WEATHER
Any day, anywhere you will find the right climate conditions that will make your Australian experience unique and memorable.
The Australian summer from Dec-Feb is warm and sunny and you can enjoy lazy days on the beach and typical Aussie meals cooked on the barbecue. Summer is the rainy season in our tropical regions in the north that brings our lush rainforests to life. Spring and autumn are mild and are the best seasons for bush walks and discovering nature.
The Australian winter Jun-Aug is generally mild, but offers snow on the snow fields in the southern mountain regions. At the same time our northern states have balmy 24 degrees Celsius temperatures.
No matter where you are in Australia or what season it is, always remember your sunscreen. The Australian sun can be quite strong, so it's best to wear a shirt and put on a hat while enjoying the great outdoors. Sunscreen containing SPF30+ coverage is recommended.
TIME ZONE
Australia has three different time zones, Eastern (EST), Central (CST) and Western Standard Time (WST). EST is for New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, Tasmania and Queensland. CST is for the Northern Territory and South Australia and then there is WST in Western Australia. CST is half an hour behind EST, and WST is two hours behind EST.
We also have Daylight Saving, where we wind our clocks forward an hour during this period. New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and South Australia have daylight saving from the end of October - beginning of April. In Tasmania they start at the beginning of October - beginning of April. Western Australia have it too, from the end of October to end of March. The Northern Territory and Queensland don’t have Daylight Saving.
TRAVEL INFORMATION
ClothingIn the tropics lightweight (natural fibers) clothing is suitable all year round. In the southern temperate regions, summers (Dec-Deb) are warm to hot and lightweight clothes are suitable for daytime, but keep a jacket or sweater handle as nights may be cool. For the southern winters (Jun-Aug) sweaters and warmer clothes are advisable. Most of the time just keep it light and comfortable.
Money
Here in Australia our currency is Australian Dollars (AUD). We also accept American Express, Bankcard, Diners Club, MasterCard, Visa, JCB and their affiliates. Currency exchange is available at banks, hotels and international airports. Here we have a goods and services tax on purchases (10%) but you may claim this and the Wine Equalisation Tax when departing our shores.
Health and Safety
Take advantage of our many beaches but always remember to follow basic water safety. Always swim or surf at patrolled beaches between the red and yellow flags which mark the safest area for swimming.
For further information on swimming or surfing safety, check out the following websites; Coastal Watch, Surf Life Saving Australia and the Queensland Government Environment for information on venomous marine stingers and crocodiles that occur in coastal waters and tropical swimming holes of northern Australia.
The emergency number is 000.
All travellers to Australia or any country should consider health insurance. Have a look at the Australian Medicare site to see if we have a reciprocal health care agreement with your country.
Communication
Our country code is 61. We have service for all mobile (cell) phones. Internet access is available at many Internet cafes, accommodation and libraries.
Australia Post offices are usually open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday and some are open on Saturday morning from 9am to 12pm.
The electrical current in Australia is 220-240 volts, AC 50Hz. The Australian three‑pin power outlet is different from some other countries so you may need an adaptor.
Shopping
Shopping plays a large part of travelling. Whether you are shopping or sightseeing, there is always a place to shop or purchase souvenirs. In Australia you are covered by Australia's consumer protection laws which require businesses to treat you fairly.
Accessible Travel
If you have a disability and are planning to explore Australia, there is a host of services and special deals to meet your needs. Make your travel agent aware of your needs and have a look at the NICAN site for in depth information on Australia meeting accessible travel needs.
Coming to Australia
Quarantine—protecting Australia’s unique environment
The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service has trained beagles to check incoming baggage, mail and cargo across Australian points of entry. The beagle’s sense of smell is 100 times more sensitive than that of a human. They are trained to detect 30 different items of concern and to sit down and wait next to a bag when they detect a risky item
AQIS.
Managing the risk to Australia of unwanted pests and diseases is essential for the conservation of the nation’s plants, animals and agricultural industries.
Australia’s geographic isolation in the days before mass air travel and international trade served as a natural barrier. In today’s shrinking world, however, the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service plays a vital role in helping to maintain Australia’s favourable pest and disease status.
Australian quarantine measures are among the most stringent in the world. Every year about 11 million passengers and crew pass through Australian seaports and airports, creating a significant challenge for quarantine surveillance. Almost every passenger arriving in Australia now has their luggage checked on arrival, by either a quarantine officer, detector dog or X-ray machine. Even international mail sent to Australia is screened, as is all air and sea cargo.
Australia is extremely vigilant about remaining free of exotic pests and diseases, which have potentially disastrous effects on Australia’s current favourable animal, plant and human health status. Such pests and diseases could be carried by people or animals, in animal products such as meat, in plants or plant products such as timber, or in soil on machinery.
Travellers to Australia must declare anything made from plants or animals-including meat, dairy, eggs or other animal products; wooden articles; fruit, vegetables, seeds, nuts; and live animals and plants. Some plants and animals must be isolated at quarantine stations so any pest or disease risks can be identified and prevented from entering Australia.
The penalties for breaching Australia’s quarantine laws include fines or imprisonment.
Camel riding at Cable Beach, Broome, Western Australia.
Visa and immigration requirements
Australia welcomes millions of overseas visitors each year. Anyone who is not an Australian citizen needs a valid visa to enter and spend time in Australia. There are different visas for tourists, business people, sports people, students and others.
All visas must be obtained before travelling. The only exception is for New Zealanders, who are granted an electronic visa on arrival in Australia. Visitors can apply for Australian visas at Australian government missions overseas or electronically through travel agents and airlines in many parts of the world.
People from many countries also now apply for certain visas online—Australia’s Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) is the most advanced and streamlined travel authorisation system in the world.
The ETA is an electronically stored authorisation for travel to Australia for short-term visits or business entry. It replaces the visa label or stamp in a passport and removes the need for application forms. An ETA is issued within seconds by computer links between the federal Department of Immigration and Citizenship, travel agents, airlines and specialist service providers around the world.
The ETA system was introduced in 1996 and is now available to passport holders from 34 countries, locations and regions. More than 21 million travellers have been granted ETAs to come to Australia and ETAs now account for almost 83 per cent of all tourist and short-term business visas granted worldwide.
Travelling in Australia
Distance has always been a defining challenge for Australians. However, some international visitors still tend to underestimate distances and travel times between city and rural centres in Australia.
Australia has a surface area of more than 7.7 million square kilometres and most of the nation’s 20.6 million people live in widely separated cities along its 36 000 kilometres of coastline.
More than 800 000 kilometres of road crisscross the land, of which just under half are sealed (paved). More than 14 million people have a driver’s licence and transport is the second-largest item of household expenditure in Australia. Australians drive on the left-hand side of the road, with the steering wheel located on the right-hand side of the car.