Practical Information For Your Australian Holiday Break

By Author: Jo Alelsto
Total Articles: 405
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Your dream vacation is an adventure in the sweeping red sands of the outback, in the interesting transition of landscapes, in the exotic and endemic variety of plants and animals, and of course, the wonderful culture unique only to the Land Down Under.

First off, you need an Australian tourist visa, of course. You can go to the nearest Australian embassy to apply for one or if you possess a valid passport from any of the countries listed with the Australian Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, then you can apply for an Electronic Travel Authority right there in the comfort of your home or office.

All you need to do is follow the online application transactions and after 24 hours, you will be issued your travel visa to Australia. You will receive an authentication of your transaction via email or snail mail as you asked for. The Electronic Travel Authority costs £16. Your travel visa can usually allow you to stay and enjoy your Australian vacation for a maximum of twelve months. So you have quite some time to relish the varied climate and the amazing culture of Australia.

If you are ...
... budget conscious and you want to spend your time in Australia with only reasonable expenses, then no need to worry, Australia is an affordable destination by American and Western European standards. Vacation in Australia need not be expensive, there are lots of ways you can travel on a shoestring, yet the sights and sounds are terrific.

Exchanging your foreign currency or traveler checks is not a problem since there are numerous banks as well as accredited foreign exchange firms around the country. But with the convenience of credit and debit cards, the need for traveler checks had greatly reduced over the years.

Another thing you need to know is that the Australian Goods and Services Tax (GST) is a fixed 10% for all goods and services, including but not limited to accommodations, dining, transport, books, electronics, and clothing. Basic commodities are exempted from this tax. One more tip, with a minimum purchase value of $300 of brand new or used goods from any one supplier or vendor, you are allowed the refund of the GST or WET (wine equalization tax) you paid and this is valid for no more than 30 days. This tourist-friendly policy is under the Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS) of the government.

As with any other country, certification of the vaccinations you have received is recommended although not mandatory except for the yellow fever vaccination certificate. If you are departing from a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission then you must secure a verification of yellow fever vaccination before traveling to Australia. On the other hand, you are advised to bring insect repellents when traveling in Northern and Western Australia because of the risks of mosquito-borne illnesses in these areas such as Murray Valley encephalitis.

If you plan to travel by land around and about Australia, you're probably thinking of renting a car, or more precisely hire a car as Aussies say it. So put your international driving license and other documents in order and prepare to drive on the left-hand side of the highway. You can book online and have your car waiting at the airport parking lot when you arrive. Just make sure you have read and understood the car hiring company's terms of service.

Equipped with these tips and information, you should be able to enjoy your dream vacation to Australia with less hassle since you know what to expect and you are well prepared. Apply for the Australian tourist visa, secure your yellow fever vaccination if you need one, prepare your credit and debit cards or traveler checks, budget your money, book your vehicle, and enjoy!
Jo is a writer for ‘Australian Travel Visas Ltd' (http://www.australiantravelvisas.co.uk), experts in Australia tourist visas, Australia business visas and Australia working holiday visas. If your family are going to travel to Australia and are applying for Australian tourist visas or you are unsure which Australian travel visa is most proper for you then you should check out Australian Travel Visas Ltd.