Sydney Country Guide
Australia has come a long way since the days when Captain Cook stumbled ashore to find an aboriginal way of life that went back for tens of thousands of years. Even the outdated images of Crocodile Dundee types swilling beer around the Opera House have long been replaced by a forward-looking attitude that embraces Australia’s Pacific Rim location and a growing reputation for first-class cuisine and high fashion notable in its cosmopolitan, twenty-first-century metropolis, Sydney.
Slip, Slop, Slap. Slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen and slap on a hat... And you're all set to tackle Sydney at its best!
Our Australia Country Travel Guide below will tell you all you need to know about the best of Sydney. If you are more interested in City events, attractions and things to do, click on the Sydney City Guides and our local Sydney Tour Ideas. Let us guide you through our exciting Country with our local suggestions.
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The high quality of life in the country’s effervescent largest city is enhanced by one of the world’s great harbours, but there is far more to Australia city-wise than just Sydney. Its big rival, Melbourne, is blessed with a more European ambience, with trams and pavement cafes as much a part of the experience as the buzzing sports and cultural scene, while coastal Darwin, Perth and Brisbane offer other worlds to explore.
Away from the cities, Australia’s stunningly diverse landscape boasts everything from vast, barren deserts, where kangaroo and emu bound through the arid surroundings, to tropical rainforests, rugged mountains and pristine beaches, such as world-class Bondi, Cable Beach and Whitehaven. Then, of course, there’s the epic monolith of Uluru (Ayers Rock) and the Great Barrier Reef, where another undiscovered world opens up beneath the surf. With tourist numbers up and interest in Australia never higher, this is the perfect time to bury those anachronistic Crocodile Dundee clichés and discover the real Australia.
Australia Country Guide
Useful information on this page covers:
Climate/Weather 
Australia's size, geographical features and the influence of the sub-tropical high pressure system and the Southern Oscillation of the Pacific ocean combine to create the unusual climate. In general terms, Australia has 3 climactic regions: a sub-tropical north; temperate south and an arid centre.
Northern Australia's climate is very similar to Southeast Asia. There are 2 seasons: Hot and wet/dry! The wet season occurs from October to April and is characterised by heavy downpours (usually late afternoon). The transition period leading up the the first regular rains often features spectacular "sound and light" shows of cracking lightning and booming thunder. Not to be missed if you can see one at sunset, over a tranquil beach with a cool drink in hand!
The dry season lasts from May to September.
The tropical north receives most of its rainfall in the months October to April. During these months the temperate south receives little or no rainfall. This situation reverses in the months May to September, when the skies are clear in the north and the winter rains occur in the south. In central Australia, the rainfall is more evenly spread throughout the year.
Australia is bisected by the tropic of Capricorn; much of Australia is closer to the equator than any part of the USA. Accordingly, the northern Australia enjoys a tropical climate, and southern Australia a temperate one.
The tropical states Queensland and the Northern Territory have highly predictable weather. In winter', typical daily maximums are from 20 to 24 degrees Celsius (68 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit) and rain is rare. The beaches and tropical islands of Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef are perhaps at their most pleasant at this time of year.
Further south, the weather is less dependable; in Melbourne in August maximums as low as 13 (56F) degrees are possible, but can reach as high as 23 (72F) degrees. In summer, the northern states are hotter and wetter, while the southern states are simply hotter, with temperatures up to 41 (105F) in Sydney, Adelaide, and Melbourne but generally between 25 and 33 - very pleasant indeed.
Snow is rare in the southernmost capitals Melbourne and Hobart, falling less than once every ten years, and in the other capitals it is unknown. However, there are extensive, well-developed ski fields in the Great Dividing Range, a few hours drive from Melbourne and Sydney.
Late August marks the peak of the snow season, and the ski resorts are a popular destination; perhaps too popular for some tastes. An alternative skiing destination is New Zealand, which provides skiers with excellent snow and facilities at lower cost.
To view the current conditions in Sydney, click on this Weather link.
People
This cultural richness has contributed to a dynamic and accepting society that has embraced the cuisines and tastes of the world. Tandoori pizza, garlic naan and Singaporean laksa are as familiar to Australian palates as roast lamb and sirloin steak.
