Frommer's Australia from $50 a Day 13th Edition - To Parent Directory

102
CHAPTER 3 . SYDNEY
6:30am and 10pm, or visit the Countrylink Travel Center (& 02/9224 2742),
Station Concourse, Wynyard CityRail station for brochures and bookings.
BY METRO MONORAIL The metro monorail, with its single overhead
line, is seen by many as a blight and by others as a futuristic addition. The
monorail connects the central business district to Darling Harbour—though it’s
only a 15-minute walk from Town Hall. The system operates Monday through
Wednesday from 7am to 10pm, Thursday through Saturday from 7am to midnight,
and Sunday from 8am to 10pm. Tickets are A$4 (US$2.60), free for children
under 5. An all-day monorail pass costs A$8 (US$5.20) for adults and
A$24 (US$16) for a family. The trip from the city center to Darling Harbour
takes around 12 minutes. Look for the gray overhead line and the plastic tubelike
structures that are the stations. Call Metro Monorail at & 02/8584 5288
(www.metrolightrail.com.au) for more information.
BY METRO LIGHT RAIL A system of “trams” opened in late 1997 with a
route that traverses a 3.6km (2 1 ⁄4-mile) track between Central Station and Wentworth
Park in Pyrmont. It provides good access to Chinatown, Paddy’s Markets,
Darling Harbour, the Star City casino, and the Sydney Fish Markets. The trams
run every 10 minutes. The one-way fare is A$2.50 (US$1.60) or $4.80
(US$3.15), depending on distance. There are no child fares. A family-of-five day
pass costs A$24 (US$16), and a day pass A$8 (US$5.20). Call Metro Light Rail
at & 02/8584 5288 (www.metrolightrail.com.au) for details.
BY TAXI
Taxis are a relatively economical way to get around. Several companies service
the city center and suburbs. All journeys are metered. If you cross either way on
the Harbour Bridge or through the Harbour Tunnel, it will cost you an extra
A$3 (US$1.95)—a rip-off considering there’s only an official toll on the way
into the city, and if you take the Eastern Distributor from the airport, it’s A$3.50
(US$2.30). An extra 10% will be added to your fare if you pay by credit card.
Note: Visa cards are not accepted in Australian taxis.
Taxis line up at ranks in the city, such as those found opposite Circular Quay
and Central Station. They are also frequently found in front of hotels. A yellow
light on top of the cab means it’s vacant. Cabs can be hard to get on Friday and
Saturday nights and between 2 and 3pm every day, when cabbies are changing
shifts after 12 hours on the road. Tipping is not necessary, but appreciated—a
dollar or so is plenty. Some people prefer to sit up front, but it’s certainly not
considered rude if you don’t. It is compulsory for passengers to wear seat belts
in front and back. The Taxi Complaints Hotline (& 1800/648 478 in Australia)
deals with problem taxi drivers. Taxis are licensed to carry four people.
The main cab companies are A (& 13 25 22); Taxis Combined Services
(& 02/9332 8888); RSL Taxis (& 02/9581 1111); Legion Cabs (& 13 14
51); and Premier (& 13 10 17).
BY WATER TAXI
Harbour Taxis operate 24 hours a day and are a quick, convenient way to get
to waterfront restaurants, harbor attractions, and some suburbs. They can also
be hired for private cruises. A journey from Circular Quay to Watsons Bay, for
example, costs about A$60 (US$39) for two. An extra passenger costs around
A$8 (US$5.20); some taxis can hold up to 28 people. An hour’s sightseeing
excursion around the harbor costs A$181 (US$118) for two. The main operator
is Water Taxis Combined (& 02/9555 8888).