Traveling is one of the most rewarding experiences a human can have. Australia has always been one of the most traveled to destinations, and with good reason. With its endless beautiful beaches, sceneries, complete with its unique flora and dangerous fauna – with the exception of the exceedingly cute Koala Bear, the country is almost irresistible.
However, traveling to Australia does not mean packing a bag and hopping on the next plane to Sydney, you need to be adequately prepared. From visas to quarantines and places to visit, you need to be well informed to ensure that you not only have a fun trip, but to also make it as hassle free as possible. Consider the following tips the next time you plan a visit to the country.
- Visa Requirements
Regardless of whether you will be spending two days or two months in the country, you need a valid visa to enter the country. While Australians pride themselves as being one of the most hospitable people on the planet, the government works overtime to vet the people looking to get into their country. This makes getting that visa especially difficult.
There are different types of visas available, and knowing the one which suits you best will make your application much smoother. To find out which visa is the right one for you, be sure to check out the Department of Home Affairs page.
To improve your chances of your application going through, it is recommended that you work with an immigration agency. An agency will help you avoid mistakes which could get your application rejection. Moreover, they will take care of your paperwork for you while booking your hotels in advance. They are the personal assistants you need to make your travel as hassle-free as possible. Check out australianimmigrationagency.com for more information.
- Plan Your Trip Well Ahead
There is something you must know – Australia is HUGE!
In fact, the continent is as large as mainland USA without Alaska. The coastline stretches for almost 50,000 kilometers and contains over 10,000 beaches. So, if you think you will visit Sydney one day, sleep in Melbourne in the other, and then snorkel in Perth during the next; you couldn’t be more mistaken.
Sydney and Perth are over 4,000 kilometers apart. This means that you would have to drive for 8 hours every day for five days in order to make that trip. And choosing to go by plane will quickly eat up your budget.
Therefore, instead of rushing and trying to see everything at once, plan ahead to know which areas you would like to visit. In order to prioritize what you would like to see, consider the following:
Do you prefer:
The Outback or the coast
The country or the city
Food and wine or adventure travel
The party scene or relaxation
Sporting events or historical sites
The answers to the above questions will help you create a guide on where you will spend your time instead of trying to take in everything at once. Your travel motto should be ‘spending more time in fewer places’ as that is what is going to make for a richer traveling experience.
- Be Prepared for the Weather
Some parts of Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania, and Queensland snow on occasion. In contrast, the top end of the continent is usually hot and humid for the better part of the year. Melbourne can have as many as four seasons in a day – hot and sunny, then windy, then storms and rain, then sunshine – all in 24 hours!
Australian summers are very hot and can be brutal with temperatures soaring above 100 degrees Fahrenheit on a typical day.
This means that sunburns, dehydration, and even heat strokes are more than likely to occur if you do not prepare adequately. Be sure to look into the weather forecasts to know which areas you might not be comfortable traveling to.
And as a rule of thumb, always remember to carry a hat, shades, sunscreen, and water to protect yourself from the harsh sun.
- Remember the Quarantine Laws
Australia is, without a doubt, one of the most rugged places on the planet. But it is also beautiful, and most parts have been cleared off pests and diseases in order to enhance agriculture, which is one of the key drivers of the Australian economy.
The Australian Government, therefore, is especially keen on ensuring its lands remain pest and disease free. This is made possible by quarantine laws which are taken very seriously by everyone in the country.
Upon reaching the country, you will have to declare everything you have brought with you to ensure that you do not bring in any harmful thing. Therefore, they will have to investigate all food material and animal products. If the items are deemed to be low-risk, they will be returned to you.
If they are deemed to be high-risk, they will be confiscated, and you are likely to be charged a fee. And if you do not declare them and a high-risk product is found with you, you will be liable for very hefty fines.
To avoid coming into trouble with the law and/or losing a precious item, be sure to familiarize yourself with the quarantine laws of Australia before packing. Additionally, if you are carrying an item and you are not sure whether to declare it or not, just declare it to be on the safe side.
- Keep Your Documents Safe and Handy
Nothing will spoil your trip like losing your travel documents, or any kind of document while in a foreign country. It is a headache you definitely do not want when you are in the Heart of the Australian Outback.
Nonetheless, you also do not want to hide them too far because you will need to keep showing them to officials. To solve this problem, get a passport holder and small bag with a sling so that your documents are both safe and handy. Additionally, scan the originals and store them online. Thus, even if anything were to happen, you could easily retrieve them.
Conclusion
The land down under is definitely worth a trip. However, you need adequate preparation to ensure that your trip is fun and memorable. Utilize the above tips to make your experience as hassle-free as possible.
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