7 Tips For First Time Sydney Visitors

Thank you so much to Alexander Hunkin for this guest post!

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Sydney, one of the most beautiful cities on earth. Rich in culture, food, sunshine and good vibes, it has it all. With all that in mind, we have taken the liberty of writing up some tips on how to make the most of your time there.

There are many smoke-free zones

If you have not quit smoking by the time your trip starts (something you really should do anyway) then you need to be aware of Sydney’s anti-smoking laws. Namely, you cannot smoke anywhere where food is served, you can’t smoke at bus and train stations, sporting grounds, building entrances, public recreation areas… There are even some streets, like Pitt Street mall, that are completely smoke-free.

Sydney is all about early birds.

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Almost everything opens up at 6 or 7 am. However, this also means that a lot of places close by 9 pm, like shops and restaurants. The bars and clubs are no different, they close their doors by 1.30 am, and everybody has to get out by 3 am. There are even some places that close before midnight. Also, some restaurants close even sooner on either a Monday or a Sunday night. You should probably check, just in case.

Getting from point A to point B

Keep in mind that you have a bus every 30 minutes or so. Also keep in mind that they are often late. The same goes for ferries, so public transit isn’t really reliable. We advise you rent a car, especially if you’re travelling with family. Just be sure that you have everything set up in accordance with child seat laws in NSW, and any other traffic laws for that matter.

Check out a real community barbecue

First of all, don’t ever say “Put another Shrimp on the Barbie” – nobody says that in Australia, unless you’re trying to be ironic. Clichéd phrases aside, Australians really do love their barbecue, and for good reason. You’re out in the fresh air, the food is delicious, and everybody’s having fun. So what you should definitely search for is a free barbecue spot. There are barbecues scattered around the city parks and beaches, places where you can legally cook and fry some stuff up.

Check out the whales

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Ever wanted to bask in the majesty of the biggest living animals on earth? Well now you can see the whales, as there have been many sightings of whales in this area. There are even apps where people report sightings that you can check out.

The Sun here is no joke

The Australian sun is not something that should be taken lightly. Many a tourist made the mistake of coming to Sydney ill-prepared, and leaving with a very serious sunburn. And on a more serious note, this can cause skin issues, and even heatstroke. Even if you think you’re used to it, you should take all the necessary precautions, like staying hydrated and wearing sunblock. Always carry a reusable water bottle with you, and stock up on sunblock. A straw sun-hat and sunglasses are also important items.

So much art!

There are several galleries you can visit, and most of them are free. For example, the Museum of Contemporary Art, or the Art Gallery of New South Wales have permanent exhibitions that are free. Some exhibits, however, require you to purchase tickets, but, as we’ve said, some do not.

Some other public art institutions are open until p.m., and often have free public programming you can check out. And of course, the world-famous Sydney Opera House is right there, just waiting for you. You simply must go in. It hosts 2000 events per year, being a home for theatre, classical music, and rock.

Conclusion

And there you have it folks, a couple of tips for any first time Sydney visitor. Just take the entire city in, protect yourself from the Sun, and enjoy your stay.

Have you ever been to Sydney?