Sydney, Australia + Add a trip

Automobiles

Sydney's public transport network is reasonably good, though the system relies heavily on buses so traffic jams can be a problem. Hiring a car is an easy option but can be a hair-raising experience due to the fast and furious attitude of the locals. Under Australia law you must carry your drivers licence and passport when in charge of a vehicle. Driving is on the left. Please be aware that speed cameras are numerous and there are heavy penalties.

Planes

Sydney's Kingsford Smith Airport (www.sydneyairport.com.au), 10 kilometres south of the city, is Australia's busiest. International and domestic terminals are a four-kilometre bus or train ride apart.

Trains

Central Station is Sydney's main rail terminus, with a network of inner-city, intercity and country destinations (www.cityrail.info).

Dialing

The international code for Australia is 61; the state code for New South Wales is 02.

Reads

Richard Flanagan's The Unknown Terrorist, set in post-9/11 Sydney, tells the terrifying tale of a pole dancer's fall in seedy, strobe-lit Kings Cross. If you're a fan of the Sydney Opera House, curl up with A Tribute to Jørn Utzon by photographer Katarina Stube and the architect's son Jan Utzon.

Do go / Don't Go

Sydney thrives in summer, so any time from December through to March is especially lovely. With a dangerously thin ozone layer, though, the sun is Sydney's biggest natural hazard - be sure to cover up.

Cuisine

Taxis

These are plentiful in Sydney and easily hailed in the street, but if you need to call one try Silver Service Cabs (13 31 00) or Premier Cabs (13 10 17). Drivers don't expect tips but often need directions - so it's best to have some idea of where you are going beforehand.

Tipping

Tips aren't expected, but 10 per cent will do nicely.

Currency

Australian dollar (AU$).

Packing

Swimmers, flip-flops and anything flashy - Sydneysiders aren't shy of strutting their stuff.

Arts

The Art Gallery of New South Wales (www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au) commands a grand classical building in the Domain housing a permanent collection of Australian, European and Asian pieces. There are also hot shows at the Museum of ContemporaryArt (www.mca.com.au), on the waterside at West Circular Quay (the café is perfect for people watching).

And...

In Surry Hills, the Brett Whiteley Studio (www.brettwhiteley.org) is a showcase for the late artist's work. To find out more about arts and culture events, consult Friday's Sydney Morning Herald.

Shopping

Venture to Paddington where you'll find the best of the fashion boutiques, arthouse cinemas, hip eateries and cool bars. Glenmore Road hosts the biggest designer boutiques such as Ksubi, Alannah Hill, Kirrily Johnston and Scanlan & Theodore. Queen Street in Woollahra is like an old-fashioned English high street lined with delis and antique shops. Crown Street in Surry Hills is great for vintage finds, while Campbell Parade and Hall Street in Bondi are fun for second-hand, surf and bikini stores. The upscale 19th-century Queen Victoria Building (QVB) in the CBD showcases Australian fashion alongside international designers. Interiors fans should check out Dinosaur Designs on Oxford Street for rainbow-bright tableware and jewellery, and the new Donna Hay General Store in Woollahra for pretty food, books and homewares.

Viewpoint

Take a walk through Sydney's Botanical Gardens overlooking the Opera House and Harbour Bridge or get up close and personal at the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Pylon Look-out (www.pylonlookout.com.au). The 'Coathanger' was built in 1924 and was at the time the world's largest single-span bridge.

Something

The Bondi to Bronte walk is an easy stroll around the headlands and a beautiful way to see Sydney's Eastern Beaches (if you're feeling energetic, keep going down to Coogee, four kilometres from Bondi). In November the trail comes alive with Sculpture by the Sea (www.sculpturebythesea.com), a free outdoor exhibition.