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Whether you need to know local public holidays or highlights through the seasons, we hope you will find the facts gathered below useful tools for your travel planning. Please feel free to contact us if we can assist you further.

General information

Chic and cosmopolitan, with a dynamic sense of diversity, Sydney is one of the world’s great capitals. The city was founded in 1788 when a fleet of 11 ships arrived in Australia from England with a contingent of convicts and free settlers. They came ashore at Sydney Cove, now known as Circular Quay and the site of Four Seasons Hotel Sydney. Successive waves of immigrants from many countries have had a defining influence on the culture and personality of the city, now with a population of over four million people.

As a business centre, Sydney is the driving force of Australia and an important hub of the Asian-Pacific region. For recreation, the city pulses with a vibrant social scene and inspiring possibilities for outdoor adventure. Few cities of such urban sophistication can also claim 37 beautiful beaches. Legendary Bondi Beach is an easy 20-minute drive from downtown.

Four Seasons is situated in the oldest and most desirable area of Sydney – the historic district of The Rocks. Lined with cobblestoned streets, the neighbourhood offers fascinating shops, a weekend market, outdoor cafés, and galleries of Aboriginal arts and crafts. Nearby, at the Royal Botanic Gardens, tropical flowers bloom in the heart of the city. The Hotel is just a short walk from major shopping and business areas, and is equally close to great museums, theatres and the Sydney Opera House. Ferries whisk you across the water to key attractions, such as Taronga Park Zoo and the renowned Sydney Aquarium.

Time zone

GMT +10 hours

Language(s) spoken

English

Electrical system

Local voltage is 220 to 240 volts AC. Adapters and transformers (110 to 220 volts) available; please request through the Concierge.

Shopping hours

Monday to Saturday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (open Thursday evening until 9:00 pm)
Sunday 11:00 am to 4:00 pm

Working hours

Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 5:30 pm

Time and distance to city centre

10-minute walk/800 metres/875 yards

Time and distance to shopping

• The Rocks: adjacent to the Hotel
• Queen Victoria Building and Pitt Street Mall: 10-minute walk/800 metres/875 yards
• Oxford Street, Paddington: 10-minute drive/6 kilometres/4 miles

Time and distance to financial district

Adjacent to the Hotel, a two-minute walk

View in–depth travel advice from Frommers.com

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Seasonal highlights

January

The Sydney Festival, held in January, is Australia's most important arts festival. Australian and international artists in modern dance, ballet, opera, theatre and symphony, as well as indigenous dance troupes, make Sydney a vibrant and exciting place to be during Australia's summer holidays. Events take place primarily in the city's major theatres.

February-April

Hunter Valley Wine Country comes alive with the Hunter Valley Harvest Festival. It is a time of frivolity, with over three months of events, all in celebration of the annual harvest of the grapes.

March

Mardi Gras is a celebration of gay pride, with a week-long calendar of activities and events culminating in a parade. It has become one of Australia’s biggest festivals.

April

The Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales is responsible for staging Australia's largest annual event: the Royal Easter Show. Attracting about 1 million people each year, the show has become the mecca for Australian agriculture, helping to inspire interest and understanding of the rural sector. Known as the "Australian Muster," the show brings together everything that is Australian – from country to city and from agricultural excellence to the latest in entertainment.

June

The Sydney Film Festival runs for two weeks and showcases new Australian films as well as new and experimental international offerings. The main venue for the festival is the State Theatre, within walking distance of the Hotel.

October

Good Food Month showcases the best of Sydney's cuisine scene.

Sydney International Motor Show at Darling Harbour has on display the very latest in motoring from across the globe.

November

Melbourne Cup - the annual horse race that stops the nation.

December

Over the past 55 years the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race has grown from a club race between a group of friends to one of the world's great ocean races. It features some of the world's best yachts.