I am travelling Australia in 1 month for 4 weeks and have never been.?

Question

Has anyone got any useful info I should take on board anything will do. places, laws, people, avoid, ... Thanks

Answer 1

Do's:
- go to Sydney
- go to Melbourne
- go to Outback
- wear sunscreen and hat
- go to beach
- have a BBQ
- drink real beer

Don't:
- go to Bondi
- take any food with you
- drink drive
- drink on the street
- smoke indoors

Answer 2

In a nutshell - just come over and enjoy yourself. Treat people the way you want people to treat you and you will be fine. Don't be a loudmouth and criticise everything. We are laid back and easy going but we can be serious too if you don't do the right thing.

Australia is a big place so DO NOT underestimate the distances and the time it will take you to travel between places. It is summer and very hot here at the moment but it can get cold very suddenly too when a storm comes. So have summer clothes but have a light jumper to keep you warm - just in case.

DO NOT and I repeat DO NOT try to bring in fresh food or dairy product or any plant or animal product into the country. We have food here so there is no need to pack your own food with you. We have VERY strict quarantine laws and many people found out the hard way. Breaking quarantine law deliberately results in heavy fine and you don't want to start your visit that expereince.

Do more research. There are lots of website that will help you and will dispel some of the myth about Australia. Try the Lonely Panet guide. They usually have pretty accurate information. Visit every place you can that is within your travel budget and the 4 weeks you have. Plenty to see and do. Amazing land and even more amazing animals. Great people and great way of life.

The "toxic custard" site below is a humourous but very real and down to earth look at Australia and its culture. Have a read - it is an eye opener for visitor.

Come on over! We'll have a vegemite sandwich waiting for ya!

Answer 3

The first time I ever travelled by airplane, it was to Australia a few months ago to visit my Dad who moved there in 2005. I went by myself and I am only 16. Trust me it is an easygoing place with a lower crimerate than UK or US, so there really isn't much you should avoid. At this time of year it will be quite hot, but remember to pack warm clothes aswell because it can get cold too.
The people tend to be very helpful, upbeat and friendly.
And of course you will probably be visiting Sydney which is a beautiful city. Melbourne is very interesting also and there are lots of places to just walk and see wildlife if you visit smaller towns.
Wherever you go there will be something to do, so the best thing if you're travelling is to plan the main places you want to visit, and go on a roadtrip that takes you through them all. It is alot if fun if you've got good company.

Answer 4

I don't want to burst your bubble, but sweetie, by the way you have written your question you are not only young but also very naive. I mean that kindly, no malice attached. Firstly, with no judgement, may I tell you it is very unwise to"just turn up" to surprise someone, let alone spending all that money travelling 1/2 way around the world to do it. What do you do if he has moved on and has someone else in his life? You need a passport and visa of some sort, either holiday, working etc plus a return ticket and at least $Au 5000. A person cannot just arrive in another country whether it is USA, Australia or anywhere else. Accommodation is much more expensive in Aust than it is in US (except Manhattan) as is food. Backpackers hostels are good value, but how do you get from the airport to your accommodation and from there to visit your friend? A return flight from the east coast USA is about $US 3,500. You would need to take a flight from New Jersey to Houston, San Francisco, La or Chicago where you would get a direct flight to Sydney, then another connecting flight to Brisbane although there are some direct flight from the west coast to Brisbane. Car rental, about $US50/day plus insurance which is, if you are under 25yrs, horrendous. Are you prepared to drive on the other side of the road? It can be confusing. Now, as to the time. You need to be at the airport at least 2 hrs before the flight time for internal flights and 3 hrs before international flight times, regardless of what it says on the ticket. Flight time from JFK to LAX is about 5.5 hours. Flight direct from LAX to Brisbane/Sydney is about 14.5 hrs. If you choose a cheaper flight it will take longer as there will be about a 2 hr fuel stop somewhere, usually Honolulu. So, all in all you will need close to $US 10,000. I wish you well, but urge you to rethink the whole thing.

