Australia & New Zealand

A good source of health information for travelers is the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website.

You should be up to date on routine vaccinations while traveling to any destination. No vaccinations are required to enter Australia from any country. New Zealand has no vaccination requirements for any traveler. While health care in NZ is of a high standard and not overly expensive by international standards, considerable costs can be incurred and repatriation can be extremely expensive. For up to date information on latest health and vaccination recommendations, please contact your doctor.

In Australia travellers cheques are widely accepted and can be exchanged at hotels and banks. Credit cards can be used at hotels, most restaurants and shops. You must declare to Customs any amounts of AUD$10,000 or more in foreign or Australian currency (notes and coins) that you bring into Australia. ATM outlets are numerous in Australia. Exchange currency only at authorised outlets such as banks and hotels, and exchange only what you think you will spend in country. Coins cannot be reconverted on departure. Save all receipts from any currency exchange transaction. You may be asked to produce them when you exit the country, and they are required if you intend to reconvert local currency.

In New Zealand cash can be withdrawn from ATMs 24 hours a day. Use of EFTPOS (Electronic Funds Transfer at Point of Sale) is common. All international credit cards (American Express, Diners, JCB, VISA, Mastercard) are accepted. Travellers cheques may be changed at banks, hotels and large stores in the main cities and tourist areas.

For the most updated exchange rate, please check http://www.xe.com.

AUSTRALIA- operates on 240 volts AC / 50 hertz. If you are taking personal electrical appliances you will require a plug that has two or three flat prongs forming a V-shape.

NEW ZEALAND – 3 pin plugs, 230/240 volts, 50 Hz.

AUSTRALIA – Australians eat out frequently, and you will usually find one or two options to eat out even in small towns, with a wider range in larger towns and cities. BYO stands for Bring Your Own (alcohol). In many of the urban communities of Australia you will find small low-cost restaurants that are not licensed to serve but allow diners to bring their own bottle of wine purchased elsewhere. This is frequently much cheaper than ordering a bottle of wine in a restaurant. Beer can be taken to some BYO restaurants, others allow only wine. Expect to pay a corkage fee which can vary from $2-15, or may be calculated by head. BYO is not usually permitted in restaurants that are licensed to sell alcohol. Clubs, such as bowling clubs, leagues clubs, RSLs are in many towns and cities. They are most common in the states of Queensland and New South Wales. Most allow visitors, and sometimes offer good value meals. Native Foods are Kangaroo, if you fancy some, it is commonly available from most supermarkets and butchers shops. Head to the nearest park, and barbecue it until medium rare. Best not to overcook as it may become quite tough. It tastes much like beef. It occasionally makes it onto the menu in restaurants, mostly in tourist areas. Kangaroos aren’t endangered, and kangaroo grazing does far less damage to the sensitive Australian environment than hoofed animals, and far less carbon emissions too. If you are not ready to go vegetarian, kangaroo is the best environmental statement you can make while barbecuing.

NEW ZEALAND – New Zealand has a reputation as a leading producer of meat and dairy produce with lamb, beef and pork on most menus. Venison is also widely available. Locally produced vegetables, such as kumara (a natural sweet potato), are good. There is also a wide range of fish available, including snapper, grouper and John Dory. Seasonal delicacies such as whitebait, oysters, crayfish, scallops and game birds are recommended. New Zealand is also establishing a reputation for French-type cheeses: bleu de Bresse, brie, camembert and montagne bleu.

AUSTRALIA – Australia’s official language is English. However, Australia is a multicultural nation with a significant migrant population, so it’s common to hear a diverse range of languages in Australia’s cities and towns.

NEW ZEALAND – English, Maori & NZ Sign Language