Practical Info A–Z

Germans, Austrians, and Swiss need a visa for Australia — but there are no embassy appointments, everything is done online and is straightforward.

Two Options

• eVisitor (Subclass 651): For EU citizens (including Germany, Austria). Free, apply online via the Australian immigration website. Approval usually within 24 hours. Valid for 12 months, multiple entries, maximum 3 months per stay. For tourism and business trips.
• ETA (Electronic Travel Authority, Subclass 601): For non-EU citizens (e.g., Swiss). Apply via the Australian ETA App. Cost: 20 AUD. Same conditions as eVisitor.

Important

• The visa is electronically linked to the passport — no sticker, no document. The airline checks at check-in.
• Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417): For 18–30-year-olds (Germans up to 35). 1-year stay + work permit. 640 AUD. Very popular — Australia is the #1 destination for Work & Travel.
• Entry with criminal records can cause problems — clarify in advance if unsure.
• Biosecurity: Australia has the strictest import controls in the world. DO NOT bring fresh food, plants, wood, soil, or animal products. Declare everything! Penalties are severe (up to 420,000 AUD) and the sniffer dogs at the airport are incorruptible.

The currency is the Australian Dollar (AUD, $). Australia is largely cashless — credit cards work almost everywhere, even for a coffee.

Exchange Rate & Withdrawal

• Rate (as of 2026): approx. 1 € ≈ 1.60 AUD
• Credit Cards: Visa and Mastercard are accepted almost everywhere (even for small amounts from 1 AUD). Amex is somewhat more limited. Contactless payment (Tap & Pay) is standard.
• Cash Withdrawal: ATMs on every corner, in supermarkets and gas stations. Some ATMs charge a 2–3 AUD fee. Commonwealth Bank and Westpac ATMs are the most widespread.
• Cash: Good for markets, some small restaurants, and Outback gas stations, but overall not much needed. Australia is moving towards a cashless society.
• Travel Credit Card: A card without foreign transaction fees (e.g., DKB, N26, Revolut) saves 1.5–2% on every purchase. Be sure to get one before your trip!

Tipping

Tipping is NOT expected in Australia — the minimum wage is one of the highest in the world (23.23 AUD/hour), and service staff earn significantly better than in the USA or Europe. Nevertheless:

• In upscale restaurants: 10% is welcome but not mandatory
• In cafés and pubs: Not necessary
• Taxi drivers: Rounding up to the next dollar is nice
• Tour guides: 5–10 AUD for a full day is appropriate

Australia has a first-class healthcare system — but as a tourist, you have no access to Medicare (Australia's public health insurance). Travel health insurance is therefore absolutely essential.

Insurance

• Travel Health Insurance: MANDATORY. Medical treatment in Australia is expensive — a doctor's visit from 80 AUD, hospital stay from 2,000 AUD/day, helicopter rescue in the Outback: 20,000+ AUD. Good insurance: HanseMerkur, ADAC, Allianz (annual policy from 15–30 €).
• Check Coverage: Ensure the insurance covers search and rescue costs (Outback!), repatriation, and adventure activities (diving, bungee).
• Reciprocal Health Care Agreement: There are health agreements between Australia and some countries (UK, Ireland, NL, Belgium, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Italy, Malta, Slovenia, New Zealand). Germany, Austria, and Switzerland have NO such agreement.

Pharmacies & Medications

• Pharmacies: Priceline Pharmacy and Chemist Warehouse are the major chains. Paracetamol, ibuprofen, and sunscreen are available without a prescription. Many prescription medications from Europe are available in Australia without a prescription.
• Own Medications: Bring in original packaging, ideally with a doctor's certificate (in English). Strict import rules for narcotics and pseudoephedrine.

Sun Protection

The UV radiation in Australia is 2–3 times more intense than in Germany — the ozone hole over the southern hemisphere is real. Australia has the highest skin cancer rate in the world. The national mantra: Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek, Slide (put on a shirt, apply cream, wear a hat, seek shade, wear sunglasses).

