Destination: Australia

Getting Started

Travel in Australia is not difficult thanks to a well-developed tourism industry that provides options for travellers on all budgets and to a certain entrepreneurial spirit that sees accommodation, cafes and other services sprouting up in the unlikeliest places - on the fringes of remote national parks, on outback cattle stations and across far-flung peninsulas and islands. Time is of the essence here, as travel times between points in remote areas or for cross-country trips can be as vast as the landscape. So think about what you want to see and how you're going to get there, and then make sure you don't underestimate how long you'll need for your visit.

DON'T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT:

1. A willingness to call absolutely everyone 'mate', whether you know them, or even like them
2. Double-checking the visa situation
3. Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat to deflect fierce UV rays
4. Knowing what your embassy/consulate in Australia can and can't do to help you if you're in trouble
5. Taking yourself less seriously, for the inevitable times when locals 'take the piss'
6. Sewing a pouch onto the front of your jeans, so that stray kangaroos have somewhere to rest when they hop into your hotel
7. A travel insurance policy specifically covering you for any planned high-risk activities
8. A suitcase-sized wardrobe that anticipates the country's climatic variations
9. Extra-strength insect repellent to fend off merciless flies and mosquitoes
10. Memorising the meaning of the word 'irony'