Page 55 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sydney

SY DNEY THROUGH THE Y EAR  53

Average Monthly Temperature
Temperature Chart
°C °F This chart gives the
30 90 average minimum and
maximum tem peratures
25 80
for Sydney. Spring and
20 70 autumn are generally
15 60 free of extremes, but
be prepared for sudden
10 50
cold snaps in winter
5 40 and occasional bursts
of oppressive humid
0 30
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec heat in summer.
Winter Public Holidays
Winter in Sydney can be New Year’s Day (1 Jan)
cold enough to require warm Australia Day (26 Jan)
jackets; temperatures at night Good Friday (variable)
may drop dramatically away Easter Monday (variable)
from the coast. The days are Anzac Day (25 Apr)
often clear and sometimes
surprisingly mild. Arts are a Queen’s Birthday (second Mon
in Jun)
major feature of winter. There
are lots of exhibitions and the Bank Holiday (first Mon in Aug:
only banks and some financial
Sydney Film Festival, which no institutions are closed)
film buff will want to miss.
Labour Day (first Mon in Oct)
June Australian soldiers or “Diggers” at an Christmas Day (25 Dec)
Manly Food and Wine Festival Anzac Day ceremony Boxing Day (26 Dec)
(first week end), Manly Beach
(see p135). Annual food and
wine festival plus train rides, installations to photography August
bouncy castles and more and perform ance art. Sydney International Boat
for children. Yulefest (throughout Show (early Aug), ICC Sydney
Queen’s Birthday winter), Blue Moun tains and Cockle Bay Marina, Darling
Weekend (early Jun), (see pp162–3). Hotels, Harbour (see pp94–5; www.
Darling Harbour guesthouses and some sydneyboatshow.com.au).
(see pp94–5). This long restaurants celebrate a City to Surf Race (second Sun).
weekend of cele bra- midwinter “Christmas” From the city to Bondi Beach
tions also marks the with log fires and all the (see p139). A 14-km (9-mile)
official opening of the Yuletide trimmings. community event that attracts
Australian ski season. NAIDOC (National all types, from amateurs to
Sydney Film Festival Aboriginal and Torres leading marathon runners.
(two weeks mid-Jun), The familiar logo of the Strait Islander) Week
State Theatre (see Film Festival (dates vary). Week-long
p84). The latest short cele brations to build
and feature films, as well as awareness and understanding of
retro spectives and showcases. Aboriginal culture and history.
Winter Magic Festival (week- The Rocks Aroma Festival
end closest to winter solstice), (late Jul), The Rocks (see pp66–7).
Katoomba. Celebrate the A festival celebrating ground
winter solstice with elves coffee, spices and teas.
and fairies in a street parade. Splendour in the Grass (late
Jul), Byron Bay. A weekend of
July alternative music and arts.
Biennale of Sydney (two Archibald, Wynne and
months, mid-year), various Sulman exhibitions (Jul–
venues. International festival, Sep), Art Gallery of NSW
held in even-numbered (pp110–13). Annual exhibition
years, encompassing and of competition entries for
showcasing many forms of prestigious prizes in portrait, Runners in the City to Surf Race, surging
visual art, from painting and landscape and genre painting. down William Street

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