For many, a trip to the Land down Under is the trip of a lifetime. Australia really does offer something for everyone, exciting cities, spectacular scenery, friendly people and some of the most unique wildlife found anywhere in the world. Part of the excitement of a big trip is in the planning and if you are visiting this huge and fascinating country, there are several things you should not overlook.
The most important thing is your passport. Without this vital document, you will not get very far at all as your airline will not board you. Your passport needs to be valid for the length of your visit to Australia and the name on your passport should exactly match the name on your plane ticket. Actually, it is surprising how many travelers put their middle name or nickname on one or the other.
All visitors to Australia, except citizens of neighboring New Zealand, also need to have a visa, or in keeping with today's electronic environment, an electronic travel authority, (ETA) as it's now called. The ETA is easy to obtain, you can apply for it on line, and most airlines and travel agencies will process your application, for a fee. Unless you are in poor health or have a recent criminal record, you should not have any difficulty being granted the ETA.
There are several different types of ETA, depending on the purpose of your trip. If you are vacationing in Australia, you will need a visitor's visa - valid for three, six or twelve months, although extensions are possible. If you intend to work or conduct business in Australia, you will need one of several visas allowing you to work in the country, either on a temporary or permanent basis.
One thing you probably will not need for your trip to Australia is a paper plane ticket. Today, virtually all plane tickets are electronic, and are usually referred to as e-tickets. You may want to carry with you a faxed or e-mailed copy of your itinerary and receipt when you travel, although it is not actually necessary. Also, it's also a good idea to confirm flight times before leaving, just in case of a schedule change.
Electronic tickets offer big advantages to the airlines as well as passengers, they are less expensive to produce and distribute; and they involve less paperwork to keep together. Previously, if you lost your paper ticket, the airline would generally charge you to replace it. With an electronic ticket, there is usually no such problem, your airline will simply re-send it to you at no cost.
Many people drive while in Australia, a driving trip across the famous Outback is absolutely a memorable experience. If you plan to drive, you will need to take your regular driver's license or an International Driver's Permit with you. It is a rule in Australia that you carry your license with you at all times, it must also be written in English or you will need a translation. The minimum driving age is 16 or 17; sometimes 21 to drive a four wheel drive vehicle.
Many people visit Australia to experience the fascinating culture of the country's original inhabitants, the Aborigines. If you intend to travel on Aboriginal land, other than on a designated road, you will need to contact the Land Council in that state to obtain a permit. You can apply for the permit in advance, although the process can take up to six weeks, so you do not want to leave it until the last minute.
Australia is considered to be one of the safest and healthiest places in the world to visit. No vaccinations are necessary unless you have been in a yellow fever danger zone, usually found in Africa or South America. Be sure to take adequate prescription medication with you. By law, Australian pharmacies can only fill a prescription written by an Australian doctor. And it is a good idea to have a spare pair of glasses or contact lenses.
You may not need to take out additional travel insurance; the insurance included on your credit cards may cover you against such things as lost luggage, airline delays and a tour operator ceasing operations. Most health insurance plans will not provide coverage in Australia and it is vital to take out adequate health insurance, especially if you are planning to visit remote areas. Make sure you have signed everything and filled out all forms correctly.
When flying, always carry important documents and paperwork with you in your carry on bag, never in your checked luggage, just in case your bag is one of the few that is lost. It's also a good idea to make copies of any important papers, passport, plane tickets, tour itinerary, driving license and medical documents. Be prepared and enjoy your trip!
Craig Elliott is a freelance writer who writes about topics pertaining to vacations and the travel industry such as http://www.flightcentre.ca/holidays/australia/ Australia Travel | Flights to Australia
Australia's Most Successful Woman Reveals the Truth about "The Secret"
According to Rosalene Glickman, Ph.D., international best-selling author of Optimal Thinking: How to Be Your Best Self (Wiley, 7th printing and in 15 languages) whose clients include the U.S. Army, BP, Johnson & Johnson and the Internal Revenue Service: "After eighteen years of research, I concluded that positive thinking is dangerous and often no more than wishful thinking. With more than 50 percent of marriages ending in divorce, and real life tragedies such as space shuttle Columbia, hurricane Katrina, and the Iraq war, we can no longer deny that when the cost of failure is high, optimism can be catastrophic."
330 New Car Reviews Just Released -- All Australian Written by Drivers
For the first time in Australia, potential new car buyers can now read independent reviews of each and every new car model written by drivers, not by experts. Over the past six months, Private Fleet writers have been compiling these reports, and with the finishing touches being completed last week, they are ready for public consumption. It's a must read for anyone considering buying a new or used car.
Skilled Migrants Essential to the Development of Australia?s Economy
Australian businesses have been able to identify and attract much needed skills with greater success under the Government's Migration Programme in 2005-06. Due to improved targeting by the Government of skilled migrants there has been a 500 per cent increase over the previous year in the number of Skilled Independent migrants with occupations in short supply in Australia. ?Skilled migration is critical to Australia's future. It is not overstating it to say that skilled migrants are the engine room of the economy,? the Minister says.
