Sydney - Tips for Taking a Journey Down Under

Sydney - Tips for Taking a Journey 
Down Under

Sydney is Australia’s largest city and also the jumping-off point for exploring the country. It is also the city with the most inbound flights from North America. Here are some essential tips to plan and enjoy your visit.





Air fare tips



October to March is Sydney’s busiest tourism period, when the weather is most pleasant. Air fares are cheaper for travel during Australia’s winter months (the North American summer), and higher for the Australian summer, with the Southern Hemisphere’s spring and fall being shoulder season. Qantas offers the most nonstop flights, including some on Airbus A380 aircraft from Dallas and Los Angeles.



Air New Zealand also flies to Sydney (sign up for both airlines’ email alerts since they often send out promo codes with discounts of $200-$300) as does United and Virgin Australia. Expect to pay anywhere from $895 to $1,600 or more round-trip in economy class from the U.S. West Coast depending on season and whatever discounts you can find. Hotel plus air package deals can sometimes provide extra value, but always be sure to compare. Qantas also sells “Walkabout” air passes with discounted fares throughout Australia.




Getting through the airport



U.S. citizens must get an electronic visa online at least two weeks before travel (www.eta.immi.gov.­au/ETA/etas.jsp) for AUD $20. If you have an “electronic passport” with a microchip, look for the kiosks at immigration for a quicker entry into the country. You need to fill out an immigration card on entry, as well as upon leaving the country. The train from the airport costs $21, round-trip.



Getting around the city



Sydney is very walkable — it’s basically flat, with no hills to climb, and the streets are well marked. (Warning: Pedestrians do not jaywalk, and police are not hesitant to fine you for doing so, and be sure to look both ways crossing streets — they drive on the left here.) Newsstands sell the recently introduced Opal Card, a stored-value transit card similar to London’s Oyster Card and the cheapest and most convenient way to access public transportation.





The daily maximum you’ll pay for travel is capped at $15 for adults, $7.50 for children, or $60/$30 for a weeks’ worth of travel, which includes buses, trains and ferries. As for taxis, they are metered, and in egalitarian Sydney, where everyone is a “mate,” people still ride in the front seat with the driver. Uber has come to town, and is gaining popularity.



Top eats



There’s no “traditional” Australian or Sydney dish or cuisine other than, perhaps, “shrimp on the barbie,” made famous by actor Paul Hogan’s appearances in those tourism television ads. But Sydney now has a considerable food culture, even though it’s only been in existence for about 30 years. Australian beef is an especially tasty option, and you’ll find lamb dishes on many menus. For fine dining, two highly recommended options are Nomad, 16 Foster St. in Surry Hills, with its Mediterranean-inspired menu sourced with local Australian ingredients, and long-running Rockpool, now in a new location at 11 Bridge St. in the Central Business District, where chef Neal Perry also provides tasty menus for Qantas.



Top attractions



Tours of the Sydney Opera House (sydneyopera house.com/tours), which, amazingly, took 17 years to build, are extremely popular and a great photo opportunity. The standard tour takes one hour, while the backstage option lasts two hours. For many who do it, climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge is a highlight of their trip. Do it at sunrise or twilight for the best views. Just be warned, you will take a breathalyzer test (under .05 to climb) and cameras, phones or other loose objects are not allowed, all for safety’s sake. Even jaded locals are amazed by the experience.



Annual festivals



Every January the Sydney Festival stages around 400 contemporary cultural performances: some 140 events performed by more than 1,000 artists in more than 30 venues. In October, the annual Good Food Month (www.goodfood.com.au) brings street food festivals and other culinary events to Sydney.



Off the beaten track



Don’t be confused when Sydneysiders talk about “suburbs” — these are what you and I call “neighborhoods,” inner-city enclaves similar to Sunnyside, Queens in New York City, and there are hundreds of them; they include virtually anything outside the Central Business District. For an unusual insider’s tour of “emerging” ’hoods such as Redfern and Darlington and hidden scenic spots that few tourists see, in a beautifully restored 1964 Holden sedan, sign up with My Sydney Detour, a unique private tour run by native son Richard Graham. A half-day tour costs $299 for up to three people and includes lunch.



Exchange rate



The U.S. dollar currently fetches 1.29 Australian dollars (last year it was $1.14, so your money buys even more now).



Tipping



Tips are not customary nor are they expected, perhaps because the minimum wage is $17 an hour.



Electricity



Voltage is 220-240, and you will need both an outlet adaptor and a voltage converter if you’re using appliances without built-in converters (you don’t want to fry your curling iron or WaterPik). Even many top hotels, airport lounges and other venues lack 110-volt outlets, although they usually provide adaptors on request, or you can get them from housekeeping, but it’s best to bring your own.



