Transportation:

Sydney has a great network of public transportation options. Sydney's public transport system features a comprehensive network of train, bus and ferry services. Light rail lines, airport links, sightseeing buses and taxi services complement the network. You can get a free smartcard ticket, called an Opal card, to load funds for use on all modes of public transport except taxis. After making 8 trips in a week, the rest of the trips you make are free for the week, although this is set to change to half-price trips soon. Additionally, there is a $2.50 cap on Sundays, so make use of this to travel further if you can!

There is a free Sydney CBD shuttle bus that runs every 10 minutes in both directions to and from Central Station and Circular Quay via George Street. They are green buses and have the route number 555. They run weekdays: 9am – 3:30pm (9am – 9pm on Thursdays), and Weekends: 9:30am – 6pm.

The NSW government's Transport Info site can help you plan your trip, even if it involves changing modes of public transport. Use the site to calculate the best way to get from A to B when travelling to or around the City of Sydney. It also provides fare and timetable information. Alternatively, Google maps works just fine, but does not include the light rail in your travel options.

Alternative forms of transportation which will not be covered below include Uber and GoGet (more information here - there are GoGet pods located on campus and around other parts of Sydney).

1. Trains
Train stations in central Sydney include Central, Museum, St James, Town Hall, Wynyard, Circular Quay, Martin Place and Kings Cross. They are easy to travel between or to hook up with services going to the northern, southern and western suburbs. Trains to the eastern suburbs, including Bondi Junction, en route to the famous Bondi Beach leave from Martin Place Station. Services run from 4am to around midnight on most train lines. Information kiosks can be found at Central and Circular Quay stations. All stations on the network have 24-hour ticket vending machines.

Sydney train map: http://www.sydneytrains.info/stations/pdf/suburban_map.pdf

2. Buses
Sydney Buses travel through the city and beyond almost 24 hours a day. It is preferable to use an Opal card although tickets are accepted as it is generally cheaper, and it is complicated to calculate the zones – fines in Sydney are expensive, more so than in Singapore, and it’s not worth the risk. Buses to the city generally get stopped along the way to check if passengers have paid for their ride.

3. Light rail
Transdev operates the light rail network connecting Central Station, Capitol Square, Paddy's Market, Sydney Fish Market, amongst many other attractions. Services operate daily every 15 minutes from Central to Lilyfield between 6am and 11pm Monday to Thursday and between 6am to midnight Friday and Saturday. There is a 24-hour service from Central to The Star operating every 15 minutes from 6am to midnight then every 30 minutes until 6am.

Work has recently begun on a $1.6 billion light rail line along George Street, connecting Randwick with Circular Quay.

Flying Chalks’ tip: Don’t forget to tap on and off (find the “pillars” at the light rail station, usually close to both ends) as checks are done very regularly.

Click here for railroad map: http://www.sydneylightrail.transport.nsw.gov.au/information/maps

4. Taxi
Taxis in Sydney can be hailed from the curb on the street or engaged at one of several designated taxi ranks throughout the city centre. Taxis can also be booked directly with one of numerous private taxi companies operating across the city.

Maxi-cabs can be useful when you have more people or are required to transport more things. It is good to book them beforehand as they are not commonly found. No bookings are required if you wish to take a taxi from the airport. An estimated cost is 1.5 times that of a normal taxi fare.

Flying Chalks tips:

• Deluxe taxis can be recognised by its signature black body with a yellow sign on the top. Avoid hailing these taxis should you not want to find yourself paying more than the usual for a ride.
• Always make sure that the driver starts the meter when you enter the taxi.
• Check the fastest route given by Google Maps and tell the driver your preferred route to your destination. It may work to your advantage when you can memorise some road names to give the impression that you are familiar with the area (e.g. via M1/M5, via Botany Road, etc.)!

Estimated Sydney Taxi Rates (based on information from http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/content/maximum-taxi-fares-and-charges)

For an estimated taxi fare: http://www.taxifare.com.au/

5. Ferries

Ferry services across Sydney's world-renowned harbour leave from the terminal at Circular Quay and travel to an array of harbourside destinations including Taronga Zoo and suburbs such as Balmain, Kirribilli, Neutral Bay, Mosman and Rose Bay. Services also travel to the northern reaches of the harbor at Manly and west along the Parramatta River. Information kiosks are located at Circular Quay and Manly.

