Frequently Asked Questions

  • Ultimately Sydney is a Sydney-based luxury private charter and city tour specialist. We run premium private tours and small-group shared tours across Sydney and surrounding regions, built around history, food and local culture.

  • We offer private tours of Sydney City, the Blue Mountains, the Hunter Valley wine region and the Southern Highlands, plus three shared small-group tours: The Story of Sydney (history), The Taste of Sydney (food and lifestyle) and Street Eats & Harbour Treats (architecture and culture). We also build fully bespoke Sydney itineraries.

  • A private tour is exclusive to your group, with the itinerary, pace and stops tailored to your interests in a private luxury vehicle. A shared tour joins a small group on a set itinerary at a fixed price, which is a more social and lower-cost way to experience Sydney.

  • Yes. Ultimately Sydney creates bespoke private itineraries built around your interests, schedule and pace. You can combine city sights with day trips to the Blue Mountains, Hunter Valley or Southern Highlands - just contact our reservations team to design it.

  • No, tipping is not expected in Australia. Staff are paid a fair wage, so tips are appreciated but never required. (We cover this in detail on our blog, "The Myth About Tipping in Australia.")

  • You can contact Ultimately Sydney by phone, email or our online contact form. Whether you're enquiring about a bespoke private experience created just for you, or have a question about our regular small-group tours, reach us using the details below.

    Phone: +61 4 0790 3162

    Email: res@ultimatelysydney.com.au

    Or send a message through our contact form.

  • Yes, Sydney is worth visiting. Sydney is clean, friendly and safe. Sydney has beautiful parks and harbour and coastal walks. Sydney has a diverse range of culinary experiences with restaurants celebrating food from all over the world.

  • Sydney is famous for the Opera House, The Sydney Harbour Bridge, The Beaches, a beautiful harbour and happy friendly people.

  • 3 to 5 days

  • The best month to visit Sydney is April or October because it’s not to hot, not to cold and the busy tourist season has just finished in April or about to start in October.

  • The cheapest time to visit Sydney is in the winter.

  • Sydney is not expensive when you consider the exchange rate. Sydney is not expensive when compared to other major cities like New York and London. Sydney is worth every cent.

  • Yes, Sydney is very safe for tourists and one of the most appealing factors.

  • How to navigate the public transport system with your credit or debit card. Pack for variable weather. Where the great restaurants are. The good running tracks. Where the good shopping is.

  • It depends on what country you live in. Check the official ImmiAccount portal.

  • AUD – The Australian dollar

  • If the service was what you expected or better, feel free to leave a 10% tip, but know that it is not expected. There’s no pressure. No formula. No mandatory percentage. Just a choice. And that choice, when made, can mean a lot.

  • What language is spoken in Sydney? English

  • Yes, Sydney is great for first-time visitors

  • Sydney, but see them both for yourself if you can.

  • Sydney, but see them both for yourself if you can.

  • Yes, you can explore Sydney without renting a car

  • Yes, it’s one of the most appealing factors

  • Time difference from the west coast is -17hrs. The time difference from the east coast is -14hrs

  • Yes, Sydney is suitable for solo travellers. It’s very friendly and safe.

  • Yes, Sydney is suitable for seniors. It’s very friendly and safe.

  • Yes, Sydney is suitable for couples

  • Sydney is a cool temperate environment with average temperature in summer 26C (79F) and average temperature in winter 18C (65F)

  • December to March

  • Sydney receives on average 1,213mm annually. Rain often comes in short heavy bursts. The wettest period is typically late summer and autumn

  • Smart casual is a good base line. Comfy shoes for walks and a wind breaker. Sunglasses for sure

  • Yes

  • Sometimes, generally in summer after rain

  • Yes, it can get down to 6C (43F) in the winter, but not often

  • No

  • It’s mostly chilly, but we also get sunny days where temperatures are up to 21C (70F)

  • Stunning, a great time to visit Sydney

  • Stunning, a great time to visit Sydney

  • Sydney often gets a strong southerly wind

  • Yes

  • Sydney can reach 50C+ (122F+) but generally the hottest days are around 40C (104F)

  • It is strong enough to damage skin and eyes for at least 10 months of the year. If the UV index is higher than 3 you should protect yourself.

  • It’s hot, but not too hot. There are plenty of ways to cool down.

