Planning on living in Sydney? This is the guide you need!
Our guide was written by Merryn Calear and last published on Tuesday 7th September 2010, it's the 2nd edition.
Sydney is one of the world's most spectacular locations. Surrounding a large weaving harbour and set against beautiful beaches, its dramatic skyline and natural beauty sets a breathtaking backdrop to this vibrant, modern, young city. Sydney is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, Australia.
Sydney is a young city. Although the land had been occupied by Aboriginies for 50,000 years, it only became a city when the British established a prison settlement for British prisoners in 1788. From this it grew into a city by accident, rather than design.
Sydney is home to over 4 million people and has a rich and diverse mix of cultures from a wide range of countries and backgrounds. Forty percent of Sydney's population were born overseas. English is the language spoken in Australia, however, because it is a multicultural city, many large services provide information in other languages as well. Sydney's people have given the city a distinctly cosmopolitan flavour, making it a welcoming city for people of nationalities. Sydney is friendly and you'll here the phrase "no worries" used ubiquitously which appropriately sums up the easy going attitude of Sydneysiders.
Sydney is economically strong and has performed well in the face of the Global Financial Crisis. Currency in Australia is the Australian Dollar and its value is stable. You'll be able to find whatever your heart desires in Sydney's CBD and inner city shopping precincts; from major department stores and shopping centres, through to a plethora of restaurants and harbourside activity.
…| Currency | Australian Dollar ($AUD) |
|---|---|
| Language | English is the official language spoken in all states of Australia |
| Time zone | Sydney has two different time zone, depending on the time of the year. The first time zone is the standard: Australian Eastern Standard Time, GMT+10 The second time zone is: Australian Eastern Daylight Saving Time, GMT+11 which is used during daylight saving (October until March) To check which time zone Sydney will be in when you arrive, visit: http://www.timezoneconverter.com To find out the exact time of day in Sydney (or any part of the world, for that matter) http://www.horlogeparlante.com |
| Dialing code | When dialing Sydney from an international location, you will need to use the international dialing code, country code, local area code and then the telephone number (as indicated below) International Dialing Code 0011 + Australia 61 + Sydney (0)2 When dialing Sydney from within Australia (but outside of Sydney) , the local area code for Sydney is 02. |
| Temperature | Sydney enjoys a temperate climate with average Summer temperatures of 24 to 29 degrees in January and average winter temperatures of 18 to 20 degrees in July. |
| Electrics | Australia uses a three pin plug AS 3112 (Australian 10 A/240 V). Each pin is rectangular in section, Earth vertical, Phase and Neutral angled at about 35 degrees forming an upside down V-shape. Australian power outlets are 240 Volts – which is worth considering if you plan to bring appliances from countries where the standard is 120 Volts. |
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The full guide contains over 25 chapters of information covering all practical aspects of moving overseas; from fulfilling legal obligations through to choosing a home for your family. Written by expats, for expats, we do not give you the “official version”, we give you the “real version” and that’s exactly what you will need to have the best possible start to your new life in Sydney. You can purchase our Sydney guide by clicking on the links on the right-hand side of this page.
If you have a discount code you'll be able to enter it before you make your payment.
