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Home / What Do I Need to Know Traveling to Sydney Australia

What Do I Need to Know Traveling to Sydney Australia

sunset view of Sydney, Australia
Sydney is a cosmopolitan city surrounded by iconic beaches, world heritage sites, and acclaimed vino regions.

As well being Australia'due south largest urban center, Sydney is also its most visited. (And, reverse to popular belief, not the land'due south capital!). Few people skip the city — and why would they?

With an incredible diversity of attractions, beaches, restaurants, and sights to see, information technology's easy to see why people come here and stay a while! There's and so much to do here. Attempt to stay at to the lowest degree a week if yous can. I never, e'er get tired of visiting Sydney! It'due south amazing. Exist sure to also spend some time on the lesser-visited N Shore beaches.

This Sydney travel guide volition assist y'all brand sense of all the things to see, testify you where to stay, and assistance you save money.

Other Things to Run into and Exercise in Sydney

1. Visit The Rocks

The Rocks is the oldest office of Sydney. With its narrow lanes, colonial buildings, sandstone churches, and Commonwealth of australia'south oldest pubs, this neighborhood is where Sydney started when the British commencement landed. It was near torn down in the 1970s for mod loftier-rises, but, luckily, citizen action got it preserved instead. The Rocks' weekend markets, art museums, street entertainment, delicious (and sometimes overpriced) restaurants, and beautiful views of the harbor, Opera House, and bridge brand this is one of the coolest areas of the city. I love heading up to the Sydney Observatory Hill Park for a good view of the city, wandering the harbor promenade, and hit the confined at night.

2. Botanic Gardens & Mrs. Macquarie Chair

You lot'll find Commonwealth of australia's first vegetable garden and a treasure trove of trees, ferns, flowers, and gardens at the Regal Botanic Gardens. On a sunny twenty-four hour period, you'll find locals sprawled out all over the lawns soaking upward the sunday. You can also see Mrs. Macquarie'southward Chair, a seat carved into a stone cliff, where you lot can sit and gaze out at the harbor. In that location are as well free 1-hour volunteer-guided tours of the garden, also! Admission is free.

iii. Ferry to Manly Embankment

The ferry ride to Manly offers sweeping views of the harbor, Sydney Harbour Span, and the earth-famous Opera Firm. It'southward a picturesque xxx-infinitesimal ride each way that puts you in ane of the coolest parts of the north end of the city. Manly is famous for its wide beach, giant waves, surfing, and kicking-ass nightlife. Ferry tickets are 9.90 AUD ($7.50 USD).

4. Take the Town Hall tour

Congenital in 1889, Sydney's beautiful Town Hall is a picturesque Victorian edifice. They offer a detailed two-hour tour for just x AUD. It'south a great fashion to learn some extra history about the building and its identify in the greater tapestry of Sydney's history. Tours only bachelor on weekdays.

five. Go to the museums

Like most cities, Sydney has a wide variety of museums. And, luckily, thanks to Australia'southward Democracy past, all the public museums in the city are free, making it a slap-up and inexpensive activity in an otherwise expensive metropolis. My favorite museum in Sydney is the Hyde Park Barracks. Set in the old convict barracks from the 18th century, it does an astonishing and detailed task of chronicling colonial life in Sydney, using the stories of the early on settlers, historical information, artifacts, and historical recreations. It'due south well worth the 19.20 AUD entrance fee. Information technology's always the highlight of my trip. Few people visit, making it one of the best not-touristy things to do in the city!

Other museums in Sydney worth visiting are the Fine art Gallery of New South Wales (modern fine art), the Museum of Gimmicky Art Commonwealth of australia at The Rocks (contemporary fine art), the Australian National Maritime Museum (maritime history), the White Rabbit Gallery (contemporary Chinese fine art; also has a teahouse), the Hyde Park Barracks Museum (local, criminal, and judicial history), and the Museum of Sydney (local history).

half-dozen. Learn to surf

Sydney is often the place travelers bite the bullet and learn the fine art of Commonwealth of australia's famous national pastime. There are many companies here that offering lessons. While Bondi is the about popular beach, Manly on the due north shore of Sydney has better waves (though you tin can observe good waves upward and downwards the coast!). Surfboard rentals first at 12 AUD ($9 USD) per hour while ii-60 minutes group lessons price effectually 75 AUD ($57 USD). Umina Embankment, Collaroy Beach, and Corrimal Beach are expert beaches for beginners.

