In general
Documents and visa
You need a valid passport AND a visa, mandatory even for tourism. EU/Italian citizens apply online for the eVisitor visa (free, valid for stays up to 90 days, multiple entries within a year) before departure. Young people up to 35 can get the Working Holiday Visa (12 months). Citizens of other countries should check the visa type on the Australian government website (homeaffairs.gov.au).
Currency and payments
The currency is the Australian dollar (AUD): about 1.65 to 1 euro. Australia is almost entirely cashless: cards and contactless accepted everywhere, even for tiny amounts. Cash over 10,000 Australian dollars must be declared on entry and exit. The country is fairly expensive.
Language
The language is English, with a very characteristic slang and accent (the 'Strine') and many abbreviations. Communicating is of course easy throughout the country.
Health and insurance
No mandatory vaccines. Healthcare is excellent in the cities (less reliable in remote areas). There is an Italy-Australia agreement (Medicare) granting Italian tourists basic public care for the first 180 days of stay: bring your health card and passport. Health insurance covering medical expenses and repatriation is still strongly recommended, essential for remote areas and for stays beyond 180 days (private care is very expensive).
eSIM and connectivity
Mobile coverage is excellent in cities but poor or absent in the interior and the desert (Telstra has the best regional coverage). Australia is outside the EU, so EU roaming is NOT included: a local eSIM or SIM (Telstra, Optus, Vodafone) is best. If you travel in the outback, consider a satellite phone.
Electricity
Power is 230V/50Hz with type I sockets (two angled flat pins in a V plus earth): different from European ones, you need an adapter for Australia (the same used in New Zealand).
Time zone
Australia has several time zones and is well ahead of Europe: generally between +8 and +10 hours (the east coast, Sydney/Melbourne, is +8/+10 depending on daylight saving). The southern hemisphere has reversed seasons. Account for the big jet lag.
Climate and seasons
Reversed seasons: the Australian summer is December-February, winter June-August. The climate varies enormously: scorching desert in the centre, tropical and humid in the north (Cairns, with a rainy season and cyclones Nov-Apr), temperate on the south-east coast (Sydney, Melbourne). Best times: spring and autumn for the east coast, the dry season (May-Oct) for the tropical north and the Red Centre.
Good to know
Wildlife and sea: caution
Australia has unique but also dangerous wildlife: in the sea, ALWAYS swim between the red and yellow lifeguard flags (ocean currents are very strong and cause drownings); avoid swimming where signs warn of box jellyfish (summer, Nov-Apr, even lethal, especially in the north), sharks and CROCODILES (North Queensland and the Northern Territory: never enter rivers/estuaries). On land, beware of snakes and spiders: watch where you put hands and feet in nature. By following local guidance, the risks are avoided.
Outback and desert
Distances are enormous and the interior is remote: every year tourists get lost or die through recklessness. For desert areas (Uluru, Alice Springs, Northern Territory) rely on organised tours or travel in a group with ample supplies of water, fuel, food and a satellite phone; share your itinerary before leaving. The authorities advise against self-drive car rental around Uluru and in the North due to dangerous roads. At Uluru, climbing the monolith is FORBIDDEN (a sacred Aboriginal site).
Fires, cyclones and weather
In the hot season (Nov-Feb) the risk of bushfires is high and they spread very fast, even near cities: if there is smoke, stay indoors with a P2/N95 mask. The north-east is subject to cyclones and heavy rain (Nov-Apr), with possible flooding. Always monitor the Bureau of Meteorology warnings (bom.gov.au) and the state civil protection services, and follow the authorities' instructions.
Driving: keep left
You drive on the LEFT. You can drive with an Italian licence (with an official English translation) or an international one for up to 6 months; rental requires age 21 and one year's licence. Blood-alcohol limit 0.05% (zero for new drivers). Note: enormous distances between towns, few petrol stations in the interior (set off with a full tank and water), wildlife on the roads in the evening (kangaroos) and 'road trains', lorries up to 50 metres long in the North. Between cities it is best to fly (Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin).
Biosecurity and laws
Australia has very strict biosecurity rules: on arrival you must declare any food, plant or animal product, wood, seeds (even snacks or fruit in your luggage). Penalties are heavy and you even risk visa cancellation: when in doubt, declare everything. Anti-drug law is very strict. Otherwise it is an orderly, rule-respecting country, with a strong focus on sun protection (very strong sun: hat, factor 50+ sunscreen, sunglasses).
Useful numbers
- 000 — Emergencies: police, ambulance, fire brigade
- 112 — Emergencies from mobile (routes to 000)
- +61 2 6185 8111 — Italian Embassy in Canberra (emergencies: +61 418 266349); Consulates in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth. For other nationalities, contact your own country's embassy
💡 Apply online for the (free) eVisitor visa before leaving and bring your health card: the Medicare agreement covers basic care for 180 days. On the beach always swim between the red and yellow flags, and in the North never go near rivers and estuaries (crocodiles). Finally, on arrival declare any food: Australian biosecurity is unforgiving.