Introduction
Australia is world famous for its natural wonders: lush rain forests, coral reefs, outback deserts, pristine beaches and countless species of plants and animals. It is undoubtedly one of the most popular destinations among “on the road” travelers and for those looking for a working holiday experience: that is to combine work and vacation for a maximum period of 12 months.
I have collected on this page the essential information to organize a holiday in Australia, over time I will add all the travel diaries of the places I have visited.
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Necessary documents
Passport and visa
A valid passport and visa is required to visit Australia. There are various types based on the duration and reason for the stay. The tourist visa (eVisitor) can be requested online through the website of the immigration department, the passport number and personal information are required. The operation is automatic and in a short time the document is sent to the e-mail address. The visa is valid for one year from the time of issue and allows you to stay in Australia for a maximum period of 3 months.
Before purchasing the flight I therefore recommend: checking the expiry date of the passport and applying for a visa
license
An international driving license is required to drive in Australia (model Geneva Convention 1949 or Vienna 1968). To rent a car, you must be at least 21 years old and have had a driving license for at least 12 months.
For the latest information, I invite you to consult the Ministry of Foreign Affairs portal
- Incoming passenger card
- During the flight to Australia or upon arrival at the airport, a form is provided to be filled in for entry into the country, it is the incoming passenger card. At this link you will find an example of the form, the main requests are:
- General, passport number, flight number
- Your accommodation in Australia, indicate the first one you are in, just the name of the structure.
- Yes / No questionnaire, the ideal would be to answer No to all
On the back, select the type of visa: it is usually B for tourists
A few tips to avoid problems:
- Do not bring food, drinks, vegetables, seeds, earth or other organic material
- Bring strictly necessary medicines
- Bring a hard copy of your reservations in case of checking.
Here You can get consulting to reduce the Paper work and Headache
When to go
The Australian climate is mild for most of the year, but being a very large country it can vary from one area to another. The northern states are characterized by a generally warm climate, while the southern ones have a colder winter.
Like all countries in the southern hemisphere, the Australian seasons are opposite to those in the northern hemisphere. Summer runs from December to February; autumn from March to May; winter from June to August and spring from September to November.
All months are good for visiting Australia, but in principle spring and autumn are the best times because the climate is mild almost everywhere.
Some Advice:
In summer (from December to February) it is better to avoid the north of the country, it is very hot, there is a risk of typhoons and the sea is full of giant jellyfish (box jellyfish)
The Red Center (Uluru & Kata Tjuta, Kings Canyon, Alice Springs) can be visited safely throughout the year, however from June to August the weather becomes cooler and is therefore excellent for visiting the outback. For more Information you can consult with Immigration.
The ideal time to visit the whole tropical area (including: Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef, Darwin and the Top End, Broome and the Kimberley) is the southern winter (June / August). As indicated above, spring is also a good time, I chose late October to visit Queensland, there are fewer people and the prices are lower.
