AUSTRALIA TRAVEL GUIDE
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Travel Time: From Los Angeles to Sydney is 14 hours. Flights from the USA usually leave in the evenings and arrive two mornings later, so you actually loose a 'day & a half 'when traveling to Australia. On the return to the USA, you arrive the same day you depart from Australia.

States & Territories: 6 States: NSW, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania. Mainland Territories: Australian Capital Territory (ACT) & Northern Territory

Australia Visa (ETA): You need a valid passport (valid 3 months after your trip ends) to visit Australia. Travel requires either a visa or an Electronic Travel Authority for stay up to 90 days.. This visa ( ETA)  can be arranged by your travel agent if you hold a US or Canadian passport.
Traditional visa - If you are sending your application by mail, you should allow 21 days, although this can be expedited if you need rush handling. There is no fee for a standard short stay visa or an ETA. As a visitor, you are not normally allowed to stay more than six months

Electricity: The domestic electrical supply in Australia is 240 volts, 50Hz Ac and uses 3 pin sockets. For the larger 110-volt appliances (e.g. hair dryers) converters are needed.

Australia travel seasons
* Spring: September to December
* Summer: December to February
* Fall: March to May
* Winter: June-August (best time to visit northern Queensland & the Top End.)
* Mid-Dec to late Jan. is peak travel time and holidays for students.
* Anything north of the 'Tropic of Capricorn has only two seasons. Wet & Dry.
* In the Northern Territory (ie. Darwin area) the dry season (May - Sept) you will it the best weather to visit. It rains from Oct - May.
* In Central Australia (ie. Alice Springs/Ayers Rock) it has 4 seasons with Oct. - May being the hottest with warm nights. During June - Sept. you will find very cold nights so bring you winter coat.
* In Northern Queensland and the Top End (Darwin) May - Nov. is the drier, and best time to visit. During Jan.-Mar. you will run into the Moonsoons season and lots of rain.
* In winter, the farther south you travel the colder it becomes. During their summer, the temps everywhere can reach the mid-forties. Summer is very dry and the further towards the center you travel, the hotter and drier it becomes. Up in Darwin, only. To view the weather forecast for any month, log on to: www.weatherbase.com

Tipping: A tip of between 10-15% has become the expectation in many cafes and restaurants. However, you won't cause offence if you don't tip. Taxi drivers are always grateful if you leave the change.

Getting around: 
* There are several great Rail Journeys one can take such as: The 'Ghan', Indian-Pacific, Great south Pacific Express & the Queenslander. Train schedules are limited.
* The Aussie RailPass, is for use on all the rail systems, offers between 14 and 90 consecutive days of unlimited travel for the holder.  The Kangaroo pass, allows between 14 and 30 days-unlimited travel on coaches as well as trains
* A number of airlines have regular services to cities throughout Australia. It is recommended that you fly within Australia because the distances between cities can be great. Prices are best when purchased prior to departure from the U.S.
* Bus travel is one of the least expensive land transportation available. They will get you everywhere you need to got within Australia. All coaches are non-smoking.
* There are two major bus lines in Oz: Greyhound-Pioneer, that offers an Aussie Pass, which entitles the holder to unlimited travel for up to 60 days and McCafferty's, which offers a comparable Travel Australia pass. These should be purchased before departure for Australia
* Taxis are metered. Drivers are sometimes a good source of information for what restaurant, nightclub or attraction to visit, will undoubtedly have an opinion on politics and will not expect a tip (although rounding up to the nearest dollar will be appreciated). It's an Australian custom to use the front seat of a taxi.

Australia Cost of things
* Gallon of gas: $5.30
* Coca-Cola: $1.20
* Movie ticket: $12.00
* Newspaper: $1.10
* Cup of coffee: $2.00
* Bottle of beer:  $4.50
* T-Shirt: $6.00
* Big Mac: $3.80

Foreign currency exchange is available throughout. Credit cards are widely accepted (compulsory if you're going to rent a car). ATM's are located throughout the country and are highly recommend for currency exchange over traveler's check. I recommend using your ATM to withdraw the local currency instead of purchasing currency while still in the USA. Most credit card charge a 2& or more currency transaction fee to all purchases. Capitol One is currently the only credit card that doesn't charge this fee.

Accommodations: You can stay in luxury resorts, great international hotels, comfortable motels or self-catering apartments. Most rooms have a telephone, refrigerator, (tea and coffee-making facilities), television,  radio and private facilities. Self-catering apartments are available in most capital cities, large towns and resort or beach areas. For a different view of Australian life you can stay in the home of an Australian family - a home stay.. Or if you wish to sample the life of rural Australians, a Farm Stay is an unforgettable experience. If you are traveling on a budget there are youth hostels, backpacker hostels and caravan/camping parks. All are safe and are a great way to meet travelers from all over the world. You can purchase accommodations passes, which are hotel pre-paid vouchers, good for a variety of properties throughout Australia.

