Australia Travel information

This page aims to give you invaluable Australia travel information, to make your holiday in Australia totally awesome and affordable. These are the practicalities of a trip to Australia

Australia Travel Information 1: Australian Currency

It can be difficult to change $50 and $100 especially on public transport and even taxis. Make sure you carry some change and smaller notes ($20 and $10) with you. Ask for some small notes if you are getting cash before you come.

There are extensive ATM machines that you can use throughout Australia and your credit card should work. Most places have a chip and pin system so make sure you know your pin number!

Australia Travel information 2: Australian time zones

Western Standard time

Central Standard time (1 and a half hours ahead of western standard time)

Eastern Standard time (2 hours ahead of western standard time)

If that's not confusing enough, daylight savings is operated in NSW, ACT, Victoria and South Australia from October to March. This adds an extra hour on to the time differences.

You can have a store officially in NSW and another officially in Queensland, literally next door to each other on different time zones!!

Australia travel information 3: Electrical Appliances

Buy an adaptor at the airport!

Australia travel information 4: Personal Security

The cities are clean and well lit. Provided you don't go venturing way out into the far off city suburbs, crime rates are pretty low.

Clearly you still need to be careful especially in high touristy areas where pick pockets are known to lurk.

Don't hitch hike! It's not encouraged here.

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Australia Travel Information 5: Sharks

Reality is that sharks attacks are VERY rare. That said, shark attacks are on the increase due to our waters being cleaner and a certain algae that now lives closer to our shore lines.

The majority of popular beaches are netted. It should tell you at the beach if this is the case. It's unlikely sharks will get through the nets - but it is possible! Never swim in the sea at Fraser Island or in the majority of beaches in South Australia as these are popular spotsfor sharks

There are some key tips when swimming in the sea:

You should be more worried about getting caught in a rip where the current can take you out to see. Stay between the flags when swimming!

Also be aware of stinger season - this is when stinger jelly fish hit out shores. You really don't want to get stung by one - it hurts. The cure is vinegar and you will find bottles of it at most beaches in tropical Queensland. Unfortunately the season tends to be right in the peak season - bummer! You can get special suits to protect you which look like wet suits.

Australia travel information 6: Snakes, Spiders and other insects

This is also true! For most travelers, you won't come across either of them. When I first arrived in Sydney, I spent the first couple of weeks checking my shoes and sun visor in the car expecting to find a spider after all the stories I had been told. In my 4.5 years here in Australia, I've only had one encounter with a large spider( and that was a totally harmless one) and I've only ever seen a snake at the zoo!

Spiders are common even in cities. They are likely to be bigger and hairier than back home but they are harmless.

There are two spiders that could do you some serious damage - The Sydney funnel web and the Red back. You may be very unlucky and spot a funnel web in the blue mountains or other areas of thick bushland around Sydney but not in the city. So, unless you plan to camp out in the bush, it's unlikely you will see one.

Red backs are found all over Australia but again are very rare. They are very noticeable because of their red backs!!

The majority of snakes are harmless and unless you plan to go walking bare foot in the bush or rainforests, you should be very safe. Again, if you are camping, take special care.

Please don't let any of these Australia travel information tips put you off coming. It's just best to be aware but it is VERY unlikely you will come across any of them!

Mosquitoes however you will come across especially in the tropical north e.g. Cairns or Darwin. I regularly get bitten when eating outdoors here in Sydney if there is any type of grass or shrubs around. Make sure you wear repellent.