Sydney is a cosmopolitan city. From its beginning, it has been a home to people from all over the world. Many generations and cultures have left their mark in defining Sydney’s evolution into one of the world's most diverse and exciting social centres. The city is also a key player in the Asia-Pacific region.
All visitors to Australia require a visa — only New Zealand nationals are exempt.
Visa application forms are available from Australian embassies, travel agents or the website of the department of Immigration & Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs. Please note that there are several different types of visas. Be sure to arrange for the one most relevant to your travel status and plans.
View visa requirements from the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs
The unit of money is the Australian Dollar (AU), made up of 100 cents.
Credit cards are accepted in major hotels as well as shopping malls. 24-hour automated teller machines (ATMs) are widely available.
Here are the most recent exchange rates for some common currencies.
AUD 1.00 equals:
A 10% Goods and Services Tax applies to most purchases.
This tax is refundable to visitors with purchases in excess of AUD 300 per store made within 30 days before departing Australia. It applies only to goods visitors take with them as hand luggage.
Please call 1300 363 263 or visit www.customs.gov.au for further information.
Tipping is not compulsory. However, it is acceptable to give a gratuity for good service.
Bank Hours9.30am - 4pm, Monday through Thursday 9.30am - 5pm, Friday
Office Hours9am - 5.30pm, Monday through Friday
Shop Hours9am - 5.30pm, Monday through Wednesday and Friday 9am - 9pm, Thursday 9am - 5pm, Saturday and Sunday
Healthcare in Australia follows Western traditions with advanced medical resources widely available. However, we do recommend that all travellers be in good health prior to undertaking any strenuous travel.
Drinking water from the tap is safe throughout Australia. Bottled drinking water is also available in every hotel room.
Australia is known to be casual in its approach to dressing. However, light suits and dresses are appropriate for business meetings.
Sydney has an oceanic climate with warm summers and mild winters. Rainfall is spread evenly throughout the year.
Expect temperatures ranging from 18 C to 30 C (65 F – 86 F) during the warmer months (October - March), and between 12 C and 25 C (50 F – 63 F) during the cooler months (April - September).
Turning sunny, humid; breezy in the p.m.
A couple of afternoon thunderstorms
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Population5 million
LanguageEnglish
Time ZoneGMT + 10 hours
MeasuresMetric System
Voltage220 / 240 volts
Plug Type
Mobile PhonesGSM 900 / 1800 / CDMA 800