Australia's biggest attraction is its natural beauty. The landscape varies from endless sunbaked horizons to dense tropical rainforest to chilly southern beaches.
Scattered along the coasts, its cities blend a European enthusiasm for art and food with a laid-back love of sport and the outdoors. Economically, Australia is thriving, with good business relations with its Asian neighbours and strong diplomatic ties to the US.
Australia's currency is the Australian dollar (AUD), made up of 100 cents. There are 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, $1 and $2 coins, and $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 notes. Although the smallest coin in circulation is 5c, prices are often still marked in single cents and then rounded to the nearest 5c when you come to pay. Cash amounts equal to or in excess of the equivalent of AUD$10,000 (in any currency) must be declared on arrival or departure.
Australia's official language is English although because it is such a multi-cultural country, it's not unusual to walk down a city street and hear people speaking Italian, Greek, Lebanese, Vietnamese or Arabic as their first language. Aboriginal languages are also spoken. English-speaking Australians have a passion for abbreviations and are liable to use a hotchpotch of local slang that can take the first-time visitor a while to untangle.
Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) - GMT/UTC +10 includes Sydney and Melbourne
Australian Central Time (ACT) - GMT/UTC +9.5 includes Adelaide
Australian Western Standard Time (AWST) - GMT/UTC +8 includes Perth
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7.00 pm |
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Los Angeles: |
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New York: |
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London: |
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10.00 am |
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New Delhi: |
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6.30 am |
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Beijing: |
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Perth: |
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Tokyo: |
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Daylight Saving starts on the last Sunday in October (for Tasmania, it's the first Sunday) and ends the last Sunday in March.
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220-240V, 50Hz
www.gov.au is the Australian Government Gateway to all federal, state, territory and local government sites.
www.nla.gov.au/npapers is an Australian Newspapers Online, National Library-maintained listing of Australian newspaper websites.
www.australia.com is the Australian Tourist Commission's Official federal government-run tourism site with nationwide info for visitors.
Hours vary a little from state to state but most shops and businesses open about 9am and close at 5pm Monday to Friday, with Saturday hours usually from 9am to either noon or 5pm. Sunday trading is becoming increasingly common but is currently limited to major cities, urban areas and tourist towns. In most towns there are usually one or two late shopping nights a week, normally Thursday and/or Friday, when doors stay open until about 9pm.
Banks are normally open from 9.30am to 4pm Monday to Thursday and until 5pm on Friday. Some larger branches are also open on Saturdays, and until 9pm on Thursday or Friday. Post offices are open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday, but you can also buy stamps on Saturday morning at post office agencies (operated from newsagencies) and from Australia Post shops in all major cities.
Most restaurants open around noon for lunch and from 6pm for dinner. Australians usually eat lunch shortly after noon, and dinner bookings are usually made between 6.30pm and 8pm, though in major cities some restaurants stay open past 10pm. Cafés tend to be all-day affairs that either close around 5pm or continue into the night.
Pubs usually serve food from noon to 2pm and 6pm to 8pm. Pubs and bars often open for drinking at lunchtime and continue well into the evening, particularly from Thursday to Saturday. Most supermarkets are open till at least 8pm and are sometimes open 24 hours. Milk bars (general stores) and convenience stores are often open until late.
Australia is well and truly a card-carrying society. Banks are found all over Australia, and many provide 24-hour automated teller machines (ATMs). Most ATMs accept cards issued by other banks and are linked to international networks. EFTPOS (Electronic Funds Transfer at Point Of Sale) is a convenient service that many Australian businesses have embraced. It means you can use your bank card (credit or debit) to pay for services or purchases directly, and often withdraw cash as well, especially at supermarkets and petrol stations.
Tipping is not expected in Australia, but it is common practice. Around 10-15% is appreciated at restaurants; in taxis it's good practise to round up the fare.
Australia is so vast that something like 80% of long-distance trips are made by air. Qantas is Australia's main domestic airline and has a budget subsidiary called Jetstar. A competing carrier that flies all over the country is Virgin Blue. In the major cities, driving is probably best avoided in city centres as parking is difficult and roads can get congested at peak times, but it's a good way to get around town otherwise as distances can be great. Each city has its own intricacies: Sydney has lots of one-way streets that makes navigation difficult; while in central Melbourne, many intersections require that you make a 'hook' turn - a right-hand turn from the left lane - so as not to obstruct tram tracks. Local transport, such as trains, light rail, trams and buses can be a good way to get to work, especially if you decide to live in the inner suburbs where journeys are shorter.
In Sydney, ferries (www.sydneyferries.info) provide the most enjoyable way of getting around and have a pretty good reputation as far as reliability, cleanliness and flotation go. Many people use ferries to commute, so there are frequent connecting bus services. Ferries operate between 6am and midnight. Brisbane has a good ferry network, too.
