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Language

The official language of Australia is English, so getting around and communicating doesn’t present a problem for visitors from the UK. In many cities, there are large Vietnamese and Chinese communities, and some road signs in tourist areas are written in multiple languages. There are also over 100 aboriginal languages spoken within the aborigine communities of Australia, although many aboriginal people are also fluent in English.

Currency

The official currency is the Australian dollar (AU$), the only currency which is accepted here. There are 100 cents in AU$1. ATMs are available in every town and city, and all accept foreign cards. Moneychangers and exchange outlets are able to exchange currency, but the exchange rate at banks tends to be more favourable. Travellers’ cheques are best changed at banks. Credit cards can be used across Australia in hotels as well as at large shops and restaurants.

Visas

Visitors from the EU including the UK require a visa in advance. UK travellers visiting for less than three months need to obtain an e-Visitor visa. This visa is free, can be applied for online and is normally processed instantly. All tourists must show they have the funds to support themselves for the duration of their holiday and provide proof of a return flight.

Climate

The sheer size of Australia means there is a wide variation of climates.

Throughout the summer (November to February) and winter (June to August), temperatures in the tropical north hover around 30ºC. Summers here are wet, with the winter being drier and less humid. In summer, the Mediterranean-like south sees temperatures of around 29ºC, while in the winter, the mercury can drop as low as 9ºC. Here, summers tend to be dry, with most of the rainfall occurring in the winter.

Main Airports

Nearly half of all international flights to Australia land in Sydney. Tourists can either choose to stay here or fly to other domestic destinations such as Cairns in the north, Adelaide in the south or Perth on the west coast. Flying from the UK entails a stopover to re-fuel or catch a connecting flight, with Singapore, Dubai and Hong Kong popular transfer points.

Flight Options

A number of airlines charter weekly flights to Australia. Sydney Airport receives British Airways, Virgin Atlantic Airways and Qantas flights from London-Heathrow. AirAsia flies to Melbourne, Sydney and Perth from London-Gatwick, stopping in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Flight time for a direct flight from London with a stop for re-fuelling but no flight change is around 24 hours.

Travel Advice

Flights from the UK can be expensive but some have stopovers including an overnight hotel stay included. It’s cheaper to fly from London than from other cities in the UK. Flying on a weekday or outside of the school holidays are other ways to save on fares. Be aware that Australian quarantine and customs are very strict about what can be brought into the county with regards to food.

Other Transport Options

Princess Cruises as well as other cruise lines make stops in Australia on their Pacific journeys between November and February. It’s also possible to drive through Europe, across Asia and then take a short flight to Australia. However, this journey can take a number of weeks, with the quickest option flying.

Overview

Due to the sheer size of Australia, many tourists choose to fly between domestic cities. Flights to all of the big cities are cheap and frequent. The highway network is extensive and well served by inter-city buses, while a four-wheel drive will get visitors to the most remote areas. Rail services between destinations are limited and rather slow, but often efficient within cities such as Melbourne.

Air

Flights between major cities such as Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Brisbane depart frequently during the day. Qantas is not a budget airline but it often has good deals, while its discount arm Jetstar has cheaper seats all year round but more limited flight schedules. Virgin Blue, JetStar and Tiger Airways are the most popular low-cost domestic airlines.   

Bus

Travelling by bus is cheap and easy. Greyhound has daily services and the hop on, hop off ticket allows tourists to spend as long as they like in each destination. Stray and Ozexperience have similar deals, but also offer activities with the package. Services with these companies tend to be frequent but can be every other day to remote locations. All buses have air conditioning and toilets.

Train

The national rail service in Australia is slow; however, it can be cheaper than flying, particularly when heading somewhere off the beaten tourist track. Great Southern Railways runs services between Sydney, Adelaide, Alice Springs and Perth. There are train operators that only operate within a single region, too, including Metro Trains in Melbourne.

Car

Australia has a well-maintained system of roads, although some roads in the outback are nothing more than dirt tracks. Those visitors wanting to rent a car can do so at any airport, city or town. Avis, Hertz and Budget all allow visitors to hire in one city and return the car in another. Rentals are cheap and driving is on the left.

Sydney has become one of the most famous cities in the world, and it’s easy to see why. The Sydney Opera House is a stunning sight, night and day, and a great place to catch a show. Sydney Harbour Bridge is lit up at night, but it’s also possible to climb it during the day with a professional guide.

The beaches around Sydney are stunning and Bondi Beach is just a short bus ride from the city centre. Along the east coast, there is no end of beaches, from the busy Hervey Bay to the deserted Rainbow Beach.

Both of these beaches offer trips to Fraser Island, a massive sand dune off the coast where visitors can camp, hire four-wheel drives to get around and take a dip in the natural tea tree pools. This is also a great place for wildlife watching, as a number of species of shark come here to feed. The view from Indian Heads across the ocean makes it the ideal viewpoint.

Surfers Paradise, not surprisingly, is the best place for those wanting to ride the waves. However, most beaches in Australia are great for this sport. The Whitsunday Islands in the north of Australia are a collection of islands with eye-watering white sands. It’s possible to join a boat tour for a number of days, meaning tourists can head right out to the more remote islands and even have a go at sailing.  

On the east coast is Brisbane, a thriving city with an amazing nightlife. Nearby tourists will find Australia Zoo, Steve Irwin’s famous establishment. There are many native animals here including the most deadly bird in Australia, the cassowary.

