Australia is a beautiful country, known for its’ everlasting stretch of beaches and desolate outback. Many international tourists visit Australia every year to experience the beauty. Likewise, Australian’s love to tour their own country.
Australia is a large country, which takes months to travel around and see most of the sights.
Use this travel advice in Australia to ensure your trip runs smoothly, so you’re ready for any issues that may arise along the way.
How to Travel Around Australia
Support Local Businesses
Since the pandemic hit and 2020 bushfires wiped out countless homes and businesses in Australia, it’s best to shop small and support local businesses.
Instead of stopping in at McDonald’s or another fast-food giant, enjoy a bite from a local fish and chip shop, bakery or restaurant.
Moreover, these small businesses will appreciate the support and will likely be happy to chat with you and give you helpful local travel advice.
Drive on the Left in Australia
Stay vigilant when using highways (or any roads for that matter) within Australia. Especially during dusk and dawn, as this is when some wildlife is awake and feeding.
Keep an eye out for kangaroos and wallabies when driving along rural roads; they’re notorious for crossing the road in front of vehicles. With that said, an important note is to drive on the left in Australia.
If you are likely to drive slow on rural roads, please use the slow vehicle turnouts to allow vehicles to pass safely. It’s okay to be careful if you are unfamiliar with the road, but please be considerate of people who use the route regularly. You will see plenty of signage for safe turn out zones along highways.
Swimming in Australia
Importantly, don’t swim by yourself in rivers, lakes or at beaches. Australian waters can be dangerous to swim in as there may be currents and rips within the water.
Always read signage before swimming and never mix alcohol with swimming. Do your best to swim between the flags, talk to lifeguards and learn about rips and currents before swimming in Australia.
How to Travel Around Australia
The easiest and most efficient way to travel around Australia is via plane. With this in mind, you will save a lot of time going from either state. However, you will miss out on a lot of extraordinary sights that are in-between.
For example, if you fly from Sydney to Melbourne, you will skip all of the magnificent Eastern Coast of Australia beaches.
Decide how you want to travel around Australia by looking at travel itineraries and considering the costs associated with plane or vehicle travel.
Familiarise yourself with Australian slang
If you are an international traveller, try your best to wrap your head around Australian slang; otherwise, conversations may be confusing.
There are phrases such as G’day, Brekkie, Smoko and, She’ll be right. Use this travel advice in Australia and do some research before you begin your journey, as it’s ideal to know.
| Slang | Meaning |
| Arvo | Afternoon |
| Coppers | Police |
| Devo | Devastated |
| G’day | Hello |
| U-ey | U-turn |
| Ripper | That’s Great! |
Check out this list of Australian slang
Be Aware Of Lack of Phone Service
If you are travelling into regional parts of Australia, keep in mind that phone service isn’t available everywhere. It’s best to prepare yourself with directions before heading off on your trip.
In Australia, we use ‘000’ to call the police, ambulance or the fire brigade for help.
For example, download helpful applications like ‘emergency plus‘ and offline maps, so you always have directions available. If you are in an emergency, you can call triple zero and state the three words displayed within the ’emergency plus’ application.
As a result, emergency services will be able to find your exact location using latitude and longitude coordinates.
Be Prepared For Australian Weather
Australian weather can be highly unpredictable; be prepared for weather changes.
Australia is typically known for being hot and dry. However, there are parts of the country that can be overcast, cold and rainy. It’s not unusual for there to be floods and bushfires.
Australian weather is different in every region. If you’re planning to visit a single destination, do some research on the weather for that region. To sum up, if you’re planning a lap of Australia, it’s best to pack for cold, wet and warm weather.
In conclusion, use this travel advice in Australia to ensure preparation for any change of climate.
Don’t Miss Out on Australian Cafe Culture
Indulge in Australia’s cafe culture, specifically within Melbourne. Melbourne is well-known for having some of the best coffee in the world.
Don’t be afraid to try a new cafe every day and support local businesses; Besides, there are plenty of places to choose from all over Australia.
Try using the application ‘yelp’, which is full of fantastic recommendations for cafes and restaurants.
Australian coffee is drip-style espresso, making it a much richer flavour than American coffee.
Sunscreen is important! Slip, Slop, Slap
It’s necessary to wear sunscreen almost every day you spend outside. When the UV index is above 3, apply sunscreen to the areas of your skin exposed to the sun.
The Australian sun is very harsh and has caused many cases of skin cancer. Roughly 16,000 people were diagnosed with melanoma in Australia.
Take sunscreen with you on day trips and overcast days. Coupled with the use of a weather app and checking the UV index online each day.
Slip, Slop, Slap is a part of the Cancer Council’s SunSmart program. In short, slip on a t-shirt, slop on some sunscreen and slap on a hat.
This travel advice in Australia is critical for your health and safety. In the meantime, please refer to the Cancer Council website for more information.
Wrapping Up The Travel Advice in Australia
There are many important things to keep in mind while travelling around Australia. Nonetheless, ensure you travel responsibly and respectfully.
Please keep in mind that there are people who are locals of your travel destinations. Avoid being loud when leaving residential areas and always take your rubbish with you.
Stay ready with the travel tips and use them to your advantage.
In conclusion, the best thing you can do when unsure is ask an Aussie. After all, Australian’s are friendly people and will be happy to help out or give advice if needed.
If you could give a piece of advice to an international traveller visiting Australia, what would it be?
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