Sydney:

How to get an Opal card:

Public transport fares are available at:

View the full range of benefits, including cost caps, from travelling with an Opal Card, or a contactless credit or debit card, at:

A journey planner is available at:

Hospitality & Events

Cafés, Restaurants, Bars

How Good are the Cafés, Restaurants, and Bars in Sydney?

Mention of cafés, restaurants and bars in Sydney inevitably focuses on The Rocks, Barangaroo and Darling Harbour. However, within the major shopping centres in central Sydney you will find a range of cafés, restaurants and bars.

On the outskirts of the CBD, from Woolloomooloo, through Potts Point, Kings Cross, Darlinghurst, Haymarket, Ultimo, and into Pyrmont, you will find many similar options. Pyrmont also offers the Sydney Fish Market, which has numerous places for dining.

Because the hospitality scene in most cities can be quite changeable, and information can quickly become outdated, I prefer not to review or recommend specific establishments.

My suggestion is to either seek current local knowledge (from a concierge or accommodation host), or use forums such as TripAdvisor and WikiVoyage, which can offer useful, and reasonably current, information.

Coffee Culture

What is Sydney’s Coffee Culture like?

Who doesn’t love the smell of fresh coffee, and the aroma of patisseries that have just come out of the oven?

Thanks to Italian immigrants, who brought their espresso machines to Australia in the 1950s (some say in the 1930s), we now have a nation that is obsessed with this beverage.

Although Melbourne claims to be the coffee capital of Australia, Sydney’s coffee-connoisseurs would challenge that. Their claim is that the first espresso machine in Sydney (and probably Australia), was installed in 1952 in the Andronicus brothers’ café on George Street, Sydney.

Curiously, in the same café, the three brothers had established one of Australia’s first coffee-roasting businesses in 1910. In time, the site later became home to The Regent Hotel, and is now the Four Seasons Hotel, near Circular Quay.

The story goes that as the brothers’ coffee house prospered, each lunchtime, there would be hundreds of people streaming to their café to drink espressos. In true Italian style, this was done while standing up.

Cappuccinos were rare, caffe lattes and flat whites were non-existent! This was the true birth of the Australian expresso; it seems that Melbourne’s first ‘real’ espresso bar opened its doors in 1954 (eat your heart out, Melbourne!)

Today, in Sydney (and in most Australian cities), you can have any black coffee, from espresso, known as a short black, through to a long macchiato, or any white coffee, from latte to a mocha, with an assortment of different types of milk (including oat and almond), to full cream.

Almost every Australian café has its own character, and prior to the covid-19 pandemic, they could be found on just about every corner of every CBD. Most shopping centres are likely to have several cafés in operation. However, not all Baristas are created as equals, so the quality of the coffee does tend to vary.

On an environmental note, every day, Australians throw out 2.7 million single-use coffee cups. That’s about 1 billion disposable coffee cups thrown out every year! Needless to say, that’s a lot of litter in the streets, and waste destined for landfill. On the positive side, a growing number of cafés are catering for BYO reusable cups.

Events in Sydney

What Major Events does Sydney have?

As noted elsewhere, Sydney offers a busy calendar of events throughout the entire year, ranging from international sports events, to festivals and theatre, featuring music, films, and the arts.

The culmination of Sydney’s program of events is the iconic New Year’s Eve fireworks display, featuring the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The Midnight Fireworks display, which usually lasts for around 12 minutes, is preceded by a slightly shorter ‘family fireworks’, which begins at about 9pm.

Each Boxing Day (26 December), Sydney Harbour comes alive with the spectacle of the annual Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race. This starts from near to Shark Island, which is 1km from Rose Bay, at around 1pm. As one of the most difficult sailing events in the world, the race attracts some of the best sailing crews in the world. The yachts travel around 630 nautical miles (1100 km) due south, to Tasmania.

