Australia – the land of Down Under and the great adventure! Sophisticated big city like Melbourne, outback adventures in Alice Springs and magical Uluru, the Great Barrier Reef and delicious, beautiful Sydney. Don’t forget the enchanting west coast with cozy Perth and UNESCO World Heritage Site Shark Bay!
On this page you will find practical information and facts about Australia.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION ABOUT TRAVELING IN AUSTRALIA
Climate and best travel time
The seasons in Australia are reversed compared to the Swedish, so they have summer when we have winter. But Australia spreads over so many climate zones that there can be both snow and heat waves at the same time in different parts of the country.
April to October are the best months to visit Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia. Tasmania is best to visit during the summer months, ie. December – February.
The coastal areas of Victoria, New South Wales and the southwestern corners of Western Australia are more pleasantly temperate. It can be quite cold in the winter with night frost but the daytime temperatures reach 12-17 degrees. The summer is long and can be quite hot with up to 25-35 degrees.
Most Swedes visit Australia during the Swedish winter to come down and enjoy the beautiful summer on the other side of the world. But it is at the same time that the Australians themselves are on holiday. The school summer holidays run from the beginning of December to the end of January, so you should be aware that there are a lot of tourists during this period. This also means that it is a good idea to book accommodation, tours and transport in advance.
Our recommendations on when it is best to travel in Australia are based on how the climate has been in previous years. The weather in Australia can be very variable and unpredictable, so our travel time recommendations should only be seen as an indication. Visit vaultedwatches.com for Australia is a country of many opportunities.
Money
Visa and other credit cards can be used anywhere in Australia. In Australia, the currency is the Australian dollar.
Visa
conditions NOTE! The visa rules can be changed at short notice, so We recommend that you check the current conditions at the country’s embassy. The following information may change.
We can issue a regular tourist visa. Ask your travel agent about price. Just remember to bring a copy of your passport. If you are not a Swedish citizen, the visa procedure may be different and you should contact the Australian Embassy. The visa is valid for one year but you can only stay in Australia for three months at a time.
We can also help you apply for a Working Holiday Visa. The visa can be applied for by people from 18 to 30 years and gives you the right to combine travel and work in Australia for one year. Please note that you must apply for a Working Holiday visa in Sweden before departure – it is not possible to apply once you have arrived in Australia. There is no guarantee for a Working Holiday visa as there are special requirements for the applicant – and only a limited number of visas are issued per year.
In connection with a Working Holiday visa, we can also offer a starter package that includes the first nights in a hostel, help with looking for work, a tax file number and a bank account. Contact us to get a safe start to your trip to Australia.
Transport
Australia is a giant country. In fact, as much as 17 times larger than Sweden. Only the island of Tasmania is 1.5 times as big as Denmark so planning your trip is a must when it goes to Australia.
There are many different ways to get around Australia, here we have made an inspiration list so you can find out which way suits you best.
Bus The
advantage of taking a bus is that you can sit back and relax and enjoy the view through the window. It is a means of transportation that many young people use, as it is often cheaper than renting a car. There are several different bus pass options in Australia.
Car
It is very popular to drive around Australia in your own car. It gives a wonderful feeling of freedom when you can decide the pace and stay exactly when and where you want.
You can either choose to buy a car or rent a car. Buying a car can be risky if you are not so familiar with the market, on the other hand you may be lucky enough to buy a car and sell it for the same price and it is a really cheap way to get around. In Sydney, it is especially popular to buy and sell cars around Kings Cross.
Car rental
If you want more security, you can choose to rent a car. It is possible to pick up the car in one city and return it to another city, but you may need to pay an additional fee.
The age limit for renting a car / motorhome in Australia is 21 years. But the age limit for some types is 18 years. The cars are available in several sizes and models according to your needs. Remember to drive on the left side of the road in Australia.
Rent a motorhome or motorhome
Another popular means of transport is a motorhome or motorhome as they are also called.
It gives the same freedom as with a car when you can choose when you want to leave and when you want to stay. Another great advantage is that when you arrive after a long and eventful day on the road, you do not have to unpack all your things again. There is a large selection of very good parking spaces for motorhomes where you will find many child-friendly facilities.
We offer motorhomes in different price ranges, sizes and year models. Remember that the earlier you book your motorhome, the cheaper it will be. Prices follow supply and demand, so as departure approaches, it often becomes much more expensive.
Motorhome
A motorhome is something between a car and a motorhome. In short, the car does not have more space than a regular car, but the same characteristics as a motorhome. You can sleep and cook in it. And it is significantly cheaper than a motorhome. There are caravans for both 2 and 4 people.
The age limit is 18 years but you must have had a driver’s license for at least one year.
Trains
There are several long train routes in Australia. The most popular are: The Sunlander which runs between Cairns – Townsville-Brisbane, The Ghan which runs between Adelaide – Alice Springs – Katherine-Darwin and the Indian Ocean which runs between Perth – Adelaide – Sydney.
It is a nice relaxed way to travel and there is plenty of time to enjoy the scenery through the window.
Flights
Australia is a big country and if you have limited time and want to see as much as possible, We recommend that you fly a distance or two. It saves a lot of time and you get to visit all the places you dreamed of. It is often possible to save money by booking your domestic tickets in Australia at the same time as the flight ticket for the trip there.
We can help book all the above means of transport. If you want to rent a car or motorhome, we recommend that you book as early as possible, as prices follow supply and demand and become more expensive as departure approaches. The same usually applies to airline tickets. If you travel to Australia in December and January when Australians take their holidays, sometimes all motorhomes can be fully booked. So remember to be out in good time.
Tip
In most countries, tips are part of the salaries of employees in the service industry. Therefore, it is good practice (and sometimes directly necessary) to give tips to cleaning staff, waiters, guides, drivers, etc. depending on the country you are visiting. Therefore, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with how much is normally given in tips and to whom before you embark on your journey. Find information on tips in Lonely Planet’s guidebooks.
FACTS
CAPITAL: CANBERRA
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH
CLIMATE: SUBTROPICAL TO TEMPERATE
CURRENCY: AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR
RELIGION: CHRISTIANS AND ATHEISTS
INFORMATION AUSTRALIA
It’s not too shabby
It’s not so bad, say the people of Jutland when something deserves praise. The same saying is found in the warm, relaxed Australians who take life as it comes and solve problems in the same way as Crocodile Dundee. So if a hospitable Australian invites you to a barbecue, it is advisable to nod appreciatively afterwards and praise the food with a “not too shabby.”
Tour of the Australian wilderness
Australia is packed with fantastic nature experiences, it’s just a matter of getting there and getting started! There are endless vineyards, vast sandy beaches and rugged wilderness. Here are kangaroos, koalas, wombats, cockatoos, dolphins… (and a large number of less adorable animals). Go on a tour by bus, drive yourself by rental car or motorhome, skip the long distances and take the flight – there are plenty of options depending on what you want to see on your trip to the giant country.
Down Under
In Australia, you will experience and see things that are guaranteed to make you lose your breath of excitement. See the big beautiful barrier reef, go out for swimming, surfing or diving. See the red sand, mountains and steppes, go hiking, climbing or go on safari. Explore an exciting culture that is a mixture of three: Aborigines, colonists and modern Aussie culture. The whole thing is waiting down below.