Before travel Australia: "The The Land Down Unda"

Australia will ALWAYS be near and dear to my heart. It was my first BIG trip, and the furthest place I traveled to alone. Since then, I've been 2 more times, and stayed a year on a work and holiday visa my 3rd visit. It's one of those places you don't hear about as much as other places, making the trip more enjoyable.

Now. I've been ALL over Oz(slang name for Australia), from Perth to Tasmania. I've seen the entire country. It's a vast country, so seeing it in one trip is extremely difficult unless you're there for a long period of time.

Australia is colloquially known as “The Land Down Under" because it lies entirely under the equator

Contrary to popular belief, Sydney is the(pseudo)capital of Australia. The capital is Canberra.

Like the United States, Australia is made up of states and Territories. They are: New South Wales, Queensland(where I lived), Tasmania, Victoria, South Australia,Western Australia,Northern Territory, and Australian Capital Territory

What to know before you go:

Regardless of the reason for your visit, you need a visa. Australia has evisas, which can be obtained at www.immi.gov.au which is electronically linked via your passport number. No visit to the Australian consulate needed! The tourist visa is a multiple entry visa as well. You can enter and leave Australia as many times as you want on that one visa, and stay up to 90 days.

Everyone in Australia drives on the left side of the road

If you decide to rent a car, be prepared to drive manual. 90% of the country drives manual

Seasons are reversed. During our winter, it’s the Australian summer, and vice versa

All of the major American carriers fly there(American, United, and Delta) originating from LAX or SFO. You can also fly QANTAS, Air New Zealand via Auckland, Hawaiian Airlines via Honolulu, or Virgin Australia. I definitely recommend Virgin Australia.

You’ll arrive 2 days after your departure from the United States due to crossing the international dateline, and live the same day twice on the return trip.

Flying around Australia is expensive. It's literally cheaper to fly to New Zealand from Australia than to travel within it.

Interesting facts:

There is a separate license for each transmission. One who holds an automatic license can ONLY drive automatic, however if one has a manual license, they can drive both legally

It is taboo for women to play the didgeridoo according to Aboriginal legend. It's believed that bad luck will ensue.

When you purchase something, tax is already included.

Rent is paid weekly rather than monthly, but you pay fortnightly(every 2 weeks)

Tasmanian devils ARE real. I’ve seen them, and they’re quite ugly. I'll attach a photo for your enjoyment.

The paper currency is made of plastic, therefore it can’t be ripped

In Australian currency, there is a 5 cent coin, a 10 cent coin, a 20 cent coin, a 50 cent coin, a 1 dollar coin, and a 2 dollar coin. The lowest bill(in Australia they call it a note) you can have is a $5 bill.

Koalas sleep on average 20 hours a day.

Aussie English vs American English:

Shopping cart-trolley
Hood of a car-bonnet
Trunk of a car-boot
Thongs-flip flops
Footpath-sidewalk
fortnight=-every 2 weeks
Holiday-vacation
Whinge-complain
Jumper-sweater
Doona-blanket
Trash can-rubbish bin
Cookie-biscuit

(There are more phrases, but these are the ones I recall from memory)

As far as what to see and do, it depends on where you are.

Sydney: more than likely you're in Sydney for one reason: to see the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. Most accommodation is near Circular Quay(pronounced "KEY"), making it an easy walk, or you can take the free 555 bus there, or other points of interest. If you have a long layover, the train from the airport can take
you straight there with no transfers. At Circular Quay, you have access to ferries to Manly and Bondi beaches, and Toronga Zoo. If you want to get away from the city, I recommended going to the Blue Mountains. You definitely won't regret it.

Melbourne:(pronounced "Mel bin") I actually like Melbourne better than Sydney. It's less populated, and it's giant melting pot of diversity. It's one of the most diverse cities in the world. Take a drive on the Great Ocean Road and gaze at the 12 Apostles. Hurry though. Erosion is slowly wiping them out.

Brisbane.(pronounced Bris bin)The capital of Queensland. Sunny beaches, awesome nightlife. You can't go wrong. Go up to the Gold Coast and have some fun! While there, fly up to Cairns and that will be your base for the Great Barrier Reef.

Tasmania: I spent a month here. It's the 2nd oldest part of Australia next to Sydney. If you're into history, you'll love Tassie. Hobart is a very charming city. It's very easy to navigate, and very walkable. I recommend getting a tour to Freycinet National Park. It's a haven for nature lovers, and one of the world's most secluded beaches is there, Wineglass Bay.

Adelaide: 🍷 🍷 🍷!!! If you want some amazing Aussie wine, Adelaide is the spot! Get a day trip to Kangaroo island as well.

Perth: definitely go to Penguin Island. As the name suggests, it's full of penguins. It's a beautiful siteto see.

Alice Springs: this will be your base for exploring the Outback and Uluru(Ayers Rock). Getting there is a daunting task. It's a 4 hour drive from Alice Springs. You can either rent a car, or get a tour.

Food: vegemite......don't try that shit. For real. Don't. You'll thank me later.

Shepherd’s Pie

TIM TAMS!! greatest snack ever.

MEAT PIES!!!

My apologies for how lengthy this is. I definitely hope this helps for your trip to the Land Down Unda!