Travelling to Australia from abroad? Then take a look at these handy hints to make sure your stay runs smoothly.
Currency
Australian dollar
Banking
Banks are generally open from 9am-4pm Monday to Thursday, and 9am-5pm on Fridays. In some states, selected banking facilities are available on a Saturday morning.
Voltage
Australia operates on 220V single-phase. Australian plugs have three pins and an adaptor is required for UK/European plugs and US plugs.
Time zones
Australia has three time zones. Eastern Standard Time (which applies to New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, Tasmania and Queensland) is equal to Coordinated Universal Time plus 10 hours (UTC +10). Central Standard Time (which applies to South Australia and the Northern Territory) is equal to Coordinated Universal Time plus 9 ½ hours (UTC +9 ½). Western Standard Time (which applies to Western Australia) is equal to Coordinated Universal Time plus 8 hours (UTC +8).
Quarantine
Some food, plant material and animal products from overseas are not permitted in Australia. Some products may require treatment to make them safe, other items that pose pest and disease risks will be seized and destroyed by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS). Some products may be allowed in if accompanied by an import permit (issued by AQIS prior to arrival), or after treatment in Australia to make them safe (fees and charges apply). Visit the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service website for more information: www.daff.gov.au/aqis.
Visas
Depending on the length of your stay you may need to obtain a visa to visit Australia. There are many types of visa depending on your situation, visit the Department of Immigration and Citizenship website for more information: www.immi.gov.au/visitors/.
Contacting Australia
If you're calling Australia from overseas, firstly, dial the country code prefix (61) then the area code without the first zero (02 for Sydney would become 2), then dial the phone number. For mobile numbers, dial 61, ignore the zero, then the remainder of the phone number.
For more information about travelleing to Australia, visit: www.australia.com