Australia is the sixth largest country in the world, but only the south and south-east are highly urbanized. Against popular misconception, it is not all hot. Only northern Australia has a tropical climate. The south and south-east are sub-tropical and temperate. Australia’s natural wonders are what make it famous, and if you plan a trip there, you will not be disappointed. Plus, not everything is trying to kill you as the internet would suggest.
First of all, let’s talk about visa policy so that we can go to more fun aspects of Australia. What you should know is that most nationalities are required to pay a visit to the nearest Australian embassy to apply for a visa. However, there are a few others that have it easier. Australia’s visa policy suffered some changes in the last couple of years. With that change came the Australia eVisitor and the Electronic Travel Authorization. You can use Fast Track Visa’s Visa Checker Tool to see if you qualify for either of them.
Keep in mind that some nationalities qualify for both the eVisitor and the ETA. If that is the case for you, it is up to you which one you go for. Although the ETA is cheaper, and the processing time is shorter. Even so, the choice is yours. Both documents allow you to stay in Australia for up to 3 months per visit, and you can enter the country multiple times in the 1 year of validity.
At the same time, you should know that Australia has rigorous quarantine requirements when it comes to vegetable and animal-derived products. That is because they have a clean biosphere which they plan to keep that way. It is best if you avoid traveling with such products. It can cause trouble at immigration.
Getting inside Australia can be done by plane or boat but getting around the country is way easier. Trains, buses, car rentals, etc. are all available for you to enjoy and explore the state. If you leave the urbanized area in the south and south-east, it can be hours until you reach another city, so make sure to prepare accordingly for that. A tourism information bureau can get you up to speed with the basics.
As for what you can enjoy in Australia, the list is long, and chances are that you are not going to be able to do everything you want. Even so, we recommend that you start with wildlife. There is a zoo in every major city, but tourists tend to wish to see wild animals more. You will not see any of them in the city, but the outskirts always have something to show.
As you can imagine, you can see kangaroos and koalas. Wombats and wallabies. Emus and platypuses. And more. However, while it is very tempting to interact with these animals, we strongly suggest that you do not. Koalas are cute, but they are territorial, and they can do some damage if provoked. Not to mention kangaroos. They are strong creatures that can kill a person if provoked. You should just admire them from a safe distance, and nobody will get hurt.
Apart from the wildlife in Australia, you can enjoy some landmarks as well. As you can imagine, the Opera House in Sydney is iconic, so you cannot miss it. You cannot miss the Sydney Harbor Bridge either. Or the Uluru in the red center.
Leaving the ‘seeing’ part aside, Australia is also a place for adventure seekers. You can surf on one of the many endless sandy beaches. Swimming is also a very tempting activity, especially because of the beautiful sights and the perfect water temperature. Of course, you can go snorkeling and diving. After all, Australia has the Great Barrier Reef. All water sports are available as well.
If you want to get out of the water, you can go mountain climbing, biking, sky diving, hot air ballooning, or you can try something that is called bushwalking. It is a very popular activity in Australia. Since there several national parks and rainforests in the country, you can pick your location. Just make sure that you are not going alone. The rainforests in Australia hide a few secrets that only an experienced hiker or a tourist guide will know.
As far as food and drink are concerned, Australia is a first-world country, so you can draw your conclusions from there. You will fain many available cuisines, but you may be interested in trying something local. If you are not squeamish, you may try kangaroo meat, which can be found even in supermarkets and butcher shops. Crocodile meat is also a thing, and if you want to see what a big chicken tastes like, you can go for an emu dish.
The drinking age in Australia is 18, so it is illegal to purchase if you are not of age. The tap water is not always safe to drink, but there is usually a sign above it to tell you whether or not you can drink it.
When it comes to safety, there are several things you should take into consideration. But it is not what you think. Crime in Australia is low compared to other first-world countries. It is nature you have to be careful about. Venomous creatures such as snakes and spiders are something to look for. When you get in the water, you need to be careful not to swim in an area with jellyfish. Dangerous flora also exists in Australia. If you plan to go bushwalking in the rainforest, mind the Gympie bush. It is called the stinging tree for a reason. It has microscopic hairs that if you touch, you can be in pain for weeks. Google it and print out a photo. You do not want it anywhere around you.
Nevertheless, as long as you are cautious, your trip to Australia should be as pleasant as possible. And the most important advice we can give you is to wear sunscreen at all times. Every single time you get out of the house/hotel room. The sun burns hot in Australia, and there are more victims of the sun than they are of the venomous creatures we mentioned above.
Needless to say, a trip to Australia will be more than pleasant. You can enjoy many things there, from sightseeing to fun activities. The country is a beautiful place to spend your vacation with your kids since the amenities allow it. The food is excellent, the people are friendly and very hard to offend, and it is most likely that you will make a lot of friends. A lot of unforgettable memories too. The beaches, the mountains, and the wildlife make for a wonderful vacation.
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