1.How large is Australia?

Australia is the only nation to occupy an entire continent. It has a land mass of about 7.7 million square kilometers. It is the flattest of all continents and, after Antarctica, the driest of continents, yet it has extremes of climate and topography. There are rainforests and vast plains in the north, snowfields in the southeast, desert in the centre and fertile croplands in the east, south and southwest. About one third of the country lies in the tropics. Australia has a coastline of 36,735km.

2.Where can I get tourism information about Australia?

Call the Australian Tourist Commission in your country for a copy of its latest tourist brochure or contact the Australian embassy or consulate.

3.Do I need a visa to go to Australia for a holiday?

To travel to Australia (also on stopovers) you need a valid passport and a “Electronic Travel Authority” (ETA), which can be issued free of charge on the spot by all airline-ticketing offices or the Travel Agent that is making your flight arrangements into Australia except passport holders of Zealand . New Zealand passport holders apply for a visa upon arrival in Australia. All other passport holders must hold a visa before travelling to Australia. For further information contact the Visa office at your local consulate office.

4.Do I need vaccinations before I travel to Australia?

North Queensland is one of the few tropical areas in the world where malaria does not exist. There are isolated cases of dengue fever and other rare tropical diseases, which are of no concern to the medical authorities. So there is no need for special prophylactic treatment or vaccinations.

The other regions with moderate climates don’t require any special attention at all. Just make sure you keep your usual immunisations current, which you should have anyway (eg. polio, tetanus). It is strongly recommended to take out travel insurance cover for Australia.

5.What is Australian Currency like?

Decimal currency, introduced to Australia in 1966, is now represented by coins five, 10, 20, 50 cents and $1 and $2 with notes of $5, $10, $ 20, $50, and $100. The currency has polymer notes in $5, $10, and $20, and paper notes in $50 and $100. Eventually all notes will be polymer to reduce costs and to prevent counterfeiting.

The Australian Dollar is a stable currency. Travellers cheques and credit cards are the way to go. Preferably: Visa and Master cards, AMEX and Diners are not accepted in some places. If your bank account is linked to the CIRRUS MAESTRO worldwide ATM network, you can use your bank key-card to get cash in Australia. Check with your bank for details. Banks in Australia are open Mo-Tue 9.30 am to 4 PM, Fridays until 5 PM. Most centres have Exchange Bureaus who are open ’til late and over the weekends.

6.What are the opening hours for banks?

Banks operate from 9.30am to 4.30pm weekdays and 9.30am-5.00pm on Friday.

7.Are all credit cards accepted?

Major international credit and charge cards including Visa, American Express, MasterCard, and Diners’ Club are widely accepted.

Electronic Funds Transfer Point of Sale (EFTPOS) services are also widely available. ATM cards can be used in Australia at both Automatic Teller Machines and at most retail locations so long as they have been validated for international access. To access your account, cardholders are required to use their personal identification number when obtaining cash or services. Please contact your bank for details.

8.What time zone is Australia in?

Australia straddles a number of time zones which can cause problems when communicating between the eastern and western seaboards of Australia. The eastern seaboard is approximately 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) while the western seaboard is 8 hours ahead of GMT.

9.What is the weather like in Australia at this time of year?

Because Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere, the seasons are reversed to that of the northern hemisphere. Summer is from December to February, autumn from March to May, winter from June to August, spring from September through to November.

10.Do you have the same power outlets and voltage as other countries?

No. The electrical current in Australia is 220/240 volts, AC is 50 Hz. Power outlets in Australia use a 3 prong adapter (the third prong is used as an earth). Stores specialising in travel goods have adapters which will enable some electrical goods purchased overseas to operate within Australia although not all of them will. It is also worth noting that the VCR format in Australia is on the PAL system.

11.What can you tell me about the indigenous people of Australia?

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people totaled 303,000 at the last census in June 1994, totalling nearly 1.5 per cent of the population. Two thirds of indigenous people live in towns and cities. Many others live in rural and remote areas, and some still maintain a broadly traditional way of life. It is generally thought that Aboriginal people began living on the continent 50,000 to 60,000 years ago, and some authorities believe their occupation may date back 100,000 years.

12.Can I Drive in Australia ?

International Travellers

You may drive in Australia on a valid overseas drivers license for the same class of vehicle. Licenses must be carried when driving. All occupants of the vehicle must wear a seat belt at all times. Australians drive on the left hand side of the road. The steering wheel is on the right hand side of the car. The maximum speed limit in cities or towns is 60km/h and on country roads and highways it is 100km/p. Signs indicate speed.

13.Is Australia a safe place to travel?

Australia must be one of the safest places in the world. People are very friendly, approachable and have a reputation for their inviting friendliness. If you maintain a common sense approach and exercise normal caution, the chances are good that you will feel even safer in Australia then back home.

14.When is the best weather to visit and dive in Australia?

