This section is primarily aimed at the international traveller to Australia but things like surf and outback safety are relevant to all. Nature has no time to check passports.

Booze & Drugs Currency Credit Cards GST & Visitor Refund Scheme Duty Free Tipping Sun Surf & Safety

Personal Safety Disabled Services Electricity Dress Visas Health Outback Checklist

Booze & Drugs

• Illegal Drugs: The importation, possession and use of drugs such as marijuana, hashish, cocaine, heroin, LSD, amphetamines and all their derivatives is illegal and carries heavy penalties. Australian Customs authorities employ sniffer dogs (cute as a button and sharp as a tack) and other devices and police have wide powers to search without warrant.
• Prescription Drugs: Visitors who have a medical condition requiring treatment should carry a letter from their doctor outlining their condition and the medication required. This is important if the drug is uncommon or contains narcotics, which may be a restricted import. Most medication is available in Australia with a doctor's prescription.
• Alcohol: The minimum legal 'drinking' age is 18. Young people going to bars and discos should carry identification. No one may buy liquor from a bar or liquor store (bottle shop) unless they are at least 18. Buying liquor for a 'minor' is illegal. The owner of a bar or restaurant who breaks the rule faces big fines, so do not be offended if they refuse to serve alcohol because of no ID.
• Smoking: Smoking is actively discouraged even though governments, state and federal, collect huge taxes on cigarettes and tobacco products. Smoking is prohibited on all international and domestic airline flights, inside all Australian airports, on all buses, trains, ferries and other forms of public transport, and tourist coaches. It is not allowed in any cinema, theatre, gallery, government or private office building, except in restaurants or cafes that have a smoking section (often al fresco). Pubs, clubs and hotel bars generally allow smoking though it may be restricted to certain areas. Smoking is not allowed in department stores and shops. Many rental car companies take the ashtrays out of their vehicles to discourage smoking, which is also prohibited in taxis. Most hotels offer non-smoking rooms or floors of rooms. Otherwise you may smoke in your room, but not in lifts. You may smoke outdoors, but littering (rarely policed) is an offence.

Currency

The Australian dollar is divided into 100 cents. One and two cent coins are no longer in circulation, but many items in shops and supermarkets are priced in odd amounts, such as $1.97 or $9.99. The law provides that the TOTAL bill is rounded up or down to the nearest 5 cents. So $19.97 becomes $19.95, $19.98 becomes $20.00. Coin denominations are 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c $1 and $2. Notes are $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100, are colour coded and made from a plastic compound that will survive a wash or a swim.

Credit Cards

Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Diners Club are very widely accepted. Apart from hotels and shops, most doctors, dentists, chiropractors and other health professionals accept cards, as do petrol stations. All banks have automated teller machines (ATMs) accessible 24-hours a day, generally outside the branch or in the foyer. Check with your card issuer that your charge or account-linked credit card can be used in this way. If one bank doesn't accept your card, chances are the next one will, and all banks have that old-fashioned facility of being able to deal with a real person during business hours.

Travellers cheques, especially in foreign currencies, are generally not accepted except by hotels, large stores and tourist shops. Those that do display a 'travellers cheques welcome' sign. For the best exchange rate, cash your cheques at a bank or Bureau de Change rather than a hotel. The same holds true for foreign currency, which is not generally accepted by Australian businesses and shops.

GST & Tourist Refund Scheme

There is a 10% Goods and Services Tax (GST), which will be added to your bill and shown separately. Travellers can claim a tax refund on certain goods purchased within Australia to be taken out of the country. One thing some retailers neglect to mention, though, is that the goods should be hand luggage as the refund desk is the airside of Customs and they like to see the goods before issuing a refund. Full information about the Tourist Refund Scheme can be found at www. Customs.gov.au/taxref/trs.htm.

Duty Free

Australian duty free has an excellent range of products and is among the world's cheapest. Personally, I love airside duty free shops both on departure and arrival. Apart from the bargains it's a great time filler. Inevitably, on arrival, the time spent purchasing duty free coincides with the time it takes for baggage to arrive at the carousel and lets the customs queue sort itself out. Airside shops, on arrival, mainly sell alcohol, tobacco products and perfume. You are now allowed to purchase an additional bottle of alcohol as long as you declare it going through customs. As most people take up the option, customs officers generally let you through with a nod so it's usually no slower than taking the 'nothing to declare' channel. Downtown Duty Free has outlets in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane and Cairns.