  • 26C (79F) When there is no wind, clear skies and no shark sightings

  • April to November. They migrate north in Autumn/Winter and south again in the Spring

  • December, January, February and March

  • Summer 18Dec – 27Jan. Autumn 7Apr – 17Apr. Winter 6Jul – 17Jul. Spring 28Sep – 9Oct

  • Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport serves both the domestic and international airport – a 20-minute drive to the city center. Western Sydney airport is due to open late 2026 and is a 60-minute drive to the city center.

  • Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport is a 20-minute drive to the city center. Western Sydney airport is due to open late 2026 is a 60-minute drive to the city center.

  • Train, taxi or uber

  • Either is possible. The train is much cheaper but not as convenient

  • Yes

  • Yes. It is a good strict system

  • $20-24

  • Yes - at the airport and Circular Quay

  • Yes

  • Yes

  • It is the official card used when travelling on all 5-modes of public transport in Sydney. Ferry, bus, train, light rail and metro services.

  • Yes

  • All ferry wharves have a screen indicating the destination and departure time for each service from that location.

  • Yes

  • Yes

  • Uber

  • Yes

  • Mostly yes, but it depends on which attractions you’re referring to.

  • Yes, and we have terrific dedicated bike lanes throughout the city. Download the map from the City of Sydney app

  • Electric bikes can be hired off the street in most locations around the city.

  • Not as expensive as a fine and parking cops are everywhere.

    Parking is more expensive during the working week unless you get the early bird deal and arrive before 9am and depart after 3pm.

  • Between $2-$11 per trip

  • Yes

  • Circular Quay to Manly

  • Yes

  • Yes, up until midnight

  • Yes

  • Yes. Next There and Transport Info NSW

  • Yes

  • Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Coogee to Bondi Beach coastal walk, Taronga Zoo, Blue Mountains, Sydney Aquarium, Featherdale Wildlife Park, Sydney Zoo, Harbour Cruise, Whale Watching Cruise

  • Yes

  • Yes, but only to the box office unless you have a ticket for a performance or a tour.

  • If you think of it as a once in a lifetime experience, Yes

  • Board a ferry, Customs House building, plenty of restaurants, stunning photo opportunities

  • There’s a few - Mrs Macquarie’s Point, Kirribilli Lookout, Bradleys Head or Taronga Zoo, Luna Park, McMahons Point

  • Yes. It has a terrific story and a great view

  • Yes, it’s the oldest neighbourhood in the country

  • The Rocks Discovery Museum, Australian Museum, Hyde Park Barracks, Sydney Museum, Maritime Museum

  • Yes there are lots of free attractions – most museums, Art Gallery of NSW, Australian Museum, Rocks Discovery Museum

  • Peter’s Deli or PR Raineri in Five Dock, Spice Alley in Chippendale, Inner West Drama in Marrickville, Lazy Bones Jazz Bar in Marrickville, The Henson Hotel in Marrickville, Sharky’s Fish’n Chips in Gladesville, Palmer & Co speak easy in the city, Jimmy’s Rooftop bar in the city

  • Sydney Tower – Infinity restaurant or Bar 83

  • On a ferry from Pyrmont to The Rocks on Ultimately Sydney’s City Beats Harbour Treats tour, Pyrmont or Kirribilli lookout

  • Mrs Macquarie’s Point, Cremorne Point, all coastal beaches, harbour bridge footpath, Opera House fore court, Royal Botanical Garden, China Town precinct, Darling Harbour precinct, Barangaroo Headland

  • Yes, every Monday and non-sitting Fridays at 1:30pm

  • Yes, there are plenty

  • Opera House tour and performances, Bridge Climb, Blue Mountains tours, Hunter Valley tours, Sydney city tours, Whale Watching Cruise

  • Opera House tours and performances

  • Yes - combine Sydney Tower, Aquarium and Sydney Zoo

  • They range from AUD $30 to $300

  • Yes, it’s Australia’s most famous beach and the easiest to get to being only 20 minutes from downtown.

  • Locals will tell you, yes. But it’s best to see for yourself

  • Depends on what you’re looking for. Curl Curl and Freshwater beaches have great surf and not as busy as Manly and Bondi. Balmoral is great for families with young kids and people who don’t like waves

  • Anywhere, but Freshwater is known to be more gentle and less territorial

  • Yes, as long as you pay attention to the life guards advice. Swim between the flags.

  • Yes, but beaches are patrolled with drones and an alarm will sound if one is sighted.