7. Visit the Hunter Valley

N of town is one of Australia'southward premier wine regions. The Hunter Valley is dwelling house to amazing wineries that produce luscious reds. While it's not as easy on the budget, it is an excuse to leave of the city and see the countryside. Day tours are offered from Sydney but they are expensive (150-200 AUD/$115-152 USD) and you'll spend a lot of time on a passenger vehicle. Information technology'south best to stay for at least a night out in the valley to get the full experience.

If yous have a car, you can base of operations yourself in Newcastle or Cessnock, but you'd have a more unique experience if you booked a secluded cabin or dwelling house on Airbnb as in that location are enough in the area, including some that are too vineyards.

8. The Tower Sky Walk

At 286m, the Sydney Tower Skywalk is as tall equally the Eiffel Tower and twice as high every bit the Harbour Span. It offers amazing panoramic views of the city from its Skywalk at the acme. I'grand not a fan of heights but even I was impressed by the view! At 59.80 AUD ($45 USD), it'south cheaper and easier than climbing the bridge itself (and the views are actually better).

ix. Do a coastal walk

There are a number of stunning coastal walks that permit you to take in the breathtaking natural dazzler of Sydney Harbor. While tons of people follow the two-hour Coogee-to-Bondi walk (skip the weekends when it's overly crowded), I institute both the shorter walk in Watson's Bay and the Divide-to-Manly walk quieter and more breathtaking.

10. Attend a Cultural Event

Since Sydney has a complex about Melbourne being called the cultural capital of Commonwealth of australia, information technology tries to outdo its rival by hosting over tons of official festivals and events each year. It offers fine art gallery nights, concerts, festivals, and much more. It wants to be seen as more of a beach destination. No matter what time of the year y'all visit, you lot will find something going on in the city! Most of the events are free and a list of what'south going on soon tin exist plant on the Sydney tourism website. It will give y'all dates, prices, times, and everything in betwixt.

11. Party in Male monarch's Cross

If you're looking to get out and become wild on the cheap, and so become to Male monarch'southward Cross. This is where the beer is inexpensive and the backpackers (and locals) party tardily. The famous World Bar is where nigh of the action happens (inexpensive drinks and a large trip the light fantastic toe floor). For a less traveler-centric time, head to Manly, The Rocks, or the CBD (Central Business organization Commune) where there are more than locals and fewer travelers (but more expensive cocktails and beers).

12. Visit the Markets

Sydney has many astonishing markets to explore. At Paddington Markets, the Fish Marketplace, Bondi Farmers Market place, the Flower Market, and a whole lot more seasonal markets, it'southward really easy to spend a lot of time wandering and shopping. I beloved Paddington Markets and the Farmers Market the best — they draw an eclectic oversupply and the farmers market makes me want to melt nonstop. Other markets worth checking out are Glebe Market (vintage clothes, eclectic local handicrafts, delicious nutrient stalls), Rozelle Collectors Market (antiques, clothing, DVDs), and Orange Grove Organic (produce and food stalls).

For more data on specific cities in Australia, cheque out these guides:

  • Alice Springs Travel Guide
  • Brisbane Travel Guide
  • Broome Travel Guide
  • Cairns Travel Guide
  • Fraser Island Travel Guide
  • Aureate Coast Travel Guide
  • Melbourne Travel Guide
  • Perth Travel Guide
  • Whitsunday Islands Travel Guide

Sydney Travel Costs

Hostel prices – Dorms offset at 20 AUD ($fifteen USD) per night for larger rooms with viii-14 beds and are betwixt 25-40 AUD ($19-30 USD) per night for smaller dorms (4-6 beds). Private rooms start at 60 AUD ($46 USD) per night only are usually between 80-100 AUD ($60-75 USD).

Camping ground is available outside the city for 20-40 AUD ($15-30 USD) per dark for a basic plot without electricity. Wild camping on the beaches is illegal.

Budget hotel prices – Budget hotels begin at 100 AUD ($75 USD) per night. Await to pay upward of double that for a more central hotel. Wi-Fi, Idiot box, and Air-conditioning are all standard amenities.

Airbnb is also widely available around the urban center with private rooms starting at 60 AUD ($46 USD) but averaging more than than double that. For an entire home or apartment, prices start at 120 AUD ($91 USD) simply average closer to 250 AUD ($190 USD) so exist sure to book in advance to find the cheapest places!

Average cost of food – Cheap meals like sandwiches, burgers, and sushi can be found for nether $15 AUD ($12 USD). An boilerplate restaurant repast volition run you about 20-30 AUD ($15-20 USD). These are usually meat-based dishes, pasta, or seafood. For a three-course meal with a potable, look to pay around 50 AUD ($38 USD). A fast-food combo from somewhere like McDonald'south costs 12 AUD ($9 USD) while a pizza costs around xviii AUD ($14 USD). For cheap eats, Thai/Chinese/Indian meals can all be found for under 14 AUD ($11 USD).

