10 FAQs When Planning A Trip To Australia

Australia is big. It’s beautiful. And very, very far away. So planning a trip can be daunting at first. Luckily here are the answers to your top frequently asked questions made simple.

1. Do I need a Visa?

Yes. A visa is required on entry to the country, unless you’re from New Zealand, in which case you can apply for one after you arrive. Lucky you. 18 to 30-year-olds can apply for a Working Holiday Visa, which allows you to legally work in the country typically for up to twelve months while travelling.

2. What else do I need?

Besides your passport, clothes are usually a good start. Bear in mind what kind of trip you’re after. If you’ll be working on some cattle station deep in the Aussie Outback, you might want to go easy on the bikinis and flip-flops (a.k.a. “thongs”). Alternatively, there’s no need to emulate the Crocodile Dundee on a two-week surf holiday in Sydney.

3. What can I bring?

Ever seen an episode of Border Security: Australia’s Front Line? That is how serious these people at customs take their jobs. Better leave any drugs, steroids, weapons, firearms, protected wildlife, fresh or packaged food, fruit, eggs, meat, plants, seeds, skins, feathers and unfinished wood in your cupboard back home.

4. Do I need any vaccinations?

Nope. Hip, hip, hooray! Well, unless you have visited a yellow fever-infected country in the six days prior to arrival, but what are the chances? However, medications are controlled so you will have to declare them at customs, and we recommend you bring a doctor’s prescription note as bona fide evidence.

5. How much money will I need?

Australia is expensive. Sorry. And it’s not just the flights. A cheap meal can cost around $20 and a one-bedroom apartment in the centre of Sydney can cost around $1,700 a month. However, the pay is better than in the UK, so it’s all relative. You’ll just have to get yourself one of those job things your parents keep banging on about. After all, how else will you finance all those nice diving trips or that life-changing expedition through the Outback?

6. How do I get a job?

Well, we’ve already established you’ll need that Working Holiday Visa. You’ll also need to open a bank account, which is a fairly simple process requiring your passport and other relevant documentation. Don’t forget to apply for a Tax File Number, which you can get online.

7. Cool! So what kind of jobs are out there?

There are a bunch of recruitment agencies partnering up with travel companies to get backpackers employed. If you’re coming on a Working Holiday Visa, temporary and casual jobs, such as cafe and bar work (for which you’ll need an RSA certificate), will be more favourable, as well as more outdoorsy, seasonal stuff such as ranch work and fruit-picking, which can help you see more of the country.

8. Is it always sunny Down Under?

Ermmm… No. Forget what you learnt on TV. Summer lasts from December to February across most of the continent, with wet season in the north. Winter, from June to August, is generally mild, with snow on the mountains in NSW, Victoria and Tasmania. The north is typically tropical year-round – microclimate – with cooler weather as you go down. That said, the south can have scorching summers, so don’t forget to load up on the suncream.

9. Will I see lots of kangaroos roaming around?

Sure, in Cooktown you can see them come out after dark, while in Canberra they hang around the parks during dry weather. Oh, you can also eat them in some restaurants. There are also koalas, dingoes, sugar gliders, bilbies, black swans, wombats, and lots of “lovely” cane toads. Plenty of wildlife to keep you going.

10. Will I die?

Yes, one day. However, it is very unlikely that you will get attacked by a killer spider during your stay, or end up being lunch for a great white shark (‘Jaws’ is not real) – so the creepy crawlies and marine life are no reason not to go to Australia. In fact, you are actually far more likely to die by a coconut falling on your head than a shark attack. So watch where you put that sun mat.

Make your trip to Australia with OzIntro

By Sarah Morland

Image courtesy of Ueli Fahrni