  • Because it is an area where there are no rips or undertows and it’s the safest place to be. Life guards are always in that vicinity.

  • Balmoral, Clovelly, Shelly, Tamarama, Camp Cove

  • Balmoral, South Bronte at low tide, Shelly, Clovelly

  • A well maintained popular coastal path that is very scenic

  • Bondi, Bronte, Wylies, Fairy Bower, Dee Why, Nth Narrabeen, Mona Vale,  Sth Curl Curl, Mclvers, Giles, Malabar, Clovelly, Cronulla

  • Yes, the best places are Shelly Beach, Clovelly and Gordons Bay

  • Camp Cove or Gordons Bay

  • Yes, all beaches are free

  • Balmoral

  • It’s not recommended as sharks are more active at night

  • No, they are only on duty when the flags are out

  • Palm Beach

  • All beaches from Bondi to Coogee

    Dudley Page Reserve at Dover Heights

  • Bondi and Manly beaches

  • Harry’s Café d’Wheels Tiger Pie - It’s a meat pie with a choice of fillings - (not tiger meat ) beef, chicken, vegies and curry. Tiger was Harry’s nick name in the army

  • Any good restaurant or fish & chip shop and The Sydney Fish Market

  • Yes, but go early to secure a table

  • Seafood, Beef, lamb, Crocodile, Emu, Kangaroo, meat pie, lamingtons, Tim Tam Slam, cheezels, Bounty, Cherry Ripe & Picnic chocolate bar, chicken or cheese twisties, sunny boy ice block, violet crumble chocolate bar, crunchie chocolate bar

  • Coffee is great in Sydney. If you pay more than $5 for a regular coffee that is less than average – report it to the authorities, that’s not on.

  • The Garden, The Rusty Rabbit, Vogue Café, Social Brew Café, District Eatery

  • No, but 10 percent is appreciated if the service is good

  • Some are, but mostly the prices are on par with other major cities in the world.

  • There are many. Here’s some of our favourites – Café Sydney, Lotus Barangaroo, Catalina, Club Rose Bay, Doyles on the Beach, Watsons Bay Hotel, Ripples Milsons Point, Ripples Chowder Bay, The Palisade Hotel, 6 Head

  • Potts Point, Orange Grove, Fish Market, Paddy’s, Sydney Growers, Glebe, Carriageworks, Northside produce, Marrickville organic, Eastwood, Double Bay

  • Tanuda Chateau Cellar Door, The Rocks, The Four Seasons Hotel, Hunter Valley Wine Region

  • Jimmy’s, Untied, Zephyr, Slims, Palisade, Babylon, The Rooftop, Aster, Old Mates, The Surry, CIRQ, Employees Only, The Rook, Lady Banks, Martinez, State Library of NSW

  • Surry Hills, Paddington, Sydney City, Barangaroo, Balmain, The Rocks & Circular Quay, Potts Point, Double Bay

  • Yes

  • China Town, Spice Alley, Marrickville, Newtown

  • Yes Sydney is very vegan and vegetarian friendly

  • Yes

  • Maybe, but if there are signs saying alcohol free zone, then no.

  • Pavlova, Lamingtons

  • Coopers, Marrickville craft brewery crawl, Young Henry’s

  • Pitt Street Mall and surrounds, Queen Victoria Building, Oxford Street, Paddington, Glenmore Road, Paddington, Hall Street, Bondi Beach, King Street, Newtown, Darling Street, Rozelle/Balmain, Crown Street, Darlinghurst, McLeay Street, Potts Point

  • Castlereagh and King Street, Sydney, Double Bay, Queen Victoria Building

  • Opals, Wallaby’s jersey

  • The Rocks Market, Potts Point on Saturday morning, Paddington on Saturday

  • Yes

  • 9am – 6pm. Open until 9pm on Thursday night

  • Yes, remember to take your passport. You may need to show your airline ticket

  • Berkenhead Point, and DFO in Homebush

  • Country Road, R.M. Williams, P.E. Nation, Venroy, Zimmerman

  • Wentworth Galley, Kate Owen, Spirit Gallery

  • Featherdale wildlife park, Taronga Zoo, Walkabout wildlife sanctuary, Hunter Valley

  • Featherdale, Taronga Zoo, Symbio wildlife park, Walkabout wildlife sanctuary

  • Yes. Rainbow Lorikeet are the most prominent. We also have the King Parrot. Others are the white sulfur-crested cockatoo, Galah, Crimson Rosella, Eastern Rosella

  • It’s not recommended unless in a zoo

  • Kangaroos, wombats, possums, lots of birds, dingoes

  • Yes, redbacks and funnel webs

  • All along the east coast of Australia between April and October when they are migrating

  • You should be mindful of their presence, especially in tall grass during summer.

