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 Western Australia, all states observe daylight saving time in summer.
Electricity: Electrical current is 240/250 volts AC, 50Hz. Three-pin plugs are used but are different to those in most other countries, so an adapter is normally required.
Money: The Australian Dollar (AUD) is divided into 100 cents. Notes come in denominations of A$5, 10, 20, 50 and 100. Banks and bureaux de change exchange most foreign currencies. Travellers cheques are also welcome everywhere, but banks take a small commission and it is better to take cheques in major currencies (e.g. US dollars or Euros) to avoid additional charges. Credit cards are widely accepted and ATMs are freely available throughout the country. Banking hours are generally 9.30am to 4pm Monday to Thursday, and 9.30am to 5pm on Friday, but some banks offer extended hours and some are open on Saturday mornings.
Currency Exchange Rates
A$ 1.00 = C$ 0.91 NZ$ 1.12 £ 0.41 US$ 0.82 R 5.72
Note: These rates are not updated daily and should be used as a guideline only.
Language: English is the official language.
Entry requirements for Americans: US nationals must have a valid passport for intended period of stay. An Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) is required.
Entry requirements for UK nationals: UK nationals must have a passport valid for intended period of stay, or an identity document showing a photograph. An Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) is required for British passport holders endorsed British Citizen or British National (Overseas) if residing in Hong Kong. Other British passport holders are not eligible for an ETA and require a visa.
Entry requirements for Canadians: Canadian nationals require a passport valid for intended period of stay, or an identity document showing a photograph. An Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) is required.
Entry requirements for South Africans: South African nationals must have a passport valid for the duration of the stay. A visa is required.
Entry requirements for Irish nationals: Irish nationals must have a passport valid for the intended period of stay, or an identity document showing a photograph. A visa is required.
Entry requirements for New Zealand nationals: New Zealanders require a valid passport to enter Australia. Although a visa is not a requirement, New Zealanders have to apply for a Special Category Visa on arrival by completing a passenger card.
Passport/Visa Note: Visitors must hold sufficient funds and all documents required for further travel. An ETA is an electronically issued and verified visa, not visible in a passport. ETAs are issued to passengers travelling for tourist or business purposes. Tourist ETAs are valid for 12 months or the validity of the passport whichever is shorter) for multiple stays of up to three months each, and business ETAs are also available for multiple entries of up to three months each.
Health: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required by travellers over one year of age arriving within six days of having stayed overnight or longer in an infected country. No other special immunizations or medications are required for most trips to Australia, however insect repellents are strongly advised for the Northern Territory, north Queensland and north Western Australia, as well as certain parts of New South Wales and Victoria, because of the risk of Murray Valley encephalitis, Ross River virus infections, dengue fever and other mosquito-borne illnesses. Beach-goers are warned to beware of jellyfish in the coastal waters; stings have proved fatal on occasion. Another health risk is sunburn, and visitors are advised to take precautions. Medical services are excellent, but can be expensive so travellers should ensure that they have adequate insurance.
Australia has a reciprocal health agreement with the United Kingdom providing for free hospital emergency medical treatment; proof of UK residence is required.
Tipping: A gratuity of between 5 to 15% is usually expected in cafes and restaurants in the larger cities, though tipping is a relatively new phenomenon in Australia. Taxi drivers are happy to be left with the change.
Safety: The crime rate in Australia is low, however travellers should be aware that tourists could be targeted by petty criminals. Be vigilant about personal possessions and travel documents, particularly in popular tourist destinations such as along the Gold Coast. There has been an increase in incidents of spiked drinks and women in particular should be cautious in nightspots; many victims were also sexually assaulted. Tropical cyclones normally occur between November and April in some parts of Australia, usually in Western Australia, Queensland and Northern Territory. There is a serious risk of bush fires in summer, especially in Victoria, Tasmania, New South Wales and ACT; fires in December 2006 and January 2007 were worse than ever due to the long-standing drought and caused major disruption to traffic and the evacuation of homes.
Customs: Generally an informal attitude, in dress and behaviour, prevails in most social and business situations. Sport, particularly rugby and cricket, is almost a religion.
