Nomadwiki - User contributions [en]

Australia

2025-02-01T01:37:30Z

Kittenofdoom: Removed some dead links

[[Image:Uluru, helicopter view, croped.jpg|right|300px|Uluru/Ayers Rock]][[Image:Australia satellite states.jpg|right|300px]]'''Australia''' is a country large as [[Europe]] but with 23 million inhabitants. You can then easily imagine that there are very vaste areas only populated with kangaroos and camels.
Therefore you have to take extra care if you leave some the mains roads and the touristic place. Australia can be as much a dream of huge empty spaces with genuinely generous people as quite a hell if you get stuck without water after being beaten by a deadly snake or spider.
But if you take the necessary precautions you will not be part of the very very few people that die every year because of wildlife ha ha.
More seriously, Australia is a safe country as long as you respect some basic rules, which really make sense here compared to Europe for example as you can end up in some really remote place.

People in Australia are really laid back and they will enjoy a chat every now and then while waiting for the bus or doing a “barbie” (barbecue) in the public park. Police forces and government agents are following this general attitude, however they are nice as long as you obey the rules.
Australians are really into this “safety first” mentality and you will find all the time fences, “do not ...” boards, yellow lines that you shouldn't cross. Crossing at red lights or doing bike without helmet for example can expose you to nice fines. A difficult task in Australia is to analyze whether the safety instructions are total bullshit or are a real survival advice. Because they have so many safety instructions all the time, you can get bored after a while and start not considering them anymore. And still, when they tell you that there are crocodiles and deadly jellyfishes in the sea and that you shouldn't go swimming, they are right. Or the same when they tell you not to dive from this rock, because people died from an underwater hidden rock. So keep your brain open and don't forget that Australia, even-though very European looking, has some particularities that you should not forget.

Australia has an economy partly based on backpackers (this is how travellers are called here): in fact, a lot of jobs like fruit-picking are done by foreigners because no Australian want to do it. Then the backpackers spend the money they just earned buying second-hand cars or renting them to visit the touristic places and to sleep in the "backpackers" (shortening often used meaning backpackers' hostels, sort of slang from Australia and [[New Zealand]]. A bit confusing at the beginning but you get used to it very fast). Now it's your to take part in the Australian economy he he.
It is a quite expensive country, alcool and tobacco for example, but the ratio wage/cost of living is one of the best in the world, and finding a job is not too difficult. Conclusion is: when you only travel, you can easily spend a loooot of money. But when you work, you earn a loooot of money as well

Without any intention of advertisment, but [http://www.gumtree.com.au/ Gumtree] as kind of a monopoly for all second-hand and new stuff possibly imaginable: from eletronics to finding roommates or buying a house, finding travelling mates or jobs, carpooling, offering language courses and so on. Most likely you will hear about it one day! It is simply very efficient because everybody uses it.

