Oceania · Destination guide
Australia
Capital: Canberra (Sydney and Melbourne are largest cities)
🛂Visa requirements
💳Money & payments
Cards: Cards (especially contactless tap-and-go) accepted almost everywhere. Cash is rarely needed.
ATMs: ANZ, Commonwealth Bank, NAB, and Westpac ATMs are free to use. Non-bank ATMs charge A$2–5.
Tipping
Not expected or culturally required. Hospitality workers are paid living wages. 10% in restaurants for excellent service is appreciated but not obligatory.
💬Language
English (de facto — no official language)
Primary language. Australian slang can be surprising — most misunderstandings are quickly resolved with context.
Useful phrases
- ·G'day — Hello
- ·No worries — You're welcome / It's fine
- ·How ya going? — How are you?
- ·Arvo — Afternoon
🔌Electricity & plugs
Unique to Australia and New Zealand. All visitors need an adapter.
🤝Local customs & etiquette
- 1.Australians are friendly and informal — excessive formality is unusual and unnecessary.
- 2.Bring cash to sports events and outer-suburb pubs — not everywhere takes cards.
- 3.Sun protection is critical year-round. Australia has the highest skin cancer rate in the world — SPF 50+ is standard.
- 4.Strict biosecurity at customs: declare all food, plant material, and wooden items. Penalties are severe.
- 5.Tipping at the bar is not expected — shout (buy a round for your group) instead.
📶SIM cards & connectivity
Local SIM: Telstra has the best rural coverage (essential outside cities). Optus and Vodafone are cheaper but rural coverage is limited. SIMs at airports and supermarkets.
WiFi: Good in cities. Outside urban areas, connectivity drops significantly — download offline maps.
🛡️Safety
Generally safe. Wildlife awareness is important: check shoes and bedding in rural areas (spiders, snakes). Ocean safety: swim between the flags at patrolled beaches only.
💉Health
No vaccinations required for most visitors. Reciprocal healthcare agreement with UK. Tap water safe.
🚨Emergency numbers
emergency
000
non urgent
131 444 (Police Assistance)
🚗Driving
🚆 Getting to the circuit in Australia
Train, shuttle, and race day transport guide
Explore Australia