Before You Book

PREPARING TO GO TO AUSTRALIA

CAPITAL

Canberra

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE

English

RELIGION

Australia’s major religion is Christianity with the major denominations including Catholic, Anglican, Uniting Church, Presbyterian and Reformed, Eastern Orthodox, Baptist and Lutheran. The two major denominations, Anglican and Catholic, account for 42.4% of the Australian population.

LOCAL TIME

Australia uses three main time zones: Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST; UTC+10:00), Australian Central Standard Time (ACST; UTC+09:30) and Australian Western Standard Time (AWST; UTC+08:00).

ELECTRICITY

When bringing your appliances to Australia, you may need these 2 devices:

● Voltage Converter – (a device that transforms the voltage from the power outlet into one of your appliances that you can use).

● Power Adapter – (a device that allows you to plug your device into an Australia power outlet).

Read below to see which ones you need.

The plugs in Australia have two flat metal pins shaped like a “V” and some may contain a third flat pin in the center.

  
Australian outlet and power cord

PASSPORTS

A valid passport is required by all nationals. All Passengers are responsible for securing proper documentation prior to joining the tour. Please ensure that passport/s are valid for a minimum of 6 months beyond the intended date of return and contain between 2-6 blank “Visa” pages. You should have at least two free pages in your passport. Please access our link to the Travel & Visa Requirements Section in our Before You Go page available in each itinerary web page for the latest visa entry requirements for the country/ies you are visiting.

Passports are required; in addition, travelers are also advised to check with local consulates for full details regarding visa requirements. Please note securing a valid visa for entry is the sole responsibility of the traveler.

CURRENCY INFORMATION:

Australia’s national currency is the Australian dollar (AUD) which comes in polymer (plastic) notes of $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100. Coins are in 5, 10, 20 and 50 cent denominations as well as $1 and $2 denominations.

Credit Cards:

MasterCard and Visa are both commonly accepted in Australia. Credit cards such as American Express, Bankcard, Diners Club and JCB are also accepted in Australia. American Express and Diners Club are accepted at major supermarket and department store chains and many tourist destinations. JCB is only accepted at very limited tourist destinations. Discover credit card is generally NOT accepted in Australia.

It is best to carry more than one type of card as not all cards are accepted by all merchants. Always carry a little cash, because many shops will not take cards for purchases under AUD$15.00. Merchants may impose credit card surcharges in some places.

Before traveling to Australia, be sure to contact your bank and inform them that you will be traveling and using your credit card overseas. If you fail to inform your bank of your travel plans, your card may be put on hold, and you will not have immediate access to your account!

ATM:

The simplest way to obtain cash in Australia is to use an ATM. ATMs generally dispense only a mix of $20 and $50 notes and you can only withdraw a combination of these amounts, although some smaller ATMs, particularly in service (petrol/gas) stations dispense $10 notes but again only in combinations of $20 and $50, and some rare locations, particularly casinos, dispense $100 notes as well.

For international visitors, most ATMs allow withdraw using a card issued from a member of one of the international card networks (such as Cirrus or Maestro). A sign next to the ATM usually indicates what cards are accepted. Some ATMs (usually non-bank ones) do not allow withdrawal from credit cards.

Thus, you can withdraw $20, $40 (2 x $20), $50, $60 (3 x $20), $70 (1 x $20 and 1 x $50), $80 (4 x $20) and every multiple of $10 past that.

ATMs are VERY reliable at dispensing their notes but always check that you have taken them all. Some older ATMs dispense the notes in two lots, $20 and $50, so always make sure you’ve got the right amount!

ATM FEES ETC

Australian banks can charge non-customers a fee for using their ATM machines (usually around $2 per transaction). This fee is charged regardless of whether your bank charges you for using another bank’s ATM (although now, it is less common for banks to charge you for using another bank’s ATM). For tourists, this can mean that they are charged twice for an ATM transaction: once by the Australian institution and then once again by their own bank at home. Do note that many ATMs do not charge fees for users from certain partner banks, e.g. WestPac Bank is partnered with several banks, including Bank of America, which allows you to withdraw money without any fees on either end of the transaction. There are also many Citi Bank ATMs, so customers with Citi accounts should not be charged either.

