The Ultimate Australia Checklist For A Perfect Trip

Getting your Australian Trip ready takes energy; filtering all the information online can be time-consuming. There’s nothing that outweighs personal experience, though. That’s where the biggest takeaway is. We learn from travel mistakes to tweak and fine-tune our future trips and help us travel better and more thoughtfully. This Australia checklist is the outcome of 15 years of solo travel adventures in Australia.

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Travel Checklist for Australia

Here is a travel planning checklist that I always go through before going to Australia. Make yourself familiar before you go to the airport and jump onto the BIG country’s overseas flight.

• Passport and Tourist Visa for Australia

  Ensure you have the required documents and a tourist visa for Australia and that your passport is valid for at least six months before departure. Also, ensure all your bookings are confirmed and digital copies safely stored in your phone or email box folder.

• What things can you bring into Australia?

  Due to Quarantine regulations, you cannot bring a list of items and food into the country. Dairy and fresh products are a no-no, but wooden souvenirs and other things are strictly forbidden. You will be asked to fill in a passenger card before landing. So be prepared, and you’d better say what you have inside your checked luggage to avoid an unpleasant surprise and fine. Here are all the things you cannot do in Australia.

• What to pack for your trip

  Australia is a tricky destination. Although many places offer the best conditions for enjoying your time outdoors, with plenty of sunshine and warm temps throughout the year, it can be unforgiving cold at night. Also, windy and rainy days are not unusual, especially in coastline locations. So, it is wise to wear proper clothing when travelling around Australia. This packing list for Australia will help you prepare for your trip.

• Long flights suck – be prepared

  A trip to Australia means nearly 24 hours spent at airports and on planes. Accurate information is critical to help prepare for long-haul flights, optimise layovers with connecting flights, and recover quickly from jet lag. Pack these flight essentials and know what to wear on the plane.

• Don’t skimp on your safety

  You never know what will happen when you travel. Because Australia is a remote destination, medical care and extra travel expenses are enormous. For this reason, travel insurance is vital to cover you against medical emergencies and non-medical emergencies like accidents, loss of personal items, etc.

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The first things to do when arriving in Australia

After a 24-hour journey, the first thing you may think about is resting and having a shower when you get off the aeroplane. No! Be focused and make the most of the first moments after arriving at the incoming Australian Airport and going through this handy checklist.

1. Get Cash at the airport by using an ATM

   You can withdraw money with debit or credit cards, whereas debit cards have lower fees and better exchange rates. But don’t exchange money at a counter because you will get the worst exchange rates. The ATM exchange rate is the best for low charges, and I only use them to get cash when travelling around Australia.

2. Purchase an Australian SIM Card

   As much as the digital world has made it easy for us to stay in touch with our friends and family abroad, you’ll need a local Australian mobile number to get around Australia safely.

 This way, you can make as many local calls as you want, search for the best accommodation and car rental deals, and make the most out of Google Maps to ensure you don’t get lost. Please don’t use your usual mobile number; roaming charges will cost you a fortune. A range of providers offer reasonable mobile plans. However, Alosim stands out from the competition with unlimited calls and texts, no lock-in contracts and data—more info about all Internet and Sim Cards options.

   
   
   

3. Visit the local Tourist Information Office

   When arriving in Australia, one of the first things to do is to visit the local visitor information centres. While there are some offices at the airports, those in the city centre have a wealth of information.

   You will not only learn about the attractions and what’s happening in the city, but it’s also a great place to get tips and advice on how to get around. You will also learn about free guided tours of the area and the best places to eat out, which will help you avoid overpriced tourist eateries.

4. Get familiar with the Australian customs

   In Australia, many things are different from anywhere else. Alone shopping hours are mostly like office hours. In shopping malls, the closing time for shops is between 5.00 and 6.00 pm. Only supermarkets are open till 8.00 pm. So make sure you get accustomed to this when travelling around the country.

5. Purchase a Travel Card or a Public Transport Card

   In cities, don’t take a taxi. There are plenty of opportunities to get around and spend less. All Australian cities have a free city bus network. Sydney has the 555 bus, Melbourne has the free city trams, and Perth has the blue, yellow and green cat. All main Australian cities offer public transport cards for a small fee. And the Sydney Opal card is free. If you plan to stay at least one week, it’s worth getting one of these cards to save money on transportation.

Travelling around Australia Checklist

Distances in Australia are vast, and getting around from A to B is not something you should take lightly. Ensure you have planned your itinerary thoughtfully by allocating the right time for each place without wasting time getting around.

• Flying in Australia – Check baggage allowances

  Flying within Australia is usually the quickest way to get from A to B. Book your flight in advance and know the baggage allowances and restrictions. Most airlines in Australia have 15-20 kg, but Virgin and Qantas have 23 kg per checked bag. Here is a complete checklist with all baggage rules and weight restrictions in Australia.

• Road Tripping in Australia – Beware of Driving Rules

  Many people say that no Australian adventure is complete without a road trip. And I cannot agree more. Driving in Australia is different from driving in the rest of the world. Getting familiar with the Australian driving rules is a must.

  Next, you need to consider that out of town, you drive in remote countryside with fewer facilities than going on the left. There may be a petrol station every 100-150 km in some places. Especially in the Outback, you must get a map of the petrol station and know what you are doing. Download the appropriate travel apps to help you stay safe on Australian roads.

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No matter how often you have been to Australia or your first trip, this Australia Checklist will help you keep everything organised and under control to ensure you don’t waste time travelling around Australia and make the most of your trip.

Related Posts:

Australia Travel Guide
How To Plan An Australia Trip
Australia Trip Planning Services
Australia Itinerary Guide Book

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Photo Credits via Shutterstock:
Map of Australia
Cash from ATMs in Australia
Flying aeroplane with landscape silhouetteù

The article was first published in 2018 and last updated in April 2024.

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