About Sydney
Sydney is one of the largest coastal cities in Australia and one of Australia’s foremost provincial cities. It is a city of beauty, elegance and history. The population is approximately four million and it is famous for the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Apart from the major landmarks, Sydney is also known for its vibrant and cosmopolitan nature in offering entertainment, festivals, shopping and sight seeing.
Sydney’s weather is changeable, although it has a temperate climate there are a few extremes in the weather patterns, especially for a few days in the summers and winters. However, it is mostly pleasant throughout the year. The warmest months of December to February have an average maximum temperature of 26º Celsius. Being close to the ocean, hot days are often tempered by cooling sea breezes and evening temperatures are perfect for relaxed outdoor dining. June to August are the coolest months, with daytime temperatures rarely falling below 7º Celsius. Even on mid-winter days, with their bright blue, wide-open skies, an overcoat is usually not necessary in Sydney.
Public Transport
Sydney has a very well established public transport system. Students can get to the Institute, city centre and other suburban areas by using public transport. Buses and trains are the most preferred means of transport to travel to the Institute and in and around Sydney. However, taxis are available everywhere, but they are comparatively more expensive than Trains, Buses and Ferries. Students may contact the student services subject for further assistance in this matter.
The New South Wales Government does NOT allow student concession tickets on trains, ferries and State Transit Authority (STA) buses for overseas students. Please do not travel on a student ticket. The fine for traveling without the correct ticket on public transport is $100 or more.
You can use a trip planner that will show you the public transport options to get to any destination, as well as view bus, train, tram and ferry timetables at www.131500.com.
Banking
Banks are generally open at 9.30am and close at 4.30pm. On Fridays they close at 5.00pm. Most banks are closed on the weekends, although some branches do open on Saturday mornings. Most banks provide Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs). These are also located in shopping arcades.
To open a bank account, you will need to provide your Passport and some money for the first deposit. If you need assistance opening a bank account, please see one of our friendly Student Services Staff.
Location of City Banks
Commonwealth Bank of Australia Cnr. George & Market Streets
National Australia Bank Cnr. of Pitt & Bathurst Streets
ANZ Bank Cnr. of Castlereagh & Bathurst Streets
St George Bank Cnr. of Pitt & Market Streets
Westpac Bank Cnr. of George & King Streets
Costs in Australia
Daily living costs such as food are relatively cheap. Accommodation prices can be high, especially in Sydney, Melbourne and other bigger cities. Transport is expensive as well. Your budget is going to depend on what kind of student you are and how you'll be occupying yourself. A basic student budget for one week is around $200 but can be more.
Meals in a local food court start at $5 (vegetable laksa, 2 pieces of sushi, fast food such us hamburger, etc.) and finish at $11 (seafood, chicken, beef, pork). Asian restaurants are usually the cheapest. You can get a good meal for $20, but you should be expecting to spend over $30 if you have soft drinks or an alcoholic drink. Most expensive are the beachfront, fully air-conditioned restaurants where the price might reach hundreds of dollars.
If you want to go out in Australia, please do not forget your passport or Australian ID. Students usually carry their passport (some students carry a copy of the passport signed by a JP). Security staff at various pubs and clubs often check proof of age oor / and that you are wearing suitable clothing. For getting access to better bars or restaurants, it is not acceptable to wear shorts and/or sandals!
The main way to cut your expenses is to cook at home. There is a huge range of supermarkets offering good quality food. The cheapest one is Bi Lo, then there are Coles, Woolworths and Franklins. All of them are competing and you can usually get bargain prices in the evening time.
Below are some links to some of Sydney's larger shopping venues from groceries to clothing.
For day to day groceries, click on the following:
Woolworths
Coles
IGA
ALDI
For clothing, electricals, and general home based needs:
Target.
Bigw
Kmart
Harvey Norman
Dick Smith Electronics
For more information on Sydney, its sites, transport and general information, visit www.sydney.com.au