Banking hours:

Banks are usually open during business hours – from 9:30am to 4:00pm, Monday to Thursday, and 9:30am to 5:00pm on Fridays. Some banks and branches may stay open longer or open on weekends.

Currency exchange:

Currency exchange is available at banks, hotels and international airports. Australian banks offer the same range of services typical in other western nations, and cash withdrawal machines or Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) are widespread, although facilities may be limited in remote towns and the Outback.

CLOTHING

Casual wear is generally the way to go when you’re visiting Australia. You can go to the opera in jeans, and no one will give you a second look, but this doesn’t mean that everyone else will be wearing jeans. Some activities in Australia inspire some people to dress up. No one needs a tuxedo or a long, formal gown here unless it’s a special occasion. A jacket and tie are not de rigueur for even less formal occasions. The rule of thumb is usually whether you’re comfortable with your choice of clothing for a particular occasion. In most cases, jeans can be your wardrobe staple – you can dress them up or down depending on where you’re going. You might want to pack some non-denim casual wear if you plan on visiting city restaurants, but you can leave the dressy clothes at home.

COMMUNICATION & EMAIL

Telephone

National Emergency is 112

National Enquiries is 118

International Enquiries is 171

Pre-paid Calls is 172

Emergency number in Australia is 000

International Access (Dialing) Code is 0011

International country code for Australia is 61

Payphone phonecards are available at newsagents, supermarkets and chemists and can be used for local or international calls. Most payphones also accept coins. You can send text messages to Australian mobiles from almost half of all payphones.

The best place to find a public phone in Australia is outside a post office, at a bar or a service station. The country’s payphones are color-coded – red ones are strictly for local calls while green, gold and blue ones can also be used for international calls. Public phones accept coins or phonecards, which are available at most stores and newsagents. Credit phones, which are located at most hotels and airports, accept most major credit cards. Local calls from a public phone cost around $0.50 and are untimed and Country Direct calling cards (available for purchase through hotels) allow you to make international calls for the price of a local call.

Mobile Phones

Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. US handsets are not compatible. Coverage is good in and around populated areas; access in some of the more isolated, outback and rural areas is limited.

Australia uses the 900MHz and 1800MHz GSM bands for mobile phones. Before you arrive in Australia, check that your phone will work on these bands. Either look at the instruction booklet that came with your phone, call the phone supplier or Google the make and model number. Many mobile phones used in North America are CDMA band phones only and will not work in Australia. If your phone is marketed as “GSM”, “tri-band” or “quad-band” it’s a good bet your phone will work, and this includes most Smartphones.

If your phone works on these bands, you have two options for making and receiving calls in Australia:

● Using your existing SIM card

● Buy an international travel SIM card before you leave

● Buying a new SIM card once you get to Australia

Note that in Australia, the person initiating a call involving a mobile phone pay for the airtime. You can identify a mobile phone as the phone number starts with 04. (This means that receiving calls on a mobile phone in Australia are free; if you call a mobile phone, you pay for the airtime).

Other options

If you don’t have a mobile phone and don’t want to pay too much for calling internationally, pick up an international calling card – you can find these at any convenience store, some supermarkets or online. They come in many different denominations, and each will have its own rate for different countries. You buy a card, then use an existing phone (usually a payphone) to call a special number listed on the card. You can then dial the number you wish to call, and you will be charged at the cheap rate. You can also use Voice over IP networks (such as Skype) to make local and international calls from your computer or smartphone when connected to a WiFi network.

Internet

Available throughout Australia.

Internet cafés are prevalent in all capital cities and tourist towns, and individual hotels may also provide facilities. Wi-Fi access is increasing in cities and is mainly found in hotels, bars and cafés. Some public institutions such as universities have also began to offer free Wi-Fi service to the public.

WEATHER & CLIMATE

Along the eastern seaboard is a coastal plain about 65km (40 miles) wide. Running parallel to the east coast is a mountain range that separates the coastal plain from vast inland plains on the western side of the range. Farther west is a large arid plateau containing deserts and eroded mountain ranges.

Best time for the southern part of Australia, in general terms: September to April.

Best time for the north and centre: May to October.

