Australian Vacation - all the info for your trip to Australia


3 Bilder: An Australian Holidy in a campervan - It's waiting for you!
An Australian vacation, now that sounds like an adventure! The first thoughts are always beaches, jungles, lively cities and a big dessert - the ultimate roadtrip! In any case, any trip to Australia will be an adventure of a lifetime.
Australia lies south of Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. Aside from the huge land mass 4,000 km North to South and 4,000 km East to West, many islands belong to this diverse country. Geographically, Austraila can be broken down into three regions. The West , which is home to most of Australia's deserts and some smaller mountain ranges. Unique rock features like Uluru and Mutitjulu are found here as well. Australia's center sits a little further south, and is home to the densest network of rivers down under. The East is separated from the lowlands by the 'Great Dividing Range' and it streaches to the east coast. Vacationing in Australia means choosing part of this wonderful and vast country! Here you'll find all the info you need for your dream trip to Australia.

An Austrlian vacation is an absolute dream! Here you'll learn all you need to know.
1 Bild: Die Ostküste Australiens ist am stärksten besiedelt und bietet sowohl naturbelassene Gebiete als auch lebendige Küstenstädte.
The majority of the population of Australia live near the coast. Outside of coastal regions, the country is much less populated, therefore all large cities are on the coast. A large portion of these more famous cities are on the east coast, which means a visit to this part of the country is recommnded!
Australia has over 25,000 km of coast! The number of beaches and coastal towns are innumerable on this one continent. Australia also has a few megacities, which contributes to a culture of prosperity and business. This differs to it's brother across the pond, New Zealand, but it still has the flare of relaxed beach lifestyle. The combination of business prosperity and beach-life, create a rich diversity and way of life that isn't found elsewhere. Endless beaches with no visitors are just a short drive from city beaches with business men and women taking lunch breaks and going for a quick swim. The fantastic mix of prosperity and serenity minlged with jungles, beaches and deserts is increasing the amound of tourists visiting Australia. In 2018 some 9.25 million people visited this beautiful country. Tourism still only accounts for 8% of their GDP because of the rich natural resources that are found in abundance here.
Capital City Canberra

Population 25.4 Million

Land Area 7,688,287 km2

Population Density 3 people / km2

Language English

Currency Australian Dollar

Best Travel Time May - October

Average Yearly Temperarture 31 C (North), 19.6 C (South), 18 C (Central Area)

Forest Area 16.2 %

Water Surface 0.7%

Coastline 25,760 km

Australian Map
The bucket list for a vacation in Australia is usually quite packed. The country offers visitors an endless number of activities, adventures and beautiful sights. With so much on offer it's important to have an overview before the trip and to plan certain activities in advance.




2 Bilder: Im Camper mit dem Blick aufs Meer den nächsten Tag planen - das ist Roadtrip Feeling in Australien!

Renting a Camper or Motorhome

What to do in Australia? The easiest and best answer is: Do a roatrip! With a rented camper you can travel all throughout Australia in any group size you'd like. Australia is well set up for camping tourism. So many camping sites are directly next to some of the most beautiful spots you could imagine, and are very well set up. You can visit all of the sites with no issues, bringing your home on four wheels with you the whole time! The biggest advantage over booking a tour or simply a rental car, is that you yourself can decide where you want to go spontaneously, freedom! With your own Camper, you can collect memories that will stay with you your entire life. Another country with so many opportunities for amazing roadtrips simply doesn't exist! With so many different places and sites on offer, we are here to support you in planning your trip!
2 Bilder: Die 12 Apostel sind eines der Highlights auf der Great Ocean Road.

Driving Along the Great Ocean Road

Die Great Ocean Road gilt als schönste Küstenstraße Australiens und befindet sich im Bundesstaat Victoria. Die 243 km lange Strecke schlängelt sich westlich von Melbourne entlang der Küste und bietet viele wunderschöne Küstenabschnitte. Sie verbindet mehrere malerische Küstendörfer miteinander. Als Hauptattraktion gelten die 12 Apostel. Typische Bilder von der Great Ocean Road zeigen raue Steilküsten mit umgebenen weißen Sandstränden. Die gesamte Strecke kann an einem Tag zurückgelegt werden. Allerdings würdest du dann auch einiges verpassen. Nimm dir ein paar Tage Zeit und erkunde die Strecke bei deinem Australienurlaub und genieße ihre Schönheit. Die Strecke ist sehr beliebt und zieht jährlich tausende Besucher an. Mit dem eigenen Camper/Wohnmobil bist du am flexibelsten und kannst selbst entscheiden, an welchem Abschnitt der Great Ocean Road du länger verbleiben möchtest.
4 Bilder: In Daintree Rainforest you can camp in the middle of a rainforest!

