Australia Travel Guide

Australia — Country and Tourist Information

Country Facts

Location: Indian/Pacific Oceans.
Language: The official language is English. Many other languages are retained by minorities, including Italian, German, Greek, Vietnamese, Chinese dialects and Aboriginal languages.
Area: 7,686,850 sq km (2,967,909 sq miles).
Time Zone: Australia spans three time zones, but the ACT, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania also operate daylight saving which usually begins from the last weekend in October and runs to the first weekend in April. South Australia: GMT + 9.5 (GMT + 10.5 from first Sunday in October to first Sunday in April). Tasmania: GMT + 10 (GMT + 11 from first Sunday in October to first Sunday in April). Queensland: GMT + 10 (no daylight saving). Victoria: GMT + 10 (GMT + 11 from first Sunday in October to first Sunday in April). New South Wales: GMT + 10 (GMT + 11 from first Sunday in October to first Sunday in April). Australian Capital Territory: GMT + 10 (GMT + 11 from first Sunday in October to first Sunday in April). Western Australia: GMT + 8 (Western Australia rejected daylight saving in its fourth referendum on the issue in 2009). Northern Territory: GMT + 9.5 hours (no daylight saving).
Electricity: 220/240 volts AC, 50Hz. Three-pin plugs are in use, however sockets are different from those found in most countries and an adaptor socket may be needed. Outlets for 110 volts for small appliances are found in most hotels.
Population: 21.3 million (2009).
Population Density: 2.7 per sq km.
Capital City: Canberra. Population: 323,700 (2007).
Government: Constitutional Monarchy. Gained independence from the UK in 1901.
Head of Government: Prime Minister Julia Gillard since 2010. All individual states and territories have their own autonomous legislative, executive and judicial systems (though certain powers remain under the jurisdiction of the federal government).
Head of State: HM Queen Elizabeth II, represented locally by Governor-General Quentin Bryce since 2008.
Religion: 27% Roman Catholic, 21% Protestant and smaller minorities of all other major religions.

Recent History

Captain Cook stumbled onto Australian shores in 1770 to find an Aboriginal way of life that went back some 40,000 years. By 1868, Britain had sent more than 160,000 convicts to Australia.

Experiencing the culture of Australia's indigenous population is one of the great highlights of a visit. Many tensions still exist between mainstream Australia and its Aboriginal people. The first European settlers treated the Aboriginal population with appalling brutality, which gave way to racist and cruel policies from subsequent administrations. However, the slow march towards reconciliation was given a boost in 2008 when Prime Minister Kevin Rudd issued a formal apology to the indigenous population for the suffering of the past.

In November 2007 elections, after almost 12 years of conservative rule, the public voted out the Liberal Party coalition and gave the Australian Labor Party (ALP) a decisive win. This has meant some significant changes in the direction of the country. Prime Minister Rudd swiftly set about signing the Kyoto Protocol, investing more in alternate energy sources.

The Labor government's stimulus package and strong trading links with China have resulted in Australia riding out the 2008/2009 global financial crisis relatively unscathed. The government withdrew its troops from Iraq in early 2008, yet retains 1,500 troops in the Uruzgan province of Afghanistan.

Communications

Telephone

Country Code: +61. Most payphones have International Direct Dialling (IDD) and Subscriber Trunk Dial (STD). Phonecards are available at newsagents, supermarkets and chemists and can be used for local, STD or international calls. Most payphones also accept coins. SMS text messages to Australian mobiles can be sent from almost half of all payphones.

Creditphones, which take most major credit cards, can be found at airports, city-center locations and many hotels. Multimedia payphones are available in parts of Melbourne and Sydney. A touch screen allows visitors to gain access to information services, including tourist information which can be printed off for future reference. Phonecards for these telephones can be purchased from nearby shops.

Mobile Telephone

Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good in and around populated areas; access in some of the more isolated, outback and rural areas is limited. US handsets are not compatible.

Internet

Available throughout Australia. Internet cafes are prevalent in all capital cities and tourist towns, and individual hotels may also provide facilities. Wi-Fi access is increasing in cities and is mainly found in hotels, bars and cafes.

Post

There are post offices in all the main towns of every state. Stamps are often available at hotel and motel reception areas and selected newsagents.Mon-Fri 0900-1700; some post office are also open Sat 0900-1200.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2011-December 2012 period.
2010
25 Dec Christmas Day
26 Dec Boxing Day

2011
1 Jan New Year’s Day
26 Jan Australia Day
22 Apr - 25 Apr Easter
25 Apr ANZAC Day
13 Jun *Queen’s Birthday Celebrations
25 Dec Christmas Day
26 Dec Boxing Day

2012
1 Jan New Year’s Day
26 Jan Australia Day
5 Apr - 8 Apr Easter
25 Apr ANZAC Day
11 Jun *Queen’s Birthday Celebrations
25 Dec Christmas Day
26 Dec Boxing Day
Nationwide holidays only. If these dates fall on a Saturday or Sunday, a day may be given in lieu. There are numerous individual state holidays - see individual state sections for details.

* Varies in Western Australia.

Contact Information

Note

Addresses of Tourist Representatives for individual states can be found at the head of each state entry.

British High Comission in Australia

Commonwealth Avenue, Yarralumla, ACT 2600, Canberra
Tel: (02) 6270 6666.
Website: www.ukinaustralia.fco.gov.uk

Australian High Commission in the UK

Australia House, Strand, London WC2B 4LA, UK
Tel: (020) 7379 4334 or 09065 508 900 (immigration and citizenship enquiries; calls cost £1 per minute).
Website: www.uk.embassy.gov.au
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700 (general); 0900-1100 (visa and immigration); 0930-1530 (passport).