AUSTRALIA

The trouble with Australia is that there’s just so much of it – an island that thinks it’s a continent. Dispel any notions that Australia is all big red rocks and sizzling Outback: it’s truly a land of diversity, from the tropical far north – Northern Territory’s Top End, Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef, teeming with kaleidoscopic sea life, and its lush rainforest – to the surf, fine wines and huge tingle trees of Western Australia’s south-west.

Total Area: 7,682,300 km2 , 4025 km east-west. 3220 km north-south.

Capital: Canberra

Country Code: +61

Country Population: 23,700,000

Credit Cards: All major credit cards accepted: American Express, Visa, Master Card and Diners Club

Credit card fees: Are not included in prices as they are in North America. Fees will be added when using credit cards.

Currency: Australian Dollar

Departure Tax: $27AUD – Usually buried within airline fares.

Drives: Left

Electricity: 240 V

Ethnic Groups: White 92%, Asian 7%, Aboriginal and other 1%

Location: Southern Pacific hemisphere

Official Language(s): English

Religion: No state religion. Divided amongst Christian, Roman Catholic, Anglican, Buddhism, Islam and Judaism.

Prices: Taxes are included in prices and not quoted separately.

Time Zone: FJT (UTC+12)

Tipping: Tipping in restaurants is not necessary but is becoming more common. Australians leave tips for good restaurant service, but usually only in expensive restaurants. For example: 10% for good service appears to be the usual figure, with more for exemplary service.