G’day Mate!
Australia is a country on the continent of Oceania that boasts a variety of natural landscapes and cultural attractions. Sydney‘s opera houses, Melbourne’s art and design, and Cairns’ great outdoors will keep travelers entertained for hours on end.
You’ll find unusual animals like koalas, kangaroos and tamar wallabies that you won’t find anywhere else, and the coastal areas bordering the ocean are known for their diverse marine life and amazing beaches. You can even try your hand at surfing at Manly Beach..
1. Australia Quick Facts
Language English
Religion Catholic / Christian
Currency Australian dollar (AUD)
Visa ETA ((subclass 601) required 90 days visa-free
Power Plugs 230V, 50Hz, (I Type)
Capital Canberra
ATM ATMs can also be easily found everywhere, allowing you to withdraw local currency using a credit or check card.
Use card
The following credit cards are accepted in Australia: American Express, Bankcard, Diners Club, MasterCard, Visa, Union Pay, and JCB.
Visa or MasterCard can be used anywhere credit cards are accepted.
APP
Google Maps
Opal
2. Packing for your trip
Air plain Ticket
Dollar Flight Club has made it easier and cheaper to buy flights to the Airport.
SIM card
Airalo is the world’s first eSIM store that solves the pain of high roaming bills by giving you access to 200+ eSIMs (digital SIM cards) globally at affordable prices.
New member one-time use 15% discount coupon
10% discount coupon for multiple use by all members.
Pacsafe Pro safe 800 Luggage Lock
Good protection against snatchers or impulse thieves.
Universal Power Adapter
One of the most essential but most forgotten items in your travel gear? A power adapter!
Travel insurance
Prepare for risky situations Travel insurance can be a big help in the event of an emergency
GoPro HERO11
If you want to capture your own memories of your travels, GoPro is the way to go. It’s small, has great image quality, and is easy to carry around
Sunscreen with SPF 50 or higher
The Australian sun is very hot and strong and can easily damage your skin, so it’s always a good idea to wear sunscreen.
3. Transportation
Rent a Car
Australia has an extensive network of well-maintained roads and is often considered one of the most beautiful road trip destinations in the world.
Public transport
In some cases, like Melbourne’s City Circle Tram, it’s completely free! Sydney is expensive, with fares based on distance. Travelling just one stop on the train will cost you $2 or more, and more than three stops will cost you $3 or more. With the Opal Card, you get 50% off the 9th trip if you use it more than 8 times a week, and the transit system is well organised. Public transport in Australia is expensive, but it’s also reasonable. There’s a cap on how much you can pay for transport in a week, so no matter how many times you take a bus, subway, train, or tram, you won’t pay more than the maximum. The Circular Quay ferry is free on Sundays and $2.8 gets you unlimited travel on all modes of transport . However, you must purchase an Opal Card to receive these benefits.
4. Safety
It is one of the safest countries in the world according to the United Nations, and the city is relatively safe compared to other countries. As with any travelling destination, you should be aware of theft and pickpocketing in Sydney. These thieves target wallets, smartphones, passports, branded bags, and more. You should be especially vigilant in areas of high security in Sydney, such as airports, hotel lobbies, and tourist attractions.
The emergency services phone number for police, ambulance and fire departments is 000.
5. Climate
Summer
From December to February, the average daily temperature is between 20°C and 37°C (68°F and 99°F) in the major capitals.
Autumn
From March to May, it starts to get a little cooler, with average temperatures falling between 17°C and 35°C (63°F and 95°F).
Winter
From June to August, average temperatures range from 11°C (52°F) in the south to 30°C (86°F) in the north.
Spring
From September to November, average daily temperatures in spring range from 17°C in the south to 35°C (63°F to 95°F) in the north.
Seasons in tropical regions
Northern subtropical and tropical regions have two seasons. They are the rainy season and the dry season. The rainy season, which is the summer season in tropical regions, runs from October to April and alternates between sunny weather and rain, creating spectacular waterfalls, and prices are somewhat lower. From May to September is the dry season, when the sun heats up and temperatures reach a maximum of around 35°C (95°F).
Australia has tropical, subtropical, desert, and temperate climates. There are dewy rainforests, sandy plains, snow-capped semi-deserts, and sunny beaches. Temperature and climate are important considerations when planning or packing for a trip (Australia is a country in the Southern Hemisphere, so the seasons are the opposite of those in the Northern Hemisphere).
6. price
Australia is a dairy country, so dairy products are relatively cheap, but everything else is expensive.
Milk 1L AU$1.55
1.5L AU$2.32
1kg of beef redeye AU$18.89
Combo meal at McDonald’s AU$12
One meal at a budget restaurant AU$19
Meal for two at a fine dining restaurant AU$99.5
7. Travel precautions
The sun is very strong in Australia, so it’s important to protect your skin during the day. While travelling, you’ll be spending a lot of time outdoors in beautiful, stunning locations, so you need to be extra careful. We recommend using sunscreen with an SPF of at least 50 and wearing a hat, sunglasses, and long-sleeved shirts to protect your skin from the sun’s UV rays.
There is a 10 per cent value-added tax (GST) in Australia. If you spend more than AUD300 at a single business, then you can claim a refund for the GST applied to your purchases within 60 days of leaving Australia. TRS centres for the Tourist Refund Scheme can be found in the departure area of the International Terminal.
You need to press a button to cross the road and all roads are left-hand drive.
Cafes are open from 1-3pm, malls and shops close at 5pm and restaurants close at 10pm.
Alcohol can only be purchased at liquor stores and in Australia you can be fined for carrying an open bottle on the street.
8. Etiquette & Service Tip
In restaurants, it’s polite to make eye contact with the waiter and raise your hand lightly.
If you are travelling alone in a taxi in Australia, it is polite to sit next to the driver.
Tips
Generally speaking, tipping is not expected in Australia and hotels and restaurants don’t add a service charge, and tipping is up to you. In high-end restaurants, it is common practice to tip waiters around 10% of the bill as a reward for quality service.
9. Holidays
2024 National Public Holidays:
Monday, 1 January: New Year’s Day
Friday, 26 January: Australia Day
Friday, 29 March: Good Friday
Saturday, 30 March: Easter Saturday
Sunday, 31 March: Easter Sunday
Monday, 1 April: Easter Monday
Tuesday, 25 April: Anzac Day
Wednesday, 25 December: Christmas Day
Thursday, 26 December: Boxing Day
Other public holidays declared by the state and territory governments:
Australian Capital Territory
Monday, 11 March: Canberra Day
Monday, 27 May: Reconciliation Day
Monday, 10 June: Queen’s Birthday
Monday, 7 October: Labour Day
New South Wales
Monday, 10 June: King’s Birthday
Monday, 7 October: Labour Day
Northern Territory
Monday, 6 May: May Day
Monday, 10 June: Queen’s Birthday
Friday, 5 July: Alice Springs Show Day Friday, 12 July: Tennant Creek Show Day
Friday, 19 July: Katherine Show Day Friday, 26 July: Darwin Show Day
Monday, 5 August: Picnic Day
Friday, 16 August*: Borroloola Show Day
*Regional observance only
2025 National Public Holidays:
Wednesday, 1 January: New Year’s Day
Monday, 27 January: Australia Day Holiday
Friday, 18 April: Good Friday
Saturday, 19 April: Day following Good Friday
Sunday, 20 April: Easter Sunday
Monday, 21 April: Easter Monday
Friday, 25 April: Anzac Day
Monday, 5 May: Labour Day
Monday, 9 June: King’s Birthday
Thursday, 25 December: Christmas Day
Friday, 26 December: Boxing Day