We are excited to have people visit. In preparation for your adventure, we have put together this guide to help you prepare. We hope you enjoy the information and we look forward to you coming soon!!!

About Sydney:

Sydney is the state capital of New South Wales and the most populated city in Australia.  Located on Australia’s east coast, the metropolis surrounds the world’s largest natural harbour, and sprawls towards the Blue Mountains to the west.  Residents of Sydney are known as “Sydneysiders”.
[source wiki]

There is only one airport in Sydney which is in the suburb of Mascot located to the south west of the city.  The abbreviation is SYD.  We can either come get you, you can take an Uber, or the train will bring you right to our apartment.

Fun Facts:

Many foreigners think that Sydney is Australia’s capital; however that distinction goes to Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory which is the home of Australia’s federal government

Sydney and its surrounds contain around 20% of the entire population of Australia at about 5.3 million people

Sydney receives over 10 million international and domestic visitors each year for its beaches and attractions.

It has the deepest natural harbour in the world with 504,00 mega litres of water.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge is the widest long-span bridge and tallest steel arch bridge in the world, and the 5th longest spanning-arch bridge according to Guinness World Records.  It is one of three bridges in the world you can climb which is super fun!!!
It is the 12th most expensive city with property prices averaging USD8,717 per square metre.

The Sydney Tower was the tallest structure when it opened in 1981, and still is the second tallest freestanding structure in all of Australia at 1,001 feet over the Sydney CBD.

The Harbour Bridge is known by the locals as “The Coat Hanger” due to its distinct shape.

Cricket is the most popular summer sport in Sydney and the city hosted games in the 2015 Cricket World Cup.

The Sydney Fish Market is the largest market of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere and the world’s 3rd largest fish market. (it is currently getting a face lift and will be even bigger and better when it opens in 2024. https://www.sydneyfishmarket.com.au/Corporate/Redevelopment

Perhaps Sydney’s most famous icon, the Sydney Opera House was completed in 1973, taking 14 years and 10 thousand construction workers to build, with a final total cost of $102 million – more than 14 times the originally intended price

It’s “sister landmark”, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, was finished in 1932 and took 272,000 litres of paint to cover – just for the first coat.

Paul Hogan (Mr. Crocodile Dundee) worked as a rigger on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

60 percent of Australia’s top 100 companies are headquarters in Sydney.

Bondi Beach was the set for the Guinness World Record for the largest swimsuit photo shoot with 1,010 women wearing bikinis in 2007.

What Is the Weather Like:

This is data collected between 1981 to 2010. I would say this is a pretty good idea of what the weather is like.

What To Pack:

At least a swim suit! Weather changes daily so pack shorts and a short sleeve shirt or tank top, jeans, and a sweat shirt.  A rain coat/ umbrella is also a good idea and a hat for the sun.  Don’t forget powerful sunscreen! For foot wear, both comfortable walking shoes and flip flops for the beach are a must!

Wall outlets are different in Australia so you will need an adapter.  Some devices will also need a converter to change the voltage from 240 to 120 and the frequency from 60 to 50 hertz.

Ask Brandon if you have questions.

Visitor’s Visa:

In order to enter Australia, you need a passport, an Australian visitor’s visa, and a return ticket home.  If coming from the US, follow this link for more information and to apply: https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/trav/visa/appl/electronic-travel-authority

There is a fee of $20 AUD for processing and it can take up to 30 days, so do not wait til the last minute.

Australia also has strict bio-security laws.  If you don’t believe me, watch the show Boarder Security: Australia and be amazed.  You can not bring any food in unless it is commercially packaged.  Packaged candy, cookies, granola bars, etc are fine.  Any and all fruit, veggies, or meat is not allowed.  You must declare any food you bring in on your intake card or risk being fined.  If any of your shoes or luggage has dirt or other organic debris, it may also be subject to disposal with a fine.  Australia is an island, so they must take care not to allow anything foreign and potentially decimating into the ecosystem.  Please see this link for more information or ask us any questions. https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/trav/visi/info

The Flight:

The flight will probably be the least exciting part of the trip.  We have flown it multiple times and here is some info to makes things a little smoother.