They are 6 states in Australia, [[New South Wales]], [[Queensland]], [[South Australia]], [[Tasmania]] and [[Western Australia]], - and two mainland territories, the [[Northern Territory]] and the [[Australian Capital Territory]] (basically it is [[Canberra]]).
{{Country
|transport=As Australia is so large you have to ask yourself how much your time is worth. For example, to fly from [[Sydney]] to [[Melbourne]] costs around AU$150 and takes 1.5 hours (plus a short wait at the airport). Or you can take a Greyhound bus for $110 that takes 14 hours. It is up to see how much your time is worth!
Thanks to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Working_holiday_visa Working-Holiday visa], Australia is really a backpackers' country and you have many options to move around the country.
Remember, in Australia people drive on the left ;)
===By Car===
====Hitchhiking====
[[Hitchhiking]] is very doable in most of Australia. The state [[Western Australia]] and its police forces are a bit more touchy so try to make sure you hitchhike from a spot that do not bother the traffic, that puts you or other road users in danger. This is when the police will want to fine you.
Australians have a great sense of hospitality and after having spend several hundred kilometers in a car, you have a good chance to be invited to sleep at their place and to go to the Casino with them to spend a bit of their money.
Still there is a great difference in hitching the populated areas or the [[Outback]]. The [http://hitchwiki.org/en/Australia Hitchwiki page] will give you a lot more infos on hitchhiking in Australia.
====Travelling in the car of other backpackers====
There are so many travellers in Australia that it is really easy to find people to travel with by car/van in order to share costs and fun. However, it is not sure you will find like-minded people!
In the youth hostels' bulletin boards, [https://www.shareyourride.net/carpool/Australia ShareYourRide Australia] or on [http://www.gumtree.com.au/ Gumtree] you can often find people offering rides from a place to another, for free or asking some money for food/fuel expenses, this really depends on the persons and the length of the trip. If you do not meet the people beforehand, and actually even if you meet them, you can have as much a bad as a good surprise!
====Buying a car/van====
Many longer-term visitors will buy a cheap car and then try to sell it again at a hostel before they leave. This is good if you time the seasons right, and can be tricky if you are trying to sell your car at the same time as everyone else who did this option.
It is very easy to buy a car and get registered, but it is a bit more difficult to re-sell your car if it is not in the same state you bought it. If you car breaks down, you are supposed to get a little amount of money when bringing it to the wrecker.
Then travelling, especially if your can/van is full, is going to be much cheaper then renting or by any other mean except [[hitchhiking]], [[walking]] or [[biking]].
You can find pretty easily people in the youth hostels or on internet pages.
====Car relocation====
If you don't mind a short schedule you can use a rental car relocation company such as Transfercar or Imoova, but there are hundreds of websites offering these kind of relocation services.
Because some itineraries are preferred by tourists, a lot of cars can end up in some place and the company needs to bring it back to a big departure city. They offer then to get a car for free or cheap price for a predetermined amount of days, sometimes fuel offered and sometimes you can have an extra day by noticing the agency. It is a good way to cover long distance in a short amount of time with few money, especially if you are more than 2 and that hitchhiking doesn't look like an option to you. A typical journey for example could be [[Brisbane]] to [[Cairns]] over 4-6 days, maximum kilometres 2000, $50 free fuel included for $1 per day including insurance, extra days $75. However be careful not to be "ethically" fooled: in a way you help the company by driving their car down and making them save a lot of money, so they shouldn't charge you too much for this, if not charging you at all.
====Car rental====
The big name rental cars such as Hertz and Avis are fairly expensive. Look around the suburbs for smaller companies and cheaper cars, and as well on some comparative websites that offer very often good deals. This is a quite expensive option though, especially if you are under 25 years old because the price almost doubles as a young driver. On the website they give prices almost all the time like if you were above 25, and when you select your car and your options, you realize at the end that the insurance price doubles.
Be aware of the restrictions such as where you can take the car and drop it and how many kilometers you can do per day (the cheapest cars are usually limited to 100km a day), and make sure you know the road rules.
A rental camper van with friends is likely to be your cheapest option because you will save on accommodation costs. Consider motorhomes as well, some can fit 6 people and splitting costs can make it affordable. And it gives a nice "grandpa and grandma going on holidays"-feeling!
Look at [http://www.wickedcampers.com.au Wicked Campers], they are usually pretty relaxed and they don't care if you are less than 25 year old. They use old vehicles that they paint so the cars and vans are really cool and unique, and they are often the cheapest of all rentals, except when other companies have good deals. As well, if you come and pick your vehicle naked, you get an extra free day, it gives you an idea of the company ;)
You will need to be aware of your obligations as a driver and make sure you know the [http://www.driverknowledgetests.com/learners-permit/tourist/ road rules]
===By Plane===
[[Plane]] is the fastest, sometimes the cheapest of the non-free transport means and the less ecological you can take.
[http://www.jetcost.com.au Jetcost Australia] gives usually nice prices and the article [[How to find cheap flights]] is well done. Like always be careful of your luggage limitation.
===By Bus===
Buses are slow and not that cheap compared to flights, but much more ecological. The main company is [http://greyhound.com.au Greyhound] but look for others.
===By Train===
[[Trains]] cover much of Australia, but aren't used that much. They are cheaper than buses and take about the same time, sometimes slower. You can use some for scenic touring but you will need a bit of budget. Good scenic tours are The Ghan and the train from [[Sydney]] to the [[Blue Mountains]].
===By Bike===
[[Biking]] can be as awesome as it can be a pain in the bottom of your back if you know what I mean. Distances are huge in Australia and in some parts landscapes are the same for 300km or more. Cycling on the side of a main road with trucks and cars passing every few seconds or few minutes next to you is not only dangerous, it is very annoying as well. In some areas, you could leave the highway but you will have to cycle on dirt roads and make detours.
So if you decide to get a bike and cycle, make sure you look very well on a map to get away from the main roads and still have some acceptable quality on the secondary roads. Look up as much what other bikers did and their personal experiences as well as their itinerary.
Anyway a good advice is to have A LOT of water with you especially if you go out of the main road and/or in the summer. You might get stuck with the next town being 100km away so don't play with fire. Euh no with water. And don't forget to take a repairing set because snake skin won't work to fix a flat tyre.
===By camel or kangaroo===
This is definitely my favorite option. What on Earth beats crossing the desert jumping above fences and rivers on the back of your Skippy? At night you can enjoy the warmth of the kangaroo pocket or drink some camel milk for breakfast.
There are two options to get one of these animals: either to buy it directly from any animal shop or to catch it with a lasso like in the good old times. Both techniques work really well as long as you remain respectful with your animal. To chose a healthy animal, just look if their teeths are in good condition.
===Personal experiences===
''Some of my most amazing experiences have included a cold winter night wrapped in cardboard in an abandoned wheat silo sharing a humpy with aboriginals in a town camp on the edge of Tennant Creek, waking up only to bashing my head on the underside of a Dodge van I had crawled under to avoid the rain, only to be offered a cuppa tea by the occupants digging my car out of a salt lake when we took a wrong turn with two English backpackers as rain clouds loomed... This to me is the real Australia'' (Dave Hodgkin).
|accommodation=When travelling, there are several ways to find a place where to stay. If you sleep in a car on an unauthorized place, remember this good advice that can avoid you a fine from Mister Policeman: tell them that you were too tired to keep drinving and that it could have been dangerous for your safety. Use the words "dangerous" and "safety" as much as you can, Australians are crazy in love about safety he he.
===Backpackers (youth hostels)===
Backpackers are not your cheapest option; you often pay AU$20-$25 or more, sometimes one day offered if you take the whole week. There are two types of backpackers that work quite differently, the city-ones or from the countryside. The city-ones are more like classic youth hostels, as the countryside ones are here to find jobs for the travellers. In this case the manager of the backpacker knows the farmers around, has a job network and distributes jobs at all travellers paying for his hostel. Your chance of getting a job depends then on how much you insist to the manager, how talented your manager is and this can fluctuate a lot, and if you are in the right season. In the South make sure you don't go there in the winter, some people stay stucked there with no money, surviving every week making just enough money to pay rent and a bit of food. In the North however there are almost continously jobs to find.