Useful apps



Locals give high marks to the TimeOut Sydney and Australia Good Food Guide apps. The Sydney Official Guide app from Destination New South Wales is also highly rated. Arrivo Sydney (Android) and NextThere (iOS) are useful public transit apps.


Useful websites



Destination New South Wales: www.destination nsw.com.au



Air fare listings to Sydney: www.airfarewatchdog.­com/cheap-flights/to-­sydney-australia/1941



A postcard home



You’ll pay a rather pricey $2.60 to send that cute koala to the U.S. and Europe.



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Anzac Day - April 25 2015, Sydney

In our ongoing commitment to Metro Hotel on Pitt’s corporate social responsibility program, in April on Anzac Day for the 100th anniversary of Gallipoli we have joined with our partners to be serving coffee and tea for before and after the dawn service at 1915 prices!

  

That is 10c a cup and the sales from this and any other donations made on the day, along with 50% of all food sales will be donated to Legacy Sydney to assist in their ongoing commitment to widows and widowers of our fallen heroes.

Private William Dalton Lycett; Nov 1890 – Apr 1975 Diary of his time at the front in the Dardenelles

"Sunday 25th April, 1915

Was awakened this morning about 4.30 a.m. by the sound of heavy firing. We were at the entrance to the Dardenelles and our fleet was bombarding the enemies forts and batteries, we were right in among our cruisers.

The first of the landing party went ashore about 7 a.m. and some hot fighting ensued. The "Lizzie" (Queen Elizabeth) put some of her big shells in and it was a magnificent sight, though awful.
Our fleet made the hills a hell of fire, a wonderful scene, none of our ships seemed
to be hit.

We steamed about 12 miles up the outside of the "Gallipoli" Peninsula about 10 a.m. and we expect to land here soon. Fleet is bombarding the coast all along. Some Australian troops landed at this point this morning and have been fighting all day.

The sound of rifles has not ceased, same with ships guns till about 8 p.m. Hydroplanes and an observation balloon have been up all day. No firing going on at present."

http://www.sydney.com/destinations/sydney/public-holidays/anzac-day

Dawn Service:

The Dawn service starts at 4:15am and the march (from 9:00am) walks straight past us (on Bathurst Street) - A Short Walk from Metro Hotel on Pitt

Metro Brasserie (Located next to Metro Hotel on Pitt)

Metro Brasserie will be open at 4:15am rising with Reveille for service of coffee and tea at 1915 prices of 10c a cup

Tea at 1915 prices of 10c a cup

Chef will be also preparing traditional homemade Anzac biscuits to enjoy during the morning
We will have continuous service up to and including the Anzac Day parade which passes by the hotel on its way to Hyde Park or until Midday

Dawn Service at Martin Place, Sydney

LEST WE FORGET!

Sydney Showground Reveals Infrastructure Upgrades

Spice caught up with Sydney Showground general manager Peter Thorpe to find out what’s in store for the year ahead.

What are the planned infrastructure upgrades?The main upgrades include site-wide fibre and data cable upgrade, kitchen equipment upgrades, CCTV upgrade from analogue to digital and an upgrade to 50,000 hour LED of house lighting and lighting controls within The Dome and Halls 2, 3 and 4, providing significant flexibility of use and the ability to dim all lights collectively or individually making further energy savings.

When can we expect them to be completed?
By the end of September 2015.

What are the obstacles to getting these upgrades approved?
No obstacles, these projects have all been funded and approved but need to go through a rigorous procurement process and take time to undertake in an operating venue where works have to be scheduled around client requirements.

Why do you think it’s important to have light rail access to Sydney Olympic Park?
Sydney Olympic Park corridor represents a significant urban renewal opportunity. It is a pivotal and suitable location for increased density in terms of residential, commercial, retail, educational and cultural activity, however site residents and users need quick and simple access to key areas such as Parramatta and the City. The proposed Light Rail route will provide this access.

How much will it cost?
Unknown at this stage.

Who will pay for it?
It is anticipated that private enterprise would provide 100% of the required funding subject to the required density uplift.

Where is this process up to?It is anticipated that the NSW Government will make an announcement soon after the upcoming state election.

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Sydney Showground Reveals Infrastructure Upgrades

Spice caught up with Sydney Showground general manager Peter Thorpe to find out what’s in store for the year ahead.

What are the planned infrastructure upgrades?The main upgrades include site-wide fibre and data cable upgrade, kitchen equipment upgrades, CCTV upgrade from analogue to digital and an upgrade to 50,000 hour LED of house lighting and lighting controls within The Dome and Halls 2, 3 and 4, providing significant flexibility of use and the ability to dim all lights collectively or individually making further energy savings.

When can we expect them to be completed?
By the end of September 2015.

What are the obstacles to getting these upgrades approved?
No obstacles, these projects have all been funded and approved but need to go through a rigorous procurement process and take time to undertake in an operating venue where works have to be scheduled around client requirements.

