How to Know the Best Sites in Australia
Understand the size of Australia., Be prepared to travel long distances between major attractions., Do not expect Australian businesses to accept your home currency., Feel safe., Do not expect your small appliances like hair dryers and shavers to...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Understand the size of Australia.
The country of Australia is comparable in size to the USA between the Atlantic, Pacific, 54th parallel and the Rio Grande.
Europe will fit easily into Australia with room leftover.
Understanding Australia as a country will help you navigate around it. -
Step 2: Be prepared to travel long distances between major attractions.
The Queensland state capital, Brisbane, is more than 1600km (1000 miles) from Cairns, the popular tourist centre in the same state.
The distance between Sydney and Perth is similar that between Washington and San Francisco. , They cannot use Euros, US or Canadian dollars.
Your Visa or MasterCard will be accepted in all the major cities.
American Express is also accepted in the major cities at most destinations, but Discover and Diner's Club cards are not accepted at many destinations or attractions. , Australian crime rates are among the lowest in the world. , Australia (and New Zealand) uses 240Volt 50Hz power and two or three pin plugs with angled pins that can only be put in one way. 220Volt and dual voltage items
- battery chargers, computers, cell phones
- will work with adapter plugs.
Most Australian motels and hotels provide wired-in hair driers and have adapters for guests' use. ,, Get a prepaid SIM card when you arrive in Australia and it should work. , When crossing roads, make sure you look right, left, right first. , Australian town water is safe to drink. , Male kangaroos can be aggressive, as can the cassowary, a large flightless bird with a crest.
A dingo may look like a friendly dog, but is a dangerous wild animal.
In some areas, wild pigs can also be a problem.
Saltwater crocodiles are mostly north of the Tropic of Capricorn, so be careful of riverbanks, particularly near boat launching ramps where fishermen sometimes dump scraps.
It is best not to go river swimming near the coasts unless a reliable local assures you that the area is safe.
If you do not molest snakes, they will not bother you, but in grassy country good shoes and jeans can prevent accidents. , Lifeguards patrol beaches every day for strong currents and erect flags to show the safest areas. "Stinger" (venomous jellyfish) season is from November to March in ocean waters in the northern half of Australia.
Swim only in approved areas during this time or only with a stinger suit. ,, The food in a main street café is usually better than at a petrol/gasoline station. , The Australian War Memorial and attached museum are among the best in the world.
Admission is free, but a coin or two is accepted.
The 1988 Parliament House is open to visitors, which has guided tours.
Security checks are similar to those in an airport.
The National Museum of Australia is free except for special exhibitions in a side gallery.
The Art Gallery has works by artists from all eras. , There are chairlifts and cable tows on many of the runs. ,, Ship wrecks are found by diving off Darwin and Townsville (south of Cairns). , Choices include Canowindra, southwest of Sydney, Melbourne, Cairns and around Alice Springs. ,, There are also many small wineries scattered throughout Australia. ,,,, Hospital stays can be expensive and most will not accept medical plans from other countries. ,, Wet suits are strongly advised. , -
Step 3: Do not expect Australian businesses to accept your home currency.
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Step 4: Feel safe.
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Step 5: Do not expect your small appliances like hair dryers and shavers to work.
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Step 6: Expect your portable radio to work on both AM and FM bands.
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Step 7: Do not expect your cellular phone to work unless it is a triple band unit.
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Step 8: Remember that Australian drive on the left side of the road.
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Step 9: Drink the water.
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Step 10: Be careful with larger animals.
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Step 11: Swim between the flags at beaches.
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Step 12: Use sunscreen
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Step 13: a t-shirt
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Step 14: and a hat to avoid painful and sometimes debilitating sunburn.
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Step 15: Drive into the main street of small towns on highway trips when seeking a meal.
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Step 16: Canberra has fantastic museums!
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Step 17: Ski at resorts in the region south of Canberra in June - August.
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Step 18: The South Australian Museum in Adelaide has the largest display of Aboriginal culture - including videos
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Step 19: photographs and artifacts - in the world.
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Step 20: Scuba dive along the coast south of Sydney
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Step 21: in the Great Barrier Reef
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Step 22: and off Tasmania's coast.
