General Information

Visas. A current passport and visa are necessary for entrance into Australia. Visa application forms are available from Australian diplomatic missions overseas or travel agents and are generally valid for up to 6 months within a 12-month period. For a stay of less than 3 months the visa is free: otherwise there is a $30 processing fee. Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is available in Australia.

Foreign Embassies & Consulates.The principal diplomatic representations to Australia are in Canberra, with representatives in all major cities. Addresses are in the Yellow Pages phone book under 'Consulates and Legations'.

Customs. When entering Australia you can bring in most articles duty free provided they are for personal use and you will be taking them with you when you leave. Prohibited goods include illegal substances and plant and animal products. You will be asked to declare all goods of vegetable or animal origin, such as straw hats and wooden products. Australia has so far managed to escape many of the agricultural pests and diseases prevalent in other parts of the world and is naturally keen for it to remain so. Weapons and firearms are either prohibited or require a permit and safety testing. Other restricted goods include products made from protected wildlife species (such as ivory), non-approved telecommunications devices and live animals.

Currency. Australia's currency is the Australian dollar, which comprises 100 cents. There are 5c, 10c, 50c, $1 and $2 coins, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100 paper notes.

Changing foreign currency or traveller's cheques is no problem at almost any bank. Credit cards are widely accepted (eg Visa, MasterCard & American Express). Cash advances from credit cards are widely available over the counter and from automatic teller machines (ATMs).

Tipping is customary only in the more expensive restaurants and is not part of the wage structure; 10% is considered usual.

How much money should I take? The amount of money required will depend on how many accommodation stays you are having and what is included for each one - for example, some places include breakfast, but dinner is paid for separately. If you are spending most of your stay in the Outback $1000 - $1500 would probably be sufficient.

Although Australia is generally considered one of the safest countries to visit, we recommend carrying all your moneys, passport, airline tickets and travellers cheques in your money belt.

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Time. Australia is divided into 3 time zones, South Australia and the Northern Territory is plus 9.5 hours GMT/UTC, while Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland are plus 10 hours GMT/UTC. In summer, South Australia, NSW and Victoria put their clocks forward one hour because of daylight saving.

Camera Equipment. There are plenty of camera shops in all the big cities and standards of camera service are high. Developing standards are also high, with many places offering one hour developing of films. It would be advisable to take your owner's manual, film, batteries, cleaning agents etc with you when visiting the Outback as supplies and varieties will be very limited and may not suit your equipment. Also make sure you have a cover case and lens covers for all lenses.

If using a 35mm camera, we suggest a wide-angle lens of 25 or 35mm and two additional lenses allowing for a range between 35mm to 300mm. In the Outback you need to allow for the exceptional intensity of light and therefore best results are obtained early morning and late afternoon. When taking shots on the Barrier Reef or other coastal locations allow for the intensity of reflected light. Keep films as cool as possible, particularly after exposure and be aware of fine Outback dust when changing films etc.

As in other countries, politeness goes a long way when taking photographs; ask before taking photos of people. Many Aborigines do not like to have their photographs taken, even from a distance, for spiritual reasons.

Australian Cuisine. Australia is a melting pot of nations and this is reflected in the wonderful variety of food available including the very best of our fine local products. Australian beef and wines are world-renowned and Australia has a superb range of seafood, many unique cheeses and an enormous selection of fresh, high quality fruit and vegetables.

Australian bush cuisine is original, innovative and of the highest standards. It is often a reflection of the lifestyle of your hosts and the variety of farming activities they are engaged in. Vegetarians are well catered for and a multitude of ethnic cuisines are present in all major cities.

Beverages & Alcohol. Tap water is generally very safe to drink all over Australia and you will be provided with bottled water on the rare occasion it isn't. Australia has some of the world's best wines and locally brewed boutique beers. Australian beer has a higher alcohol content than American beer, generally around 4.9%, but most breweries also produce a 'light' beer of between 2-3.5%.