Sydney is one of the world’s most picturesque cities. A jewel in the Southern Hemisphere’s crown, the metropolis is fringed by beautiful beaches, mystical mountains and a breathtaking and historic harbour.

A hub of culture, art, inspired-thinking and sports, Sydney hosts a multitude of ethnicities and philosophies and is considered a global city. Home to the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge and Bondi Beach, Sydney is visited by millions of tourists every year, and constantly ranks as one of the world’s top holiday destinations and liveable cities.

Sydney Information

Population: Approximately 4.3 million
Time Zone: GMT +10
Languages: English (official)
Currency: Australian dollar (AUD) Order your travellers cheques and cash through our partner AMEX.
Electricity: 220 – 240v 50Hz

Sydney Climate

Sydney has a temperate climate. Summer is warm, while winter is mild. Summer temperatures sit between 17°C and 26°C – peaking over 30°C about 14 days each year. Winter temperatures rarely drop below 5°C on the coast, with average temperatures ranging between 8°C to 16°C. Due to dominate easterly winds, rainfall is higher during the first half of the year. Sydney’s world-famous beaches generally experience pleasant water temperatures, averaging 21°C year-round.

• View local weather forecast for your holiday

Sydney Airport

DOMESTIC:

Name: Kingsford Smith airport
Address: Mascot, Sydney NSW 2000
Website: www.sydneyairport.com.au
Distance to city: 10 Kms
Opening Hours: Virgin Australia counters are staffed Mon-Fri 0500-2100, Sat 0500-2000, and Sun 0500-2100, during which times staff are available to process bookings and changes.
Note: Staff are unable to accept cash or EFTPOS payments after 8pm

INTERNATIONAL:

Opening Hours: Virgin Australia International counters are staffed for 3 hours prior to departure and staff are available at this time to process bookings or changes
Parking: Check out our great Sydney airport parking rates

Sydney Airport Transport

Car Hire: Great choice of hire cars at mates rates from our car suppliers
Taxi: Sheltered and supervised taxi rank located outside the terminal
Private Chauffeur Service: Enjoy chauffeur service and private sedan transfers thanks to our partner Brunel

Don’t forget your travel insurance!

Oaks Goldsborough Apartments

4 Star Property

Goldsbrough Apartments on Darling Harbour, offers a charm reminiscent of Sydney's colourful past. Originally built in 1883, the Goldsbrough maintains and incorporates unique historical features creating a romantic ambience. The magnificent neo-classical facade, the original tallowwood floors and exposed ironbark columns which feature throughout the hotel, complement the modern luxury apartments inside.

Citigate Central Sydney

4 Star Property

Recently refurbished, Citigate Central Sydney offers Sydney City accommodation located just a short walk from Darling Harbour, Cockle Bay, Central Railway Station, Paddy's Markets, Sydney's Entertainment precincts including Capitol Theatre and Entertainment Centre.

The Sebel Pier One Sydney

4 Star Property

The ideal Sydney Harbour hotel, fabulously positioned under the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The property is a truly unique Sydney Boutique hotel situated ‘over water' on Pier One. It is a delightful heritage building with a sleek modern design providing extensive views of Sydney harbour and Luna Park.

Quay West Suites Sydney

5 Star Property

Quay West Suites Sydney has unveiled a stylish & contemporary new look following a million dollar refurbishment of this chic, 5 star hotel superbly located in the historic Rocks precinct. Many Quay West guests also have the added luxury of a private balcony with the choice of stunning Sydney Harbour or City skyline views.

Dining

Internationally-acclaimed chefs, fresh locally-grown produce and stunningly scenic settings have seen Sydney’s food scene earn a world-class reputation. Its ever-growing lists of fine-dining restaurants, boutique cafes and casual eateries represent cultures and cuisines from all over the globe.

Sydney’s urban city centre is a foodie utopia. Encompassing Dixon, Hay and Sussex streets, Sydney’s compact Chinatown hosts a colourful and generous blend of Asian eateries. Pitt and Oxford streets feature a diverse array of dining options, including ethnic restaurants, coffee houses and fine-dining establishments. While The Rocks and Circular Quay are the city centre’s most scenic dining settings – proudly showcasing an exotic mix of cuisines, overlooking Sydney Harbour.