Car Rental: Australians drive on the left hand side of the road. The three major car rental companies operate throughout Australia, among some domestic companies.  In most areas, the maximum speed limit in cities and towns is 60 km/h (35 mph) and 100 km/h (60 mph). Renters must have a mandatory collision insurance - which is included in the price. Your own US. driver's license is accepted at all rental companies. Minimum age required. Current Petrol prices in Australia. Australia has very strict drink-driving laws and random breath testing is conducted in all Australian States. The limit is only 0.05 compared with 0.08 to 0.1 in the United States.

Driving distances: 
Sydney - Melbourne = 12-13 hours
Sydney - Adelaide = 23 hours
Sydney - Brisbane = 17 hours
Brisbane - Cairns = 25 hours
Melbourne - Adelaide = 10 hours
Adelaide - Perth = 35 hours
Adelaide - Alice Spring = 6 hours

Telephones: Long distance and international calls can be made on the public payphones, which operate on a variety of coin denominations. Phone card is a pre paid card for use in public payphones to make local, long distance and international calls. It is available from a number of retail outlets and can be used at over 75% of public payphones. Credit phones use most major cards such as AMEX, Visa and Diners International, and can be found at international and domestic airports, central city locations and hotels.

Food & Restaurants: You can dine at elegant restaurants, leading hotels and other locations or enjoy a "pub" counter lunch. Bistros, cafes and family-style restaurants offer good food at reasonable prices. Ethnic restaurants offer a wide variety of cuisine from all around the world. There are many low cost eating places, including fast-food chains and take-away food stores. Some restaurants provide non-smoking dining areas. Food is fresh and plentiful at stores and supermarkets. Australian wines are good and inexpensive; beer is served chilled. Restaurants usually serve iced water on request only. Many restaurants have a full liquor service; others allow you to "bring your own" (BYO) wine or beer to serve with your meal.  

General: Australia is the world's smallest, flattest continent and largest island, with almost 70 per cent of its land mass below the Tropic of Capricorn. The island continent separates two great oceans -- the Pacific to the east and the Indian to the west. New Guinea and South-East Asia are Australian's nearest neighbors to the north, and New Zealand is located off the south-east coast. Australia is one of the world's most urbanized countries, with 70 per cent of the population living in the 10 largest cities.   Australia is divided into six states and two territories

Time Zones: There are three time zones in Australia - Eastern Standard Time (EST) which operates in New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, Tasmania and Queensland; Central Standard Time (CST) in South Australia and Northern Territory; and Western Standard Time (WST) in Western Australia. CST is half an hour behind EST, while WST is two hours behind EST. New South Wales, ACT, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia have daylight saving during the summer months.  

Medical: Visitors can bring reasonable quantities of prescribed medications into Australia. All should be clearly labeled and identifiable. For large quantities, bring a doctor's certificate to produce to Customs if necessary. Chemists (Pharmacists) can fill most prescriptions but some may need to be reissued by an Australian registered doctor. In the event of illness, your hotel should be able to call a doctor or refer you to one, or you can call your country's High Commission, Embassy or Consulate General for a list of doctors. Canadian visitors and US are not covered by Australia's national health insurance scheme. It is recommended that you travel with adequate travel insurance. Australian health care professionals are highly trained and medical services are among the best in the world. Medical and dental services and a wide range of alternative therapies are widely available and are comparatively cheap by most international standards. Visitors from the UK, New Zealand and Finland are entitled to free or heavily subsidized medical and hospital care under reciprocal national health care agreements with the taxpayer funded Medicare system. All visitors should take out travel insurance prior to departing for Australia and the south pacific. 

Customs: Strict laws prohibit or restrict the entry of drugs, steroids, and firearms, protected wildlife and associated products. All animals, animal products, foodstuffs, plants, and plant products must be declared. There is no limit on the amount of Australian and/or foreign cash that may be brought into or taken out of Australia. However, amounts over A $5,000 or equivalent must be reported.
Travelers' 18 years and over may bring I liter of alcohol and 250 cigarettes or 250 grams of tobacco duty free. There is a duty free allowance of A$400 per person 18 years and over, or $A200 per person under 18 years. Short term visitors may bring most articles into the country duty free, provided Customs is satisfied that they are for their own personal use. Keep receipts for all purchases. appliances (e.g. hair dryers) converters are needed.

