Australia essential info
Wonderful waterside cities, red Outback vastness, the world's biggest coral reef and rainforest filled with unique critters – Australia is a land apart
Travel in Australia: vital statistics
- Capital of Australia: Canberra
- Population of Australia: 22 million
- Languages in Australia: English, various indigenous languages and dialects
- Time in Australia: Three time zones: GMT+8 in Western Australia; GMT+9.5 in Northern Territory and South Australia; GMT+10 in Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania and the ACT
- International dialling code for Australia: +61
- Voltage in Australia: 220-240V 50Hz AC
- Visas for Australia: Australia visa
- Money in Australia: Australian dollar (A$). ATMs can be found in the main towns; elsewhere you may be able to obtain cash when using cards for purchases. Credit and debit cards are accepted pretty much everywhere.
- Tipping isn’t obligatory, though leaving change (or 10% in smarter restaurants) is appreciated.
- Australia travel advice: Foreign & Commonwealth Office
- Australia tourist board: Tourism Australia
When to go to Australia
The vastness of the country means it’s pretty much always a good time somewhere. Winter (June-August) is cold in the south, but pleasant and less humid in the north of NT, Western Australia and Queensland, where summer (November-March) means The Wet – rain, and lots of it. Spring (September-November) and autumn (March-May) offer good conditions in most regions.
School holidays, especially the long summer break (January), can see crowds at popular beaches and parks.
Australia international airports
Sydney International Airport (SYD) is about 10km south of the city. Perth International Airport (PER) is about 13km east of the city. Darwin International Airport (DRW) is about 12km north-east of the city. Adelaide (ADL), Brisbane (BNE), Cairns (CNS) and Melbourne also receive international flights.
Getting around in Australia
Many airlines, including low-costers, run internal flights in Australia; a number of smaller airlines serve regional communities. Greyhound Australia is the main national bus company, with comfortable coaches; many smaller companies have more expensive local networks, while hop-on-hop-off tours provide useful routes round popular backpacker circuits.
The train service is essentially limited to three major routes: the Indian Pacific (Sydney-Adelaide-Perth); the Overland (Melbourne-Adelaide); and the Ghan (Adelaide-Alice Springs-Darwin). There are also lines north from Sydney to Brisbane and Cairns, branching into inland Queensland, and suburban routes.
Car hire allows freedom – but you should be well prepared for Outback driving, and aware of the long distances involved.
Australia accommodation
Australia has the lot – campsites and caravan parks (great for campervanners), hostels, motels, B&Bs and pubs, stylish guesthouses and hotels. The big cities also boast some of the coolest design hotels.
Australia food & drink
Yes, you can have billy-can tea, damper bread and a meat-pie floater at the footy – but Australia’s come a long way in the gourmet stakes.
There’s fine wines, notably from Western Australia’s Margaret River, New South Wales’ Hunter Valley and the Barossa and other winery areas of South Australia. Beers are booming, from the Tassie breweries Boag’s and Cascade to South Australia’s Coopers and numerous new boutique breweries.
And high-quality ingredients, countless ethnic influences (notably Italian, Greek and Vietnamese) and a burgeoning gourmet aesthetic mean you’ll rarely struggle to find delicious food, even in the boondocks.
Health & safety in Australia
Australia is a pretty safe region, with few opportunities for getting sick; no specific vaccinations are mandated unless you’ve arrived from a yellow fever-infected destination.
Venomous snakes and spiders are present but shy; bites are rare. Keep an eye out for box jellyfish warnings along beaches, and be wary of swimming in crocodile-infested regions (especially in the Northern Territory).
Heat can be dangerous: cover up, use sunblock and always ensure you have plenty of water, especially in the Outback.