• Sunscreen: At least SPF 50+, reapply every 2 hours
• Between 10 am and 3 pm: Seek shade or cover up
• Even on cloudy days: 80% of UV rays penetrate clouds

Australia is one of the safest travel countries in the world. The crime rate is low, the infrastructure is first-class, and Australians are friendly and helpful to visitors. The greatest dangers are natural:

Natural Hazards

• UV Radiation & Heat: The #1 danger for tourists. Sunstroke and dehydration are common. Always carry water, use sunscreen, wear a hat. During heat (over 35 °C) avoid strenuous activities at midday.
• Rip Currents: Dangerous currents at beaches. Drowning is the most common unnatural cause of death for tourists. ALWAYS swim between the red-yellow flags (patrolled area). If caught in a current: Stay calm, swim parallel to the beach, raise your hand.
• Wildlife: → Detailed in the chapter "Nature & Wildlife". Basic rule: Don't touch anything you don't know. In the tropical north: Pay attention to crocodile warning signs!
• Outback Dangers: Distances, heat, isolation. ALWAYS carry enough water (min. 5 liters/person/day), fuel, and emergency equipment. Do NOT leave the vehicle in case of breakdowns — it is easier to find than a person.
• Bushfires: During fire season (Oct–Feb) heed current warnings (Fires Near Me App). Total Fire Ban Days: No open fires.

Emergency Numbers

• 000 (Triple Zero): Police, fire, ambulance — the central emergency number
• 112: Works even with a locked phone and without a SIM (international emergency)
• 1800 022 222: Poisons Information (poisonings)
• 13 11 14: Lifeline (mental crisis)

Australia has good mobile networks in cities and along the coast, but large dead zones in the Outback. Internet is more expensive than in Europe.

SIM Card (recommended)

• Telstra: Best network, best coverage (also in the Outback). Prepaid SIM at the airport: 40 AUD for 35 GB/28 days. Telstra is the only option for many remote areas.
• Optus: Second-best network, cheaper. Prepaid: 30 AUD for 45 GB/28 days. Good coverage in cities and along the coast.
• Vodafone: Cheap, but worst coverage. Only for city travelers. Prepaid: 30 AUD for 40 GB/28 days.

eSIM

The simplest option for modern smartphones. Purchase before the trip via Airalo (from 8 USD/1 GB), Holafly (unlimited data, from 19 €/5 days) or directly through Telstra/Optus. Activate at the airport.

Wi-Fi

• Hotels and Hostels: Almost always free (sometimes slow)
• Cafés: Usually free with purchase
• Airports: Free Wi-Fi (time-limited)
• Public Libraries: Free Wi-Fi and computers

Australia uses Type I sockets — two slanted flat pins and a grounding pin. German plugs do NOT fit.

• Voltage: 230V, 50Hz (same as Germany)
• Adapter: Buy an Australia adapter (Type I) before the trip (from 5 €). At the airport in Australia: 15–25 AUD (more expensive). Universal adapters recommended.
• USB Charging: Many hotels, hostels, and airports have USB sockets — so you don't need an adapter for charging your phone.

Australia has left-hand traffic — the steering wheel is on the right, and you drive on the left side of the road. For most Europeans, the biggest adjustment of the trip.

Tips for Left-Hand Traffic Beginners

• First Step: Practice at the airport in a quiet parking lot (indicators, wipers are swapped!).
• Roundabouts: Drive clockwise (opposite to Germany). Yield to vehicles from the RIGHT.
• Mantra: "Keep left, look right" when turning.
• Overtaking: Overtake on the right side (opposite).

Driver's License

• German/Austrian/Swiss driver's license is accepted (plus international driver's license recommended)
• Apply for an international driver's license at ADAC/ÖAMTC/TCS (approx. 15–20 €)

Outback Driving

• Roadtrains: Up to 53-meter-long truck trains. 1 km clear view needed for overtaking. Don't provoke, make way.
• Wildlife: DO NOT drive on country roads at dusk or night. Kangaroos, wombats, and even camels are the biggest accident risk in the Outback.
• Fuel: ALWAYS fill up the tank. In the Outback, there can be 300+ km between gas stations. Prices: 1.80–2.20 AUD/liter on the coast, up to 2.50–3.00 AUD in the Outback.
• Speed: Highway 110 km/h (NT: 130 km/h), town 50 km/h, school zone 40 km/h. Speed cameras are ubiquitous.

Australia has three time zones — and it gets complicated because not all states switch to daylight saving time:

Daylight Saving: The southern states (NSW, VIC, SA, TAS, ACT) switch to daylight saving time from October to April (+1 hour). Queensland and NT DO NOT. This means: In the Australian summer, Queensland has the same time as NSW, even though it's next door — in winter, there's a one-hour difference.

Time Difference to Germany:

• Sydney/Melbourne (Summer): CET +10 hours (when Germany is on winter time: +10h)
• Sydney/Melbourne (Winter): CET +8 hours (when Germany is on summer time: +8h)
• Perth: Year-round CET +7 hours