About Australia

Australia is slightly smaller in area than the United States with a comparatively small population of just 20 million people.

Apart from Antarctica it is the driest continent on earth and the vast interior, known as 'The Outback' has one of the lowest rainfalls in the world.

There is a federal government based in Canberra and like the US model it has six states largely self governing states that make up the commonwealth. The largest State, Western Australia is five times bigger in area than Texas.

Australia has an incredible variety of wildlife found nowhere else in the world - platypus, echinda, Tasmanian Devils, koala, kookaburra and emu plus every variety of kangaroo and wallaby. Also unique to Australia is the flora and fauna, spectacular landforms and the world's biggest coral reef. Then there are the rivers, waterfalls, lakes and beautiful beaches. And in the rainy season in the far north the variety of birdlife is astounding.

In contrast are the cities where fine dining, the arts, all manner of sports, night life and entertainment are available for visitors to enjoy.

Is it any wonder that one of their social commentators once described Australia as 'The Lucky Country'

Visitors from the United States quickly understand why the relationship between Australia and the United States is so exceptionally strong - the shared experiences of the Pacific War in World War 2, similarities in culture and historical background and shared democratic values make for an easy and deep friendship

Australia was first inhabited over 40,000 years ago by the Aboriginal people. Like many indigenous people throughout the world, the Aboriginal people have not prospered under the impact of European colonization. Only in recent years have substantial efforts and resources gone into righting many of the wrongs of the past and while much work remains to be done there is cause for some optimism. A grassroots resurgence of Aboriginal culture is taking place, particularly in the northern regions of the state of Queensland and in the vast Outback of the Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia.

Aboriginal art is now keenly sought after by collectors in the Australian and international markets and prices have escalated dramatically in the last decade. Buyers should always take the advice of an expert, especially if making an expensive purchase.

The first European settlements were established in 1788 when the British arrived, in many cases including large numbers of convicts, sentenced to deportation from Britain. Other free settlers arrived in increasing numbers, particularly after the discovery of gold in the mid-19th century.

In recent times large scale immigration from Eastern European and Asia has added to the mix that makes Australia such a cosmopolitan country and contributes to the wonderful blending of food and styles that makes eating out such an exciting experience.

Travel Times - are a little longer than it takes to fly from Los Angeles to Europe, 11:00 hours to London, 13:00 hours to Sydney. 55% of American visitors also include New Zealand in their travels.

Driving in Australia - a valid US driver's license is acceptable. Australians drive on the left hand side of the road. Strict drink-driving laws apply. Drivers and passengers must wear seat belts at all times.

Currency & Banking - the Australian currency is the Australian dollar (AU$). All major credit cards can be used in Australia. ATM machines are found throughout the country in both small towns and cities. International credit cards and ATM cards with a four-digit PIN encoded are widely accepted but please check with your bank before leaving home to make sure your card has been unlocked for use outside of the United States.

Tipping - No service charge applies in Australia. Tipping is not mandatory but a 10% tip in restaurants and hotel bars is normal for good service. Waiters and waitresses do not rely on tips for their income, but tips are an incentive to perform well as bad service usually results in no tip.

Taxi drivers do not expect tips, but it is usual to `round-up' the fare to the nearest dollar or two - a little more if you have plenty of luggage or the driver has been particularly helpful.

Visitors may wish to tip a tour guide or tourist coach driver, though this is not expected either.

Electricity Like New Zealand, Australia uses 3 pin plugs, 230/240 volts, 50 Hz - the power supply is 220/240 volts AC, so an adaptor has to be used that accepts a 3-pin plug if you want to use US 110v appliances.

Taxes - a GST tax is added to all goods and services - this can be reclaimed for goods purchased at the departure airport however the customs authorities will ask to see the goods in question after you have checked in so this puts an informal barrier on what can be claimed back. If you ship a large item to your home address the GST is not charged.

Insurance - Personal medical and travel insurance should be purchased before you depart. Please refer to our Travel Insurance page.

About The Weather - Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere so their seasons are in reverse to what we experience in North America.

So in general, springtime falls between September and November, summer is from December to March, fall is from March to May and then it is winter from June to September.

But in summer in the north (Darwin, Cairns and the Reef, North-West Australia) a lot of rain falls between January and March. Flooding can occur and roads closed.

Don't be mistaken by thinking that it's always hot and sunny in Australia. Winter in places located south of Sydney can be cold & snowy.

If you would like to know more, a very useful summary can be found at Weather and the Seasons in Australia

The Outdoors - Australian's are very responsible about protecting themselves from the sun - sun blocks and hats should always be worn if you plan to be out in the sun even for a few minutes.

The majority of Australian beaches have golden sand and clean water but conditions can be deceptive. Never swim alone. Beaches with potential hazards are often patrolled by lifeguards. They use yellow and red flags to indicate the safest place to swim.

Some beaches are periodically invaded by a stinging jellyfish called the blue bottle. They look like a small transparent blue bottle and they trail long bright blue tentacles and they can give you a very painful sting. They are sometimes carried onto beaches by wind and current. Lifesavers will warn swimmers if they are near the beach, and treat anyone who is stung. They are NOT deadly. In tropical North Queensland however there is a nasty stinger called the box jellyfish, which can be deadly. They are only found in the summer months, November to April, and during this season beaches have meshed areas for safe swimming. These jellyfish are not found on the beaches of the Gold and Sunshine Coasts or further south

Water Supplies - tap water is perfectly safe to drink, however water from rivers and lakes should be boiled, chemically treated or filtered before drinking to avoid stomach upsets.

Personal Safety - In the event of an accident it is wise to carry some form of identification with the name of your hotel or a friend or relative's address. Include something that will make it clear if you have an illness requiring special drugs or you are allergic to life-saving substances like Penicillin.

Overall Australia is a safe country but, as with anywhere in the world, there is petty crime. If you have a car, don't leave valuables or parcels and bags that may appear to be valuable in view. Put them in the trunk or cover them with something. Always lock the vehicle. If you are in a car park, don't leave your parking ticket in the car.

The emergency telephone number throughout Australia is 000. It is available from any public, private or mobile phone at no charge. 000 connects you to a central service operator who will ask if you need the police, ambulance or fire brigade.

The International Dateline - Australia bound flights mostly depart Los Angeles at night and after an overnight flight arrive in Australia early the next morning. On the calendar however the date moves 2 days forward because of the international dateline. On the return flight the date will remain the same as the day you departed Sydney, so if you depart Sydney on a Sunday night you will arrive in North America on a Sunday and the day you 'lost' on the way to Australia is now reclaimed.