| New
South Wales |
| Of all the States
New South Wales has the greatest variety of interest to offer the visitor
- the sophisticated diversions of its large capital city, many hundreds
of kilometres of magnificent ocean beaches, superb river, lake and mountain
scenery, and the harsh but fascinating spaciousness of the outback. The
far north coast is sub-tropical in climate and atmosphere; the alpine
region to the south is snow-covered during the winter months; and between
these extremes there is a bewildering variety of choice for sightseers
and holidaymakers. |
| Places
of interest |
|
|
Sydney -
A sparkling jewel by the harbour pulsing with energy and a dazzling city
life.
Blue Mountains - Just 90 minutes from Sydney, enjoy fresh country
air, bushland, waterfalls and fantastic rock formations like The Three
Sisters.
Port Stephens -Swim with dolphins or go whale watching and sand
tobogganing in this friendly seaside resort just two hours drive from
Sydney.
Olympic Site - Visit the world class venue at Homebush Bay in Sydney
and thrill to the Olympic spirit.
Hunter Valley - Sample delicious wines from world famous vineyards
just a few hours north of Sydney
Canberra - The capital city of Australia and home to Parliament
House, national galleries and museums. See unique architecture in this
neat, highly planned city that sits in harmony with nature |
| Sydney |
|
|
| Sydney, a free spirited,
vibrant city built around one of the world's most beautiful harbours,
with scores of sparkling beaches within easy reach of its cosmopolitan
heart - that's Sydney, capital of New South Wales, Australia's largest
and oldest city, where the first settlers landed in 1788. |
| Getting
Around |
Sydney has an excellent
network of land and water transport, including the harbour ferries which
are attractions in their own right. It is also a fascinating (if sometimes
hilly) city to walk around, with its combination of modern streetscapes,
historic precincts and natural beauty. The Sydney Explorer Bus, which
provides a convenient transfer service to the main attractions, is highly
recommended for first-time or short-term visitors. The public buses, ferries
and trains offer a selection of special passes, some combining transport
with entry to major tourist attractions.
Sydney's roads are generally safe and well-maintained, however, driving
in Sydney can be something of a challenge - the road network is complex,
parking around the city is very expensive, and traffic congestion is the
rule rather than the exception. If you intend to drive, arm yourself with
a good street directory, and plan your route before leaving home. The
office of National Roads and Motorists' Association (NRMA) in Clarence
Street in the city centre, is an excellent stop for all sorts of advice
for getting around by car. There are car hire outlets at the airport and
throughout the city and suburbs. Look under 'Car Rental' in the 'Yellow
Pages' telephone directory and ring around for the best rate. Make sure
you understand the insurance arrangements - some companies have large
excess rates.
Sydney is the city of the cab - they are everywhere you look. In the city
and inner suburbs you will have no problem hailing a cab off the street.
If you wish to book a cab, look in the 'Yellow Pages' under 'Taxi Cabs'.
Fares are fully regulated and charges are made on a per kilometre basis. |
| Must
see & do |
|
|
Boats leave Circular
Quay for Taronga Zoo, Watsons Bay and Manly. A short stroll from the quay
is Sydney Opera House offering top theatre, opera, music and dance. Daily
tours are available. The revitalized former wharf area of Darling Harbour
is a 10-minute monorail ride from the city.
Explore the history of Sydney at The Rocks, just a short walk from the
city center. This harbourside village is where European settlement began
in 1788. Elegantly restored buildings house a wide variety of restaurants,
entertainment venues and specialty shops. Visit the Museum of Contemporary
Art and the Sydney Observatory. Adjacent to the Royal Botanic Gardens
is Macquarie Street which has many fine examples of colonial and convict
built sandstone buildings. Visit Hyde Park Barracks, the Mint Museum,
Parliament House and St James Church. Close by is the Museum of Sydney,
the Art Gallery of New South Wales and the Library. |
| Shopping |
|
|
| Sydney offers great
shopping venues such as Pitt Street Mall, Strand Arcade and the Queen
Victoria Building. Paddington (especially along Oxford Street) and Double
Bay to the east, Neutral Bay and Mosman in the north are elegant suburbs
to shop for designer clothing. Try the weekend markets of The Rocks, Paddington
and Paddy's in Chinatown or visit the Sydney Fish Markets. Factory outlets
can be found at Birkenhead Point and Redfern with great savings on name
brands. |
| Family
Fun |
|
|
Sydney provides
wonderful fun for families. Visit Sega World, the Panasonic Imax Theatre
(with its 8 storey high indoor screen), the Sydney Aquarium and the Powerhouse
Museum. Australia's Wonderland and Wildlife Park provides awesome rides
including Space Probe 7 and The Demon. See koalas up close, hand feed
a kangaroo and come face to face with crocodiles, huge goanna lizards
and wombats.
Walk the Sydney Harbour Bridge and climb the pylon lookout. |
| Restaurants
& Nightlife |
|
|
Almost every cuisine
of the highest quality is available in Sydney from local seafood to international
cuisines. Some of Sydney's best eating can be enjoyed in the city precincts
- Chinatown, The Rocks and Circular Quay, Darlinghurst and Kings Cross.
Revolving city restaurants offer unforgettable views.
Enjoy Sydney's lively theatre, dance, opera, concert and pub entertainment.
The Rocks, Darling Harbour, Chinatown and Darlinghurst have pubs and restaurants.
Kings Cross offers late night entertainment in bars and discos. George
Street and the Southern part of the city are the places for cinema complexes,
concerts and fast food outlets. The Sydney Entertainment Centre is located
here. Choose from one of the many dinner cruises on the harbour offering
entertainment and superb scenery, or try your luck at the Sydney Casino. |
| Airport
Transfers |
| Sydney's international
and domestic airport terminals are 1.6 kms apart and located 10 kms south
of the city. Transfer time is approximately 35 minutes. |
| Time
to visit |
|
The best times to visit are the shoulder
seasons of spring and autumn, especially around March-April or October-November.
Sydney is blessed with a temperate climate and averages summer temperatures
of around 25C (77F). It can get up to 40C (104F) on a hot day and high
humidity can make it oppressive, but torrential downpours often break
the heat between October and March. Winters are cool rather than cold.
Beach lovers unperturbed by the hazards of lizard-skin and melanomas
should come between December and February.
|