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Step 23: Fly in hot air balloons.
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Step 24: Inspect motoring history at the National Motor Museum in Birdwood
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Step 25: a village north-west of Adelaide.
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Step 26: Sample fine wines at Margaret River in Western Australia
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Step 27: the Yarra Valley near Melbourne
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Step 28: the Hunter Valley in New South Wales north of Sydney and the Barossa and Clare Valleys in South Australia.
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Step 29: Greet pods of friendly dolphins at Monkey Mia in Western Australia and Tangalooma
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Step 30: off the coast near Brisbane.
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Step 31: Swim with sea lions - or dive with sharks - from Port Lincoln on the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia.
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Step 32: Dive with sharks - if you don't have time to go to the Eyre Peninsula - at the Sydney Aquarium.
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Step 33: Obtain travelers' health insurance before you leave home to cover you on your trip.
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Step 34: Be awed by Uluru
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Step 35: the world’s largest exposed monolith.
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Step 36: Surf the Southern Ocean at Bells Beach
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Step 37: southwest of Melbourne.
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Step 38: Travel the Great Ocean Road along the southern coast of Victoria
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Step 39: for awesome views of the coast and charming small villages.
Detailed Guide
The country of Australia is comparable in size to the USA between the Atlantic, Pacific, 54th parallel and the Rio Grande.
Europe will fit easily into Australia with room leftover.
Understanding Australia as a country will help you navigate around it.
The Queensland state capital, Brisbane, is more than 1600km (1000 miles) from Cairns, the popular tourist centre in the same state.
The distance between Sydney and Perth is similar that between Washington and San Francisco. , They cannot use Euros, US or Canadian dollars.
Your Visa or MasterCard will be accepted in all the major cities.
American Express is also accepted in the major cities at most destinations, but Discover and Diner's Club cards are not accepted at many destinations or attractions. , Australian crime rates are among the lowest in the world. , Australia (and New Zealand) uses 240Volt 50Hz power and two or three pin plugs with angled pins that can only be put in one way. 220Volt and dual voltage items
- battery chargers, computers, cell phones
- will work with adapter plugs.
Most Australian motels and hotels provide wired-in hair driers and have adapters for guests' use. ,, Get a prepaid SIM card when you arrive in Australia and it should work. , When crossing roads, make sure you look right, left, right first. , Australian town water is safe to drink. , Male kangaroos can be aggressive, as can the cassowary, a large flightless bird with a crest.
A dingo may look like a friendly dog, but is a dangerous wild animal.
In some areas, wild pigs can also be a problem.
Saltwater crocodiles are mostly north of the Tropic of Capricorn, so be careful of riverbanks, particularly near boat launching ramps where fishermen sometimes dump scraps.
It is best not to go river swimming near the coasts unless a reliable local assures you that the area is safe.
If you do not molest snakes, they will not bother you, but in grassy country good shoes and jeans can prevent accidents. , Lifeguards patrol beaches every day for strong currents and erect flags to show the safest areas. "Stinger" (venomous jellyfish) season is from November to March in ocean waters in the northern half of Australia.
Swim only in approved areas during this time or only with a stinger suit. ,, The food in a main street café is usually better than at a petrol/gasoline station. , The Australian War Memorial and attached museum are among the best in the world.
Admission is free, but a coin or two is accepted.
The 1988 Parliament House is open to visitors, which has guided tours.
Security checks are similar to those in an airport.
The National Museum of Australia is free except for special exhibitions in a side gallery.
The Art Gallery has works by artists from all eras. , There are chairlifts and cable tows on many of the runs. ,, Ship wrecks are found by diving off Darwin and Townsville (south of Cairns). , Choices include Canowindra, southwest of Sydney, Melbourne, Cairns and around Alice Springs. ,, There are also many small wineries scattered throughout Australia. ,,,, Hospital stays can be expensive and most will not accept medical plans from other countries. ,, Wet suits are strongly advised. ,
About the Author
Teresa Thomas
A passionate writer with expertise in home improvement topics. Loves sharing practical knowledge.
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