AUSTRALIA TRAVEL GUIDE

When I first left the corporate world, and left for “anywhere but here,” my first stop was Australia. I spent nearly two months living on the East coast of Australia and visiting everywhere from The Great Barrier Reef, the Outback, to the street-art-saturated city of Melbourne.

My one true travel love is the city of Sydney. It’s the birthplace of “The Blonde Abroad.” That’s right; I came up with the concept of this very blog while sitting at a cafe near Sydney Harbour (what now feels like many years ago!).

Best Time To Visit

The best time to visit Australia all depends on where you’re going and what you want to do.

One of Australia’s most popular tourist attractions is the Great Barrier Reef. While the temperatures are warm year-round, the best time to visit is in the summer or spring. While it is the wet season, the rain keeps away the large crowds that flock to the coast in the drier winter months.

If you’re after picture-perfect days at the Gold Coast‘s famous beaches, plan your trip during the summer months (December to February).

For wine lovers, the best time to visit Australia’s 60 wine regions is in the autumn, From April to June, you’ll be in time for the many harvest festivals.



WHAT TO EXPECT

Language: The official language in Australia is English.

Currency: The currency in Australia is called the Australian Dollar. 1 USD is equivalent to about 1,40 Australian Dollars.

Credit Cards and ATMs: Most restaurant and retailers in the big and small cities will accept credit cards as payment. If you need to draw cash, you can find ATM’s almost everywhere: bank lobbies, on the streets, shopping malls, convenience stores, and petrol stations.

Plugs: The plugs in Australia are type I. The standard voltage is 230V, and the standard frequency is 50 HZ. I recommend buying a universal adapter (make sure it has surge protection) and using a converter for hair dryers and hot tools.

Safety: Australia is one of the safest countries in the world. While it has low crime rates, the one thing you do need to look out for is the country’s flora and fauna. Australia is notorious for its poisonous species of spiders and snakes as well as the deadly jellyfish and sharks that swim along its shores.