All about visiting Australia

Question

I have wanted to visit another country for a LONG time, to see new things and meet other people and have the experience of going. But I always hear horror stories about Americans having mean things yelled at them and being scared because of what our government is doing. Australia has always been on my top 3 of places I want to go, and I have heard that Americans are pretty much treated with as much respect as they personally show everyone else, not based on what other Americans have done, so that made it a done deal =)

When is the best time to visit? I am wanting to stay around 1-2 months, because Australia is so big, and I want to experience a lot of it. (Not just a couple days here and then off to another place, at least a week in each place I go... and I HAVE to see Steve's zoo. Since, he's what started this obsession of Australia when I was very young.)

Where are the best places to go? Not only based on things to do, but things to see, and peaceful places. I'm extremely... paranoid. I'd rather avoid a place with a high crime rate no matter what there is to see/do there.

And about how much should I have saved when I go? I can't find a place to see how much the ticket there and back would be, or how much a passport would be. Do I need a visa or anything? I've never left America and this will be my first real adventure. (Also, I want my boyfriend to come, but I don't know if he will take the time off work. Is it generally safe for a female to visit there alone? I know here at home, I wouldn't even stay at my house over night if I had to be alone.)

I'm sure I'll think of ALOT more questions for this. I'm not expecting to go anytime soon, since I can't even start saving for it until after November. But I like to have things planned out and all. It helps with my excitement =)

Answer 1

Well done for taking this first step on the way to your overseas adventure! Australia's a very wise choice (though of course, I'm very biased), and you'll be blown away by how friendly and welcoming everyone is here. Australians take people as they find them as individuals and nice people from anywhere are very welcome.

Don't worry if you have to come by yourself. Australia's a very safe country even for lone females and every year, hundreds or thousands of girls come here by themselves and have a marvellous and troublefree time. Of course you'll need to use normal commonsense (we do have crime here and our share of wierdos), but you'll be safer in our cities than in most places in the world, including the US. You probably won't be alone for very long anyway. If you travel around staying in backpacker hostels (there are hundreds throughout the country located in all the best places), you'll save heaps of money and meet and perhaps travel with other young travellers like yourself. Here's a great site with some excellent info and links:

http://www.bugaustralia.com/essentials/

Getting a passport is easy and not at all expensive (USD$100) and if you apply for it now, the excitement can begin the day it arrives in your mailbox.

http://travel.state.gov/passport/passpor...

You'll need a visa to enter Australia, but for Americans, they're very easy to get. You should choose between two options: a 3 month tourist visa or a 12 month Work and Holiday visa, but you don't need to apply for either of them until you're almost ready to come.

http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/tourist/...

http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/working-...

As the name suggests, on the W&H visa, you can work while you're here and there are no restrictions on the type of work you can do as long as you don't work for any one employer for more than 6 months. Why not consider that visa for yourself or perhaps try to convince your boyfriend to come with you and really get to travel around and see the country together. There's heaps of work here and it would mean you could stay longer and get here sooner without needing to save so much.

Airfares are very variable, but the most expensive high season (Dec-Feb) airpass which includes round trip travel from the west coast of the US to the east coast of Oz and 3 domestic flights along the Oz east coast, is under USD$2300. Other seasons and other airlines will be less expensive.

The best time to visit depends to some extent on what types of thing you like to do and where you want to go. Oz is close to the size of the continental US, but is closer to the equator with corresponding warmer weather. Australia Zoo is in Queensland (my state) and so is the Great Barrier Reef, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast and the tropical rainforests. The best time to visit southern Queensland (where the Zoo is) is in our autumn and spring (Mar/May and Sept/Nov). North Queensland is great then too and is still warm enough for swimming even in our winter. New South Wales and Victoria are best in the warmer months and get pretty cold in winter though not nearly cold enough to get snow like in the north of the US. Summer (Dec/Feb) is great everywhere if you don't mind the tropical humidity in the far north and heat well into the 90s pretty well everywhere.

