AUSTRALIA TRAVEL GUIDE: 15 Things to Know Before You Go

Everything YOU need to know before you go to Australia! Including tips for getting in, getting around, what to do, where to stay, and of course what to eat! Australia is the 6th largest country in the world yet only 25 million people live here. Sydney is Australia’s biggest city with the famous opera house however Sydney isn’t the capital. Canberra is the capital of Australia and it's just a 3 hour drive south of Sydney. Swinging around to the South coast we’ve got Melbourne. Australia’s 2nd largest city with 5.1 million people. Melbourne is more artsy and funky than Sydney. In the center is the Outback… yes… where the steakhouse gets its name. Not to be confused with “the bush” with usually refers to the areas just outside of the major cities. The outback is a vast undeveloped area in the center. Mostly nature based and indingenous experiences. Some might say this is the “Real Australia”

TABLE OF CONTENTS:
00:00 Australia Travel Tips
00:28 #1 Australia is big!
01:10 #2 Orientation
03:00 #3 Weather
03:28 #4 Animals
04:55 #5 Money
06:33 #6 Visas
06:59 #7 Getting In
07:41 #8 Getting Around
09:05 #9 Language
10:11 #10 Beaches
11:01 #11 Shopping
11:55 #12 Food
13:13 #13 Beer
14:15 #14 Coffee
15:24 #15 American Brands

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[TheRVlifeFamilyVlogs]

I’m from Australia but live in the US now, you did a good job of explaining some of the basic things that would be useful for first time travelers 😊👍

[seandavie]

I think Brisbane and broader South East Queensland was a huge omission. Accessible and very popular!

[Andrew-dfdr]

I am an Aussie and I love Vegemite. It's about the thickness and consistency of the spread. Some people spread it too thickly. The trick is to spread it thinly and then add more if necessary.

[CalTheMuss]

Hey Chris, the reason we have surcharges on Sundays and Public Holidays is because we (generally) have penalty rates for working these days. Sunday you'll usually be paid 1.5-2x normally hourly rate and Public Holidays from 2.5-3x.

[sunlanders]

Well done Chris, as an Australian (Western Australia - home of the Quokka) who loves to travel I found your video to be really good - and thankyou for going to the trouble of pronouncing the names of our cities like a local! I love your videos mate, keep up the great work.

[stevesymonds]

The reason for surcharges at restaurants on weekends and public holidays is that the staff are paid more on those days. They get penalty rates for working non-standard hours. It is also because Australia pays its workers a fair wage that tipping is not required anywhere. You can if you want to but it is not expected.

[devonport]

Restaurants charge more on Sunday’s and public holidays because the staff get paid more (penalty rates) on those days.

[EricRedbear]

Visa applications (Electronic Travel Authorization) now has to be done using the app. Make sure your WiFi and VPN is off and location service is ON... that way they know you're outside of the country when applying. Also, have your passport ready, because you'll have to take a photo and scan the microchip on the ID page.

[scottman]

Thanks for the tips! I really want to travel to Australia someday. I like the idea of starting a trip in either Sydney or Melbourne (or both) and then planning another trip to another part.

[docbob]

Awesome job mate!
Subscribed straight away, as you have the very best facts and information that I have ever seen on YouTube about Australia that’s actually 100% correct from an Australians viewpoint 👌
Looking forward to checking out more of your content so that I can share with many others who are looking for the real information about visiting our beautiful country.

Keep up with the great work mate 😎

[ccgnoix]

❤ Australia, especially the coffee, and the fish & chips. Tasmania is gorgeous & Bruny Island is a can't miss.

[jamesmcgowen]

A few more tips before arriving in Australia;
When walking down the street, try to stay to the left side of the footpath where possible.
Yes, we have Domino’s Pizza, but only go there if it’s the last resort, instead, go to a small family owned pizza shop. A far superior pizza will be found there. You’ll thank me later.
When drinking a schooner or pint of beer, neve ever use both hands to hold the glass, and take little girly sips. Hold the glass with one hand and take a much larger gulp.
There are no E moo’s in Australia, instead we have Eem you’s. If you go to a wildlife park and feed one, they will try to take your bag of pellets, stand side on to the Emu’s face, and keep an eye on its feet, if a foot is raised, back off quick. Same goes for a kangaroo. Both animals can rip you open if your belly is exposed to them, and they’re in attack mode.
If you rent a car, just keep this thought in the back of your mind, ‘ the driver sits closer to the middle of the road’ and follow what everyone else is doing. Watch out for speed cameras, some will have warning signs, some will not.
The blinker is on the right side of the steering column, the wipers are on the left.
If it’s summer, and you see a chemist shop. Go inside and buy a bottle of sunscreen. Don’t think about it, just do it.
If you order a taxi, always always enter and exit on the left side of the vehicle, never open the right hand door.
And if you see a local smiling at you, return your smile to them 😊

[anniemac]

Grocery shops open weekends all day and usually up to 10pm- 11pm

[kristina_kruglova]

Such a good video, Chris! Even though I don't know when I'm going to Australia (since we already have other destinations planned out already), this was a great introduction to Australia for me. Can't wait to watch this video again when I actually go!

[mrsandgroper]

Thanks for the interesting vlog. On your next trip, you may want to visit Perth and other attractions around WA, the largest state in Australia. Seagulls are quite annoying, but you should be more concerned with our Australian magpies which become territorial and swoop during the nesting season. We call gas, petrol or fuel when filling up a car. Onya mate!

[carlwebster]

In my home town in Regional Victoria we have move with the times and stores open for half a day on Saturday!!

[gregrtodd]

Excellent work. An you certainly nailed the pronunciation of Melbourne. Canberra (CAN-bruh) and Emu (EEM-you) not so much.
The reason that you pay more for the "priviledge of eating" at restaurants on Sundays, is that Aussies believe people should have the weekends off to be with their families. If they give up that, they should be paid more.
Not sure about "Dusty" being something you'll hear everyday Aussies say. I'm an old bloke and have never heard it before. Checked with a Millenial and a Gen Z and it was new to them as well. Whoever told you that one might have been "having a lend of you" (playing a prank). If you had too much to drink the night before, you'd probably be "feeling a bit crook" the next morning.
BTW, loved seeing the old $1 note. Haven't been in circulation since the 80s -nice to see one again.

[doubledee]

An important point for North Americans is that the coffee you buy when you go to a coffee bar will almost certainly be made in the Italian tradition. So you get espressos (long black), short black (strong), cappuccinos (a less strong short black with some hot milk, a lot of hot milk froth and a sprinkle of chocolate on the top. Then some real specialities such as macchiatto. Very few coffee bars will have US Style coffee.

If you have the time, a day trip to the Blue Mountains west of Sydney is a good idea. You'll see a lot of bushland as it's been for hundreds of thousand of years. Katoomba, the main city in the mountains, is a favourite destination for tourists, with magnificent views and plenty of reasonable places to eat. You can get there easily and in a relaxed by train, with buses to get you around when you arrive. Given that the side of the road we drive on is opposite to that you're probably accustomed to, the train is worth thinking about. A tip is to sit upstairs on the left hand side of the train in both directions - you get a better view that way.

[marieaxen]

A big thanks for all your useful videos about Australia and Sydney! I’m feeling prepared thanks to them for my trip next week. /Marie from Sweden

[bencaldwell]

You forgot Brisbane which is the third largest city and between the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast where most Australians go to holiday. Also the Great Barrier Reef is on the East Coast, not the West Coast.