Business: Australian business culture is generally relaxed and informal, although punctuality for meetings is imperative, and business dress is conservative: a dark suit and tie for men and a skirt suit for women. Women expect to be treated the same as their male counterparts, and firm handshakes between both men and women are standard at the beginning and end of every meeting. Business cards can be exchanged, but there are no formalities regarding this practice. In business dealings, brevity is appreciated and 'plain talking' is respected; however do not try to rush decision-making, as input from all sectors is customarily considered before reaching a conclusion. Business hours are generally 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.
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: Travellers to Australia over 18 years do not have to pay customs duty on 2.25 litres 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.
Useful Numbers:
The contact number for police, fire and ambulance services throughout Australia is 000. The international area code for Australia is +61. Telephone numbers in all regions of Australia are prefixed by a two digit area code.
For users of cellular phones, coverage is excellent in cities and major centers however service is limited in more remote areas.
To call a number in Cairns from outside the country dial International Dialing Code + 61 + 7 + Number
To call a number in Cairns from inside the country dial 07 + Number
To call a number outside Australia dial 0011 + Country Code + Area Code + Number
Business Hours
Banks and Government offices: Banks are usually open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays and 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Saturdays.
Offices: Government and private offices are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays; though some may open on Saturday, the weekend is generally considered day off.
Shops (Hours vary): Most shops open at 10:30 a.m., closing at around 7 p.m. Lunch hour is usually from noon to 2 p.m.
Climate
The average maximum temperature is 25.2C (77.3F) and the average minimum temperature is 15.7C (60.2F). Queensland’s climate is not as distinctive as the cooler climates of Australia’s southern states.
Snow is only experienced on rare occasions and Queensland experiences some of the most sublime winter weather you’ll ever experience. The days are invariably mild, fine and sunny. Temperatures are rarely uncomfortably high or low in Queensland. The coastal towns enjoy cool sea breezes in the summer. The tropical regions such as Cairns are warm with a high humidity. Temperatures may be higher in the outback, but the humidity is much lower. Temperatures in the hinterland and mountains are cooler than on the coast. Australia is in the southern hemisphere so the seasons are opposite to countries such as America and Europe. Travellers from these regions should consider this before packing their thick jumpers and jackets. Chances are you won’t need them .
Clothing
Australians wear fashions similar those worn by Europeans and North Americans. For business, men should wear conservative jackets and ties. During the summer months, jackets are often removed. Women should wear skirts and blouses or dresses. Lightweights during summer months with warmer clothes needed during the cooler winter period throughout most of the southern States. Lightweight cottons and linens all year in the central/northern States with warm clothes only for cooler winter evenings and early mornings. Sunglasses, sunhats and sunblock lotion are recommended year round in the north and during the summer months in the south.
GDP Growth Rate
2%
Inflation
2%
Exports
coal, gold, meat, wool, alumina, iron ore, wheat, machinery and transport equipment
Trading Partners
Japan, ASEAN, South Korea, China, New Zealand, US and the EU
Industries
Minerals, oil, coal, gold, wool, cereals, meat, tourism
Government
Democratic State parliament.
Geography
Cairns in far north Quenesland, is Australia's premier regional city and the safest tropical destination in the world. Queensland forms the north-east corner of the Australian continent and is the country’s second largest State.Cairns is the gateway to two of the world's greatest natural attractions and World Heritage listed treasures - the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics Rainforests. Mountains, beaches, tidal wetlands, freshwater lakes, mudflats, mangrove swamps, bays, rivers, estuaries and rich coastal plains are the features of this tropical region. It is also home to the State's highest mountain, Mt Bartle Frere.
Population
Australia: 19.9 million
Cairns: 1.25 million
Ethnic Groups
94% European descent, 4% Asian, 1.5% Aboriginal
Languages
English is Australia’s official language - though you will hear many colorful local expressions in that unique Aussie accent.
Literacy
100%
Religion
75% Christian, 1% Muslim, 1% Buddhist, 0.5% Jewish
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