A typical first trip here runs about $1,025 to $1,400 per person for 7 days at a mid-range style, before flights. Get your own number from the Budget Calculator.
- BBQ culture (called "barbie")
- Fresh seafood and unique meats (kangaroo, crocodile)
- Meat pies, Tim Tams, Vegemite (local favorites)
- Strong café culture with excellent coffee
- Australia Day (January 26)
- ANZAC Day (April 25) - remembrance day
- Melbourne Cup horse race (November) - national event
- Indigenous (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) cultural sites
English with unique Australian slang and expressions. Friendly and informal communication style.
Indigenous languages are also recognized.
- Australians are very casual and informal
- Use first names, even with people you just met
- Sun safety is crucial (slip, slop, slap)
- Respect beach safety flags and lifeguard instructions
- Sydney: The iconic Opera House and Harbour Bridge, Bondi Beach surf culture, and day trips to the dramatic Blue Mountains
- Melbourne: World-renowned coffee culture, hidden laneway street art, an extraordinary arts and live music scene, and multicultural cuisine
- Queensland: The Great Barrier Reef snorkeling and diving, Gold Coast theme parks and beaches, and the ancient Daintree Rainforest
- Western Australia: Margaret River's acclaimed wine region, the pristine Ningaloo Reef (swim with whale sharks), and the vast red outback landscapes
- Tasmania: Rugged untouched wilderness, a celebrated farm-to-table food scene, and the provocative Dark Mofo winter festival in Hobart
Latest for Australia
Updates for Australia will appear here as they are published. Every update cites official sources, so you can plan on it.