Australia

Sometimes referred to as the island continent, it is also formed the island of Tasmania and numerous smaller islands. It is the largest country in Oceania and separated from Asia by Arafura and Timor Seas and by the Tasman Sea from New Zealand. A land of kangaroos, amazing wildlife, stunning sceneries, and a plethora of marine and outdoor activities, Australia is an ideal destination for an adventure junkie, nature enthusiast, beach lover or a party freak. Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island are among the world’s best beaches, blessed with silky white sand and crystal-clear water. Aussies are open and direct in their speech and sometimes can be sarcastic in their humour. The culture is heavily influenced by the British be it language, religion or sports.

Highlights

Great Barrier Reef

“The Great Barrier Reef – 164” by Kyle Taylor, Dream It. Do It. is licensed under CC BY 2.0

National parks

Nigel Malone, CC BY-SA 1.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/1.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Fascinating cities

Aboriginal culture

“Aboriginal Art” by Barbara Dieu is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0

Native wildlife and natural wonders

Beaches and islands

“Kangaroo Island” by Allison Cornford is licensed under CC BY 2.0

When to go

Australia is a huge country, so setting a single best time to go is challenging and depends on the areas you are visiting. A country of two climates, Australia’s northern half is driest and most accessible between April and September. Warm, sunny days show the national parks and beaches. The north is humid from October to March, with more rainfall, but this is offset by the active wildlife, and reinvigorated rainforests and wetlands. In the tropical north, the best months are from May to October, while in the Centre they are October and November and from March to May. In the southern half of Australia, the summer months (December to February) bring hot weather, although the end of the spring and the beginning of autumn are also nice and offer great opportunities to visit. Winter (June to August) is less busy and generally attracts a temperate climate that is ideal for hiking, while spring (September to November) often sees more wildlife activity. Generally, the best months to visit Australia as a whole are September and October, when it is often still warm enough to hit the beach in the southern states, and the humidity and rains have not come to Cairns.

Snorkelling and diving: the best time to dive or snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef, avoiding the hottest weather and water temperatures of 24 to 26 degrees., is between August and December, with crystal clear waters that let you enjoy the reef at its fullest. However during the warmer months, the Great Barrier Reef can get very busy and if you would like to have less crowds you should can also consider for April to August. Snorkelling and diving are still great with good water conditions and temperatures, less crowds, but a little lower visibility. It is also important to consider that from December to April is when box jellyfish season is peaking, which is worth considering if you are snorkelling.

Bird and wildlife watching: Australia is a wonderful place to go birdwatching since they are everywhere you look. There is plenty to spark your wanderlust in Australia, for example between April and June you can take a boat trip out to see or even swim with whale sharks near the Ningaloo Reef, or discover the world smallest penguins in Tasmania between October and April. Whale watching, best from May to early October, whales migrate from Antarctica along the Victorian coastline to the north, to warmer waters near Queensland, where you can see as well, dolphins and Australian sea lions, offering Seal Rocks the chance to meet with thousands of fur seals. Koalas in Phillip Island boasts rich flora and fauna, including penguins, fur seals, and, of course, one of the symbols of Australia. You can see koalas all year, but in the period from December to February is the best time to observe these animals.

Hiking and other outdoor activities: because Australia has a range of climates that vary significantly in temperature and in rainfall, there is always a place to discover on foot in the fantastic outdoors of Australia. In general, June to August is the best time to walk up north, while down south summer and earlier autumn (December to March) are are the best period. If you want to be assured that it is the best season, here you can find some more info on the best places to do hiking each month of the year.

Winter activities: Victoria offers a number of well-developed ski resorts like Mount Hotham, Mount Buller, and Falls Creek scattered across the Australian Alps. Skiing season in Victoria’s resorts usually runs from early or mid-June to early October, depending on the weather.

Southern lights: most aurora-viewing spots in Australia are concentrated in the southern regions, the state of Victoria and the island of Tasmania. The best moment for watching this natural spectacle is from May to August.

Wine taste: from Hunter Valley, in New South Wales, to Swan Valley, slightly north of Perth, there are more than 60 wine regions scattered across the country. Late autumn is a popular time for harvest festivals, so plan to visit in April, May, or early June.

Practical information

Currency

The Australian dollar is the official currency (AU$). Typically, 1,40 to 1,80 australian dollar per Euro and 1,30 to 1,75 australian dollar per US Dollar.

Language

English is the official language of Australia.

Visa

Unless you are an Australian or New Zealand citizen, you will need a valid Australian visa to enter the country. New Zealand passport holders can apply for a visa upon arrival in the country. All other passport holders must apply for a visa before leaving home. You can apply for a range of visas, including tourist visas and working holiday visas, at your nearest Australian Embassy or Consulate, or online depending on your nationality, the purpose of your visit and the planned duration of your stay. Most tourists from western countries are allowed to enter Australia on an eVisitor visa which is free and grants a stay of up to 3 months.

