At a glance
Prepare your trip to Australia with our comprehensive guide covering entry requirements, safety, health, climate, budget and practical travel tips.
AUSTRALIA
Capital: Canberra
Language: English
Currency: Australian dollar. Exchange rate: ± 1 AUD = 0.63 EUR
Tourist Office: https://www.australia.com/en-us
Did you know? Australia has a very low population density: only 2.66 people per square kilometre live there. By comparison, Belgium's population density is 262!
Are you travelling to Australia? Here are a few useful tips:
Travel documents and customs formalities
When travelling to Australia for a maximum of 3 months, you need a travel visa and a passport valid for at least 6 months after your arrival. You can apply for a visa before you leave on the following website: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/evisitor-651. If you are under 30 and going on a working holiday, this period can be extended to 12 months with a special visa called the “Working Holiday Visa”.
There are very strict customs regulations on bringing in food, plants and animals. We advise you to find out more before you leave; this can be done by consulting the online guide to local customs.
The healthcare system in Australia
Australian urban areas offer excellent healthcare services, while in more remote areas, healthcare staff are fewer in number and facilities are not always reliable. Healthcare is expensive there. There is no compulsory vaccine for Australia. Before you leave, we recommend taking out good travel insurance so you can travel with peace of mind. Also check with your health insurance fund about healthcare coverage in Australia.
Which travel insurance should I choose for a trip to Australia?
At Redion, you can take out either temporary or annual travel insurance.
All travel insurance policies include the following benefits:
- Reimbursement of medical expenses
- Organisation of, and assistance with, your repatriation and that of your travelling companions if necessary
- Early return in the event of hospitalisation or death of a relative in Belgium
- Assistance in case of lost documents
If you only travel abroad once a year, temporary travel insurance may be useful. If you travel several times a year, annual travel insurance will be the more cost-effective option.
Safety in Australia
Australia is generally a safe country. The main risks are related to nature, climate and local wildlife. Australia's beautiful flora and fauna are unique in the world! Be careful and follow local rules and instructions to avoid unpleasant surprises with wildlife.
Before you leave, be sure to check the latest travel advice for Australia on the website of the Belgian Federal Public Service for Foreign Affairs.
It is recommended that you register your trip to Australia on Travellers Online. This allows the Federal Public Service for Foreign Affairs to contact you should an emergency arise.
Climate and religion
Australia is in the southern hemisphere, so the summer period runs from December to February. During these months, it is very hot. From June to August, temperatures are cooler. The best times to visit the country are spring and autumn, thanks to the mild climate.
Australia is a predominantly Anglican country, with other Christian denominations also present.
Australian cuisine
Before Australia was colonised, the local population ate a variety of bush foods and the meat of kangaroos, wallabies and emus.
Today, you can enjoy tasty burgers with all sorts of toppings, such as pineapple. It's well worth joining a traditional Australian barbecue, for which there's no set time — it can even take place at 9 in the morning! Fish and seafood dishes are also excellent.