Just ask if you think of anything else you'd like to know.

Answer 2

Your comment "I wouldn't even stay at my house over night if I had to be alone",  made me compare our daughter here in SE Queensland to her cousins in Los Angeles.  They aren't even allowed to walk to school, because of the perceived danger.  My daughter had been walking to school alone since she was 10, a 5 minute walk, and I am an overprotective Dad according to her.  Kids in her class had been doing that from 2 years before !!

You will need a Visa.

A tourist visa should do you http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/index.ht...

But for longer than 3 months, maybe a Working Holiday Visa http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/working-...

Check with an online travel agent for air fares, or pop into a local travel agent in your area.

It is worth the trip.

Answer 3

Wow! How exciting!

First things first. Yes, you will need a passport. To view passport information (rules)-

http://travel.state.gov/passport/passpor...

Secondly, the planning-this site will answer a lot of your questions!!!    Safe areas, money conversion, electric outlets, popular areas, interesting sites, how much money to expect to spend per day, great flight info (take the flights into Sydney...cheaper, so is Quantas airlines, usually)

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/a...

If you have any questions after reading all of that, feel free to e me.

As a travel agent (free to you), I do this for a living-and can advise you more on things that interest  you.

Happy Planning!

Answer 4

For information on what to see, do, and where to go in Australia, including how to travel, check out the government's official tourist website http://www.australia.com

Answer 5

A great introduction to Australia if you only have 1 to 2 months is to Fly into Cairns and travel south to Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne and Fly home from there. You will get a good chance to experience a little of our beautiful country. Steve's Zoo is on the way. I'm sure you would be able to share expenses with other backpackers traveling in a car. There are heaps pf advertisements for share expenses in hostels. What ever you do it's best not to buy any bus tickets or passes until you arrive and ask other travelers about the best way south. My favorite places are the rain forest around Cairns - Whitsunday islands - almost all of the National parks(I love the Wurrumbungles in NSW) - the fantastic beaches and the Snowy Mountains.Camping is a wonderful way to see all the wildlife. All nationalities are welcome in Australia and I haven't seen or experienced Americans being abused.

If you can not travel with your boy friend you will still make wonderful friend along the way. www.hospitalityclub.org/ is great organization check it out. I hope you have the trip of a lifetime.  

Answer 6

Wow - it's a big question, let's see what we can do...

You may find if you get into a discussion with someone you have met that Australians are critical of some aspects of America, but I think you'll find everyone very friendly to individuals Americans.

Different parts of Australia are good at different times, but for two months to see a variety of Australia I would suggest September and October (spring), or March and April (autumn).

There truly are no dangerous cities or places to visit, just use a bit of common sense in the city centres and don't hitchhike. Australia's violent crimes are much, much lower than in the US. You will have no problems with safety, even alone.

There are a great many places to go, but a s you say it is best to pick a few favourites and see them properly. Some suggestions include:

Sydney - best October to March. spectacular, vibrant city, really a must do. Consider timing your visit with a major event such as the Festival of Sydney in January (and New Year's Eve), or the g*y and L*****n Mardis Gras in March, or a major sporting event.

Gold Coast - best in spring or autumn. Beach area catering heavily to tourists, has theme parks, Australia Zoo, many other attractions.

Cairns/Port Douglas - tropical area with access to the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree rainforest. Popular tourist destination. Best in cooler months May to September, don't go in summer it is too hot and humid (cyclone season).

Tasmania - natural wilderness, native animals in large numbers, beautiful scenery. Also Port Arthur - fascinating spooky convict site from Australia's early history. Visit in warmer months.

Canberra - Australia's capital city. A smaller planned city, and so it has a different feel to other Australian cities. Has national museums, galleries, Parliament House etc. Best in spring or autumn.

Melbourne - Australia's second biggest city, now nearly as big as Sydney. Good for shopping, has a European feel, more 'arty', major sporting events. Avoid winter.

Other great places include Perth, Uluru, Broome, Kakadu, Whitsunday Islands, Byron Bay.