ATM & credit card

ATMs are almost everywhere: inside bank lobbies, on the streets, at shopping malls, at convenience stores and petrol stations, in pubs and sometimes even in remote locations. Most Australian ATMs accept also Cirrus, Maestro (both owned by MasterCard) and Plus (owned by Visa) cards. The ATM should display the logos of all networks it’s compatible with. Credit card payments are widely accepted.

Opening times

Supermarkets and general stores are open from Monday to Friday from 7am until at least 8pm, although some supermarkets open 24 hours. Restaurants open noon for lunch and from 6pm for dinner, cafes usually open from 8am until around 5 or 6pm. Smaller shops and businesses open from 9am to 5 or 6pm.

It is worth noting that Australia has three major time zones: Western Standard Time (GMT+8), Central Standard Time (GMT+9:30) and Eastern Standard Time (GMT+10).

Main airports

The main airports for foreign travellers to Australia are the following Sydney Airport (is the largest airport in Australia), Melbourne Airport (second largest airport, located in the very southeast end of the country), Brisbane Airport (located half-way along the eatern coast, is the closest international airport to the Great Barrier Reef), Perth Airport (the largest airport in Western Australia) and Adelaide Airport (the largest airport in the state of South Australia).

Public transport

If you hold a current driver’s licence in your home country which is issued in English, you will be able to rent a car and discover the country at your own pace, otherwise you will require and international driver’s license. This is particularly useful if you want to have full independence and discover remote areas which may be difficult to reach on publid transport.

Buses are one of the most common and economical means of transport. Depending on the destination, you can also choose long-distance coach travel. Travel by coach is comfortable as most of the vehicles have onboard entertainment and restrooms. Some of the newer coaches even have Wifi and USB charger points. To book a bus or a coach, you can check the following operators Greyhound, Transport Network Australia and Bus Charter.

The rail system in Australia connects to every major region of the country, although you will find find that less populated or more remote areas are not serviced. Nevertheless, it is one of the easiest and convenient modes of transport in the country. Popular rail routes providers are: Tilt Train: Brisbane – Rockhampton, Indian Pacific: Sydney – Broken Hill – Adelaide – Kalgoorlie – Perth, The Ghan: Adelaide – Alice Springs – Katherine – Darwin, Spirit of the Outback: Brisbane – Longreach and NSW TrainLink: Brisbane – Sydney – Melbourne.

Last but not least, the option of renting a motorhome is also interesting and cost-effective option. As every rental company fix prices individually, it is almost impossible to provide exact pricing. The average of a 2-seater motorhome will be 50 AU$ per day during the low season, and may reach 75 AU$ per day, approximately, the high season. Motorhome Republic is a good site to check options and prices from different rental companies.

Things to avoid

Heading outside without sunscreen, underestimate a storm warning, assuming kangaroos are cuddly creatures, hiking in the Outback alone, swimming at just any beach (beware of crocs, stingers, sharks, etc), forgetting to watch out for wildlife (some of which may be dangerous), Australia’s strict bio-security laws prohibit certain foreign foods, plant materials, and animal products from entering the country, due to the threat of introducing serious pests and diseases into Australia, devastating our valuable agriculture and tourism industries, as well as our unique environment.

Food

Australia has absorbed culinary contributions and adaptations from various cultures around the world, but before the indigenous Australians have occupied Australia for some 65,000 years, during which they developed a unique hunter-gatherer diet, known as bush tucker drawn from regional Australian flora and fauna. Nowadays, however, most food in Australia has strong foreign influences including British, European, Asian and Middle Eastern.

These are some typical Australian dishes: “Cheese and bacon roll” (a pastry sprinkled with bits of bacon and cheese, then baked in an oven until the cheese melts), “Emu meat” (a type of red meat characterized by its low fat content, mild flavour usually cooked with ginger, lemon juice, garlic, soy sauce, and honey), “Pie floater” (is an Australian dish consisting of a traditional Australian meat pie submerged upside-down in green pea soup, accompanied by tomato sauce, mint sauce, Worcestershire sauce, or malt vinegar) and “Iced VoVo” (is a classic Australian biscuit made from wheat flour and topped with a strip of raspberry jam and two strips of pink fondant and sprinkled with coconut)

Electricity and plug types

Australia power sockets use plug type I, which is the plug that has three flat pins in a triangular pattern only used here and in New Zealand. Australia operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz.

Health and insurance

Australian healthcare system covers Australian residents for some health costs. Visitors from countries which Australia has a reciprocal healthcare agreement with can access medical treatment in a public hospital. However, there are some services that are not covered, and so it may be a good idea to have health insurance for your stay anyway. Visitors from countries not included in the list will have to pay for the full cost of medical service received. So getting a private health insurance that covers this cost is recommended, specially if doing outdoor activities.

Other

Tipping in Australia is not standard etiquette so you should never feel obligated to leave a gratuity. Workers in tourism generally make a sufficient income and do not depend on gratuities left by tourists.

They drive on the left side.

Indigenous Australians, photography can be intrusive, always ask first.