Travel tips: Sydney and Tasmania

Visas and documentation for Australia All visitors to Australia, except Australian and most New Zealand citizens, need a visa or an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) before they travel. All visitors, except Australian citizens and permanent residents, must satisfy health and character requirements.

For all details, costs and waiting times for visas and ETAs, check out the Australian High Commission website or ring the numbers listed below.

Australian High Commission
Strand
London WC2B 4LA
Tel: 020 7379 4334
Fax: 020 7240 5333
Website: www.australia.org.uk
Office hours: 9am-5pm Mon-Fri
Migration/visas: 9am-12noon Mon-Fri

Sydney

Situation Capital of New South Wales on the south-east Australian coast.

Population 3.7 million

Temperature Sydney has a temperate climate. Temperatures rise to an average of 22°C (72°F) in January and can fall to 12°C (54°F) in July. During the summer (October-April), high humidity and heat can make the city oppressive. Torrential downpours occur between October and March.

Surface area 12,400 square kilometres (4,788 square miles)

People Dominated by the descendants of Irish and British immigrants, Sydney also has significant populations of immigrants from other European countries and, since the 1960s, from Asia, the Lebanon and Vietnam. The city has been greatly influenced by the diversity of its residents, with many areas, such as China Town, reflecting the ethnic origin of the people who live there. Aboriginal people account for only 0.6% of the city's total population.

Language English

Religion The two main Christian denominations are Anglican and Roman Catholic. However, the wide range of religions that can be found in Sydney is a consequence of the city's multicultural population.

Currency Australia dollars: £1.00 = A$2.75

Geography Sydney is split in half by Sydney Harbour and is linked by Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Harbour Tunnel. The city stretches from the Blue Mountains in the west to the Pacific Ocean in the east and from the southern shore of Lake Acquire in the north to Botany Bay in the south.

What to expect Sydney's lovely climate and beautiful natural setting, combined with its cosmopolitan, multicultural population, make it one of the most exciting cities in the world. At its heart is the beautiful harbour, rivalled only by Rio de Janeiro's, and it is surrounded by untouched bushland, mountain ranges and stunning beaches.

As host city for the 2000 Olympic Games, Sydney spent over A$200 million on improving transport, resources and accommodation. It is the cultural centre of Australia, and whether you want to chill out at the harbour, take in some history at The Rocks or surf on the beaches, this city has something for everyone.

Attractions

• Circular Quay Situated at the hub of Sydney Harbour, this is a central point for most attractions based around the harbour.
• Sydney Harbour Bridge One of the Sydney's most famous landmarks, which unites the two halves of the city. If you are interested in seeing all of Sydney from a great height, you could try the BridgeClimb, a tough three-hour ascent that takes you up 1,337 steps and over 130m (427ft) above sea level.
• Sydney Opera House One of the world's greatest architectural landmarks and an internationally acclaimed arts centre.
• King's Cross Sydney's red light area and major travellers' centre, providing budget accommodation and a busy night life.
• The Rocks Restored colonial district with specially themed event days, free street entertainment, museums and art galleries.
• CBD (Central Business District) High-rise, bustling business centre of Sydney. Home to the Sydney Tower, one of the highest man-made structures in the Southern Hemisphere at over 300m (1,000ft), which rotates 360 degrees every 40 minutes.
• Bondi Beach One of the world's most famous beaches, located on Sydney's east side. Stretching for over 1 kilometre (0.6 mile), it's great for surfing or people watching.

Attractions near Sydney

• Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park Forty minutes' drive from Sydney's city centre, this national park contains over 15,000 hectares (37,000 acres) of unspoiled bushland. It has a range of accommodation for all budgets and activities such as bushwalking, fishing and boating.
• Blue Mountains A spectacular wilderness area, an untouched environment with a wealth of fauna and flora. Part of the Great Dividing Range, an hour's drive from Sydney, the mountains take their name from the blue mist that rises from the millions of eucalyptus trees and hangs in the mountain air. A good place for a weekend break.

Health and hazards Sydney is a fairly safe city, but be cautious: do not carry large amounts of cash around, or leave valuables unattended. If you are involved in an emergency and require police assistance, the number to call is 000.

The most common health risk in Sydney and the rest of Australia is over-exposure to the sun. Direct sunlight should be avoided between 11am and 3pm, and you should always wear sunblock and a hat. Also, although the majority of Sydney's beaches are patrolled during the summer months of October to April, you should always ensure that you swim within the flagged areas.

Getting around Sydney has a good public transport system, which is clean, reliable and safe. Buses, ferries, taxis, trams and overground and underground trains will get you around the city. The most scenic route to take is by ferry and the quickest way to get around is by train.

Getting there Before you go, ring the Australian Tourist Commission's Australian Brochure Line to order copies of the Australia Travellers' Guide and to obtain details of your local Aussie specialist tour operator. Call 0906 863 235 – calls cost 60p per minute – or visit the website: www.australia.com

Most major airlines fly in and out of Sydney. However, flights can be expensive and are often heavily booked. The Australian Tourist Commission lists the following airlines as the main international carriers for Australia:

Qantas – reservations line: 0845 774 7767

Air New Zealand – reservations line: 020 8741 2299

Singapore Airlines – reservations line: 0870 608 8886

For domestic flights, call Ansett Australia – reservation line 020 8741 2299.

All the major bus lines run services in and out of Sydney, and interstate and regional trains run from Central Station.

