GENERAL INFORMATION

STATE INFORMATION

FUN FACT

When you travel around Australia you are going to be asked "What do you think of Australia, mate?". Whatever you think make sure you answer, "It's great, mate". You'll have a friend for life and that answer could be a deciding factor in a business deal!

Australia Site Map

Australia

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

FOODS & RESTAURANTS

You can dine at elegant restaurants, leading hotels and other locations or enjoy a "pub" counter lunch. Bistros, cafes and family-style restaurants offer good food at reasonable prices. Ethnic restaurants offer a wide variety of cuisine from all around the world. There are many low cost eating places, including fast-food chains and take-away food stores. Some restaurants provide non-smoking dining areas. Food is fresh and plentiful at stores and supermarkets. Australian wines are good and inexpensive; beer is served chilled. Restaurants usually serve iced water on request only. Many restaurants have a full liquor service; others allow you to "bring your own" (BYO) wine or beer to serve with your meal.

ACCOMMODATION

You can stay in luxury resorts, great international hotels, comfortable motels or self-catering apartments. Most hotel and motel rooms have a telephone, refrigerator, tea and coffee-making facilities, television, video, radio and private facilities. Self-catering apartments are available in most capital cities, large towns and resort or beach areas. For a different view of Australian life you can stay in the home of an Australian family. Or if you wish to sample the life of rural Australians, a Farm Stay is an unforgettable experience. If you are travelling on a budget there are youth hostels, backpacker hostels and caravan/camping parks.

Whatever form of accommodation you require Downunder, we can help you. We also have information on Accommodation and Transportation Passes. Please see Goway's Downunder brochure, complete the information request form.

SHOPPING

Big department stores, arcades, malls, gift and souvenir shops, fashion boutiques and specialty stores abound in Australia. Good buys include quality Australian opals and other precious or semi-precious stones, pearls, sheepskins and leather goods, Aboriginal crafts and paintings. Philatelic desks at main post offices sell sets of souvenir stamps. Duty-free shops are located in city centres and at international airports. Shops attached to galleries, museums and many other tourist attractions are stocked with an excellent range of interesting souvenirs. Markets such as Salamanca in Hobart, Mindil Sunset Markets in Darwin, Adelaide's Central Market, Queen Victoria Market in Melbourne, The Rocks in Sydney, Fremantle Markets in Perth, and Riverside in Brisbane are good places to shop for fresh fruits and vegetables, local arts and crafts and souvenirs.

All travellers to Australia that have their airline tickets booked and ticketed through GowayAir (Goway's Air Ticket division) will receive FREE Goway's Bonus Booklet of valuable discounts and useful information (clothing sizes, etc.). As well, we will include a FREE full colour souvenir map of Australia plus FREE maps for the main cities.

WHAT TO WEAR

Summertime (November-March) Warm to hot everywhere. Casual clothes, pack a sun hat, sunglasses and swim wear. Occasional thunderstorms in the north. Wintertime (June-August) Southern Australia is cool. Suggest medium weight woollens, raincoat. Northern Australia has warm to hot days, mild coastal evenings, but inland nights can be cold.

TIPPING

Tipping is not the general custom in Australia and service charges are not added to accounts by hotels and restaurants. At any time tipping is your choice.

WATER/BEVERAGES

Australian tap water is safe to drink. Milk is pasteurized. Beer is chilled. Australian wines are excellent.

METRIC

Australian distances, temperatures and weights are expressed in metric units. Speed and distance are measured in kilometres; goods in kilograms and litres; temperature in Celsius (Centigrade).

ELECTRICITY

240/250 volt AC 50Hz. Leading hotels provide 110 volt outlets for razors. Pack a converter and travel adapter for other appliances. Australian power outlets take 3 flat prong plugs.

CURRENCY

The Australian dollar (100 cents in dollar) is the basic unit of currency; no other currency is legal tender. Notes come in $100, $50, $20, $10 and $5 denominations. Coins come in 5¢, 10¢, 20¢, 50¢, $1 and $2 denominations. Exchange facilities are available at all international airports, banks and major hotels.

CREDIT CARD

The commonly accepted credit cards are American Express, Bankcard, Carte Blanche, Diners Club, Mastercard, Visa and their affiliates. Use in smaller towns, country areas and small retail shops may be restricted.

TRAVELLERS CHEQUES

Readily changed at banks and hotels. Cheques in Australian dollars are recommended. There may be a small charge for cashing travellers' cheques at some banks.

BANKING

Banks are generally open 9:30am - 4pm Mon-Thurs; 9:30am - 5pm Fri. In some States selected banking facilities are available on Saturday morning.

automatic teller facilities are widely available at shopping centres and business outlets. Money changing facilities are available at international airports, hotels and in key locations throughout capital cities
many foreign banks are represented in Australia, with the greatest concentration in Sydney

BUSINESS

General office hours: 9am - 5pm Mon-Fri. Post Offices are open 9am - 5pm Mon-Fri. Stamps are often available at front desks of hotels and motels and at selected newsagents.

RELIGION

All major religions are represented and you will find places of worship throughout Australia.

HEALTH

You will encounter few health hazards when travelling in any part of Australia. Standards of hygiene are high, particularly in food preparation. It is safe to drink tap water in any Australian town. Doctors and dentists are highly trained and hospitals are well equipped.