The good thing about Australia is that it is so big and that there is always a place where it is summer. Being on the southern half of the planet, our seasons are reverse, Christmas is our summer, whereas skiing happens in June in Southern Australia!

So it will depend a lot on your activities to answer this question. In general, Australia is great for travel and diving all year round, especially up north in the tropics of the Barrier Reef.

The majority of divers visit the part of the Great Barrier Reef between the Far Northern section (Cairns) and the southern Great Barrier Reef section (Townsville). For this reason we have compiled weather information for divers about this area. Please check directly with us for other regional info about weather conditions.

Although the North is tropical there are 4 seasons! They are not so defined as in the northern hemisphere, but we have them: Spring: Sep-Nov, Summer: Dec-Feb, Autumn: March-May, Winter: June-Aug.

Diving conditions are usually best late August to early December. The tropical monsoon season is January-March and cyclones can occur then. Winds: Between May and August usually strongest.

15.I have heard about the jelly fish in Oct - May. Is it safe to dive?

Jellyfish occur in all tropical waters. Due to the research efforts and level of knowledge about jellyfish in the northern Great Barrier Reef operators here can offer much better safety and information about this issue than in other tropical diving locations.

We do know that the most lethal species of box jellyfish, Chironex fleckeri, live in estuaries and coastal waters and do not venture off shore to the areas dived by most dive cruises.

There are other species of jellyfish, including oceanic and offshore species of box jellyfish, which occasionally occur and if encountered can have serious health issues and in extreme instances, cause fatality. These occur in all tropical diving locations throughout the world, including Hawaii, Florida, the Caribbean, Thailand, Fiji and Indonesia especially during the warmer seasons.

We advise the wearing of full body coverage using lycra suits and/or wetsuits to minimise the already low possibility of jellyfish stings, but equally important to protect from sunburn, wherever you dive. Suits are not always available for hire, so it is best to bring your own (cost approx A$ 80.00) as there are many different body shapes and a hire suit will never fit you as well as your own.

16.Can I use my drivers license to hire a car?
Australians drive on the left hand side of the road and most visitors get used to it quickly. To legally hire a car a valid national car drivers license (in English) or an international drivers license is needed. Some hire companies require a minimum age of 21.

17.Should I bring any special clothing?

You all might have seen the movie “Crocodile Dundee” - so now the khaki safari look is very popular with tourists ! However, unless you are really travelling off the beaten track, comfortable casual leisurewear is all that is needed. Before packing, make sure to check the climate zones - winter in Melbourne and Tasmania (Jun/Jul) is really cold! All over Australia, you should be careful with sun exposure. Take with you or buy a hat with a broad rim and make sure you always protect your skin with sunscreen (15+).

18.How much tips do I need to give?

Good news: no one in Australia expects any tips for services offered. Tips have never been part of the culture. This is not to say that people don’t like to be rewarded for very good service. Give as much or little as you feel fit.

19.Are airport transfers included with the cruise and hotel packages?

Some hotels, cruises or tour operators offer complementary pick up services from the airport. This will be marked clearly on the product description. Should there be no pre arranged transfer service, all Australian airports do offer very reliable and affordable taxi services and scheduled transfer bus services. Be aware that transfer buses sometimes visit a number of different hotels before they reach your hotel. Here’s a list of approximate taxi fares from the airport to some towns (down town) you might visit (as of Sep 2003).

20.What is the best place to go at the Great Barrier Reef?

The Reef belongs to the world’s largest Marine Park, covering an area of 345,000 square km and is the largest of its kind and the largest structure made completely of living organisms.
There are several good places to go depending on what you want to do.

21.What types of reef experiences are available?

We can organise every kind of reef experience available. From first time to experienced divers, snorkellers to swimmers, there are trips to suit all budgets and levels of experience.

22.Are there entry fees into National Parks?

Generally there are no fees for visitors in their own vehicles, however there are some fees for camping in designated National Park camping areas.

23.Do I need to use extra protection in the Australian sun?

Yes, outdoor activities in Australia are very popular, but the Australian sun is strong. You should wear a broad brimmed hat, a shirt with a collar and sleeves and SPF30+ broad spectrum, water resistant sunscreen on exposed skin. Try to avoid the sun during the middle of the day (10am-2pm) when the ultraviolet rays are at their strongest.

24.What is the number to call for emergencies in Australia?

The contact number for police, fire and ambulance services throughout Australia is 000.

25.I plan to spend time enjoying beaches, what do I need to know about beach safety?

For your own safety and to minimise risks, swim between the red and yellow flags.
Always swim or surf at places patrolled by surf lifesavers or lifeguards and read and obey signs. Always swim under supervision or with a friend and avoid swimming immediately after eating. Never run and dive into the water. Even if you have checked before, conditions can change. If you get into trouble in the water, don’t panic. Raise your arm for help, float and wait for assistance. Float with the current; don’t try to swim against it.