Entry requirements | Organizing your trip | Visiting | Eating | Paying | Speaking |

Entry requirements

Passport and visa service

Consult the Department of Immigration website

Diplomatic representations

Consult the Department of Foreign Affairs website

For more information

Embassy of Australia in Greece
Level 6, Thon Building , Cnr Kifisias & Alexandras Ave
11523 Ambelokipi, Athens
Phone: 210 870 4000
Fax: 210 870 4111
ae.athens@dfat.gov.au
http://www.ausemb.gr/

Organizing your trip

Means of transport recommended in town

Recommendation

Getting around on your own in Australia can sometimes be difficult because of the lack of public transport. Taxis are used a lot in Australia. They are not difficult to find and they are often the best means of transport, particularly in large cities. Public transport networks are less developed and above all less efficient and punctual than in most European countries. Each Australian State capital has a train/metro network and bus companies (usually well equipped but sometimes getting old). Melbourne has the most extensive tram network in the world. However, Australia remains – like the United States – marked by the culture of the private car.

Maps of urban networks

Sydney tram system map
Brisbane transport system map
Australian Rail Maps

Means of transport recommended in the rest of the country

Recommendation

Because of the distances involved, taking a plane is almost inevitable. Since the collapse of the second Australian airline in September 2001, only Quantas, Virgin Blue and a certain number of small independent companies offer domestic flights.
Air transport is excellent but the cost of domestic flights is high. The air network is extensive and there are services between all the main cities. There is a flight almost every hour between the most important cities. There is a rail network but it is not very efficient and it is faster to travel by plane because of the distances involved. Buses are efficient and comfortable.

Rail companies

Sydney urban rail transport
Melbourne urban rail transport

Flight from Greece

No aircraft company operates direct flight from Athens to Sydney, but the following aircraft companies operate regular flights : Lufthansa, Olympic Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Gulf Air. Qantas offer also departures to Canberra and Melbourne. To find out air connections from Greece to Australia click here

Traveling by yourself

Recommendation

The state of the roads is good, especially around big towns. If, however, you want to venture off the beaten track, in the bush, it is better to do so in a 4X4. Finding fuel is reasonably easy. Fines are heavy for driving offenses and they are doubled over long holiday weekends (double demerits); your license may be withdrawn if you do not wear your seat belt. The Australian authorities have set up a large number of speed cameras along the roads to encourage drivers to observe speed limits (110km/h on motorways). There are many traffic jams in and around Sydney.

Road maps

Autopages

Find an itinerary

WHEREIS

Visiting

Different forms of tourism

Historical

Australia is made up of six states and each one of them has its particular features:
- Sydney with its historical sites connected with the first European immigrants, as well as with the indigenous people of Australia, the Aborigines. For further information about the city: Sydney
- Melbourne with a large European community such as Greeks and Italians, but also the Chinese population. For further information about Melbourne and Victoria, please visit: Melbourne.

Cultural

Several hundreds of museums and festivals. Sculpture, Paintings, Theater, Concerts, Cinema, Literature, etc.
Sydney : its famous Opera House (Opera House) and the bridge over the bay (Harbour Bridge).
Melbourne is well known for its lively cultural life, with theater, music, fashion and international sporting events.
Over the last few years, Brisbane has developed its cultural and night life (museums, theaters, galleries).
The city of Adelaide is appreciated for its architecture, its modernism and very relaxed life-style. The city has many restaurants, shops and entertainments.
Western Australia : The capital is Perth 3 200 km from Sydney and probably the most isolated capital in the world. Nevertheless, it is a beautiful, modern city with a very pleasant climate and life style and it has kept the atmosphere of a provincial town.

Nature

Australia has a large number of spectacular national parks and several UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Tasmania is an island south of Victoria, famous for its landscapes, its horticultural products and its wines. The capital is Hobart. There is practically no pollution in the air and waters of Tasmania thanks to there being very little industry there.
Northern Territory : this is the region where much of the land is still uninhabited. The climate varies from tropical in the north to desert and tundra in the south. The most well known tourist attraction in the region is Ayers Rock. There is a wide variety of wildlife such as the great sea water crocodile, the dingo, the wallaby and many different species of birds. Aquatic creatures and reptiles are numerous. Darwin is the main city of the territory (tropical climate).

Religious

Australia is a "young" country but it has a vast number of ancient Aboriginal sites of great religious and mystical significance.

Thermal

There are hot springs in the Northern Territory.

Beach

Australia is the country of beaches par excellence. Its coast is spectacular and offers unlimited possibilities and discoveries. There are some very beautiful beaches not far from the center of Sydney.

Winter sports

The Australian Alps have very pleasant ski resorts but they are expensive, like Thredbo or Perisher.

Outdoor activities

Rambling, surfing, mountain bike, climbing, mountain climbing, rafting, 4x4.

Shopping

Today, especially in Asia, Australia is known to be a great place to shop, in particular for fashion and products seen to be "exotic", and culinary specialties and wine.

Tourism organizations

Tourism Australia

Eating

Food specialties

Australian cuisine, which still had a bad reputation 30 years ago, has been enriched by contributions from the Mediterranean, the Middle East and Asia. Melbourne for example is a Mecca for worldwide gastronomy. "Contemporary Australian cuisine" is rich in sea foods: barramundi, crayfish, etc. Vegemite is a pure product of local culture.
We can mention:
- Australian Cheesecake.
- Australian Dinkum Chili: Australian chilli with bacon, beef and pork, seasoned with cumin, garlic, chilli powder and onions.
- Chicken with basil sauce.
- Curried Mussels with Mushrooms.
- Kangaroo Escalopes with Spinach and Anchovy Butter.
- Octopus Salad.
- Anzac Biscuits.
- Strawberry Meringue Pudding.

Drinks

Today wine is almost as popular as beer, the national drink. Aperitifs and liqueurs are less common. On the other hand, alcopops (alcoholic drinks mixed with fruit juice or cola) are very popular with young adults.

Dietary restrictions

Dietary restrictions are almost inexistent but may vary, in this multicultural country, according to religion.

Paying

Domestic currency

Australian Dollar

ISO Code

AUD

To obtain domestic currency

The most practical way is to withdraw money directly from ATMs. There are many of them and they are easily accessible in airports, city centers, and all over the country.

Possible means of payment

Places where you can pay with foreign currency are rare.In stores, restaurants, hotels, and cafés payment is made in cash or by Credit Card, according to the sum. American Express cards are very often taken.

Exchange rate on

Automatic Teller Machines (ATM)

To find out the locations of ATMs in in Australia, click on the link to your credit card: Visa, Mastercard or American Express

Speaking

Official language

The lingua franca of Australia is English. English is also the common language in different sectors such as the legislature, justice, administrative services, work, correspondence.

Other languages spoken

In Australia minority groups use more than 200 languages including the Aborigine languages and immigrant languages (Italian, Greek, Cantonese, Lebanese, Vietnamese,Turkish, etc.)

Business language

English

Getting some knowledge

TRAVLANG

Free translation tools

World reference - bilingual translations in several languages
Systran - Free Greek-English-Greek translator
Tranexp - Free Greek-English-Greek translator
Ectaco - Free Greek-English-Greek Dictionary

We can translate your foreign-language documents.

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Last updates: May 2012