Settlement of Australia began about 45 thousand years ago. Humans arrived on the continent by sea, making them the earliest sea travelers in the world. The “discovery” of Australia took place in 1606 – Willem Janszoon landed on the coast on the ship “Duyfken”. The first British colony in Australia is New South Wales. It was founded on January 26, 1788.
The two largest cities in the country are Sydney and Melbourne. could not decide which of them should be the capital. Therefore, the capital of the state was the city of Canberra, specially built as the capital on the site of the settlement of Canberry that existed since 1824. It is located at the same distance between Sydney and Melbourne.
Australia drives on the left like in England.
According to FINDJOBDESCRIPTIONS, Absence of Australian citizens to vote for an unexcused reason is fined $20, and non-participation in the census is punishable by a fine of $110.
The first European settlers in Australia were British exiles and up to 20 percent of the mainland’s population is descended from exiled criminals. But the first police was a squad of 12 criminals with good behavior.
The longest road trains in the world travel on Australian roads. The most powerful tractors carry from 2 to 4 loaded trailers. And driver Stephen Matthew on a Kenworth tractor with 79 trailers (!) with a total length of 1018 meters managed to drive 8 kilometers, which is a world record.
Monetary unit of Australia – Australian dollar, which is divided into 100 cents. 1AUD = $0.55. Banknotes in denominations of 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 dollars and coins in denominations of 1 and 2 dollars and 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents. You can change cash currency or traveler’s checks in almost any bank or exchange office. American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard, Visa, JCB credit cards are accepted everywhere.
Public phones can use coins and cards. Local calls cost 30 Australian cents. There is no time limit. You can buy a Telecom card, for example, at newsstands.
Australia has a well-developed bus and rail network.; there are also taxis, car rental companies are very popular. It should only be remembered that the driver must be at least 21 years old, and he must have an international driving license. Car rental prices range from 55AUD for a mid-size air-conditioned car for a day to 45AUD for four days or more. But it is better to move around the center of Sydney on foot or by taxi, since it is almost impossible to park here.
Not so long ago, it could be said that Australian cuisine does not differ from English, but in recent years it has changed a lot: a variety of seafood dishes have become its indispensable attribute. In Australia, French, Indian, Chinese, Greek, Japanese cuisine is also represented. The list is not limited to this – the choice is very rich.
Beer lovers can recommend the world-famous Australian beers FourX and Fosters. And those who prefer wine should definitely try Australian wines, which are in no way inferior to Spanish and French varieties.
When traveling to Queensland and the Northern Territory, the use of mosquito repellent and protective nets is recommended because mosquitoes can carry dangerous diseases such as dengue fever and Ross River fever.
Electricity – 220-240 V, 50 Hz, plugs with three flat pins. From November to February there is a peak of solar radiation, so it is recommended to wear a hat and use a cream from + 15 * C. It is recommended to wear sunglasses at any time of the year.
On the beach, swim only between green or yellow-red flags. Single color, yellow or red flags mean danger!
Australia has a wide range of products both well-known European brands and local production. The hallmark of Australia is precious and semi-precious stones: opals, sapphires, the world’s only pink diamonds and pearls. Australia provides about 95% of the world’s production of opals, which, by the way, were valued higher than pearls and diamonds in ancient Rome. The most valuable and rare are black and transparent opals. Interesting items made by the natives: boomerangs, wood products, pottery. Akubra cowboy hats, Drizabon raincoats and COOGI knitwear, knitted using a unique local technology, are very popular.
Store hours vary by state.. As a rule, large stores are open from 9:00 to 17:30 on weekdays and from 9:00 to 17:00 on Saturday. One day a week (Thursday or Friday) they are open until 9pm. Some outlets are open on Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm.
Please note that tourists are entitled to a tax refund on goods purchased in Australia worth more than 300 Australian dollars if you carry them in hand luggage. When buying, you need to take a special check in the store. Then at the airport, after passing through passport control, you should contact the TRS office, present the goods, check, passport and international boarding pass.
Australia has strict laws restricting the import of weapons. Animals and all kinds of food must be quarantined. Without paying customs duties and taxes, you can import goods worth 400 Australian dollars into Australia (or 200 for children under 18 years old). This rule applies only in the case of the carriage of goods in personal baggage. In addition, travelers over the age of 18 can import 1 liter of alcohol, 250 grams of cigarettes or other tobacco products into Australia duty-free. Amounts in excess of A$50,000 must be declared.
