City Information

Country: Australia
Population: 5 million

Getting around: Many of Sydney's prime attractions (The Rocks, Darling Harbour, The Opera House) are all located within a relatively small area and are best explored on foot. Travelers to city will find Sydney's public transportation welcoming, efficient and economical. Ferries run to 30 docks all along Sydney Harbour, allowing spectacular sightseeing as travelers reach their destinations. The monorail is another exhilarating mode of transportation, but it runs only between the city center, Darling Harbour and Chinatown. Taxis roam throughout the city to take visitors to outlying attractions; pricey water taxis are also available. A three-day Sydneypass ($60) allows unlimited travel on any public bus or ferry, including the Airport Express Bus, connections to Bondi Beach, and three sightseeing tours. Driving a car around Sydney is not recommended. Road markings are scattershod, Sydney drivers can be fast and intolerant of those learning to drive on the left-hand side, and streets are hilly and curving.

Weather: Since Sydney is "down under," its seasons are opposite of those in the Northern Hemisphere; the city boasts a temperate climate with 340 sunny days a year. During springtime (late October to December) and autumn (late February though May), Sydney is sunny and warm with only a few sprinklings of rain. Even the coldest part of winter (June through August), the average temperature ranges from 48 to 52 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures in the summer months rarely exceed 80 degrees.