Overview
Australia has come a long way since the days when Captain Cook stumbled ashore to find an Aboriginal way of life that went back some 40,000 years. Indeed, Australia must really be divided into ’modern Australia’ and ’indigenous Australia’, since there is a wealth of disparate elements that constitute this compelling country.
The continent was first known to Europeans as Terra Australis. The first European settlements were initiated by the Dutch East India Company in 1606. By 1868, Britain had sent more than 160,000 convicts to Australia and several of modern Australia’s biggest cities around the coast grew from the penal settlements. Eventually, the British crown claimed the entire continent. The colonisers unfortunately treated the Kooris, the indigenous population, with appalling brutality, which only worsened following the gold rush and the first wave of voluntary migration that spilled into the interior, where many Kooris had fled to.
The inaugural National Sorry Day was held in 1998 and has become an annual fixture on the Australian calendar. The day is a symbolic event that heralds modern Australia’s willingness to face its inception. The didgeridoo and the boomerang have become modern Australian icons. Tourists flock to the breathtaking, epic monolith of Uluru (Ayers Rock) to watch the sun soak it in reds and oranges.
Many struggle to reconcile Aboriginal Dreamtime with the stereotype of carefree people in cork hats, swigging beer around a barbecue. But it isn’t difficult to ’take it easy’ amidst miles of sun, sea and sand. You could even do the Aussie thing and ride some waves, with surfing schools on offer all over the country (website: www.surfingaustralia.com).
Australia may be an island, but it is also the world’s largest one, and its size encompasses a range of stunning landscapes, from vast, barren deserts, where kangaroos and emus bound through the arid surroundings, to tropical rainforests and rugged mountains. Isolated from other continents, Australia has an abundance of unique plant and animal life.
Just as the surroundings surprise, so too may the people. Crocodile Dundee types have long been replaced by fashionistas browsing for bargains in Australia’s world-renowned cities. Australia embraces its Pacific Rim location, with multicultural influence throughout, from Sydney’s great harbour that welcomes worldwide visitors, to Melbourne’s European ambience and lively Chinatown. Australia is a real hotchpotch of elements, catering for every kind of holidaymaker.
Author
Robin McKelvie
General Information
Indian/Pacific Oceans.
Area
7,692,030 sq km (2,969,909 sq miles).
Population
20.6 million (official estimate 2006).
Population Density
2.7 per sq km.
Capital
Canberra. Population: 332,800 (2006).
Government
Constitutional Monarchy. Gained independence from the UK in 1901.
Australia is bounded by the Arafura Sea and Timor Seas to the north, the Coral and Tasman Seas of the South Pacific to the east, the Southern Ocean to the south, and the Indian Ocean to the west. Its coastline covers 36,738km (22,814 miles). Most of the population has settled along the eastern and south-eastern coastal strip. Australia is the smallest continent (and the largest island) in the world. About 40% of the continent is within the tropics and Australia is almost the same size as the mainland of the United States of America. The terrain is extremely varied, ranging from tortured red desert to lush green rainforest. Australia’s beaches and surfing are world-renowned, while the country is also rich in reminders of its mysterious past. These range from prehistoric Aboriginal art to Victorian colonial architecture. The landscape consists mainly of a low plateau mottled with lakes and rivers and skirted with coastal mountain ranges, highest in the east with the Great Dividing Range. There are rainforests in the far northeast (Cape York Peninsula). The southeast is a huge fertile plain. Further to the north lies the enormous Great Barrier Reef, a 2,000km (1,200-mile) strip of coral that covers a total area of 345,000 sq km (133,000 sq miles). Although Australia is the driest land on Earth, it nevertheless has enormous snowfields the size of Switzerland. There are vast mineral deposits. More detailed geographical descriptions of each state can be found in the individual state entries.
Language
The official language is English. Many other languages are retained by minorities, including Italian, German, Greek, Vietnamese, Chinese dialects and Aboriginal languages.
Religion
26% Roman Catholic, 24% Protestant and smaller minorities of all other major religions.
Time
Australia spans three time zones:
GMT + 10 (GMT + 11 October to March, except Queensland).
GMT + 9.5 (GMT + 10.5 October to March, except Northern Territory).
GMT + 8.
Some states operate daylight saving time during the Australian summer. Clocks in these states are put forward by one hour in October and put back again in March.
Social Conventions
A largely informal atmosphere prevails; shaking hands is the customary greeting. Casual wear is worn everywhere except in the most exclusive restaurants, social gatherings and important business meetings. Most restaurants forbid smoking.
