Travel to Australia

Don’t forget your visa!!

You will need an electronic travel authority (ETA) before you travel.

It just takes a few minutes.

Things to do in Sydney

With a few days in Sydney, here are some suggestions for a great introduction to the city. Also see this NYT guide to 36 hours in Sydney.

  • A walk around Circular Quay, The Rocks, the Opera House and the Botanic Gardens takes you straight into the heart of the city and is an obvious place to start. The “Bridge Climb” is pretty epic, but you can also just stroll across the iconic Harbour Bridge from The Rocks.

  • Take a ferry to Watson’s Bay or Manly, the south and north heads of Sydney Harbour respectively. Go for an easy and stunning walk around the beaches and headlands, stop for a drink and fish & chips by the water. Watson’s Bay is closer to the city, Manly is a bigger area with a huge beach.

  • The Coogee to Bondi coastal walk. If the weather is fine, this is an essential day or half-day activity. You can start from either end, but it’s pretty ideal to finish with a beer at Icebergs Terrace (casual bar) or the fancier ($) Icebergs Dining Room. Take the bus from Circular Quay (or an uber) to Coogee Beach. If you aren’t up for walking, a trip to Bondi Beach is a must, at least.

  • Visit the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) and/or the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Both are close to Circular Quay and have nice collections, especially of Aboriginal Australian art. The MCA also has a lovely terrace.

  • Eat everything you can in and around Chinatown.

Suggested places to visit, eat, and drink:

Sydney accommodation

We recommend staying around The Rocks, Circular Quay, or the Sydney CBD to be central. The Surry Hills area is a fun alternative. Bondi Beach would be a fabulous beachy option a bit further out.

Some recommended hotels are The Intercontinental at Circular Quay, Paramount House Hotel in Surry Hills, the new Ace Hotel at Surry Hills/City Center, the QT in the CBD, or the Amora Hotel Jamison near Circular Quay. Airbnb may be the best choice for Bondi.

Getting around

Sydney Airport is connected to the city center by rail, or you can take a taxi/Uber - either way the trip is about 20 minutes. If you’re staying in Sydney for a few days, you can easily get around without a car by using public transportation.

While you don’t need a car to get around Sydney, renting a car from the city or from the airport with your American driver’s license will give you the freedom to make the trip to Kangaroo Valley at your own pace. Don’t forget to drive on the left!

Flights

Flights to Sydney from North America most commonly depart from LA, SF, Houston, Dallas, or Vancouver. You can also now fly direct from NYC or Chicago to Auckland, NZ on Air NZ and connect to Sydney from there. We recommend setting up Google Flights alerts once you have an idea of your wider itinerary.

If you want some advice before you book, please reach out to us. We would be delighted to help you navigate your travel plans.

If you would like to work with a travel agent to plan something big, we can recommend Aspire Down Under, a US-based travel agency specializing in Australia and the South Pacific. Ask for Sharon, who knows all about our wedding.

What’s up with prices on stuff?

In addition to the exchange rate, 2 things to know:

-Tipping is never expected. Actually never. Maybe round up a restaurant bill for a group, that’s about it.

-Taxes are included on prices everywhere.

Power outlets look like this:


Australia has 240v power. Phones are fine, laptops are fine, but hair dryers etc might explode unless you have a voltage converter.

Australia is a big country.

If you’re not sure where to start, below is an easy 14-day itinerary that would give you a wonderful introduction. You’d spend time in sparkling Sydney, a weekend in the bush with us in Kangaroo Valley, and a few days exploring the coast and relaxing on glorious beaches. You won’t need to travel huge distances to see a lot.

It’s doable in a shorter trip, but given the distance, we recommend going for at least 10 days if you can.

Example 14-day itinerary

1. City

Sat, Apr 15:
Flight departs the USA.

Sun, Apr 16:
This day will not exist for you once you cross the international dateline. If this is your birthday, your itinerary may need slight adjustment.

Mon, Apr 17:
Arrive that morning at SYD and head to your hotel downtown. Your best chance to beat jet lag is to stay out and about in the sun as late as you possibly can.

Tue/Wed/Thu, Apr 18-20:
Enjoy Sydney, Clare’s hometown. Join us for drinks that Thursday evening.

2. Bush

Fri, April 21:
Depart Sydney and head down to Kangaroo Valley.

Sat, Apr 22:
!!NUPTIAL FESTIVITIES!! You’ll have time in the morning to check out the lovely village of Kangaroo Valley, explore the wider area, or just relax.

Sun, Apr 23:
Join us for breakfast/brunch. In the afternoon, drive 40 minutes to the coast with us…

3. Beach*

Sun, Apr 23 afternoon to Fri, Apr 28**:
Spend a few days in Jervis Bay. This is where you’ll find the newlyweds stretched out on Hyams Beach, surrounded by ‘roos and cold ones. We won’t organize any formal events, but we’ll see you at the beach or the pub.

Sat, Apr 29:
Fly from SYD to LAX in the morning. Arrive home that same Saturday night. April 29th will happen twice for you. You’ll be fine by Monday (probably).

*Or, head back to Sydney Airport to fly onward: go snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef, hiking the outback in Northern Territory and Uluru/Kata Tjuṯa, driving down the Great Ocean Road from Melbourne, sailboating in the Whitsunday Islands, or even… New Zealand. Oceania = your oyster.

**SPECIAL NOTE: Tue, Apr 25 is a national public holiday in Australia called Anzac Day. After the dawn service, pubs will be chock full of punters playing two-up, beaches may be crowded, and some businesses may be closed.