Answer 5

One thing to remember in Australia is that we still have some good labour laws and people are paid a decent wage. You do not have to tip anyone, ever. You do not tip bar staff. You can tip waiters if you get good service and you feel they deserve it but if you had a bad or mediocre experience, don't tip. In a taxi you can wait for change and you will get it. Usually if the fare is just under the value of the note you offer you will say "Keep the change". Often you will find that if the fare is just over, say $20, the driver will round it down to $20. They don't all do it but don't be shocked if it happens.

If you want to tip people, do so but it is not obligatory and in most cases not expected.

By the way, Australians have a reputation worldwide for being poor tippers. This is the reason - it is not part of our culture.

Answer 6

The food thing is true. We have petty strict quarantine laws here, so if in doubt declare it! This is because of our unique and deicate ecosystems here. We managed to avoid a lot of the problems the environment has in the rest of the world, however if you see a die back area sign or something take notice of it so you dont spread the infection to other bush areas.

The tipping thing is also true. We have better wages here than a lot of other places so people dont rely on tips to live.

The sunscreen message is VERY important especially in summer. Remember to reapply every few hours and try to avoid the heat of the sun.

Do your research before you leave, This is a very big country with not a lot between the east and west coasts. Try to decide what yuou want to see and how long it will take to get there. (I know that sounds obvious, but I know a lot of people come from over seas and think Perth is a daytrip from Sydney - It most definately is not)

I cant really think of place to avoid. BUt definately hit a beach in at least one of the state capitals you visit. May be not Adelaide!!!

Oh yeah about Adelaide water....... as they say in The Simpsons- "If its brown drink it down, If its black send it back!!!!" Perth water is pretty highly chlorinated, so you may want to drink bottled here as well, but it is clean!

Each capital city in Aust. Is pretty different from thosa around it (although nothing is strictly speaking around Perth.) Try ending your trip here in WA, which is in my opinion the most laid back state.We have the nick name of being the Wait-Awhile State. It is a good place to wind down if you need to relax at the end of our trip.

Answer 7

It is Summer there now and brutally hot and Humid if you are going to Queensland or more north. Protect your self from the sun.

More South the climate is similiar to So. California.

The Flights can be long so bring a good book and a comfy pillow

There easy going people-Just be your self and don't try to impress them by imitating them and therir slang

Tell the your from "The OC," and you'll be a hero! They are they hugest fans of the TV show " The OC."

They will laugh if you bring up the words "Foster's Beer." :-)

They don't yield to pedestrians! When you cross a street LOOK the proper way befor you cross! They drive on the opposite side of the roads.

It's a wonderful Country!

Answer 8

I went to Australia in September 06 for 3 weeks and thought it was amazing and didnt want to leave!

first we went to Melbourne, and tried a couple of the places outside of Melbourne, Geelong and we visisted Torquay because I live in Torquay in England!

Then we went to Sydney
Obviously you have to walk around the opera house and climb the bridge which was brilliant
Go out on a boat ride into Sydney bay or go whale watching!

Then please go up to Cairns, I thought it was amazing, we stayed in Trinity beach which is just outside of Cairns, was amazing, but you have to go out onto the great barrier reef snorkling and scuba diving!

Good luck and have a good time!

Answer 9

bear in mind it's going to be extremely hot... around 35 to 40 degrees...this is a very big difference coming from the European winter... so be prepared, and take good sunblock.

on the plane, wear lots of layers so you'll be warm for take-off, and strip them off one by one until you are just wearing shorts and a tee-shirt with sunscreen when you land...

On the beaches, if you have pale skin, in Oz you can buy this swimwear that covers your body but keeps out the harmfull UV rays...

Happy Trails

Philip

Answer 10

Go to Melbourne, it is the music capital of Oz. Then the rest of the country it is bloody great, and the people are welcoming. It is in a very bad drought at the moment. Have a great time.