Page 546 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Australia

544  SUR VIV AL GUIDE

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Australia is a massive country of modern, transport is readily available (see pp556–63)
global cities, booming regional centres and and tourist information is plentiful, particularly
vast wide-open spaces in between. Tourism is online. The following pages contain useful
one of the biggest contributors to the national information. Personal Security and Health (see
economy, and the country offers quality pp548–9) details recommended precautions,
services and experiences. Visitors should rarely Banking and Local Currency (see pp550–51)
face problems in this safe, friendly destination. answers financial queries, and Communication
Accommodation and restaurants (see pp478– and Media (see pp552–3) describes how to stay
535) are of international standard, public informed and in touch during a visit.

requirements with the
Australian embassy in your
country before leaving.
For stays of three to six months,
a tourist visa may be applied
for in person at the Australian
Embassy or by post. Visitors will
be asked for proof of a return
ticket and of sufficient funds for
the duration of their stay. Some
visitors, including British
nationals, between the ages of
18 and 30 may apply for a 12-
month working holiday visa.
Skiers enjoying the slopes of Mount Hotham in Eastern Victoria (see p453)
When to Go Travel Safety
The popular ski season is
The northern half of the country between June and September Visitors can get up-to-date
lies in a tropical zone and is and takes place in both the New travel safety information from
subject to “wet” and “dry” South Wales Snowy Mountains the Foreign and Common-
seasons (see pp48–9). The dry (see p191) and the Victorian Alps wealth Office in the UK, the
season falls between May and (see pp452–3). In the states of State Department in the US and
October, and is regarded as South Australia and Western the Department of Foreign
the best time to visit this Australia, there are spectacular Affairs and Trade in Australia.
area. During the wet season, wild flower displays between
conditions are hot and humid, September and December.
and many areas are inaccessible Tourist Information
because of flooding. For those Tourism Australia is the central
with an interest in wildlife, Entry Requirements tourism body, but each state
however, there are areas such Visitors to Australia must have and territory has its own tourism
as Kakadu National Park (see a passport valid for longer than authority. Travel centres in the
pp280–81) which are particularly the intended period of stay. All capital cities provide abundant
spectacular at this time of year. visitors, except New Zealand information and these are often
The southern half of the passport holders, must also
continent is temperate and have a visa issued before arrival.
the seasons are the opposite For stays of up to three months
to those in Europe and North the easiest option for most is to
America. Victoria and Tasmania get an Electronic Travel
can be cloudy and wet in Authority (ETA), or an eVisitors,
winter, but they are very depending on the country of
colourful and quite mild in origin. Neither requires a stamp
autumn. The vast southern in your passport or has a visa
coastline is a popular touring application charge. They can be
destination during the summer obtained from travel agents,
months – the climate is warm airlines (usually when you book
to hot, with sea breezes. Avoid your flight) or can be applied for
the Outback areas during online at the Department of
the summer, however, as the Immigration website (see p547). Visitor information kiosk and
temperatures can be extreme. Always check the latest entry booking centre
Tram at Moseley Square in Adelaide