Pictures of...

Sydney Harbour Sydney Harbour - another view Sydney Tower Opera House Opera House - Sydney celebrates hosting the 2000 Olympics. Manly Beach Bondi Beach Kangaroos at the Zoo Northern Beaches

General Information

Location: Sydney is located on the southeast coast of Australia. Australian Eastern Standard time is GMT plus 10 hours. The seasons are reversed in Australia. When it is summer in Northern Hemisphere, it is winter in Australia.

Shopping Hours: The shops do not stay open late in Australia.Most shopping centres are open from 9am to 6pm Monday through Wednesday and Friday; 9am to 8pm on Thursday; 9am to 5pm on Saturday, and 11am to 4pm on Sunday.

Banking Hours: The banks are open from 9.30am to 4pm Monday through Thursday, and 9am to 5pm on Friday.

Electricity: The electric supply in Australia is 230-250 volts, AC 50cycles....enough to thoroughly melt any North American appliance. If your standard electric supply is 110 volts (North America), you will need an adapter (which changes the shape of the plug) and a converter (which changes the voltage). Don't make the mistake of using just the adapter unless the appliance you are using has a voltage switch on it.

Currency: Australia uses a decimal currency system with 100 cents equaling one dollar. The notes are $100, $50, $20, $10, and $5. The coins are $2, $1, 50¢, 20¢ , 10¢ , and 5¢.

Public Payphones: The public payphones will either take a phone card or coins. A local call will cost 40¢.

Emergencies: To call the police, fire, or ambulance, dial 000.

Trains: The trains in Sydney are usually on time and travel to most suburbs and around the city. There are eight route systems and each has a colour code for easy identification. You can buy your ticket from either a machine or a person. You will need your ticket to get out of most stations.

Buses: The buses operate from the city and travel to most suburbs. Buses bound for the suburbs north of the Harbour depart form Wynyard Park Terminus in York Street, while south and west bound busses begin and end their routes at Circular Quay.

Ferries: The majority of ferries operate from Circular Quay. Ferries are an enjoyable and inexpensive way to see and get around to various parts of Sydney. Sydney Explorer and the Bondi & Bay Explorer: The Explorer buses run a 35 kilometre circuit from Circular Quay every 20 minutes, every day. The Sydney Explorer has 28 stops where you may board, disembark and reboard when you choose. The Bondi & Bay Explorer has 20 harbourside and beach stops. Tickets are sold on board. These buses are a terrific way to see the city.

Monorail: The Monorail operates daily a circuit through the southern downtown area of the city every 3-5 minutes and stopping at four stations within Darling Harbour.