Some answers to Frequently Asked Questions
about your exotic vacation to Australia

Visa Requirements:

Anyone who is not an Australian citizen requires a valid visa or Electronic Travel Authority (ETA). For details, please visit the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs: www.immi.gov.au .

For a list of foreign embassies, please visit the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: www.dfat.gov.au/embassies.html   

Money:

The national currency is the Australian Dollar (AUD) and banks are generally open Monday to Friday 9.00am to 4.30pm.
For currency conversions you can visit: www.xe.net . Tipping is not common in Australia. When eating out, shopping or taking taxis, the price is inclusive of GST. Of course, tipping is appreciated for exceptional service. There is a 10% tax on all goods purchased in Australia. You can claim a refund on the Good and Services tax (GST) that you pay on goods you buy. The refund only applies to goods you take with you as hand luggage or wear on the aircraft or ship when you leave the country. For more information, please see the Tourist Refund Scheme on www.customs.gov.au .

Airlines:

Most domestic travel is serviced by three domestic airlines in Australia:

Qantas: www.qantas.com.au
Virgin Blue: www.virginblue.com.au
Jetstar: www.jetstar.com.au

Customs and Quarantine:

When arriving in Australia you must declare all food, plant and animal items. Seemingly harmless plant, food, wood or seeds can intoduce deadly pests or disease. Prohibited products may include meat, nuts, live plants and fruit. Trade in endangered and threatened wildlife and native Australian wildlife is strictly regulated. Products made from hard corals, giant clamshells, reptiles or whales may be prohibited or restricted. Please visit the following link for further information: www.customs.gov.au

Electricity:

Australia has 220-240V; 50Hz with plugs that have angled pins. If the country you are travelling from has the same voltage as Australia, you simply need an adaptor for all your electronic appliances. Otherwise you will need a converter to change the voltage from one amount to the other. This is especially important for visitors from the USA and Japan.

Telephone Services:

Australia's digital service is compatible with that used in Europe but generally not with networks used in the USA or Japan. If you are travelling for a short period, it may be beneficial to purchase a pre-paid mobile phone starter kit. This includes a SIM card and a pre-paid phone card. When calling overseas, you will need to dial the international access code from Australia (0011), then the country code of the country you are calling and the appropriate area code.

The Emergency Number in Australia is: 000

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