Electricity
220/240 volts AC, 50Hz. Three-pin plugs are in use, however sockets are different from those found in most countries and an adaptor socket may be needed. Outlets for 110 volts for small appliances are found in most hotels.
Head of Government
Prime Minister John Howard since 1996. All individual states and territories have their own autonomous legislative, executive and judicial systems (though certain powers remain under the jurisdiction of the federal government).
Head of State
HM Queen Elizabeth II, represented locally by Governor-General Michael Jeffery since 2003.
Passport / Visa
YesYesNoN/AN/AN/AYesYesNoYesYesNoYesYesNo
Passport Note
Australian visa regulations (including visa application charges) change from time to time. The information provided here is valid at the time of publication, but visitors should check that this information is still current by visiting the Department of Immigration online (website: www.immi.gov.au) or by calling the Australian Immigration and Citizenship 24-hour Information Service (tel: 0906 550 8900, in the UK; calls cost £1 per minute).
Passports
Valid passport required by all nationals of countries referred to in chart above.
Visas
Required by all nationals referred to in the chart above except:
(a) those continuing their journey to a third country (who hold confirmation of booking and documentation to enter country) within eight hours of arriving in Australia.
All other nationals must obtain a transit visa before travel if intending to remain in Australia no longer than 72 hours and a stopover is intended. Transit visas are free of charge.
Note: (a) Not all airports remain open all night; travellers should check with the airline. (b)Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the Department of Immigration at the high commission to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).
Visa Note
Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) visas
The ETA is an electronically stored authority for travel to Australia that allows people from certain countries (see below) to visit Australia for up to three months for tourism, short-term business or elective study purposes. An ETA is invisible and therefore will not show up in your passport.
All nationals referred to in the chart above are eligible for an ETA except: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovak Republic and Slovenia.
Other types of visa
Visitors not eligible for an ETA, or seeking a longer stay than an ETA offers, may apply for Tourist (Non ETA) and Business Short-stay (Non ETA) visas.
There are also student visas, employers’ visas for overseas workers and sponsored family visitor visas available; enquire at the Australian high commission.
Types of Visa and Cost
ETAs: Visitor/Short Validity Business: Free of charge. Business Visitor (Long Validity) A$70.
Note: A service fee of A$20 is charged when applying for an ETA online through the DIMIA ETA website. Some travel agents and airlines issuing ETAs also charge a processing fee.
Non-ETAs: Tourist and Business Short-stay visas: A$70.
Visa fees are generally adjusted on 1 January and 1 July each year.
Validity
Visitor ETAs are valid for 12 months from date of issue (or until the passport expires, whichever comes first) and permit multiple entries into Australia for a stay of up to three months on each visit. Short Validity Business ETAs are valid for 12 months from date of issue (or until the passport expires, whichever comes first) with stays of up to three months on each visit and can be used for single or multiple entry travel. Business Visitor (Long Validity) ETAs are valid for 10 years (or the life of the passport) and permit multiple entries for a stay of up to three months for each visit.
For non-ETA visas, the validity varies according to the type of visa, the purpose of the trip and the validity of the passport. Visas are usually valid from three to 12 months. The validity will be stated on the visa label in your passport.
Applications to:
ETA:Authorised travel agents or airlines; by telephone; some nationals may apply online through the main Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) (website: www.eta.immi.gov.au) (Visitor and Short Validity Business ETAs only); travel agents and airline offices.
Non-ETA:Australian embassies, high commissions and consulates; see Contact Addresses.
There is a Tourist Short-Stay visa available online (website: www.immi.gov.au) for passport holders of Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovak Republic and Slovenia.
Working Days Required
ETA: When issued through DIMIA’s ETA website, or through travel agents or airline offices, usually processed and valid immediately or within three working days.
Non-ETA: 10-15 working days.
Money
Currency
Australian Dollar (AUD; symbol A$) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of A$100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of A$2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10 and 5 cents.
Currency Exchange
Exchange facilities are available for all incoming and outgoing flights at all international airports in Australia. International-class hotels will exchange major currencies for guests. It is recommended that visitors change money at the airport or at city banks.
Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs
Major credit cards are accepted. Use may be restricted in small towns and outback areas.
Traveller's Cheques
Widely accepted in major currencies at banks or large hotels. However, some banks may charge a fee for cashing traveller’s cheques. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller’s cheques in a major currency.
Banking Hours
Mon-Thurs 0930-1600, Fri 0930-1700. These hours may vary slightly throughout the country.
