TRAVELLERS’ NEEDS - Sydney - page 201

BOOKING AGENCIES

Sydney has two main ticket
agencies: Ticketek and
Ticketmaster . Between them,
they represent all the major
entertainment and sporting
events. Ticketek has more
than 30 outlets throughout
NSW and the ACT, open from
9am to 5pm weekdays, and
Saturdays from 9am to 4pm.
Opening hours vary between
agencies and call centres, so
check with Ticketek to
confirm. Phone bookings:
9am-9pm, Monday to
Saturday, and 9am-7pm
Sundays. For internet book-
ings, visit their website.
Ticketmaster outlets are
open 9am-5pm Monday to
Friday - some are open later.
Phone bookings:
9am-9pm
Monday to
Saturday and
10am-5pm
Sunday.
Agencies accept
traveller's
cheques, bank
cheques, cash,
Visa, MasterCard
(Access) and Amex. Some
agencies do not accept Diners
Club. A booking fee applies,
plus a postage and handling
charge if tickets are mailed
out. There are generally no
refunds (unless a show is
cancelled) or exchanges. If
one agency has sold out its
allocation for a show, it is
worth checking with another.

The Spanish firedancers Els Comediants at the Sydney Festival

display at 9pm for families as
well as the midnight display.
The Sydney Festival in Jan-
uary is a huge extravaganza
of performance and visual art.
Various outdoor venues in the
Rocks, Darling Harbour and
in front of the Opera House
feature events to suit every
taste, including musical pro-
ductions,
drama,
dance, exhibitions and
circuses. The most popular
free event are the
symphony and jazz
concerts held in the
Domain. Also popular are
Darling Harbour's Hoopla
in April and the food and
wine festival held in June at
Manly Beach.

other requirements or call
Ideas Inc , who can provide a
list of Sydney's most wheel-
chair-friendly venues. The
Sydney Opera House has
disabled parking, wheelchair
access and a loop system in
the Concert Hall for the
hearing impaired. A brochure,
Services for the Disabled , is
also available.

DIRECTORY
USEFUL NUMBERS

CitySearch
www .sydney.citysearch.com.au
Sydney Visitor Centre
Tel [phone] or 9240 8788.
www .sydneyvisitorcentre.com.au

A busker
at Circular Quay

DISABLED VISITORS

Ideas Inc
Tel [phone].
Sydney Opera House
Information Desk
Tel [phone].
Disabled Information
Tel [phone].

Many older venues were not
designed with the disabled
visitor in mind, but this has
been redressed in most newer
buildings. It is best to phone
the box office beforehand to
request special seating and DISCOUNT TICKETS AND

FREE ENTERTAINMENT

The Access Foundation
Tel [phone].
www .accessibility.com.au
Tourism NSW
Tel 132 077.
www . visitnsw.com.au

Tuesday is budget-price day
at most cinemas. Some inde-
pendent cinemas have special
prices throughout the week.
The Sydney Symphony
Orchestra and Opera Australia
(see p212) offer a special
Student Rush price to full-time
students under 28 but only if
surplus tickes are available.
These can be bought on the
day of the performance, from
the box office at the venue.
Outdoor events are espec-
ially popular in Sydney, and
many are free (see pp48-51) .
Sydney Harbour is a splendid
setting for the fabulous New
Year's Eve fireworks, with a

TICKET AGENCIES

Ticketek
Tel 132 849.
www .ticketek.com.au
Ticketmaster
Tel 136 100.
www .ticketmaster.com.au

The highly respected Australian
Chamber Orchestra (see p212)