Social ConventionsA largely informal atmosphere prevails; shaking hands is the customary greeting. Casual wear is worn everywhere except in the most exclusive restaurants, social gatherings and important business meetings. Most restaurants forbid smoking.
International Travel:Getting There by AirThe national airline is
Qantas (QF) (website:
www.qantas.com.au). About 25 international airlines fly to Australia.
Departure TaxNone.
Main AirportsSydney Airport (SYD)
(Kingsford Smith) (website:
www.sydneyairport.com) is 8km (5 miles) south of the city (journey time – 30 minutes).
To/from the airport: Airport Link connects the airport to Sydney Central Station (journey time – 13 minutes). Coaches meet all incoming international and domestic flights, departing every 20 to 30 minutes. There are many courtesy guest shuttles; enquire at hotel when booking is made. The international terminal is separate from the domestic terminal. Passengers may be set down at city airline terminals and some city hotels, motels and guest houses on request. There are also buses and taxis.
Adelaide Airport (ADL) (website:
www.aal.com.au) is 6km (4 miles) west of the city (journey time – 30 minutes). A new terminal is currently under construction.
To/from the airport: Coaches meet all international and domestic flights. Buses and taxis are available to the city and hotels.
Melbourne Airport (MEL) (Tullamarine) (website:
www.melbourne-airport.com.au) is 22km (14 miles) northwest of the city (journey time – 30 minutes).
To/from the airport: Skybus Coach (24 hours) or taxis are available to the city center. There are also regional bus links from the airport.
Perth Airport (PER) (website:
www.perthairport.com) is 12km (7 miles) northeast of the city (journey time – 25 minutes). There are separate international and domestic terminals.
To/from the airport: Airport buses meet international and domestic flights. Taxis are available.
Brisbane Airport (BNE) (website:
www.bne.com.au) is 13km (8 miles) northeast of the city (journey time – 35 minutes).
To/from the airport: Coach services are available to the city, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and major hotels. Coaches meet all international flights. A rail link between the airport and the city was introduced in 2001. Taxis are also available.
Darwin Airport (DRW) (website:
www.darwinairport.com.au) is 13km (8 miles) northeast of the city (journey time – 20 minutes).
To/from the airport: Coaches and taxis meet all incoming international daytime flights.
Hobart Airport (HBA) (website:
www.hobartairpt.com.au) is 16km (10 miles) east of the city (journey time – 25 minutes).
To/from the airport: Coaches meet all incoming flights. Buses and taxis are available to the city.
Cairns Airport (CNS) is 8km (5 miles) north of the city (journey time – 10 minutes).
To/from the airport: Coaches meet all incoming flights. There is also a shuttle taxi service, limousines, car hire and taxis.
Canberra Airport (CBR) (website:
www.canberraairport.com.au) is 8km (5 miles) east of Canberra (journey time – 15 minutes).
To/from the airport: Taxis and shuttle buses are available to the city center.
Facilities: All airports have a duty-free shop, bank/bureau de change, restaurant/bar, tourist information kiosk, car hire and taxi stand; these will almost always be available on arrival and departure of international flights.
Getting There by WaterMain ports: Cruise liners dock at
Sydney (website:
www.sydneyports.com.au),
Melbourne(website:
www.portofmelbourne.com),
Hobart (website:
www.hpc.com.au),
Perth (Port of Fremantle) (website:
www.fremantleports.com.au),
Adelaide and
Brisbane (website:
www.portbris.com.au).
OverviewThe following items may be imported into Australia by persons over 18 years of age without incurring customs duty:
250 cigarettes or 250g of tobacco or cigars; 2
.25l of any alcoholic liquor;
articles for personal hygiene and clothing, not including perfume or fur apparel;
other goods to a value of A$900 (A$450 if under 18).
Note: The Australian government has introduced limits on the amount of liquids, aerosols and gels that can be taken through the screening point for people flying to and from Australia. You may carry duty-free liquid, aerosol and gel purchases on board if they are delivered to the departure gate in a sealed bag with proof of purchase and collected after you have proceeded through security screening. Check with your airline before traveling. More details are available from the Australian Customs Service (website:
www.customs.gov.au).
Prohibited ImportsThere are very strict regulations against the import of non-prescribed drugs, weapons, firearms, wildlife, domestic animals and foodstuffs (including meat, poultry and dairy; plants or parts of plants [including fruit, nuts and seeds]; animal products [including wool, skins and eggs] and any equipment used with domestic animals) and other potential sources of disease and pestilence (such as vaccines or viruses). There are severe penalties for drug trafficking.
