Oceania

Australia

7 guides across 1 destination — where to go, when, what it costs and what to eat.

Where to go

Destinations in Australia

A red and white light rail tram running down George Street in Sydney's CBD, framed by high-rise towers

Best october–november and february–april

Before you go

Practical essentials for Australia

Money

Australian dollar (AUD)

Language

English

Power

Type I, 230V 50Hz

Getting around

In Sydney tap a contactless bank card or phone straight onto trains, metro, buses, ferries and light rail — same fares, transfers and daily caps as an Opal card.

Tipping

Not expected — hospitality staff earn a full minimum wage, so rounding up or about 10% after a good meal is a bonus, never an obligation.

Tap water

Tap water is safe to drink throughout the country.

Driving

Left-hand side; visitors may drive on their home licence, but it must be in English or carried with an International Driving Permit or certified translation.

Emergency

000 (all services); 112 also works from a mobile

Country-level guidance, checked against official sources. Currency, fares and entry rules change — confirm anything time-critical before you travel.

Latest

Recent stories from Australia

The Bondi Icebergs ocean pool at the edge of the Pacific in Sydney, surf breaking over its sea wall under a cloudy sky

Sydney essentials: arriving, getting around and doing it right

Treat the harbour as a transport network rather than a view, and Sydney opens up: how to arrive, how to get around, where to base yourself, and when to come.

Sydney · 9 min

A barista pouring steamed milk into a flat white, creating latte art in a white cup held in one hand

Coffee, cake and people-watching in Sydney

Sydney's cafe culture is a morning discipline: swim first, flat white second, and the best tables gone by eleven.

Sydney · 9 min

The steel arch of the Sydney Harbour Bridge seen from close to the water, with the harbourside shoreline and turquoise water beneath it

Green Sydney: the parks, gardens and easy escapes locals love

Sydney's beaches get the postcards, but its harbour gardens, Victorian parklands and train-reachable bushland are the version of the city locals actually use — and almost all of it is free.

Sydney · 13 min

Sydney Harbour seen from above Circular Quay, with the white sails of the Opera House, ferries cutting wakes across the water and the CBD skyline behind

Sydney: Harbour, Beaches and the Perfect First Visit

The postcard is real — but Sydney's genius is everyday life on the water. How to structure a first visit around ferries, ocean pools and the coast path from Bondi to Coogee.

Sydney · 3 min

Aerial view of Sydney Harbour with the Harbour Bridge spanning the water, ferry wakes criss-crossing the bays and the city sprawling to the horizon

Sydney Beyond the Crowds

Past the Opera House selfie lines lies another Sydney: convict-built islands, hidden harbourside gardens and clifftop trails where the city empties out.

Sydney · 2 min

Bondi Icebergs seen from the air, the long turquoise ocean pool cut into the rocks at the southern end of Bondi Beach with surf breaking white against its outer wall.

A Sydney Weekend, Hour by Hour

Two days, one harbour, zero wasted daylight. A precise Friday-to-Sunday plan that strings together the Opera House, the coastal walk and the Manly ferry.

Sydney · 2 min

Three plates of Asian-style dishes on a wooden table: sliced grilled beef with greens and onion, crumbed parcels and a herb-topped salad, scattered with chilies, cashews and coriander

What to Eat in Sydney: The Essential Dishes and Where to Find Them

Rock oysters, flat whites, yum cha and the perfect meat pie — Sydney's food story is told dish by dish, neighborhood by neighborhood.

Sydney · 2 min