What to know in Sydney – Travel Guide 2020

Looking for a Sydney Australia travel guide? You are in the right place! Here I cover what to know in Sydney and more. Such as how to apply for a visa for Australia? where to stay, where to eat, the point of interest in Sydney, and basically everything you need to know before you go. This is the ultimate Sydney travel guide right here. (Updated 2020)

What to know in Sydney

How to apply visa for Australia?

There are many options to choose from when it comes to Visa. Australia wants the world to come and enjoy our great weather and beautiful sights!

It could be just a holiday visa, working holiday, students, partner, joining a family, starting a business, investing, and more types of visas are available. You can use this official Australian Immigration website to find out which visas fit you best and how to apply.  This is a brand new government site which they are testing at the moment (Sep 2018) and you can provide feedback as well.

If you wish to use the old and trusted website, go here.

As most of my readers are from the USA –  Most U.S. passport holders travelling to Australia for tourism or business purposes for less than 90 days can obtain an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA). Apply on Australian government official website here.

Remember while on the tourist visa, working isn’t legal in Australia unless you have a working holiday visa. 

Note

The visa application fee is nonrefundable, so make sure that your information is entered correctly the first time and that your photo meets the specifications.

Is WIFI any good? What about the local sim?

Compared to international standard, WIFI is a little slow here in Australia but it does the job. Most cafes would give you a password once you order your coffee. For free WIFI head to the nearest library.

In regards to the local sim, if you have an unlocked phone that is compatible with Australian GSM technology, then all you will need is a SIM card and a prepaid plan. Having said that, there are other options available too. For example Package deals, data deals, capped inclusions, and contract options. I suggest comparing either one of the following 4 major cell phone carriers in Australia and buy what suits you best.

1 Telstra – Australia’s leading provider of mobile phones, mobile devices, home phones and broadband internet, 2. Optus – second in the area covered behind Telstra; about 30 personal plans + 8 business plans; 3. Vodaphone – the smaller of the 3 major providers and covers mostly metropolitan and larger regional areas); about 38 plans; and 4. Virgin Mobile – uses the Optus network; about 27 plans.

What cell phone/plan is good?

Well, that depends on what you are after. If you are like me a social media fanatic then perhaps best to get a data plan but if you are into talking and texting a lot then getting a call and msg plan would suit. There can be many considerations like how much data you might need, what network coverage is available and whether you should enter into a contract or go prepaid. But if you are here for a short amount of time, I wouldn’t worry too much, and just get a prepaid plan that you can cancel anytime.

However, if you are planning to travel or live in Australia for over 3 months, then spend some time researching beforehand as many options are available. Weigh up prepaid vs entering a contract.

How to book the cheap flights to Sydney?

I swear by using these two websites Skyscanner and Momodo.

Skyscanner lets you search “everywhere” to see where is cheaper to fly to and from! It also lets you search full month if you are flexible with dates. Momodo lets you filter by airline alliance, which is also helpful when trying to earn frequent flyer miles in a particular loyalty program. It also displays an overview of information about your route and the factors that affect the price.

Note

Remember to use an incognito window for searching or clear your browser’s cache after searching to avoid price increases! But if you are using Skyscanner mobile app there is no need for incognito mode.

Read the most wanted travel resource here.

After years of full-time travelling, I’ve spent hours trying to figure out how to travel cheaper and better. This is a collection of the best travel resources when it comes to flights, accommodation, gear, travel insurance, and more. I have personally used all of those items listed and recommend to you.

How to get around in Sydney?

Here’s is all you need to know about getting around Sydney.

Sydney is well serviced by public transport across buses, trains, ferries, and light rail. Public transport inquiries number is 13 15 00 or transportnsw.info

If you are using public transportation, I recommend buying Opal card which is the ticket to ride the train, ferry, light rail, and bus services around Sydney and in the neighbouring areas of the blue mountains, the central coast, the hunter and the Illawarra. You can buy an Opal card from retailers including news agencies, 7/11, supermarkets, and some pharmacies. Just load dollar amounts onto the Opal card and tap on and off at Opal card readers.

Buses
Bus routes service most of Sydney. Check the website or your google map for convenient and current routes.

Trains
Rail lines service much of the city plus inner and out suburbs. Airport lin train is the most convenient method of transport between Sydney Airport and the CBD.

