Language: English is the official language.
Currency: The Australian Dollar (AUD) is divided into 100 cents. Banks and bureaux de change exchange most foreign currencies. Travelers cheques are also welcome everywhere, but banks take a small commission and it is better to take cheques in major currencies (e.g. US dollars or Euros) to avoid additional charges. Credit cards are widely accepted and ATMs are freely available throughout the country. Banking hours are generally 9.30am to 4pm Monday to Thursday, and 9.30am to 5pm on Friday, but some banks offer extended hours and
some are open on Saturday mornings.
Time: Australia is divided into three time zones. Eastern is GMT +10, Central is GMT +9.5, and Western is GMT +8. Other than the
Northern Territory and
Queensland, all states observe daylight saving time in summer.
Electricity: Electrical current is 240/250 volts, 50Hz. Three-pin flat blade plugs are used but are different to those in most other countries, so an adapter is normally required.
Communications: The international access code for Australia is +61. The outgoing code is 0011 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 001144 for the
United Kingdom). The area code for both
Canberra and
Sydney is (0)2. Local calls from public payphones are unlimited and cost a standard rate, while international and long distance calls are charged according to the time spent on the phone. Mobile phone operators use GSM and CDMA networks (area code (0)4); mobile phones are available for rent. Internet cafes are widely available.
Duty Free: Travelers to Australia over 18 years do not have to pay customs duty on 2.25 liters of alcohol; 250 cigarettes or 250g cigars or other tobacco products. Gifts are included in the A$900 duty-free allowance. Fresh produce and animal/plant products are prohibited.
Tourist OfficeAustralian
Tourist Commission, Sydney: +61 (0)2 9360 1111 or www.australia.com
EmergencyEmergencies: 000 (112 on cellphones).
Embassies
Embassy of Australia,
Washington DC,
United States: +1 202 797 3000.
Australian
High Commission,
London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7379 4334.
Australian High Commission,
Ottawa,
Canada: +1 613 236 0841.
Australian High Commission,
Pretoria,
South Africa: +27 (0)12 423 6000.
Australian Embassy,
Dublin,
Ireland: +353 (0)1 664 5300.
Australian High Commission,
Wellington,
New Zealand: +64 (0)4 473 6411.
Embassy of the United States, Canberra: +61 (0)2 6214 5600.
British High Commission, Canberra: +61 (0)2 6270 6666.
Canadian High Commission, Canberra: +61 (0)2 6270 4000.
South African High Commission, Canberra: +61 (0)2 6273 2424-7.
Embassy of Ireland, Canberra: +61 (0)2 6273 3022.
New
Zealand High Commission, Canberra: +61 (0)2 6270 4211.
