Australia Travel Guide

 

Australia Free Travel Guide

 

With its breathtaking landscapes, endless coastline, lush tropical rainforests, and beautiful weather, its no wonder Australia features high on most peoples holiday wish list. Split into eight main areas or states, the country is vast by anyones standard. Most visitors to Australia underestimate the distances involved in seeing the main sights, those who expect to visit the Great Barrier Reef in the morning and have a sunset meal at Uluru (Ayers Rock) in the evening may be disappointed unless they have access to a jet. It is its sheer scale, together with its diverse multi-cultural population and unique wildlife, that gives the country its endless appeal.

 

Visas

 

All visitors to Australia require a visa prior to arrival, except holders of a New Zealand passport, who may obtain one on arrival. Ask your airline or travel agent if they can also issue your visa when you make a booking, this helps to speed up the process. A charge usually applies for obtaining a travel, or working holiday visa. I originally went to Australia on a Working Holiday Visa for 12 months.  I obtained my visa through the Australian Embassy in London.  The visa allowed me to work for no longer than 3 months for a single employer before having to move on. This allows you to fund your travels, and encourages you to explore further. You can now obtain a second working holiday visa allowing people who have previously traveled on a working holiday visa and worked in certain remote areas to revisit. You should therefore consider undertaking work in the outback during your first visit, if you intend to visit again. Further details can be found on the Department of Immigration and Citizenship website.

 

Working Holiday Essentials

 

Based on my experience of working in Australia, here are several factors it is worth considering. Firstly you will need an Australian Tax Number, (Be aware if you are caught working for cash in hand and not paying tax you maybe deported and be billed for the flight home). A tax number can be obtained from the local tax office (ATO), which is listed in the local phone book or ask the staff at your accommodation. 

 

I would higly recommend getting an Australian mobile phone, if you are applying for jobs, most employers will want to call you for an interview. I bought a mobile on the Telstra network, the Australian equivalent of BT. Telstra are the main telecommunications operator in Australia and therefore offer the best network coverage.

 

To ensure your health care is covered, getting a Medicare card is a must. A card holds your Medicare number, which is required to claim treatment and receive medicines. Find out what health services are available to you through Medicare, through the following link: Australian health services for new arrivals. If you are a resident of the United Kingdom, Sweden, Finland, Norway or the Netherlands this card provides health cover for the duration of your approved visit to Australia. As a resident of Malta or Italy you are covered for a period of six months from the date you arrive in Australia. If your application to enrol in Medicare is approved, you will receive a card in the mail.  So you will need to work out where this Medicare card should be posted, as it can take a few weeks.

 

Customs Information

 

There are strict laws in Australia prohibiting or restricting the import and export of drugs, steroids, weapons, firearms, protected wildlife and associated products. If you are unsure about anything declare it to Australian Customs upon arrival. This includes most items made from plants and or animals, for example something as innocent as a straw hat may be confiscated upon entry. These measures are Australia's only defence against the importation of foreign plants, animals and pests.   


Tax Free/Duty Free

 

Each traveller over 18 years of age can bring in 2.25 litres of alcohol, 250 cigarettes or 250 grams of tobacco duty/tax free. For other goods, including those intended as gifts, a duty/tax-free allowance of A$900 per person or A$450 per person under 18 is available. These articles must accompany you through Customs and must not be intended for commercial purposes.

 

Cash and foreign currency

 

There is no limit to the amount of currency you can bring in or out of Australia. However, you must declare amounts of A$10,000 or more in Australian currency or foreign equivalent. If asked by Customs you must also fill in a Bearer Negotiable Instruments (BNI) form if you're carrying promissory notes, travellers cheques, personal cheques, money orders or postal orders.

 

Weather

 

Australia features a wide range of climatic zones, from the tropical northern regions, through to arid expanses of the interior and temperate regions in the south. Australia's winter months are from May to October, with July having the lowest average temperature countrywide. During the summer half of the year November to April, Australia's southern regions experience their highest average temperatures in January and February, while December tends to be the hottest summer month in the north. See the individual reviews for realtime weather forecasts.

 

Australia on a budget

 

Backpackers and single travellers from around the world are continuously heading to Australia, lured by the prospect of adventure and the certainty of great experiences and exceptional value. You can have a truly glorious time in friendly Australia for a very reasonable price. A visit to Australia need not break the bank. In addition to bargain accommodation options, a favourable exchange rate and good value package tours, many of the country’s attractions are free or can be enjoyed at minimal cost. In fact the main cost of the trip will be the flight.

 

Safety

 

Australia is fringed with superb beaches just waiting to be enjoyed. As with all beaches, it is advisable to follow basic precautions. Popular beaches are usually patrolled by volunteer lifesavers from October to April. Always swim or surf at patrolled beaches between the red and yellow flags which mark the safest area for swimming. Take your time entering the water and don’t swim alone. Also, enjoy outdoor activities in Australia’s beautiful weather, but minimise your exposure to the sun. Wear a broad-brimmed hat, cover up and apply water-resistant sunscreen frequently, particularly in the middle of the day.

 

From late October to early May, venomous Box and Irukandji jellyfish, also called stingers or sea wasps, occur in the coastal waters of northern Australia and around many of the Queensland islands. They are occasionally also found on the Outer Barrier Reef. In the Northern Territory, the stingers are present at all beaches, and in Western Australia they are found along the Kimberley coastline. Beaches usually have warning signs during this time, and visitors are advised to swim where protective enclosures are provided.

Northern Australia is also home to two types of crocodiles. Freshwater crocodiles occur only in inland waters. Estuarine or saltwater crocodiles are seen mostly in the tidal reaches of rivers, but also occur in freshwater lagoons and swamps and along some beaches. They have been found in waterways hundreds of kilometres from the sea, as well, as great distances out from the shore in to the reef systems.

Crocodiles are potentially dangerous. Be ‘croc-wise’ in croc-country, by observing all warning signs and do not take unnecessary risks in crocodile areas. Do not swim where crocodiles live, camp at least 50m from the waters edge and never clean fish or discard food scraps near the waters edge. Remember crocodiles will never give you a second chance!

 

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