Australia uses three Australian Eastern Standard Time, Australian Central Standard Time and Australian Western Time. Melbourne, Cairns and Sydney are within the Australian Eastern Standard Time zone which is UTC/GMT+10 and it is 14 hours ahead of New York's Eastern Standard Time zone, so when it's noon in New York, it's 2:00AM in Sydney. Uluru (Ayers Rock) is half an hour behind Australian Eastern Standard Time.

Even though we'll be visiting Australia in late summer/early autumn, the weather here can be very changeable, especially since we'll be visiting several climatic zones. Even in summer, you will need to pack warm and weatherproof clothing, including a rain jacket and comfortable, rain-proof walking shoes. It may be chilly (around 60 degrees F) or even rainy in Melbourne, hot (about 90 degrees F) and dry in the Australian Outback (Uluru), hot (about 90 degrees F) and humid in Cairns (Great Barrier Reef) and we hope for the perfect weather (75 degrees F) in Sydney, so please bring appropriate clothing. Very few places have formal dress codes in Australia. Some people do dress up if they are visiting high-end restaurants and bars, but this is optional. Make sure you leave some space in your bag for the wonderful gifts you can buy in Australia. The domestic flights in Australia allow for a maximum of 44 lbs in checked luggage and 15 lbs of carry-on luggage, and overweight luggage is allowed for an additional fee.

A valid passport is required for all entering visitors, and it must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your departure date from Australia. All visitors (except citizens of New Zealand) must obtain an ETA (Electronic Travel Authority), an electronic visa prior to arriving. The visa itself is free, although there is a service charge for getting it via Internet. It allows for unlimited visits to Australia, up to 3 months each, within one year period. To apply online, go to www.eta.immi.gov.au, or you can apply at Australian embassies, high commissions and consulates around the world.

This tour starts in Melbourne (airport code MEL) and ends in Sydney (airport code SYD).

You should make your flight arrangements using the "open-jaw" or "multiple-city" search, to arrive in Melbourne, Australia on Thursday, March 6, 2025 before 3:00PM and depart from Sydney, Australia at any time on March 16, 2025. Because one day is lost flying over the International Date Line, you'll probably depart North America on Tuesday March 4, 2025. If you are combining this tour with the South Island and North Island Tour of New Zealand, Sights and Soul Travels will make arrangements for and cover the cost of your flight from Auckland, New Zealand to Melbourne, Australia. If you are prone to jet lag and travel fatigue, we recommend arriving a day early.

This tour ends after breakfast, on Sunday, March 16, 2025 in Sydney, and you can schedule your return flight at any time. We will make arrangements for individual airport transfers in accordance with your departure time.

To avoid jet lag (common when crossing more than five time zones), drink plenty of nonalcoholic fluids and eat light meals. Upon arrival, get exposure to natural sunlight and readjust your schedule (for meals, sleep and so on) as soon as possible.

To avoid paying the single supplement, we offer guaranteed roommate matching, and we will try to match you with a roommate of similar age. Otherwise, there are some single rooms available on this tour, but they tend to fill up first. Please keep in mind that all shared rooms are non-smoking.

The Australia tour group is limited to the maximum of 16 women + the Tour Director. The minimum group size is 10 women + the Tour Director. In addition to the Tour Director, the travelers will be assisted by private local guides and bus drivers throughout the tour.

No vaccinations are required to enter Australia. If you are currently taking any prescription medicines for recognized medical conditions, it is wise to bring the dosage you'll require with you. Keep all drugs in original bottles and bring a cover letter from your doctor to show airport security staff if required. Australian pharmacists may only fill prescriptions written by Australian doctors, so carry enough medication with you for your trip. Most large cities have 24-hour clinics and hospitals. The hygiene standards are high in Australia, hospitals are modern, and doctors and dentists are well qualified. Snake and spider bites may not be as common as some stories suggest, but it pays to be wary. Also, be aware of the marine life, including jellyfish and saltwater crocodiles. Australians have the world's highest rate of skin cancer because of the country's intense sunlight. You should limit your exposure to the sun, especially during the first few days of your trip. The UV rays reflected off walls, water, and the ground and they can burn even when not in direct sunlight. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a high protection factor (SPF 30 or higher). Wear a broad-brimmed hat that covers the back of your neck, ears, and face and a long-sleeved shirt. Don't even think about traveling without sunglasses, or you'll spend your entire vacation squinting against Australia's "diamond light."

Australia's tap water is pollution-free and safe to drink, and bottled water is readily available, as well.

There are western style "public conveniences" strategically located in all cities and many towns. You'll also find well signposted public toilets on the street in most towns and cities. They can also be found in hotel lobbies, bars, restaurants, museums, department stores, railway and bus stations, and service stations. Large hotels and fast-food restaurants are often the best bet for clean facilities. Please keep in mind that some public toilets may require payment, so you should always have some coins in the local currency with you to pay for them.