A beer is around 8 AUD ($6 USD). A latte or cappuccino costs around AUD ($iii.75 USD). For a bottle of h2o, expect to pay almost three AUD ($2.25 USD).

If yous cook your meals, expect to pay effectually 100 AUD ($76 USD) per calendar week for groceries that will include pasta, vegetables, chicken, and other basic foodstuffs.

Backpacking Sydney Suggested Budgets

On a backpacker budget, you can visit Sydney for 75-90 AUD per twenty-four hour period. This is a suggested budget assuming y'all're staying in a big hostel dorm, cooking nearly of your meals at the hostel, using public transportation to become around, and limiting your drinking, and doing by and large free activities like visiting free museums and hanging out on the embankment. See below for ways to lower this daily boilerplate.

On a mid-range budget of virtually 220 AUD per day or more, you'll be able to stay in a budget hotel or Airbnb, eat out what you want, have a few drinks out, practise more with your Opal card (like a ferry ride to Manly), and savour more than expensive activities similar the Sydney Zoo or a tour of the Opera House.

On a "luxury" budget of 430 AUD or more, you're able to slumber at a 4-star hotel, eat all your meals out and have equally many drinks every bit y'all want, do more than extravagant activities (like the Sydney Sky Walk), and hire a rental car to get around!

Here is a chart with some suggested budgets to help yous plan. Prices are in AUD:

Accommodation

Food

Transportation

Attractions

Average Daily Cost

Backpacker

25-30

twenty-25

15

xv-20

75-90

Mid-Range

110

50

20

40

220

Sydney Travel Guide: Coin-Saving Tips

Sydney is one of the well-nigh visited places in Australia and the prices are steep. Only that doesn't hateful there aren't means to save. Here are my favorite ways to save money while in the metropolis:

  • Attend gratis local events – "What'south On Sydney" has a list of free and cheap electric current events. Check it out for the most up-to-date details.
  • Couchsurf – Adaptation in Sydney is pricey. If you plan ahead, you tin can normally discover really nice Couchsurfing hosts all throughout the land. This way, you lot non only have a place to stay, but y'all'll have a local host that tin can tell yous the best places to go and things to see.
  • Piece of work for your room – Many hostels offer travelers the chance to work for their accommodation. In exchange for a few hours a 24-hour interval of cleaning, you get a costless bed. Commitments vary just most hostels ask you to stay for at least a week.
  • Get an Opal carte – This metro card is complimentary – y'all only demand to load it with money. It offers cheaper tickets as well as discounts and fare caps so you tin save money equally you explore.
  • Costless walking tours – I Am Free runs a free daily tour of the metropolis center and The Rocks, Sydney'south original settlement. Additionally, you can use Sydney Greeters (advanced booking required!), which is a complimentary service that connects you with a local who will show y'all effectually their neighborhood!
  • Visit the markets – Sydney has many amazing markets to walk through. At Paddington Markets, the fish market, Bondi Farmers Market place, the bloom market, and a whole lot more seasonal markets, information technology'south really easy to spend a lot of time wandering and shopping. I love Paddington Markets and the farmers market the all-time!
  • Explore the gratuitous museums – Commonwealth of australia has a lot of expensive museums, simply it besides has a ton of free ones. Some free museums worth because: The Mint (a pocket-sized showroom on how they used to brand coin), Australia Eye for Photography, White Rabbit Gallery (cute art), Manly Fine art Museum, Sydney Observatory, and the Rocks Discovery Museum.
  • Drink goon (box wine) – Goon is infamous on the Australian backpacker hostel trail. This cheap box of wine is the best way to potable, get a buzz, and save a lot of coin at the same time.
  • Cook often – The best mode to reduce your costs is to melt as many meals as possible. ALDI is the cheapest supermarket in the country, followed by Coles and then Woolworths.
  • Salvage coin on rideshares – Uber is way cheaper than taxis and is the best way to get effectually a urban center if yous don't want to look for a bus or pay for a taxi.
  • Bring a reusable water canteen – The tap h2o in Sydney is safety to drinkable so bring a reusable h2o canteen with you to relieve coin and lower your plastic use. LifeStraw makes a bottle with a built-in filter to ensure your water is always clean and safe.

How to Become Effectually Sydney

Bus – Like other major cities in Australia, bus fares depend on the number of zones you travel with developed fares get-go at 2.25 AUD ($i.seventy USD) for off-peak travel. Fares vary slightly based on the time of day (there are off-peak and on-acme times).

