Festivals in Sydney

Festivals in SydneySydney abounds with festivities and happenings for tourists and residents all year round. Off the bat, there are about 15 different popular Sydney festivals spaced out throughout the year. Here are some of the more sought after of Sydney’s festivals.

Sydney Festival – this festival takes place in January, It includes a celebration of Sydney’s culture with theater plays and performances, art exhibits, and concerts. This festival is held in different venues every year, which keeps the anticipation always on a high.

The Tropfest – Held either in February or March, the Tropfest is Sydney’s festival for short films. Open to entries from around the world, Tropfest has been named the world’s largest short film festival, and has been gaining population steadily over the years

Sydney’s Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras – Now here’s a February showstopper that always manages to catch even the most jaded by surprise. This is the world’s biggest gay festival. The Mardi Gras is highlighted by a gay costume parade on Oxford Street. Sydney’s festival for gays typically ends with a final all night party.

Royal Easter Show – Held in March or April, and coinciding of course, with the Catholic religious celebration of Easter, this Sydney festival is your typical farm show that lasts for almost 2 weeks. The Royal Easter show is usually held in Sydney’s Olympic Park and the number of tourists and residents that join this particular Sydney festival sometimes have no religious affiliation whatsoever.

Sydney Film Festival – This is one of Sydney’s festival that also draws huge crowds. Naturally, the reason being the number of celebrity turnouts during the Awards Night. Nevertheless, the quality of films shown in this film festival have been of world class, outstanding standards. The Sydney Film Festival is held in June at the State Theater.

Sydney Design Week – This Sydney festival celebrates the pride of Sydney’s art and design students and experts. Sydney is obviously well intent on giving due recognition to deserving Australians who bring honor to the country with their designs and art work.

During the month of August, you will enjoy different exhibitions and forums of art and design. Experts are invited to grace the event, and many art tours are organized to bring attention to the wonderful artistry of Sydney.

City to Surf – Also held in August, this particular festival is a project that hopes to revive running. It’s a marathon with over 50,000 athletes, residents and tourists running for 14 km around Hyde Park all the way to Bondi Beach.

Good Food Month – This special Sydney festival is a gastronomic delight. Held in the “beery” month of October, it is held in different venues and includes talks and workshops on food and food preparation, food markets, and lots of culinary delights.

One of the finest of all of Sydney’s festivals is the world famous New Year Eve Countdown in Sydney Harbour. Every December 31, video from Sydney Harbour is beamed all over the globe as one of the most exciting and extravagant displays of fireworks in the world.

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Sydney’s Wildlife

Sydney’s wildlife is not just the kangaroo. It may be the animal most associated with Australia, but you will be surprised to find out that the wildlife of Sydney is very diverse taking into account the breathtaking extreme bounties of nature.
Where can you go to find Sydney’s wildlife?

1.Sydney Wildlife World – having been in operation since 2006, this is one of Sydney’s wildlife homes. It is home to the different kinds of animals you will find in the bush, rainforest, swamps, and desert of Australia.

There are ecosystems in this place to help animals adjust easily to their cages. Today, there are over 6000 different species of birds, animals, insects, all of which are animals you would normally find inside as jungle.

2. Taronga Zoo – this has the largest collection of wild animals from Australia and the rest of the world. This 21 hectares of raw land was transformed to accommodate all the different animals. As a public zoo, Taronga Zoo does great service to the young children so they know learn more about animals in a a more practical way.

3. Featherdale Wildlife Park – This park is located about half an hour away from Sydney central, in the western side of Sydney. Here in this Sydney’s wildlife park, there are over 2000 different species of wildlife found in Australia, like the kangaroo, koalas, and of course the different reptiles.

4. Sydney Aquarium – This is a public aquarium that you will find in the heart of Sydney. Here you will find over 600 different kinds of fish and sea Sydney Aquariumcreatures that come from Australia’s water forms.

Modern and similar to the US’s aquatic museums, the Sydney Aquarium has been attracting tons of tourist, students, and residents alike. There is something calming about watching fish swim about that makes one want to keep going back to this specific aquarium.

