What to Pack

"Lightweight" and "Compact" are two words that should be etched on your mind when you are deciding what to bring along. Australia is well stocked with most personal items. You will have many opportunities to buy whatever you may need.

• Sunscreen with high SPF (Sun Protection Factor)

• Sunglasses

• Hat or Cap for shade from the sun

• Light cotton clothing

• Lotion (Aloe Vera)

• Insect Repellent

• Bathing Suits

• Credit Card (Visa, American Express, MasterCard, Diners Club, and Eurocard are accepted)

• US dollars

What to Wear

As far as dressing for Australia is concerned, casual wear is generally the go. If you wanted to, you could go to the opera in jeans, and no one would give you a second look, although this is one of the few activities for which some people like to dress up.

Unless it’s a really formal occasion, one has no need for a tuxedo or a formal long gown; a jacket and tie are not de rigueur for other occasions but the rule of thumb is usually whether one is comfortable with one’s choice of clothing for a particular occasion.

In Melbourne, the weather is very changeable - you can have a nice, sunny morning and by afternoon it's overcast and cloudy. Bring along a range of clothing - jeans, t-shirts/blouses and long sleeved tops. (Some skirts and/or shorts if you feel comfortable in them.) It would be a good idea to pack a jacket - preferably a waterproof one with a hood (or an umbrella), as it tends to rain quite often.

Health Care in Australia

Skin: Sunny Australia has one simple message for the traveller (and for its own citizens): "Slip, Slop, Slap!" In other words, "Slip on a shirt, slop on some sunscreen and slap on a hat!" Over-exposure to the sun at Australian latitudes is responsible for many cases of sunburn, sunstroke and heat exhaustion every year. In the long term, premature aging and skin cancer are also a risk. Even in cooler southern areas, proximity to the hole in the ozone layer means that the risk of sunburn is much higher than in the northern hemisphere. Fair-skinned people are especially at risk, and it is advisable to use a sunscreen with a SPF of 30+.

Medicines: Medicinal products brought into Australia are subject to strict controls and should be declared on arrival. It is advisable to have a letter or prescription from your doctor describing your medical condition and the medication.

Vaccinations: Vaccinations are not required unless you have come from or visited a yellow fever infected country or zone within six days prior to arrival. No other health certificate is required to enter Australia.

Safety in Australia:

Beach going: One of the most common causes of tourist deaths in Australia is found on its glorious beaches. Each year quite a number of tourists (and locals too it must be said) drown on the shores. Australian beaches - particularly the long strips common on the Gold and Sunshine Coasts - have extremely strong rips and pulls that most people are unable to detect or handle.

It is very important that people swim between the red and yellow flags which designate patrolled areas. Despite the sunny climate beaches are not patrolled 24-hours a day or even during all sunlight hours. In most cases the local volunteer surf lifesavers or professional lifeguards are only available during certain hours, and at most beaches only on weekends. If the flags aren't up, then there's no one patrolling - and you shouldn't swim.

Festivals & Culture of Australia

Festivals have become ubiquitous in Australia, with hundreds held each year. Some are as small as the community-based Apollo Bay Music Festival and Thirroul Seaside & Arts Festival, while others afford the opportunity to bring international performers to Australian audiences and showcase Australian works, such as the Falls Festival and Woodford Folk Festival.

- Chinese New Year (February)
- Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras (February)
- WOMADelaide (March)
- National Folk Festival, Canberra (April)
- Dreaming Festival, Woodford (June)
- Revelation Independent Film Festival (July)
- Woodford Folk Festival (December).

The modern culture of Australia is a Western culture and draws from many sources, primarily from the Anglo-Celtic cultures, but also from indigenous Australians, the multi-ethnic immigration associated with the Australian gold rushes of the 1850s, and post-World War II immigrants from all over the world.

Mainstream Australian culture has been strongly influenced by British culture and European culture, and more recently the culture of the United States of America. There are, however, distinctive influences from the Australian natural environment, the country's settler history, indigenous Australians, geographical isolation from other Western nations and proximity to Asia.
 

Shopping

There is an enormous variety of authentic Aboriginal art from traditional dot and bark paintings, modern 'earth pigment' screen prints, decorated jewellery and wood carvings, to boomerangs, didgeridoos, weapons, ceramics, scarves, even compact discs of traditional music.

Tourist Refund Scheme: Did you know an overseas tourist can claim a refund of the goods and services tax (GST) and wine equalisation tax (WET) that they pay on goods they buy in Australia. The refund only applies to goods which are taken as hand luggage or worn on to the aircraft or ship when they leave the country.

Entry Formalities and Australian Tourist Visa:

All travellers, except New Zealand citizens, must obtain a visa or travel authority before travelling to Australia. Australia Tourist visa allows people to visit Australia for a holiday or recreation, or to visit family and/or friends. This visa may also be used for other short-term non-work purposes including study for less than three (3) months.

The documents required when applying for a Australia Tourist visa are:

• Complete all the questions and sign application form 48R accompanied by one recent passport size photo.

• Valid passport with two unused visa pages

• Original passport, and a photocopy of the biodata page and any page showing endorsements or change of name.

• Recent passport photo - head and shoulders only, plain background

• Details of your proposed activities in Australia

• Air Ticket and Travel itinerary

• Evidence of health insurance for entire period of stay

• Form M67 – details of relatives

• If you have a sponsor, a letter from your sponsor stating your relationship and reason for sponsorship, and evidence of his/her residence status in Australia

• Evidence of sufficient funds for your visit either from you or your sponsor in Australia (e.g. bank statements, tax papers for the last three months. Please note photocopies of credit cards are not acceptable)

• Evidence of funds/assets held by you in India

• Original leave letter from your employer stating your job designation, monthly salary and exact dates of leave or, if you are self-employed, evidence of your business

• A clear description of your occupation and complete contact details for your employer are to be included on the application form. Please note that occupation titles such as "business" and "service" are not acceptable

• Students must provide confirmation from their school or college of their exact vacation dates and/or reasons for taking time off during the academic semester

• Children under 18 must provide a notarized “no objection certificate’ from any non-accompanying parent authorizing their travel to Australia along with copies of the parents passport. In the case of children traveling or staying with non –relatives, please also provide the full name, nationality and the date of birth of the person the child will be staying or traveling with.

• Previous passports if any

Australia Tourist Visa Fee: INR4,700 + INR500 VFS Service Charges + INR1,200 Documentation Charges. (Subject to revise)

Time required to issue Australia Visa: From 7 working days to 4 weeks. It is advisable to allow plenty of time. The amount of time taken to finalise individual applications may vary significantly depending on processing requirements; If additional documents, Interviews or Medical examination are required, the Australian High Commission will notify you;

If granted, Australia Tourist visa will allow the passenger either a single or multiple entry to Australia for a stay period of up to three (3), six (6) or 12 months.

The period of stay and number of entries granted will depend on the purpose of the visit and your personal circumstances.