Exchange Rate Indicators
| Date | Jul 07 |
| £1.00= | A$2.35 |
| $1.00= | A$1.17 |
| €1.00= | A$1.59 |
Transport
Getting Around By Air
Australians rely on aviation to get from place to place as inhabitants of smaller countries rely on trains and buses. The network of scheduled services extends to more than 150,000km (95,000 miles) and covers the whole continent. Aircraft can be chartered by pilots who pass a written examination on Australian air regulations and have their licences validated for private operations within Australia.
The major domestic airlines are Jetstar Airways (website: www.jetstar.com.au), Qantas (website: www.qantas.com.au) and Virgin Blue (website: www.virginblue.com.au), which serve the major resorts and cities throughout Australia. In addition, Rex Regional Express (website: www.rex.com.au) operates throughout New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria; Air North (website: www.airnorth.com.au) operates throughout the Northern Territory; Macair Airlines (website: www.macair.com.au) operates throughout Queensland; Skywest (website: www.skywest.com.au) operates throughout Western Australia and several small airlines operate to the islands off Tasmania (see Tasmania section).
Nearly all the domestic airlines operate special deals or air passes at greatly reduced prices.
Getting Around by Water
There are 36,738km (22,600 miles) of coastline and many lakes, inland waterways and inlets, all of which can be used for touring by boat. From paddle steamers along the Murray River to deep-sea fishing cruisers along the vast Barrier Reef, all are available for charter or passenger booking. Most tour operators also handle shipping cruises. The Spirit of Tasmania is an overnight car-ferry service linking Melbourne with Tasmania daily (website: www.spiritoftasmania.com.au).
Getting Around by Rail
Over 40,000km (24,850 miles) of track cover the country. Due to the vastness of the country, internal flights are a preferred option for travelling long distances, particularly as rail travel can be slow and relatively expensive. For further information on rail transport within the different states, see the individual state entries or contact Rail Australia (website: www.railaustralia.com.au).
Two services span the continent from coast to coast. The twice-weekly Indian Pacific travels 4,350km (2,704 miles) from Sydney on the east coast to Perth on the west coast, via Adelaide. The journey takes three days and three nights, crossing the Nullarbar Plain on the famous 478km (297 mile) stretch of straight track, the longest in the world. The Ghan travels 2,979km (1,891 miles) between Adelaide and Darwin, via Alice Springs. The service runs weekly in each direction and takes two nights. Both trains are fully air conditioned and soundproofed, with first- and second-class sleeping cars, a lounge car, bars and good restaurant facilities.
Other express service links (not always daily) from the state capitals are as follows:
The Canberra Monaro Express links Canberra with Sydney in four or five hours. The XPT Express runs from Melbourne to Brisbane via Canberra and Sydney. The Sunlander and the Queenslander link Brisbane with Cairns (31 hours). The Prospector links Perth with Kalgoorlie and this is one of Australia’s fastest trains (six to seven hours). The Spirit of the Outback runs Brisbane to Longreach via Rockhampton.
There are also a number of scenic rail journeys available, including the Kuranda Scenic Railway that links Cairns with Kuranda via a 34km (14-mile) climb through tropical rainforest.
Several routes have motor-rail facilities. Long-distance trains are air conditioned and have excellent catering facilities and showers. Reservations for seats and sleeping berths are essential on all long-distance trains and are accepted up to six months in advance.
Sleeping berths: Single and twin apartments are available for a surcharge on most inter-capital overnight services. All ‘Twinettes’ have two sleeping berths and wash basin. Twinettes are available either first-class or holiday-class; the first also offer individual showers. ‘Roomette’ (single compartment) cars have showers at the end of each car. These are first-class only.
Rail Passes
Austrailpass: valid for 14, 21 and 30 days, with seven-day extensions available. Must be purchased outside Australia, and can only be used by non-Australian passport holders. Only economy-class passes are available. Does not include meal or sleeping berth charges. Each state operator offers its own Austrailpass scheme.
Austrail Flexi-Pass: valid for eight, 15, 22 and 29 days within a six-month period, although it cannot be used on the Ghan or the Indian Pacific. The pass only offers economy-class accommodation. Must be purchased outside of Australia.
East Coast Discovery Pass: offers six months’ travel on the eastern coast.
There is also a Backpacker Rail Pass and a Great Southern Railway Pass available.
Getting Around by Road
Traffic drives on the left. Road signs are international. Driving off major highways in the outback becomes more difficult between November and February because of summer rain, as many roads are little more than dirt tracks. Road travel is best between April and October. Distances between towns can be considerable, and apart from ensuring that all vehicles are in peak condition, it is advisable to carry spare water, petrol and equipment. Travellers are advised to check with local automobile associations before departure in order to obtain up-to-date information on road and weather conditions.