Books

Globetrotter Travel Guide to Sydney by Bruce Elder (New Holland, 2000) £6.99.
A guide to the oldest and largest city in Australia. It introduces Sydney's history, people, culture and economy, and then focuses on the sights and places of interest that are really worth visiting. The text features travel tips, information panels, colour photographs, maps and suggested excursions, enabling visitors to make the most of their time.

Lonely Planet: Sydney by Meg Mundell (Lonely Planet, 2000) £9.99.
Featuring options for all budgets, this guide includes coverage of shopping, sporting events, festivals, day trips, accommodation and entertainment ideas.

Sydney by Geoffrey Moorhouse (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1999) £20.00.
In a broad sweep, Moorhouse takes the reader from long before the arrival of the First Fleet loaded with convicts in 1788 to the preparation for the Olympic Games in 2000. In between, he describes and analyses the life of Sydney as it moves towards a new century.

Sydney Harbour by Clem Gorman, Therese Gorman and Ian Kiernan (New Holland Publishers, 2000) £10.99.
This guide aims to increase an awareness among both visitors and locals of how Sydney Harbour can be accessed for all kinds of purposes. Chapters deal with different sections of the harbour, and include reference maps and a location-by-location list of available amenities.

Walking Sydney by Jeff Toghill (New Holland, 2000) £10.99.
This guide provides 30 walks around Sydney as well as some of its surrounding area. It includes parks and bushland, galleries, markets, harbours, beaches and rivers. There is also practical information on how to access walks by public transport and the location of refreshments en route.

Websites

Aussie Traveller
www.wilmap.com.au/
A guide featuring maps of all parts of Australia. Details of common road trips with profiles of towns along the routes.

Australia.com
www.australia.com/
Official site of the Australian Tourist Commission. Masses of information for tourists and travellers including guides to different regions, resources and travel tips.

Blue Mountains Regional Tourism
www.bluemts.com.au/
Official guide to the attractions, events and accommodation on offer in this beautiful NSW region. Links to local businesses and services.

Lonely Planet: Australia
www.lonelyplanet.com/dest/aust/aus.htm
This overview from the guidebook publisher offers coverage of Aussie history, culture, travelogues, transportation facilities and travel resources.

Sydney Tourist Guide
www.ozemail.com.au/~tourism/sydney/
Exhaustive guide to arts, entertainment, shopping, culture and beaches in Sydney.

Tasmania

Capital Hobart

Situation 240km (150 miles) south of mainland Australia, this island state is made up of Tasmania and many smaller surrounding islands. It is bounded by the Tasman Sea on the east and the Indian Ocean on the south and west, and on the north, Bass Strait separates the island from Australia.

Population 471,100

Surface area 67,800sq km (26,178sq miles) including numerous smaller and uninhabited islands.

Geography Tasmania is part of the Great Dividing Range, which stretches across mainland Australia. It has a very diverse landscape, with bushland, farmland, rainforest and rugged mountains. Much of Tasmania has been designated as national parkland, including the South-West National Park, which has been named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Climate Mild and moist, temperatures rarely rise above 25°C (77°F). The island is also prone to strong winds and heavy rain.

What to expect Until 1852, Tasmania was a prison, where convicts were sent to 'hell on earth' – even today, prison and other grimly Gothic buildings lie empty throughout the island. These contrast with rural Tasmania, which is said to be years behind the rest of Australia, giving the island an old-fashioned charm. If you are looking for outdoor exploration, walking and clean air, this island provides it all in a landscape of contrasts and extremes.

Attractions

• The World Heritage Area Located in the south-west of the island, which consists of mountains, rainforest and plains, this area comprising several parks provides great wilderness walking and rafting.
• Hobart Australia's most southern and smallest city. Built along a riverside, it offers a range of attractions including Salamanca Place, sandstone warehouses on the harbour front and the Cascade Brewery.
• Port Arthur Officially Tasmania's No. 1 tourist attraction, this was established as a prison settlement for male convicts. It is now a visitors' centre set in 40 hectares (98 acres) of landscaped ground.

How to get there No international flights fly into Tasmania, only domestic flights from mainland Australia. Flights from Sydney take two hours and can be booked on both Ansett and Qantas (see Sydney for numbers).

The usual way to get to Tasmania is across Bass Strait on the TT Line's Spirit of Tasmania ferry from Port Melbourne to Devonport – an 14-hour overnight crossing.

Books

Lonely Planet: Tasmania by Lynn McGuarr, John Chapman and Monica Chapman (Lonely Planet, 1999) £10.99.
Provides travellers on any budget with the information needed to get around Tasmania. Covers history, culture, flora and fauna, accommodation, language, local cuisine and health and safety.

A Short History of Tasmania by Lloyd Robson and Michael Roe (Oxford University Press Australia and New Zealand, 1998) £12.00.
Concise and lively history of Tasmania from its earliest times to the late 1990s. It is also a case study of British colonisation in Australia, tracing the rocky path from invasion to modernity, from the rigours of Van Dieman's Land to the Franklin Dam controversy.

Tasmanian Birds by Dave Watts and David Baker-Gabb (New Holland, 2000) £15.99.
Each entry includes information on identification, behaviour, voice, habitat and breeding, accompanied by a colour photograph and distribution map.

Websites

Interactive Tour of Tasmania
www.tased.edu.au/tot/java/
Gives a brief guide to Tasmania, providing a taste of some of the scenery and attractions that the island state has to offer.

Tasmania Online
www.tas.gov.au/
Official homepage of the government of Tasmania, with a comprehensive index to all Tasmanian content on the web.

Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service
www.parks.tas.gov.au/tpws.html
Informative visitors' guide to the national parks and wildlife of Tasmania, with the latest news and an in-depth look at the World Heritage Areas.

Top