Discover the Tropical North

There is so much to discover in Queensland . The northeast of Australia has a diverse nature and perfect conditions for your roadtrip. A couple hours north of Cairns lays Cape Tribulation and the tropical rainforest ‘ Daintree Rainforest ’. After a short ferry across the river, you can explore the Daintree Rainforest! In a camper you can really explore this unique ecosystem, but there are also tours available. This is a perfect way to add a different flare to your beach holiday in Australia. The region around Cairns also offers excursions to the Great Barrier Reef. Anyone who snorkels or dives will return home with an unforgettable memory if you visit this region. The coral reefs have a special effect on nature and offer sights that you won’t forget.
1 Bild: Plane dein Outback Abenteuer mit der CamperOase!

The Outback

The outback is the street term for the vast, dry and unpopulated arid areas of Australia. The outback is mainly in central Australia and also on remote coasts. Those who are seeking an adventure down under should consider exploring the outback! This is best done with a rented four-wheel drive from one of a variety of pick-up locations. You can start this adventure from Adelaide, Darwin, Sydney, Perth or Brisbane. Endless expanses, emptiness and seclusion await you in the outback. The red dirt that makes up the red center has the ability to grab you and make you never want to leave. The most popular destinations are Uluru , kata Tjuta, the Pinnacles and Wave Rock. A recommendation of ours that isn’t as well known is Kings Canyon , a short three hour drive from Uluru! And yes, three hours is a short drive in the outback…hence the benefits of a nice four-wheel-drive with a big rooftop tent or a campervan!
1 Bild: Australiens Inselwelt gleicht einem Paradies. Hier hat jeder Tourist die Qual der Wahl.

Visit an Island on your Australian Holiday

Australia has over 8,000 islands. Accordingly, some of the most beautiful and natural spectavles aren’t necessarily on the mainland, but on the paradise islands in the ocean. Tours for many of these spots can be booked from a lot of the coastal towns. The most common way to reach the islands is by boat, but occasionally fly-in tours are offered. The fly-in tours offer a different and special perspective of these breathtaking locations. It’s difficult to sort through all of the offers, but if you are going to road trip Australia, be sure to think about an island visit! The archipelago of Australia offers enormous natural diversity and a wide range of opportunities to discover. We can also recommend Kangaroo Island in South Australia , a great spot to take a ferry to with your own camper!



1 Bild: In Australien ist richtig was los. Neben den viele Naturabenteuern kannst du wunderschöne, lebendige Städte entdecken.

Big City Flair

In addition to Australia’s brilliantly unique nature, they have very vibrant cities with big city flair! At the top of the list for the most famous cities is obviously Sydney . This city is the country’s crown jewel and offers a lot of distinct attractions. T he Opera House and the Sydney Harbor Bridge are among the most famous highlights of the city, they shouldn’t be missed on your trip to Australia! In addition to Sydney, you can also visit Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, which are all worth visiting. Each city represents its region and offers a lot to do. Adelaide, Hobart, Cairns, Darwin, Byron Bay and the Gold Coast are also great destinations and offer a wide range of activities for your camper trip!
1 Bild: Egal ob Anfänger oder Profi - Surfen macht Spaß!

Water Activities

Australia is luckily surrounded by ocean on all sides! The possibilities to enjoy the open ocean are endless. Surfing is one of the most popular sporting activities when vacationing in Australia. Whether you are advanced or just a beginner, surfing is possible all over and can be fun for every level! Depending on what you want, you can even book a boat tour or even your own boat. There are even some providers who offer boats for people without boating licenses. With appropriate instruction, there is nothing standing in the way of having a blast on the water . Snorkeling and diving are also widely popular, especially on the Great Barrier Reef. The underwater world of all of Australia’s coastline is breathtaking. Kayaking, stand up paddleboarding, renting a jet ski, fishing and diving with sharks are all possible, even a whale watching trip!
1 Bild: In Australien findest du die verschiedensten Wanderwege. Von entspannten Küstenwegen bis zu schwierigen Pfaden auf Berge, durch Regenwälder oder das Outback.

