Australia Sample Travel Itinerary

Australia immediately conjures images of the Sydney Opera House, the Great Barrier Reef, big-wave surfing, miles of Outback and a rather endearing assortment of animals. While the country’s main cities offer charm, glamour, unique festivals, a well-preserved historical heritage, fabulous beaches and fun events, it’s also a land of immense contrast and captivating nature. The nation offers something for just about everyone – from water lovers, desert wanderers and canyon climbers, to arts and culture buffs, historians, and foodies. Australia is vast but GUEST has the highlights covered. You can choose a perfect holiday according to your personal preferences.

Unless you are an Australian or New Zealand citizen, you will need a valid Australian visa to enter the country. New Zealand passport holders can apply for a visa upon arrival in the country. All other passport holders must apply for a visa before leaving home. You can apply for a range of visas, including tourist visas and working holiday visas, at your nearest Australian Embassy or Consulate. You can also apply for certain types of visas on the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection website.

Australia’s national currency is the Australian dollar which comes in denominations of $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 notes. Coins come in 5, 10, 20 and 50 cent and one and two dollar denominations.

Banks are normally only open weekdays 9.30-4pm Monday - Friday, some stay open until 5pm on Fridays. In larger metropolitan suburban centres, major banks are increasingly opening on the weekend, too. Bank staff stick to these times rigorously, so don't be late/early.

Credit cards such as American Express, Bankcard, Diners Club, MasterCard, Visa and JCB are accepted in Australia. Traveller's cheques are not as widely accepted in Australia as in many other countries. ATMs are numerous in both city and country areas. ATMs in the walls of buildings on streets and inside the lobbies of banks, shopping centres and other buildings are numerous. At night, service stations and convenience stores are good places to look for ATMs away from the street. Pubs, especially in city areas, will usually have an ATM located on the premises. Some ATMs may require you to swipe your card to gain entry to a secure area.

Australia is the sixth-largest country in the world − so how you get from A to B requires some thought. Hire cars are readily available in all major towns. Australians drive on the left and all cars are right hand drive. Having access to your own car has the advantages of being able to travel at your own pace, explore remote areas and visit regions with no public transport. However, as the country is so vast, this form of transport can be time consuming.

A faster option would be to make use of the numerous affordable, frequent, time-saving flights between major centres. Reliable, frequent long-haul coach services are available countrywide but they are not always cheaper than flying and are time consuming. Trains in Australia are slow, expensive and infrequent but the scenery is great! Opt for a sleeper carriage rather than an 'overnighter' seat.

Luggage allowance with Virgin Australia and Qantas Australia:
All economy fares are inclusive of one checked baggage at 23kg per person. Maximum total linear dimension (length + width + height): 140cm (55in). Plus, one standard piece of hand luggage per person at 7kgs total. Maximum dimensions: 56cm long, 36cm wide, 23cm deep. Note: No single item may exceed 32kg. Also, if you have more pieces of luggage you can book additional at surcharge. Important is to do this online before the day of travel (otherwise much higher excess luggage charges will apply).

We strongly recommend travel insurance for your entire overseas trip. Your insurance policy should include coverage for emergency medical situations, baggage loss or damage, expenses incurred from disrupted travel plans.

Australia is generally a safe destination with travellers enjoying unhindered travel experiences in terms of their personal safety and security. Our stable political system, well-maintained roads, low crime rate and high standard of health make it a safe and easy country to explore.

With common-sense, you can safely enjoy Australia's unique landscapes - from the vast outback to wild ocean beaches and pristine wilderness. However, as with all travel at home or away, you should observe the same precautions with your personal safety and possessions.

Standards of hygiene in food preparation are very high. Milk is pasteurised and meat and vegetables are perfectly safe to eat. Care should be taken, however, if preparing 'bush tucker' in outback areas as some insects and fauna are highly poisonous unless properly cooked.

'Bush tucker' is food from Australia's endemic flora and fauna and can be lean and quite delicious; kangaroo meat in particular is growing in popularity since being made legal to trade to eat only in the past two decades. For all the advent of fine dining and exotic menu items, however, the humble barbecue remains for many the quintessential Australian food experience. Various beaches and parks have barbecue stations that can be used by the public. Steak, prawns and beer tend to feature prominently.

Seafood is an integral part of the cuisine scene in all its shelled and scaled forms. Production of organic foods is increasing to meet demand and is these days widely available in the cities and larger towns. There are fine dining restaurants throughout the larger cities, particularly in Melbourne and Sydney, where big-name chefs have helped to give Australian cuisine an international reputation for bright, creative gastronomy. Regional food markets and increasing numbers of food festivals across the states are a great way to sample fresh produce. Look out for things like farmhouse cheese, speciality sausages and local fruits.

The major vineyards are outside Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart and Adelaide. The largest single wine-growing region is in the Barossa Valley, South Australia, two hours' drive from Adelaide, where high-quality red and white wines are produced. Various wineries, breweries and distilleries are open for public visits.

Annual rainfall: Varies by region 
Average temperature: Varies by region 

Summer: 

Average highs: 25-30°C 
Average lows: 15-20°C 

Winter: 

Average highs: 15-20°C 
Average lows: 5-10°C 

Best time to visit: 

The best time to visit Australia depends on the region. Generally, spring (September to November) and autumn (March to May) offer mild weather and fewer crowds. 

It really is casual all the way in Australia. Outside of the main cities, our advice would be not to bother with dressy clothes. However if you plan to visit upmarket city restaurants then you may feel more comfortable in smart casual wear. Clothes in natural fibres will work better in the heat and it is worth popping in a lightweight sweater, cardigan or pashmina wrap for cooler weather or overly fierce air conditioning. Travel light and buy your toiletries there. It is essential to include sunglasses, plenty of high factor sunscreen and a sunhat for the intense sunshine. If you are planning to visit very hot areas then pack a shirt with long sleeves and a higher neckline to prevent burning.

Australia has generally good internet access in most tourist destination. When you’re booking accommodation it’s easy enough to scan the room descriptions with increasing numbers of properties offering Wi-Fi.