This display of Sydney’s wildlife started operations in 1988 and is considered to be one the biggest aquariums in the world. Every year, the statistics of how many visitors a year come to see Sydney’s wildlife keep increasing.

There are other places where Sydney’s wildlife are kept in captivity for both the tourists and students. However, in all these areas where you will find Sydney’s wildlife, there is a common thread. That is, the proper conservation, maintenance and care for the animals. Sydney has always been on the forefront of trying to stop the disappearance of rare creature.

As much as possible, they try to recreate the habitat as it would appear to the animal. There is no harsh treatment of these animals, and they respond very well to kindness.

Sydney’s wildlife is very diverse and unique. There really is no country like it, which seems to have found heaven on earth .

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Travel Around Sydney

Travel around Sydney can be fun, exciting and a must do travel experience for anyone coming to Sydney for the first time.

There are so many options to going around the city. For a tourist, the best way to see the city is either by walking around, which can take a long time, or by public transport. You not only get to see the real Sydney, the main attractions, you will also have a chance to get up and personal with the people of Sydney.

Travel around Sydney using the city’s mass transportation system includes the ferry, train, and bus. These are all safe, cheap, and well maintained transport systems that are very efficient. No third world operation here.

There is a timetable, exact routes (no shortcuts or sudden detours), and fare information that you can easily get in the terminals. Of course, you can also go to the website of Sydney and find the same information just as easily.

Travel Around SydneyTravel around Sydney using buses is fast and easy. Bus tickets are bought on the spot from bus drivers. In some cases, you have to buy the bus ticket in advance. There are day buses which operate from 6 am to 12 midnight. After that night buses come in, but only in certain areas.

Ferries in Sydney also work on set schedules and ticket system is also very organized. The City rail is the train system that can bring you to the suburbs and back to the city. You will usually see local residents on the trains as this is a major source of travel for the working residents who live out of the city.

The metro is the monorail and the light rail. The light rail travels around Sydney’s Central Station to Star City, and is usually open 24 hours. The monorail passes from Darling Harbour and city centre, then around to Chinatown on set times only like 7 am to 11 pm Mondays to Thursdays. While on weekends they stop operation after midnight. Sundays monorail operation is from 8am to 11 pm only.

If you are visiting Sydney for a limited time as a tourist or on business, and plan to use the public transport system as your mode of traveling around Sydney, there is the Sydney Pass. This is a ticket or voucher which you can use to travel using all there forms of public transport on a discounted rate. The pass has three options, a three day pass, a five day pass, and a seven day pass.

Other economy passes are the Day Tripper, TravelTen which is valid for 10 bus trips, Ferry Ten which is the same concept as the TravelTen, Travel Pass, Monorail Day Pass, MetroConnect, and the weekly unlimited Trip Pass.

Before you start to get confused, study your planned itinerary, so you know which pass will work best for you.

If you prefer the luxury of single public transport, taxis are always available, and can easily be flagged down especially in terminals and hotels. Travel around Sydney using a taxi is a little more expensive because they add a surcharge on the meter reading. This is not considered a tip, so if you want to tip your driver, add whatever you feel is earned, although generally, taxi drivers do not expect tips.

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Travel to Sydney

Planning to travel to Sydney? There are several ways into Sydney, all of which are modern and convenient.
Traveling to Sydney by air

Travel to SydneyThe T1 or Sydney airport’s international terminal is one of the most modern airports in the world. It is currently undergoing a facelift, so expect some inconveniences. Nevertheless, travel to Sydney via the airport is one of the most convenient and quickest way in or out.

The Sydney Airport is located near Botany Bay, along the northern shoreline. Going to and from the airport is never a problem because there are trains and buses that can bring right to their doorstep.

Security and safety measures are still top priority for the airport and there are restrictions on carry on baggage in international flights.

You will find everything you need at this airport. It is like a mini mall which even has prayer rooms, a locker, restaurants, ATM, a heath center and many more.

Sydney airport also boasts of executive services for businessmen who travel to Sydney with meeting rooms, VIP rooms, catering, fax, postal and photocopying services.

From the airport it is very easy to gain access to the city. The airport link leaves the airport every ten minutes and since there is not traffic, it takes only about 15 minutes to get to Sydney proper.