• Make sure you get a travel visa in advance. See the link here: https://www.eta.immi.gov.au/ETAS3/etas
• Make sure to stay hydrated.
• LAX is a mad house so give yourself at least a two hour layover there.
• Book an overnight flight from LAX to Australia and for the reverse as well.  Sleep helps pass the time.
• The airlines provides a pillow, blanket, headphones, supper, a snack, and breakfast.
• Be sure to pack extra clothes, basic bathroom essentials, and a swim suit in your carry on in case your luggage goes missing! Bring any medications, glasses/contacts in your carry on.
• Planes are usually cold, so be sure to bring a sweat shirt and slippers/thick socks to stay warm.  I also like to wear compression socks on the long flight to help with circulation.
• Bring books, music, games, movies, TV shows, your phone/nook/tablet to entertain yourself.  Most planes have screens in the seats with entertainment stations and wifi for a cost, but we have been on flights where it was broken and we had to use only what we brought.  Messaging using Whatsapp or Facebook may be free on some flights.
• On your way here you will typically loose a full two days due to travel and the time change.  Usually, going home you will gain a day back.  So when you leave the US on a Tuesday, you arrive here on Thursday.  When you leave here on a Sunday morning, you arrive in LAX on Sunday morning.  🙂  It is mind boggling.

Coming into Australia you must go through immigration where they will confirm your visa and passport.  After collecting your bags you will then go through customs.  You must fill out a declaration card usually handed out on the plane.  DO NOT LIE!!!  If you have any food with you or medications, you MUST declare it.  Candy and gum count! If you are not sure, tick yes anyways and the customs officers will help you out.  You can not bring any produce, dairy, meat, nuts, seeds, or anything organic based that is not prepackaged into Australia!! This is to protect their island environment from invasive biologicals.  Eat or toss any fruit, train mix, veggies, etc on your way out of the plane.  Watch Australian Border and Security on Netflix for more information.

At the Airport:

Sydney only has one main airport which is called Kingsford Smith (SYD) and is located in the suburb of Mascot.  They are building another airport further west, due to open in 5 or so years.  SYD is not a 24 hr airport due to residences being nearby; they do have curfews.

Most international flights arrive early in the morning.  This is great for you to have the day to explore the city! There is a great public transport system to take you where you need to go with a train stop right at the airport.  They easiest way to get to our place, is to take the train to Central Station, then change to the Hornsby line which has Rhodes Station  Or we can come get you in our car. 🙂

As mentioned above, upon arriving to the airport in Sydney, you will have to go through a number of lines. Once off the plane and through a few hallways, you will come to kiosks to scan your passport, answer a few questions, and get a ticket printed.  Keep this ticket until you exit the airport.  You will need it!

You then get separated by passport country into certain lines to go through immigration.  US passport holders go to the right, through automatic gates.  Take off your glasses and hats and put in the ticket the kiosk gave you.  It should let you pass based on photo recognition.  If it errors out, you have to go into the line that goes to the desks.  Follow the signs and marks on the floor if this happens to you.

After immigration, you go down the stairs to baggage claim.  There is signage and announcements as to what carousel your flight will be on.  This is a good time to tidy up and go to the bathroom as bags sometimes take a few minutes, and the ride from the airport can be over an hour depending on traffic.  Once you collect your bags you can heard to the Declare or Nothing to declare lines.  You will need you kiosk ticket and your Declaration Card.  As mentioned above, you must declare if you have ANY food, have been to a farm, swam in a lake, etc on the Declaration Card you received on the plane.  It is helpful to write in the margins what you are declaring. The helpful airport staff will send you in the right direction.  I always have snacks, so I always end up in the declare line.  Most of the time they wave me through.  A few times I had to stand in a line and get sniffed by bio-security dogs.  It is a pretty easy process.  If you don’t want to deal with the Declare line, be sure to eat all your food on the plane.

After getting though bio-security you are done!!  You can exit the airport and you are officially in Australia!  If you are heading for the train, stay in the airport and follow the signs down to the platform where you can use an Opal card or pay pass credit card to tap on through the turnstile. If we are picking you up, head to the passenger pick up area.  It is a bit of a walk through the parking ramp, past the Priority pick up area (for Uber).

Currency:

Option One (Travel Credit Card):

Most places take credit card.  Our recommendation is a card that doesn’t have foreign transaction fees or currency conversion fees.  Our favorite is Capital One.  With any credit card, watch for hidden fees and let your bank/credit card company know that you are going on a trip.  You don’t want your card block while you are across the globe away.

Option Two (Australian Currency):

You can exchange US dollars at the airport for Australian Dollars though the airport probably charges the most in fees.  You could also bring a debit card and visit an ATM, though your bank may charge you a fee.  If you do get involved with Australian Currency here is the different denominations:

Where To Stay:

Our place!  Hostels!  Hotels! Airb&bs!  In a Camper van!