Hiking

Australia offers a wide variety of landscapes to hike in . Casual coastal routes and rainforest walks, there are many ways to be active and on foot in the wild down under! They have routes that are short and easy to hikes that are long and demanding. The range of hiking trails cannot be generalized. However, it can be said that every region has a network of trails that are worth exploring. The Great Walks of Australia are well worth looking into. They are multi-day high quality trails that allow one to explore spectacular regions of the country.
Australia is blessed with breatakingly diverse nature and many natural attractions. Vibrant coastal cities offer a picture perfect tourist destination, and the outback is simply an expanse of untouched nature. There are so many sights to see here and we think the best way to discover the most is in a campervan or motorhome!


1 Bild: Das Great Barrier Reef ist ein Wunder der Natur

The Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is located off the northeast coast of Australia and is the largest coral reef in the world . It stretches over 348,700 square kilometers and consists of 3,000 individual reefs. Reef trips can be taken from Cairns, Mission Beach, Airlie Beach, Hervey Beach or Port Douglas. The reef can also be admired from the air, and even seen from space! Most visits to this corner of Australia include a diving or snorkeling tour. This UNESCO World Heritage site is a natural wonder and should be on your aussie bucket list!
However, one should also be aware that humans are damaging the reef with pollution of the seas and as a result of climate change. Accordingly, one should behave in an environmentally conscious manner in the Great Barrier Reef and of course during the entire Australian holiday.
1 Bild: Der Uluru ist eine heilige Stätte der Ureinwohner

Uluru

Uluru is located in the middle of the Australian outback and is probably Australia’s most famous landmark. Dating back around 550 million years, the sandstone monolith, located right in the center of mainland Australia, is a sacred symbol to Australia’s indigenous people. Here you can linger for hours enjoying various viewpoints, walks, changing colors with like-minded people. No one is allowed to climb it anymore, due to the fact that it is a place of great religious significance to Australia’s first people. Even if it just ‘looks’ like a big rock in the middle of the desert, Uluru is a special highlight for many people every year. Any trip to the outback should include a stop here!
2 Bilder: Bondi Beach - Hier wird Sydney entschleunigt

Bondi Beach

Bondi Beach is one of Australia’s most famous beaches, and one of the world’s most famous beaches as well! Visited by locals and tourists alike, this beautiful beach located in Sydney is a favorite spot for people taking a quick lunch break, or beach goers enjoying a whole day in the ocean. The district I known for being a great counterpart to the stressful everyday life in Sydney. The reliable swell attracts daily surfers and is one of Sydney's most popular surf spots. In addition to the gold crescent-shaped sandy beach, Bondi has a lot of cultural flare. Cool cafes and top-notch restaurants invite visitors to stay a while and linger in the calm, away from the stress of the city. Suits are exchanged for swimmers, and the beach promenade is an ideal sunshine stroll. The Bondi to Cooge Coastal path also offers a lovely scenic walk. Bondi Iceberg Club has an ocean pool that juts out into the water where you can take impressive pictures and watch the surfers, all day long.
1 Bild: Das bekannteste Opernhaus der Welt - Sydneys Sehenswürdigkeit Nummer 1

Sydney Opera House

The Sydney Opera House is the symbol of the city and one of the most famous sights in Australia. 6 million visitors flock every year to the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The architecture of the building located in the Sydney Harbor is world famous. Building commenced in 1959 after plans made by the Danish award winning architect Jørn Utzon, finished 14 years later. The opera house offers over 5,500 seats in five different halls to view plays, concerts, comedy shows and much more. Entrance is free and you can even take tours throughout the day. If you’re lucky and you come to have a drink in the harbor, you can sometimes get discounted tickets to shows just before curtain call! Visiting here will be a special experience for your vacation.
1 Bild: Unendliche Weiten, Wasserfälle und Regenwald im Australienurlaub- das ist der Kakadu Nationalpark im Northern Territory

