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| The official language of Australia is English. Although due to the large amount of immigrants entering Australia in the last fifty years, and the compulsory learning of another language in schools, Italian Greek and Japanese are spoken in certain areas. |
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Due to the huge size of Australia, temperatures
differ through out it. Because of its proximity to the Equator,
the northern reaches of it are hotter than the southern. Meaning
that the seasons rarely effect the temperature of such places
as Ayers Rock, Surfers Paradise and Cairns. |
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Seasons Summer- December to March Autumn- March to June Winter - June to September Spring - September to December |
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| CURRENCY Australian Dollars: $1= | |
| Dorm Room = $13-$20 | Double(Hotel)= $55 - $85 |
| Double (Hostel) = $30 - $45 | |
| Bottled Water = $1.70 | Coke = $1.40 |
| Big Mac = $3.25 | |
| Breakfast (local) = $4.50 | Breakfast (continental)= $5.50 |
| Beer (a bottle)= $3.50 | Beer(a glass) = $2.00 |
| Postcards = .70 cents | |
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Westpac Bank
and the Commonwealth Bank are the two biggest in Australia.
Both banks will change foreign currencies for a 2% commission.
Open M-F 9:00-17:00 Money changers usually offer a poorer rate, especially those at the airport. Open Daily 9:00-18:00 T/C - Travellers cheques can be changed at all the major banks. There are many. Thomas Cook stores in the major cities. To find your closest one, try there website at www.thomascook.com.au |
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All countries need a visa except those from
New Zealand. Types of Visas - Short stay visas can be given to nationalities who are connected to the Electronic Travel Authority. Countries such as UK, USA and Japan fall under this criteria. You may stay up to three months. A tourist visa can aslo be optained which also entitles you to stay in Australia for three months. The UK have a joint partnership with Australia that enables the British to a one year working holiday visa, whereby employment may be taken.for those under the age of 28. Visit the website at www.immi.gov.au. for more information. |
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| Most of the embassies are in the Australian Capital of Canberra. Look at individual cities for consulates. | |
| E1 |
the United States of America:
Moonah Place, Yaralumia ACT, 2600
T6214-5600 http://travel.state.gov/visa_services.html |
| E1 |
Canadian High Commission:
Commonwealth Avenue, Canberra ACT
2600 T62733844 cnbra@cnbra01.x400.gc.ca |
| E1 |
British High Commission:
Commonwealth Avenue, Yarralumia,
Canberra, ACT, 2600 T6270 6666 www.uk.emb.gov.au/ |
| E1 | French Consulate:6 Perth Avenue, Yarralumla, ACT 2600 T621 601 00 www.france.net.au/frames_fr.html |
| E1 | Japan: 112 Empire Circuit, Yarralumia, Canberra, ACT, 2600. T62733244 |
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| Japan | Europe | USA | |
| Postcard | $0.90 | $1.00 | $0.95 |
| Letter (20g) | $0.95 | $1.20 | $1.05 |
| Sea Mail (1kg) | $14.00 | $14.00 | $14.00 |
| Sea Mail (5kg) | $44.00 | $44.00 | $44.00 |
| Air Mail (1kg) | $13.00 | $24.00 | $24.00 |
| Air Mail (5kg) | $56.00 | $91.00 | $76.00 |
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Telephone calls are cheap if you buy pre-paid
telephone cards at newsagencies. Local Call:- 40cents Area Code:- 08 Adelaide 07 Brisbane,06 Canberra 07 Cairns 03 Melbourne 03 Hobart,02 Sydney Country Code: 61 Emergency :000 (fire, police, ambulance) INTERNATIONAL CALL:- Dial 0011 - then country code - then number |
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The standard of accommodation can vary. Usually
hostels in the northern region of Australia have their own pools
and bars. Hostels in Sydney and Melbourne are often situated
on top of a pubs. Despite the luxury of billiard tables, bars,
internet access and large kitchen areas the sleeping quarters are often cramped and unventilated. YHA Hostels:- These places scatter the country and are often very centralised in major cities. Buy joining YHA at www.yha.com, members are entitled to major discounts from not only the hostels (saving on $3 a night) but backpacker stores like Kathmandu as well. |
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Food from
all over the world can be found in Australia, however Indian,
Thai and Italian cuisine are considered the best and cheapest
by backpackers asked. The most well known Australian dish is the humble meat pie. This is meat and gravy encased in a hand sized pastry shell. Tomato sauce is then usually put on top of it. It is estimated that in one AFL football match over 20,000 pies are sold. |
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Drinks: The
classic Australian drink is beer, and the classic Australian
beer is Victoria Bitter (VB). This is a tangy 4.6% alcohol beverage
which can be found in every pub in Australia! Australia’s wine growing regions such as the Yarra and Hunter Valleys have created one of the world’s best wines for the last twenty years, which has caused bottle shops around the world to have an Australian section. All types of coffee are offered in coffee houses which are now littered throughout the major cities. |
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Airlines:-
Ansett and Qantas are the two main carriers often lowering their
prices in competition with one and other. Air Passes :- Both Qantas and Ansett offer air passes for international travellers. Passes can be bought in zones. Fow example Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne are in the same zone and cost $250 a flight. For more information look at www.qantas.com / www.ansett.com / www.austravel.com. |
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| Trains:- **************** | |
| Buses:- Greyhound, the Oz experience, McCaffereys are the main bus campanies. | |
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| BUS | |
| Rental Bicycle | |
| Taxi | |
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Toilets -
Major shopping centres have toilets and these are free to use. Tipping - Not customary. Restaurants may add a service tax. Best to check before hand. Bargaining - This is relatively unheard of in Australia, except in weekend market stalls. Trying to bargain may offend some people. Smoking- Smoking is prohibited in many public places, and restaurants have been slowly wiping out the smoking section. Fines:- Urinated in public places has become a serious crime in recent years as the police try to stop people urinating after coming from nightspots. Dress:- Very relaxed. |
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Sun Light-
The Australian sun is unbelievably hot. Australians have the
highest rate of skin cancers by far. Heavy sunblock must be worn
at all times, whenever the sun is out from September - April. Tap Water:- Clean and drinkable in all major towns. Considered to be one of the safest countries in the world. Lock up valuables when leaving the hostel however, as on the East Coast theft is quite popular. |
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| January 1 | PH | (All states) New Year’s Day |
| January 3 | PH | (All states) New Year’s Day Holiday |
| March 6 | PH | (W.A) Labour Day |
| March 13 | PH | (Melbourne) Labour Day |
| April 21 | PH | (All States) Good Friday |
| April 24 | PH | (All States) Easter Monday |
| April 25 | PH | (All States) Anzac Day |
| June 12 | PH | (All States) Queen's Birthday Celebration |
| Dec 25 | PH | (All States) Christmas Day |
| Dec 26 | PH | (All States) Boxing Day |
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| March 2 -5 | Melbourne Moomba | |
| Sep 15 | Sydney Olympic Games commences | |
| November 7 | Melbourne Melbourne Cup Carnival | |
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| Souvenirs:- |
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Media:- Most
towns have five major television stations. This includes SBS
which regularly shows foreign language programs. Nearly all newspapers
from around the world can be bought at major newsagencies. Electricity:- ? |
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