Airports: Major airports throughout Australia are among the best in the world and most are located not far from the city centre. Approximate distances, taxi time and one-way costs from Airport to city centers:

• Sydney 9km,15 minutes,

• Melbourne 20 km, 30 minutes,

• Brisbane 13km, 15 minutes,

• Adelaide 8km, 10 minutes

• Perth 13lm, 15 minutes,

• Hobart 20km, 22 minutes,

• Darwin 14km, 16 minutes

• Cairns 12km, 14 minutes,

Nightlife: It's hard to generalize on nightlife as one person's magic is another one's mosh pit. In cities there are free publications on what's happening in pubs, clubs, what bands/concerts, restaurants, theatre, opera, free events etc are on. Taxi drivers can usually match a personality with a place and hotel concierges know what's on where and good ones can usually find tickets even if something is a 'sell-out'. Many cities have 'ethnic' pockets for eating out (Little Italy, Chinatown etc) and a designated 'nightclub' area. 

Beaches: Australian beaches rank with the best in the world. Golden sand and clean water within easy reach of major cities make them a major attraction for locals and visitors alike. They fall into two categories - still water harbourside beaches and open water ocean or 'surf' beaches. Beaches are very much part of the Australian way of life, for swimming, surfing, family outings or simply lazing about - however, they can be dangerous with deceptive rips, so common sense and obeying the rules should come into play.  Flags: The main rule on Australian breaches is to 'swim between the flags'. Beaches develop currents known as 'rips', which can be so strong they literally pull swimmers off their feet in water knee high and sweep them out to sea. These are hard to identify as they can occur in quite calm conditions with relatively small waves. Just a reminder about beach safety:  Do not attempt to wade in the surf away from the flags or the crowds as a 'rip' or the undertow of receding waves can be so strong as to knock you off you feet and drag you to sea. If caught, concentrate on staying afloat by 'treading water' and wave one arm from side to side above your head. If there are no flags, the beach is not patrolled and you should play safe and not swim there.

The state of New South Wales is located on the east coast. It is home to the famous city of Sydney which is a dazzling city built around one of the world's most beautiful harbors, with sparkling beaches and national parks within easy reach. There are many facets of this most awe inspiring city, such as the Rocks, the site of Australia's first European settlement. Visit the Museum of Contemporary Art or the Rocks Market, open every Saturday and Sunday. The central business district offers fabulous shopping while the AMP Tower provides a 360-degree view of Sydney and beyond. Ride the monorail to exciting Darling Harbour complex located south of the business district. Just north of Sydney is Hunter Valley - which offers great wines, gourmet food, superb restaurants and cafes, rustic cottages and romantic beachside retreats. It is a mecca for wine and food enthusiasts and famous for its wines. Less than 65 miles west from Sydney is the majestic  Blue Mountains which offer a natural wonderland of untamed bush, spectacular rock formations and native wildlife. Still further ahead (326 miles SW) the Snowy Mountains is a busy winter ski resort comprised of Thredbo, Perisher Blue, Mt. Selwyn and Charlotte Pass. Ski season runs from June to October. Sydney Map

Queensland, the second most visited state for travelers, is home to the unforgettable Great Barrier Reef (GBR). It boasts perfect tropical weather and the world's largest living organism - the GBR. Brisbane is the capital city. Just an hour south, you'll find the playground called the Gold Coast, which is a long stretch of beach, filled with resorts, entertainment, wildlife, parks, and theme parks. You'll also find Surfer's Paradise, which is similar to our Ft. Lauderdale areas. An hour north of Brisbane is calmer Sunshine Coast. The crowds are less and the atmosphere slights more refined.There are more than a 1000 islands in the GBR, though only a portion of those can be visited. The Whitsunday Islands  are located in t he heart of the GBR with tranquil waterways perfect for sailing, diving, snorkeling or just swimming. Cairns is the considered the gateway to the GBR with an excellent location to access Port Douglas, an hour north and the World Heritage area which includes Cape Tribulation/Daintree River  (the largest tract of virgin rainforest in Australia). This area is about 2 1/2 hours north of Cairns. Please note that mid-October to mid-May is jelly fish season from Gladstone to the the tip of Queensland. Many popular beach resort destinations have stinger resistant nets, which allow access to the water.