Tipping

No service charge applies in Australia. Tipping is not mandatory but a 10% tip in restaurants and hotel bars is normal for good service. Waiters and waitresses do not rely on tips for their income, but tips are an incentive to performance as bad service usually results in no tip.

Bar staff in pubs are happy with loose change. Taxi drivers do not expect tips, but it is usual to `round-up' the fare to the nearest dollar or two - a little more if you have plenty of luggage or the driver has been particularly helpful. And some cabbies round down if they've had a good chat - $20.30 may result in "make it $20" - Americans, be amazed, be very amazed…

Visitors may wish to tip a tour guide or tourist coach driver, though this is not expected either.

Sun, Surf, Safety

The majority of Australian beaches have soft, golden sand and clean water but conditions can be deceptive. Most of the major beaches are patrolled by lifesavers (lifeguards) but there are many beautiful beaches that are often deserted and look very inviting on a warm day. If you are not a strong swimmer used to surf, stay out and find another beach or use the hotel pool.

Safe swimming areas are marked by a pair of flags, half red half yellow, on either side of the safety zone. Stay between the flags and keep an eye on the lifeguard. He or she may move the flags from time to time as conditions change and may need to wave you back into the safety zone. If you are in any doubt, ask the lifeguard. Many visitors who get into trouble with the surf come from countries where a flagged area denotes a private beach. There are no private beaches in Australia. One tip when out swimming between the flags is to align yourself with a fixed landmark on the shore - a tree, the clubhouse or whatever - and check occasionally that the surf isn't subtly moving you away from the patrolled area. And, if you do get caught in a rip, don't fight against it but go with it and slowly make your way across it to the beach.

Surfboard and boogie board riders must stay outside the swimming zone. A black sign with a white surfboard rider means board riding is fine outside the flags. Remember the lifeguards, the flags and the signs are there to protect you so you can have a good time, safely.

A few tips…

• Visitors with children should never allow them to enter the water without supervision.
• Do not swim at night or when the beach is deserted. If you get into trouble, no one will see or hear you.
• Do not swim within an hour of having a substantial meal as this can induce body cramps, which make swimming difficult. This is not an urban myth.
• Do not swim alone at a beach that is not patrolled. If you do swim, stay close to other bathers and make sure they are locals who know the beach and not other visitors.

Surfboards, surf skis, body boards and windsurfers are available for hire at many major beaches - either on the beach or at a nearby 'surf shop'.

Sharks: Australia has several species of dangerous sharks. Though they rarely approach swimmers, lifesavers patrolling beaches keep a watch and sound a warning if a shark is sighted. In the unlikely event of this happening, go ashore immediately.

Blue Bottles and Stingers: Some beaches are periodically invaded by a stinging nasty called a blue bottle. These creatures look like a small transparent blue plastic baby's drink bottle, trail long bright blue tentacles and they can give you a very painful sting. They are sometimes carried onto beaches by wind and current. Lifesavers will warn swimmers if they are near the beach, and treat anyone who is stung. They are NOT deadly. In tropical North Queensland however there is a nasty stinger called the box jellyfish, which can be deadly. They are only found in the summer months, November to April, and during this season beaches have meshed areas for safe swimming. These are not found on the beaches of the Gold and Sunshine Coasts or further south.

Sun Protection: Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world caused by exposure to the sun. Make sure you use a sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15+ and apply it often, especially after you have been in the water. If you intend to be in the sun for more than half an hour or so, wear a hat, a shirt and sunglasses when you are not in the water.

Severe sunburn will certainly cut into your holiday enjoyment. Clothing will irritate, so will any additional sun and you can certainly forget romance. Be extra careful with your kids. If you do get burned, excellent post-burn creams are available at chemists (drug stores). My grandmother's remedy was to cover the burn with sliced tomato and bicarbonate of soda.