Seasons:

• December to February: Summer
• March to May: Autumn
• June to August: Winter
• September to November: Spring

Below is the weather specifically divided into six regions:

1. North Queensland (includes Townsville and Cairns) and Northern Territory (includes Darwin).

Best time: May to October. (Warm, mostly dry).

May to October: Dry season. Almost cloudless skies. Cool nights, warm days. Daytime temperatures range 24 to 31°C (75 to 87°F). This is a good time to visit Cairns for the Great Barrier Reef, and good for Darwin. May can experience occasional, end-of-wet-season storms. October is the pre-wet season with occasional storms in the afternoons.

November to April: Wet season. Cyclonic rain. Heaviest, January to March. December to February daytime temperatures range 30 to 35°C (86 to 96°F). Humidity is high. Cyclones may occur at the “Top End” of Australia and along the Queensland coast in the wet season, November to April.

Sunshine: Expect 9 to 10 hours per day in the dry season, and 7 in the wet season.

Darwin, Northern Territory: Altitude 30m (98ft)

 

Townsville, Northern Queensland: Altitude 15m (49ft)

 

2. New South Wales (includes Sydney) and southern Queensland (includes Brisbane). For Canberra see Footnote.

Best time: September to May. (Warm to hot).

September to May: Sunny. Warm to hot, in the 20s°C (70s°F) in the afternoons. Rain falls, especially March to May.

June to August: Winter. Cool. Rain. Snow falls in the Snowy Mountains in southern New South Wales where skiing is popular.

Footnote for Canberra in the A.C.T. (Australian Capital Territory).

Best time: September to November (spring) and March to May (autumn). Summers (December to February) are very hot, and winters (June to August) are extremely cold.

Brisbane, Southern Queensland: Altitude 42m (137ft)

 

Sydney, New South Wales: Altitude 40m (131ft)

 

3. Victoria (includes Melbourne) and South Australia (includes Adelaide).

Best time: November to March. (Warm to hot.)

November to March: Sunny. Warm to hot, sometimes 38°C (100°F), especially in January. Expect light rain every month.

April to October: Cooler months. June to August is the dull winter when most rain falls, much of it as showers and drizzle. Snow falls in the Victorian Alps where skiing is popular. June to August.

Melbourne, Victoria: Altitude 113m (371ft)

 

Adelaide, South Australia: Altitude 43m (140ft)

 

4. Tasmania (includes Hobart).

Best time to visit: November to March. (Warm.)

November to March: Sunny and warm but the four seasons may be experienced on the same day. Temperatures may change from say 27°C (80°F) to freezing in a matter of hours, or much less. Tasmania is situated in latitudes known for their stormy conditions. Light rains fall in every month.

April to October: Cool. Light rains with most falling in winter, June to August. Snow falls in the highlands.

Rain falls year-round with most falling on the west coast.

Hobart, east coast of Tasmania: Altitude 57m (187ft)

 

5. Southwest corner of Western Australia (includes Perth).

Best time: September to April. (Warm to hot.)

September to April: Sunny, dry, warm to hot. Mid-summer (January) can exceed 32°C (90°F). Very little rain falls during these months. Wildflowers bloom August to November, after the winter rains.

May to August: Winter rains. Mild. Coolest month is July, 17°C (63°F) in the afternoons.

Perth, Western Australia: Altitude 60m (197ft)

 

6. The Centre (includes Alice Springs).

Best time: May to October. (Warm, mostly dry.)

This is a good time to visit Alice Springs and Uluru (formerly Ayers Rock).

May to September: Cool season. Average afternoon temperatures range 19 to 27°C (67 to 81°F). In the desert “outback”, early morning temperatures can be below freezing point. Rainfall is negligible. Humidity is low.

October is a warmer month with a small increase in rainfall, temperature, and humidity.

November to April: Hot season. Afternoons average 32 to 36°C (90 to 96°F). Mid-summer (January and February) can be scorching hot. Slight increase in rainfall and humidity. Expect 10 hours of sunshine daily.

