Before you go backpacking for an outback adventure in Australia, you have to ensure that you are ready for whatever you encounter there. Read on to find out the things that you need to know before you plan your Australian trip.
Customs, Quarantine and Visas
Before you book your flight to Australia, make sure you have a current passport valid for the duration of your stay and a valid Australian tourist visa issued in your own country. New Zealand visitors are exempted from these requirements. Make sure that you have the correct visa type for your purpose.
An adult may carry up to 250 cigarettes and 1 liter of alcoholic beverage in their carry-on baggage. If the dutiable goods exceed $400, duty and sales tax will be charged to you. Those who carry narcotics and regulated substances will be subjected to strict regulations. Fresh food, animal and plant products, and unprocessed food will be surrendered upon entering the country. Protected wildlife and items made from protected species will be seized by customs upon arrival.
Airport Transfers
Plan in advance how to get to and from the airport and your final destination. Airports have shuttle services that you can take advantage of. You can also take conventional buses, mini-buses, private pick-up or limousines at reasonable prices. Online pre-booking of airport transfers can help you avoid the long waiting line.
Accommodation
Travelers have a wide range of accommodation options, from backpacker budget dorms to 5-star luxury hotels and resorts. Capital cities and major towns have conventional and boutique hotels and self-catering apartments. In country towns, motels and motor-inns are the usual options.
Road Travel
Traffic in Australia follows the right-hand drive pattern. If you think that your driver’s license will not be accepted there, obtain and International License before your departure. Speed limits are 10-110 kph on the highways and 50-60 kph in built-up areas. Hitch-hiking is illegal in Australia. Leaving children or animals locked inside the vehicle is illegal as well (serious dehydration can occur fast in very hot weather).
Avoid driving fatigue by stopping by refreshment stations every several hours. During cold weather, be careful of running into cattle and native animals such as kangaroo; they usually lie on the pavement at night. During a remote outback travel, advise someone at your destination of your expected arrival time and number of people in your group. In case you get lost, do not leave your vehicle and wait for the search party to find you.
Air Travel
Early morning and late afternoon flights on the eastern seaboard routes can be crowded with business people; avoid them. When leaving Australia, you will need to pay a $30 departure tax per adult. Invest in Australian travel insurance beforehand.
Language and Religion
Australia has no official religion but you can find churches for the Catholic and Church of England faith, Methodist, Presbyterian and Uniting Churches in most towns. The Buddhist, Moslem, Jewish, and other religions not common in Australia only have worship places in the major towns and cities.
English is the main language. If you need an interpreter, just dial 13 14 50 for a 24-hour translation service by Telstra.
Tips and Gratuities
Tipping is not standard practice. However, when the level of service has exceeded general expectation, tipping is considered a general expression of appreciation. A 10% tip would be considered appropriate.
Currency, Banks and Shops
Most of the shops are closed on Sundays. Banks are open from Monday to Friday, generally from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Most towns have automatic teller machines for 24-hour banking transactions.
All major city airports have foreign exchange kiosks. Australian currency consists of 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, $1 and $2 as coins. Notes are $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100.
Electrical Appliances
The electricity supply is 240 volts. If your 110v appliance does not have automatic switching for a 240v supply, get a 110v/240v transformer before leaving home.
For your safety, wellbeing and enjoyment, take note of these tips. A small amount of preparation will take you a long way on your Australian adventure.
. Episode 181: If You Thought 176 Had The Large Place Chicken... Think Again!
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A backpack fitted with pocket(s) that are suspended on the wearer"s front side (chest) and loaded in such a way that the load in the front and the load in the back are about equal is called a bodypack. The majority of the load on a bodypack is carried by the hips.
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