Each January, Australia Day is celebrated with a Public Holiday on 26th. Again, the Sydney Harbour becomes a centrepiece of activities, which run throughout the day, from sunrise, and into the evening. However, while these celebrations do include a number of activities involving First Nations peoples, alternate activities are also held to mark ‘Invasion Day’. For some Indigenous Australians, Australia Day can be a difficult day.

The Sydney Mardi Gras Parade is usually held on the first Saturday of March. This is preceded by a Festival of events, which lasts for about three weeks. Following the Parade, the Mardi Gras Party (or post-Parade Party) is one of the largest party events held in Sydney.

For more information about events in Sydney, checkout either or both:

Iconic Aussie Foods

What are Sydney’s Iconic Aussie Foods?

Depending on who you read, there are a variety of suggestions for what makes the list of iconic Australian foods. For international visitors to Sydney, here are my three suggestions of what to sample before you leave.

1. Lamingtons.

These are small squares (about 5cm, or 2 inches) of thick butter cake or sponge, totally dipped in chocolate icing, and rolled in desiccated coconut. Inside there may be a layer of jam, and/or some whipped cream. 21 July is Australia’s National Lamington Day.

The origin of the Lamington is a point of dispute between Australia and New Zealand. It seems that evidence revealed in recent years gives the honour to the Kiwis, however true blue Aussie-made Lamingtons are well worth a try!

Lamingtons can usually be found in cafés, or in supermarkets.

2. Chicken Parma (Parmigiana)

The Aussie Parma is based on an Italian classic, most probably from Naples, made with fried slices of eggplant, layered with cheese and tomato sauce. The Aussie Parma consists of a chicken schnitzel, topped with a rich tomato sauce, ham, and melted cheese. It is usually served with chips and salad.

It seems the earliest Parma came to Australia via America, possibly from US Forces who were stationed at Australian bases during WW2. Apparently, by the early 1980s, it had become a pub meal, but with chicken rather than eggplant.

In spite of its somewhat disputed international origin, the Chicken Parma has now become a classic Aussie dish, and is universally available in pubs and restaurants. Just how well the Australian chicken variation of the Parmigiana, goes down with diehard Italian food fans, remains an open question.

3. Barramundi

Finally, we have something that is of genuine, true blue Australian origin – well, maybe!

The word Barramundi is apparently based on the First Nations word “burra-mundi”, meaning ‘river fish with large scales’. However, it seems that the burra-mundi is an inland river fish from central Queensland, first recorded by the Explorer Ludwig Leichhardt, in the 1840’s.

The name was then adopted by the colonists, to describe a large tidal perch, found along the Queensland coast. In fact, this species is found around all of northern Australia, from Noosa in the east, to Ningaloo in the west. Known by science as Asian sea bass, the species is actually widely distributed in the Indo-West Pacific, from the Middle East, through Southeast Asia, to Oceania.

Today, barramundi are raised in aquaculture in Australia, and in many countries across SE Asia. A substantial amount of barramundi sold in Australia is actually imported. Currently, except for in the Northern Territory, there is no requirement for the Australian food service industry to label the origins of their barramundi.

Barramundi can be found on most restaurant menus, and also in many Fish & Chip shops. In Sydney, for fresh, genuine Australian barramundi, head to the Sydney Fish Market. Barramundi is a mild tasting white fish, with a subtle and slightly sweet flavour. It has a soft texture, with a mild aroma.

Night Life

What is Sydney’s Night Life like?

Anyone who visited Sydney before January 2014 knew that Sydney’s nightlife was on a par with the best in the world. But, an incident on New Year’s Eve of 2013 totally changed that.

A random, one-punch assault led to the death of a young man. As this was the fifth similar deadly incident in a period three years, NSW State Authorities soon reacted. In February 2014, the Sydney Lockout Laws were introduced, with the intention of reducing alcohol-fuelled violence within the ‘CBD Entertainment Precinct’.

This precinct area included Kings Cross, Darlinghurst, Cockle Bay, The Rocks and Haymarket, and parts of Surry Hills. The lockout curfews prevented patrons from entering bars or nightclubs after 01:30am, with takeaway alcohol sales being banned after 10:00 pm.

