Discover SYDNEY

Sydney, Australia's gateway city and the capital of New South Wales (and the site for the 2000 Olympics) is built around one of the most beautiful harbours in the world, and along kilometres of golden beaches stretching north and south of the city on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. A vibrant city for a visa for Australia, and if you want to emigrate to Australia on a business owner visa or skilled work visa.

Sydney is a truly spectacular Australian city.

The one thing that may deter people who are thinking of emigrating to Australia on an Australian permanent visa, may be the cost of living in Sydney.

Jobs for medical professionals, jobs for electricians or jobs for teachers and other skilled professionals will still be in demand in Sydney, though the cost of housing and others is more expensive than in other Australian cities.

If you want an Australian visa assessment to begin your path of moving to Sydney, then just register at the top-right and you can have an Australian visa assessment.

This is a better way than going to an Australia migration expo, because you can be fully assessed, in detail, by a real person, from the comfort of your own home.

If you want to emigrate to Australian on an Australian business owner visa, or you want to be assessed for an Australian work visa, then we deal with all these.

An Australian spouse visa for your husband, wife, or fiance, is also one option if you are the spouse of an Australian.

Best ways to get around

Taking a City Circle train, the Monorail or walking is the best way of seeing city attractions, while buses and ferries represent the best way to visit points and attractions around the harbour. The government-run Explorer Buses and Sydney Pass service represent an ideal and inexpensive way to see most of the main tourist points around the city and out to Bondi. Sydney Ferries, which are also government run, provide an inexpensive way of seeing the most beautiful harbour in the world. (See map of ferry cruises around Sydney Harbour.) For excursions around the harbour, private operators offer a myriad of harbour cruises that promise more than a just a simple ferry ride. If you're wanting to take a bus around the broader Sydney area, try Sydney Buses and Sydney Ferries' excellent Tripfinder, an automated search facility that gives route and timetable details.

Airport

Sydney's Kingsford Smith Airport is located in Mascot near Botany Bay, about 10 km southwest of the Central Business District and Sydney Harbour. Allow 30 minutes if you're traveling to the City or Kings Cross by taxi, and 1 hour if traveling by bus.

Currency

Australian dollar ($A)=100 cents. Most banks convert foreign currency.

Credit Cards

Major credit cards, like Visa, MasterCard and (to a lesser extent) Amex and Diners Card, are accepted.

Tipping

Three-star to five-star hotels, as well as most restaurants welcome tips. Hand over A$1-A$2 to porters per luggage, 10-15 percent of your restaurant bill to service staff in restaurants. For cab drivers, simply round up the fare to the nearest dollar.

Useful Numbers

Police, fire and ambulance: 000
Sydney Airport Information Line: +02 9667-9111
VISA Lost Card Hotline: 1-800-125-440

Electricity

240 volts, 50 cycles AC. Appliances without converters require a transformer. Those with converters will require an adapter with a three-pronged plug. Most hotels provide 110 volt-outlets for small appliances.

Health Risks

Although Australia lies in the tropics, tropical diseases such as malaria and yellow fever are unheard of. Diseases caused by unsanitary conditions such as cholera and typhoid are virtually unknown. It is generally safe to eat at local restaurants as the health department is very strict. Tap water is safe to drink.

Time Zone

Australia has three time zones: East Australia (including Sydney) is GMT + 10, same as Guam. West Australia is GMT + 8, same as Hong Kong. Central Australia is GMT + 9 hours and 30 minutes.

Business hours

Shops are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays, and 8.30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturdays. Some shops close 9 p.m. on Thursdays. Tourist shops may be open on Sundays. Banks are generally open 9:30 a.m. to 4p.m., Monday to Thursday, and 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday. Some banks extend hours and open on Saturday mornings.

Holidays

Jan. 1, New Year's Day
Jan. 26, Australia Day
Apr. 13, Good Friday
Apr. 16, Easter Monday
Apr. 25, Anzac Day
June 2, Queen's Birthday
Dec. 25, Christmas Day
Dec. 26, Boxing Day.

Climate

Generally arid to semi-arid. Temperate in the south and east, semi-tropical in the north. In Australia, seasons are reversed from those in the Northern Hemisphere. Summer in Sydney is from December to February; autumn is from March to May; winter is from June to August, and spring is from September to November.

Clothing

The usual business attire would be a suit and a tie for men. For women, a dress or a smart suit is the norm.

Government

Democratic, federal-state system, member of the British commonwealth. Three bodies established by the Australian Constitution -- Parliament (legislative), Commonwealth Executive (executive) and Federal Judicature (judicial powers) -- make Australia a constitutional monarchy, a federation and a parliamentary democracy.

Geography

Australia, the world's smallest continent but sixth-largest country is situated between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean. Sydney is located in East Australia

Population (July 1999 est.)

Sydney: 3.7 million

Major Ethnic Groups

Caucasian (92%), Asian (7%), aboriginal and other (1%)

Language

English, Aboriginal

Religion

Anglican, Roman Catholic, Christian, non-Christian, Muslim

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