From sensational coastlines and countryside, to diverse nature and wildlife, Australia offers some of the most memorable experiences on earth.
A place where vibrant, cosmopolitan cities fringe pristine beaches and harbours, and cultural attractions reflect the diversity of our population, visitors are welcomed to learn about Indigenous traditions and celebrate the Australian way of life.
From the outback to the coast, to the icons and the undiscovered, each destination has its own charm and character.
However, the real beauty of Australia lies in its people. Expect a warm welcome in Australia, where the friendly locals are always up for a laugh and are known to have little more fun.
Rich in 50,000 years of history, Aboriginal Australians are the world's oldest surviving Indigenous culture, while Australia’s multicultural history is embraced, making for a fascinating and thriving dining scene.
Vast and open, Australia is the world’s sixth largest country. Surrounded by 35,876 kilometres (22, 292 miles) of coastline, Australia is place like no other.
Weather
Australia’s climate, and the fact that it is the driest continent on earth, makes it a fabulous holiday destination all year round whatever you’re planning to do.
In the Australian winter you can ski in the southern states one day and be diving in the balmy waters of the Great Barrier Reef the next. Such temperate conditions make al fresco dining, days on the beach, outdoor barbecues, and a huge variety of sports a way of life here. Australia’s seasons are the opposite to those of the Northern Hemisphere.
Currency
The Australian currency is decimal, with the dollar as the basic unit. Notes come in $100, $50, $20, $10 and $5 denominations. Coins come in 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, $1 and $2 denominations. Exchange facilities are available at international airports and changing foreign currency or traveller’s cheques can be done at most banks. The most commonly accepted credit cards are Visa, MasterCard, American Express and their affiliates.
Goods and Services Tax
Australia has a Goods and Services Tax (GST)
of 10 per cent. You may be able to claim a refund of the GST paid on goods bought here if you have spent A$300 or more in one store, no more than 30 days before departing Australia. Tourist Refund Scheme facilities are located in the departure areas of international terminals.
Shopping
Large department stores, arcades, malls, gift and souvenir shops, fashion boutiques and specialty stores are abound in Australia. Good buys include quality Australian opals and other precious or semi-precious stones, pearls, sheepskins and leather goods,
Aboriginal crafts and paintings.
Markets such as Salamanca in Hobart, Mindil Sunset Markets in Darwin, Adelaide’s Central Market, Queen Victoria Market in Melbourne, The Rocks in Sydney, Fremantle Markets in Perth and Riverside in Brisbane are good places to shop for local arts, crafts, souvenirs, clothing and fresh fruits and vegetables.
Tipping and bargaining
When it comes to tipping, service charges are not added to accounts by hotels and restaurants. In up-market restaurants, it is usual to tip waiters up to 10 per cent of the bill for good service. At any time, tipping is your choice. Bargaining is not the general custom in Australia.
Health
You will encounter few health hazards when travelling in any part of Australia. Standards of hygiene are high and it is safe to drink tap water in most Australian towns.
Surf and water safety
Popular beaches are usually patrolled by volunteer lifesavers from October to April. Always swim at patrolled beaches between the red and yellow flags which mark the safest area for swimming.
Language
Australia’s national language is English. However, being a multicultural nation, with a significant migrant population, we also enjoy a tremendous diversity of languages and cultures.
Time zones
Australia has three time zones; Eastern Standard Time (EST) for the Eastern States, Central Standard Time (CST) for the Northern Territory and South Australia and Western Standard Time (WST) for Western Australia. CST is half an hour behind EST and WST is two hours behind EST.
Text provided by Tourism Australia