Sydney

SYDNEY IS ONE OF THE WORLD’S MOST DAZZLING CITIES

Plan to drench up the fashion and daylight of Sydney! Domestic to wonderful, sundrenched shorelines, a shining harbor and lavish national parks, Sydney’s warm climate advances an dynamic, open air way of life. It has an extraordinary expressions and social scene, is domestic to awesome eateries, cafes and bars and best of all, it contains a brilliant buzz.

Sydney General Information

  • Climate

    The climate in Sydney is mild, and the seasons are distinguishable from each other. For those of you who live near the Equator, you will notice a distinct difference between Summer and Winter, and that we have no Wet Season. For those of you who come from countries higher up in the Northern Hemisphere, you will notice that our Summers and Winters happen at the opposite times of the year to what you are used to.

    Sydney can be quite humid around February. The average yearly rainfall is 75 – 130 mm, and it can be very windy sometimes.

    SUMMER December – February 25 – 30 °C
    AUTUMN March – May 12 – 18 °C
    WINTER June – August 10 – 15 °C
    SPRING September – November 15 – 25 °C
  • Currency

    Australia uses a Decimal currency system, where 100 cents = one dollar ($). We have six coins – 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, which are silver coloured, and $1 and $2, which are gold. We have five notes, made from plastic – $5 (pink /purple), $10 (blue), $20 (red), $50 (yellow), and $100 (green).

  • Driving

    If you have had a licence in your own country for more than a year, you can apply for an Australian Driving Licence, but you must pass a driving test. If you are on a Student or Working Holiday visa and studying for 10 weeks or less you can drive using your International Licence, if you already have one. Roads and Maritime Services (RMS)
    which is part of Service NSW, is at 19 York Street (near Wynyard Station) and will be able to advise you of what you have to do and where you need to go to arrange an Australian Licence.

    If you are a member of your country’s motoring club and you have your membership card, you can get free information and maps from NRMA, located on George Street.

  • Entertainment

    There are many nightclubs and theatres located throughout the city as well as bars, and restaurants. There is also a good selection of gyms and health clubs. The Rocks area, Chinatown and also Darling Harbour are all within easy walking distance. The George Street cinema precinct is close by. You must be 18 years of age to go to a pub, club or gambling venue (such as Star City Casino). You may be asked to show your ID or passport in order to enter these places.

  • Libraries

    The State Library of NSW is located in Macquarie Street and is open to the public during extended business hours. Students are able to join the public libraries located in the areas they are living in. Sydney City Library is located in Customs House in Circular Quay.

  • Health Facilities

    Sydney city has many doctors and dentists to choose from, should you need to be treated.
    There are also chiropractors, podiatrists, dietitians, physiotherapists, Chinese herbalists,
    optometrists and many specialists. For the service you need, visit   www.yellowpages.com.au. Make sure you take your current healthcare card with you.

  • PEC CITY CLINIC

    SUITE 22 650 GEORGE STREET, SYDNEY
    NSW 2000
    Phone: (02) 8267 8300
    Additional Notes: JAPANESE SPEAKERS
    International students pay approximately $47 copayment/gap

  • TOWN HALL CLINIC

    LEVEL 1, 50 YORK STREET, SYDNEY NSW 2000
    Phone: (02) 9299 4661
    Additional Notes: SAME DAY CONSULTATION.
    OPEN 7 DAYS (8AM-6PM). BY APPOINTMENT ONLY.
    International students pay approximately $40 copayment/gap

  • CBD MEDICAL PRACTICE

    LEVEL 1, 70 PITT STREET, SYDNEY NSW 2000
    Phone: (02) 9231 1000
    International students must pay $25 co-payment/gap

