Insight Guides: Explore Sydney

Insight Guides

• Publisher: Insight
• ISBN:
  9781786710369
• Topic: Personal Development
• Subtopic: Travel

Explore Sydney is from the popular series by insight and is the ideal companion when discovering this exciting city. This itinerary-based guide provides details of the City's best routes, written by a local expert, for that personal touch and insider information.Exploring the most iconic sights from the Sydney Harbour to golden Bondi Beach and out into the Blue Mountains.

The best places to eat and drink are highlighted in each route and in the directory section, which also contains a wealth of useful practical information, including a range of carefully selected hotels to suit all budgets. All routes are plotted on the useful pull out map, and evocative photography reveals Sydney's unique character.

The stylish design, full colour photography throughout and durable, flexi bound cover makes this guide not only a pleasure to read, but also the ultimate companion when exploring Sydney.

About Insight Guides: Insight Guides has over 40 years' experience of publishing high-quality, visual travel guides. We produce around 400 full-color print guide books and maps as well as picture-packed eBooks to meet different travelers' needs. Insight Guides' unique combination of beautiful travel photography and focus on history and culture together create a unique visual reference and planning tool to inspire your next adventure.

'Insight Guides has spawned many imitators but is still the best of its type.' - Wanderlust Magazine

A-Z

A

Age restrictions

The age of consent for both heterosexual and homosexual sex in New South Wales is 16. Drivers must be aged 18 to obtain a licence. To drink or buy alcohol, or smoke any tobacco product, people must be at least 18 years old.

B

Budgeting

Average costs (in Australian dollars) for a range of items are listed below:

beer/glass of house wine: A$6

main course at a budget restaurant: A$20

main course at a moderate restaurant: A$30

main course at an expensive restaurant: A$50

cheap hotel: A$150

moderate hotel: A$250

deluxe hotel: A$350

taxi to the airport: A$35

single bus ticket: A$3.80 (3–5 sections)

TravelTen (10 bus rides): A$30.40 (3–5 sections)

My Multi Day Pass (can be used on bus, train and ferry): A$24

C

Children

Sydney is a great destination for families and children, with lots of parklands and beaches offering play opportunities, as well as exciting attractions. Children travel at reduced prices on public transport and pay reduced admission at most attractions. Most hotels offer babysitting services. At many hotels and child-friendly attractions, you will find a copy of Sydney’s Child, a free monthly magazine with handy information and offers.

Kangaroos, Aussie icons

Glyn Genin/Apa Publications

Giraffe at Taronga Zoo – lots of animals, indigenous and otherwise, to appeal to children

iStock

Clothing

Sydney is an informal and relaxed city with a temperate climate, which takes a lot of the stress out of packing. Concentrate on lightweight clothing that can be worn in layers if you are travelling in warmer months. Even in winter, you will not need heavy woollies – a 12°C (54°F) day is considered by Sydneysiders to be very cold. Casual clothes are acceptable in most places, and barely anyone will bat an eyelid if you reveal some flesh. Just bear in mind that Sydneysiders are body-obsessed: those who have great bodies can and do show them off.

Consulates

British Consulate General, Level 16, 1 Macquarie Place; tel: [phone]; www.ukinaustralia.fco.gov.uk.

Consulate General of Canada, Level 5, 111 Harrington Street; tel: [phone]; www.canadainternational.gc.ca.

Consulate General of Ireland, Level 26, 1 Market Street; tel: [phone]; www.irishconsulatesydney.net.

Consulate General of the USA, MLC Centre, Level 59, 19–29 Martin Place; tel: [phone]; http://sydney.usconsulate.gov.

Crime and safety

Common-sense rules apply when visiting Sydney. As in any popular tourist destination, petty theft can be an issue at popular sights. Keep wallets out of sight and don’t leave valuables visible in the car or luggage unattended.

The inner-city is, on the whole, quite safe. Despite its slightly unsavoury reputation, visitors to Kings Cross are unlikely to encounter trouble – unless they are looking for it – thanks to the constant urban buzz and a regular police presence. It is best to avoid Hyde Park after 10pm, though, particularly if you are on your own.

During off-peak periods, many city and suburban railway stations are either unstaffed or equipped with a skeleton staff. Look for ‘night safe’ areas on the platforms, which have security cameras and an intercom for contacting staff.

On a train, a blue light on one of the carriages indicates a guard is travelling in the carriage. Generally, public transport in the inner city is safe at any time of day. Avoid longer trips after 10pm, when there are fewer passengers.

Customs

Australia has extremely strict quarantine laws, to protect the agricultural industries and native Australian flora and fauna from introduced diseases. Animals, plants and their derivatives (feathers, untreated wood, fur, etc) must be declared on arrival, along with all foodstuffs, no matter how well packaged (and even if you’ve been given them on the plane – it can work out to be a very expensive apple if you try and take it with you…). All passengers must fill in an Incoming Passenger Card before disembarking the plane, which is checked by customs officers. There are serious penalties for false declarations. In many cases, you will be allowed to keep the items, as long as you declare them.

Anyone over the age of 18 is allowed to bring into Australia: A$900 worth of goods (A$450 for those under 18), not including alcohol or tobacco; 2.25l of alcohol (wine, beer or spirits); and 250 cigarettes or 250g of cigars and tobacco products other than cigarettes.

D

Disabled travellers

Sydney caters reasonably well for people with disabilities, but it is wise to start making enquiries and arrangements before leaving home. A good place to begin is the National Information Communication Awareness Network (NICAN), a national organisation that keeps a database of facilities and services with disabled access, including accommodation and tourist sights. It also keeps track of the range of publications on the subject.

IDEAS (Information on Disability Awareness and Education Services) also offers online databases on disability services, equipment suppliers and accessible travel, plus other ...