Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
AVERAGE DAILY HOURS OF SUNSHINE
Sunshine Hours
A sunny climate is one
of Sydney's main
attractions. There are
very few days with no
sunshine at all, even
in the middle of winter.
An up-to-date weather
forecast is available by
telephoning 1196.
Coastal weather condi-
tions can be obtained
by dialling 11541.
Hours
10
8
6
4
2
0
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
JANUARY
Outdoor concert attracting
huge crowds and hip acts.
Chinese New Year
(late Jan or
early Feb)
. Lion dancing,
firecrackers and other New
Year festivities take place in
Chinatown
(see p99)
, Darling
Harbour and Cabramatta
(p42)
Festival of Sydney
(first
week-end Jan)
. Fantastic music,
theatre, sport and art events.
SUMMER
Opera in the Domain
(throughout Jan)
, The Domain
(see p107)
. A free performance
of highlights from productions
by Opera Australia.
Cricket Test matches
and one-
day internationals held at Syd-
ney Cricket Ground
(see p52)
.
Flickerfest
(early-mid-Jan)
,
Bondi Pavilion
(see
pp144-5)
. Festival of
Australian and
international short
films and animation.
Symphony under the
Stars
(throughout Jan)
,
The Domain
(see p107)
.
Free concert performed
by the Sydney
Symphony Orchestra.
Ferrython
(26 Jan)
,
Sydney Harbour. Ferries
compete fiercely for line
honours, as do rigged
competitors in the Tall Ships
Race held on the same day.
Australia Day Concert
(26 Jan)
. Concerts take place
all over the city.
Big Day Out
(around 26 Jan)
,
Olympic Park, Homebush.
Sydney turns festive in the
summer months. Christmas
pageants and open-air carol
singing in The Domain mark
the start of the season. Then
there is the Sydney Festival, a
month of cultural events and
other popular entertainment,
culminating in Australia Day
celebrations on 26 January.
Summer, too, brings a feast
for sport lovers, with surfing
and lifesaving events, yacht
races and a host of local and
international cricket matches.
FEBRUARY
New Mardi Gras Festival
,
various inner-city
venues
(see pp30-31)
.
A month of events
culminating in a street
parade, mainly on
Oxford Street, usually
held early March.
Tropfest
(third Sun)
,
Darlinghurst and The
Domain. Hugely popu-
lar short film festival.
North Bondi Classic Ocean
Swim
(a Sun in early Feb)
,
North Bondi
(see p137)
. A
2-km (1½-mile) race. Any
swimmer can enter.
Coogee
Surf Carnival
(first weekend
in Feb)
, Coogee
(see p55)
.
Chinese New
Year lion
“Santa Claus” at the surf: Christmas
Day celebrations on Bondi Beach
DECEMBER
Carols in The Domain
(Sat
before Christmas)
. Carols by
candlelight in the parkland of
the city's favourite outdoor
gathering spot
(see p107)
.
Christmas at Bondi Beach
(25
Dec)
. Holidaymakers hold
their own unofficial party on
this famous beach
(see p137)
.
Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
(26 Dec)
. The harbour teems
with small craft as they escort
racing yachts out to sea for
the start of their journey.
New Year's Eve
(31 Dec)
.
Street parties in The Rocks and
Circular Quay and fireworks
displays on Sydney Harbour.
Australia Day Tall Ships race in Sydney Harbour