It usually is a good idea to say when you arrive that you want to stay for 6 months or more to make a lot of money, they will give you a job more easily. And then you can leave a bit whenever as often you don't really have a contract.
===Campsites (private and natural parks)===
Like in every country there are some private campsites. They are quite expensive and not the most nicest places as they are full of classic tourist (and you are not, you are special don't forget it ha ha). But they might be your only legal option to put your tent/van/motorhome outside the big cities.
A good compromise are the natural parks: Australia has so many tourists and had so many problems with them, with ecology and biodiversity conservation that they started putting National Parks everywhere with big restrictions, fire and [[camping]] for example, and rangers make sure these are respected. Often there are one or more campsites in the parks, with more or less infrastructure depending on the amount of tourists. Usually they are at a primary level of comfort but they often try to put a covered roof over a "barbie"-stove (barbecue stove) to respect Australian BBQ tradition ;)
These campsites are much cheaper than backpackers or private campsites. They can be in remote places and then they have no check-in or check-out, only a box where you are supposed to put your money. It means that you don't have to pay, by leaving early for example. Rangers come usually everyday and check if everything is ok, meaning that they can tell you something/fine you if you didn't pay. They are most of the time quite relaxed but still will want you to pay. The money supposely goes into the park and the protection of fauna and flora so you might want to participate.
===Wild camping and wild caravaning===
Again Australia is so vaste that you will have no problems finding places where to free camp. However it can be tricky in some places and some States. Police/coast guards can follow your car if you look like you are searching for a place to stay, or you can be waken up. Of course, fines can happen but usually they just ask you to leave and with a warning that you car plate number was taken and that it shouldn't happen again.
===Hospitality exchange websites===
All classic advices found on the [[Hospitality exchange]] page are good, and it works pretty much like in all Western countries.
===Spontaneous hospitality===
Australians especially in the countryside, are very hospitable and [[spontaneous hospitality]] will be one of your best bets to sleep legally for free. Because houses are often big with a garden, you can easily ask to pitch a tent or a place to put your car/van. If you don't have a tent, find somewhere with a shelter and ask to sleep under, you will often be invited to come inside.
===Where to get free showers in Australia===
Australia has a really nice beach infrastructure so in any beach next to a city or one a bit frequented you will find a shower with clear water, sometimes open air but sometimes in a building.
Look at the [[Free shower]] article for more general ideas.
===When you are really stuck for a place to stay===
You know you're off the tourist track when you get to a town without a [[Australia#Backpackers_.28youth_hostels.29|backpackers]]. Most small towns have a town pub that offers pretty cheap accommodation and many have a free campground on the edge of town or a picnic spot beside a river
*'''Schoolyards'''. Normally there is somewhere discrete under cover, in most small towns there is green grass, and even toilets and drinking water, just set your alarm early and get out before 7:30ish when cleaning staff etc may start to arrive.
*'''Non Returned soldiers areas at Cemeteries'''. Clearly not for the superstitious, but these sites tend to have nice soft green grass, and often have free public toilets and fresh drinking water. The cemetery at the end of thee railway line in Hexham on your way North out of [[Sydney]] is a classic, if headed North through from [[Canberra]] or [[Melbourne]], you can jump the train in Campbelltown or Parramatta, ride it through to Central Station, change to the Newcastle line, then switch to the Hexham line, and get off at the unnamed station for free, right next to the a great cemetery, right next to The Prince's Highway.
*'''Shade structures as bus shelters'''. These can provide quite a comfortable night's sleep, as can late night train stations or Church Foyers.
*'''Showgrounds'''. On the edge of towns often have toilets, water and a place undercover.
|bewelcome-link=http://www.bewelcome.org/places/Australia/AU
|food=Food in Australia is mostly expensive, one exception would be fast food. The cheapest supermarket is usually Coles, followed by Woolworths. IGA has mostly small corner supermarkets and is much more expensive. Try Asian Markets as they are usually much cheaper.
But fortunately there are several ways to get your expenses down.
* '''I don't want to use my gas to cook'''. Australian are fond of "barbies" and they put barbecue everywhere, sometimes in the most suprisingly places. Most of the time it is a covered place with a big metal plaque heated with gas or electricity by pressing a button. You can go and boil your pastas there, and just fry anything really. The cleanness really depends on the last user, so be prepared to have to do it yourself. But try to leave it cleaner than you found it ;)
'''The student option.''' Microwaves and toasters, boiling water and more can sometimes be found at Universities. Have a look there if it's on your way.
* '''I'm ok to eat old food'''. Three ways here: reduced products, dumpster diving or [[petrol stations]]. In Australia most of supermarkets are reducing the prices of their products that expire soon, from 10% to 70% or more the closest they get to expiry date so you can easily divide your food budget by two. More infos on dumpster diving in Australia can be found on [http://trashwiki.org/en/Australia Trashwiki].
'''[[Petrol stations]].''' By law after midnight products expire, and you can ask for "out of date products". You will definitely not get the first quality, organic, environmental-friendly-produced food but it will be free or very very cheap. Probably the few coins you give are going into the seller's pocket.
* '''I'm in [[Melbourne]] or [[Sydney]] without money.''' Or I'm with money and willing to share it. [http://lentilasanything.com Lentil as Anything] offers vegan and vegetarian food for free donation. Good food and great place for budget travellers, but don't forget that these places need a balance of too much and too less donation in order to survive.
* '''I want to get drunk but it's expensive!''' Alcool is very expensive in Australia and can only be found in special "bottle shops" or pubs. Don't make the mistake when you first arrive in Australia to buy "Ginger beer" in the supermarket, it is a non-alcoolic drink as close to beer as the kangaroo is close to the koala. It doesn't mean that it is bad of course, just different. The only option for cheap alcool really is to buy "goon": it is white, red or rosé wine found in 2 to 5 liters carboxes for about AU$12-18 the 4-5 liters. It tastes bad and it is most likely a mixture of all unused wines, but you get used to it after a while. On the back it is written that it "may contain traces of eggs or milk", niiiice. The white one very cold is acceptable and the red one as a sangria with fruits and spices can even surprise you. The rest of the alcools are very expensive, but so much nicer to drink. Drinking in the street is mostly prohibited and it is a bit more relaxed in parks.
In pubs, you will have to look around, usually there is one or two good happy hours every evening and by changing bar every night you can get cheaper prices.
* '''Cheap coffee.''' You will definitely support a fast-food company, but all the coffees at Hungry Jack's are usually big, a bit tasteless and AU$1 only, which is much cheaper than a normal café or bar.
* '''Shop lifting'''. French people are so known in Australia for it that [[stealing]] is sometimes called "French shopping". But a lot of travelers starts to shoplift because the prices are so high and Australian so trustful. In big shops there are cameras of course but not as much as in [[France]] for example (and this is why French do it a lot!). In some cheap clothes shops there are no electronic protection and it is possible to just use your favorite technique. If you get caught, they usually ask you to pay for the items, they write your name down and picture, and they might ban you from any of the company's shop.
Be aware that [[shoplifting]] is a strong debated question among travelers as an ethical issue.
|connectivity=The fast-foods: McDonald's and Hungry Jacks are really ok with it. Street wifi is usual as well on the main pedestrian areas. Or you can try the libraries which have free-wifi and computers most of the time.
[http://www.optus.com.au/shop/mobile/prepaid/plans Optus Prepaid] has a good compromise if you need big internet and unlimited calls/sms. For AU$2 a day and no contract, you get 6Go, but it seems like you can go above this limit. With a smartphone, you can often share internet to your computer.
|busking=Busking is an great way to make money in Australia. People have money and it is really in the culture to give some of it to buskers. However it might be a bit more difficult in the countryside, but showing your talents at a petrol station while waiting for a lift can even make you earn a few dollars on the way.