Flying Chalks’ recommendation: Bus is the most affordable form of transportation, although there may be occasional delays in its services.

Flying Chalks’ tip: International students do not qualify for student concession passes unless your study is fully funded by specified Australian Government scholarships. Check your eligibility here! However, if you are travelling a lot, consider getting the 90-day MyMulti ticket – it is discounted for international students.

Banking services:

Opening a bank account in Australia is fairly straightforward. You can apply for it online using the links below. Generally, an everyday/access account is opened along with a savings account. You can withdraw money from your everyday/access account while the savings account helps you to accumulate your interest.

Note that in Australia, you are required to apply for a Tax File Number (TFN) and file taxes at the end of the Financial Year (June/July) for the interest earned. If you are only staying for a semester, it is not worth the trouble, but you should consider this if you are thinking of a longer period of stay.

There are no costs involved in opening or maintaining the account for students. Some documents you may need to open an account include your passport, boarding pass, student visa, and university confirmation letter (eCOE).

Flying Chalks’ tips:

• The common banks are Commonwealth Bank and ANZ, both of which have branches on campus.
• Do visit the bank as soon as possible after you land in Sydney. However, if you are opening an account with ANZ, visit the Randwick or Kingsford branch instead of the branch on campus as they do not have the necessary equipment for you to choose your PIN number.
• Additionally, if you arrive during O-Week or during Week 1, be prepared for long waiting times on campus and at nearby branches. It might be better if you opted for your cards to be sent to branches further away to avoid the wait.

Major Banks in Australia:

1. Commonwealth Bank

2. ANZ Bank

3. NAB

4. St. George

5. Westpac

Post office services:

Australia Post is the country's primary postal service, responsible for mail and parcel delivery. Their reliability stems from a widespread network, timely deliveries, and a long-standing reputation for consistent service.

There is an Australia Post branch on campus (walking from Lower Campus to Upper Campus, turn right after the library, and walk along the sheltered pathway past Commonwealth Bank) and an Australia Post mailbox along High Street (near Clancy Auditorium). There are parcel lockers available at Randwick and Kingsford.

For more information, check the Australia Post website here!

Flying Chalks’ tip: Avoid paying more for postcards – there are some postcards at Australia Post branches which come with free international postage. If you want a greater variety of designs, you can also head to Paddy’s Market to get them for as little as 40 cents (as opposed to rip-off prices of over a dollar!) before you get the stamps from the post office and drop them off. 

Medical services:

1. Clinic
There is a clinic and a dental service available on campus, and appointments can be made here! Students will need to pay in advance before they can claim it under their insurance.

2. Hospital
There are also many specialists in the Randwick area near the Prince of Wales Hospital, Royal Women’s Hospital, and Sydney’s Children Hospital. Do note that in Australia, appointments have to be made to consult the doctor and dentist, and referrals are required for specialist consultations.

Depending on your needs, you can purchase a prepaid SIM card or get a post-paid plan. You won't risk getting unexpected charges by opting for a prepaid SIM. However, post-paid plans typically offer more data, calls, and free texts, but exceeding the limits specified in your plan can result in additional charges.

The top 3 telecommunications providers are:

• Telstra

  • Telstra offers the best coverage out of the 3 networks and is Australia's largest mobile network provider. The SIM-only plans for Telstra starts from $62/month

• Vodafone

  • Vodafone offers phone plans at lower rates compared to Optus and Telstra. Vodafone is a cheaper option for students, with plans starting from $49/month. Vodafone offers student discounts for some plans for as low as $40/month for 100GB. 

• Optus

  • Optus offers coverage across 98.5% of Australia’s geographical area. SIM-only plans from Optus start from as low as $49/month. Optus also offers student plans at $39/month for 100GB. 

Weather:

Sydney enjoys a temperate climate with a mild winter, and has about 104 sunny, cloud-free days a year. Average minimum temperature in the winter months of June through to August hovers around 9°C (47-48 °F). The summer season is from December through to February. For people who are used to tropical climates, it might be a bit colder with the winds. Additionally, transitioning between seasons may be abrupt.

Flying Chalks’ tip: For easing into colder months, pack clothes that can be layered; for easing into summer, prepare clothes for Singapore weather – although it will feel hotter with the stronger sun and the transition from the weather in spring.