Page 548 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Australia

546  SUR VIV AL GUIDE

to all students worldwide in
full-time study. The ISIC card
should be purchased in the
student’s own country at a
Student and Youth Travel office
or online from the Student
Travel Association (STA)
website (www.statravel.com).
A similar card for non-students
aged under 30 is also available
at a slightly higher cost.
Card-holders are entitled to
substantial discounts on air
travel (see pp554–7), national
train and bus services (see
pp558–9), as well as discounts
Mother and child feeding some of Australia’s famous marsupials on admission to theatres,
galleries, museums, cinemas
Travelling with Children seven must be restrained in an and other establishments.
Australia is an ideal destination appropriate infant or child seat
for children. Most hotels wel- and must not travel in the front
come children as guests and can seat of a car. As many cars do not Gay and Lesbian
Travellers
usually provide cots, highchairs have these restraints as standard
and, in some cases, babysitting. fixtures, it is essential that prior Within inner city areas, the gay
However, some smaller bed-and- arrangements are made. and lesbian scene is accepted
breakfast places advertise them- Car hire firms will generally but you may still find homo-
selves as child-free zones. supply car restraints for a small phobic attitudes across much of
Restaurants are also generally extra charge. Gillespie’s Hire and Australia, particularly in country
welcoming to children and Sales Service leases restraints, areas. The age of consent for
offer children’s menus, although push-chairs, baby carriers and homosexual sex varies between
it is advisable to check first with travel cots. It is illegal to leave states, from 16 to 17. More
the more up-market establish- children unattended in a car. information can be found on
ments. City department stores Two handy websites for great the Gay and Lesbian Rights
and most major tourist sites destinations and child-friendly Lobby (GLR) website.
have feeding and nappy- information are BYO Kids and The Gay and Lesbian
changing rooms as standard Holidays with Kids. Both offer Tourism Association (GALTA)
features. Parents travelling with useful tips even if you don’t is a not-for-profit organization
young children are also encou- book through them. promoting and listing tolerant
raged by a range of discounts businesses for travellers.
on transport (see pp554–63). Student Travellers Free online magazines and
National laws governing the websites for the gay and lesbian
restraint of children in cars The International Student community include gaynews
stipulate that children under Identity Card (ISIC) is available network.com.au, lotl.com,
starobserver.com.au and
Australian Time Zones qmagazine.com.au.
Australia is divided into three separate time zones: Western Standard
Time, Central Standard Time and Eastern Standard Time. Eastern Budget Travel
Australia is two hours ahead of Western Australia; Central Australia Accommodation is more
is one-and-a-half hours ahead. Daylight saving is observed in New expensive in inner city and tourist
South Wales, the ACT, Victoria and South Australia, from October areas than in outlying suburbs
to March, which adds an hour to the time differences. and country towns. Staying
outside the city centre and using
Hours
City and State + GMT public transport to get in is a
good, cheap option.
Adelaide (SA) +9.5
Brisbane (QLD) +10 Petrol is more expensive in
Canberra (ACT) +10 rural areas and varies from state
Darwin (NT) +9.5 to state; Queensland is usually
+8 +9.5 +10
Hobart (TAS) +10 the cheapest. Eating out tends to
Melbourne (VIC) +10 be cheaper outside cities where
Perth (WA) +8 good-value, reasonable-quality
Sydney (NSW) +10 meals are served at local eateries.
Groceries, on the other hand, are
more expensive in smaller towns.