Consequently, Sydney’s vibrant night-time economy was suddenly in tatters, the live music scene was destroyed, and the city’s reputation as a great place to party went up in smoke. A Parliamentary enquiry later found that the laws had cost the city’s night-time economy $AU 16m (£ 8.3m; $US 10.8m) per year.

In November 2019, just a month before the World learned of covid-19, it was announced that the lockout laws would be lifted on 14 January 2020, except for Kings Cross. Then, on 25 January, covid-19 arrived in Sydney. As for most cities, the ravages of covid further decimated the remnants of Sydney’s hospitality sector. Eventually, the Lockout Laws were lifted for Kings Cross, on 8 March 2021.

As Sydney moves towards a post-covid normal, the city continues to struggle to reclaim its reputation of a bygone era. Many hospitality venues have not survived, and many others remain in difficulty, for various reasons.

A rather curious statistic, taken from a Committee for Sydney report of late 2021, tells us that “…just 32 per cent of residents rated the after-dark scene highly with 68 per cent disregarding the nightlife.” How things have changed, and in such a short time!

However, amid all of the gloom and despair, in some quarters there is a recovery going on. The Rocks remains a popular starting place for night-time activities, with a range of nightlife offerings, including restaurants, clubs, discos, bars and live music on offer. Elsewhere, there are a number of other venues around the CBD, all offering different forms of nightlife activity and entertainment.

To get an idea of what is currently happening in Sydney the Sydney.com website is a useful starting resource:

Tipping

Do I Need to Tip in Sydney?

Firstly, Australia does not have a tipping culture. Some people do choose to tip, while others don’t – there are no hard and fast rules here.

Secondly, while tipping in restaurants and cafés is not uncommon, it is also usual for tips to be pooled together, and then shared amongst all staff.

Thirdly, as the move towards more cashless payments accelerates in many venues, both the means and the impact of tipping are changing, perhaps in a subtle way.

You may see tip jars on counters in many cafés, smaller restaurants, and the like. Elsewhere, you may find a blank line for a tip on the restaurant bill.

There are even reports of tips being automatically inserted electronically into phone/mobile payments, as a default!

The ‘bottom-line’ is that in Australia, tipping is entirely voluntary. If you decide that you do want to tip, a rough guide for the amount, is around 10% of the bill.

Money Matters

Australian Currency

What is the Australian Currency like?

Australian’s legal tender is the Australian dollar (AUD). One dollar consists of 100 cents.

Dollars are issued in the form of Notes: $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100. Coins come as 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents, and also one and two dollar denominations.

The latest (3rd) series of Australia banknotes have a tactile feature to help the visually impaired community to tell the value of the note. The first new $5 note was issued in September 2016, followed each year by other denominations, until the new $100 was released in October 2020.

The new Australian banknotes are printed on a polymer (plastic) material, with a clear window that goes from the top to the bottom of the note. They incorporate a range of security features that are easy for the public to recognise, but are difficult to copy.

Since late 1983, the Australian dollar has been on a floating exchange rate, where its value is allowed to fluctuate in response to foreign exchange market events.

The Reserve Bank of Australia publishes exchange rates daily, at:

Banks, Cards & ATMs

What Banks & ATMs are there in Sydney?

Banks

The first bank in Australia was the Bank of New South Wales (BNSW), which was established by Governor Macquarie, in 1817. The first BNSW operated from today’s Reibey Place, which is near to the Sydney Customs House.

Today, Australia’s major commercial banks are (in alphabetical order): ANZ Bank, Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA), National Australia Bank (NAB), and Westpac. These are often referred to as the ‘Big Four’. Westpac traces its origin back to the BNSW.

There are also many more smaller banks providing financial services, including a number of foreign banks. Making up the top ten Australian banks are: Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, Macquarie Bank, Suncorp Bank, Bank of Queensland, ING Bank, and HSBC.

Bankcards

Both VISA or MasterCard can be used everywhere credit cards are accepted. Two of the major banks use VISA, while the other two banks use MasterCard.

