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DISTANCES
When planning your trip keep in mind that Australia is
as big as western Europe and about the same size as the
48 connected U.S. states. Melbourne and Brisbane are a
couple of days drive from Sydney, and driving from
Sydney to Perth takes the better part of a week.
WEATHER & IDEAL TRAVEL TIMES
Summer time in Australia in the Southern Hemisphere
happens at the same time it is winter in the Northern
hemisphere. Midwinter in Australia is July and August,
and the hottest months are November through March. The
farther south you go in Australia, the colder it gets.
The peak travel season in the most popular parts of
Australia is the Aussie winter. Queensland from around
the Gold Coast and northward, all of the Top End and the
Red Centre, and most of Western Australia, the most
pleasant time to travel is April through September when
daytime temperatures are 66° to 88°F (19°-31°C) and it
rarely rains. June, July, and August are the busiest
months in these parts. You should book accommodations
and tours well in advance.
On the other hand, Australia's summer is a nice time to
visit the southern states - New South Wales, Victoria,
South Australia, Western Australia from Perth to the
south, and Tasmania. Even in winter temperatures rarely
dip below freezing and snow falls only in parts of
Tasmania in the ski fields of Victoria and in the Snowy
Mountains of southern New South Wales.
The best months to visit Australia are September and
October when it's often still warm enough to hit the
beach in the southern states, it's cool enough to tour
Uluru (Ayers Rock) and the humidity and rains have not
come to Cairns, Port Douglas and the Top End (although
it will be very hot by Oct). Also the wildflowers are in
full bloom in Western Australia, a stunning must see.
The period from December 26 to the end of January when
Aussies take their summer vacations, the 4 days at
Easter (from Good Friday to Easter Monday) and all
school holidays are very busy so book ahead. The school
year in Australia is broken into four semesters with
2-week holidays around Easter, the last week of June &
first week of July and the last week of September &
first week of October. Some states break at slightly
different dates. There's a 6-week summer (Christmas)
vacation from mid-December to the end of January.
PASSPORTS
Along with a current passport valid for the duration of
your stay, the Australian government requires a visa
from visitors of every nation, except New Zealand, to be
issued before you arrive. If you are short-term visitor
or business traveller, the process is easy and can be
done in a few minutes on the Internet, using the
Australian government's Electronic Travel Authority
(ETA). This is an electronic visa that takes the place
of a stamp in your passport.
CUSTOMS
What You Can Bring Into Australia - The duty-free
allowance in Australia is A$900 (US$720) or for those
under 18 A$450 (US$360). Anyone over 18 can bring in up
to 250 cigarettes or 250 grams of cigars or other
tobacco products, 2.25 liters (41 fluid oz.) of alcohol
and "dutiable goods" to the value of A$900 (US$720) or
A$450 (US$360) if you are under 18. You need not
declare cash in any currency and other currency
instruments such as traveller's checks under a value of
A$10,000. Firearms in Australia are strictly controlled.
Contact the nearest Australian diplomatic post for
advice on importing a handgun.
Because Australia is an island it is free of many
agricultural and livestock diseases. To keep it that way
strict quarantine applies to importing plants, animals &
their products including food. "Sniffer" dogs at
Australian airports detect these products (as well as
drugs). Some items may be held for treatment and
returned to you, others may be confiscated and others
may be held over for you to take with you when you leave
the country. Amnesty trash bins are available before you
reach the immigration counters in airport arrivals halls
for items such as fruit.
HEALTH & SAFETY
You don't have to worry much about health issues on a
trip to Australia. Hygiene standards are high, hospitals
are modern and doctors and dentists are well qualified.
Because of the continent's size you can sometimes be a
long way from a hospital or a doctor but help is never
far away thanks to the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
However standard medical travel insurance may be
advisable.
General Availability of Health Care - No vaccinations
are needed to enter Australia unless you have been in a
yellow fever danger zone - that is, South America or
Africa, in the past 6 days. Australian pharmacists
may only fill prescriptions written by Australian
doctors so carry enough medication with you for your
trip.
Check your existing insurance policies and credit card
coverage before you buy travel insurance. You may
already be covered for lost luggage, cancelled tickets
or medical expenses.
MONEY
Perhaps the best way to carry most of your money is in
the form of a plastic card especially if that's the way
you do it at home. Australia is well and truly a
card-carrying society. It's becoming unusual to line up
at a supermarket checkout, petrol station or department
store in cities and see someone actually paying with
cash these days. Credit cards such as Visa and
MasterCard are widely accepted for everything from a
hostel bed or a restaurant meal to an adventure tour and
a credit card is pretty much essential (in lieu of a
large deposit) if you want to hire a car. They can also
be used to get cash advances over the counter at banks
and from many ATMs depending on the card, but be aware
that these incur immediate interest. Charge cards such
as Diners Club and American Express (Amex) are not as
widely accepted.
Australians love convenience so debit cards are widely
used here. You can draw money directly from your home
bank account using ATMs, banks or Eftpos machines around
the country. Any card connected to the international
banking network - Cirrus, Maestro, Plus and Eurocard -
should work provided you know your PIN. Fees for using
your card at a foreign bank or ATM vary depending on
your home bank so ask before your leave.
Travellers cheques, being used less and less with the
ease of using Etpos generally enjoy a better exchange
rate than foreign cash in Australia plus they have the
added bonus of being easily replaced if they are lost or
stolen. There is however a fee for buying travellers
cheques (usually 1% of the total amount) and there may
be fees or commissions when you exchange them. Amex,
Thomas Cook and other well-known international brands of
travellers cheques are easily exchanged. You will need
to present your passport for identification when cashing
them.
You'll have no problems changing foreign currencies or
cash at any bank or exchange bureau. Travellers cheques
generally get a better rate than cash, though banks take
out a commission. Notes come in denominations of
$5, $10, $20, $50 and $100. Coins come in denominations
of 5¢, 10¢, 20¢, 50¢, and gold $1 and $2 coins.
SHOPPING
You’ll find large department stores, arcades, malls,
gift and souvenir shops across Australia. Trading hours
vary across the country but shops in tourist and city
areas are generally open until 6pm with the exception of
late night shopping on either Thursdays or Fridays in
different states. In Australia you are covered by
Australia's consumer protection laws which require
businesses to treat you fairly.
ELECTRICITY
Our electrical current is 220 – 240 volts, AC 50Hz. The
Australian three-pin power outlet is different from some
other countries, so you may need an adaptor. |
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