Welcome to Sydney!
We hope you enjoy your time in Sydney. To help with your journey the Local Organising Committee would like to offer some practical information.
Visas
All visitors to Australia need a visa – only New Zealand nationals are exempt.
For more information about visas please visit https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/electronic-travel-authority-601
Customs
When entering Australia you can bring in most articles free of duty, provided customs officers are satisfied they’re for personal use and that you’ll be taking them with you when you leave. Do note that there are strict controls on bringing organic materials in to Australia. Please see www.border.gov.au for more information.
Weather
We expect to have sunny weather in Sydney in December, the start of our summer. On average, the days are likely to be 25°C (77°F) and 17°C (62°F) at night.
Currency
The currency is the Australian dollar. Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 10% is included in the cost of items, and tipping is not expected.
Retail opening hours
Business trading hours are 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. In addition, most shops are open to 9pm Thursdays, 9am to 5pm Saturdays, and 10am to 4/5pm Sundays. Supermarkets such as Woolworths, Coles, IGA, Aldi will have their own extended training hours. Banks are open 9:30am-4pm weekdays (5pm Fridays).
Electricity
In Australia the power plugs and sockets are ‘type I’ (three prong). The standard voltage is 230 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz.
Local Transport
Sydney is well connected with a train, tram, bus and ferry network.
You will find transport details at Transport NSW (https://transportnsw.info),including a trip planner, timelines and route maps. Alternatively, download the TripView app which is a free app to help you negotiate public transport with real-time information.
There are several transport hubs in the Sydney city centre such as Wynyard; Railway Square by Central train station; the QVB close to Town Hall station; and Circular Quay by the ferry and train stop of the same name. Train stations near the University of Sydney are Redfern, and the major city train stration, Central.
For all forms of transport, you will need an Opal card. This is a pre-paid card that you tap on when you board, and tap off when you alight, otherwise you’ll be charged the maximum fare. You can purchase a single ticket or credit your Opal to a particular dollar value of your choice.
For more information for Opal card for visitors, see https://transportnsw.info/tickets-opal/opal/opal-for-visitors
Contactless cards can now be used as a form of payment on all modes of transport in Sydney. If you have an American Express, Mastercard or Visa credit or debit card or a linked device, you can use it to pay for your travel by tapping on and tapping off at Opal readers. Just look for the contactless payment symbol. Contactless payments are available on all public transport in the Opal network.
Where can I find out more?
For more information about activities and what is on around Sydney, please visit https://www.sydney.com
For more information about visiting NSW, please see https://www.visitnsw.com/
For more information about visiting Australia, please see http://www.australia.com/en