One of the top attractions in Australia is the Great Barrier Reef. The world’s largest coral reef can actually be seen from space. A majority of it is part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and diving and snorkelling here are must-dos when visiting Australia. It’s important to go on one of the tours, as access to the reef is restricted to ensure its survival.

Uluru, or Ayers Rock, is a huge sandstone rock formation. Found in the south of the Northern Territory, Uluru is listed as a World Heritage site and is considered sacred to certain aboriginal tribes in the area. Alice Springs is the nearest place to stay and watching the sunset or the sunrise at Uluru is a truly magnificent experience. There’s also plenty of wildlife.

Daintree Cape Tribulation Rainforest in north Queensland is a diverse setting in which to see a huge range of plants and animals. This World Heritage listed area is 1,200 square kilometres and home to crocodiles and wild cassowary birds, along with many other animals and plants.

For those not wanting to venture so far into the outback, the Blue Mountains are only a short drive from Sydney. Named after the haze which occurs from the eucalyptus trees, giving the landscape a blue hue, the area is home to amazing rock formations and hiking trails, making it a great place to spend the day.

Port Arthur in Tasmania is an open-air museum dedicated to Australia’s history, with its historic penal colony site where many prisoners were once exiled. There are a number of well-preserved old buildings here, although archeological digs are still ongoing.

There’s a huge amount of entertainment across Australia. Sydney is well known for its nightlife, and there’s plenty to offer visitors. On the harbour is the Ice Bar. Here, visitors can enjoy a cocktail served in a glass made from ice while sitting on a sofa made of ice and enjoying the views of the Sydney Opera House.

Melbourne and Brisbane are famous for their live music, and many of the bars and clubs in these cities have live music any night of the week. There are many VIP clubs as well as funky bars to while away an evening, with Melbourne’s South Yarra and Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley are night-time hot spots.

For theatre, it has to be the Sydney Opera House. Performances run throughout the year and it’s best to check the website for listing. Student and mid-week discounts are available. There are also a handful of theatres which show international productions, including the Capitol Theatre.

In the Northern Territory, there are cultural aborigine shows for tourists to understand and get a feel of the amazing aboriginal culture. Many hotels organise didgeridoo lessons which allow visitors to try their hand playing this unique instrument.

Australia is known for its love of gambling, and the Crown Casino in Melbourne is the largest casino in Australia. However, casinos can be found in almost every town and city. All the capital cities have horse racing at weekends, and betting is a huge part of this sport, with fashion being just as important as the races themselves.

Cinemas can be found in every town and city, and all show the latest Hollywood blockbusters. Taking advantage of the weather, there are a number of outdoor cinemas. Moonlight cinema is held in Centennial Park in Sydney, while Starlight Cinema comes to life at night on the North Shore. For those wanting to go big, there’s the IMAX cinema in Darling Harbour, Sydney.

Australia is famous for its barbeques, and many hotels organise barbeque buffets for their guests. Failing this, it’s easy to set up your own barbeque on the beach. There are a number of native Australian foods that can be sampled in traditional Aussie restaurants or purchased from the supermarkets to add to the barbeque.

Kangaroo meat is common and is best served medium-rare as it can be quite tough. Crocodile is most commonly found on the menu in the Northern Territory, and often comes in the form of a croc burger. Emu is also popular and available from butchers or as emu pie in restaurants along the east coast.

For those wanting something a bit out there, there are many cuisine tours that allow participants to sample bush tucker; nuts, roots, ants and grubs. These tours can be an interesting experience, to say the least.

Vegemite, a salty yeast spread, is served in many coffee shops on toast for breakfast and usually comes with butter. Due to the big Chinese and Vietnamese communities, many cities have a Chinatown. Some amazing little restaurants serving a range of dishes can be found in these districts. Italian and Mexican cuisine are also common, and fried chicken places are everywhere.

In terms of desserts, there’slamington and pavlova. Lamington is a cube of sponge cake covered in chocolate and then dipped in coconut, while pavlova is a meringue based dish. Many Saturday morning markets and bakeries sell these Australian desserts.

    Beach

    Visitors are spoilt for choice when it comes to beaches. Rainbow Beach in Queensland is one of the more deserted beaches and a great jumping-off point for Fraser Island. The famous Bondi Beach, just outside of Sydney, is bustling no matter what time of day or year, but is big enough that visitors won’t be fighting for towel space. Perhaps the best beaches, however, are found in the Whitsunday Islands.

    Romance

    The Whitsundays are a great place to charter a private boat for a few days. The white sands of the islands are great for daytime frolicking, while at night couples can lie back in the sand to watch the stars. Thanks to the lack of light pollution, the heavens really put on a show here - a magical experience for any couple.

    Family

    Brisbane has a huge amount to offer families including the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, which lets the family get up close and personal with koalas. Tangalooma Wild Dolphin Resort in Moreton Bay Marine Park has shows and wildlife, and offers the chance to swim with dolphins. Australia Zoo, a short drive from Brisbane, features crocodile shows which the kids will love.

    Adventure

    Australia is one of the best places for adventure in the world. Skydiving, surfing, diving and rock climbing can all be done here. However, for real thrill-seekers there’s cage diving. Complete with scuba diving equipment, you are dropped into shark-infested waters, protected by a cage, of course. It’s certainly the best way to see these amazing creatures up close. Tours can be booked in Port Lincoln, South Australia.

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