The Great Barrier Reef is the largest eco-system in the world.
Australia has three main time zones.
They are on Australian Western Standard Time (AWST), which is UTC +8:00, meaning that it is 12 hours ahead of New York and 7 hours ahead of London.
Australia is also on Australian Central Standard Time (ACST), which is UTC +9:30, meaning that it’s 13 hours and 30 min ahead of New York and 8 hours and 30 min ahead of London.
Lastly, they are on Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) is UTC +10:00, meaning that it’s 14 hours ahead of New York and 9 hours ahead of London.
You’ll need:
- A citizen of any country other than Australia or New Zealand will need a valid Australian Visa in order to enter the country.
- U.S citizens must have a valid passport and a visa to enter the country.
- Most U.S. passport holders who travel to Australia for tourism or business for less than 90 days can obtain an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA). This can be obtained online for a small service fee.
For more detailed info, check out The Visa Bureau
All COVID-19 entry restrictions have been lifted.
Source: health.gov.au
These are 3 popular international airports in Australia: Sydney Airport (SYD), Melbourne Airport (MEL) in Melbourne (South East Australia), and Brisbane Airport (BNE) in Brisbane (East Australia).
Sydney Airport (SYD) is an international airport in Sydney, Australia. The airport is located 8 km from Sydney city centre. SYD is the busiest airport in all of Australia. The airport is formally called Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport.
Melbourne Airport (MEL), in Melbourne, Australia is the second busiest airport in Australia. The airport is also known as Tullamarine airport and is 20 km from Melbourne city center. MEL has four terminals: an international terminal, two domestic terminals and a budget domestic terminal.
Brisbane Airport (BNE) is the third busiest airport in Australia. Brisbane Airport is a popular choice for low budget airlines and has terminals for both international and domestic flights. The airport is 12 km from Brisbane city center.
Australia has a few modes of transportation that are perfect for a tourist exploring the country. However, Australia is a heavy road transport country so renting a car might be the smartest and most efficient option. If renting a car isn’t in your price range here are a few modes of transportation that will get you around the busiest cities in Australia.
Commuter rail
Major cities in Australia have commuter rail systems. The most extensive being Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. Sydney Trains is the busiest commuter rail in Australia with over 1 million trips a day. The cost of an adult single trip journey on Sydney Trains is $4.50.
Metro
Sydney is the only city in Australia that has a metro or rapid transit system. Melbourne uses commuter rail instead. The cost for the metro is the same as the commuter rail ($4.50) and uses an Opal Card that can be purchased at metro stations. For more information on fares go to: Australia Transport.
Taxi
Taxis should be available in all major cities in Australia. However, the cost of a taxi in Australia is notoriously high. Most taxi companies in Australia have apps on smartphones that can help you determine the fare before calling up your taxi.
Uber
Uber is relatively new to Australia but it is popular in major cities like Sydney. It is a great option for easy travel but make sure that in the region you are in it is legal to use.
Australia is one of the safest destinations for travelers. It is often documented as a perfect country for solo travel. However, no matter where you are it is always important to keep your wits about you.
Here are some tips for a safe and fun visit to Australia:
- Be smart about your belongings on public transport.
- Avoid going out alone at night.
- The emergency number for all of Australia is 000. This number should also be called if you are bitten by a snake.
Overall, Australia is a safe and exciting country with loads to offer. Be street smart and stay away from snakes!
Australia is a large country so it is important to check the weather for whatever region you are staying in before visiting. This is the general annual weather in Australia.
December, January, February (Summer): Hottest months of the year.
March, April, May (Autumn): BEST TIME TO VISIT.
June, July, August (Winter): Coldest months of the year.
September, October, November (Spring): BEST TIME TO VISIT.
SHOCKING! Australia actually has no official language! But by far the most common is English which has been used since European settlement.
However, a few indigenous languages are still spoken in Australia with the most popular being Upper Arrernte, Kalaw Lagaw Ya, Tiwi, Walmajarri, Warlpiri, and the Western Desert language.
Australia is quite a laid back and casual society so there isn’t too much to remember in terms of etiquette.
Social settings:
- A smile or a handshake is all that’s necessary when meeting someone new.
- It is common to use first names even when just meeting someone.
Wine and Dine:
- Guests that are invited to dine at someone’s home usually bring wine or beer.
- It is polite to offer to bring some food to the party.
- Often guests will help the hosts serve and clean up.
- Keep your elbows off the table.
Australia’s unit of currency is the Australian Dollar (AUD$). Approximately $1.48 (AUD) equates to USD $1.
Exchanging money in Australia is safe and easy. You can exchange at the airport or at ATM machines.
Tipping! You don’t have to tip in Australia. Unless you would like to give extra for excellent service.
Australia has electricity outlets that are Type 1. Type 1 sockets have three slots- the top slot being vertical and the two bottom slots being slanted. The standard voltage is 230V and the frequency is 50 Hz.
Your converter should look like this:
Drinking tap water should be safe in all major cities in Australia. The water in major cities go through high levels of filtration- which make the water safe and accessible. However, in some remote areas it isn’t recommended to drink tap water. We suggest doing some research if you are headed to those less populated areas.
Australia is an advanced society so WiFi should be available in most locations. If you are looking to get a SIM card this is how to do it:
- The recommended companies are Optus, Amaysim or Telstra.
- Telstra has the highest coverage but is also the most expensive.
- You can find SIM cards at grocery stores, electronic stores and gas stations.
- Amaysim is the cheapest SIM card. It cost $2.00 for the card and between $10-$50 for the data.
Taxi
Taxis should be available in all major cities in Australia. However, the cost of a taxi in Australia is notoriously high. Most taxi companies in Australia have apps on smartphones that can help you determine the fare before calling up your taxi.
Uber
Uber is relatively new to Australia but it is popular in major cities like Sydney. It is a great option for easy travel but make sure that in the region you are in it is legal to use.
Australia is seen as one of the most LGBTQ+ accepting countries in the world. On December 9, 2017, same-sex marriage was legalized. While a lot of laws vary depending on the region Australia, in general, is relatively welcoming to the LGBTQ+ community.
Australia also hosts annual pride parades in all of their major cities.
Thailand is still working on becoming an eco-friendly country. Pollution is an issue and recycling is not a common practice. As a foreign traveler, it is best to use reusable products to eliminate the increase in waste.
That being said, there are plenty of eco-tours and eco-friendly lodging options in Thailand. There are also national parks and wildlife conservations.
A TIMELINE OF AUSTRALIA'S HISTORY
The first Aborigines arrive from South-East Asia and begin to spread around the mainland.
Captain James Cook claims Eastern Australia as a British possession and names it “New South Wales”.
Captain Arthur Phillip of the British Navy founds a settlement in Sydney.
Captain James Stirling establishes the colony of Western Australia at Perth.
An increase of Chinese immigration leads to entry restrictions. The numbers of Aborigines collapse as they are maltreated.
The Commonwealth of Australia is established on the 1st January.
World War 1 begins and Australia commits troops to help with the British war effort.
The Australia Act is established- meaning that Australian law is fully independent from British parliament and their legal system.
The Native Title Act is put into place. The Act allows the granting of Aboriginal land rights.
The Government officially apologizes for past atrocities committed against the indigenous population.
Indigenous leaders in Australia reject offer of recognition in the country’s constitution. Instead pushing for representation in parliament.