Australia ~ Travel Information & Travel Pictures

Down Under holiday planning, travel tips & more

G'day, Mate! *
I love to travel Down Under to Australia! See my travel pictures and information for the Cairns area in Queensland, and for Kangaroo Island (in South Australia), with its wildlife and Remarkable Rocks. See also travel stories: Cairns travel and Australian island holiday story for Kangaroo Island. On this page, find travel information for Australia.

Mention to someone that I am going to Australia, or have just returned from Australia, and the unfailing response is, "Oh! I've always wanted to go!" If this sounds like you, then my advice is Just Go! And go alone, if you have to. You'll be glad you did! It's wonderfully scenic, and easy to get around. If you can drive on the left without causing major problems, then increase your travel options and rent a car, 4-wheel-drive or RV. Have a great trip!

* G'Day, Mate is a familiar greeting Down Under -- Even Google Australia used it! See this post.
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Australia travel information & travel tips

Do I need a visa for Australia? See Australian Immigration for information and forms. (Mine was an electronic version, issued when I booked my flight from Canada.)

What Currency (Money) do they use in Australia? The Australian dollar (AUD) Rates fluctuate, but generally about $1AUD = $.88 US OR $1 USD = $1.15 AUD. If you are taking traveler's checks, take larger denominations as fees, if charged by the Australian bank, are usually based on the number of checks. ATMs (bank machines; Australians also use the term ETF meaning Electronic Transfer of Fundss) are widely available, however, but do take along other forms of money for travel (see travel currency tips page).

What about Travel Health? Is it safe to travel to Australia? Ensure that the usual vaccinations (polio, tetanus, etc) are up to date, but generally, Australia is considered safe. See Disclaimer page for links to government agencies. Check with a travel health clinic, too; Tropical regions like Queensland have different health concerns than desert and urban areas, or Kangaroo Island, and can change without notice. Read my Cairns travel story for other possible perils, and see the travel medications tips page.

Maps and Time Zones for Australia Australia is a deceptively large country, a fact that people tend to overlook, much to the amusement of Aussies. After all, it seems so small on a map! But from Sydney, on the east coast, to Perth on the west coast, it's about a 5-hour flight; From Sydney, in New South Wales, to Cairns, in Queensland, it's 3,000 km (1,865 miles) distant -- a five day road trip or a 3-hour flight ; and from Sydney to Melbourne, it's a 9-hour train ride. Be aware, too, that there are different time zones in Australia, and that states may or may not follow Daylight Savings Time, and that dates that may vary from North America. (See Daylight Savings time Australia for info) and be vigilant if you are making travel arrangements around those dates.

Tourism maps and Australia travel guides : Basic maps are found at airports and hotels, but if you want one now to plan your trip, there's a new Frommer's Australiawith general maps. If you are not traveling right away, you can preorder the 2009 Fodor's Australia. Also available at Amazon is a waterproof map of Australia.

What side of the road do they drive on? In Australia, they drive on the left. CAA/AAA members, bring your card: The NRMA, the Aussie equivalent, may offer discounts on maps, etc. If you plan to drive, be prepared to do so on the left. Take care when crossing streets, too, or catching a bus, for if you are coming from a country where they drive on the right, you are in for a lively time!

What's the weather like in Australia? The cyclone (hurricane) season runs from November to April, so plan your trip and itinerary accordingly. The Northern beaches stinger season (see Cairns Travel story for more) is roughly the same times. Weather patterns can vary dramatically year to year: I've been in Sydney in summer and fall, and experienced heat waves and downpours. Winter 2007-2008 has been rainer and cooler than most, so pack accordingly. Current weather conditons :: Australia Weather Bureau

What do I pack for a trip to Australia? What kind of clothes do they wear? It depends on your itinerary and the time of year, and what the weather happens to be doing at that time (see Weather section above). My Holidays to Dominican travel packing list is also suitable for packing for Holidays in Far North Queensland (or tropical Australia) where sailing or diving the Great Barrier Reef call for different gear than Australian holidays in late fall or early spring that are spent traveling mainly in the south. If you're spending much of your time in Sydney and Melbourne, generally you can wear what you'd wear in London, New York, Vancouver, Los Angeles or San Francisco. See my travel tips pages for more tips on What to Pack and Before You go.

Books, Spelling etc Why so they spell English differently in Australia? Australians spell a number or words differently, like 'learnt' for 'learned' and 'dreamt' for 'dreamed', etc. Both spellings are correct; just depends on your culture. For a really funny and informative picture of Australia, get a copy of Bill Bryson's book, In A Sunburned country. It is hilarious and really informative -- the best kind of book, in my opinion. If you buy it in Australia, it is titled In a Sunburnt Country.

Journals etc Keep a personal record of all the details of your trip to Australia, get a Tshirt or an Australia theme mug. See Journals,etc

Hotels, Resorts See Hotels, Attractions page for links to hotels and accomodations in different cities in Australia, and check for current travel package deals by city here.

Can I phone home from Australia? Yes -- see calling cards info page and find out how to buy cheap phone cards for calling TO and FROM Australia. For internet and email, take your Blackberry or laptop you have one, use an internet cafe, your hotel business center, or stop at a public library and see if you can get a time slot.
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More Australia Travel Information, Pictures & Stories

• Queensland Madder than cut snakes, as the Aussie saying goes, that's Far North Queenslanders

• Cairns Travel Story about a trip to Far North Queensland

• Kangaroo Island Nature Lover's delight south of Adelaide, off the south coast

• KI Rocks Amazing Remarkable Rocks, the natural rock formations on KI -- Kangaroo Island

• KI Wildlife Travel pictures of the wonderful wildlife native to the island

• Australian Island Holiday - Kangaroo Island Travel Story about touring this lovely island
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