Son Traveling to Sidney Australia

[Chainsaw76]

Mod. please feel free to move this thread if needed.

My son is traveling to Aust. this July and will be staying there for about 3 weeks. He's never traveled internationally before, and I'm wondering if there are any of the brotherhood in the area that would have advice to offer.

Thanks!
jim

[H60DoorGunner]

Not from there, but I spent quite a bit of time a few years ago.

Sydney is one of the safest and cleanest cities I've ever been too. Ever. Anywhere. And most everyone is polite and personable.

That being said, like any other city, it has it's "bad" neighborhoods. Kings Cross area comes to mind... it looks a little rundown and sleazy, like a bad neighborhood might. But even that place isn't THAT bad. Compared to East LA, East St Louis etc, the bad neighborhoods in Sydney are child's play.

Daytime for lunch with friends they're ok. Night time by yourself is asking to have to stab a mugger.

[LawDog]

I love Sydney. It's one of my favorite cities. It's one of the only "big" cities where I could ever see myself living. And one of my favorite neighborhoods is actually Kings Cross--the so-called "bad" area. It's filled with great, cheap, interesting little food shops. The actual violence there is negligible. You just have to be aware that when some cute little blonde thing starts rubbing herself against your body, she's probably trying to steal your wallet.

Sydney is well-sized for bicycle travel. It's a bit big for walking around, but too cramped to be worth getting a car. Parking is horrendous. Public transportation consists of buses, which are clean and safe but limit you to their routes and schedules. If there is a way to rent a bike for a few weeks, that would be my preferred method of getting around Sydney.

The primary piece of advice I would give to a young guy travelling there is to stay sober. Drunks are low-hanging fruit for criminal predators. Sober people are much more difficult to mug. Stumbling out of a bar at 2:00 in the morning is the best way to get rolled by the local hoods.

[BillyOblivion]

Mod. please feel free to move this thread if needed.

My son is traveling to Aust. this July and will be staying there for about 3 weeks. He's never traveled internationally before, and I'm wondering if there are any of the brotherhood in the area that would have advice to offer.

jim

Age, marital status, purpose of visit?

[Seadragon]

Sydney is pretty safe overall, though as per previous posts it's not smart to go wandering around late at night in some parts. Some of the dodgier parts are Redfern, Bankstown and Campbelltown. Kings Cross is like pretty much any red-light district anywhere in the world. In general gun violence is mostly limited to spats between crime syndicates, particularly between the 'Bikie' (motorcycle) gangs. An issue that seems to come up here more often than other parts of the world I've lived in is what Aussies call the 'King hit' - basically a single surprise punch to the head. Several young men have been killed or brain-damaged by King hits in recent times. My advice is, as LawDog says, stay sober, and just walk away from any situation that starts to get heated. There are plenty of great bars, clubs and restaurants in Sydney, no need to take any risks just to keep possession of that particular bar stool. And carry a 'throwaway' wallet with a few dollars and an expired credit card or two in it, keep the real stuff secured.

Traffic in Sydney sucks big-time. Public transport is mostly bus, which means you still have to sit in the traffic. Best is to locate as centrally as possible and walk - I always try to walk as much as I can in a new city, it's the best way to see a place.

I'm 3 hours away in Canberra - if your son runs into any trouble (I doubt he will), PM me, and I'll do what I can to help.

[glockednlocked]

Been several years since I lived there but quick trips through make me think same old rules apply. Just as already said the cross and some western suburbs are not so great. I think the lindt shop mess highlighted an increased muzzy presence but not as bad as many places. Be smart, employ the normal big city protocols in regard to after dark may mean day safe places are not so safe and try to not be the odd man out of the local crowd. Son will love it tell him stay aware and Enjoy!

[Chainsaw76]

Gents

My single 20 YO son is going there to meet up with his intended for a few days. She is attending a bible college there for a year or two (we don't know how long yet). I've been coaching him on how to stay out of trouble (stop laughing, this is serious :biggrin:) He's usually pretty level headed for an upscale redneck, and has been training in mixed martial arts since he was five. Hopefully he will be able to avoid the 4 S's.

Thanks for the advice, and offer of help, it is appreciated.

jim

[BillyOblivion]

Gents

My single 20 YO son is going there to meet up with his intended for a few days. She is attending a bible college there for a year or two (we don't know how long yet). I've been coaching him on how to stay out of trouble (stop laughing, this is serious :biggrin:) He's usually pretty level headed for an upscale redneck, and has been training in mixed martial arts since he was five. Hopefully he will be able to avoid the 4 S's.

Ah.

Then I guess suggesting he stay at the Bondi Beach Youth Hostel where he can...meet german backpacker lasses and take a short stroll down to Bondi Beach is probably not what he'll be looking for...

[Chainsaw76]

Son doesn't like being without a knife of some sort. What is legal that he can purchase on arrival and carry about? Any advice recited.

Thanks!

jim

[BillyOblivion]

Son doesn't like being without a knife of some sort. What is legal that he can purchase on arrival and carry about? Any advice recited.

Australia is pretty snippy about carrying weapons. That said a Federal Police officer (at the gate to the facility I was working at) noticed my Spyderco Delica tucked into my pocket, asked to see it and handed it back after examining the blade.

Does he want a blade for protection, or just because a Gentleman carries a knife?

If the former pretty much you're f*ked. There just isn't a lot that is legal that's worth using.

He might also want to talk to his intended. If he's not comfortable talking to her about that...

[LawDog]

Your son may worry more about the law than I do. Every man has to make his own choices in that regard. When I was there, I carried a 7" fixed blade. It's been about a decade since I was last there, so security protocols may have changed in that time. Back then, the only place that I passed through any type of screening was at the airport. I don't recall any museum or other facility that I visited having metal detectors of any type. If it had been discovered, I was prepared to play the dumb tourist and say that it was for camping in the outback. After all, I learned all that I knew of Australian culture from watching Crocodile Dundee. "Doesn't every Aussie carry a bowie knife, officer?"

[Chainsaw76]

Thanks gents. A knife is a tool until it's needed for something else. We're just ignorant of what he can legally carry. His GF is from Texas so there is no problem with this. Mostly, he wouldn't need it for protection, but as a "just in case."

jim

[Chainsaw76]

Son returned safe and sound. He loved the place and didn't want to come back as there was a lot left to see just in and around the Sidney area. He went to the Blue Mountians and really liked it there. Ate kangaroo and liked that. Met Kiwi's and liked them also. All in all, it was a great experience for him.

jim

[LawDog]

Son returned safe and sound. He loved the place and didn't want to come back as there was a lot left to see just in and around the Sidney area. He went to the Blue Mountians and really liked it there. Ate kangaroo and liked that. Met Kiwi's and liked them also. All in all, it was a great experience for him.

jimAwesome. I really liked the Kiwis, as well. While it's not a perfect analogy, NZ's relationship to AU is such that it kind of makes them the "southerners" of their hemisphere. NZ is a bit slower and more laid back. It's more agricultural than industrial. If (when) your son returns, I'd highly recommend a side-trip to NZ. I particularly loved the south island.

[BlackCamo]

Cool - what else did he get up to?

[Seadragon]

Awesome. I really liked the Kiwis, as well. While it's not a perfect analogy, NZ's relationship to AU is such that it kind of makes them the "southerners" of their hemisphere. NZ is a bit slower and more laid back. It's more agricultural than industrial. If (when) your son returns, I'd highly recommend a side-trip to NZ. I particularly loved the south island.

I like Kiwis - except when they speak. That accent is horrifying!