Currency: Australian Dollar

Official language: English

Indigenous Australians first emigrated onto the continent more than 40,000 years ago, while European influences didn’t start to show until the 17th century. With the colonization of Southeast Asia by European powers, Australia’s northern reaches were constantly visited by Dutch traders. However, the rest of Australia went largely untouched until 1770 when British explorer, Captain James Cook, navigated Australia’s east coast, naming it New South Wales under the British crown.

Eighteen years after James Cook’s discovery, Captain Arthur Phillip led a fleet in 1788 to begin a new British crown colony in New South Wales. He landed at Sydney Cove and immediately began developing the area. Eventually, expeditions of the Australian coastline led to more colonies in the following years, including Tasmania in 1825, South Australia in 1836, Victoria in 1851, and Queensland in 1859.

Despite popular belief, Australia’s population grew through the arrival of free settlers, not relocated British convicts. A population explosion occurred during the gold rush of the 1850’s, and by the turn of the century, the separate colonies voted to become a British dominion and Australia officially became a unified nation on January 1, 1901. After federation, Australia’s economy thrived with its abundance of natural resources, but was limited by lack of manpower.

Following WWII, in which Australia fought on several fronts, a large influx of Europeans immigrated into the country. This was the beginning of Australia’s modern wave of migrants, which also included Asians and Africans over the next 50 years.

Visitors can find out more about Australia’s short yet fascinating history at Sydney’s Australian Museum (6 College Street, Sydney) and the Australian National Maritime Museum (2 Murray Street, Darling Harbour, Sydney). Plenty of colonial remnants are found throughout Australia, including the spectacular Port Arthur Historical Site (Arthur Highway, Port Arthur, Tasmania), which is a well-preserved penal settlement complete with eerie convict quarters.

Australia’s modern culture has been shaped by a number of factors, including Americanization, immigration, ancient heritage, and climate. With much of the population living close to the coast, a strong beach culture dominates society. Even in major city centers, it is not uncommon to see locals wearing beach attire around town. The warm, sunny climate also permits an array of outdoor activities, happily lapped up by locals. A typical Aussie Saturday afternoon is spent at a barbecue with friends or family. Australians are very active yet laid-back people, and this certainly shows through their love of sports, whether they are participating or observing.

Indigenous culture is still prevalent in many parts of the country, and tourists can easily find package tours to learn more. The native Aboriginal people are a proud race, and still practice ancient cultural aspects of tribal life, including dancing, music, art, and even hunting. Arnhem Land is an Aboriginal region in the Northern Territory.

Due to Australia’s enormous size, the country experiences varied weather from one region to the next. The northern reaches are renowned for their tropical climate, receiving much of the country’s rainfall during the summer months of December, January, and February. The months of April to October are known as the dry season, when temperatures are generally lower and precipitation is almost non-existent.

Australia’s eastern coast receives most of the rainfall. However, the arid and semi-arid interior experiences very limited rain levels. The Great Dividing Range which travels down the entire eastern coast, generally experiences four district seasons, with summer temperatures hovering around 79° to 82°F (26 to 28°C), and mild to cold winters ranging between subzero temperatures and 54°F (12°C). Snowfall is part of the winter highland region of Australia’s great southeast.

With much of Western Australia covered by arid desert land, most of the state population lives in the southwestern region. Summers tend to be hot, with averages of about 86°F, whereas winters experience a much milder and wetter climate. It is not uncommon for temperatures in the summer months to skyrocket above 104°F (40°C), and storms to hit frequently.

Unless tourists have an Australian or New Zealand passport, visas are essential for getting into the country. Most tourists will need to obtain a Tourist Visa, although eVisitor visas and Electronic Authority Travel visas are now available for some foreign nationals, including travelers from the United States. The ETA is only AU$20, but must be applied for and received prior to arriving on Australian soil. Check out all visa and travel information at www.immi.gov.au.

Taxis are great when traveling within cities. However, they are not recommended for intrastate travel, as services are quite expensive. Yellow Cabs (+61-7-3391-5955) and Black & White Cabs (+61-7-3860-9999) are two of the largest taxi companies in the country. Taxis charge by the meter, and rates differ according to the time of day and type of taxi ordered. For example, limousine taxis are much more expensive than regular sedans. Streets and roads in Australia are well-signed, so traveling between cities is easy with a rental car. Most cities and towns boast reputable rental companies, but tourists should pre-book vehicles, especially during the summer, the peak road-travel period in Australia.

In cities bound by rivers or harbors, such as Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne, and Sydney, water taxis have become an important part of the transportation network. Water ferries provide a great option for travelers, as inner-city traffic on major roads is common. Taking a river or harbor ferry can make travel faster and far more enjoyable. Ticket prices are generally similar to train fares within the larger cities.

Inner-city bus networks dominate public transportation in Australia. In Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne, major bus lane developments and bus skyways have begun to make this transportation option more convenient. Greyhound and Murray are two of the busiest inter-city coach companies, offering the cheapest transportation between Australia’s major cities. However, due to the great distances required to travel around Australia, coaches and buses are also the most time consuming

Before you leave on your holiday, there are at least four health-related things you should do. Please check the handbook for specifics, but for now, here’s the short list:

Step 1: Check with the CDC for their recommendations for the countries you’ll be visiting.

Step 2: Have a medical checkup with your doctor.

Step 3: Pick up any necessary medications, both prescription and over-the-counter.

Step 4: Have a dental and/or eye checkup. (Recommended, but less important than steps 1-3.)

DO

• If an Australian teases you, reply with good humour and show that you are not disconcerted by it. Indulging in their jokes like this will show, in a non-arrogant way, that you are self-confident but don’t take yourself too seriously. Lightly teasing them back will also be received cheerfully.
• Keep a measure on how much you criticise them directly.
• Drink with them (if you can), relax and enjoy yourself in casual settings. Australians tend to bond quickly with people they ‘click’ with in informal social situations.
• In any situation that allows for it, pitch in and contribute to the shared expense or task however possible. For example, if you are taking a trip in someone else’s car, offering to to contribute to fuel costs will be appreciated.
• Try to be yourself. Australians warm most to those who seem genuine and comfortable with themselves.
• Be aware that the Indigenous minority of Australia are the original custodians of the land and recognise the impact colonisation has had on their people.
• Respect the natural environment, wildlife and land of Australia. Protection of the country’s ecology is very important to many Australians.

DON'T

• Do not boast or make ostentatious comments that give the impression that you see yourself as superior to others. Australians will find this contrived and obnoxious.
• Avoid asking people to do tasks that you are clearly capable of doing.
• Avoid seeming too conscious or constrained by rules as this could potentially make you seem untrustworthy or likely to ‘dob’ on them.
• Avoid mentioning the divisive topics of Australian society (e.g. refugees, Indigenous affairs) unless you are approaching it with sensitivity and are prepared to hear adverse opinions.
• Avoid being overly combative or argumentative. Australians tend to avoid the company of people who are too opinionated and may consider them a controversial character and be less enticed to keep your company.