You take to get an Opal menu (or an Opal single-utilise card) to use the system. With an Opal bill of fare, yous'll never pay more than 16.10 AUD ($12.25 USD) a day, 50 AUD ($38 USD) a week, or eight.05 AUD ($6 USD) on weekends or public holidays.

Train – The City Circumvolve is Sydney'south railroad train that runs in a loop, stopping at all the main stations. It's the best way to get effectually the metropolis middle! Like the bus, you tin can use Opal to pay for your ride.

Sydney also has a light rail that goes from Primal Station to Dulwich Hill and is good to use when you want to check out Chinatown or Darling Harbour. A unmarried fare starts at 4 AUD ($3 USD) for on-peak travel or 2.25 AUD ($1.70 USD) for off-peak travel. The airport express railroad train is xviii.50 AUD ($14 USD).

Ferry – Ferries run around Sydney Harbour from Circular Quay to a handful of destinations, including Manly, the Olympic Park, and Taronga Zoo. You lot can use your Opal card for ferry services (just the public ones), and fares offset at 7.twoscore AUD ($five.25 USD) or 6.01 AUD ($4.28 USD) with the Opal menu. Otherwise, you can purchase tickets from the wharf.

Bike share – There are a couple of bicycle-sharing programs in Sydney that allow yous to use a mobile app to locate a bike share station and then use it for brusk distances. Prices vary, but the boilerplate is well-nigh 2 AUD ($1.50 USD) per 30 minutes.

Machine rental – Yous can observe a small car to rent in Sydney starting from well-nigh sixty AUD ($46 USD) per twenty-four hour period. You lot'll find all the usual car rental companies hither.

Taxi – Taxis are fairly like shooting fish in a barrel to flag downward but expensive. Uber has go a really popular form of transportation around the city and is much cheaper than a taxi.

When to Go to Sydney

September to the end of Nov and March to May are the best months to visit Sydney. These are the shoulder seasons, when temperatures are pleasant and you don't take to contend with the huge tourist crowds. Airfare is also cheaper during this time.

September to the end of Nov is correct before acme season, so there will be some crowded places. But overall the temperatures are between the low 50s°F (10°C) to the mid-70s°F (24°C). Fall season (March-May) is much the same, and then you'll want to pack a lite jacket for those chillier days.

The high season in Sydney is December through February, which is Commonwealth of australia's summertime. Temperatures are often in the loftier 70s°F (loftier 20s°C) each 24-hour interval, so people flock here to take reward of the rut. This makes information technology a very expensive time to visit equally this is when most tourists come hither.

How to Stay Condom in Sydney

Sydney is safe, even if you lot're traveling solo, and even as a solo female traveler. People are quite friendly and helpful and you're unlikely to get into trouble.

When in doubt, ever trust your instincts. If a taxi driver seems shady, become out. If your hotel or accommodation is seedier than you thought,become somewhere else. Brand copies of your personal documents, including your passport and ID, before you travel in example of an emergency.

As a general rule, if you wouldn't exercise information technology at home, don't do it when yous're in Sydney. Follow that rule and you'll be fine.

Virtually incidents around hither tend to occur considering visitors are not used to Sydney's unique climate, then be sure you have plenty of sunscreen and stay as hydrated every bit possible. If you're venturing out in the suburbs, you'll have to have listen to wildlife. Exist on the spotter for snakes and spiders, and if you lot're bitten, seek immediate care. Furthermore, if you're swimming, heed the cherry-red and yellow flags. Yellowish flags betoken pond conditions may be unsafe; red flags mean the beach is airtight. If you lot're swimming in the ocean between November to May, only swim where at that place is a beach stinger cyberspace otherwise you hazard getting stung by jellyfish.

The most important piece of safety advice I tin offering is to purchase skillful travel insurance. Travel insurance will protect y'all confronting illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It's comprehensive protection in case annihilation goes incorrect. I never go on a trip without it equally I've had to use it many times in the past. Yous tin can employ the widget below to find the policy correct for you:

Sydney Travel Guide: The Best Booking Resources

These are my favorite companies to employ when I travel. They consistently accept the best deals, offer world-class customer service and nifty value, and overall, are better than their competitors. They are the companies I employ the most and are ever the starting point in my search for travel deals.

