Do's and Don'ts: Traveling in Australia
Intro
Traveling to Australia was a bucket list trip and this country lived up to the hype! We had no idea what to truly expect during our short time there, but Australia exceeded our expectations. We learned a lot along the way and we would love to share these tips with you!
Do’s & Don’ts
Do apply for a travel visa before you leave
You need a visa to enter Australia –– even for a 2 week holiday. There are different visas for visitors, workers, students, etc. We got the Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) Visa for 20AUD. It was a quick and simple application process and we were approved almost immediately. Check out the Australian government's website where you can make sure you get the visa that is right for your trip. Our visa was automatically linked to our passports and we didn’t have to do anything extra or show anything other than our passport once we entered Australia. Make this the number one thing on your “to-do” list while planning your trip.
Don’t forget about big Australia is
When Rebecca asked if were renting a car to travel across Australia and I told her that we would be taking domestic flights between cities, she was shocked. When I told her Australia was the same size at the United States, she was even more shocked! Australia is huge y’all! Unless you have ample time in the country and don’t mind the long travel times, domestic flights are going to be your best bet to see more in a short amount of time. Our plane tickets ranged from $111 to $237 which seemed like good deals for the time they were saving us. If you’re interested in seeing multiple areas, check the distance between the cities and weigh how much time you have and what your budget is.
Real Talk: Our tour guide in Cairns told us a story of a man on one of his tours who made a big mistake. Making small talk, the tour guide asked him, “What have you done during your time in Australia?” The man told him that they had rented a car and expected to drive down to Sydney and drive back during their week in Australia. They didn’t realize Sydney was a 1,500 miles drive from Cairns and they ended up staying in Cairns the whole week because they didn’t realize how big Australia was… don’t be that person. Study a map.
Do remember the seasons are reversed
Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere which means that it’s seasons are reversed from the Northern Hemisphere due to the Earth’s tilt. (Review your 4th grade science book kids.) If you’re going to Australia in December, expect to have the hottest Christmas you’ve ever had. If you’re leaving the States during June, expect a nice reprieve from the heat. (Although an Australian winter is still mild in many parts. Don’t expect a true winter.) Be aware of the season and weather when you’re traveling to Australia and pack accordingly.
Don’t forget your sunscreen
Australia is known for being an extremely sunny country and this is shown by Australians’ tan skin and high rates of skin cancer. A southern hemisphere location receives about 15% more UV radiation than the equivalent northern latitude location in any given year. All that to say, bring sunscreen or prepare to burn.
Do exchange some money
Most places took credit cards and only a very short list of places did not. I would get some cash to be safe in a pinch, but otherwise, your credit card can get you through most of the trip.
Don’t be afraid of using public transportation
We exclusively took public transportation in both Melbourne and Sydney and loved it! Each city’s public transportation had at least one person at many of the stations that was there to answer questions about routes which was very helpful if we were confused. We downloaded apps on our phones for the routes and lines and would use the apps to plan while we had wifi. I would normally take screenshots of our planned routes to look at for later in the day when we might not have access to wifi. I love taking public transportation while on vacation and both Sydney and Melbourne had very good public transportation systems.
Do expect to see higher prices
Due to things being shipped into the country and taxes, expect to pay more for things in Australia than you would in the United States. While basic things and meals didn’t seem too much more expensive, do prepare for the prices to be slightly higher than you may be used to.
Don’t be (overly) afraid of the wildlife
I heard “Everything in Australia is trying to kill you” about 50 times before we left on our trip. We went to just about every ecosystem the country has to offer –– rainforest, ocean, desert, and city and never felt in danger. We saw harmless sharks at the Great Barrier Reef and deadly crocodiles in the Daintree river, but with an intelligent tour guide and common sense, we made it home safely. Male kangaroos can cause injury when threatened, so again, exercise common sense with all wild animals.
Do try unique food
Let me preface, there are no Outback Steakhouses in Australia. People also don’t eat “shrimp on the barbie” because they call them prawns. Australia is home to a wide variety of foods from around the world. Don’t stick to what you know. We had some incredibly unique fruits that were delicious. We also tried kangaroo which was also very good. Take a chance and try something new.
Don’t be afraid to ask locals for help
I don’t think we met one unfriendly Aussie on our whole trip. From our tour guides to strangers, I felt like the overall posture of most Australians was upbeat and friendly. If you’re lost, ask a stranger nearby. If you want a recommendation, ask a local. Most of them will be glad to help you.
That’s it!
While Australia was fairly easy to navigate and travel through, we still learned some lessons along the way. We hope this is helpful for you while you plan and set expectations for your trip down under!
