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Frequently Asked Questions about Australia Australia

What is the best time to travel?

Australia is a pleasant place to visit throughout the year. As you would expect in such a big country, various parts are at their best at different times of the year. The south is most popular in the Australian summer (December to February). The winter (June to August) is the best period to visit the north.

What are the best festivals and when do they take place?

Australia has a number of official holidays: 1st January (New Year’s Day); 26th January (Australia Day, the commemoration of the landing of the first fleet of criminals in Australia on 26th January 1788); 25th April (Anzac Day); the second Monday in June (Queen’s birthday); 25th and 26th December (Christmas). Each state has a number of its own holidays. The day off is usually the nearest Monday.

When does the tour start?

All of our tours start at 12:00 midday at the hotel where we spend our first night. Your room will be available to check-in from this time. If you arrive later, don't worry. Your tour leader will meet up with you at an agreed time to brief you.

Can I pre-book transfers and extra nights?

If you have booked your flight with Shoestring, we can offer the following two services. Firstly the option to pre-book airport transfers and secondly the option to book pre-tour nights if you have chosen to arrive earlier. Prices for these extra services are available on the tour information page.

Can I extend my trip by a few days or longer?

When you book a flight with us, you can extend the return date of the flight for as long as you like at the time of booking. If you want to change after booking, you will have to cancel the flight and book again at heavy cost. If  you want to stay longer and need extra travel arrangements just inform your tour leader at the start and he/she can see if the local agent can organize something for you.

What about my passport?

You need a passport that is valid at least 6 months at the date of departure. You are responsible for having a valid passport and visa when you travel.

Do I need a visa?

UK citizens need a visa for Australia, but these things can change. So please click here and check out the current situation. You can also check on that website if a visa is required for any other nationality. Make sure you inquire at least a month before departure if you need a visa so you do not run out of time.
If you need a visa, please click here to find details of the embassy you need to contact (unless you use a visa service). Shoestring does not organize your visa. You are responsible for having a valid passport and visa when you travel. You can also obtain the visa through a specialized visa agency like www.travcour.com. It is a good idea to visit this website in any case, as it provides much more de


Do I need vaccinations or malaria tablets?

Please click here for questions regarding vaccinations or malaria tablets for this country. You will need to contact your local GP or a specialized health centre and make an appointment to get your injections and pills. Please make sure that you sort this out at least six weeks before you travel. You are responsible for having the right vaccinations and antimalarial medication when going on tour.

What is the recommended currency for Australia?

The Australian currency is the Australian dollar (A$ or AUD). The A$ is subdivided in 100 cents. The notes have denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 dollar. There are coins of 1 and 2 A$ and of 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents.
At the end of 2006 the rate of the Australian dollar was 0.40 GBP (1 GBP = A$ 2.48). Virtually all cash machines in Australia accept Cirrus, Visa and Mastercard, among other card types. Only in the outback there is a limited possibility to use such cards; however, in most roadhouses along the highway you can pay with your credit card. Traveller’s cheques and cash can be converted in all local banks and change agencies. There is always the possibility to buy some Australian dollars before leaving the UK, although it is not necessary. Upon arrival at the airport, you can take out some cash from a cash machine. It is a good idea to have a credit card (Visa and/or Mastercard) with you. Optional excursions can often be paid for by credit card and you can use it

What kind of clothing is practical to take?

A hat is an important item when travelling in Australia. Ideally it should have a wide brim to protect your neck against the sun. Make sure you also take sturdy, well worn-in walking boots with a good tread, sandals and flip-flops (for the shower). For northern and central Australia, light cotton clothes are recommended, with some warmer items for the evenings in the south and the cooler, higher areas. From May to October, we recommend warm and windproof clothes, as the evenings can be rather chilly. It can be pretty cold at this time of year, especially in the area around Melbourne. Outside this period, sweaters and fleece jackets are fine for the evenings.
In general, Australians dress informally. Many restaurants, however, do not allow sleeveless t-shirts, slippers or sandals. Shorts are also forbidden in the more upmarket restaurants.

What kind of luggage should I take?

