What you need to know?

When is the best time to visit Sydney? Well there is no one answer to this question as it depends on what you want to see, do, experience and spend on your visit.

The Australian summer from December to February is warm and sunny. Sydney is blessed with a temperate climate and averages summer temperatures of around 25˚C (77˚F). During the summer months it is the perfect climate to visit Sydney’s beautiful beaches but remember the Australian sun can be quite strong, so it’s best to wear a shirt, put on a hat and use sunscreen containing a minimum SPF30+. Summer is the Sydney holiday period therefore you should expect availability of accommodation to be scarce and more expensive then at other times throughout the year.

The Australian winter from June to August is generally mild and there is no snow in Sydney. The average temperature should range from about 8˚C (46.5˚F) at night to 16˚C (61˚F) in the daytime in mid-winter. Autumn in Australia is a touch warmer than the winter months but still on the cooler side. Expect temperatures from around 15˚C (59˚F) at night to 22˚C (72˚F) during the daytime.

Here in Australia our currency is Australian Dollars (AUD). Australia is also well and truly a card-carrying society. Credit cards such as VISA, MasterCard, American Express and Diners Club are widely accepted.

Debit cards are also popular in Australia because they are so convenient. You are able to access your money directly from your home bank account using ATM’s, banks or EFTPOS machines. Fees and Interest charges may apply depending on your bank so ask before you leave.

Traveller’s cheques generally enjoy a better exchange rate than foreign cash in Australia, plus they have the added bonus of being easily replaced if they are lost or stolen. There is, however, a fee for buying travelers cheques (Usually 1% of the total amount) and there may be fees or commissions when you exchange them.

Notes come in denominations of $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100.

Coins come in denominations of 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, $1 and $2.

Phone cards are available at newsagents, supermarkets and chemists and can be used for local, STD or international calls. Most payphones also accept coins and also have SMS text messaging services to other Australian mobiles.

Credit phones which take most major credit cards can be found at airports, city centre locations and many hotels. Multimedia payphones are also available in parts of Sydney which allows visitors to gain access to information services, including tourist information which can be printed off for future reference. Phone cards for these phones can be purchased from nearby shops.

Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good in and around Sydney- however coverage is isolated in outback and rural areas.

Internet cafes are prevalent throughout Sydney and individual hotels may also provide facilities. Wireless internet access is also increasing in cities and is mainly found in hotels, bars and cafes.

Post offices are present throughout Sydney to post letters and postcards to your friends and family back home. Stamps are often available at kiosks, hotel reception and selected newsagents. Most post offices are open Monday to Friday 9am-5pm; some post offices are also open Saturday 9am-12noon.

Australian cities have a diverse and vibrant nightlife. There is something to suit all tastes with theatre and performing arts especially good in Sydney. The Sydney Opera House hosts the countries top orchestras, opera companies and ballet performances- in the past popular international shows such as Swan Lake, Puccini’s La Boheme and various Shakespeare inspired plays.

Sydney also has a reputation for its live music scene, comedy clubs and swanky bars and clubs. Many of Sydney’s nightclubs attract the hottest international DJ talent and have an exciting atmosphere which continues well into the night. Please note the legal drinking and club admission age in Australia is 18 years old.

The official language of Australia is English. However, Sydney is Australia’s most multicultural city where approximately 30% of people don’t speak English in their own home. Therefore the other main languages spoken include Italian, German, Greek, Vietnamese and Chinese dialects.

As a guide the main religions in Australia centre on Christianity, however, there are a lot of people who have no religion at all. The minority religion groups include Islam, Buddhism, Judaism and Hinduism.

The following items may be imported into Australia by people over the age of 18 years without incurring customs duty:

There are very strict regulations against the import of non-prescribed drugs, weapons, firearms, wildlife, domestic animals and foodstuffs and other potential sources of disease and pestilence. There are severe penalties for drug trafficking. For further details on customs regulations, contact the Australian Customs Service. Custom information booklets can also be obtained from the Australian Embassy.