Sydney Health and Safety

Sydney isn't a dangerous city but the usual big-city rules apply: never leave cars or rooms unlocked, never leave luggage unattended, never show big wads of money, never get drunk in the company of strangers and never walk through parks alone late at night. Use extra caution in Kings Cross, which attracts drifters from all over Australia and gutter-crawlers from all over Sydney. If you're unlucky enough to have something stolen, immediately report it to the nearest police station.

It seems superfluous to mention it, but don't go swimming if you've been drinking alcohol. The surf life-saving clubs aren't there for show - many people are rescued from the surf each year. Shark attacks are extremely rare. Some major beaches, especially around Sydney, have shark-netting to deter sharks from cruising along the beaches. If a siren sounds while you're swimming leave the water quickly but calmly. There are a few poisonous marine animals (such as the blue-ringed octopus, whose bite can be fatal, but only twice in the last hundred years!).

There are a few nasty spiders in Sydney, including the funnel-web, the redback and the white-tail. Check your shoes before putting your feet in them - the funnel-web bite can also be fatal. For redback bites, apply ice and seek medical attention.