When thinking about a holiday in Australia it’s easy to get caught up in the “I want to see this and this and this…” mentality. While knowing where you want to visit is important there are details of your trip that, if planned well, make the experience much more enjoyable and less financially painful.
Below are the top considerations to make when planning a visit to Australia, helping you cover all the bases and get the trip that you want.
Visa information
All visitors to the country automatically gain a three month holiday visa but if you intend to stay longer you need to apply for the relevant visa. For people under 30 there is the option of a working holiday visa which will allow you to stay in the country for 12 months and work (with the added advantage of being able to claim your tax back on your return) and the option to extend for another twelve months if a certain amount of time is spent in agriculture e.g. fruit picking. If you intend to work during your stay you will need to apply for an Australian Tax File number when you arrive in the country.
Flights
Research flights carefully, they are expensive but choosing the cheapest deal is not always the best. It is a long flight and some airlines will offer you a good deal but may require you to spend long periods hanging round in airport departure lounges and will only offer basic in-flight entertainment. If you are flexible on travel times also check that the airline offers you the option to change your ticket and the charge for this, these vary between airlines from a reasonable small charge to hundreds of pounds.
It’s also worth researching and booking internal flights if you intend to use them. As always booking a flight well in advance allows savings to be made.
Insurance
Make sure you are insured, Australia has an unpredictable weather system at times and if for example your tour or trip is cancelled due to the weather you need to ensure that you can claim this money back. The same applies for medical expenses, even visiting the doctor for small matters can become an expensive matter and it is important that you are fully insured before you leave.
Accommodation
It is not always necessary to book accommodation for your whole trip before you leave if your travel plans are flexible it is a good idea to shop around to see what deals are available. Accommodation obviously depends on the budget you have, if money is not a problem then there are hotels to suit all tastes and budget.
At the cheaper end of the market Australia has an abundance of youth hostels and backpacker accommodation for a basic price. You do, however get what you pay for and some hostels will have a large amount of people in a dormitory for a few dollars a night. The Youth Hostel Association of Australia (YHA) is well worth the membership fee and has hostels available across the country.
These vary depending on location (city ones are likely to be quite expensive but will have excellent facilities) but you can at least guarantee that they will be clean and well maintained. Bedbugs, unfortunately are a growing problem in Australia and are very difficult to eradicate once in clothing so bear this in mind when booking a hostel. Hostelworld.com offers a selection of hostels and have ratings and reviews given to them by guests. At busy times of the year it will be necessary to book months in advance (e.g. Sydney and Melbourne during Christmas and New Year) and prices can as much as triple during these times.
Plan for the Weather
The climate of Australia can very wildly, and obviously depends on the time of year that you visit. Additionally, don’t forget that their weather periods differ to European times, so the peak of summer falls in December-February etc where you will be leaving from a cold environment.
– Summer Weather
Summer days are generally hot and sunny and provide lots of opportunities to visit the beach and do outdoor activities. If you choose to visit in the summer months (peak December-February) it becomes very hot and it is important to ensure that you wear a high factor suncream with UV protection on a daily basis, even if the sun is not shining or it is not summer. Suncream purchased in the UK will often not give the protection needed against the harsh UV rays and it is worth investing in a high factor cream once you arrive, pharmacists can give you information regarding this.
Bear in mind as well during the summer months the tropical areas (Darwin, Cairns) become very humid and wet with cyclones predicted and this is not always pleasant. Further down the east coast you can make the most of the sunshine but even here temperatures can still reach the high 30s and 40s during the peak of summer and drought has been a serious problem.
In the summer of 2010/2011 flash flooding was a serious problem across huge swathes of the east coast and Queensland and this severely disrupted travel and industry in the areas affected.
Bush fires are also a very real concern across much of Australia and it is important that you understand the risks and how to prevent the spread of fires. During the summer months in the central, southern and western states the bush land becomes very dry and the smallest spark can start a fire; people are told not to light fires or drop cigarettes but unfortunately it remains a very real and serious problem across many states.
– Winter Weather
Winter in Australia can be very comfortable, this is the best time to visit the tropical areas as the temperatures are mild and comfortable. Western Australia and Perth is particularly nice during the winter months with temperatures averaging mid-20 degrees and mainly sunny days.
One of the best bits about visiting in the winter months is experiencing snow during June, July and August. There’s even a tradition of shunning the 25th of December as the date of Christmas and celebrating “Yulefest” in the snow in the Blue Mountains.
Travelling internally
Once you’ve arrived there are lots of options for getting around. The easiest is obviously internal flights but these can be expensive and you do not get the opportunity to see the country in the same way as other means.
The train and bus network are great value for money considering the distances covered and passes are available to travel over different areas for certain amounts of time. These give you the option of flexibility of travel (in one direction) at a reasonable cost.
Hiring a car or camper-van is also a viable and popular option. They can be hired out for a reasonable amount, just ensure that if you are planning to undertake a long journey or drive through the outback that you plan accordingly and take local advice on what to take. It has to be said that the outback is a very dangerous place and any advice from the local police should be followed, taking the advice of wilderness expert Ray Mears from his Outback Survival episode might also serve you well.
To travel trans-continent there are the options of the Indian Pacific (Sydney-Adelaide-Perth) or the Ghan (Adelaide-Alice Springs-Darwin) trains which run several times a week across the vast expanse of Australia. Pricing is dependent on how you choose to travel and the options range from a regular seat to a cabin. Bear in mind that this is a long journey, particularly if you are intending to spend two days in one seat, but a fantastic opportunity to see the country.
Whatever your plans end up being I wish you a great trip with many fantastic memories! If you’re a veteran of the land down under and want to share your knowledge of hidden gems (or pitfalls) feel free to share them in the comments below.
About the Author: Mike Derges is a writer and researcher for Stinkyink.com, an on-line printer ink retailer with great prices on original and compatible Lexmark ink cartridges. Mike enjoys bike rides around picturesque Shropshire, England and racquet sports.