You should remember the following: sleeping bag, sleeping bag liner, (inflatable) pillow, sunglasses, sun lotion and aftersun lotion, mosquito repellent, toiletries, books, towel, first-aid kit, camera or video camera, (spare) camera batteries or film, penlight, pocket knife (do not put in hand luggage during the flight!), rope/washing line, water bottle, alarm clock, pen and paper, valid passport, sufficient cash, copies of passport and travel insurance (keep separately from the originals), air tickets, a travel insurance pass with the emergency number, diary with important addresses, travel guide. You should also consider a roll of toilet paper, reading light and universal plug. Thin sleeping mattresses will be provided, but for extra comfort we recommend you take your own (inflatable) mat. Please carry a canvas bag or a backpack rather than a hard suitcase. These are hard to carry around from place to place. Also bring a small day bag or a shoulder bag for your daily hand luggage. B

Electricity

Please click here to check what voltage and plugs are in use in Australia. It might be a good idea to take a universal adaptor.

Travel guides and maps

If you want to take a travel guide or map, we suggest you click on Lonely Planet.

In what kind of accommodation do we sleep?

You will stay in hotels and in tents on campsites with restaurants on the premises.

How is accommodation arranged if I book alone?

If you book alone you will share your room with a fellow traveller unless you have booked a single room. Sometimes this may mean that you need to share your room with someone of the opposite sex. For the camping part of the trip, you might prefer to take a small tent if you want to sleep alone. This may involve extra camping fees (never very much), in which case your tour leader will tell you and collect the extra fees.


Do I need a sleeping mat or sleeping bag?

We recommend that you bring a sleeping bag.

What can I expect with regards to camping facilities?

You can expect a shared tent on a comfortable campsite with restaurant facilities.

Do I need to take a mosquito net?

No, a mosquito net is not necessary.

Do they cater for vegetarians in Australia?

Australians are big meat eaters but vegetarians are well catered for so you won't have any problems.

What kind of transportation is used?

Transport will be provided in air-conditioned mini-buses or buses depending on group size.

Can you travel with children?

Yes, children can travel with their families on a Shoestring tour. We recommend the easiest tours which are listed as ‘Category A’ where the distances covered are short and there is a slow traveling speed. But please check with our friendly sales team if you are unsure.
We would define a child as being under the age of 18. They would only be allowed to travel provided they do so with an adult family member or close relative.

Children under the age of 8 we recommend not to travel as they simply would not be old enough to enjoy the experience nor cope with the nature of travel that we provide.

The tour prices are the same for both adults and children however there will be a reduction on the child airfare which will vary depending on the flight selected (Please use the ‘search flights’ facility on the website to check the up-to-date prices).


Is Australia dangerous?

Australia is safe. Naturally, there are pickpockets and thieves, but the Australian cities are among the safest in the world. Take the same precautions against pickpockets and car thieves that you would back home.

If you are interested what the Foreign Office has to say, please click here.

What local customs do I need to keep in mind?

The cultural differences between Europeans and Australians are minimal compared those with inhabitants of other continents.
It is important to note that Australians are proud of their convict legacy. Jokes about the fact that they descend from criminals, however, are not appreciated. When confronted with this legacy they will proudly declare that the Australian society is rooted in equality, based on personal success and on being a decent and useful member of society. Australians do not like people who display their newly acquired riches in an ostentatious way and they cannot stand pretentiousness.

Are there opportunities to snorkel or dive?

Australia has some of the best diving and snorkelling sites in the world. There will be opportunities to explore these options on your trip.

Are there opportunities to swim?

There will be ample opportunities to swim whilst on your trip so make sure you don't forget your swimming costume!

What other activities and sports I could do?

This is a trip for adventurous, fun-seeking individuals and there will be opportunities to bungee jump, go on a camel ride, go ballooning, diving or snorkelling—anything is possible!

Mobile phone, email and snail mail

Sending mail from Australia is not a problem. Stamps are on sale in post offices and newsagents. Telephone and internet are widely available. Public telephones are operated by coins, credit cards and phone cards, which are available in newsagents. Telephones in the outback often operate with coins only. When making international calls, take into account the time difference. Trunk calls can be made from phone boxes labelled STD; International calls can be made from those labelled ISD. In order to call Australia from abroad, you dial the international code 00, then the country code for Australia 61, then the dialling code without the first 0 and then the subscriber’s number. To call the UK from Australia, you first dial the international entry code 0011, then the country code (44 for the UK), the dialling code without the zero and then finally the rest of the number.


Time difference with the UK

Please check the world clock in order to find out the exact time difference between Australia and the UK.
Please be aware that the time can change depending on whether the UK is on daylight saving time or not.