Sydney has a plethora of inner-city pockets that host great dining scenes. Surry Hills is a dining hotspot with alfresco restaurants, lively gastro pubs and on-trend bars. Glebe is home to tiny eateries, cheap eats and old-style pubs. Balmain’s Darling Street hosts some of Sydney's most stylish cafes, restaurants and produce stores. Leichhardt is the city’s go-to for Italian fare. Darlinghurst comes alive at night with clubs, live music and gay bars. While a range of ethnic cuisines can be found along King Street in Newtown.

Outside the city centre dining scene, the Eastern Suburbs’ eateries are privy to some of Sydney’s most sought after views. Bondi Beach’s Campbell Parade, Curlewis Street and Hall Street host outdoor cafes, trendy bars, fish and chip shops, and a number of fine-dining establishments overlooking one of the world’s most famous beaches. Coogee is a haven for those looking for a casual bite. While Double Bay, one of city’s most exclusive addresses, is renowned for pavement cafes, swanky bars and exotic eateries.

Across the harbour Sydney’s North Shore and Northern Beaches offer a different take on dining. Catch the ferry from Circular Quay to Manly, where a smorgasbord cafes, restaurants, bars and eateries particularly celebrate seafood. Mosman, Freshwater and Palm Beach are all also well worth a visit.

Sydney’s gourmet dining scene is exciting and innovative, and typified by its global outlook. Three Sydney restaurants are currently on the S.Pellegrino World’s Best Restaurants list: Tetsuya’s in the city centre, Quay at The Rocks and Marque in Surrey Hills; while the city also hosts a long list of Three, Two and One Hatted restaurants.

Shopping

As a cosmopolitan and bustling world centre, Sydney has a number of premier shopping streets and precincts. High-end international retailers jostle for prime position alongside much-loved national fashion darlings; while big name department stores sit side-by-side with trendy independently-owned boutiques.

The city centre is the metropolis’s most iconic shopping area. Downtown, along Pitt and George streets, a harmonious blend of historic and ultra-modern shopping arcades and shopping malls cater for all shopping tastes. The Strand Arcade and the Queen Victoria Building are Sydney’s most respected and reputed shopping institutions; while The Galleries Victoria and Westfield Sydney present slick and modern retail experiences. Castlereagh, Elizabeth and King streets also draw shoppers downtown with a host of world-famous designer brands.

A short drive from the city centre, sits Paddington’s Oxford Street, Sydney’s most illustrious shopping high street – offering a fusion of up-market clothing stores and vintage boutiques. Just behind Oxford Street, Glenmore Road spruiks exclusive designer names amid rows of beautiful Victorian terraces.

Surry Hills is one of Sydney's most vibrant neighbourhoods, and a go-to for small galleries and boutiques. Crown Street is the inner-city suburb’s fashion, art and design hub – an inspiring locale for the artistically inclined.

Colourful and eccentric, Newtown is Sydney’s avant-garde shopping precinct. Home to Sydney University, the inner-city suburb is a hive of inspired-thinkers, bohemians, hipsters and activists. The area’s retail scene reflects its locals, with a number of vintage fashion and music stores, bookshops and antique dealers.

Bondi isn’t only home to a famous beach and an active nightlife; the iconic suburb also hosts a great array of shopping opportunities. Bondi Beach’s oceanfront promenade, Campbell Parade and main offshoots Curlewis and Hall streets, are a renowned for surf wear, souvenirs and designer labels.

The Westfield Group operates one of the world's largest shopping centre portfolios. Their state-of-the-art complexes feature notably in Sydney, with 18 mega-centres – most prominently Bondi Junction, Chatswood, Miranda, and Parramatta – catering for the city’s shoppers with well-known fashion and retail brands.

Other fashion hotspots include Military Road in Mosman, Transvaal Avenue in Double Bay, Queen Street in Woollahra, and Darling Street in Balmain. While outdoor markets feature prominently in Paddington, Bondi, Manly, Balmain, Surry Hills, Kirribilli and The Rocks.