In the mains streets of the biggest city, busking might not be free though: a bit weird to say he? You sometimes need a permit and to pay for it, with only a limited amount of time and a special spot. It is usually a symbolic price compared to what you can earn, however you might be reluctant to pay for performing free street art.

[[Adelaide]] in February-March has one of the biggest [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adelaide_Fringe_Festival Fringe Festival] of the world. 1,5 million people spend their time there spread over 24 days and the entire city center is full of street artists. You could make some serial busking during this period.
|visa=If you are planning a holiday visit or a short business trip to '''Australia''', you will need to apply for either a visa or an ETA (Electronic Travel Authority).

Established in 1996 to remove the need for some people to apply for full visas, they can be applied for over the Internet, through travel agents and through airlines. Unless there is some problem with the application, the ETA is granted immediately. Unlike ordinary visas, when an ETA is issued, no stamp or other documentation is added to the holder's passport; instead the computer-based system links the passport number to the ETA and is accessible by immigration officials.

== Passport ==

== Visa requirements ==

Holders of passports from the following 34 countries are eligible to apply for an ETA in lieu of a visa: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong (SAR), Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Monaco, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Republic of San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom - British Citizen, United Kingdom - British National (Overseas), United States of America, Vatican City

Holders of Taiwan passports can only be processed for an ETA if resident in and applying in Taiwan.
Holders of UK passports which indicate their nationality to be British National (Overseas) (BNO) can be processed for an ETA if applying via a travel agent, airline, or at an office of the department. BNO passport holders cannot apply for their ETA online.

[[New Zealand]] passport holders are not eligible for an ETA as New Zealand passport holders may enter Australia without prior notice. New Zealand citizens are issued a Special Category visa on arrival, which entitles them to live, work and study unrestricted in Australia permanently.

Holders of passports from all other countries must apply for a visa at their local embassy or consulate.

==Types of visa and cost==

There is a service fee of $20 (AUD) to apply for an ETA online. This service requires a valid credit card.

==Useful tips==

== Australian Embassies, High Commissions and/or Consulates ==

===Austria===
* '''''Australian Embassy, Vienna'''''
Mattiellistraße 2-4 
A -1040 Vienna 
Austria 
Telephone: +43 1 506 740 
Fax: +43 1 504 1178 
Email: mailto:austemb@aon.at 
Web Site: http://www.austria.embassy.gov.au

===Canada===

* '''''Australian High Commission, Ottawa'''''
Suite 710, 50 O'Connor Street 
Ottawa Ontario K1P 6L2 
Canada 
Telephone: +1 613 236 0841 
Fax: +1 613 236 4376 
Email: mailto:immigration.ottawa@dfat.gov.au 
Web Site: http://www.canada.embassy.gov.au

* '''''Australian Consulate-General, Toronto'''''
Suite 1100 South Tower 
175 Bloor Street, 
East Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3R8 
Canada 
Telephone: +1 416 323 1155 
Fax: +1 416 323 3910

* '''''Australian Consulate-General, Vancouver'''''
Suite 2050 - 1075 West Georgia Street, 
Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 3C9 
Canada 
Telephone: +1 604 684 1177 
Fax: +1 604 684 1856

===France===

* '''''Australian Embassy, Paris'''''
4 Rue Jean Rey 
Paris 75724 Cedex 15 
France 
Telephone: +33 1 4059 3300 
Fax: +33 1 4059 3315 
Email: mailto:Info.Paris@dfat.gov.au 
Web Site: http://www.france.embassy.gov.au/