Why do you think it’s important to have light rail access to Sydney Olympic Park?
Sydney Olympic Park corridor represents a significant urban renewal opportunity. It is a pivotal and suitable location for increased density in terms of residential, commercial, retail, educational and cultural activity, however site residents and users need quick and simple access to key areas such as Parramatta and the City. The proposed Light Rail route will provide this access.

How much will it cost?
Unknown at this stage.

Who will pay for it?
It is anticipated that private enterprise would provide 100% of the required funding subject to the required density uplift.

Where is this process up to?It is anticipated that the NSW Government will make an announcement soon after the upcoming state election.

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International Conference on Telecommunications Sydney (ICT 2015)

The 22nd International Conference on Telecommunications (ICT 2015) will be held at the Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney from 27 – 29 April 2015 right after ICASSP 2015 in Brisbane, Australia.

 Sydney is the capital of New South Wales and is graced with one of the most beautiful harbors in the world. Sydney is known for its harbor lifestyle and fantastic beaches, which contribute to a relaxed atmosphere that pervades the city. 

 It is an ideal place for scientists and engineers from around the world to gather and share their ideas.

Telecommunications networks are advancing to a new era to support the unprecedented growth of the internet and cellular network usage for communications and information services. Therefore, the aim of ICT 2015 is to gather world-class researchers to share their ideas and progress on solving the future challenges that the telecommunication networks face.

ICT 2015 will feature world-class plenary speakers, tutorials and regular and special technical sessions from academia, research laboratories, government and industry to discuss and exchange ideas in the field of wireless and cable telecommunications network, services and applications.

View source post to register and find out more

The EB Expo Returns to Sydney In 2015

The EB Expo Returns to Sydney In 2015

EB Games was hardly going to turn its back on one of its best concepts ever, but just in case there was ever any doubt, today it was announced that the EB Expo is returning to Sydney in 2015.

The official date is October 2 until October 4 and tickets go on sale 9am AEDT on April 16. You can purchase them on the EB Expo website, at EB Games stores or through oztix.com.au. The event will be held, once again, at Sydney Showgrounds. It is, admittedly, a pretty cool venue.

If you’ve been to previous EB Expos you’ll know what to expect: early looks at upcoming video games, some event-style panels, and my personal favourite: a Waluigi made out of balloons.

Most major publishers seems slated to attend. PlayStation, XBOX, Nintendo, Activision, Bethesda, Electronic Arts, Ubisoft, and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment are currently confirmed.

“EB Expo continues to set the standards by celebrating the video game industry and embracing pop culture. We’re boasting the most unreleased games of any exhibition in Australia this year,” said EB Games Marketing and Events Director Debra McGrath.

A couple of cool things to note: John Robertson, of ‘The Dark Room’ fame, will be performing at the show. Turns out he’s bringing his critically acclaimed show The Dark Room to the event. I’ve been super keen to check that out, so this is a positive.

Also — bizarrely — The Umbilical Brothers are also going to be performing. That’s cool. I guess? What does it have to do with video games? No-one knows (or possibly cares).

“Every year the EB Expo team will continue to add fresh new elements to the mix and we’re really looking forward to wow-ing our existing and new crowds with original content,” said Debra. I guess that might explain it.

I’ve always enjoyed the EB Expo and it does manage to get its fair share of top notch exclusive content. I played Titanfall there for the first time. That was cool.

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TEDx Sydney 2015 - 16 speakers, Opera House, 21 May

One of the best festivals of ideas, dangerous or otherwise, is the TED series, with TEDxSydney unveiling its 2015 speaker line up.

For the first time, the 2015 TEDxSydney will be hosted within the entire Sydney Opera House complex with a series of events - ensuring more people than ever before are able to attend, engage and interact.

It is billed as ‘one of the most celebrated TEDx events in the world’, and will be held on Thursday 21 May with an audience of more than 3000 expected to attend.

Naturally, the Concert Hall will host the main live program, but there’s also the ‘TEDxSydney at the Playhouse simulcast event’ which will live stream speakers and performances from across the four sessions to the playhouse within the Sydney Opera House.

This will give a further 400 attendees ‘an intimate and up-close experience as part of the 2015 festival.’

We know who will think of the children, too, with TEDxSydney also set to host a ‘youth focused event’, in partnership with the University of Sydney, with full details expected to be announced ‘in the coming weeks.’

TEDxSydney Founder and Licensee Remo Guiffré said: “This is a year of ‘firsts’ for TEDxSydney. Not only is this the first time that we’re taking over the entire Sydney Opera House – minus the Joan Sutherland Theatre – but it’s also the first time we’re hosting the event on a weekday.

“In a way, I think the curatorial theme of learning was a response to this shift in day. It presented us with a wonderful opportunity to engage and involve school and university students while also knitting together the diverse experiences and ideas of our key speakers through a single theme.