  • Skyscanner – Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine. They search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites tend to miss. They are easily down the number 1 place to start.
  • Momondo – This is my other favorite flight search engine considering they search such a wide variety of sites and airlines. I never book a flying without checking hither too.
  • Hostelworld – This is the all-time hostel adaptation site out at that place with the largest inventory, all-time search interface, and widest availability.
  • Booking.com – The best all around booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They accept the widest choice of budget adaptation. In all my tests, they've e'er had the cheapest rates out of all the booking websites.
  • Couchsurfing – This website allows you lot to stay on people'south couches or spare rooms for gratuitous. Information technology's a dandy manner to save money while coming together locals who can tell you lot the ins and outs of their city. The site likewise lists events yous can attend to meet people (even if you're not staying with someone).
  • Intrepid Travel – If yous want to do group tours, go with Intrepid. They offer practiced small group tours that use local operators and go out a small environmental footprint. And, every bit a reader of this site, you'll get exclusive discounts with them besides!
  • Go Your Guide – Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions. They have tons of tour options bachelor in cities all around the world, including everything from cooking classes, walking tours, street art lessons, and more!
  • Rome2Rio – This website allows yous to see how to get from point A to signal B the all-time and cheapest manner possible. Just enter your departure and arrival destinations and it will requite you all the bus, train, plane, or boat routes that tin become you there as well as how much they price. It'southward one of the best transportation websites out there!
  • SafetyWing – Safety Wing offers user-friendly and affordable plans tailored to digital nomads and long-term travelers. They have inexpensive monthly plans, groovy client service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those on the route.

Sydney Gear and Packing Guide

If you're heading on the road and need some gear suggestions, here are my tips for the best travel backpack and for what to pack!

The Best Backpack for Travelers

REI Flash 45 Pack

What's the best backpack for traveling long-term? I recommend the REI Flash 45 Pack. It'south light and comfy, top loading, and fits perfectly in an airplane's overhead bin.
Size: 45-47L
Straps: Thick and cushy with pinch technology that pulls the pack'south load upwardly and inwards then it doesn't feel every bit heavy.
Features: Removable top lid, pocket at the front, hydration compatible, contoured hip chugalug

If y'all desire something dissimilar, refer to my commodity on how to choose the best travel haversack for tips on picking a pack and other backpack suggestions.

What to Pack for Your Trip

Clothes

  • 1 pair of jeans (heavy and not easily dried, but I like them; a good alternative is khaki pants)
  • one pair of shorts
  • 1 bathing suit
  • five T-shirts (Unbound Merino is my preferred visitor. If you're a fellow member of NM+, you tin can get 15% off your purchase)
  • 1 long-sleeved T-shirt
  • 1 pair of flip-flops
  • i pair of sneakers
  • half dozen pairs of socks (I always end up losing one-half)
  • 5 pairs of boxer shorts (I'1000 not a briefs guy!)
  • 1 toothbrush
  • 1 tube of toothpaste
  • i razor
  • one package of dental floss
  • one modest bottle of shampoo
  • 1 small canteen of shower gel
  • 1 towel
  • Deodorant

Small Medical Kit (rubber is important!!!)

  • Ring-Aids
  • Hydrocortisone cream
  • Antibacterial cream
  • Earplugs
  • Tylenol
  • Hand sanitizer (germs = sick = bad vacation)

Miscellaneous

  • A key or combination lock (condom starting time)
  • Zero-lock bags (keeps things from leaking or exploding)
  • Plastic numberless (great for laundry)
  • Universal charger/adaptor (this applies to everyone)
  • LifeStraw (A water canteen with a purifier)

Female Travel Packing List
I'm not a woman, so I don't know what a adult female wears, merely Kristin Addis, our solo female travel guru, wrote this listing as an improver to the basics above:

Habiliment

  • 1 swimsuit
  • 1 sarong
  • 1 pair of stretchy jeans (they wash and dry out hands)
  • 1 pair of leggings (if it'south cold, they tin go under your jeans, otherwise with a dress or shirt)
  • two-3 long-sleeve tops
  • 2-3 T-shirts
  • 3-iv spaghetti tops
  • one low-cal cardigan

Toiletries

  • 1 dry shampoo spray & talc pulverisation (keeps long hair grease-costless in between washes)
  • 1 hairbrush
  • Makeup you use
  • Hair bands & hair clips
  • Feminine hygiene products (you tin can opt to buy there too, but I prefer not to count on information technology, and most people have their preferred products)

For more on packing, check out these posts:

  • What I Pack For My Travels
  • The Ultimate List For Female Travelers
  • How to Choose and Buy the Right Haversack

Commonwealth of australia Travel Guide: Related Articles

Want more info? Check out all the manufactures I've written on Australia travel and continue planning your trip:

cunninghamintion.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-guides/australia-travel-tips/sydney/