About Australia

Australia is the world largest island country and continent surrounded by the Indian and Pacific oceans. The country has eight states and territories and because of the geographical locations, each of them has their own unique characteristics to the land. The major cities of Australia are Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and Darwin, all of which are coastal cities, while Canberra is the capital city of the nation based inland. Australia is famous for many special sites such as the Sydney Opera House, the Great Barrier Reef and its many stunning coastlines as well as its outback deserts and unique wildlife such as the Kangaroo, Koala and Platypus. Australia is also famous for its beautiful beaches including Bondi, Palm Beach and Surfers Paradise and its beach lifestyle and culture is abundant. Australia is a stable, democratic and culturally diverse nation with a highly skilled workforce and with one of the strongest performing economies in the world.

General Information

• The country code is +61, and the internet access code is .au
• Time Zone -Sydney, Canberra & Melbourne – Australian Eastern Standard Time Zone UTC+10:00
• International airports: All airports in the major cities are international with Sydney, Kingsford Smith Airport being the biggest one in the country.
• Business hours are usually from 9am to 5pm for most companies and even retail shops. Banking hours are 9:30am to 4:00pm. Working days are from Monday through Friday.
• Major credit cards are widely accepted. National currency is the Australian Dollar and currency exchange can be found in most popular places.
• Electricity is 220-240 volts AC. Electronic sockets are “AS/NZS 3112”, 3 pin triangle shaped. Adaptor plugs can be purchased from any convenience stores.
• The main method of everyday travel is by public transport with hundreds of trains, trams and buses that are efficiently connected to all suburbs and cities. Taxis are also available everywhere. For exclusive transport, there are car rental services available in all major areas.

Visa, immigration and quarantine

Visa

Unless you are an Australian or New Zealand citizen, you will need a valid Australian visa to enter the country. All other passport holders must apply for a visa before leaving home. You can apply for a tourist or visitor visa from your local Australian Embassy.

Items prohibited to bring into Australia

Australia’s customs laws prevent you from bringing drugs, steroids, weapons, firearms and protected wildlife into Australia. Some common items such as fresh or packaged food, fruit, eggs, meat, plants, seeds, skins and feathers are also prohibited.

Please make sure all these items are removed or not in your possession when coming to Australia. Australian Immigration is strict and takes prohibited items very seriously to preserve their natural inhabitants and way of life.

Currency

Australia’s national currency is the Australian dollar, which comes in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 dollar notes. Coins come in 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents and 1 and 2 dollar denominations.

Where you can exchange Australian Dollar

Currency exchange is available at banks, hotels and designated currency exchange booths located all around the major cities, tourist attractions, shopping malls and international airports. All major currencies such as the US Dollar, the Euro, the Pound etc are accepted at currency exchange services. Australian banks offer the same range of services typical in other western nations, and cash withdrawal machines or Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) are widespread, although facilities may be limited in remote towns and the countryside. EFTPOS is also widely available in most Australian shops. Fees may be charged on transactions, particularly if withdrawing from an international account.

How much money you can I bring into the country

There is no limit on the amount of currency that you can bring into Australia, but you will need to declare amounts over $10,000.

Weather in Australia

Australia’s climate varies greatly throughout the eight states and territories; there are four seasons across most of the country. Australia’s seasons are at opposite times to those in the northern hemisphere.

• December to February is summer; temperatures can reach up from 35 C to 45 C

(it is advisable to wear comfortable and thin layers and wear sunscreen if you are going to be in direct contact with the sun).

• March to May is autumn; you will experience less intense temperatures but a higher average rainfall.
• June to August is winter; it is cooler during this time with temperatures dropping to 10 C

(It is advisable to wear warmer and thicker layers of clothing).

• September to November is spring; it is mild to warm temperatures throughout.