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Sydney - Host City
With 240 days of warm sunshine and blue sky each year,
Sydney, host city of the 7th
World Biomaterials Congress has been voted for six consecutive years
as the best city in
the world for visitors. Sydney, a city of around four million people
has over 150 ethnic groups with more than 100 languages spoken.
Sydney is set around a harbour of breathtaking natural beauty. Its many
bays and inlets reach throughout the City, from the hustle and bustle
of the Circular Quay ferry terminus, to the exclusive mansions of the
North Shore, to large tracts of parklands, reserves and gardens that
balance the harbour environmentally. It is possible to walk around much
of the harbour edge and picnic in many spots.
Away from the bustle of Sydney, many national parks and protected areas
of natural
bushland surround the city, with the World Heritage listed Blue Mountains
a short
journey to the west.
Of course the most famous of Sydney’s landmarks
is the spectacular Sydney Opera House with its graceful ‘sails’.
This centrepiece of the city is perched on Bennelong Point overlooking
the Harbour Bridge (known affectionately by the locals as the “coathanger”),
Circular Quay and the historic ‘Rocks’ area, site of the
original European settlement. Take a climb to the top of the “coathanger” (either
up the stone pylon or, for the adventurous, join a guided climb to the
very top of the structure) for spectacular views from the Pacific Ocean
to the Blue Mountains in the West, and an extraordinary perspective on
Australia’s favourite city.
Currency
Decimal currency is used in Australia with the dollar
as the basic unit (100 cents = $1) Notes
come in $100, $50, $20, $10, and $5. Coins come in $2, $1, 50c, 20c,
10c and 5c
denominations.
Currency exchange facilities are available at banks, hotels and airports
and operate normal
business hours. MasterCard, Visa, American Express and Diners Club are
widely accepted
most restaurants and shops. Auto teller machines, which recognise Visa,
Mastercard and other major bankcards, are widespread.
Sydney has a surprisingly low cost of living. The following
table gives some examples in
exchange rate terms of common items.
Exchange rates at time of publication
1 AUD = 0. 66 US
1 AUD = 0.58 EUR
1 AUD = 0.40 GBP
1 AUD = 79.00 JPY
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Item |
Cost in
Australian (A$)
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Cost in
US Dollar (US$) |
Cost in
Euro (EUR) |
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McDonald's
Big Mac
Bottle of Australian Premium Beer
Can of Coke
Litre of Milk
Loaf of Bread
Mars Bar |
A$ 3.00
A$ 5.00
A$ 1.50
A$ 1.70
A$ 2.50
A$ 1.50
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US$ 2.00
US$ 3.33
US$ 1.00
US$ 1.13
US$ 1.66
US$ 1.00 |
EUR 1.70
EUR 2.88
EUR 0.86
EUR 0.97
EUR 1.44
EUR 0.86 |
*The above prices are samples only, prices may vary
from store to store.
Click here to
convert the Australian dollar amount to your home currency.
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