Christmas preparation in the Harbour City is a delightful operation: there are markets to visit, tree farms to frolic in and a pretty exhaustive list of excellent bars to hit up for your silly season celebrations. And then, of course, there's getting your wish list to Santa.
If you’re keen to get in touch with the big, bearded man this festive season, calling from one of the 14,500 Telstra payphones that punctuate pavements across Australia is an easy, time-efficient approach.
From now until December 24, dialling # HO HO HO (#464646) from any Telstra payphone will connect you with Santa Claus – who is ready to answer any questions related to Christmas*.
This year, the Telstra team have installed special kid-sized payphones for little callers – you’ll find them for a limited time in select Telstra Stores across the city until Christmas Eve.
Part of the motivation behind Telstra's Santa Claus payphone hotline was to equip children with the 411 on how to use a payphone – the street-side devices which, though a bit antiquated in 2024, can really come in handy when you’ve lost your mobile (or need to get in touch with Mr Claus).
The service will be running until December 24 – plenty of time to submit your wish list to the man himself and triple check on Rudolph’s treat preference.
*Like all of us, Santa’s knowledge has its limits – don’t hold it against him if he can’t promise that the sun will shine in Sydney on the big day.
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