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Destination Guides - Australia & Oceania / Australia
Travel Advice on Health, Climate, Local Info, Customs and Laws
| Travel Advice/Warnings |
| This is generally a very safe country to visit. Be aware of the vast distances between towns and ensure you are suitably prepared for the journey. Be aware that some of the wildlife is poisonous. |
| Vaccinations & Health Alerts |
| Dengue Fever, Ross River Fever and Murray Valley Encephalitis outbreaks do occur in the Northern and Western areas of the country. Proof of Yellow Fever is required if travelling from an infected country. A reciprocal health care agreement exists with the UK. |
| Seasonal Climate |
| Month |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
| Temp (c) |
22 |
21 |
20 |
18 |
14 |
13 |
13 |
15 |
17 |
19 |
20 |
21 |
| Rainfall (cm) |
10 |
12 |
12 |
10 |
11 |
15 |
10 |
10 |
9 |
9 |
8 |
9 |
|
| The country is vast and the outback or interior is especially unforgiving and best visited during the months of April to June or October and November. Visit the southern coastal areas in their summer and the northern coast in the winter. The Cyclone Season normally runs from November to April. |
BBC - Weather Centre - Forecast for Sydney, Australia
| Thursday |
Max Temp: 23°C (73°F), Min Temp: 21°C (70°F), Wind Direction: SSE, Wind Speed: 17mph, Visibility: very good, Pressure: 1032mb, Humidity: 41%, Sunrise: 06:50EST, Sunset: 19:20EST |
| Friday |
Max Temp: 24°C (75°F), Min Temp: 20°C (68°F), Wind Direction: SE, Wind Speed: 14mph, Visibility: very good, Pressure: 1035mb, Humidity: 42%, Sunrise: 06:51EST, Sunset: 19:19EST |
| Saturday |
Max Temp: 23°C (73°F), Min Temp: 20°C (68°F), Wind Direction: SSE, Wind Speed: 13mph, Visibility: very good, Pressure: 1033mb, Humidity: 41%, Sunrise: 06:52EST, Sunset: 19:18EST |
(by the BBC Weather Centre in association with the Met Office) |
| Local Customs/Laws |
| Laws and the penalties for breaking them can vary between states. Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is illegal. Be aware that rural communities might be less tolerant of gay and lesbian travellers. |
| Getting Around |
| There is a sound infrastructure in place and getting about is easy. Internal flights are widely used due to the distances between major cities. If travelling by road, ensure you leave route details and ETA with friends or local police and ensure you have sufficient provisions with you. Car hire is available from most airports if you are over 21. You must carry your UK driving licence and passport when travelling. When venturing into the outback or the National Parks, be aware that the terrain and intense heat can reduce your capabilities. Take plenty of water and something that could be used to make a shelter from the sun. |
| Public Holidays/Festivals |
| dates for 2010 are: New Year's Day on 1 January, Chinese New Year lasts for 15 days and starts on 14 February. It culminates with a Lantern Festival and a dragon dance. The best place to witness this is Sydney. Other holidays include: Australia Day on 26 January, Easter which falls between 2-5 April, Anzac Day on 25 April, Christmas on 25 & 26 December. The Queen's Birthday is celebrated everywhere except Western Australia(WA) on 9 June, WA celebrate Foundation Day instead on 2 June. The Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is held in Sydney on the first Saturday in March. |
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| Religion |
| Predominately Christian |
| Visa Requirements |
Visas are required for all travel to Australia. You can obtain either an eVisitor visa direct from the Department of Immigration & Citizenship at: http://www.immi.gov.au. There is no visa application charge or service fee for this. Alternatively obtain an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) via your Travel Agent or Airline where a service fee of A$20 applies.
Information on all other types of visa is available from the Department of Immigration & Citizenship, or from the Australian High Commission in London. |
| British Embassy Details |
| British High Commission, Consular Section Locked Bag 5011, Piccadilly House, 39 Brindabella Circuit, Canberra Airport, CANBERRA ACT 2609 Tel: (2)1902 941 555 - Consular Section, (2)130 0367 066 - Passport enquiries or (2)130 0858 472 - Visa enquiries. |
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