Some Practical Oz Travel Tips

Australia is unique among the World’s countries. It is another world, a giant island with remarkable nature, geography, culture and history. But like all trips to other worlds it has to begin with some practical steps. So here are some top Oz travel tips.

• To get into the ‘land down under’ you will need a passport and visa. The best place to go for more information is the Australian Government visa website.
• Oz travel tip number two is that you will need lots of the local money in order to make the most your trip. It’s Australian dollars and you should keep a weather eye on the exchange rate in the run up to your departure date to get the best rate. Prices are comparable with the US but transportation is a little more expensive. Your Visa ATM card will get you cash in an emergency in Sydney (The largest city, but Canbarra is the capital). There is a General Sales tax included in all Aussie prices so there are no confusing calculations to be made as in the US. As a tourist you can get rebates of this tax on purchases over $300.
• Australians working in tourist services are well paid and do not expect tips. Though they won’t be offended if you give them.
• Forget about the time when in the Land of Oz. The landscape and aboriginal culture may be timeless but chronologically speaking it is very confusing. Several states operate daylight saving in the summer (US winter) but not all. While South Australia and the Northern Territory are out of kilter with. Ask any friendly local for time and just don’t bother trying to hang on to GMT.
• Because Australia is such a huge island in the southern hemisphere the seasons are opposite to the north and is quite variable. It varies from the northern tropics where the big cities Cairns and Darwin are always hot, but also very humid at Christmas and Valentines with a dry winter from June through August. Sydney and Melbourne have sweltering summers and cooler winters. By no means cold when compared to northern US temperatures. The key Oz travel tip is to time your trip for the best season depending upon the part of Australia you plan to visit. Spring and fall are best to miss the worst of the heat and the cold.
• A good Oz travel tip concerns the power sockets down under. Crazily the Australians took up the UK 240 V/ 50 Hz three-pronged socket system. So if you need any small electronics with you on your trip, you’ll need a new plug and probably a small converter. This level of power is ideal for shocking you into heart failure so do take extra care when operating your electronic devices. If in doubt refrain and get advice. Devices such as cell phones, laptops, and iPods are mostly rated for a maximum of 240 V. But DO BE SURE before you plug into anything in Australia. Travel converters are for small electronics such as electric razors. They won’t work with larger appliance or anything with a heating element such as a hair dryer.

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