Australian Destinations
Australian Destinations is subdivided into states and territories. Click on the link on the map or on the list below the map to get to the articles for each state, region, or territory.
New South Wales and Canberra (NSW) & (ACT)
New South Wales is Australia's most populous state. The Harbour City of Sydney is Australia's largest, most international city. The coast of New South Wales is lined with beachside communities, each one offering experiences for the traveller. A little inland are the mountain ranges of the Blue Mountains, and the purpose built capital city of Canberra, excised from New South Wales. Futher inland still expect sweeping plains, turning from agriculture to desert the further inland you venture.
From the red deserts surrounding Uluru and Alice Springs up to the tropics of Darwin and Kakadu National Park the Northern Territory is stunning beautful, and easier to access then you might think.
Famous for its sunny warm weather, Queensland has offers coastal exploration from the vibe of the Gold Coast to the tropics of the Great Barrier Reef. It also is home to tropical rainforests of the Daintree National Park, and the island resorts of the Whitsundays. Inland lies the ranges of the hinterland, and further on the vast expanses and beauty of outback Australia.
Renowned for the fine wines of the Barossa Valley, the beauty of the Flinders Ranges and the outback, and the beaches and events and culture of the City of Churches, Adelaide.
Separated from the mainland by Bass Strait, Tasmania has rugged beauty of Cradle Mountain and the west, the beaches of the east, and the complete wilderness of the south. Hobart was the site of the second European settlment in Australia, and many historic sites are well preseved. The island has well developed facilities for travellers.
Small, vibrant and with something for everyone, Victoria has dramatic surf beaches along the southwest and central coast, green rolling farmland and photogenic national parks. The diversity of rural Victoria is very easy to access due in part to its size and well maintained roads. Australia and Victoria's shopping, fashion and food capital is Melbourne.
A vast state. The south-west contains state capital and major city of Perth closely surrounded by the wildflower, wine growing and scenic destinations of the Margaret River and Albany. North to the tropics and the beachside desination of Broome. Small townships, roadhouses, mining communities and national parks scattered around the long distances between.
Australian Travel Advice
Australian customs and quarantine
Australia has a strict customs requirement when it comes to animal and vegetable derived products, including wood. This is because Australia is an island, and thus far free of many diseases and insect pests sometimes found in other countries. All incoming visitors must pass a customs check for these items. No fresh fruits, vegetables, meat or other food products are allowed. Most manufactured, packaged food (chocolates, cookies, etc) is usually found to be acceptable, and will generally be inspected and returned to you. However, even permitted food items must be declared to customs and inspected before they are allowed into the country. Most baggage is scanned and examined by dogs prior to entry.
There is no penalty provided goods are declared - they'll just be confiscated and destroyed or held in quarantine. If you attempt to bring them in without declaring them, there is the possibility of extremely heavy penalties including fines (in the order of thousands of dollars) and even a possible jail term. More likely an on-the-spot fine of $220 will be payable. It is far safer to declare any items that might be prohibited; if they are not then you will suffer no consequences.
The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service website has more details.
There are also some restrictions when travelling from one state to another, or even within the same state. This especially relates to items such as fruit and vegetables which can transmit pests.
Australian Visa Requirements
Most citizens of New Zealand may travel to and work in Australia for any length of time without a visa, but entry is not guaranteed: check with Australian immigration if you have a criminal record or have been refused entry to other countries recently. Citizens of New Zealand immigrating to Australia might want to apply for Australian permanent residency in order to be eligible for some welfare payments. Permanent residents of New Zealand no longer receive any special privileges (except Medicare benefits) and are treated just like any other foreigners from their country of citizenship, meaning that the usual visa requirements apply.
All other nationalities require some form of visa. There are two types:
Electronic Travel Authorities (ETAs), an electronic visa available to holders of certain passports, see the immigration website [8]. These are valid for visits of up to 3 months and allow multiple entries for a year. Australian employment is not allowed. ETAs are available online at https://www.eta.immi.gov.au/ and may be available through your travel agent. Apply for the ETA through your travel agent if buying tickets from them, as the fee for applying online is usually waived.
Non-electronic visas, the only option if you do not hold an ETA-eligible passport, also required if you are staying for a longer period of time or wish to seek Australian employment. These will require a written application and processing by an Australian consulate or embassy. Contact the Department of Immigration for more information.
Overstaying or violating any terms of your visa can result in deportation and a 3-year entry ban.
Resources
Australian Time Zones
Australia has three time zones: Eastern Standard Time (EST) for the eastern states, Central Standard Time (CST) for the Northern Territory and South Australia and Western Standard Time(WST) for Western Australia. CST is half an hour behind EST and WST is two hours behind EST.
Daylight Saving Time Most Australian states wind their clocks forward an hour during the Daylight Saving period. New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia do this from the beginning of October to the beginning of April. Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland don’t observe the practice of Daylight Saving.