===India===

* '''''Australian High Commission, New Delhi'''''
1/50 - G, Shantipath 
Chanakyapuri, 
New Delhi 100 021 
India 
Telephone: +91 11 4139 9900 
Fax: +91 11 4149 4490 
Email: mailto:austhighcom.newdelhi@dfat.gov.au 
Web Site: http://www.ausgovindia.com/

* '''''Australian Consulate-General, Chennai'''''
512, Alpha Wing, Raheja Towers 
177, Anna Salai 
Chennai, TN 600 002 
India 
Telephone: +91 44 2860 1160 
Fax: +91 44 2860 4988

* '''''Australian Consulate-General, Mumbai'''''
36 Maker Chambers VI 
220 Nariman Point 
Mumbai, MH 400 021 
India 
Telephone: +91 22 6669 2000 
Fax: +91 22 6669 2005

===Indonesia===

* '''''Australian High Commission, Jakarta'''''
Jalan H.R. Rasuna Said Kav C 15-16
Jakarta Selatan 12940
Indonesia 
Telephone: +62 21 2550 5555 
Fax: +62 21 2550 5467 
Email: mailto:public-affairs-jakt@dfat.gov.au 
Web Site: http://www.indonesia.embassy.gov.au

* '''''Australian Consulate-General, Bali'''''
Jalan Tantular, No. 32, 
Renon, 
Denpasar, 
Bali 80234 
Indonesia 
Telephone: +62 361 241 118 
Fax: +62 361 221 195 
Web Site: http://www.bali.indonesia.embassy.gov.au/

* '''''Australian Honorary Consul, Medan'''''
Australia Centre 
Jalan R.A. Kartini No. 32 
Medan 21152 
Indonesia 
Telephone: +62 61 415 7810 / +62 61 455 4520 
Fax: +62 61 415 6820

===Ireland===

* '''''Australian Embassy, Dublin '''''
Seventh Floor, Fitzwilton House 
Wilton Terrace 
Dublin 2 
Ireland 
Telephone: +353 1 664 5300 
Fax: +353 1 678 5185 
Email: mailto:austremb.dublin@dfat.gov.au 
Web Site: http://www.ireland.embassy.gov.au/

===Malaysia===

* '''''Australian High Commission, Kuala Lumpur'''''
6, Jalan Yap Kwan Seng 
Kuala Lumpur 50450 
Malaysia 
Telephone: +60 3 2146 5555 
Fax: +60 3 2141 5773 
Email: mailto:Public-Affairs-KLPR@dfat.gov.au 
Web Site: http://www.malaysia.embassy.gov.au/

* '''''Australian Honorary Consul, Kota Kinabalu '''''
Suite 10.1, Level 10, Wisma Great Eastern Life 
65 Jalan Gaya 
Kota Kinabalu, Sabah 88000 
Malaysia 
Telephone: +60 88 267 151 
Fax: +60 88 266 509 
Email: mailto:andrewsmk@yahoo.com

* '''''Australian Honorary Consul, Kuching'''''
Suite 504, 5th Floor, Wisma Bukit Mata Kuching 
Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman 
Kuching, Sarawak 93100 
Malaysia 
Telephone: +60 82 233 350 
Fax: +60 82 233 480 
Email: mailto:diting@tm.net.my

* '''''Australian Honorary Consul, Penang'''''
1-C Lorong Hutton 
Penang 10050 
Malaysia 
Telephone: +60 4 262 5285 / +60 4 263 3320 
Fax: +60 4 263 3320

===New Zealand===

* '''''Australian High Commission, Wellington '''''
72-76 Hobson Street 
Thorndon 
Wellington 
New Zealand 
Telephone: +64 4 473 6411 
Fax: +64 4 498 7103 
Email: mailto:nzinbox@dfat.gov.au 
Web Site: http://www.newzealand.embassy.gov.au

* '''''Australian Consulate-General, Auckland'''''
Level 7 Price Water House Coopers Tower 
186-194 Quay Street 
Auckland 
New Zealand 
Telephone: +64 9 921 8800 
Fax: +64 9 921 8820

===Pakistan===

* '''''Australian High Commission, Islamabad '''''
Constitution Ave and Ispahani Rd 
Diplomatic Enclave No. 1, Sector G-5/4 
Islamabad 
Pakistan 
Telephone: +92 51 282 4345 
Fax: +92 51 282 0112 
Email: mailto:consular.islm@dfat.gov.au 
Web Site: http://www.pakistan.embassy.gov.au/

* '''''Australian Honorary Consul, Karachi'''''
2-a/1, St 20, Phase 5 
Defence Society 
Karachi 
Pakistan 
Telephone: +92 21 586 4905 
Fax: +92 21 587 0843

===Saudi Arabia===

* '''''Australian Embassy, Riyadh'''''
Abdullah bin Hozafa Al-Sahmi Avenue 
Diplomatic Quarter 
Riyadh 
Saudi Arabia 
Telephone: +966 1 488 7788 
Fax: +966 1 488 7973 
Web Site: http://www.saudiarabia.embassy.gov.au/

===Singapore===

* '''''Australian High Commission, Singapore'''''
25 Napier Road 
Singapore 258507 
Singapore 
Telephone: +65 6836 4100 
Fax: +65 6737 7465 
Email: mailto:public-affairs-sing@dfat.gov.au 
Web Site: http://www.singapore.embassy.gov.au/

===Spain===

* '''''Australian Embassy, Marid'''''
Plaza del Descubridor Diego de Ordas, 3 
Madrid 28003 
Spain 
Telephone: +34 91 353 6600 
Fax: +34 91 353 6692 
Web Site: http://www.spain.embassy.gov.au/

* '''''Australian Honorary Consul, Barcelona'''''
Plaza Gala Placidia, 1-3, 1st floor 
Barcelona 08006 
Spain 
Telephone: +34 9349 09013 
Fax: +34 9341 10904