Other bankcards accepted in Australia include: American Express, Bankcard, Diners Club, and UnionPay. Note that although American Express and Diners Club are not widely used, they are usually accepted by department stores, major supermarkets, and tourist destinations.

ATMs

In Sydney, ATMs can be found in many shopping malls, inside bank branches, and in some cases, outside on the street. ATMs do support languages other than English; some banks offer more language options than others.

ATMs from the Big Four major banks come in a range of different colours, for easy recognition. There are yellow ones (CBA), blue ones (ANZ Bank), and red ones (NAB, Westpac).

If your bankcard displays a Visa or PLUS logo, it will be accepted at any ATM that is marked with the same logo. The daily withdrawal limit is dependent on your bank, as Australia does not have daily restrictions.

Card and Cash Transactions

It is worth noting that Australian banks apply a merchant ‘cash handling fee’. Therefore, some businesses will only accept payment by card.

It is also worth noting that some merchants may impose a credit card surcharge.

Although the move towards more cashless payments has accelerated since covid, some places like markets and small shops may take cash only.

Traveller’s cheques are not widely accepted in Australia. If you do purchase traveller’s cheques, it is best to buy them in Australian dollars.

Overall, a good tip is to carry multiple credit cards, and a little cash.

Money Exchange

Can I find a Money Exchange in Sydney?

Apart from services at the Airport, a number of Currency Exchange operators can be found in a number of shopping centres around the City. Their exchange rates are usually competitive, and while some do have a fee, they are usually convenient.

During the covid-19 pandemic, three of the Big Four banks suspended their foreign currency exchange services. The only four commercial banks offering foreign exchange are: CBA, Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, Bank of Queensland, and Bank Australia.

Exchange Calculations

When I am traveling, I use xe.com for my currency conversion calculations:

State & Federal Laws

Australian Laws

What Australian Laws Should I Know?

All international travellers are required under Australian law to complete the Immigration Passenger card. This consists of the standard name, occupation, and passport number, through to ‘why are you here’, ‘where are you staying’, and ‘what’s in your luggage’.

Note that answers to these questions can be very important, and can even determine whether or not your entry is approved.

Be aware that Australia has very strict laws regarding visas, bio-security, and tariffing of illegal drugs. The Australia Border Force treats Australian citizens and visitors exactly the same. On-the-spot fines can be issued for carrying non-importable food stuffs, or visas can be cancelled if false information has been provided.

Be wise, research Australian immigration laws, including bio-security, before arriving:

Outdoor Alcohol Restrictions

For all visitors to Sydney, it pays to be aware of the City’s Outdoor Alcohol Restrictions, as some apply 24/7, while others are short-term, for an event (such as New Year’s Eve).

For further details, checkout the following City of Sydney web pages:

Smoke-free Laws

The NSW State Government has enacted Smoke-free laws to protect people from harmful second-hand tobacco smoke. These also include using e-cigarettes, and apply in both enclosed and outdoor public areas.

For further details, checkout this NSW Health web page:

Under the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 (NSW), residents of apartment buildings are subject to laws covering smoking nuisance, including smoke drift from balconies. This law also applies to smoke from barbeques, etc.

Driving

Are there Rules for Driving in Sydney?

For international drivers, the following are worth noting:

Alcohol laws

Drink driving – you’re breaking the law if you drive and your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) equal to or more than 0.05. If you’re on a learner’s or provisional licence, your BAC must be zero.

Driving Licence

In NSW, you are allowed to drive vehicles covered by your overseas licence, while you remain a temporary overseas visitor.

If your licence is not written in English, you must also carry an English translation, or an International Driving Permit.

Mobile/Cell Phone

Driving while using a handheld mobile phone, or any other device with a visual display, except for a GPS, is illegal. A GPS unit must be either an integrated part of the vehicle design, or if it is a separate device, be secured in a commercially designed holder.

