Australia
Last checked:
- Capital
- Canberra
- Currency
- AUD · Australian dollar
- Languages
- English
- Plugs
- Type I · 230 V
Emergency numbers
Top 5 places
- Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge · Sydney
Iconic harbour sights; take the ferry to Manly or walk the foreshore for views.
- Great Barrier Reef · Cairns / Port Douglas / Whitsundays
World's largest coral reef system for snorkelling, diving and boat trips.
- Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park · Yulara (Northern Territory)
Sacred red rock monolith and domes in the outback, best at sunrise and sunset.
- Great Ocean Road and the Twelve Apostles · Victoria (from Melbourne)
Coastal road trip past limestone stacks, surf towns and rainforest.
- Melbourne laneways and food scene · Melbourne
Coffee culture, street art lanes, markets and the free city-centre tram zone.
Getting around
Public transport
Opal (Sydney) / myki (Melbourne) / go card (Brisbane)
City transit cards. In Sydney you can tap on and off with a contactless Visa, Mastercard, Amex or phone and get the same daily and weekly caps as Opal; weekend and holiday caps are lower. Other cities are adding contactless (varies).
Ride-hailing app
Uber / DiDi / Ola
Operate in all major cities and airports; usually cheaper than taxis except during surge pricing.
Taxi
13cabs and metered taxis
Metered taxis everywhere in cities. Card payments carry a surcharge. Check the meter is on; overcharging by long routes has been reported in Sydney.
Public transport
Sydney Ferries
Harbour ferries (Manly, Taronga Zoo, Barangaroo) are paid with Opal or contactless and give some of the best city views.
Buses
Domestic flights
Qantas, Virgin Australia and Jetstar connect the big cities, which are far apart. Long-distance coaches and trains exist but take much longer.
Car rental
Car rental / campervan
Best way to see regional areas. Drive on the left; distances are long, carry water and fuel in the outback and avoid driving at dusk because of wildlife.
Money and cash
Currency: AUD · Australian dollar
Card and phone payments are accepted almost everywhere, often preferred over cash, and contactless works on public transport in Sydney and other cities. Some businesses add a card surcharge (small in shops and cafés, up to about 5% in Sydney taxis according to Wikivoyage; varies by state). Carry a little cash for remote areas, markets and some small shops.
Tipping
Tipping is not expected in Australia because staff are paid award wages. Around 10% for very good service at a sit-down restaurant is appreciated but optional. Rounding up or leaving coins is a friendly gesture elsewhere.
| Restaurants | Optional; up to about 10% for excellent service in better restaurants. Not tipping is normal and not rude. |
|---|---|
| Cafés and bars | Not expected. Coins in a tip jar at cafés are optional. Tipping bar staff is not customary. |
| Taxis and ride apps | Not expected; rounding up is optional. Rideshare apps have optional in-app tips. |
| Hotels | Not expected; a few dollars for a porter is a generous gesture. |
| Tours and guides | Optional; some people give a guide $5-20 for an exceptional tour. |
| Food delivery | Not expected; in-app tips are optional. |
Service charge: what’s true
Service charges are uncommon. What you will see instead are surcharges: many restaurants add about 10-15% on Sundays and public holidays to cover higher legal wages, and some add a card payment surcharge. These must be disclosed (on the menu or at the counter) and go to the business, not as a tip.
Pressure tactics to watch for
Card terminals increasingly show tip prompts (10%, 15%, 20%) when you pay. Choosing 'No tip' or 'Skip' is completely normal in Australia. Check the bill for weekend or holiday surcharges so you do not tip twice by mistake.
Useful phrases
- Could I get the bill, please? Could I get the bill, please?
- No tip, thanks. No tip, thanks (to skip a card terminal prompt).
Etiquette
- Use first names and a casual tone; formality can come across as distant.
- At the pub, people often buy rounds ('shouts'); if you join, take your turn.
- BYO (bring your own wine) is allowed at some restaurants, usually with a small corkage fee.
- Climbing Uluru has been banned since 2019; respect signs at Aboriginal sacred sites, which often ban photos.
- Swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches.
- Queue patiently and wait your turn; pushing in is frowned upon.
Scams and how to handle them
Taxi long-routing and meter tricks
Where: Sydney and other city airports and nightlife areas
How it works: Some drivers take long routes or claim the meter is broken, then name a high fare. Wikivoyage describes taxi scams in Sydney as illegal but common.
How to avoid it: Use rideshare apps with an upfront price, or follow the route on your own map and get a receipt with the cab number.
Fake job offers for working holidaymakers
Where: Online job ads and social media
How it works: Offers of fast, easy money or farm work that ask for upfront fees, your bank details or ID documents.
How to avoid it: Never pay to get a job. Check employers and report suspicious offers to Scamwatch.
Text and phishing messages pretending to be government or businesses
Where: SMS, email, phone calls
How it works: Messages that look like they come from toll road operators, delivery companies or government agencies ask you to click a link and pay a fee.
How to avoid it: Do not click links in unexpected messages; go to the official site or app directly.
Buying and selling scams
Where: Online marketplaces (used cars, campervans, rentals)
How it works: Fake sellers or landlords take a deposit for a car, van or room that does not exist.
How to avoid it: See the item or room in person before paying and avoid bank transfers to strangers.
Fake booking and ticket websites
Where: Search ads and social media for tours, reef trips and events
How it works: Look-alike websites sell tickets or tours that are not real.
How to avoid it: Book through official operator sites or well-known platforms and pay by credit card.
Romance and dating app scams
Where: Dating apps and social media
How it works: Scammers build trust and then ask for money for an emergency or travel.
How to avoid it: Never send money to someone you have only met online.
Safety
- Rip currents are the main danger at beaches: swim between the flags on patrolled beaches.
- Wildlife: crocodiles in northern waters (obey signs), box jellyfish in tropical waters roughly October to May, plus snakes and spiders. Do not swim where signs warn of crocodiles.
- Sun is extremely strong: use sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses even on cloudy days.
- Bushfire season is mainly November to February in the south; follow warnings in official apps.
- In the outback carry extra water, fuel and a map, and tell someone your route.
- Take care on near-empty suburban trains late at night; sit near the guard's carriage (blue light) in Sydney.
- Do not leave bags unattended; carry a photocopy of your passport.
How widely English is spoken
English is the national language. Expect Australian slang and casual first-name terms.
Sources
- GOV.UK Foreign travel advice: Australia, safety and security
- Wikivoyage: Australia
- Wikivoyage: Sydney
- Hootling: Tipping in Australia
- Scamwatch (ACCC): Types of scams
- Wikipedia: List of tipping customs by country
We check these guides against official and well-known sources, but rules and prices change. Spot something out of date? Email support@tourits.app.