Getting Around:

Public Transportation is prevalent in Sydney.  You can use an Opal card for Trains, Ferries, Light rail, and Buses.  They are free and can be loaded with any dollar amount.  Most convenience stores have them.  We have extras to lend to guests. 🙂

Outside of Sydney the easiest way to get around is via plane to the other major cities such as Melbourne or Brisbane.  They do have long distance buses and trains, but since most people visiting Australia have a limited amount of days to spend, flying is the fastest.  All major cities have public transport.  You could also rent a car anywhere in Australia using your US driver’s license, but be sure to keep left and know the rules of the road before you take it on.

Things To Do:

This list should be massive.  There is so much to see and do in this amazing country.  Here is a list of things we have done or hope to do soon.  There is so much more information online so don’t be limited by our meager options.  Some places listed are not directly in the city, but within an hour away.  Beaches are in/around any of the cities, along with gardens, beach walks, restaurants, shopping, and more.  Coffee is also amazing everywhere in Australian cities.

Sydney:

Sydney Opera House

Harbour Bridge Climb/walk across

Royal Botanical Gardens

Royal National Park

Blue Mountains/Three Sisters

Queen Victoria Building

Paddy’s Markets

Sydney Fish Market

Taronga Zoo

Arcades and shopping

Manly Beach

Bondi Beach-surfing anyone?

Melboune:

Museum of the Moving Image

Phillip Island

Great Ocean Road

Street Art

Federation Square

Queen Victoria Market

Brisbane:

Australia Zoo

Lone Pine Koala Sancturary

Moreton Island

http://www.visitmoretonisland.com/

Mt. Coot-tha

South Bank Parklands

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and Adventure Park

Animals

Instead of poisonous snakes and deadly spiders, here is a list of wild animal you will more likely see in the city of Sydney.

Cockatoo:

lorikeets:

Water Dragon:

Magpie:

Kookaburra:

Common Garden Skink:

And maybe a few spiders………..

What we have learned:

We have had an amazing time living abroad and love Sydney especially.  Here are some interesting things we have learned in our travels throughout Australia.

• There are uneven sidewalks throughout Sydney.  Look where you are going!!  I trip myself on the daily.
• Cities have noise.  Sydney has 4.5 million people living in it.  There will be some street noise.  Also the houses are not insulated and the windows are single panes.
• Cool looking birds are loud!  They screech, scream, and have no respect for sleeping in.  Be prepared.
• Cafes close by 3p or 4p and most retail stores close around that early too, even on weekends.  Thursday nights are when shops are open later, so plan your shopping spree for then.
• Dining out is a more relaxed experience at most restaurants in Australia.  There is no hurry to turn the table over so waitstaff are less attentive.  Meals take longer and are meant to be enjoyed.  Some places even let you bring a bottle from home (BYO).  Dining should be a social experience; slow down and savor it!

Frequently Asked Questions:

Will I die from the poisonous and aggressive animals?  Not likely

Can we have shrimp on the barbie when we get there?  No, they are called prawns and we don’t have a grill. 😉

How long is the flight from LAX?  Anywhere from 12-16 hours depending where you arrive.

Do Australian’s drive on the opposite side of the road as the USA?  Yes, and you walk on the left also

Why should we come visit?  Besides we are here?  Australia is an amazing place with lots to see and do.  Give it a try!

Is it safe?  Yes it is very safe!  We walk everywhere and people are very friendly!

Do they use the metric system?  Yes, get your Celsius, kilometers and kilograms conversions ready!

Does the water swirl the opposite way?  Debatable.  The toilets do not have enough water in them to test.

What kind of currency does Australia use?  The Australian Dollar, which is different than the US Dollar.  See currency above. 

What else do I need to know?  Australia is a whole other country and is not the US.  They have different customs, a different history, and different priorities.  Please respect this.  You are a visitor in a foreign place.  Things that are different than the US does not make one wrong and the other right. Have an open mind when traveling and respect the culture of the place you are visiting.  

Terminology:

shrimp => prawns

garbage => rubbish

fries => chips

rent => hire

candy/sweets => lollies

parking lot => car park

afternoon => arvo

breakfast => brekkie

flip flops => thongs

swim suit => swimmers

tennis shoes => trainers/joggers

whinge => complaining, whine

being nosy => sticky beak

toilet => dunny/loo

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