Kakadu National Park

In the Kakadu National Park you can expect waterfalls, crocodiles, birds and diverse nature . The name "Kakadu" is said to be a European interpretation of the word "Gagudji," which is the name of the aboriginal language originally spoken in the region. The national park is located in the Northern Territory about 171km east of Darwin . If you are on holiday in Australia in the Northern Territory, you should definitely visit this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Aboriginal people who have lived in the area for millennia manage the park in partnership with Parks Australia to protect and preserve the local culture and environment. Whether it's Aboriginal rock art, exploring the animal and plant world or a relaxing day at the beach - you can experience a wide variety of things in Kakadu National Park. You can explore the national park on your own or take part in a tour and have a guide explain the region to you.
1 Bild: Der Australia Zoo steht im Antlitz des verstorbenen Crocodile Hunters Steve Irwin

Australia Zoo

The Australian Zoo is located just north of the coastal city of Brisbane in Queensland. Owned by the world famous Terri Irwin , wife of the late Steve Irwin . The zoo was founded in 1970 by Steve’s parents, Lyn and Bob. Steve gained worldwide fame over the years with the series, “The Crocodile Hunter” and had fans everywhere. Steve was known for daring tasks with dangerous animals and advocating for land and animal conservation . In 2006 he tragically died of a stingray sting while filming. The zoo is considered his heir and is now managed by his wife Terri. Visitors can expect the best zoo in the country, with many rare and interesting animal species! 280 hectares contain many different enclosures and exhibits, with a feature spot called the Crocoseum. Shows with crocodile feeding are held here. These feedings used to be presented by Steve, but are now continued by his son and other zoo staff.
1 Bild: Das wunderschöne Ningaloo Reef

Ningaloo Reef

Ningaloo Reef in northwest Australia is one of the largest coral reefs in the world . The reef is over 250 km long and is located on the west coast of Australia. It stretches along the Coral Coast. A particular difference to the Great Barrier Reef is that the reef is unusually close to the coast. You can even snorkel with whale sharks at Ningaloo Reef. In Exmouth and Coral Bay there are numerous providers with whom you can take a tour of the whale sharks during your Australia holiday. The area also offers beautiful beaches and crystal clear waters. In addition, there are significantly fewer tourists here than on the Great Barrier Reef on the east coast.

1 Bild: Im Australienurlaub gibt es die verschiedensten Stell- und Campingplätze. Von hochwertigen Holiday Parks bis zu kleinen Stellplätzen unter Palmen direkt am Meer.
It’s really common in Australia to rent a motorhome or camper and travel around! Locals are also known to be very common campers. The various campers and motorhomes from the different companies are particularly striking. Of course, even with a campervan you still have to find somewhere to sleep. The choice of campsites around Australia is normally quite large. Most times you can book one reliably a day in advance and sometimes even day of. During the high season, however, the campsites can be much more crowded. The search for a campsite can at times be exhausting, so planning can be helpful. We recommend that you consider where you want to start travelling, and then plan your longer stays in advance and shorter stays at different places to plan along the way.




1 Bild: Freedom Camping im Australienurlaub ist möglich, solange es nicht durch Vorschriften des Bundesstaates oder dem jeweiligen Standort verboten ist.
The topic of freedom camping is always interesting for Australian vacationers. The idea of being able to spend a night in the wild with your van is a dream. It must be said however, that this is often times not allowed. In many places, especially the heavily populated tourist regions, freedom camping is not allowed. The picture does change quickly if you get a few kilometers inland from the coast. Here the regulations are often more relaxed.
There is no general freedom camping provision or law in Australia , as regulations offer differ from state to state. Normally, camping is only allowed outside of cities and in the countryside where it isn’t expressly forbidden by signs. Wild camping is permitted in remote areas provided you are not trespassing on private property or in designated conservation areas.


With various apps such as Wiki Camps or CamperMate, you can quickly and easily find parking spots and campsites wherever you are. There are both high-quality, more expensive spots as well as pitches that are free.
1 Bild: Australiens Klima ist so verschieden wie die einzelnen Regionen des fünften Kontinents selbst.