Overtaking Turning Vehicles

A long vehicle (+7.5m/25 ft) can use more than one lane to turn, at both intersections and at roundabouts. When a vehicle displaying a ‘Do not overtake turning vehicle’ sign indicates its intention to turn (in either direction), you must allow that vehicle room to use both lanes as it turns.

Seat Belts

Wearing seat belts is compulsory; this applies to both front and rear seated vehicle occupants. Child restraints are also compulsory for children up to age seven.

Speed limits

The following speed limits apply in NSW:

Toll Roads

Note that NSW has a number of toll roads, e.g. the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and the Sydney Harbour Tunnel. You can find the online Linkt Sydney toll calculator at:

U-Turns

Be aware that U-turns are not permitted at traffic lights, unless a U-Turn sign is displayed.

Navigation

Hint: If you do need to drive in Sydney, make sure you have a GPS navigation device, as trying to find your way around Sydney in traffic, while using a paper map, is difficult.

Peak Hours

In many parts of the City, peak driving times (7am to 9am and 4pm to 6pm) can be overwhelming, with traffic jams and long queues.

Useful website URLs include:

Toll roads

Parking rules

Simple guide to NSW road safety rules (downloadable .PDF file)
[Please, if you do nothing else, do read this – it could save you some serious pain!]

Drones

Can I Use a Drone in Sydney?

A quick snap-shot of some drone rules.

Drones must:

For everything you need to know about flying drones in Australia:

Prescribed Medication

Can I Bring my Own Medicine to Sydney?

If you need to bring prescription medicines with you, then carry a letter from your doctor stating what the medicine is, how much you’ll take and that it’s for personal use only.

Possessing, using or trafficking drugs is illegal in Australia and penalties include imprisonment.

Information on bringing medicines into Australia:

Tax Free Shopping

Is there Tax Free Shopping in Sydney?

Australia has a Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS), from which international travellers may be able to claim a GST (Goods and Services Tax) and WET (Wine Equalisation Tax) refund (for some goods) before leaving the country.

There are rules, e.g. for the minimum purchase price, and the length of time in the country, so please check out the Rules in the link below.

The refund is not paid in cash, but rather as a payment into a credit card, Australian bank account, or via a posted cheque.

Tip:– there could be long queues at the TRS window during the peak hours periods of 7:00–11:00am and 3:00–8:00pm.

You will find the Guide (Rules) to TRS for visitors to the Australia at:

Some useful FAQs:

Vaccinations

What Vaccination do I Need for Sydney?

As at this update, Australia does not have any Vaccination requirements for arriving travelers.

You can search for the latest Vaccination requirements at:

Special Note: Yellow Fever
I note that the website of the Australian High Commission in the UK currently states “The only vaccination requirement for entry to Australia is for yellow fever” at
https://uk.embassy.gov.au/lhlh/faqsvaccs.html
At present, this does NOT appear to be a requirement for entry to Australia on the Home Affairs website. However, the Health NSW website advises “People who are one year of age or older must hold an international vaccination certificate if, within six days before arriving in (or returning to) Australia, they have stayed overnight or longer in a declared yellow fever infected country” at
https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/immunisation/Pages/yellow_fever.aspx
(The same applies for Health Victoria).
A useful guide to ‘Yellow Fever Risk Areas’ is provided by UK NHS at
https://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/advice/disease-prevention-advice/yellow-fever/yellow-fever-risk-areas
The two maps show countries across Central Africa, and across South America.

If you are uncertain about your need for Yellow Fever vaccination, contact the nearest Australian Embassy or High Commission.

Visa Requirements

What Travel Visas do I Need for Sydney?

For international travellers, Australia does not offer Visas on arrival, except for New Zealanders. Unless you carry a New Zealand passport, you must obtain a Visa or travel permit, before arriving at the Australian border.

An Australian Visa can be obtained online. Depending on your passport, you can obtain a Visa using either the Electronic Travel Authority (ETA,) or the eVisitor visa site.

To explore your Visa options, checkout:

To obtain a 3-month Australian Visa online:

Odds & Ends

Aussie Jargon

Should I Know some Aussie Jargon?