  • No, they only exist in the tropics, in the warmer waters

  • All over Australia

  • Yes, it is a world heritage listed site, full of great hikes, scenic lookouts and quaint villages

  • Yes by car or train

  • Yes there are over 150 cellar doors, great restaurants, art galleries, cheese and chocolate factories

  • Yes it’s only 1 hour from Sydney and has terrific hikes and views from the various lookouts. Great for a picnic

  • South Coast & Southern Highlands. It has a bit of everything. Beaches like Sydney, escarpments, hikes, quaint villages and waterfalls like the Blue Mountains and wineries like the Hunter Valley

  • Yes. It’s stunning at sunrise

  • Yes it is the oldest wine producing region in Australia and only 2-hours from Sydney

  • Yes, but check if they are open. Sometimes they need to close for maintenance work

  • Everywhere. There are hundreds of hikes in and around Sydney. Check the Royal National Park website for options

  • There are many waterfalls in and around Sydney, but the bigger ones are at Wentworth falls, Katoomba falls, Wattamolla falls, Carrington falls and Fitzroy falls

  • Yes, they pick you up and give commentary about all of the interesting facts. They arrange everything so all you need to do is sit back and enjoy

  • Yes, they are of high quality, comfortable vehicles and provide expert commentary. You get to have a say in where you go and what you do.

  • City Beats Harbour Treats with Ultimately Sydney

  • The Taste of Sydney with Ultimately Sydney

  • Yes, Sydney has the most beautiful harbour in the world.

  • Captain Cook as a public cruise or
    Sydney Harbour Boat tours Twilight cruise as a private cruise

  • If the weather is good

  • Ultimately Sydney tours

  • Yes

  • Private tours that are designed your way

  • Absolutely yes

  • Featherdale Wildlife Park, Whale Watching, Luna Park, Maritime Museum, Aquarium, Sydney Tower, Let’s Go Surfing, Bike tour

  • Balmoral, Bronte, Shelly Beach

  • Surfing, bike tours, beach days, Darling Harbour, Luna Park, jet boat, whale watching, shopping downtown, ferry to Manly, Bondi to Coogee coastal walk, Bridge Climb

  • Yes, there is a great one in Darling Harbour near the IMAX theater

  • Galleries and museums, Aquarium, shopping

  • Yes

  • Art galleries and museums

  • Featherdale and Taronga Zoo

  • Featherdale, Taronga Zoo, all Merlin entertainment venues, Bridge Climb, harbour cruises,

  • Hotels, hostels, Airbnb, motels

  • Yes you are close to everything

  • The Four Seasons Hotel or YHA in The Rocks.

  • Four Seasons, Shangri-La, Park Hyatt, Marriott, Intercontinental

  • Yes absolutely. You can stay in a hotel, motel or Airbnb and live like a Sydney local. There are plenty of cafes, restaurants, boutiques, stunning walks and terrific waves

  • Most areas a very safe. The crime rate is Sydney is low.

  • Yes

  • Between $150 to $1500 per night

  • Hidden laneways in the back streets of Kings Cross and Southern George Street in the CBD for petty crime, rowdy behavior and drunken arguments.

  • As soon as you know you have your flights booked.

  • Around $200 per person per day

  • Yes, you will find it available in most places.

  • Type 1 plugs and sockets 230-240 V

  • No, the Australian dollar is the only currency accepted

  • 000

  • Not all credit cards are accepted. Visa and Mastercard are universally welcomed while AMEX, Diners Club and JCB have more limited acceptance

  • Taxi overcharging, fake public wifi networks, card skimming, street scammers offering free trinkets or tickets

  • Yes, Sydney is very accessable

  • Limiting themselves to just the CBD and Bondi Beach, missing out on the extensive public transport network. Underestimating the punishing UV rays in summer.

  • Avoid the expensive tourist traps. Use the public transport system, explore vibrant culinary scene at Spice Alley and Surry Hills, walk across the harbour bridge for free, venture into the inner west and explore Newtown’s King Street