  • MEDECO MEDICAL CENTRE

    LOWER GROUND FLOOR, SHOP 9.01,
    WORLD SQUARE Phone: (02) 9264 8500

  • THE CITY DENTIST

    LEVEL 3, 491 KENT ST, SYDNEY NSW 2000
    Phone: (02) 9264 0222

  • SYDNEY INSTITUTE OF TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE

    LEVEL 5, 25-29 Dixon St, Sydney NSW 2000
    Phone: (02) 9212 1968

  • MYHEALTH MEDICAL CENTRE

    8/151 CASTLEREAGH ST, SYDNEY NSW 2000
    Phone: 8197 3388 – 8am – 6pm

  • GEORGE ST MEDICAL CENTRE

    308 GEORGE ST, SYDNEY NSW 2000
    Phone: 9238 3211 – 7:30am – 5:30pm

  • Useful Telephone Numbers

    Name Address Phone Number
    Ambulance/ Fire Brigade /Police Emergency 000
    Prince of Wales Hospital High St Randwick NSW 2031 02 9399 0111
    St. Vincent’s Hospital Victoria St Darlinghurst NSW 2010 02 8382 1111
    Medical Services (24 Hour Service) 02 93893133
    Dental Emergency Service (24 Hour Service) 029663 4237
    Poison Information Centre 131 126
    Translating and Interpreting Services 131 450
    NRMA (24 Hour road service); 131 111
    Taxis Combined 8332 8888
    Sydney Taxis 131 008
    Department of Home Affairs (DHA) 26 Lee Street Sydney 131 881
    ELSIS Level 1, 160-166 Sussex Street Sydney Ph. 02 8265 3200

About SYDNEY CBD

  • The Sydney CBD area is the main commercial area in Sydney and is well serviced by banks,  restaurants, shops, post offices and public transport.

  • BANKS

    All the major banks have a branch in the city centre; ANZ, HSBC, Westpac, The Commonwealth Bank, St. George, and National Australia Bank (NAB).

    Opening hours are 9:30am to 4:30pm Monday to Thursday, and 9:30am to 5:00pm on Fridays. Automatic Teller Machines (ATM’s) are available 24 hours at most banks, but you should avoid using them late at night, for security reasons.

    When you go to a bank to open an account, you will need to take your Passport with you, as well as two (2) other forms of identification and tell the bank officer that you are a student.

  • POST OFFICE

    Opening hours are from 9:00am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday, and they offer a range of  services including payment of bills, stationery items, cards and wrapping, faxing, calendars and diaries and small gifts, as well as the usual range of postal services. Some major post offices are open on Saturday mornings. The nearest Post Office to ELSIS is on the corner of Market St and York St, nest to Westpac bank.

  • SHOPPING

    Sydney City has many shopping areas, department stores and arcades. The Queen
    Victoria Building (QVB), Harbourside Shopping Centre, and Pitt Street Mall are close to school. The major department Stores are David Jones and Myer, and supermarkets, (Woolworths and Coles) are nearby.

    Opening hours vary, but are generally 9:00 am to 5:30 pm on Monday, Tuesday,  Wednesday, Friday and Saturday; 9:00 am to 9:00 pm on Thursday; and 10:00 am to 4:30 pm on Sunday.

  • EATING

    Sydney City offers a wide range of eating choices from cheap take-aways to expensive restaurants, covering many different cuisines. There are also several Asian supermarkets located nearby in Chinatown, and Health Food shops in the shopping centres.

  • SPORTS FACILITIES

    Sydney city and nearby suburbs are very well served by sport facilities, so if you want to continue playing the sport you played at home, or if you want to take up a sport while you are here, the following list should help:`

    Tennis Cooper Park, Bellevue Hill – Moore Park
    Tennis Courts, Moore Park – Waverley Park
    Tennis Court, Waverley – Maccabi
    Tennis Centre, Bondi
    Swimming Cook & Phillip Aquatic, Fitness and Recreation Centre – City
    Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool – City
    Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre, Ultimo
    Prince Alfred Park Pool, City
    Victoria Park Pool
    The beaches (Bondi, Coogee, Bronte, Clovelly, Manly, Cronulla, Maroubra,
    Tamarama, etc)
    Ten-Pin Bowling Randwick Bowl, Randwick
    Mascot (Gardeners Road)
    Darling Harbour
    Golf Bondi Golf Links, North Bondi
    Moore Park Golf Link, Moore Park
    Eastlakes Golf Course
    Martial Arts Huge variety – see Yellow Pages under Martial Arts
    Gym Cook & Phillip Aquatic, Fitness and Recreation Centre – City
    Fitness First – Market and Sussex Streets
    Fitness First – Pitt Street
    Fit n Fast – Liverpool Street
    Make sure you ask if they offer student discounts