At the heart of the city is the harbour, arguably one of the most beautiful waterways in the world, where the curves of the Sydney Opera House shimmer in the sunlight and dozens of white sails float beneath the Harbour Bridge.
The state capital of New South Wales, Sydney is Australia's oldest and largest city and is regarded by many (particularly Sydneysiders) as the country's capital in all but name. It's a thriving centre for both business and the arts with a buzzing cafe culture, a vibrant nightlife, and a restaurant scene fit to rival the most gastronomic destinations.
The Sydney experience is essentially a physical one. Semitropical summers and mild winters mean that days spent indoors are rare. Take a dip in the ocean at Bondi Beach or stretch your legs along the coastal walk to Coogee. Learn to surf at Manly, swim laps at Icebergs pool, kayak around the harbour, catch some rays along the northern beaches or go bush in one of the national parks.
But despite what its neighbours might tell you, there is more to Sydney than it's good-looking exterior. The museums, galleries, theatres and concert venues should satisfy those seeking more cerebral pursuits. History buffs will enjoy The Rocks, where Sydney's sordid beginnings as a British penal colony remain, and further downtown grand Victorian structures sit side by side modern monoliths in glass and steel.
Sydney's Aboriginal heritage has, for the most part, been eclipsed by Australia's white history. Although Sydney has the highest Aboriginal population of any Australia city, a stroll around the city streets offers little evidence of their existence and they remain very much an invisible minority.
The city's busy social calendar means that at almost any time of year, a festival is underway. The summer months host numerous sporting events as well as film, art and theatre festivals but pick any month of the year and you're almost guaranteed to witness some sort of celebration.
Locals have long argued that Sydney is the city that has it all but it was only following the triumphant hosting of the 2000 Olympic Games that the rest of the world sat up and took notice. Now Sydney is a ‘must see' on many a traveller's itinerary
and once you've visited, you'll understand exactly why.
Full Airport Name
Sydney Airport
Address
Sydney Airports Corporation Limited, The Ulm Building, 1 Link Road, Sydney International Terminal, NSW 2020, Australia
Airport Code
SYD
Country Code
61
Telephone
(02) 9667 9111
Fax
(02) 9667 1592
Via the airport’s website
Website
Number of Terminals
3
Time Zone
GMT + 10 (GMT + 11 from last Sunday in October to last Sunday in March)
Location
The airport is located 9km (6 miles) south of Sydney.
Airport News
Planned for Sydney Airport is a major expansion and refurbishment of the T1 International Terminal. More than A$150 million will be spent on the expansion - which will be the first significant upgrade of T1's facilities since the 2000 Olympics. As part of this expansion programme, a A$65 million eight-storey car park for the International Terminal (T1) will be constructed. The car park will provide around 3,000 undercover parking spaces when it is completed in late 2008. T2 will also be redeveloped.
Transfer Between Terminals
An underground Airport Link connects the International and Domestic terminals. The T-Bus services operate frequent services between the terminals. Travellers changing between domestic and international flights (either way) may be eligible for the Qantas Seamless Transfer (tel: 131 313) service.
Driving Directions
Most routes to the airport are signposted; these signs indicate the most direct route to the airport. Travellers should visit the airport’s website for detailed driving directions from specific areas in Sydney.
Car Parking
The airport has three car parks. The T1 International Terminal Car Park is located on the Arrivals level of the T1 International Terminal. Domestic multi-storey and long-term car parks are also available. The Long-Term Car Park can be accessed via Ross Smith Avenue from General Holmes Drive or Sir Reginald Ansett Drive; follow the signs to the car park located near the heliport; there are regular courtesy shuttles to the terminals. Valet parking is also available.
Car Hire
Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, Red Spot and Thrifty are all represented. Car rental desks are located on the Arrivals level in the terminals.
Public Transport
Rail: An Airport Link (tel: (02) 8337 8417; website: www. airportlink.com.au) rail service connects T1 International Terminal, T2 Domestic Terminal, T3 Qantas Terminal, central Sydney and the Sydney suburbs. Airport Link stations are located at all terminals. Trains run to the Sydney Town Hall (journey time - 13 minutes). Tickets can be purchased on-line.
Road: Bus: Sydney Buses (tel: 131 500) operates a bus route between Bondi Junction and Burwood which includes the T1 International and T3 Domestic Terminals. The bus stops on the arrivals level of each of these terminals are clearly marked. Many shuttle bus companies provide a service between the airport and most Sydney suburbs and regional areas; these need to be booked in advance. Many hotels provide a transfer service for their guests.
Taxi: Each terminal has its own sheltered taxi rank. A taxi rank is located outside the mid-point of the Arrivals hall in T1 International Terminal (journey time to city centre - 30 minutes). Companies include Taxis Combined Services (tel: 133 300), Silver Service Fleet (tel: 133 100), Legion Cabs (tel: 131 451), Premier CabsSt George Cabs (tel: 132 166). (tel: 131 017) and
Road: Bus: Sydney Buses (tel: 131 500) operates a bus route between Bondi Junction and Burwood which includes the T1 International and T3 Domestic Terminals. The bus stops on the arrivals level of each of these terminals are clearly marked. Many shuttle bus companies provide a service between the airport and most Sydney suburbs and regional areas; these need to be booked in advance. Many hotels provide a transfer service for their guests.