* '''''Australian Honorary Consul, Seville'''''
Federico Rubio 14 
Seville 41004 
Spain 
Telephone: +34 95 422 0971 
Fax: +34 95 421 1145

===United Kingdom===

* '''''Australian High Commission, London '''''
Australia House 
The Strand 
London WC 2B 4LA 
United Kingdom 
Telephone: +44 20 7379 4334 
Fax: +44 20 7887 5558 
Web Site: http://www.uk.embassy.gov.au

* '''''Australian Honorary Consul, Edinburgh'''''
Euro Business Centre 
21-23 Hill Street 
Edinburgh EH2 3JP 
Scotland 
United Kingdom 
Telephone: +44 131 226 8161 
Fax: +44 131 624 4020

=== United States of America ===

* '''''Embassy of Australia, Washington DC'''''
1601 Massachusetts Ave 
Washington DC NW 20036-2273 
United States of America 
Telephone: +1 202 797 3000 
Fax: +1 202 797 3331 
Web Site: http://www.usa.embassy.gov.au

* '''''Australian Consulate-General, Atlanta'''''
Atlanta Financial Center 
3353 Peachtree Road, NE, Suite 1140 
Atlanta GA 30326 
United States of America 
Telephone: +1 404 760 3400 
Fax: +1 404 760 3401

* '''''Australian Consulate-General, Chicago'''''
123 North Wacker Drive 
Suite 1330 
Chicago IL 60606 
United States of America 
Telephone: +1 312 419 1480 
Fax: +1 312 419 1499

* '''''Australian Consulate-General, Honolulu'''''
Penthouse, 1000 Bishop Street 
Honolulu HI 96813 
United States of America 
Telephone: +1 808 524 5050 
Fax: +1 808 531 5142

* '''''Australian Consulate-General, Los Angeles'''''
Century Plaza Towers - 31st Floor 
2029 Century Park East, Century City 
Los Angeles CA 90067 
United States of America 
Telephone: +1 310 229 2300 
Fax: +1 310 229 2380 
Website: http://www.losangeles.consulate.gov.au/

* '''''Australian Consulate-General, New York'''''
150 East 42nd Street, 34th Floor 
New York NY 10017-5612 
United States of America 
Telephone: +1 212 351 6500 
Fax: +1 212 351 6500 
Website: http://www.newyork.usa.embassy.gov.au/

* '''''Australian Mission to the United Nations, New York'''''
150 East 42 Street, Level 33 
New York NY 10017 
United States of America 
Telephone: +1-212 or 1-646 351 6600 
Fax: ++1-212 or 1-646 351 6600 
Website: http://www.unny.mission.gov.au/

* '''''Australian Consulate-General, San Francisco'''''
575 Market Street 
Suite 1800 (18th Floor) 
San Francisco CA 94105-2815 
United States of America 
Telephone: +1 415 536 1970 
Fax: +1 415 536 1982

* '''''Australian Honorary Consul, Denver'''''
2629 Main Street, Suite 190 
Littleton CO 80120-4643 
United States of America 
Telephone: +1 303 321 2234 
Fax: +1 303 738 1393

* '''''Australian Honorary Consul, Houston'''''
4623 Feagan Street 
Houston TX 77007 
United States of America 
Telephone: +1 713 782 6009 
Fax: +1 713 862 8364

* '''''Australian Honorary Consul, Seattle'''''
401 Andover Park East, 
Seattle WA 98188 
United States of America 
Telephone: +1 206 575 7446 
Fax: +1 206 244 9886
}}

[[Category:National parks]]
[[trash:Australia]]
[[couch:Australia]]

New Zealand

2025-02-01T01:06:16Z

Kittenofdoom: Removed some dead links

New Zealand is divided in two islands, the [[North Island]] (or Te Ika-a-Māui) which is a bit smaller but has 3,5 million of NZ's 4,5 million inhabitants, and the [[South Island]] which is more touristic and supposely more beautiful although this is not scientifically proven yet.
People often compare [[Australia]] to New Zealand and they indeed have a lot in common. The culture is very similar and people seem to be even more relaxed in NZ as they are in Australia, the fact of living on an island probably. Still there are two main differences: First New Zealanders play rubgy, and not this weird Australian "footie", and distances are much shorter than in Australia and you don't risk as much with NZ's climate and wildlife. Depending on when you travel, and on which island you should be careful that there can be heavy snow with blocked roads for some days (especially on the West Coast of the South Island).
A story says that New Zealand has 20 sheep for one person but this is actually a myth. 1982 NZ indeed had 70 million sheep for 3,5 million people, but this number dropped to only 31 million in 2011. Which is not too bad already.

Because/thanks to the closeness to Asia, you will enjoy taking pictures in the touristic places with full buses of Asian tourists. The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Working_holiday_visa Working-Holiday Visa] is a great opportunity for all young people of the countries in the convention, and you can soon feel at home surrounded by mainly Germans and Frenchs. You really have to go out of the beaten tracks if you don't like too much taking selfies in front of glaciers.

Now, once this is said, it is really understandable why New Zealand is so visited. It is a very safe country with amazing landscapes, in 15 minutes or half an hour the nature changes completely, from yellow sunshining hills to snowy mountains diving into deep blue sea, rivers and tropical forests, huge empty beaches. Even if you don't like to visit touristic places, you can still enjoy Kiwiland by taking other roads.
A bit of an expensive country though, especially on beer and tobacco, but quite well paid and jobs even not declared are not too dificult to find.
==Where the hell is Kiwi?==
Although it is the dream of every NZ-traveler to see a kiwi, you would be very lucky if you see one elsewhere then on road boards, on the shops, on the banks, in the souvenir shops. If you want it so badly that you cannot come back without having seen one, go to Stewart Island also called Rakiura, otherwise you will have to stop dreaming. But no, don't give up your dreams godamm'it, you will see one!
On the other hand, you can easily find another type of kiwi, as it is how New Zealanders call themselves "Hey I'm Kiwi, nice to meet you. What about you?". "Oh what nice, me I'm Sagittarius" could then be a typical conversation.