It's Official - Elmore Oil is Now the Fastest Growing Topical Pain Relief Lotion in Australia
Yes, it's official. According to research data by AC Nielsen, Elmore Oil is the fastest growing pain relief lotion in retail pharmacy. While Elmore Oil has been around for almost 9 years, it has only been sold through pharmacy since September 2004, when it received approval by the TGA as a listed medicine.
Larch Arabinogalactan And Australian Bush Plum
Larch Arabinogalactan is produced from the wood of the larch tree; it is in fact a polysaccharide powder. It is a fine off white powder that has a mild smell of pine trees, and tastes a little sweet. It is readily soluble and can be used with juice or water. It is made up of galactose, arabinose, and a trace of glucuronic acid.
SBMP Launches Australian Radio Promotions for U.S. Artists
South Beach Marketing & Promotion, Inc. (SBMP) has expanded its radio promotion services to include radio campaigns for U.S. artists in Australia.
PokerNews and PokerStars Kicks off September with Another $5000 PokerNews Cup Australia Freeroll
PokerNews and PokerStars (http://www.pokernews.com/pokerstars/) to host another $5000 PokerNews Cup Australia (http://www.pokernewscup.com) Freeroll on Wednesday September 5 at 16:00 EDT - Exclusive to PokerNews players.
Australian Finance Website Reviews and Compares All Credit Cards
Choosing the right credit card can be a daunting task. Now there is a new website that allows Australian consumers to compare credit cards in one location. CreditCards.com.au is a highly respected Australian website designed to help ordinary people bust through the jargon and fine print to find and apply for the best credit card.
Grosvenor Sells Senior Living Portfolio to GPT Group of Australia for $268 Million
Grosvenor Investment Management US Inc. (GIM), on behalf of The Kuwait Finance House, has sold a 1,174-unit portfolio of senior living properties in New England to The GPT Group (ASX:GPT), one of the largest diversified listed property groups in Australia. GPT is joint venturing with the current operator, Benchmark Assisted Living, LLC (BAL) of Wellesley, MA, on the acquisition. The portfolio, comprising 15 properties in five New England states (listed at end), traded for $268 million.
Australia's Largest Private Client Stockbroker Launches New Online Trading Platform Offers Market Trades for just $15
Please find attached and in the body of this email a media release announcing the launch of Bell Direct, a new online share trading business part owned by the Bell Group of companies. A backgrounder is also attached. Bell Direct key points: The first new online share trading technology to be developed in Australia for more than a decade; New online share trading and wealth creation platform;
Only independent offering in online share trading, following CBA's takeover of IWL; Share trades for just $15 - cheapest and best value in the market; Bell Direct was created by Steven Goh, the founder of Australia's first online stockbroker, Sanford Securities; Bell Direct is headed by former IWL general manager Lee Muco and a team of former IWL speci...
Liberty League International Hosts Summit Conference in Sydney, Australia
Soaring to New Heights in the Land Down Under - Liberty League International Hosts Summit Conference in Sydney, Australia Liberty League International, one of the world's leading personal development companies hosted their June 25-29, 2007 Summit Conference at the Intercontinental Hotel in Sydney, Australia. The company continues to soar to new heights with renowned educators leading the way - sharing innovative strategies for personal growth and prosperity consciousness.
All You Need To Know When You Travel Australia's Outback- Part One
Australia?s Outback isn't called the last frontier in the planet for nothing. For that matter, it isn't called Amazing for nothing either. The Outback is known as the ?Back of Beyond?, which just means it could be anywhere in the map. Or rather, it refuses to be mapped. It's one of the most magical, breathtaking, and simply glorious place you can ever visit. It's a feast to the senses as much as it is a challenge to the spirit. The lush landscape, blushing mountains, crazy rock formations, the solemn deserts, the vast skies, and bustling wildlife are only some of the wonderful and bizarre gems to unearth in your travel to Australia's Outback.
AOL Launches New Web Site in Australia: Web Site Offers AOL's Popular Communications Services and Other
Innovative Products and Is Part of AO
AOL, a division of Time Warner, the world's leading media company, today announced the launch of a new website in Australia, http://www.aol.com.au. The site offers AOL's suite of communications products, advanced video search, media player, and content focused on information and entertainment. AOL.com.au users will also have access to a search engine powered by Google, the Internet's leading search engine.
Winner Announced in the Everest Casino Australian Adventure Vacation Giveaway
After more than two months of entries and exciting casino game play, Everest Casino has found a winner for its posh Australian luxury adventure giveaway.
ChristianMobile Launch Christian Mobile Service to Mobile Phone Subscribers across All Mobile Networks in Australia
For the first time the whole Good News Translation (GNT) and the Contemporary English Version (CEV) of the Bible, Old and New Testaments from Genesis to Revelation - are available for download via a text message request in Australia. Mobile phone users can download the Bible by sending the words GNTBIBLE or CEVBIBLE to 19724253 or 197BIBLE at a cost of £ 20 per Bible.