For further details on customs regulations, contact the Australian Customs Service (see above). Customs information booklets can be obtained from the Australian High Commission or Embassy.
Internal Travel:WarningAustralia is a vast country and journeys should be planned, especially if traveling to remote areas. Health precautions should be taken when traveling in the Northern Territory and Queensland.
IntroductionRepresentative in the UKRail Australia, c/o International Rail Limited, Chase House, Gilbert Street, Ropley, Hampshire SO24 0BY (tel: (0870) 751 5000; website:
www.international-rail.com). Most major tourist attractions can be reached by train; tickets for multiple destinations can be purchased from travel agents outside Australia.
CoachMajor cities are linked by an excellent national coach system, run by
Greyhound Pioneer (website:
www.greyhound.com.au). Tasmania also has its own coach service,
Tasmanian Redline Coaches (website:
www.redlinecoaches.com.au). There are numerous other companies operating State and Interstate services.
The main coach express routes are: Sydney to Adelaide, Melbourne (inland), Brisbane and Canberra; Canberra to Melbourne; Melbourne to Adelaide; Adelaide to Alice Springs, Perth and Brisbane; Darwin to Alice Springs, Cairns, Perth and Kakadu; Alice Springs to Ayers Rock; Cairns to Brisbane; Brisbane to Sydney (inland and coastal) and Melbourne.
Coach passes are available for travel on a variety of routes for between seven days and one year, such as the
All Australian, the
Sunseeker, the
Aussie Reef & Rock, the
Coast to Coast etc. The
Aussie Kilometer Pass allows you to purchase your travel in kilometers and then travel in any direction on the national network to the distance purchased. It is advisable to purchase these passes before departure from country of origin.
Coaches are one of the cheapest ways to travel around Australia, as well as one of the most comfortable, with air conditioning, big adjustable seats and on-board bathrooms; some also have television and the latest videos.
Car HireAvailable at all major airports and major hotels to those over 21 years old.
Documentation: An International Driving Permit is required by nationals of countries whose official language is not English. International, foreign or national driving permits are generally valid for three months. An International Driving Permit is only valid in conjunction with a valid national license. Permits must be carried at all times while driving.
Getting Around By AirAustralians rely on aviation to get from place to place as inhabitants of smaller countries rely on trains and buses. The network of scheduled services extends to more than 150,000km (95,000 miles) and covers the whole continent. Both first-class and second-class service is available, with meals and hostess service on many routes. Recent deregulation of Australia’s domestic airlines means that flight services are more competitively priced. Aircraft can be chartered by pilots who pass a written examination on Australian air regulations and have their licenses validated for private operations within Australia.
The major domestic airlines are:
Jetstar Airways (website:
www.jetstar.com.au),
Qantas (website:
www.qantas.com.au) and
Virgin Blue (website:
www.virginblue.com.au), which serve the major resorts and cities throughout Australia. In addition,
Rex Regional Express (website:
www.rex.com.au) operate throughout New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria;
Air North (website:
www.airnorth.com.au) operate throughout the Northern Territory;
Macair Airlines (website:
www.macair.com.au) operate throughout Queensland;
Skywest (website:
www.skywest.com.au) operate throughout Western Australia and several small airlines operate to the islands off Tasmania (see
Tasmania section).
Domestic airports
There are a great number of airports and landing strips throughout the country, including airports in all capital cities and regional centers such as
Alice Springs,
Launceston and
Uluru (Ayers Rock).
Nearly all the domestic airlines operate special deals or air passes at greatly reduced prices.
Getting Around by WaterThere are 36,738km (22,600 miles) of coastline and many lakes, inland waterways and inlets, all of which can be used for touring by boat. From paddle steamers along the Murray River to deep-sea fishing cruisers along the vast Barrier Reef, all are available for charter or passenger booking. Most tour operators also handle shipping cruises. The
Spirit of Tasmania is an overnight car-ferry service linking Melbourne with Tasmania daily (website:
www.spiritoftasmania.com.au).
Getting Around by RailOver 40,000km (24,850 miles) of track cover the country. Due to the vastness of the country, internal flights are a preferred option for traveling long distances, particularly as rail travel can be slow and relatively expensive. For further information on rail transport within the different States, see the individual State entries or contact Rail Australia (website:
www.railaustralia.com.au).