Welcome to the land of spoken shorthand, or perhaps I should say:
“g’day mate, welcome to ’Straya!”

Australians abbreviate everything! Here are a few examples:

Apparently, we even lay claim to the word ‘selfie’!

For more on speaking ’Strine, checkout Margot Robbie teaching Australian slang:

Or, take in the scenery while viewing the National Anthem of ’Straya:

Dangerous Critters

Does Sydney have Dangerous Critters?

When the First Australian arrived in Sydney, around 45-40,000 years ago, the ancient pre-Australian continent of Sahul was a land of Megafauna.

These included kangaroos well over 2 metres tall, a terrestrial crocodile that was around 6 metres long, a snake of similar size, a giant lizard that exceeded 6 metres in length, a giant wombat-like marsupial of almost 4 metres long, and a marsupial cat-like creature of similar size to an American jaguar.

When the European colonial settlers arrived, these megafauna were gone, most probably because they could not adapt to rapid changes in climate that occurred during and following the last ice-age.

Today, in Australia’s waters and reefs, we can find the well-known Saltwater Crocodiles, the Box Jellyfish, and also several species of sharks. There are also some lesser-known creatures, like the Stinging Stonefish, and the Southern Blue-Lined Octopus.

Australia is home to over 150 species of land snake, and 32 known species of sea snakes. Of these, around 100 are venomous, although only 12 are likely to inflict a fatal bite.

Other dangerous critters to be found in and around Sydney include the Sydney Funnel-Web spider, the Redback spider, and also Bull Ants, and Paralysis ticks.

Harbour and Beaches

In Sydney’s waters, Bull Sharks are common inside Sydney Harbour, Tiger Sharks are sometimes found both inside the harbour, and off coastal beaches, while Great White Sharks are not uncommon along the Sydney coast.

The Blue-Lined (or Blue-Ringed) octopus is also found in Sydney’s coastal waters, and at beaches inside the harbour. This cute, tiny creature may be encountered in inter-tidal rock pools, where it is often picked up by children.

When alarmed, it shows its electric blue colours, as a warning sign. Its bite is highly toxic to humans, causing full paralysis of the breathing muscles. There is currently no antivenom for a Blue-Ringed octopus bite.

While the highly toxic Box Jellyfish is not found around Sydney, one unpleasant visitor to ocean beaches during the summer is the Bluebottle jellyfish. Also known as the Pacific Man-of-War, Bluebottles are more common on exposed ocean beaches, after strong onshore north-easterly winds wash them ashore.

Contrary to some reports, the only known saltwater crocodile near Sydney Harbour, is found at the WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo, on Darling Harbour!

Snakes

Around the Sydney basin the most common venomous snakes are the red-belly black, and eastern brown. On the outskirts of Sydney, in areas like the Blue Mountains, Ku-ring-gai, and Wollongong, venomous copperhead and tiger snakes, and diamond pythons, are often seen.

Snakes are most active during spring and summer, when they are breeding and hunting for food. They don’t just stay in areas of bush, but will come into gardens and back yards in search of their prey, such as rats, mice, and lizards. As a rule, most Australian snakes will rapidly slither away from a human.

Professional snake catchers advise to treat any snake that you can’t identify as venomous. If you do encounter a snake, it’s best to freeze, then back away very slowly, giving it some space and an exit.

Note that snakes are protected in NSW and it is unlawful to harm one in any manner.

Any snake bites, including suspected bites, must be treated as potentially life-threatening. In the case of a snake bite, immediately call triple-zero (000) for an ambulance. Apply a pressure immobilisation bandage, as quickly as possible, over the area of the body involved (usually an arm or leg). Keep the victim calm and still, until medical help arrives.

For someone who has been bitten by a venomous snake, getting an antivenom as quickly as possible is vital. It is important to NOT discard any clothing from the victim, or wash the area of the bite. Venom left on clothing or the skin can help identify the snake.