Australia's Cimate

The northern part of Australia is similar to an equatorial climate, and is quite tropical. The summers are hot and rainy, January in particular, and dry warm winters. Up north it’s warm all year round. The southern part of the country is quite different. Dry summers and wet winters are characteristic of this region. Summers are hot, exceeding 30 degrees Celsius, but during winter it can get below 10 degrees Celsius. Down south the water is also much cooler all year round.
Central Australia is vastly different to the rest of the country. On the west coast they get a lot of precipitation which decreases from south to north. In the red center they have a dry desert climate. All year it’s dry, summers can get very hot, and winters are warm in the day and cold at night. East coast will get rani all year long, but more in the summer than in winter. Here the water and air are warmer all year round, except for the mountains where it can get cool!
1 Bild: Die East Coast und der Norden Australiens haben aufgrund der verschiedenen Klimazone unterschiedliche beste Reisezeiten. Die Sunshine Coast macht ihrem Namen aber alle Ehre und punktet zu jeder Jahreszeit mit vielen Sonnenstunden.

When is the best time to visit Australia?

There is no general ‘best time’ to visit Australia. With such a wide variety of climates different times of the year are better for different regions, so it really depends on what you want to see! If you are wanting to visit the outback , between May and October are the best times. During the summer, central Australia is really really hot! But winters here are warm throughout the day and nice and cool in the evening. This same time is perfect for a trip to northern Australia. Blue skies and pleasant temperatures will greet you along with some warm sunshine. May to October in the north and central parts of Australia are also drier, which makes certain roads accessible. During the wet seasons many off road tracks are closed due to flooding. Visits to the Great Barrier Reef or the Daintree Rainforest are also best done in this time of year, between May and October .


1 Bild: Zur besten Reisezeit erwarten dich im Süden Australiens blauer Himmel, Sonnenschein und angenehme Wassertemperaturen.
The southern part of Australia has a different best time of travel. The climate south of Perth and in Sydney and Adelaide is a little more temperate. To see these areas, we suggest a spring or autumn trip. The aussie spring runs from September to November, and Autumn from March to May. The temperatures will average over 20 degrees and shouldn’t often exceed 25 degrees. The weather is quite pleasant and the wildlife is most active during this time . A summer trip here is also possible, you’ll just have to deal with extreme heat, between 25 and 36 degrees on average, and at times exceeding 40 degrees.
To be honest, you can travel between Sydney and Brisbane just about all year long. However, we recommend the months between October and April to visit this area of the east coast! The temperatures sit between 20 and 30 degrees, lots of sun and little precipitation. The conditions are ideal for staying at one of the magical beaches during your road trip. This is an ideal time to visit national parks and really get the most out of your vacation here!
1 Bild: Australien ist am besten mit dem Flugzeug zu erreichen
The most common way to reach Australia is via plane . From Europe there are basically three different routes that are possible. You can travel east via Singapore or Malaysia, west via the USA, or south via Dubai or Doha . The southern route is the shortest and most frequented. If travelling from Europe it is worth considering using the layover as a real stop, and dividing the trip over a couple of days. Travelling from Europe will require 24-27 hours, but can at times take up to 34 hours , it all depends on the route and flight times.


The main airports are in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Cairns and Darwin. Camper rental and pickup is possible in all these cities. There are also several smaller airports located throughout the country.


Australia requires all visitors to have a visa. Thankfully, many of them are free to get and you can apply online. A free eVIsitor Visa (subclass 651) is valid for 12 months. Each visit to Australia can only last for 3 months, but you are granted unlimited entry. More infomration can be found here.
In Australia, traffic drives on the left! This is the biggest adjustment that most tourists have to account for while driving. It is important that you take care and actively remember that you are driving on the other side of the road when turning. Overtaking or passing another car occurs on the right, not left. Driving on the long roads between Australia’s cities can be tiring. Don’t rush and take lots of breaks if you find yourself getting tired. An Australian ‘Servo’ is a great spot to refuel, snack up and grab a cuppa! We do caution all visitors not to exceed the speed limits. Driving infractions in Australia come with heavy fines.


Some highway, bridges and tunnels are toll roads in Australia. The tolls are marked with large light blue signs that say, “Toll Road” in large yellow letters. The toll roads are found in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. Some rental companies will cover toll costs, others not.
In addition to the mainland and the coasts, it is also the islands that make Australia scenically unique. Around 8,000 islands belong to Australia. With such a large selection of islands, it's not so easy to decide on a place and to keep track of things. We want to introduce you to a small selection of islands. In addition to the islands featured here, Rottnest Island, Cocos Island, Christmas Island, Kangaroo Island, Magnetic Island and Cockatoo Island are other Australian island paradises.