The Northern Territory stretches from the central coastline in the tropical north to the Red Center of Outback Australia. Vast regions of red gold contrast with lush great rainforest, wetlands, teeming with native Australian wildlife, spectacular waterfalls and stunning rock formations. There are two distinct areas of the N.T , the Top End & Central Australia.  The main city in the Top End area is Darwin , a relaxed, multi- cultural, modern and visitor friendly city. The Top End climate is tropical, similar to Cairns. From May to October, the weather is ideal with blue sky and temperatures from 66-77F at night and 86-91F in the day. This is the winter time referred to as the 'dry season'. From November to April there are monsoon rain patterns, with rains falls mostly in the late afternoons. Temperatures range from 77F at night to 91F during the day, but are more humid. Visit the wildlife at the Territory Wildlife Park, Darwin Crocodile Farm and Crocodylus Park. The World-Heritage Kakadu National Park and Litchfield National Park - are only a few hours drive from Darwin.

The Red Center, is the heart of Australia. There's the famous Ayers Rock/Uluru, Kings Canyon, Palm Valley and the East & West MacDonnell Ranges, where you can escape from the heat in one of the many gorges or waterholes. Further north are the intriguing Devils Marbles. Alice Springs is about a 5 hour drive from Ayers Rock and the arrival point for many who desire to see Uluru. - activities include camping at the Rock or riding a camel to breakfast or dinner. The climate here has four seasons. The 'outback' is a strange term that really has no definite geographic boundaries, but you'll know when you reach it (somewhere between the lush pastoral lands and the arid desert). By definition it is remote, sparsely inhabited Australian back country but even though the vast majority of the Australian population is urban and coastal, the 'outback' is very much part of the Australian psyche.

Victoria offers easy access to many different experiences. With desert plateaus in the north-west, fertile river valleys of the Murray and a magnificent coastline delight travelers to this state. Melbourne is the capital, also know as the cultured city. - with some of the best restaurants and shopping in all of Australia. Here you will find a vibrant Arts community as well as many museums. Melbourne is a city with many parks, gardens and open green spaces - excellent for walking, biking, and rollarblading. One hour's drive east is the Dandenong ranges, home to many lovely gardens. The Yarra Valley is one of Australia's premium winegrowing areas and home to native animals in natural bush surroundings. Philip Island is famous for its Penguin Parade. Each evening, Penguins march up the beach to their sand-dune burrows - and you get to watch!. The 'Great Ocean Road' circumvents Victoria's rugged coast and is a rival to the US's Hwy 1 in California.

Western Australia is an untouched paradise flanked by the sparkling waters of the Indian Ocean & the Great Southern Ocean and is Australia's largest state. In the SW are spectacular forests, beautiful coastal scenery and limstone caves and the Margaret River region - well know for its excellent wines. To the north are vast unspoiled beaches and friendly wildlife. In the far NW is the Kimberley region, an area of spectacular contrasts, from the coastal pearling town of Broome to the rugged East Kimberlys. In spring, the state becomes a sea of color as wildflowers bloom. Perth, (voted the friendliest city in the World by Travel & Leisure) is the main city located on the Swan River. It is a beautiful city most visitors to Australia don't venture out to see, being a 5 hour flight from Sydney, though a gem of a destination. Only 11 miles SW of Perth is a colorful, busy port at the mouth of the Swan River. You can take a launch to Rottnest Island, known for its quokkas (small marsupials), beautiful beaches and clear waters teeming with marine life. Wave Rock is 211 miles east and rises 50 feet above the ground like a giant wave. Monkey Mia is a treat as one can have an encounter with friendly wild dolphins that swim up to the shore lines.

South Australia is located centrally and is renowned for its wine growing area of the Barrosa Vally, Clare Valley, Coonawarra and McLaren Vale. With its pleasant climate, fine food and wines, numerous festivals and miles of clean, sandy beaches, its a terrific vacation destination. Adelaide is a graceful city and easy to maneuver. There are many historical sites to be seen here. Mt. Lofty Lookout in the Adelaide Hills provides splendid views over parkland to the city. Enjoy a scenic drive along the River Torrens. Further ahead lies Kangaroo Island - an island of beautiful bush, national parks, and aabundant wildlife, including a permanent breeding colony of sea-lions. Access is by vehicle ferry from Cape Jervis. Houseboats are available for hire on the River Murray, located about three hours drive east of Adelaide. The South East Region is half way to Melbourne and includes the Naracoorte Caves, the famous Coonawarra wine region and Mount Gambier's mysterious Blue Lake. The Flinders Ranges are 155 miles north of Adelaide and has spectacular mountains, which stretch far into the Outback and are noted for their rich colors, majestic peaks wilderness and wildlife. There are many walking trails, from short strolls to extensive hikes, as part of the last section of the Heysen Trail. The wildlife, which can often be spotted in the ranges, includes wedge tail eagles, western Gray kangaroos, yellow-footed rock wallabies, galahs and more.