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As a citizen of the United Kingdom, you'll need a valid passport to enter Australia and your passport must be valid until your return to the UK. If you choose to make a stopover in Asia, keep in mind that for most Asian countries your passport must be valid for an additional 6 months after your arrival. Most Asian countries do not require a visa for a short stopover. Please contact the applicable embassy for the country of your stopover to make sure. If you decide to go on holiday in Australia, you must have a visa before entering Australia. If you plan on spending your holiday in Australia for less than 3 months, you can receive a visa free of charge and we can request one for you. You'll receive an electronic visa (ETA visa) and we will make a paper copy for you. The administrative fee is £14 per person. We will need a copy of the first page of your passport to apply for this visa for you. Please either scan and e-mail it to us or fax it to us (set your settings to light so that the copy remains legible when faxing). If you plan on spending more than 3 months in Australia, you'll need a Working Holiday visa (only applicable for those 18 - 30 years of age). You will have to submit a written request to the Australian Embassy, Strand, London, WC2B 4LA or simply give them a call at 020 7379 4334 or fax them at 020 7240 5333. For more Australia practical information visit their website www.australia.embassy.uk.com . A visa for an Australia holiday of more than 90 days will cost approximately £37, a Working Holiday visa will cost approximately £88. Keep in mind that import regulations for Australia are extremely strict. You're not allowed to import and animals or plants or related products such as flowers, plants, foodstuff (including candy). For more details contact the embassy.
Australia has very well regulated health care and a high level of hygiene. Vaccinations or inoculations are not necessary, unless you decide to visit other countries before or after your trip to Australia. If you only plan to do stopovers in Asian capitals, you are not required to get vaccinated. If you holiday will mostly take place outside in remote areas outside of cities, check your local authorities prior to departing for Australia practical information. Australia's tab water is perfectly fine to drink and if you plan on visiting the bush, there is usually a radio connection with the Flying Doctor Service in most areas. During the months November through April dangerous, at times deadly box jellyfish swim along the Queensland coastline (north of Great Keppel Island). You won't be able to swim in this area during these months. This does not apply to the islands and seas that lie far away from the coastline. It's best to always check with the locals before swimming. Jetlag: you'll probably feel some effects of jetlag, especially if you don't make a stopover during your flight. Especially considering the fact that the shortest flight to Australia will take at least 24 hours. A few tips to minimise the effects of the time difference: drink plenty of water or juice on-board (preferably no alcohol), try not to overeat and try to adapt to the local time as soon as possible (set your watch to the new time as soon as you arrive). After arrival you may fee a little disoriented and tired so take it easy your first two days on the continent. If you plan on hiring a car or campervan, it's best to relax and get one night of sleep before you start driving.
The official currency for Australia is the Australian Dollar (AUD). It's value is approximately £0.57. To find the most recent exchange rate check out www.oanda.com. You shouldn't have any problems exchanging currency, credit cards are widely accepted (MasterCard and Visa are most common) en a credit card is even required when hiring a car or campervan. Cash withdrawals using your debit card are possible if you have a card that can be used abroad; this shouldn't be a problem in middle-sized and large cities. Check to see if your debit card carries the Cirrus logo. Just like in the UK, you'll have pay taxes on goods and services. These are known as GST. At the moment the GST is 10% and it is included in sticker prices. When making a stopover in Asia it's best to have some US dollars in cash or traveller's cheques with you. Local Asian currencies usually may not be imported or exported. Tipping is less common in Australia than it is here. Service fees are included in the price of a meal. As in most countries all over the world, rounding up is appreciated. Tipping tour guides/ drivers is common, especially if you've spent several days on the road with them. You can count on £1 - £2 per person, per day as a guideline.
Australia's power net runs on 240/250 Volts, slightly higher than ours, however most electric devices should work in Australia. Electricity outlets are different than ours; you'll need a special three-pronged plug. These can be purchased in the UK or on the spot in Australia. Some hotels may have some plugs you can borrow. Some parts of Australia have mobile phone coverage, however you probably won't have coverage in remote parts of Australia. Since prices, terms & conditions are different for every mobile phone service, it's best to check with your own service if you wish to use your phone while in Australia. During our trips we'll give you the addresses and phone numbers of the hotels you'll be staying at in the cities. You'll also receive contact information for our local agents. In case of an emergency you can call our local agents. It's best to also leave a copy of these numbers with your family/ friends at home. During travel off the beaten track in remote areas, the contact information for our local agents is the best way to contact you. Other Australia holiday information Australia has a very active tourism board. They have a special telephone help line that you can call for assistance. Visit their website www.australia.com for more Australia practical information. Tip: when planning your trip keep in mind that you'll need to cover large distances. Flying is a faster alternative, however when driving you'll spend quite a few hours on route. There aren't many 4 or 6 lane roads, most are 2 lanes and stretch right through cities and towns. In comparison: the distance between Perth-Sydney is comparable to the distance between Amsterdam - South Morocco. Illegal souvenirs: some souvenirs are produced by harming endangered plants or animals. Importing these kinds of souvenirs into the UK is illegal and will be heavily fined. Packing for your Australia holiday (Excess) baggage can always be stored at hotel and motel reception areas if you plan on returning there. Check to make sure if someone will be present when you come back. Soft suitcases, backpacks and travel bags are most convenient when travelling in Australia. Make sure they can be locked. Hard-shell suitcases, Samsonites and backpacks with external frames can be refused. Luckily you won't need to bring along much during our trips. It's best to bring along practical and informal clothing. You'll have to bring along your own sheet bag or sleeping bag (can be hired for AU$ 15); you'll certainly need one for holidays at Ayers Rock and during the winter months of June through September and bring along enough warm clothing! You'll also need to bring along a sleeping bag when staying at a hostel. A sheet bag should be enough when spending the night in the tropical Kakadu National Park. Mattresses will be provided.
In general it shouldn't be too difficult to arrange your own transport from the airport or (bus) station to your hotel and vice versa. Taxis are more affordable in Australia than in the UK, especially when travelling with several people. All airports have shuttle busses that will take you to your hotel for AU$ 8 - AU$ 12. Since several hotels are on their route, it may take a little bit longer for you to reach your hotel than it would if you would take a taxi. However, taking a shuttle bus will give you a pretty good impression of the city making it easier for you to find your way later on. If you book one or more organised tours you'll usually be picked up at your hotel (and taken back to your hotel). Of course you'll have to make sure that the tour operator knows where you are, so be sure to give them a call the day before the tour.
Accommodation and seasons in Australia Hotels in cities are usually quite comfortable and have plenty of facilities for their guests. Have a look at our accommodation page for more information. Hotel rooms are usually appropriate for 2 people. If you book a room for 3, it usually means that an additional bed will be placed in the room. This extra bed can be less comfortable than the other beds and naturally you'll have less walking space in your hotel room. If you spend a few days at the beach, you'll need to bring along a few extra towels. Usually you can check in around 12:00; you'll usually need to check out before 11:00. Deviations to this are possible. If you arrive early or plan on leaving late, keep the check-in times in mind. Usually hotels will let you extend your stay by a few hours for a small fee (book a day room). For more information on accommodation during our modules, see the applicable web page for our Australia travel modules. When planning your Australia trip, keep Australia's peak travel seasons in mind: mid July and from early October and from mid December through mid January. Early reservation (preferably several months in advance) for hotels, accommodation, car hire and especially campervans is a must during these time periods.
Australia travel plans? Have a look at our suggested itineraries, Australia modules or Off the beaten track modules or simply give us a call. |
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