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Entry Regulations: Not only do visitors need a valid passport, but they also need a visa. Australia issues a visa called the Electronic Travel Authority. Usually, this is automatically attached to your booking through your travel agent or airline. Please check with your travel agent or airline to be sure that you have had one issued to you. You can apply for the ETA on your own via the ETA website, http://www.eta.immi.gov.au/ . Please check with your country’s Foreign Affairs office to find out about entry requirements for non-Americans. Climate: Generally pleasant without extremes in temperatures, Australia's seasons are the opposite of those on the Northern Hemisphere where spring is from September to November; summer is from December to February; fall is from March to May and winter is from June to August. Currency: The Australian Dollar (AUD) is the basic unit of currency. At present, the exchange rate is AUD$1.09 for USD$1. As exchange rates fluctuate each day, please check the current exchange rate near your date of travel. Electricity: The current used in Australia is the 240/250V, 50-cycle system. Tip: This system may differ from the one you use at home. If it is different, please purchase an adaptor from a travel store near you, to take advantage of the power ports in your hotel room. Language: English is the main language of Australia. Health Requirement: Vaccination certificates are not required of Canadian or American tourists unless they have visited a Yellow Fever infected country within six days of entry into Australia. If you are from another part of the world, please check with a travel medicine professional for more information on possible requirements. There are large, well-equipped hospitals in Australia. Airport Facilities and Tax: The main international airports in Australia include Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne. There are also other smaller airports in Adelaide, Darwin, Perth, Hobart, and Cairns. The departure tax of AUD$27 is formulated into the price of your airline ticket. Shopping: Shopping in Australia is very similar to North America. Interested shoppers should shop around for the best deals. Good buys include quality Australian opals and other precious or semi-precious stones, pearls, sheepskins and leather goods, Aboriginal crafts and paintings. Cuisine: Dining in Australia is as much multicultural and varied as the population has become. Australia is ideally situated to take advantage of an abundance of natural culinary resources. Cooking and dining in Australia has become very exciting with the mix of ethnicities and the availability of wonderful native and imported ingredients giving professionals and home chefs a lot of incentive for experimentation. For more information please visit: www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/australasia/australia/printable.htm |