Australia is generally a very safe destination. Still, exercise the same care that you would in any major city and follow the same precautions against petty theft and potential identity theft as they would at home or in any other country. The downtown areas of Australia's major cities are now well covered by closed-circuit cameras, which are monitored by police. This has significantly helped to reduce crime. It is still advisable to exercise caution, especially on the weekends, when social drinking sometimes gets out of hand. When it comes to traveling in the countryside, you should always be as cautious as you would be anywhere else.

Australia is generally a safe place for women travelers, although the usual sensible precautions apply. Australian men are generally respectful towards women, and sexual harassment is rare, though some macho Aussie males still slip, particularly when they've been drinking. Always take care in social environments, and if you are a single female traveling alone, don't drink too much, or you'll be easy prey. Some pubs in Sydney and other big cities post warnings about drugged or 'spiked' drinks: probably not cause for paranoia, but play it safe if someone offers you a drink in a bar.

During the Spectacular Australia Tour, we will travel by bus and by plane. To be able to enjoy the tour and participate in scheduled activities, you will need to be able to walk, at a leisurely pace, up to 5 miles throughout the day. You will need to be able to stand unassisted for up to 30 minutes, you will need to be able to climb stairs, get in and out of vehicles, including boats and cable cars, without assistance and manage your own luggage without assistance. Overall, this trip is not strenuous although, with 3 domestic flights within the 11 days, it is busy. You must be prepared for some full days and early starts.

Australia is a large country, a continent, and it covers many climate zones. Since the trip falls in the late summer, expect dry, sunny days, usually with very strong sun. In April, the average temperatures in Melbourne are in the mid 60s (F), in Uluru around 90 degrees (F), in Cairns around 80 degrees (F), and in Sydney in the mid 70s (F).

Australia's cities have Internet access available in internet cafes, hotel lobbies and in some public places. Internet access in rural areas may be available, but it varies widely. Cellular phone coverage is generally very good in Australia's cities and metropolitan areas, although expect limited coverage in remote or mountainous areas. All hotels where we’ll be staying have WiFi Internet available for their guests.

The Australian current is 240 volts AC, 50 hertz. Sockets take two or three flat, not rounded, prongs. To use appliances without a dual voltage converter, you will need a converter. Don’t wait until you get to Australia, because local stores will only stock converters for Australian appliances to fit foreign outlets. Power does not start automatically when you plug in an appliance; you need to flick the switch beside the socket to the “on” position.

Australia’s official language is English. However, being a multicultural nation with a significant migrant population, the country also enjoys a tremendous diversity of languages and cultures.

The Australian dollar is divided into A100¢. Coins are A5¢, A10¢, A20¢, and A50¢ pieces (silver) and A$1 and A$2 pieces (gold). Prices often end in a variant of A1¢ and A2¢ (for example, A78¢ or A$2.71), a relic from the days before 1-cent and 2-cent pieces were phased out. Prices are rounded to the nearest A5¢. Bank notes come in denominations of A$5, A$10, A$20, A$50, and A$100. The easiest and best way to get cash away from home is from an ATM (automated teller machine), sometimes referred to as a "cash machine" or a "cashpoint." Be sure you know your daily withdrawal limit before you depart. Australian ATMs use a four-digit code, so check with your bank and make sure you change yours before you leave. Always carry a little cash, because many merchants will not take cards for purchases under A$15.

Restaurants', guides', drivers' gratuities are included in the Spectacular Australia tour price. Tipping is not expected in Australia, but it is always appreciated. When dining on your own, it is usual to tip around 10% or round up to the nearest A$10 for a restaurant meal. At the conclusion of the tour, it is customary to offer your Tour Director a gratuity. We recommend $15 per person per day if you feel that her services enhanced your experience of visiting Australia.

You’ll find large department stores, arcades, malls, gift and souvenir shops across Australia. The hours vary across the country but shops in tourist and city areas are generally open until 6pm, with the exception of late night shopping on either Thursdays or Fridays in different states. In Australia you are covered by Australia's consumer protection laws which require businesses to treat you fairly. The uniquely Australian gifts and souvenirs evoke the ancient mystery of Aboriginal culture with an Aboriginal artwork or artefact, such as the famous dot paintings. The popular souvenirs include jewellery made from opals, Australian pearls, the rare pink diamonds found only in Kimberley. Australia's fashion designers take pride in their outback inspired clothing, and you may like to bring home a pair of soft sheepskin boots or UGG boots. Other items that we've enjoyed are Australian wines, Bondi Wash cosmetics, TimTam chocolate biscuits, and tea from T2.

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