Page 549 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Australia

PR A C TIC AL INFORM A TION  547

Electrical Appliances of local markets. Most shops offer
Australia’s electrical current is plastic bags, but shoppers tend
240–250 volts AC. Electrical to favour reusable fabric bags.
plugs have either two or three Many accommodation
pins. Most good hotels will providers, including Melbourne’s
provide 110-volt shaver sockets Alto Hotel, feature energy
and hair dryers, but a flat, two- efficiency, sustainability and
or three-pin adaptor will be waste-reduction initiatives.
necessary for other appliances. Bins for all manner of recyclables and Organizations like the Green
Buy these from electrical stores. general litter on Bondi Beach Building Council of Australia
certify sustainable buildings.
amount, usually 10c, added to
Responsible Travel the cost of each bottle and can,
Most Australians are refunded when the container is Conversion Chart
environmentally aware. Some returned to a depot or reverse Imperial to Metric
councils provide designated car- vending machine for recycling. 1 inch = 2.54 centimetres
share parking spaces to reduce Respect Australia’s wonderfully 1 foot = 30 centimetres
traffic and on-street parking. Most diverse ecosystem. When 1 mile = 1.6 kilometres
councils run recycling schemes bushwalking keep to marked 1 ounce = 28 grams
and encourage the separation of tracks or boardwalks. This is partic- 1 pound = 454 grams
recyclable materials from general ularly important in coastal areas 1 pint = 0.6 litres
rubbish. However, discarded water to prevent beaches from erosion. 1 gallon = 4.6 litres
bottles are a huge environmental Local farmers’ markets are
problem, and many councils increasingly popular and allow Metric to Imperial
now supply refilling stations to visitors to support the local 1 centimetre = 0.4 inches
encourage people to reuse their economy and reduce “food miles”, 1 metre = 3 feet, 3 inches
bottles. In some states, including the distance produce travels 1 kilometre = 0.6 miles
South Australia, Northern Territory before purchase. Contact the 1 gram = 0.04 ounces
and New South Wales, a container- Australian Farmers’ Markets 1 kilogram = 2.2 pounds
deposit scheme sees a nominal Association (AFMA) for details 1 litre = 1.8 pints
DIRECTORY
Immigration 48 Brookes St, Mitchell, Australia House, 6th Floor, The Esplanade, Cairns,
ACT 2911. Tel 1800 806 Melbourne Place, Strand, QLD 4870.
Department of 769. ∑ nican.com.au London WC2B 4LA. ∑ queensland.com
Immigration Tel (020) 7379 4334
Tel 131 881. Travelling with South Australia
∑ immi.gov.au Children USA and Canada 9 James Pl, Adelaide, SA
5000. ∑ southaustralia.
6100 Center Drive,
Travel Safety BYO Kids Suite 1150, Los Angeles, com
∑ byokids.com.au CA 90045. Tasmania
Australia Dept of Tel (310) 695 3200. Level 3, 15 Murray St,
Foreign Affairs and Gillespie’s Hire & Hobart, TAS 7000.
Trade Sales Service State Tourist ∑ discover
∑ dfat.gov.au 13 Elizabeth St, Artarmon, Offices tasmania.com.au
∑ smartraveller.gov.au NSW 2064. Tel (02) 9411
UK Foreign and 2180. ∑ ghss.com.au ACT Tourism Australia
∑ tourism.australia.com
Commonwealth Regatta Point, Barrine
Office Holidays with Kids Drive, Parkes, ACT 2600. Victoria
∑ gov.uk/foreign- ∑ holidayswithkids. ∑ visitcanberra.com.au Federation Square,
com.au
travel-advice New South Wales Melbourne, VIC 3000.
∑ visitvictoria.com
US Department Gay and Lesbian Cnr Argyle & Playfair sts,
of State Travellers The Rocks, NSW 2000. Western Australia
∑ travel.state.gov ∑ visitnsw.com.au 2 Mill St, Perth, WA 6000.
Gay and Lesbian Northern Territory ∑ westernaustralia.com
Disabled Rights Lobby Cnr Smith & Bennett sts, Responsible
Travellers ∑ glrl.org.au Darwin, NT 0800. Travel
Easy Access Australia Gay and Lesbian Also at: Gregory Terrace,
Alice Springs, NT 0870.
∑ easyaccessaustralia. Tourism Association ∑ tourismto pend. AFMA
Tel (02) 9360 9380.
com.au ∑ galta.com.au com.au ∑ farmersmarkets.
Ideas Tourism Australia Queensland org.au
Tel 1800 029 904. The Mall, Brisbane, QLD Green Building
∑ ideas.org.au ∑ australia.com 4001. Also at: Cairns Council of Australia
Nican United Kingdom Information Centre, 51 ∑ new.gbca.org.au