Bicycling is another good way to get around, although again traffic in Sydney in particular, can be hectic. Melbourne's bike friendly flat terrain is endowed with many dedicated bike lanes and paths. One note of caution: tram tracks can cause havoc for cyclists. Australia is equipped with lots of good bike paths; check out www.bikepaths.com.au for maps in Victoria and New South Wales. In Brisbane, pick up a copy of the city council's Brisbane Bicycle Experience Guide booklet from visitor information centres.
Taxis are easily flagged down in the city centre and the inner suburbs. All taxis are metered and taxi drivers won't usually rip you off, but don't always expect them to know where you're going. If they're unsure, get them to turn off the meter while they check the street directory.
In all major cities, finding something to do is easy, as Australia is spoilt for choice activity-wise. There's a plethora of sports clubs, offering football, cricket and tennis, as well as gyms, spas and yoga aplenty - if you like to get active you're sure to find something to do. To search for something close to you, visit www.overton.websyte.com.au/community.cfm?/australia/cat/Sportingclubs.
Australia has some amazing golf courses. You'll find a summary of golf courses in all states at www.ausgolf.com.au, while for gyms, check out the Yellow Pages (www.yellowpages.com.au). Many gyms offer monthly memberships and casual rates. Those who prefer to watch sport rather than play it, shouldn't miss a game of Australian Rules Football, (AFL; www.afl.com.au). Rugby League (www.nrl.com.au) and Rugby Union (www.rugby.com.au) are also popular, particularly in Queensland and New South Wales, and soccer is enjoying increasing popularity since the Socceroos made it to the World Cup; for national games check out the A-League (www.a-league.com.au).
If you want something more relaxed, there are short courses in wine and coffee appreciation, cooking, languages and much more. Check out short-course guides at the local universities.
Typically, a restaurant meal in Australia is a relaxed affair. You'll probably order within 15 minutes, and see the first course in 20 minutes and the main about half an hour later. Solo diners will find that cafés and noodle bars are welcoming, and good fine dining restaurants often treat you like a star.
There's not a huge culture of street vending in Australia. In cities the variety of quick eats is great; gourmet sandwich bars and delis, globally inspired takeaways, bakeries, and sushi or salad bars. If you're at a rugby league or Aussie Rules football match, a meat pie is compulsory fare.
All sorts of takeaway menus will be put into your mail box - everything from Japanese, Vietnamese, Chinese and Indian, to roast chicken, fish and chips, and pizza.
Supermarkets are everywhere, as are 24-hour convenience stores (mostly in the major cities). Australia's fresh food markets offer wonderful fresh produce, and a visit to the Sydney Fish Market or Melbourne's Queen Victoria market should not be missed.
Australians are pretty relaxed group of people, and this extends to the way they approach dining. At the table, however, it's good manners to use British knife-and-fork skills, keeping the fork in the left hand, tines down, and the knife in the right. Talking with your mouth full is considered uncouth, and fingers should be used only for food that can't be tackled another way (so in pubs, cafés and other casual eateries it's perfectly acceptable to eat your chips or burger with your hands).
If you're invited to someone's house for dinner, always take a gift. Even if the host refuses when asked in advance, take a bottle of wine, some flowers or a box of chocolates.
'Shouting' is a revered custom where people rotate paying for a round of drinks. Just don't leave before it's your turn to buy! At a toast, everyone should touch glasses and look each other in the eye as they clink.
Any person from abroad who thinks that Australian is simply a weird-sounding variant of English is in for a surprise. The colloquial language may mean you'll be lost in a strange maze of Australian words. The meaning of some words in Australia is completely different from that in other English-speaking countries - some commonly used words have been shortened almost beyond recognition, while others are derived from Aboriginal languages, or from the slang used by early convict settlers.
Smoking is banned in most eateries, and most states and territories are bringing in non-smoking sections in bars, clubs and pubs, too, so it's getting quite unlikely that you'll be able to smoke inside - it's best to never plan on it.
Bike helmets are compulsory in all states and territories, as are white front lights and red rear lights for riding at night. Australians drive on the left-hand side of the road and all cars are right-hand drive. An important road rule is 'give way to the right' - if an intersection is unmarked, you must give way to vehicles entering the intersection from your right. The general speed limit in built-up areas is 60km/h, but this has been reduced to 50km/h (and in some cases 40km/h) on residential streets in most states - keep an eye out for signs. Near schools, the limit is 40km/h in the morning and afternoon. On the open highway it's usually 100km/h or 110km/h. Getting caught over the speed limit can result in a hefty fine.
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