Australia

English is Australia's national language, spoken everywhere, so navigation and menus are never a barrier. Local slang and abbreviations are common in everyday speech — don't be surprised by shortened words like "arvo" (afternoon) or "servo" (petrol station).

A local SIM or eSIM from Telstra, Optus, or Vodafone is easy to buy at the airport or any phone shop, with strong coverage in cities and along the coast. Coverage drops off fast once you head inland — plan for long stretches with no signal at all on outback drives, and consider a satellite messenger for remote trips.

Tap water is safe to drink across the country. Pharmacies (called chemists) are widespread and can handle most minor ailments. The sun is much stronger than it looks — wear sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses even on overcast days, since sunburn and heat exhaustion are the most common health issues for visitors.

Most visitors need to arrange a visa before arrival, but for many nationalities this is quick and done online. Travelers from around 30 countries (including the US, Canada, Japan, and several in Europe and Asia) can apply for the ETA (subclass 601) through the official app, and around three dozen mostly European nationalities qualify for the free eVisitor (subclass 651). Anyone else applies for a standard visitor visa (subclass 600).

Visa and entry requirements change frequently. Verify current requirements with the official immigration authority or your country's embassy before travel.

Australians are informal — first names, casual greetings, and relaxed dress are the norm almost everywhere. Queuing is taken seriously; wait your turn. Many restaurants are BYO (bring your own alcohol), sometimes for a small corkage fee — check before assuming a place serves alcohol. At beaches, always swim between the marked flags. Uluru is sacred to the Anangu people, who ask visitors not to climb it (climbing has been banned since 2019); walking around its base with a guide is the respectful way to experience it.

Public holidays vary by state — some, like Melbourne Cup Day, only apply in one state. Shops and restaurants generally stay open on public holidays, with reduced hours on Christmas Day, Good Friday, and Anzac Day morning. Trading hours are longer in city centers than in small towns, where shops can close early or skip Sundays entirely.

• By air: given Australia's size, domestic flights are the practical way to cover long distances — between Sydney, Melbourne, Cairns, Perth, and Uluru, flying often beats a multi-day drive.
• By train: intercity rail exists but is limited and slow compared to flying; scenic long-distance trains like The Ghan or Indian Pacific are a trip in themselves rather than practical transport.
• By car: self-driving or a campervan is a popular way to see coastal routes and national parks; distances between towns can be huge, so plan fuel stops carefully in remote areas.
• By bus: long-distance coaches connect most towns and are cheaper than flying, if slower.

City public transport runs on contactless cards or tap-to-pay — Opal in Sydney, myki in Melbourne, and similar systems elsewhere. Australia drives on the left — a detail worth remembering if you're renting a car.

Brunch is a genuine institution in Australian cities — smashed avocado on toast and a flat white (an Australian coffee style) are everyday staples, and cafes are often busier at 10am than any other time. Barbecuing ('having a barbie') is a common way to socialize, especially with sausages, steak, and seafood.

Meat pies, sausage rolls, and fish and chips are classic casual food, while Vegemite — a salty yeast spread — is a genuine national quirk best tried in small amounts on buttered toast. Thanks to Australia's multicultural population, cities also have excellent Asian, Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean food, often better and more varied than the 'Australian' dishes themselves.

Many restaurants are BYO, letting you bring your own wine or beer for a small fee. Wine regions like the Barossa Valley, Hunter Valley, and Margaret River are worth visiting for tastings, and local beer (ordered as a schooner or a pint) is standard in pubs.

Major cities: Sydney and Melbourne are Australia's two largest and most-visited cities, each with a distinct character. Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, and the capital, Canberra, each anchor their own region.

The Gold Coast: Gold Coast is Australia's biggest beach resort strip, known for surf beaches and theme parks.

Tropical north and the reef: Cairns is the main gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest.

The Red Centre: Alice Springs is the base for visiting Uluru and Kata Tjuta in the desert interior.

Tasmania: Hobart is the gateway to Tasmania's wilderness, historic sites, and cool-climate food scene.

The Top End: Darwin is the tropical capital of the Northern Territory, close to Kakadu National Park's wetlands and Aboriginal rock art.