Sydney, New South Wales Travel Guide
New South Wales (NSW) is a dream destination for travellers seeking lowfuss, low-maintenance, low-stress fun. The excellent infrastructure and resources mean you can decide you need a holiday on a Tuesday night and be halfway to your destination by Wednesday morning. All budgets are catered for and pre-planning is a concept relegated to school holidays.
Truth be told, any time is a good time to be somewhere in NSW. Australia's seasons are the antithesis of those in Europe and the USA. Summer starts in December (when the weather and longer daylight hours are perfect for swimming and other outdoor activities), autumn in March, winter in June and spring in September. The climate in NSW varies depending on the location, but the rule of thumb is that the further north you go the warmer and more humid it'll be. It's also hotter and drier the further west you go.
Sydney is lovely for much of the year. The temperature rarely falls below lOOC except overnight in winter, and although temperatures can hit 40°C during summer, the average summer maximum is 25°C. The average monthly rainfall ranges from 75mm to 130mm. Much the same can be said for the climate on the coast, although the swimming season starts earlier by a month or more towards Byron Bay.
Canberra is cold in winter and scorching in summer, so spring and autumn are the best times to visit the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).
Inland, it gets hot soon after winter and just keeps getting hotter the further you get from the coast and highlands. The outback regularly stays above 40°C.
This temperature variation equates to varying high seasons throughout the state. Along the coast, summer and school and public holidays equals high season. During the Christmas period in particular you'll find yourself competing with hordes of determined Aussie holidaymakers - see Holidays (p376) for more information.
In the southeast snowfields, July to October encompasses high season.
Similarly winter is the best (and high) season to visit the Back 0' Bourke.
Regardless of where you are, expect spontaneous price rises during the respective high season for everything from accommodation to petrol.
COSTS
NSW is an affordable destination by 'first world' standards, but how much you should budget for depends on what kind of traveller you are. Accommodation will be your greatest expense, followed by transport and food on a Fairly even par. Hiring a car, seeing the sights, staying in hotels or motels and enjoying the fabulous food and grog will cost you $110 to $160 per person per clay. In Sydney you can push that figure up by $50 or so, but in less- touristed areas like the west, you can reduce it by the same figure.
Travellers with a demanding brood in tow will find there are many inexpensive ways to keep kids satisfied, including beach and park visits, camping grounds and motels equipped with pools and games rooms, junior-sized restaurant meals and youth/family concessions for attractions. For more inFormation on travelling with children see p370.
Backpackers and budget travellers can still take in the sights on $60 to $100 per day, by camping or staying in hostels or pubs, self-catering whenever possible and taking the bus. |