1 Bild: Tasmanien

Tasmania

Tasmania as a tourist attraction has a lot to offer! We would like to point out all of the wonderful features that this island, and state, has to offer. Easily explorable by camper, you can visit lush green rainforests, impressive mountain landscapes, crystal clear lakes and hundreds of waterfalls. Tasmania is also home to UNESCO cultural and natural heritage sites, fiery red rocks, the picturesque wineglass bay, dreamy what beaches and the cleanest air in the world. The people in Tasmania have a slower pace of life than the mainland, and are very friendly. Tasmania isn’t yet on many tourists list of destinations and is therefore still a bit of an insider tip. Visit Tassie! You can read some more details about a what a trip in tassie looks like at our Travel log of 10 days in Tassie, in a camper!

Withsunday Islands

The Withsunday Islands are an island paradise off the east coast of Australia. Here, white sandy beaches meet turquoise water. The 74 islands belong to the state of Queensland and are located in the Great Barrier Reef. The best way to explore the islands is to book a tour from Airlie Beach. From the air, the Withsunday Islands are almost surreal, as white sandbars lie in front of the islands, creating a beautiful and natural picture. The most famous beach is Whitehaven Beach. The beach is one of the whitest beaches in the world with 99% quartz. There are various tour offers over one or more days. There is something for everyone here. It is not uncommon to spot dolphins and other sea creatures around the Withsunday Islands.

Fraser Island

Located off the east coast of Australia, Fraser Island can be explored either independently or with a tour. The island also bears the name "largest sand island in the world", accordingly you need a 4x4 vehicle to drive on the island. Also, there are no roads on the island. Booking a guided tour is the best way to experience Fraser Island. Tourists can enjoy various offers from 1 to 3 day tours. You need more than one day to see all the highlights of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Starting points for the tours are Hervey Bay, Rainbow Beach or Noosa. The tours take place either in a smaller jeep or with several people and a bus specially equipped for sandy conditions. After a short ferry crossing, the tour guides drive at high speed across the seemingly endless sandy beach. Keep an eye out for whales offshore and dingos on land. Fraser Island highlights include Lake McKenzie, the SS Maheno shipwreck, the Champagne Pools, the Indian Head coast and Seventy Five Mile Beach.

Lord Howe Island

Lord Howe Island is only a two-hour flight from Sydney. The island is very small and an almost unknown travel destination between New Zealand and Australia. However, it is a true gem of nature. Anyone who has rented a camper/mobile home in the region can take a detour to the island after arrival or before departure. However, the costs for a return flight can vary greatly between 300€ - 800€. The island is only accessible by air. Here you can go on beautiful hikes, visit a museum, dive, surf and do various island tours. In addition to the many highlights on the Australian mainland, a visit to Lord Howe Island is an unforgettable experience.
Australian cuisine has a lot to offer and was historically strongly influenced by the British. The fish & chips, in particular, which the British adore, is one of the most popular snacks in Australia and can be bought relatively cheap in many places. There are also plenty of meat pies in Australia, which come from the British tradition. Due to immigration from a wide variety of nations, the cuisine has also changed and has become significantly more international and varied. Fresh local produce plays a key role in Australian restaurants. In addition, fish and seafood can be found on almost every menu, especially on the coasts. Asian cuisine has also celebrated its entry into Australian cuisine. The supermarkets are also fully stocked and offer a wide range of food and beverages.


Australia has famous wine-growing regions. These include the Barossa Valley (largest in Australia) in South Australia, the Hunter Valley in New South Wales and the Margaret River region in Western Australia. In addition to wine, Australians also like to drink a beer. The best-known beer brands are VB (Victoria Bitter), Carlton Draft and Great Northerner. However, you can only get alcoholic drinks in a specially designated shop ("Bottle Shop") and not directly in the supermarket. Of course, coffee is also a popular drink in Australia. Melbourne is well known for the coffee and café culture, where you can grab a fancy cappuccino, or whatever you fancy. One thing you can be sure, whether it be a glass of wine, a beer, or a cuppa, enjoying a drink with your mates is a must in Australia!
Australia’s currency is the Australian dollar. You can pay with all major credit cards pretty much anywhere in the country, or get cash out at an atm with a small fee. We suggest that you speak with your bank about travelling internationally and what they advise. The biggest financial institutions in Australia are Westpac, ANZ, NAB and Commonwealth Bank.
Supermarkets along the coast are quite easy to find due to the high density. You will most commonly find Coles and Woolworths but there are smaller chains like Aldi. As you get further inland, or away from civilization, supermarkets do become scarce. Most towns will have them and touristic areas will always have the basics. In addition to large supermarkets, you can often find famers markets and street vendors selling fresh local produce, which always tastes best!