“And of course, it’s also the first time that our community will have the opportunity to hear from this extraordinary bunch of individuals. I for one can’t wait to hear what they have to share.”

Today’s news is just the first in a series of program updates for TEDxSydney, with the performance line-up for 2015 to be announced next week.

So, who are the speakers?

We’re told we’ll hear from ‘the great-great grandson of Charles Darwin to an internationally undefeated champion kickboxer and a Director at the International Red Cross, a group of the world’s leading thinkers and doers will take to the stage at TEDxSydney 2015 to deliver their thought-provoking ideas.’

TEDxSydney’s Editorial Director, Edwina Throsby said: “Learning never really stops. Just because you leave school, it doesn’t mean you stop seeking out new information, having fresh ideas or looking for inspiration. Every one of the extraordinary speakers at this year’s event has something to impart to the audience – whether that’s the result of a lifetime of research or just a life well lived.

“Our community is really smart and connected, so it’s a huge challenge to curate a program that excites them and offers them something new. Our 2015 line-up brings together speakers from all backgrounds, who have incredible stories, world-leading research, and big, fresh ideas. Every member of our audience – at the Opera House and online – will learn something new at TEDxSydney this year.”

Here’s the lineup of speakers:

24 year old Dylan Alcott OAM is a Paralympic gold medallist, World Champion, Grand Slam champion and world record holder for both wheelchair basketball and wheelchair tennis.

Born in Baghdad, pioneering surgeon Dr Munjed Al Muderis was forced to flee Iraq to Australia as a refugee. He embarked on his journey to become a world leader in osseointegration surgery on his release from a detention centre in 2000 and is now part of a crack team pioneering bionic fusion.
Chris Darwin is the great-great grandson of one of history’s most celebrated scientists and evolutionists – Charles Darwin. Tackling what his great-great grandfather called his “greatest regret”, Chris has made it his life’s goal to help halt the global mass extinction of species.

Nadine Champion is a UFC High Performance Coach. With over 28 years experience in martial arts, Nadine has never lost a fight.

Australian born and raised, Dr Helen Durham is the first woman to head International Law and Policy at the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Julian Burnside is an Australian barrister, human rights and refugee advocate, and author. He has acted as legal counsel in a number of high-profile hearings including pro bono for major human rights cases, in particular concerning the treatment of refugees.

The king of the compost toilet, Hamish Skermer knows a thing or two about how to deal with human waste. The Australian entrepreneur invented his own environmentally friendly dry toilet 15 years ago which has since been used at some of the world’s biggest music festivals including Glastonbury, the Falls and Meredith festivals in Australia.

Tom Uglow is Creative Director for Google's Creative Lab in Sydney. He works with cultural and creative organisations around the world exploring the space between technology and the arts and what can happen where they intersect.

Trans woman Starlady is a youth worker in some of Australia’s most remote and challenging places. Using an unusual set of tools the flamboyant hairdresser spends her time traveling thousands of kilometres across the central desert.

Currently based in New York, Tega Brain is an Australian artist and environmental engineer working at the intersection between art, ecology and engineering.

Stephanie Trigg is a literary scholar in the field of medieval studies. Currently one of ten Chief Investigators in the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for the History of Emotions (UWA), she is particularly known for her work on celebrated English poet Geoffrey Chaucer.
Richard Bourke works in Louisiana – America's Deep South – as a death row lawyer defending people who are facing or have already received a death sentence.

Tony Fry is a design theorist, philosopher and author from Brisbane who offers a profoundly challenging view on the relationship between design, unsustainability, and politics.
French-born marine biologist rockstar – Dr Daniel Pauly – is well known for his work instudying the human impact on marine ecosystems and global fisheries.

Susan Butler is the Editor of the Macquarie Dictionary. After starting out as a research assistant in 1970, she has been at the helm of the dictionary for more than 30 years.

No stranger to controversy, Dr. Charlie Teo is a high profile and inspirational neurosurgeon pushing boundaries. Founder of the Cure for Life Foundation, he operates on both Australian and international cancer patients. 

He is known as the brain surgeon that goes where others will not.

At the TEDxSydney website, you’ll see the notice that ‘Applications to attend TEDxSydney 2015 within the Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House on Thursday 21 May 2015 have now CLOSED.’

However you can also see that ‘Tickets are now on sale for our simulcast event, TEDxSydney at the Playhouse, where we’ll live stream speakers and performances from all four main stage sessions. There are only 400 seats available for this unique TEDxSydney 2015 experience. BOOK NOW.’

You can also download the TEDxSydney app for iOS devices here and for Android devices here.

No joy for Windows Phone or users sadly, it seems owning a Windows Phone and wanting to use it to experience is an idea too far, too big and too dangerous for TEDxSydney.

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