Visitors Checklist

Dear visitors to Australia,

I have started to add tips on what to expect, what to pack and general things to think about for your trip to Australia.

Click places we've visited to see if any of the places we've been to or things we've done are of interest to you.

Lists you can find below so far: 
Flight planning; Visa; What you CAN'T bring; Suggestions for packing; What to do/where to go; Driving tips; Oz slang;

Flight Planning:
Even those of our friends and family who are well travelled may not have completed such a long flight so a few things to think about as you book your flight:
- make sure you search flights for Sydney Australia not Sydney Canada
- search on Skyscanner or similar sites to get a range of prices and airlines
- think about how long you want to spend at your stop over destination
- join the airlines airmiles programme
- book on credit card to get extra airmiles
- check out airport lounge options if you have a long stop over
- check seatguru for tips on best seats on your plane. Not all seat plans will be up-to-date so don't be surprised if the seating plan. is slightly different when you come to select your seats.
- select your seats as soon as you book (majority of airlines allow this) to make sure you get a good selection. Its personal preference if you want to pay the extra for legroom; want a back row so you don't get anyone behind you; want a window or centre row seat etc. The closer you are to the front of the plane the quicker you get out, unless they open the back exit as well.
- Check the airlines baggage allowance. Some have a max weight across all cases, some are per case. Same with handluggage. Some allow 2 pieces, some only 1 including a handbag. I usually have a large shopping bag with me so I can throw coats, duty free and other items in it.
- We have all heard stories of delays and cancelled flights. Be prepared for a long wait but hopefully your flight will run smoothly and leave on time.

Visa:
Unless you are Australian you will need a visa to enter. ETA stands for Electronic Travel Authority. You can apply online and the response is generally quick from 1 hour to a couple of days. Having said that, don't leave it to the last minute as you won't get in without it.
- You can use this site or  this site or search the site of the Australian embassy in your country.

What you can't bring
Australia has a very very strict customs list of what you can't bring in, particularly food and vegetation, so read up before you pack or be prepared to declare it and maybe lose it or get a fine. Expect to see sniffer dogs as you wait in line at customs. 
The Australian government has a comprehensive list of other information. Click here.

Items prohibited include: food and drink (even those from the airplane should be declared or left on the plane); feathers; plants; seeds; untreated wood; mud (they may check shoes and sporting equipment).

Suggestions for packing
- Swimwear * including UV tops * goggles
- Sunlotion
- Sun hat
- Sunglasses
- Reusable water bottle * you'll be drinking lots of water and most places have water fountains for you to top up your bottle
- Beach towel
- Beach shoes/sandals
- Travel adaptor plug * the ones with USB slots are useful
- Print out of your itinerary - you will need some details to fill in the customs card which they will hand out during your flight
- Local currency * keep an eye on the exchange rate as it varies a lot
- Camera (large data card and batteries or charger)
- Notepad and pen
- Basic First Aid kit * Flight sickness pills if needed
- Clothing: pack layers as the weather can be varied. In Sydney we've experienced 40' heat during the day and thunderstorms in the evening. Not cold, just wet! If you're coming from Europe you may only need a lightweight jacket and waterproof/umbrella even if coming in winter as it will probably seem warm to you. Join us wearing our Tshirts in the park while all the Australians are in their winter coats!

- Download apps * maps; games; reading, airport; airline etc.

Items to consider packing in your flight hand luggage
For a long haul flight the in-flight entertainment and refreshments are usually pretty good. We still take these items on the plane with us:
- Ipad
- Headphones
- Book/magazine
- Pen (for filling out customs forms)
- Water
- Travel pillow
- Travel size toiletries
- Travel socks
- Boiled sweets (to help with your ears during the flight)

- Wear comfortable clothes (you're going to be sat in 1 position for a long time) and recommend long sleeves as it gets chilly under the planes aircon. 

- Get a local sim card on the plane or when you arrive to save you money on calls/internet browsing

What to do/Where to go
- Do your research. There is so much to see and do whatever your interests are. You can see what we have done here. It may give you some ideas.
- General tourist sites to check: the Official Tourism Site; NSW site; Queensland site; Victoria site; Western Australia; Northern Territory;

Driving Tips
- The rules vary from State to State and depending on what visa you are on so you will need to check with the Ministry for Roads about whether your driving licence is valid.
- When parking on the road you have to park in the direction you are driving in i.e on the left-hand side. e.g. on a 2-way street you can't cross the dividing white line and park on the other side.
- Car park and parking meter costs vary depending on time of day and day of the week. At the weekend the meters may be a lot cheaper than car parks.
- If you see meter signs that have a number below it i.e. 2 or 4, it means you can park up to 2 or 4 hours free. If it has the word ticket below that number it means you have to pay for those hours but they are the maximum hours you can park i.e. 2 ticket = you can pay to park for up to 2 hours. Some High Streets now offer 30mins free but you will still need to get a ticket. Just follow the directions on the meter to print the 30min free ticket.
- Rangers i.e. traffic wardens, regularly monitor meters so don't risk it and make sure your ticket is easily visible from the path or they may still fine you.
- If parking in an underground car park e.g. at a shopping centre or supermarket, look out for red or green lights on the ceiling. The green light shows where there is a space available. It's such a simple idea but saves you driving up and down the aisles, you just look for a green light.
- I've found Sydney drivers to be quite reasonable when it comes to merging traffic so go with the flow and let cars out even if you feel they are pushing in.