By the way, transactions of AUD $10,000 are forbidden in Australia to prevent tax evasion.
Australia is a very safe travel destination. The image of a big country with lots of space and friendly people, is true! Australia has a low crime rate, below that of many European countries. Nevertheless it has increased in the last 25 years. The reasons vary, globalization and a sharp rise in tourism have had their impacts. Theft and car break-ins are most common, and most offenses are minor in nature. The crime rate is higher in big cities than in the countryside, and if you have any questions feel free to ask.
Australia's wildlife is exciting! Due to the geographically isolated location and the special climate, which is characterized by heat and drought in many parts of the country, and tropical zones in other regions, many species have developed that only occur in Australia. With such a place like Australia, it’s almost impossible to give an overview that really does it justice. Australia has the most venomous species in the world, which isn’t necessarily a plus for tourists. It is important to know what dangers there are in each region to avoid bites and stings. Most species in Australia are regional, and have adapted to those locations as necessary. Classic Australian animals including kangaroos and koalas immediately come to mind, marsupials come in many forms in Australia!
Although some marsupials in Australia have been extinct for some time (e.g. Thylacine, marsupial lion) many are still widespread today! Kangaroos, wallabies, possums and wombats can be found in many corners of the country. A special feature are the platypuses, which are among the few egg-laying mammals. And if you happen to road trip through the red center, keep a lookout for a camel! Since European settlers arrived down under, many non-native species were introduced. This contributed heavily to the extinction of some species. Water buffalo run rampant in the north, and foxes cause problems still today.
800 bird species and more than 4,000 fish species call this land home as well. Nowhere else are there more lizards in the world. Crocodiles are found in both freshwater and saltwater in the north. Many species of snakes live here too, venomous and nonvenomous, and they can be found in water or on land. Amphibians are also common, including the cane toad which is poisonous and a non-native invasive species that causes issues as well. Jellyfish swim offshore and some can be dangerous to the touch. There are turtles in freshwater and saltwater too, which don’t pose the same threat and are always very nice to see.

Many species of insects and spiders that live here are also quite well known. Huge, sometimes poisonous, spiders, mosquitos, cockroaches and bedbugs don’t present the prettiest side of Australia.


In summary, we find that there is a lot to explore and observe in Australia. However, one should always keep an eye out when you’re in the wild. Try to stay informed about the regions you plan on visiting and be prepared if entering sparsely populated areas where help isn’t as easily found.

Australia’s plant kingdom has been shaped drastically due to the desert regions and droughts that occur frequently. The soils are old, since little biomass rots and creates new soil. Therefore, there isn’t plentiful nutrients or ideal conditions for most plants. This has caused certain plants to really have to adapt in order to survive. Grasses are the predominant vegetation, with a lot of eucalyptus and acacia being widespread with some incredible biodiversity. The mallee eucalyptus, a low-growing multi-stemmed species is of particular interest. These trees have adapted to release extra seed after a fire, when soils are richer in nutrients and ready for new growth. The rainforests make up a relatively small total area in Australia, but they do have very unique plant-life due to the continent not being connected to any other land masses. As with animals, colonization introduced many invasive species not native to Australia. Forests have been cleared, grasslands transformed to big agricultural land masses which has endangered much native flora and displaced some species. Nevertheless, there are still many spectacular and unique things to see down under.
The topic of health is particularly important for many people vacationing in Australia, as the continent can also have dangerous sides. However, the health risks of vacationing in Australia are generally not as high as is often assumed. Medical care in Australia is excellent and adapted to the environment. In addition, hygienic standards are above average. Australia has had issues with skin cancer due to the hole in the ozone layer. It’s common among locals to slip, slap and slop! That basically means to slip on a long sleeve shirt, slap on a hat and slop on the sun screen. We recommend that you heed the advice, as you can get a sunburn in Australia in under 15 minutes.