[[hitch:New Zealand]]
[[trash:New Zealand]]
[[couch:New Zealand]]
{{Country
|transport=Here again, road organization and price of the fines is pretty much the same as in Australia. One difficulty can be to cross from an island to the other, especially by hitchhiking. NZ have some big restrictions on where you are allowed to camp and authorize in some place only 'self-sufficient' vans, which basically means you have toilets. This can help you chose between when you want to buy or rent a van.
==By car==
===Hitchhiking===
[[Hitchhiking]] is very doable in NZ, the biggest difficulty will be more the amount of cars than the genuine of the people and other travelers. Have a look on [http://hitchwiki.org/en/New_Zealand Hitchwiki] for more tips.
===Traveling in the car of other backpackers===
There are so many travellers in NZ that it is really easy to find people to travel with by car/van in order to share costs and fun. However, it is not sure you will find like-minded people! In the youth hostels' bulletin boards or on [http://christchurch.gumtree.co.nz Gumtree] you can often find people offering rides from a place to another, for free or asking some money for food/fuel expenses, this really depends on the persons and the length of the trip. If you do not meet the people beforehand, and actually even if you meet them, you can have as much a bad as a good surprise!
===Buying a car/van===
This is often a favored option when traveller arrive for long-term in New Zealand. It is much cheaper than renting, and you can pretty easily re-sell when leaving. If you try to sell at the same time everybody does, you might not manage to sell it.
===Rental relocations===
If you don't mind a short schedule you can use a rental car relocation company such as Transfercar or Imoova, but there are hundreds of websites offering these kind of relocation services. Because some itineraries are prefered by tourists, a lot of cars can end up in some place and the company needs to bring it back to a big departure city. They offer then to get a car for free or cheap price for a predetermined amount of days, sometimes fuel offered and sometimes you can have an extra day by noticing the agency. It is a good way to cover long distance in a short amount of time with few money, especially if you are more than 2 and that hitchhiking doesn't look like an option to you. However be careful not to be "ethically" fooled: in a way you help the company by driving their car down and making them save a lot of money, so they shouldn't charge you too much for this, if not charging you at all.
[https://www.transfercar.co.nz/ TransferCar] offers free one-way rentals for short-term relocations, e.g. [[Christchurch]] to [[Auckland]] in 4 days, including ferry pass and a full tank of fuel.
===Car rental===
The big name rental cars are fairly expensive, but some comparative websites offer very often good deals. They might charge you more if you are under 25 and only show the normal price until you fill the online form. Be aware of the restrictions such as where you can take the car and drop it and how many kilometers you can do per day (the cheapest cars are usually limited to 100km a day).

A rental camper van with friends is likely to be your cheapest option because you will save on accommodation costs. Consider motorhomes as well, some can fit 6 people and splitting costs can make it affordable. And it gives a nice "grandpa and grandma going on holidays"-feeling! Look at [http://www.wickedcampers.co.nz Wicked Campers], they are usually pretty relaxed. They use old vehicles that they paint so the cars and vans are really cool and unique, and they are often the cheapest of all rentals, except when other companies have good deals. As well, if you come and pick your vehicle naked, you get an extra free day, it gives you an idea of the company ;)

Make sure you know the road rules (the "Road Code") as police have been cracking down on tourist drivers recently. You can learn the necessary rules for free at [http://www.drivingtests.co.nz this site]. You must carry your licence with you at all times. It must be in English or you will need to have an approved translation or international driving permit.
===Carpooling===
If you’re looking for a cost-effective way to travel between cities, consider carpooling. A great option for backpackers and budget travelers is [https://www.shareyourride.net/carpool/New+Zealand ShareYourRide New Zealand], where you can find rides offered by other travelers.

Alternatively, check the blackboard in your hostel or browse local Facebook groups—many people post available seats there.
==By plane==
[http://www.jetcost.co.nz Jetcost NZ] gives some pretty good results, Have a look at [[How to find cheap flights]] as well. And be careful of your luggage limitation.

==Budget bus travel==
Bus travel tickets between cities in usually range between $10-50 with companies such as [http://www.intercity.co.nz/ InterCity].

==By bike or walking==
NZ is full of mountains and elevation differences so if you are fit or want to loose some weight, [[biking]] is a pretty awesome option. Landscapes are changing all the time and with a good itinerary, you can find empty roads far from the busy and much less enjoyable ones.

The country has some awesome [[walking]] paths as well.
==Travel passes==
Cities have local travel passes, e.g. Hop Card in [[Auckland]]. These give you access to multiple types of transport ([[bus]], [[train]], [[ferry]]) on one card for a lower fee.
|accommodation=Backpackers (youth hostels) are to be found everywhere but will not be your cheapest option.

[http://www.bbh.co.nz/ bbh.co.nz] is a listing of cheap '''backpacker accommodation''' in New Zealand, as well as a noticeboard advertising jobs, used cars for sale, people looking for travel buddies and a discussion forum. Invaluable resource while backpacking in NZ.

[http://www.backpackerboard.co.nz/ Backpackerboard] also has information on accommodation, events and generally travelling around and staying in New Zealand.