Australia's population has been expanded through successive waves of immigration over the past two centuries: first colonised by the British in the late 1700s, then the discovery of gold in the early 1800s inspired migrants from the United Kingdom and China. Political and social turmoil in the northern hemisphere also spurred successive migration waves.
South Australia's famous wine region the Barossa Valley was settled by German-speaking Silesians seeking freedom from religious persecution while other migrants arrived in Australia from eastern and southern Europe after World War II.
The various influxes of migrants each added new layers to Australia's multicultural society until the nation now boasts more than 140 cultures living harmoniously as a single nation.
Australia's most populous State is New South Wales with 6.74 million residents followed by Victoria (4.98m), Queensland (3.89m), Western Australia (1.98m) and South Australia (1.54m). Tasmania has a population of 483,000 while the Australian Capital Territory has 324,000 and the Northern Territory 200,400.
Australia's population is not only urbane, though it is predominantly urban with Sydney, the nation's most populous city, topping 4 million residents. Melbourne (3.5 million), Brisbane (1.6 million), Perth (1.3 million) and Adelaide (1.1 million) are all relatively large cities by world standards.
Health
Food and Drink: Standards of hygiene in food preparation are very high. Milk is pasteurised and meat and vegetables are considered safe to eat. Care should be taken, however, when sampling 'bush tucker' in outback areas as some insects and fauna are highly poisonous unless properly cooked.
Other Risks: Occasional outbreaks of dengue fever and Ross River fever have occurred in rural areas in northern Australia in recent years. There have been reports of Murray Valley encephalitis in the Northern Territory.
Corals, jellyfish and fresh water crocodiles may prove a hazard to the bather, and heat is a hazard in the northern and central parts of Australia. Insectivorous and fruit-eating bats have been found to harbour a virus related to the rabies virus and should be avoided. Venomous snakes and spiders exist throughout Australia and can be extremely dangerous. Medical assistance should be sought immediately if bitten.
Note: There are strict customs and health controls on entering and leaving the country, and Australian law can inflict severe penalties on health infringements. Australia reserves the right to isolate any person who arrives without the required certificates.
Carriers are responsible for expenses of isolation of all travellers arriving by air who are not in possession of the required vaccination certificates. All arriving aircraft are sprayed before disembarkation to prevent the spread of disease-carrying insects.
Health care: Doctors and dentists are highly trained and hospitals are well equipped. There is a reciprocal health agreement with the UK, in emergencies only, which allows residents from the UK free hospital treatment. Passport or proof of UK residence, such as an NHS medical card or a UK driving licence, must be shown. Prescribed medicines, ambulances and treatment at some doctors' surgeries must be paid for.
Personal insurance for illness and accidents is highly recommended for all visitors. Those wishing to benefit from the agreement should enrol at a Medicare office; this can be done after treatment.
Communication
Most post offices are open Mon-Fri 8:30am-4pm (larger ones until 8pm). You can also buy stamps from newsagents and corner stores, though often only for domestic mail.
Poste restante services are available in major towns.
The majority of public phones only take phone cards. Local calls cost 40 cents, and phone cards can be in amounts of $2, $5, $10, $20 and $50. They are available from most post offices and newsagents.
Internet cafes are everywhere in Australia, where you'll pay anything from $2-$7/hr.
The emergency number for police, ambulance or fire in Australia is 000 and is free from all phones.
The dial into Australia, dial the relevant number to call out of the country, followed by (61 + Area Code + Phone Number). Please note that all area codes are 2 numbers strarting with 0, of which the 0 does not need to be dialled.
Currency/Money
The currency of Australia is the Australian Dollar. Check today's Australian Exchange Rate from OANDA.com, The Currency Site. One Australian Dollar (A$) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of A$100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of A$2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10 and 5 cents.
Exchange facilities are available for all incoming and outgoing flights at all international airports in Australia. International-class hotels will exchange major currencies for guests. It is recommended that visitors change money at the airport or at city banks.
Credit & Debit cards: American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are accepted, although American Express and Diners Club are less common than Mastercard or Visa. Use may be restricted in small towns and outback areas. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.