Alice Springs, Northern Territory: Altitude 547m (1795ft)

 

MEAL COSTS

Food                                                                                                         Cost

Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant                                                               30.00 A$

Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course                    150.00 A$

McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)                           15.00 A$

Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught)                                                         10.00 A$

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)                                                           12.00 A$

Cappuccino (regular)                                                                             6.00 A$

Coke/Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle)                                                                5.00 A$

Water (0.33 liter bottle)                                                                         4.00 A$

FOOD & DRINKS

Specialities:

Sydney rock oysters: Small and soft with a distinctive taste.

Barramundi: A fish particularly prevalent in the Northern Territory.

Moreton Bay bugs: A kind of lobster.

Macadamia nuts: Native to New South Wales and Queensland.

Kangaroo: Yes, poor old Skippy is also on the menu.

Meat pie: A staple on-the-go snack.

Fruit: Apples, mangoes and pumpkins are among those grown in large quantities.

Dagwood dog: A deep-fried battered hot dog on a stick, popular at fairgrounds and outdoor events.

Wine: Regions like the Barossa Valley in South Australia, and Margaret River in Western Australia, are world class.

Craft beer: Away from the likes of VB, you’ll find some excellent small-batch brewers.

Sparkling wine: The bubbly from Tasmania is superb.

National drinks:

Fine red (especially Shiraz) and white (look out for Semillion) wines from the Hunter Valley.

James Squire beers are fantastic: look out especially for their Porter and Amber Ale.

SUGGESTED TIPPING SCALE

Tipping in Australia is a new practice and is by no means obligatory. Servers receive a livable minimum wage, which means tipping isn’t as necessary as other countries with low pay for employees. It is, however, always welcome to show appreciation for exceptional service. A good rule of thumb is to round your bill up to the nearest $5 or $10 when service exceeds expectations. Be aware that restaurant prices are required by law to include tax and service charges, so there will be no unexpected additions to the cost of an item. It is common for servers not to receive tips included on a credit card, so try to leave cash whenever possible.

The main thing to keep in mind is you needn’t tip unless you want to show your gratitude. This Australia tipping guide will help you navigate when/where you can leave a little extra for great service.

Cafe Server: If there is a tip jar by the cash register, it’s a nice gesture to leave a couple of coins. For exceptional table service, round up to the nearest $5 but give no more than 10 percent.

Restaurant Server: There is no obligation to tip as waitstaff receive a livable minimum wage. For service that exceeds expectations, feel free to round the bill up to the nearest $5 or $10. Servers sometimes don’t receive tips included on a credit card, so always try to tip in cash whenever possible.

Bartender: It’s rare to tip a bartender, as most do not expect it, and some may even refuse it. A large round, however, may deserve a few dollars.

Taxis: A tip isn’t expected but is always appreciated. A good rule of thumb is to tip 10 percent of the final bill for a smooth and courteous ride. You can also let the driver “keep the change”, if that’s easier.

Airport Shuttle: It is not necessary to tip your driver, but feel free to give $1 per bag if they help with your luggage.

Doorman: A simple thank you for great service is sufficient, but feel free to tip $1 if you’d like.

Bellhop: It is considerate to tip $1 to $2 per bag, depending on size, but by no means expected.

Housecleaning: For those staying a week or more, it is considerate to leave $5 for a well-maintained room during your stay.

Concierge: It is not common to tip the concierge, but it is up to you to tip if you feel the service exceeds expectations and deserves monetary recognition.

Stylist: Don’t hesitate to tip 10 percent of the final bill if you’re happy with your new look.

Spa Service Provider: Tipping is rare, so a tip of up to 10 percent for exceptional service is appreciated.

Here are some more guidelines that you may find helpful:

Service                           Tipping amount per/person

1 - Drivers per/ day         U$D 05.00 per person

2 - Guides per/day         U$D 08.00 – 10.00 per person

HEALTH & MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS & GUIDELINES

As a general recommendation, it is advisable to check with your family doctor or travel clinic for the latest health information.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

It is highly recommended that you purchase travel insurance. Your home country health plan may only provide limited coverage while traveling outside of the country. Indus Travels can offer you a complete travel insurance package. Some credit cards do offer travel insurance; however, they do not always provide adequate coverage. Review and understand the terms of your credit card insurance policy. Extra travel insurance can be purchased. Most insurance companies do have exclusions in their coverage. Pre-existing medical conditions are not insurable.