Coach: Major cities are linked by an excellent national coach system, run by Greyhound Pioneer (website: www.greyhound.com.au). Tasmania also has its own coach service, Tasmanian Redline Coaches (website: www.redlinecoaches.com.au). There are numerous other companies operating state and interstate services.
Coach passes are available for travel on a variety of routes for between seven days and one year, such as the All Australian, the Sunseeker, the Aussie Reef & Rock, the Coast to Coast etc. The Aussie Kilometre Pass allows you to purchase your travel in kilometres and then travel in any direction on the national network to the distance purchased. It is advisable to purchase these passes before departure from country of origin.
Car hire: Available at all major airports and major hotels to those over 21 years old.
Regulations: The speed limit is 60kph (35mph) in cities and towns in most states but 50kph (31mph) in Victoria and Western Australia, 50kph/31mph in all suburban areas and 80-110kph (50-68mph) on country roads and highways unless signs indicate otherwise. Seat belts must be worn at all times and driving licences must be in the driver’s possession when driving. Bicycle helmets must be worn by all cyclists.
Documentation: An International Driving Permit is required by nationals of countries whose official language is not English. International, foreign or national driving permits are generally valid for three months. An International Driving Permit is only valid in conjunction with a valid national licence. Permits must be carried at all times while driving.
Getting Around Towns and Cities
Comprehensive public transport systems are provided in all the main towns. The state capitals have suburban rail networks, those in Sydney and Melbourne being particularly extensive, and trams run in Melbourne and Adelaide. Meter-operated taxis can be found in all major cities and towns. There is a minimum ’flagfall charge’ and then a charge for the distance travelled. Taxi drivers do not expect to be tipped. A small additional payment may be required for luggage and telephone bookings. Some taxis accept payment by credit card. For further details, see individual state entries.
Journey Times
The following chart gives approximate journey times (in hours and minutes) from Sydney to other major cities in Australia.
| | Air | Rail | Coach |
| Adelaide | 1.40 | 25.00 | 22.00 |
| Brisbane | 1.20 | 15.00 | 15.00 |
| Darwin | 5.00 | - | 92.50 |
| Melbourne | 1.10 | 10.00 | 14.00 |
| Perth | 4.00 | 65.00 | 56.00 |
Entertainment
Food and Drink
There are numerous speciality dishes and foods. Australia also offers an enormous variety of cuisines, including Italian, French, Greek, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Malaysian, Thai, Japanese, Indian, African, Lebanese and Korean.
Things to know: Service varies from waitress and waiter service to self-service. Bistros, cafes, family-style restaurants and pub lunches offer good food at reasonable prices. Most restaurants and hotels are licensed to serve alcohol; private hotels and guest houses cannot be licensed by law. Some restaurants will allow guests to bring their own alcohol and are called ‘BYO’ restaurants. Licensing hours in public bars are Mon-Sat 1000-2200, however most pubs are open until 2400; Sunday hours vary. Restaurants, clubs and hotel lounges have more flexible hours.
National specialities:
• Sydney rock oysters.
• Barramundi (freshwater fish).
• Tiger prawns.
• Macadamia nuts.
•Yabbies (small freshwater lobsters).
National drinks:
• Australian wine.
• Australian beer.
The major vineyards (wineries) are outside Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart, Canberra and Adelaide. The largest single wine-growing region is in the Barossa Valley, South Australia, two hours’ drive from Adelaide, where high-quality red and white wines are produced. For further information, visit www.australianwineandbeer.com).
Legal drinking age: 18.
Tipping: Not as common as it is in Europe and North America, nor is a service charge added to the bill in restaurants. 10% for food and drink waiters is usual in top-quality restaurants, but is optional elsewhere. With taxis it is usual not to tip but round up the cost to the next dollar.
Shopping
Special purchases include excellent local wines; wool, clothing, leather and sheepskin products; opal and other precious or semi-precious stones; and modern art sculpture and paintings. Exhibitions of bark paintings, boomerangs and other tribal objects are on view and for sale in Darwin, Alice Springs and the state capitals; many depict stories from the Dreamtime. Many cities and towns have small shops devoted to the sale of ‘Australiana’, where Australian souvenirs, ranging from T-shirts to boomerangs, can be bought.
Shopping hours: Opening hours for most stores in the cities are Mon-Fri 0900-1730, Sat 0900-1700. Late-night shopping is available Friday to 2100 in Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Hobart and Darwin. Late-night shopping is available Thursday at the same times in Sydney, Canberra and Perth. Major stores in some states are open 1000-1600 Sunday. Corner stores, restaurants and snack bars are open in most cities until well into the night.
