Australian Travel Information "Designed by Travellers ... for Travellers"

General Information on Australia

Time Difference

Telephone Codes

Phoning from Australia can be expensive, although there are cheap ways. Although calls from a domestic line are cheaper than from a payphone, you can buy international phone cards giving discounted calls. Many Internet cafes also offer cheap international calls from their telephone booths.

If you are making calls within Australia then remember that telephone numbers beginning with 1800 are free, and numbers beginning with 13 are charged at the local rate (which is generally 40c).

Another option is to buy a mobile phone. Iif you buy a Pre Paid Mobile Phone, the cost is generally quite cheap, although calls are more expensive than a 12 or 24 month mobile phone contract. There are 4 main mobile phone networks in Australia including Telstra, Optus, Vodaphone and the 3 Network. They all offer Pre Paid mobile phone packages, which can be a good idea when travelling around. Although most areas in Australia do have coverage, some places in the outback and between towns and cities aren't within the coverage.

Language

English and many minority languages.

Religion

Mainly Protestant, Roman Catholic and many minorities.

Electricity

Travel and Climate

Climate

Tourist Information Centres in:

Transport

If driving around Australia there are a few rules and regulations you should be aware of. These include:

• Drive on the left-hand side of the road.
• Always carry a valid driving license, and a translation if the license isn't in English.
• Make sure everyone in the vehicle is wearing a seatbelt or child restraint.
• Do not speed (the average speed limit in built up areas is 60km).
• Do not drive whilst using a mobile phone.
• Do not drink and drive (many pubs now offer free soft drinks for the driver).

Prohibited Items

On arriving in Australia it is prohibited to carry the usual items such as weapons, firearms and non-prescribed drugs. You will need to declare any animal or plant objects as well as fresh food or face heavy fines and in some cases imprisonment. The main purpose of this is to stop unwanted disease entering the country.

The Duty Free limit per person is as follows:

• 1125ml of alcohol
• 250 cigarettes
• Goods upto the value of $400

Banking and Money

Currency

Although prices are marked to the cent, the total purchase will be rounded to the nearest 5c.

The import or export of A$5000 must be reported to customs at entry or departure. All major credit cards and traveller's cheques, in any international currency, are widely accepted.

Banking Hours

* These hours vary throughout the country

You can exchange money at most of the major banks around Australia, and also withdraw money from any ATM. The major banks include ANZ, Commonwealth, National, St George and Westpac. However, if you are travelling away from the main towns and cities be aware that banks and ATM's are few and far between so go prepared with money.

If you want to open an account it is best to do so within 6 weeks of arriving, as any longer than this and you will need more identification.

ATM AVAILABILITY: Over 6000 locations around Australia.

Cost of Living

Comparatively cheap in some ways compared to the UK and USA, for eating out, although groceries and other shopping expenses tend to be similar. (Other than meat products which are quite a bit cheaper).

Like all worldwide cities, Australia's cities can also be very expensive for eating out, accommodation and activities. (Although transport tends to be fairy reasonable).

If you are planning on staying in Australia for a while then one mistake which you shouldn't make is converting the Australian Dollar back to your own currency. Prices will seem cheap, although your money won't last long. If you are spending in Australia, you have to think as an Australian.

GST

GST stands for Goods and Service Tax, and is similar to the British system of VAT. There are several GST free shopping agents, available for both International travellers and Australians who will be leaving the country. If you are shopping in an average store, then make sure you keep your receipts, as you can claim GST back (10%) at the airport before leaving through the TRS (Tourist Refund Scheme). This 'GST back' can be calculated by dividing the purchase amount by 11.

A couple of rules apply towards this:

• The Purchase must have been over $300 (this can be made up of several purchases as long as they are on the same tax invoice).
• You must be leaving the country within 30 days.
• Products must be carried in hand luggage (and be of a suitable size).
• You must carry a tax invoice for the product purchased.
• GST must have been paid on the goods to claim it back.
• Beer and Spirit products are not accepted.
• Consumables wholly or partly consumed in Australia are not acceptable.
• Goods must not be prohibited goods.

You can also claim back WET (Wine Equalisation Tax), which works out as 14.5% of the price paid.

You can get more information about how GST and the TRS works by calling Ph: 1300 363 263.

Post

Emergency Money

Emergency Credit Card Numbers

Emergency Traveller Cheque Numbers

Fair Trading

If you would like help or advice about issues of fair trading and consumer rights then contact:

The Traveller Consumer Helpline : 1300 552 001

Health and Safety

Vaccinations

No specific vaccinations are required for entry into Australia. However, a yellow fever vaccination certificate will be required if travelling from an infected area. If you are planning any stopovers on route it is advisable to check with your General Practitioner well in advance.

If you are a resident of Finland, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden or the UK, you can claim free or reduced fee medical treatment. This is relevant in public hospitals and private doctors, although you may have to claim the money back at a later date. This is through the Medicard system. To get your Medicard or for further information about the system call Medicard Ph: 13 2011.

Safety