Sydney travel guide

The Sydney travel guide has information on Sydney tourism with all the Sydney information that a visitor or local will need. Find it all using the navigation above, the site map or click on the headings.

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In central Sydney a car is not needed as public transport is good and includes the Sydney ferries. If you intend to visit the Blue Mountains or Hunter Valley and other areas around Sydney then renting a car is the best way to go and driving is easy.

Sydney which is located on the south east coast of Australia is built around Port Jackson and the Sydney Harbour. In fact, Sydney is known as the harbour city and is famous for, amongst other things, the Sydney Opera House which seems to rise up out of the harbor in spectacular glory. All around the harbour are beaches, tucked into the various inlets and coves all framed by the iconic Sydney harbour bridge.

Sydney is not the official Capital of Australia that honour goes to Canberra, but Sydney has always worked hard for the unofficial title in competition with Melbourne. Sydney is Australia 's most populous city and really it's the big sister city to all the rest. It is fast paced and vibrant and known for its world-class events, restaurants, shopping, night-life, markets, arts, live music and sporting events. It's a city which heaves with life.

Sydney tours

On Sydney eGuide there are many Sydney tours that you can book before you arrive or when in Sydney.

Browse our search box above but here are a few ideas. Fancy climbing an iconic Australian landmark? Want fantastic views? Have the excitement of climbing around 130m vertically above the Sydney Harbour?

Tick all the boxes with the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb, a 3 ½ hour adventure along the catwalks and up the stairs that form this great engineering marvel. At the top, the views are unbeatable, stretching all the way to the Blue Mountains on a clear day.

Explore the sights of Sydney Harbour from the comfort of a luxury cruiser, or charter a sailboat and feel the wind in your hair as you cut through the water. Look out for the two most famous harbour landmarks - the glamorous architecture of the Sydney Opera House and the structural wonder of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Tour during the day for the gorgeous views of the shoreline and golden beaches, or take a romantic dinner cruise and share the views of the twinkling city lights with someone special. Visit one of the world's most recognisable architectural structures and be guided through the drama and scandal that makes up the history of the grand building. Tour backstage and get a first hand look at where usually only the stars of the theatre are granted access. What better way to top off your tour with high tea overlooking the fabulous Sydney Harbour.

Explore the beaches famous for their beautiful people and toned lifeguards. In Bondi, take a relaxed tour through the home of Australia's oldest Surf Lifesaving Club (or the one where they film Home and Away!), before catching some waves with a professional surfing lesson. Join a guided shopping tour to find the hidden gems tucked away in the trendy Bondi back streets.

In Manly, hire a bike and explore the 20 kilometres of bike trails winding around coastline and explore the old North Head forts and tunnels, offering awesome views of the city. At night, face your fears with a sleep over at Manly's former Quarantine Station - a hotbed of paranormal activity!

The mysterious Blue Mountains offer a perfect day trip destination from Sydney. Just 90 minutes from the city, Katoomba township is home to the impressive Three Sisters, a touring geologic formation with strong cultural significance. Head to Scenic World on the glass bottomed cable car, suspended over 700m above a forest filled ravine. Once there, enjoy a thrilling ride on the world's steepest incline railway in the world, then take a leisurely walk through the ancient rainforest.

Immerse yourself in the underwater world of Sydney Aquarium - one of the largest collections of Australian sea life in the world. Great whites cruise lazily overhead in the shark tunnel, while the two dugongs, Pig and Wuru, hang out at Mermaid Beach. Make sure you catch the live feedings daily - the shark feedings can be viewed from the safety of the centre's glass-bottomed boat!

Sydney events

Any time of the year is a great time to visit Sydney. There are a number of regular events held here throughout the year including the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and the Sydney Film Festival and Sydney is also the birth place of one of Australia biggest rock festivals, the Big Day Out. There are plenty of events, shows and festivals in Sydney, Australia. A good way to find out what is on is to buy a copy of the Sydney Herald or the Sydney Telegraph which have full listings for the Sydney Opera House, Sydney theatres and Sydney cinemas and full Sydney news. Some of the big Sydney events are the Sydney to Hobart Yacht race; City to Surf run; the Sydney fireworks at New Year; NRL Grand Final; Royal Easter Show; Big Day Out; Sydney Australia Day Celebrations; Archibald Prize; Rugby League State Of Origin; Golden Slipper Stakes;and the Sydney Festival.

Sydney transport

Sydney transport options are numerous and cater to the large numbers of domestic and international visitors who travel through the airports, train and bus stations every day. Sydney Airport operates services around the world, as well as domestic flights from Sydney all over Australia. Airport Link trains run from the airport to the city centre every 10 minutes and it only takes about 15 minutes' travel time.

Sydney weather

Sydney weather is temperate, with warm summers and mild winters. Rainfall is pretty evenly spread throughout the year but Summer tends to be slighter wetter. The average annual rainfall is 1217 mm with rain actually falling on 138 days a year. Sydney is famous for its clear blue sky days and it experiences more clear days in winter than any other capital city. The warmest time is between October and March and the autumn/winter period is April - September. During the spring/summer period temperatures will be in the range 15 – 26C and in the autumn/winter period in the range 10 - 22C.

If you are looking for something a little more culturally enlightened at night there are a number of performance companies in Sydney including the world class Sydney Theatre Company and Sydney Dance Company. Shoppers won't be disappointed either with a huge array of shopping experiences on offer including the contemporary, edgy and creative Oxford Street.

Sydney history stretches back some 40,000 years. The first inhabitants of the area were Aboriginal tribes, with European settlers arriving in 1788. Disease and gold fever characterised the early years of settlement, with the population exploding when gold was first discovered in the area. The population has continued to steadily rise since then and is now over four million.

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