There are also buses and taxis but you will have to book your seat in advance.
ravel to Sydney via ferry service

This is one of the most romantic and memorable approaches to Sydney. Unfortunately it is not always possible to come to Sydney by ferry boat. Not many cruise ships come into Sydney, mostly from the US, Europe and Hong Kong only.
Travel to Sydney by train

You can enter Sydney using the New South Wales rail network which is operated by Countrylink. They have exceptionally modern high speed trains coming from Melbourne, Canberra, and Brisbane.

Being on these trains is an experience by itself. They are equipped with satellite phones, private bath, sleeping cars, air conditioning, and wheelchair access. This way of travel to Sydney may be a little steep but it is well worth the cost.
Travel to Sydney by car

Taking a leisurely drive to Sydney may be another great idea. However, if you plan to drive into Sydney from areas outside of New South Wales, you need to check the regulations on driving as they are not the same for all territories and states.

Legally you have to be 16 to drive a car. You will have to get used to driving on the left side if you are used to driving on the right side of the road. Depending on the traffic in certain areas, speed limits range from 31 mph to 68 mph. Seat belt is required for driver and all passengers.

If you are a foreigner, you will need to get third party insurance whether you plan to drive your own care or rent a car.

Driving while under the influence of alcohol is a grave offense in Sydney, so you need to keep a lid on the booze while driving. You should also buy a map of the area you plan to visit. This way you know where you can go in case of car problems.

Travel to Sydney is a matter of choice. You can take the fast way by airplane, or travel to Sydney by the scenic route.

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Culture in Sydney

The beauty of Sydney is not just in its surroundings, but also in its culture. It is diverse in ways most countries can only hope to be. One of the most renowned theaters in the world is the Sydney Opera House. Here Sydney culture is a harmonious balance of the great classics and contemporary music.

Many great performers have come to perform in Sydney Opera House. From all over the globe, artists and art enthusiasts come just to witness Sydney culture at its best. The Sydney Symphony, Sydney Philmarmonia Choirs, Australian Chamber Orchestra, and Opera Australia regularly perform at Sydney Opera House.

For performances that do not need huge seating capacity, the Sydney Town Hall, Eugene Goossens Hall, Conservatorium of Music, and City Recital Hall are used. Most often you will enjoy listening to jazz bands, wind and chamber music, and symphony in these cultural places.

Sydney culture is not just concentrated on music. Sydney has a wonderful theater group, the Sydney Theater Company which is managed by the city government. Aside from the Opera House, they also perform in Sydney Theater, Belvoir Street Theater, Seymour Theater Centre, Wharf Theater, and The Performance Space.

If you are more interested in musicals, check out the Capitol Theater, Lyric Theater, and Sydney’s oldest theater, the Ensemble. Sydney culture can even boast of outstanding playwrights like Alma de Groen, David Williamson, Stephen Sewell, and Alex Buzo who have made their stamp on Sydney theater and even elsewhere.

Sydney culture is also about dance. The wonder of Sydney culture lies in its diversity. There is the traditional dances, ballet classics and modern dance. Many of the dance concerts are performed in the Sydney Opera House. Sydney’s most important dance group, the Sydney Dance Company regularly can be seen for two seasons at the Opera House.

Sydney also has the fusion dancing perfected by the Bangarra Dance Theater group and they have successfully performed in Sydney many times. Their success has brought them to many places around the world, promoting Sydney culture to the rest of the world.

We all know that Australia can act. There have been many actors who have come from this great country who have been honored many times in the United States and Europe. Film is a booming part of Sydney culture.

Aside from the numerous theaters in Sydney, there are also international film festivals and the Sydney Film Festival which take place every June. The Tropfest is also a great festival for filmmakers because it gives an opportunity for short filmmakers to show their work in an open air setting. This festival is held every second to third month of the year.

Finally, Sydney culture will never be complete without mentioning literary works of art. One of Sydney culture pride is Peter Carey who has been recognized for his book, Oscar and Lucinda, which was released in 1988 about a country girl who dreams of being independent.

Other notable literary geniuses from Sydney are David Williamson, Patrick White, Kathy Lette and Gabrielle Carey.

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