Ayda’s Sydney Guidebook

Our public transport system’s integrated payment method is called an Opal card, and you can use it on ferries, trains, buses and the Light Rail. Remember to tap on and off everywhere, otherwise you’ll be charged the highest possible amount for your trip. Opal cards have maximum daily and weekly charges, and you can load them with funds at train stations, convenience stores, and, if you're registered, online. But if you've got a packed wallet, you can actaully scrap the Opal for all but buses, and use your bank card instead (you won't get any discounts, though).

There are people who catch a ferry across Sydney Harbour to work every day. It’s a legitimate form of public transport, and can be the fastest way to get from one part of Sydney to another. But it’s also ridiculously scenic like a postcard. We've found some of the most stellar ferry trips: you'll be sailng on the old chuggers to Manly, down the river to Parramatta and out to Watsons Bay.

Public transport in Sydney has a chequered past; from our inexplicably scrapped tram network to the one-way monorail that once encircled the CBD, some pretty questionable choices have marked this city's transit history. Trains and buses are prone to delays and whole services can be suspended in bad weather. Ferries are gorgeous and run to a tighter schedule, but aren’t that frequent either. Basically, Sydney does not have a fast, reliable, easy to use mass transit system, at least not yet. An extensive light rail extension is making certain parts of the city more navigable, and upgrades to Syd

Sydney has an international reputation as a go-to destination for sun-seekers, and we certainly do catch quite a few rays here in the Land Down Under. But be warned, Sydney can dish out its fair share of wild weather too. Courtesy of a sub-tropical climate, torrential rain and summer storms are not uncommon here, and can roll in from the Tasman Sea, dropping a deluge on the city, without much notice. So, even if the sun is shining and the skies are clear in the morning, you'd be wise to check the forecast before heading out for the day. And if rain is on the horizon, we suggest a rain-poncho o