Australia Local Tips

Sydney is at least a full 14 hours ahead of east coast US time (17 hours ahead of west coast time), so plan to give yourself at least a day to recover from the massive jet-lag that you will experience upon your arrival.

Travelers to Australia will need either a visa or an ETA (Electronic Travel Authority). We recommend the ETA, which can be ordered online in a matter of minutes for a $16 service charge (eta.immi.gov.au); it allows you to spend up to three months in the country.

Remember, Australians drive on the opposite side of the road. Luckily, Sydney is prepared for confused tourists; look to the ground where you’ll find “look this way” with an arrow painted on the street. Elsewhere in the country you’ll have to remember on your own.

Melbourne’s weather has an unfortunate reputation: wet, windy, wild, and prone to extremes. It’s either very hot or very cold – frequently both on the same day! So no matter when you plan your trip make sure you pack clothes for almost any season.

The American tradition of tipping is not a custom in Australia, and is not expected. However, if you receive good service you may choose to tip at cafes or restaurants; 10% of the bill would be reasonable.

Some businesses in the remote parts of the Great Barrier Reef close down during the wet season (November to February), so always reconfirm your bookings before you arrive.

While Captain James Cook was the first person to record the existence of the Great Barrier Reef when he stumbled across it in 1770, it was English navigator Matthew Flinders who named it. Australia’s aboriginal people, however, knew of the reef long before, and many of their important cultural sites (including burial sites and rock art paintings) still exist.

Dangerous marine stingers known as box jellyfish congregate in the waters of the far north from November to May. During these times you should only swim in specially netted zones.

In case of emergency, dial “000” from a fixed line or “112” from a mobile phone for police, paramedic, and fire departments.

If you don’t like loud music and large crowds of partying teenagers, avoid the Gold Coast during “Schoolies Week.” Similar to Fort Lauderdale’s Spring Break, the coast is transformed into party central as thousands of students converge in mid-November to celebrate the end of their studies.

Some of Australia’s largest duty free outlets and shopping centers are located on the Gold Coast, making it the perfect destination for shoppers.

The sun in Queensland is unrelenting causing the region to have one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world. So do as the local “sun smart” campaign advises: slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen, and slap on a hat.

If you have your heart set on a particular winery, be sure to make a reservation. While most wineries are open to everyone between 10am and 4:30pm, a few wineries limit guests to create a more intimate experience. So it’s always best to call ahead to avoid disappointment.

Australia encompasses three different time zones: Eastern Standard Time (EST), Central Standard Time (CST), and Western Standard Time (WST). South Australia operates on CST, which is 30 minutes behind EST. Also, from the end of October to the end of May, South Australia runs on Daylight Savings time, when clocks are advanced forward one hour.

If you’re flying to Tasmania from Australia, be sure to check the websites of budget domestic airlines Virgin Blue (www.virginblue.com.au) and Jetstar (www.jetstar.com.au), both of which offer frequent sales and dramatically reduced ticket prices.

It is believed that the last true Tasmanian Aborigine was a woman called Truganini, who died in 1876. This followed decades of introduced disease, warfare, and discrimination from the European settlers. Today, some 150,000 people claim to have some Aboriginal heritage.

Made famous worldwide by the spinning creature in the Warner Brothers cartoons, the Tassie Devil is in danger of becoming extinct, thanks to an easily-transmitted facial cancer. In some areas the population has been reduced by as much as 90 percent.