Top things to see
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Top things to do
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Business
Statistics
•GDP: US$707.9 billion (2005).
•Main exports: Ores and metals, wool, food and live animals, minerals, fuels, transport machinery and equipment.
• Main imports: Machinery and transport equipment, computers and office machines, telecommunication equipment and parts, crude oil and petroleum products.
• Main trade partners: USA, Japan, China, Germany and UK.
Economy
Australia has a very diverse economy and a high standard of living. The service sector accounts for almost three-quarters of GDP, although other sectors of the economy contribute significantly to Australian export earnings.
Approximately one-third of export earnings is derived from agricultural products, although the main agricultural industry, sheep farming, now appears to be in long-term decline.
The other major export industry is mining; Australia has vast reserves of coal (of which it is now the world’s leading exporter), oil, natural gas, nickel, zircon, iron ore, bauxite and diamonds, as well as uranium (Australian ore fuels many of the Western nations’ nuclear power plants). Most Australian manufacturing is concentrated in processing of mineral products and in the iron, steel and engineering industries.
The country’s service industries, which now account for the major part of the economy, have continued to grow, despite some damage in the wake of the 1997 Asian financial crisis, which severely affected many of Australia’s major trading partners.
The most important development in the economy in recent years has been a shift in trading patterns away from Britain and Europe towards the Pacific Rim – 60% of Australian exports are now sold in that region.
Australia’s single-largest trading partner is Japan, which takes approximately one-third of total exports, followed by the USA, South Korea, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, China and then the EU nations (principally the UK and Germany).Japanese investment in Australia, particularly in property and tourist ventures, has reached the point where most of the eastern seaboard ‘Gold Coast’ is now Japanese owned.
The Australian economy has continued to perform steadily during the last few years; annual growth in 2005 was just 2.5%. Inflation and unemployment in the same year were stable at 4 and 4.8% respectively.
Business Etiquette
Suits are usually worn in Sydney and Melbourne. Brisbane businesspeople may wear shirts, ties and shorts; visiting businesspeople should wear lightweight suits for the initial meeting. Prior appointments necessary. Punctuality is important. A great deal of business is conducted over drinks. Best months for business travel are March to November.
Office hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700.
Commercial Information
Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI)
Commerce House, Level 3, 24 Brisbane Avenue, Barton, ACT 2600, Australia
Tel: (2) 6273 2311.
Website: www.acci.asn.au
International Chamber of Commerce
Level 3, 525 Collins Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
Tel: (3) 8608 2072 or 2547.
Association of Australian Convention Bureaux (AACB)
Level 2, 80 William Street, Sydney, NSW 2011, Australia
Website: www.aacb.org.au
Australia Business in the UK
Dudley House, 34-35 Southampton Street, London WC2E 7HE, UK
Tel: 0870 890 0720.
Website: www.anzcc.org.uk
Communications
Telephone
Country code: 61.
Payphones are red, green, gold or blue. Only local calls can be made from red phones. Green, gold and blue phones also have International Direct Dialling (IDD) and Subscriber Trunk Dial (STD). Telstra Smart Phonecards are available at newsagents, supermarkets and chemists and can be used for local, STD or international calls.
Creditphones, which take most major credit cards, can be found at airports, city-centre locations and many hotels. Multimedia payphones are available in parts of Melbourne and Sydney. A touch screen allows visitors to gain access to information services, including tourist information which can be printed off for future reference. Phonecards for these telephones can be purchased from nearby shops.
Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good in and around populated areas; access in some of the more isolated, outback and rural areas is limited. US handsets are not compatible.
Internet
Available throughout Australia. Internet cafes are prevalent in all capital cities and tourist towns, and individual hotels may also provide facilities.
Media
Australia’s media scene is diverse and thriving. There is a long history of public broadcasting, but also many private TV and radio stations. Ownership of both print and broadcast media is highly concentrated. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) operates national and local public radio and TV stations. The other main broadcaster is the Multicultural Special Broadcasting Service (SBS).
Post
There are post offices in all the main towns of every state.
Stamps are often available at hotel and motel reception areas and selected newsagents.
Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700; some post office are also open Sat 0900-1200.
Press
• The main daily newspapers are The Australian and Australian Financial Review.
• Newspapers generally have a high circulation throughout the continent.
Radio
• ABC is a public radio broadcaster that operates speech-cultural network Radio National, rolling news station ABC NewsRadio, youth-oriented Triple J, classical and contemporary music network, ABC Classic FM and local-regional services.
• Radio Australia is ABC’s external service.