Two services span the continent from coast to coast. The twice-weekly
Indian Pacific travels 4350km (2704 miles) from Sydney on the east coast to Perth on the west coast, via Adelaide. The journey takes three days and three nights, crossing the Nullarbar Plain on the famous 478km (297 mile) stretch of straight track, the longest in the world. The
Ghan travels 2979km (1891 miles) between Adelaide and Darwin, via Alice Springs. The service runs weekly in each direction and takes two nights. Both trains are fully air conditioned and soundproofed, with first- and second-class sleeping cars, a lounge car, bars and good restaurant facilities.
Other express service links (not always daily) from the state capitals are as follows:
The
Canberra Monaro Express links Canberra with Sydney in four or five hours. The
XPT Express runs from Melbourne to Brisbane via Canberra and Sydney. The
Sunlander and the
Queenslander link Brisbane with Cairns (31 hours). The
Prospector links Perth with Kalgoorlie and this is one of Australia’s fastest trains (six to seven hours). The
Spirit of the Outback runs Brisbane to Longreach via Rockhampton.
There are also a number of scenic rail journeys available, including the
Kuranda Scenic Railway that links Cairns with Kuranda via a 34km- (14 mile-) climb through tropical rainforest; the
Great South Pacific Express service along the East Coast from Sydney to Cairns via Brisbane has been temporarily suspended.
Several routes have motor-rail facilities. Long-distance trains are air conditioned and have excellent catering facilities and showers. Reservations for seats and sleeping berths are essential on all long-distance trains and are accepted up to six months in advance.
Luggage allowance: All interstate rail passengers are allowed 50kg (111lb). Medium-sized suitcases and hand luggage can be placed in the passengers’ compartments. Large suitcases must be carried in the guard’s van and checked in 30 minutes prior to departure.
Sleeping berths: Single and twin apartments are available for a surcharge on most inter-capital overnight services. All ‘Twinettes’ have two sleeping berths and wash basin. Twinettes are available either first-class or holiday-class; the first also offer individual showers. ‘Roomette’ (single compartment) cars have showers at the end of each car. These are first-class only.
Rail PassesUnlimited travel, valid for 14, 21 and 30 days, with seven-day extensions available, is available with an
Austrailpass, which must be purchased outside Australia, and can only be used by non-Australian passport holders. Only economy-class passes are available. Each State operator offers its own
Austrailpass scheme. The
Austrail Flexi-Pass is valid for eight, 15, 22 and 29 days within a six-month period, although it cannot be used on the
Ghan or the
Indian Pacific. The pass only offers economy-class accommodation. Both the
Austrailpass and the
Austrail Flexi-Pass must be purchased outside of Australia. The
East Coast Discovery Pass offers six months’ travel on the eastern coast. An
Austrailpass does not include meal or sleeping berth charges. The passes must be used within 12 months of issue. There is also a
Backpacker Rail Pass and a
Great Southern Railway Pass available.
Getting Around by RoadTraffic drives on the left. Road signs are international. The speed limit is 60kph (35mph) in cities and towns in most states but 50kph (31mph) in Victoria and Western Australia, 50kph/31mph in all suburban areas and 80-110kph (50-68mph) on country roads and highways unless signs indicate otherwise. Seat belts must be worn at all times and driving licenses must be in the driver’s possession when driving. Driving off major highways in the outback becomes more difficult between November and February because of summer rain, as many roads are little more than dirt tracks. Road travel is best between April and October. Distances between towns can be considerable, and apart from ensuring that all vehicles are in peak condition, it is advisable to carry spare water, petrol and equipment. Travelers are advised to check with local Automobile Associations before departure in order to obtain up-to-date information on road and weather conditions. Bicycle helmets must be worn by all cyclists.
Getting Around Towns and CitiesComprehensive public transport systems are provided in all the main towns. The State capitals have suburban rail networks, those in Sydney and Melbourne being particularly extensive, and trams run in Melbourne and Adelaide. Meter-operated taxis can be found in all major cities and towns. There is a minimum ’flagfall charge’ and then a charge for the distance traveled. Taxi drivers do not expect to be tipped. A small additional payment may be required for luggage and telephone bookings. Some taxis accept payment by credit card. For further details, see individual State entries.
Journey TimesThe following chart gives approximate travel times (in hours and minutes) from
Sydney to other major cities in Australia.
| | Air | Rail | Coach |
| Adelaide | 1.40 | 25.00 | 22.00 |
| Brisbane | 1.20 | 15.00 | 15.00 |
| Darwin | 5.00 | - | 92.50 |
| Melbourne | 1.10 | 10.00 | 14.00 |
| Perth | 4.00 | 65.00 | 56.00 |
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