Everything You Must Know About Visiting Australia

Australia is every tourist’s dream destination. With its beautiful outdoor terrains, rich wildlife, super adventurous outdoor activities and the some of the friendliest locals you will ever come across, Australia truly deserves a place in your bucket list. Agreed, parts of it are remote and there are subtle nuances to travelling in Australia that almost every first-timer tourist misses out on. And that is exactly why we are here, with the answer to a few questions you will be asking at some point on the holiday. Before you head straight out for some unadulterated Aussie fun, be sure to go through our list and be prepared for the most adventurous holiday ever!

What is the perfect time to plan a holiday to Australia?

It is always a good time to visit Australia, so plan your holiday depending on what you want to do. This is probably a good time to remind you that during Christmas it is summer in here. If you feel like you will be comfortable in the milder temperatures in the ‘Outback’ (central Australia) and want to indulge in some whale watching on the east coast, visit during the Australian winter. If it is some partying that you are looking at, after a tiresome and rough backpacking trip, visit during the Australian summer for the famous Bondi Christmas party and the Sydney Harbour New Year’s party.

Do I need a visa to go to Australia? What visa type do I apply for?

Did you know that in Australia, for different types of travellers, there are different kinds of visa available? The most popular visa for Australia from the UK and Europe (plus many other parts of the world) is the Working Holiday visa. This Australian backpacker visa allows you to stay and work in Australia for one year. If you want to apply, you’ll need to meet some entry requirements: you must be aged 18 – 30 years old, have enough money of your own (around AUD $5,000/ EUR  €3,000), must not have a criminal convictions and be in good health.

If you’re not planning to stay this long or if you don’t want to work while backpacking Australia, you can also apply for a tourist visa. With this visa, you can stay for up to three months, but there are some restrictions regarding any criminal convictions in your own country.

You can also apply for a long-stay tourist visa. This visa enables you to backpack around Australia for up to a year, but you will not be allowed to work during this time. You will also be required to prove that you have enough money to travel around Australia without having to work, as they do not want people working illegally on this visa.

My God. That’s a lot of legal stuff. What other rules do I need to know? For example, let’s say for driving.

Driving in Australia is a great way to get around. You can rent a car and reach any place you want to at any time, without going through the hassles of relying on public transport. Also, the feeling of driving past the beautiful landscapes of both the city and the countryside is an experience we totally recommend. Driving in Australia with a UK licence is easy as your licence is also valid – and they drive on the left-hand side of the road too. Just a word of caution- avoid driving at night. You do not want to kill any of the cute native animals. Also, bigger animals like kangaroos can cause damage to the car if you happen to collide into them.

How much money do I need for a holiday in Australia?

This is the biggest consideration for anybody before planning a holiday. We totally understand. And as is the case with every other place, how much you end up spending depends to some extent on what standard of places you wish to live in and eat at. For a general idea, in larger cities like Sydney and Melbourne, a bed in an 8-person dorm typically goes for roughly AUD $20–$35 a night. In hotels, expect the costs to go up accordingly. Alcohol is expensive in Australia due to import costs and taxation, so buying it at a local shop is much cheaper than hitting a bar. Food is expensive in Australia. A sit-down meal at your average restaurant can cost anywhere from AUD $25 -$40, which is why backpackers and budget travellers prefer to buy groceries and make their own meals in the hostel.

These were some of the points you absolutely need to consider before heading to a holiday in Australia. We hope you found this information useful. So set your budget and itinerary accordingly, and head to a fun vacation!