For more dangerous Australian snakes, checkout:

Spiders

Funnel-web spiders can be found in both bush and urban areas around Sydney, where they prefer cool, moist, and sheltered habitats. They burrow under rocks, or into logs, crevices, and rough-barked trees.

Any bites by a large black spider in the Sydney area, should be regarded as potentially dangerous, and treated accordingly. The immediate first aid should be pressure immobilisation (as for snake bites), while urgent medical assistance is sought. If possible, keep the spider for positive identification.

Sydney’s Redback Spiders are actually immigrants, from Western Australia. While its original habitat ranged from forest to desert, the Redback Spider took advantage of habitats created by the European settlers. By the early 1900s, Redbacks had colonised many urban areas across Australia. Today, Redback Spiders are most often found in, or around, human homes.

The majority of reported spider bites in Australia are attributed to Redbacks, with around 2,000 hospitalised bite cases each year.

According to the Poisons Information Hotline, Red Back spider bites are NOT life-threatening. A Red Back spider bite may result in pain and redness at the bite site, and occasionally symptoms in other parts of the body (e.g. chest pain, leg sweating, headache). However, routine use of antivenom is no longer recommended, as it has a low response rate, little better than a placebo.

The recommended first aid for a Redback Spider bite is:

Bull Ants

Bull Ants are widely distributed across Australia, with nine known species found around Sydney. Nests are usually underground, and are sometimes visible by the mound of excavated sand and soil at the entrance. When disturbed, Bull Ants are very aggressive, especially if they feel their habitat is threatened.

Bull Ants are really wingless wasps. Many people who are stung focus on the large mandibles, however, it is a sting located in the abdomen that inflicts the pain. Bull Ants can sting multiple times. Stings are usually no worse than bee stings, unless you are allergic, in which case they can be dangerous. Emergency treatment is only needed if a victim is showing signs of a severe allergic reaction.

Paralysis Tick

Australia has about 70 different species of ticks. Paralysis Ticks usually live in bush land or scrub, and are common along parts of the east coast.

In Sydney, the main areas known for the Paralysis Tick are the Northern Beaches, the Upper North Shore, and the Hills District. Sydney’s tick season usually extends from late August to March.

Each year, hundreds of animals in Sydney, both livestock and pets, need veterinary treatment, after being affected by tick bites. Pets, and native animals, can easily carry ticks into backyards. Paralysis Ticks can also bite humans. They can crawl up grass or branches, and then transfer to a passing human.

It seems there has been little research on Australian ticks. Consequently, there is conflicting advice about what to do if you are bitten by a tick. What is known, is to avoid squeezing or disturbing the tick, as this will likely cause it to squirt some of its allergens, toxins, and pathogens into you.

Recent advice from Australian allergy and emergency specialists is to kill the tick while it’s still attached to you. This is called “freeze it, don’t squeeze it”. Freeze the tick by spraying it with an ether-based spray (readily available at Chemists). In most cases, this will kill the tick within five minutes, and it will drop off.

Note:

If, following a tick bite, you have had an allergic reaction, or feel unwell, always seek medical advice.

For more about bites from some of Australian dangerous critters, checkout:

Australia is home to a wide range of incredible wildlife, some of which you might prefer to avoid, while others are a treat to meet. When in the great outdoors, always follow advisory signs and don’t approach unfamiliar animals. As a general rule, avoid touching or feeding any wild animal, and always give extra space to a mother and her young.

Etiquette

Is Etiquette a Big Thing in Sydney?

Most Australians are usually polite, and quite welcoming, to visitors. In most situations, they avoid being overly formal, instead adopting a ‘laid back’ (relaxed) approach to life. This is often evident from the casual forms of dress they chose to wear.

Australians have long thought of themselves as belonging to the land of the ‘fair go’, where everybody has got a chance, irrespective of where they might come from, or how they got here. In practical terms, a ‘fair go’ means that everybody waits for their turn, no-one gets special treatment because of their station in life. Well, that’s the theory – but beneath the surface there are facts that suggest this is aspirational, rather than being realistic.