Taxis, cars, and Rideshare
Taxi ranks are available around the city and at the airport. Ride-share service Uber operates in Sydney, with a designated pickup area at the airport. Car hire is available at the airport and points around the city from companies including Avis, Budget, Thrifty, and Hertz.

Handy Info

Currency = Australian Dollars
Hello = Good Day, G’day!
Bye = See you later!
Capital City = Canberra
Main cities and 6 states = (Sydney -New South Wales, Melbourne -Victoria, Adelaide -South Australia, Perth -Western Australia, Brisbane -Queensland, Hobart -Tasmania) and 2 territories (Canberra -Australian Capital Territory and Alice Springs -Northern Territory)

Best Sydney Travel Guide

Must do and must-see in Sydney

Here is the extensive list of must-do things in Sydney. How many of these AMAZING activities can you tick off?

If you click the photo above, it is show you the best way to see it all in 5 days in Sydney. It is literally the best sydeny itinerary for 5 days! Enjoy

What are the best walks in and around Sydney?

Sydney has great weather all around. So here I have put together the best walks in and around Sydney. 

What are Sydney’s top attractions?

I took the time to go to many places in Sydney and came out with some awesome and different experiences. Enjoy this list of Sydney’s top attractions. 

Where to stay in Sydney?

 Another addition to what to know in Sydney is where to stay! Did you know Sydney is made up of 658 suburbs and residents of Sydney are known as “Sydney Siders”? Well, I have crafted a blog post answering this very question. If you want to pick the best place in town or to find out the options that are available, you will find this where to stay in Sydney post helpful.

On a side note, if you aren’t camping, the easy alternative is to stay at Airbnb. You would be spoilt for choice on some of the best neighbourhoods.

For my readers, here is a $76 discount for your first booking with Airbnb. Open a new account with a new email and enjoy the discount on your first booking!

What about the best beaches that Sydney is famous for?

Here I have handpicked the 9 best beaches in Sydney, Australia for families (for a change:)

Any hidden bays and secret beaches?

Since I am local, I have been to many hidden gems in Sydney. Here I am sharing my hidden beaches and bays just for you guys.

Where to get the coffee and cafe fix?

I covered that question too 🙂 You can find the guide to cool cafes in Sydney, Australia here.

Recommendations on where to eat in Sydney?

As you can imagine, there are thousands of dining places to choose from. This guide comes from my personal experience of eating at many restaurants in Sydney multiple times. So, they are on the list after a long and hard trial! They won’t break your bank either, prices are reasonably standard except for the Japanese one as it’s a fine dine. This straight to the point guide will help you uncover different cuisines and restaurants not to miss in Sydney, Australia.

I have written a blog post dedicated to where to eat in Sydney. 

Where are the most Instagrammable places in Sydney, Australia?

As a lover of beautiful places, I seek and find Insta worthy places in all the countries I travel to. The time has finally arrived to share my favourite Insta worthy places in my own backyard. See the most Instagrammable places in Sydney, Australia

I hope this what to know in Sydney piece helped plan your travels.

Camera kits I used to take these photos:

Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II Digital Camera

This has been my favorite Camera so far. I love how my pictures come out crisp and colorful. It also has a screen which is useful when vblogging. You can check out what I meant on my Instagram which is here.

Accessories For Canon GX7 Mark || Check it out here

GoPro HERO4 Silver

This is the good old Go pro that I take with me everywhere. I recommend it because it is small, lightweight and waterproof. I have had made many memories with this trusted item and looking forward to more.

Accessories For Go Pro Hero 4 Check it out here

SanDisk 64 GB Memory Cards

I have been using SanDisk since my first camera which was back in 2009. They build quality memory cards. I recommend getting at least two, just in case something happens to one of them.

All-in-One Memory Card Reader

Do you think it’s a hassle of plugging your camera into your computer? This memory card reader will fit cards of all sizes and make an easy transfer to your computer. The reader supports all popular SD memory card formats, including SD™/SDHC™/SDXC™ memory cards, UHS-I SDHC/SDXC memory cards, and microSDHC™/microSDXC™ memory cards. It is also compatible with the latest UDMA 7-enabled CompactFlash cards.

Let me know in the comments if you 

• have any other questions about what to know in Sydney
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• Going to Vietnam after Australia? Check out the 7 days Hanoi travel guide.
• If you need to book accommodations for your next travels, get $76 discount with Airbnb here.
• Alternatively, you can check hotel prices and book it through trusted Agoda, or Booking.com
• Read the most wanted travel resource here.
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