There are many rooms available in New Zealand on [https://www.airbnb.com AirBnB] and [[Hospitality exchange]] opportunities.

'''Backcountry huts''' are amazing - there are about a thousand (1000!) all over the country. They operate on an honesty system and are never locked, and cost either $0, $5 or $15, payable by hut tickets that need to be purchased in advance (but can then be used anywhere). Huts usually have mattresses and a wood burner as well as toilets and drinking water. The exception are some very popular huts and those on the great walks, which must be pre-booked if in season - and go back to regular hut status in off-season. Consider buying a back country hut pass - as of 2015, it's $92 for 6 or $122 or 12 months and includes unlimited use of all $5 and $15 huts. Even when not on an epic tramping trip this can be a great option for overnight stays - lots of huts are just less than 2 hours walk away from the road - take a nice evening walk to your private hut - chances are high the less popular ones will be empty outside the main season weekends ... DOC has a good map to see what's close [http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-stay/stay-in-a-hut/]

==Wild camping==
Rules have tightened up since the 2011 Rugby World Cup on freedom [[camping]]. However, this does not apply to the backcountry: "Freedom camping is permitted on public conservation land, except in areas where it is expressly prohibited or restricted to self contained vehicles. This is indicated by signage." [http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-stay/stay-at-a-campsite/freedom-camping/] These areas are usually just car parks or other easily accessible entry points. Otherwise as soon as you are on public conservation land (and 30% of the country is), away from the road, you are free to set up your tent and enjoy the great outdoors! Please do not abuse this privilege! Pack it in, pack it out, leave no trace. Bury your waste far away from any water source so we can all keep drinking water directly from the streams.

On council land such as roads, (car)parks etc however, in general if you pitch a [[tent]] basically anywhere that isn't a designated camping spot you can face a NZ$200-$300 fine. This depends on the council, if you want to be certain find the respective bylaws online or call. The main reason behind this is because too many tourists left their rubbish and poop on the ground in traditional free camping spots. Please respect New Zealand and never leave anything, including your defecation, on the ground after camping somewhere. A map with all camping spots including free ones can be found at [http://www.rankers.co.nz/respect http://www.rankers.co.nz/respect]. But unfortunately a lot of free ones are only available for the rich tourists with fully enclosed camper vans and you might find yourself woken up by a council person giving you a $200 fine if you are found tenting there. So check the rules first.

However, police and rangers are usually nice and will often let you a second chance, or even a third chance if they catch you again sleeping in a non-authorized place.
If you have a car, tell them that you were too tired to continue and that it was dangerous. Police will love to hear that and might be nicer.
There are a lot of empty spaces in NZ, so you shouldn't struggle too much to find a place to pitch a tent.

==Spontaneous hospitality==
Kiwis are very hospitable and in the countryside, the second house if not the first one will let you pitch your tent in their garden, or even invite you inside. In touristic places such as [[Picton]] or [[Te Anau]], you might have to ask 5 to 10 times, or more. In bigger cities, it might be a more difficult and you could try the suburbs.

Look at the [[Spontaneous hospitality]] article.

There are many [[WWOOF]] opportunities in New Zealand. Be careful, some of them are closer of exploitation than WWOOFing, don't accept everything. Be aware that New Zealand, unlike Australia, considers volunteer work such as WWOOFing paid work and requires you to hold a work visa. [http://www.dol.govt.nz/immigration/knowledgebase/item/1238] If you do not have one, your host would usually neither mind now know about this, but make sure you don't mention it or give your WWOOF host as your first address on your arrival card.

|food=Food is expensive, but you can reduce your budget by combining these three ways. In NZ a lot of supermarkets are reducing the prices of their products that expire soon, from 10% to 70% or more the closest they get to expiry date so you can easily divide your food budget by two. As well, dumpster diving infos in NZ can be found on [http://trashwiki.org/en/New_Zealand Trashwiki].
And petrol stations can be a nice rescue solution. By law after midnight products expire, and you can ask for "out of date products". You will definitely not get the first quality, organic, environmental-friendly-produced food but it will be free or very very cheap. Probably the few coins you give are going into the seller's pocket.

In terms of supermarkets, Pak'n'Save tends to be the cheapest of the big brands, but you will often get a better deal on fruit and vegetables at an Asian marketplace. If you can organise yourself to be at one of the larger regional marketplaces, e.g. Avondale Market in [[Auckland]], you will find wholesale prices.

See [https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=zDmpvgICAwkk.kizpiFBt6ocg&hl=en&ie=UTF8&oe=UTF8&msa=0&ll=-41.310824,173.891602&spn=13.855902,15.380859&z=5&source=embed New Zealand food share map].

[[Shoplifting]] is easy in New Zealand.
Be aware that shoplifting is a strong debated question among travelers as an ethical issue.
|connectivity=Libraries usually offer free wifi and computers.

2015: There are three networks, Vodafone, Spark (Telecom NZ) and 2degrees. 2degrees is available only in urban areas but uses Vodafone where not available through national roaming (no extra charges). Check their sites for packages, the usual is a $19/month with 500MB data, 100 minutes and free texting, with minor variations, promotions and packages to add on to that.

Be aware that Telecom NZ/Spark has no GSM (2G) network, only 3G. Main frequency is 850Mhz which your phone may not support if it's not coming from the US. 2degrees and Vodafone use 900Mhz/2100Mhz, which again may be a problem with a US bought phone, but also offer regular 2G/GSM on the usual 900/1800Mhz. Check before you buy.

If you get a Spark SIM card there are free wifi hotspots in some cities with up to 1Gb per day allowed - however this only applies if you're on a combo package costing you at least $19 per month.

|busking=No infos for this! Someone?
}}