Personal Safety

Provided you have a drivers licence or some form of 'official' ID, leave your passport in the hotel safety deposit or your in-room safe. In the event of an accident it is wise to carry some form of identification in your wallet, purse or pocket together with the name of your hotel or a friend or relative's address. Include something that will make it clear if you have an illness requiring special drugs or you are allergic to life-saving substances like Penicillin.

Australia, overall, is a safe destination but, as with anywhere in the world, there is petty crime. Police operate under strict guidelines and are usually polite and quite friendly.

If you have a car, don't leave valuables or parcels and bags that may appear to be valuable in view. Put them in the boot (trunk) or cover them with something. Always lock the vehicle. If you are in a car park, don't leave your parking ticket in the car.

The emergency telephone number throughout Australia is 000. It is available from any public, private or mobile phone at no charge. 000 connects you to a central service operator who will ask if you need the police, ambulance or fire brigade.

Please remember 000 is an emergency service and should not be used to report minor incidents, lost property and so on. Call the Telstra information service on 1223 (free call) for the number of your nearest police station.

Disabled Services

Most public areas, shopping centres, accommodation, attractions and restaurants have disabled facilities and services. NICAN, the National Information Communication Awareness Network provides a free information service to people with disabilities. Go to www.nican.com.au.

Electricity

240/250 volts AC 50HZ. Universal outlets for 110 volts (shavers only) are standard in hotels, apartments and motels.

Dress

Australia is a relaxed and casual place. The rule for most establishments is 'enclosed footwear'. Sneakers, joggers, sandshoes, and sandals are fine for both men and women except in up-market restaurants and exclusive nightclubs. A jacket may be required in some nightclubs and restaurants.

Comfortable shoes are a must for hiking though National Parks. Depending on the forecast, dressing in layers can be a good idea - a long sleeved shirt, a light sweater and a jacket.

Visas

Visitors to Australia (with the exception of New Zealand passport holders) will require a visitor visa that allows for stays in Australia of up to 12 weeks. There is no charge for a visitor visa application, however a Form 48R must be completed.

This form is available from any Australian Embassy or Consulate, or can be downloaded in Adobe Acrobat format direct from the Australian Department Of Immigration web site.

Health

Medical Services: Australian health care professionals are highly trained and medical services are among the best in the world.

Medical and dental services and a wide range of alternative therapies are widely available and are comparatively cheap by most international standards.

Visitors from the UK, New Zealand and Finland are entitled to free or heavily subsidised medical and hospital care under reciprocal national health care agreements with the taxpayer funded Medicare organisation. All visitors should take out travel insurance when visiting Australia. As they say, if you can't afford the insurance you can't afford to travel.

Outback Checklist

The Outback is a terrific self-drive destination but there are some things to remember:

• Make sure your car is in good condition mechanically.
• Take a compass, matches/lighter, a torch (flashlight), more than one spare tyre and a car jack.
• Have maps and ask locals about the road conditions ahead.
• Take plenty of water and enough food for two days in the event you become stranded. In some areas it's best to have a spare jerry can of fuel as well as water.
• Tell someone of your intended destination and expected date of return.
• If you do get stranded, stay with your vehicle. This is the most important piece of advice. It can provide shelter at night, shade during the day and can be more easily spotted from the air than a person.
• While days are warm or hot, nights in the Outback can be cold, so take warm clothes.
• Plan distances using the map and top up with fuel whenever you can.
• Don't change gears when heading through water and try to cross in one smooth movement (2nd gear may be best).
• When travelling in convoy, your responsibility is to the person behind you.
• If you have to tow someone/be towed, fix the rope to the chassis, not somewhere that may give way.
• Take/rent a satellite telephone, so you're never alone.
• Kangaroos are prevalent, especially in the early mornings and at dusk and, apart from hurting the native fauna, they can leave your vehicle in a nasty state. Emus are also unpredictable. Often they have a mate following them and they may run along beside your car and then, without warning, jump in front of it. You will note that they have a rather small head, which indicates a rather small brain. In fact, their brains are slightly smaller than their eyeball.
• Leave gates as you find them.