Australia
Australia is the largest country in Oceania and the sixth largest in the world. Its current population is 26,000,000 which is largely concentrated in its few major cities. It consists of 6 states (New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Southern Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania) and 3 mainland territories (Northern Territory, Capital Territory, and Jervis Bay Territory).
Bucket List Experiences
Stand next to the Sydney Opera House … snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef … explore the holy monolith of Uluru … hold a koala … drive along the Great Ocean Road. There are so many experiences to cross off your bucket list when visiting Australia and you’ll find them all here!
AUSTRALIAN HEALTH CARE:
Australia has a decent and cheap healthcare system. I found it easy and inexpensive to book appointments with General Practitioners and to get necessary prescriptions from them.
Australia has a Medicare program that foreigners can only receive if they have or are applying for residency. So, as a temporary traveler, you will need to have your own traveler’s insurance. However, if you do not have any travel insurance, the costs are not insanely high (maybe a lot for a budget traveler) but definitely will not send you into debt for small healthcare needs.
Free STI testing clinics are common – no insurance needed.
Female Birth Control prescriptions were easy to attain with a General Practitioner.
What to Expect
Language: English
Currency: Australian Dollar ($)
Electric Outlet: Type I
Banking: Mastercard and Visa widely accepted
Transportation
Getting around Australia can be tedious at points. Major cities have great public transport systems, while small towns are not as easy and rural areas have next to nothing.
If you plan on sticking to cities like Sydney or Melbourne, then you will be perfectly fine purchasing local tap cards at select 7/11s. However, if you are looking to get off the beaten path a bit, I recommend renting a car.
For those traveling the East Coast, the Greyhound and Premier Bus Services are perfect for making your way between Melbourne and Cairns. If you’re traveling the West Coast, Integrity Coach is your best bet, however, most people recommend simply renting a car since the service is much less reliable than on the East Coast.
Cost
Australia tends to be quite expensive. I spent an average of 180 AUD per week not including accommodation. If you are staying in hostels, anticipate paying anywhere from 30-60 AUD per night.
Alcohol, vapes, and cigarettes are much more expensive than many other countries, so be ready to splurge for a good night out.
You can always find free things to do – many parks and national parks are free to enjoy. Tours are often expensive since many are in high demand year round.
When to Visit
You can always find somewhere good to go at any time of year. Keep in mind, seasons are reverse of the Northern Hemisphere (i.e. winter months are June-September and summer months are December-February).
Australian summer is rainy season in the North, so there are frequent rainstorms and days are humid. Winters are cooler in the South, however, it only really snows in mountainous areas.
Droughts are common throughout Australia and with these come regulations on both fire and water. Make sure you know and follow these regulations when you visit.
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