Taxi: Each terminal has its own sheltered taxi rank. A taxi rank is located outside the mid-point of the Arrivals hall in T1 International Terminal (journey time to city centre - 30 minutes). Companies include Taxis Combined Services (tel: 133 300), Silver Service Fleet (tel: 133 100), Legion Cabs (tel: 131 451), Premier CabsSt George Cabs (tel: 132 166). (tel: 131 017) and
Information and Help Desks
The Tourism NSW Information Desk is located in the centre of the T1 International Terminal Arrivals level 1 and is open 0600-2300, providing information and help with accommodation, tours and dining in Sydney. Gold Ambassadors, who can provide information and answer queries on the airport, are stationed throughout the airport and have help desks in the Arrivals and Departures areas in the T1 International Terminal.
Airport Facilities
Money and communications: Bureaux de change and ATMs are located in all terminals. Postal and photocopying facilities can be found at Australia Post Shop, located in the centre of Departures level 2. A post office is located in the International Terminal. Internet terminals are located throughout the airport. Wireless Internet access is also available. Mobile telephone hire is available from Vodafone Rental stores in T1 Arrivals.
Eating and drinking: There are many restaurants, cafés and bars at the airport offering a wide variety of international and Australian cuisine.
Shopping: There are over 150 retail and service outlets, including duty-free, beauty and hair salons, a wine store, an Australian produce shop, international and Australian fashion stores, and a host of speciality stores.
Luggage: Smarte Carte operates a baggage storage service located at the northern end of the Arrivals level of T1 International Terminal; there is also a baggage storage facility on the Arrivals level of T2 Domestic Terminal. Trolleys are available troughout the airport. Inquiries about lost items should be made to the property office on level 3 of the T1 International Terminal (tel: (02) 9667 9583).
Other facilities: There is a medical centre in T1 International Terminal on the administration level 3. There is also a pharmacy in the Departures area. Free showers are available in both the Departures and Arrivals area of the T1 International Terminal. A prayer room is located on level 3 of the T1 International Terminal. There are child activity centres in T1 International Terminal and Kid’s Cinemas are located after immigration, near Gate 33. Child-sized toilets are installed in all female toilets and baby changing rooms are conveniently located throughout the terminals.
Eating and drinking: There are many restaurants, cafés and bars at the airport offering a wide variety of international and Australian cuisine.
Shopping: There are over 150 retail and service outlets, including duty-free, beauty and hair salons, a wine store, an Australian produce shop, international and Australian fashion stores, and a host of speciality stores.
Luggage: Smarte Carte operates a baggage storage service located at the northern end of the Arrivals level of T1 International Terminal; there is also a baggage storage facility on the Arrivals level of T2 Domestic Terminal. Trolleys are available troughout the airport. Inquiries about lost items should be made to the property office on level 3 of the T1 International Terminal (tel: (02) 9667 9583).
Other facilities: There is a medical centre in T1 International Terminal on the administration level 3. There is also a pharmacy in the Departures area. Free showers are available in both the Departures and Arrivals area of the T1 International Terminal. A prayer room is located on level 3 of the T1 International Terminal. There are child activity centres in T1 International Terminal and Kid’s Cinemas are located after immigration, near Gate 33. Child-sized toilets are installed in all female toilets and baby changing rooms are conveniently located throughout the terminals.
Conference and Business Facilities
Sydney Airport Executive Services (tel: (02) 9667 6534; website: www.execservices.com.au) hires out a number of business and conference venues in both T1 International Terminal and T2 Domestic Terminal. There are two meeting/function rooms (the Kingsford Smith Suite holds up to 400 delegates) and two VIP suites in T1, while T2 has meeting rooms, conference space and a function area catering for up to 1,000 people. A catering service is also available. Overhead projectors, screens, flipcharts and whiteboards come as standard, while AV equipment and sound systems are available on request. There are seven airline lounges in T1 and one in T2.
Facilities for Disabled Travellers
Facilities for disabled passengers include showers, toilets, ramps and lowered telephones, text telephones, telephones fitted with induction loops, and drinking fountains. Passengers with special needs should advise their airline at least 72 hours before departure. Wheelchairs are available from the Tourism New South Wales desk. Disabled parking spaces are located at the front of the T1 International Terminal, for valid badge holders.
Hotels
Nearby hotels include the Airport Sydney International Inn, 35 Levey Street, Arncliffe (tel: (02) 9556 1555; website: www.airportinn.com.au), with meeting facilities; Holiday Inn Sydney Airport, corner of Bourke Road and O’Riordan Street (tel: (02) 9330 0600; website: www.ichotelsgroup.com), with meeting and banquet facilities; Ibis Hotel Sydney Airport, 205-213 O’Riordan Street (tel: (02) 8339 8500; website: www.accorhotels.com.au); and Stamford Sydney Airport Hotel, corner of O’Riordan Street and Robey Street (tel: (02) 9317 2200; website: www.stamford.com.au), with a business centre, secretarial services and conference facilities. The Tourism New South Wales Travel Centre can help arrange accommodation in Sydney.
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