The wildlife in Australia is quite distinct, which is natural and good to keep the environment that way. On the other hand, it can be dangerous. Certain beaches swimming is forbidden at times due to sharks, jellyfish, crocs or rays. The general rule is to simply respect nature, and have respect for the animals there. If you are out and about, make sure to have sturdy footwear and pay attention to signs. Most of the time snakes and spiders will avoid tourist spots and more common walking trails, but keeping an eye out never hurt anyone. As a rule, fear of animals and spiders is generally unjustified. Most dangerous animals also try to avoid humans, more than we try to avoid them! In the tropical regions you should also consider certain forms of bug protection, and in the red center you may have to deal with lots of flies!
There are no vaccination requirements to enter Australia. It is advisable to check what is required to enter your home country depending on where you have visited on your trip. Visiting your doctor and asking about possible vaccinations is advisable. Ultimately, Australia is a very safe travel destination with very few health risks.
Australia was settled much earlier than New Zealand. Aboriginal ancestors left their mark as early as 50,000 years ago. Since Australia was connected by land to what is now Papua New Guinea until around 6,000 years ago, the cultural influences of this region can be clearly seen in early finds. After that, the connection was flooded. However, Australia was always visited by traders from Asia and was never completely isolated.
Even in ancient times, Europeans suspected that there must be another country in the south. In the 13th century, Marco Polo returned from a trip to China with reports of a land where two-headed animals were said to live. They were probably kangaroos. From the 16th century, European seafarers repeatedly reached Australia. Arriving on the west coast, they were not very interested in this country, where they saw little use. It was not until 1770 that James Cook declared part of the east to be a British colony. Australia was used as a penal colony for almost a hundred years. Over time, however, the rich mineral resources also attracted voluntary settlers. There were clashes with the locals, who had to live without rights in the areas assigned to them. Many had their children taken from them in order to raise and socialize them in homes far removed from their culture of origin. It wasn't until 1965 that Aboriginal people across the country regained the right to vote. They were also partially given back territory that had previously been considered no man's land, even if inhabited by locals. To date, there is no full equality of opportunity for these first nation people. Less education, higher unemployment rates and more crime show this clearly.
English is spoken in Australia. The Australians have developed their very own style and maybe you will need a few days on your Australian holiday to understand everything well. There is a running joke that Australians abbreviate everything, of course it's totally untrue. The languages of the Aboriginal tribes are numerous and for the most part threatened with extinction. However, language centers were set up to work on preserving the languages. Due to the many immigrants from Asian countries and Europe, many other languages are spoken in Australia, but English is the de facto national language.
The Australian Federation is a parliamentary monarchy based on the Westminster system of democracy and parliament. Politics in Australia is still very much influenced by British politics, even if demands for a republic keep flaring up. The state is organized on a federal basis and the individual states each have their own parliaments with extensive legislative powers. There are eight states in total. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II. This also explains why the Australian constitution has elements of the parliamentary tradition of England as well as elements from the constitution of the United States. The head of government is the Prime Minister.

10 Facts About Australia

● Australian bar owners are obligated by law to provide food and drink for their customers horses..
● 85% of all Aussies live within 50 km of the beach
● The Great Barrier Reef is the largest living organism in the world. It is also the only living organism that is visible from space!
● The Kangaroo and Emu aren't able to run backwards, that's why they are two symbols of Australia.
● Fraser Island is the world's largest sand island.
● In the year 2009, Australia assigned several well trained snipers to protect a colony of penguins agains potential predators in order to guarantee the survival of the rare birds.
● The continenet of Australia slowly drifts north every year by around 7 centimeters due to the movement of the tectonic plates.
● Harold Holt became prime minister in the year 1966 and disappeared one year later and has never been seen again.
● The dingo fence in Australia is designed to protect sheep from predators, mainly dingos, in the south-east- It has a total length of 5,412 km, making it longer than the Great Wall of China
● The only two mammals in the world that lay eggs live in Australia. They are the platypus and the Australian echidna.
We know that Australia is really worth seeing, and if you decide to make the journey, we are confident that you'll have a great time. Please don't hesitate to email or call us, we want to help you plan the best trip down under possible!
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