Travellers Cheques: These are accepted in major currencies at banks or large hotels. However, some banks may charge a fee for cashing travellers cheques. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in a major currency.
Currency Restrictions: Export and import of coins/notes in Australian or foreign currency above A$10,000 must be declared to customs at the port of entry or departure. Export of local currency above A$2000 must have reserve bank approval.
Banking Hours: Mon-Thurs 09:30-16:00, Fri 09:30-17:00. These hours may vary slightly throughout the country.
History
History of Australia before 1901: Australia has been inhabited for at least 55,000 years, since the remote ancestors of the current Australian Aboriginal people arrived from Southeast Asia. Early records of its discovery by European expeditions date back to the to the 16th century. It was claimed for Britain in 1770, and first colonised in 1788 as a penal colony. Five other colonies, some penal and some free, were founded in the early 19th century.
History of Australia since 1901: In 1901, Australia adopted a federal constitution and became a self-governing dominion of the British Empire. Australian troops took part in both world wars. Since World War II Australia has been transformed by a massive immigration programme.
Australia remains a constitutional monarchy with Queen Elizabeth II as head of state: a referendum to establish a republic was defeated in 1999.
Location
Food
With the seventies came a strong new influence of Asian flavours, and this has mixed with the Mediterranean and local dishes, as well as the fresh local ingredients and spirit of experimentation, to create a uniquely Australian cuisine.
Religion
The Aboriginal people also have their own central belief system, called the Dreaming. The Dreaming is a term often confused with Dreamtime, the time of creation when ancestral beings roamed the country carving valleys, raising mountains and making rivers flow. The Dreaming is a specific concept that describes the web of interconnected beliefs involving value systems, and spirituality, which brings individuals together in life and after death.
Visas/Passports
Electronic Travel Application (ETA) - this is a way of applying for an Australian visa electronically. There are three types of ETA Visas: Holiday and Visiting (Subclass 976) This visa allows you to stay 3 months on each arrival, and it is valid for multiple entries over a 12 month period.
Short Validity Business ETA (Subclass 977) They are primarily to allow business people to make short trips to Australia for meetings, conferences, seminars and exploration for setting up further business in Australia. It entitles a Business Visitor to one visit for 3 months.
Long Validity Business ETA (Subclass 956) These are available to Business Visitors who come often to Australia for business purposes. This visa is valid for the life of your passport, for many visits. Each visit must be for only 3 months or less duration.
All ETA visas are obtained outside Australia. If you want to stay longer in Australia, apply to the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) in Australia before your ETA visa expires.
You are only eligible to apply for an ETA while you are outside of Australia. To apply through this site, you must also hold one of the listed ETA-eligible passports. If you do not meet these criteria, then you should contact your nearest Australian visa office for further options.
Please check with your nearest Australian embassy for up-to-date visa information.
Geography
Australia broke away from the massive Gwandanaland forming the world's first continent in the southern hemisphere. This super continent, Sahul included New Guinea, Tasmania and the Australian mainland until they separated about 8,000 years ago. Australia is the oldest and flattest land on Earth. It is sometimes referred to as 'Gwandana'.
Australia has a very dramatic landscape. Australia is famous for its 'outback,' the remote lands of the interior. The desert outback covers most of the interior. It is too hot, dry and barren to support many people.
Eastern Australia has large areas of grasslands, used primarily for sheep and cattle ranches. Australia also has some mountainous areas and plateaus scattered throughout the country. The Blue Mountains, on the south-eastern end of Australia, get their name from the blue haze caused by oil droplets given off from the eucalyptus trees.
As an island, Australia also has many beautiful coastal beaches. Over 70% of Australians now live in cities or towns. Most of this population lives in the eastern and southern coasts, and around Perth in the west.
Electricity
Embassy Information
General Information
Total Area: 7,686,850 square kilometres.
Capital: Canberra (300,000 people and lies halfway between Sydney & Melbourne).
Time Zone: Standard time zone: UTC/GMT +10 hours
To view the current time in Sydney, click on this link to TimeAndDate.com.
Language
Public Holidays
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