It’s customary to buy ‘rounds’ of drinks when out in a group. When it is your round, you are expected to buy drinks for everyone in the group. Each person who receives a drink, will be expected to pay for at least one round.

When out in a group to dine, it is common to split the bill equally, based on what has been ordered overall.

If you are invited to an Aussie’s home, it’s common practice to take beer or wine. You can also ask the host/hostess if there is something specific you can bring.

While many Australians use continental-style dining etiquette (fork in the left hand; knife in the right), it is not uncommon to observe ‘anything goes’ in public dining venues. Some diners may use a ‘shovel-fork’ technique, seemingly intended to clear the food from their plate in the least possible number of fork-loads. Yet others will demonstrate incredible tongue-skill, by repeatedly licking their knife clean (as performed often by a well-known celebrity chef!). When dining out, be prepared for almost anything!

Be aware that “BYO” means ‘bring your own’, and the term “bring a plate” is about contributing a dish of food to be shared.

When striking up a conversation, particularly with someone you do not know well, topics to be avoided include race, religion, politics, and sex. For safer conversation starters, try sports (in Sydney – Rugby League football, Cricket, Soccer, Basketball), or, as a desperate last measure, the weather (boring!).

Be aware that attitudes towards racial and gender equality have shifted dramatically over the last 25 years in Australia. Any telling of unsavoury jokes and stories on these topics, once acceptable in bars and at parties, may well bring an immediate and strong response from those nearby.

For International visitors, the SBS Cultural Atlas offers some useful insights into Australian etiquette:

Language

What Languages are Spoken in Sydney?

At the time the first European colonists arrived in Australia, it is thought that there were as many as 250 different First Nations languages being spoken. In contrast, recent research indicates only around 120 are still spoken, and of these, many are at risk of being lost.

Although Australia does not have an official language, English is the most commonly spoken. and has been the de-facto national language since European settlement.

National Census data from 2021 revealed that over 300 separately identified languages were spoken at home, with more than one-fifth of Australians speaking a language other than English at home.

National Census statistics indicated that the most commonly spoken other languages are Mandarin, Arabic, Vietnamese, Cantonese, and Punjabi.

In Sydney, across the suburbs you will hear a number of different languages, reflecting the diversity of the local communities. In contrast to the national figures, across Greater Sydney, in 2021, almost 42% of people spoke a language other than English at home.

These included (in order): Mandarin, Arabic, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Hindi.

Within the City of Sydney, 8.6% of homes spoke Mandarin. Then followed Thai (2.8%), Cantonese (2.8%), Spanish (2.4%), and Indonesian (2.1%).

Power & Adaptors

What is the Power Voltage in Sydney?

The mains supply voltage in Australia is 230 volts 50Hz AC single phase.

Australian power plug and wall sockets are Type I, which has three flat pins arranged in a triangular pattern.

Information on Type I power plugs and outlets can be found at:

Religion

What are the Main Religions in Sydney?

Details from the 2021 Census give us the following breakdown of religions in Greater Sydney:

The City of Sydney’s major religious groups are: Catholic 15.1%; Buddhist 6.5%; Anglican 4.9%; and Hindu 1.8%.

Prominent places of worship across Greater Sydney include:

Anything else to consider?

Xtra: You need to Know that Australia is BIG

How big is Australia compared to the USA or Europe?

If you are an international visitor to Sydney who intends to visit other parts of Australia, please be aware that Australia is BIG. The total area of the Australian mainland is only 5.25% smaller than the combined area of the 48 contiguous mainland States of the USA, which lie between Canada and Mexico:

Australian mainland:
7,656,127 ^km2 // 2,956,047 ^mi2

contiguous US mainland States:
8,080,464 ^km2 // 3,119,884 ^mi2

By comparison, the land area of the European Union is slightly more than half that of the 48 contiguous US States:

4,236,351 ^km2 // 1,635,664 ^mi2

For further context, the State of NSW is larger than both Texas, and France:

Whether you are traveling around Australia by road, or by air, do be sure to allow enough time for your journeys.