Published 7/22/09 4 months ago | Views 38 Grade C Travel / Australia

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Grade C Views 38
Last edited 2 months ago

Many people would like to visit Australia but know little of the country. Here are a few hints to assist your plans.

Step 1

Realize that Australia is comparable in size to the USA between the Atlantic, Pacific, 54th parallel and the Rio Grande. Europe will fit easily into Australia with room left over.

Step 2

Be prepared to travel long distances between major attractions. The Queensland state capital, Brisbane, is more than 1600km (1000 miles) from Cairns, the popular tourist centre in the same state. The distance between Sydney and Perth is similar to that between Washington and San Francisco.

Step 3

Do not expect Australian businesses to accept your home currency, they cannot use Euros, US or Canadian dollars. Your Visa or Mastercard will be accepted but American Express and Diner's Club cards, whilst accepted in many places should not be relied upon.

Step 4

Feel safe. Australian crime rates are among the lowest in the world.

Step 5

Do not expect your small appliances like hair dryers and shavers to work. Australia (and New Zealand) use 240Volt 50hz power and two or three pin plugs with angled pins that can only be put in one way. 220Volt and dual voltage items will work with adapter plugs. Many Australian motels and hotels provide wired-in hair driers.

Step 6

Expect your portable radio to work on both AM and FM bands.

Step 7

Do not expect your cellular phone to work unless it is a triple band unit. Get a prepaid SIM card when you arrive in Australia and it should work.

Step 8

Remember that Australian drive on the left side of the road. When crossing roads, make sure you look right, left, right first.

Step 9

Drink the water. Australian town water is safe to drink.

Step 10

Be careful with larger animals. Male kangaroos can be aggressive, as can the cassowary, a large flightless bird with a crest. A dingo may look like a friendly dog, but is a dangerous wild animal. In some areas wild pigs can also be a problem. Crocodiles are mostly north of the Tropic of Capricorn, so be careful of riverbanks, particularly near boat launching ramps where fishermen sometimes dump scraps. It is best not to go river swimming near the coasts unless you are assured by a reliable local that the area is safe. If you do not molest snakes, they will not bother you, but in grassy country good shoes and jeans can prevent accidents.

Step 11

Swim between the flags at beaches. Life guards patrol beaches every day for strong currents and erect flags to show the safest areas.

Step 12

Use sunscreen, a t-shirt and a hat to avoid painful and sometimes debilitating sunburn.

Step 13

Drive into the main street of small towns on highway trips when seeking a meal. The food in a main street cafe is usually better than at a petrol/gasoline station.

Step 14

Look for major tourist attractions in Canberra. The Australian War Memorial and attached museum is among the best in the world. Admission is free, but a coin or two is accepted. The 1988 Parliament House is open to foreign visitors and has guided tours. Security checks are similar to those in an airport. The National Museum of Australia is free except for special exhibitions in a side gallery. The Art Gallery has works by artists from all eras.

Step 15

Ski at resorts in the region south of Canberra in June - August. There are chairlifts and cable tows on many of the runs.

Step 16

Scuba dive along the coast south of Sydney and along the Great Barrier Reef.

Step 17

Fly in hot air balloons operating from Canowindra south west of Sydney and also around Alice Springs.

Step 18

Inspect motoring history at the National Motor Museum in Birdwood, a village north-west of Adelaide.

Step 19

Sample fine wines at Margaret River in Western Australia, the Hunter Valley in New South Wales north of Sydney and the Barossa Valley in South Australia.

Step 20

Greet pods of friendly dolphins at Monkey Mia in Western Australia.

Step 21

Obtain health insurance before you leave home to cover you on your trip. Hospital stays can be expensive.

Step 22

Be awed by Uluru, the worlds largest exposed monolith.

Step 23

Surf the Southern Ocean at Bells Beach, south west of Melbourne. Wet suits are strongly advisable.

Step 24

Travel the Great Ocean Road along the southern coast of Victoria, the best road in Australia.

Warnings

40% of head-on highway crashes involve people from countries where traffic keeps to the right.
Speed limits are strictly enforced, especially near towns.
Radar detectors have been banned for years.
Things may seem quite expensive in the cities.
Use of a cellular phone while driving is an offence.
Seat belts must be worn.
The blood alcohol limit for driving is 0.05% which is about three standard drinks for a man. Police can stop all vehicles and administer a breath test. Failure to comply is an offense.
Australian beer is stronger than the brews in some other countries.
Many new city highways have a toll system that uses an E-Tag method of payment, with no toll booths available for cash. Visitors need to make enquiries with the relevant highway management authorities before travelling on them.