Europeans are known throughout the world for their love of travel. Wherever you go, you can see happy backpackers trekking the famous sights and speaking in a colourful array of languages. For many Europeans, Australia is a far away land that seems almost unreachable. After all, you can hop on a train from Milan and be in another country within 30 minutes, but it could take 30 hours by plane to travel to Australia! But let’s face it – Australia is worth the time it takes to get here. The wildlife, scenery, food, wine and things to do are amazing! Where else are you going to find kangaroos bounding across the desert? Or snorkel one of the great wonders of the world? Australia has it all – wine Europeans can truly appreciate, incredible SCUBA diving and sailing unlike anywhere else in the world, friendly locals and the perfect blend of culture, excitement, relaxation and intrigue.
While there is no shortage of backpackers having an excellent time frolicking in the Aussie outback, many European travelers want a bit more. They want to experience Australia in every way; from the moment they wake up until the moment they fall asleep. This is why Europeans are drawn to the many alternative accommodation experiences available in Australia – the quaint boutique hotels, stone cottages surrounded by vineyards, paddle steamers on rivers, privately chartered yachts and self-contained apartments right on beaches. There are so many incredible ways to experience Australia, and everyone is welcome to visit Down Under and have fun like an Aussie.
Getting here: Plenty of airlines travel to Australia, including their main carrier, Qantas. How much you pay to travel to Australia is going to depend on a number of things. Firstly – are you near a major airport hub? It may be cheaper to book your flight directly from that hub, and find an alternate way of getting to it. So, for example, if you live in or near Glasgow, you may find it considerably cheaper to catch an Easy Jet flight to London Gatwick, and then catch the train to London Heathrow. Ditto if you live in Dublin – you could catch a cheap flight using Ryan Air to Gatwick and then take the train to Heathrow for your flight to Australia. If you live in Geneva, Switzerland, you may find it cheaper to catch a train or an EasyJet flight to Paris and go from there. These are just a few examples, it would be impossible to list them all, but it is worth knowing that the main hubs for flights to Australia are Athens, Frankfurt, London Heathrow, Paris, Rome and Zurich.
Of course, you should first check out the prices from your nearest international airport, as it may be cheaper than travelling to a hub depending on the airline and the season. You can then explore the options with prices using the main travel hubs. Europe has several discount airlines, and the cities they service keep growing. So even if you are in a small town, you may find an economical option that will allow you to get to a major travel center and substantially reduce the cost of your flights overall.
The majority of flights to Australia from Europe travel via Asia, and you may decide you want to stopover somewhere exciting like Singapore, Bangkok, Tokyo, or Malaysia. There are many worthwhile choices depending on the airline you choose.
Season is also a consideration – Australia has its seasons reversed from Europe, meaning that January is the middle of summer. The good news is that you can travel to some amazing destinations in Australia during the cheaper, off-peak season. The reason is that Australia’s climate varies substantially from north to south, and the northern part of Australia is actually nicest to visit in the winter months while many parts of Australia in the south are best enjoyed during the summer months. And of course, autumn and spring are excellent times to visit anywhere in Australia.
Finding the cheapest flights: Who you go through will depend largely on where in Europe you live. If you are travelling via the United Kingdom, your best bet might be a company like www.lastminute.co.uk or www.cheapflights.co.uk From other countries, it is worthwhile first contacting the major airlines to learn their prices, visiting a travel agent to see if they have better deals, and also checking out the online options. Every country has different rules regarding how flights are sold (from fees and charges to landing taxes) and it is worthwhile exploring your options before committing to a price – you could save thousands. You may also be pleasantly surprised – some airlines, for example JAL (Japan) has some flights between Europe and Australia that stop-over in Japan, where they put you up for the night in a lovely hotel.
Visas and Passports: All visitors to Australia require a valid passport, and with the exception of New Zealand citizens, require a visa. This must be obtained before you travel and cannot be purchased upon arrival in Australia, although it can be extended while you’re in the country. Details of visas can change, so for the most up-to-date information check out Australia’s Department of Immigration and Citizenship.
To obtain a visa, you will need to contact your nearest Australian consulate or embassy. Click here to find the appropriate one for your country.
Getting Around
Driving: If you plan to drive, you will need to hold a valid International Permit in addition to a current driving licence from your own country. Be warned that Australians drive on the left side of the road, and the right side of their car – just like in the United Kingdom.
Flying: If you plan to see parts of Australia that are far apart, arrange to purchase air tickets to these places before you arrive in the country. It is much cheaper to buy flights around Australia as part of your main international air ticket, or as a separate air pass.
Air passes are not available to residents of Australia and offer a fantastic opportunity to see the country. The tickets are frequently bought as coupons, and you choose how many you would like. For example, the Qantas Boomerang Air Pass allows you to hop around the country, at $AUS240 per segment within one zone, or $AUS300 per segment if it’s within two zones. You could choose to fly from Sydney to Melbourne to Ayers Rock to Alice Springs to Perth, for example, for a small fraction of what a resident of Australia would pay for the same flights. For these passes to be valid, you must have a valid international air ticket. Check with your travel agent for details of these passes, or contact Qantas in your home country.
Buses: Australia has some truly fantastic bus companies, with modern and luxurious coaches offering video entertainment and onboard toilets. These are exceptionally clean and very safe. If you would really like to see Australia in all her vastness, consider purchasing a bus pass. These can easily be purchased at any major bus station in Australia, and can be valid for unlimited use during a set number of weeks, or valid for a year but with a set number of destinations.
Trains: Europeans are famous for their excellent train services and may be happy to know that all major and many minor cities in Australia are serviced by trains. Interestingly, the train tracks are different sizes as they were built autonomously from each other. As with the air passes, you can buy excellent train passes to travel around Australia, as long as you buy the passes before you arrive in the country. Your best bet is the Australia Flexi Pass which allows you to travel on any 15 or 22 days during a 6-month period, to anywhere in Australia. So you could choose to travel from Adelaide to Alice Springs, which would take one day of your pass, and then stay a week in the region before moving on to Darwin (which takes one day – so a total of two days out of your pass). You could do plenty of travelling for a good price, and really see Australia. These passes are for seats only; you’ll need to pay extra for any tickets where you’d like a sleeper.
Electrical items: Australia uses 240 volts, while most Europeans use 210 volts. Thankfully, this difference in voltage is rarely an issue and your appliances should work (although clocks have a different frequency, so if you’re bringing an alarm clock – use the battery-operated variety). However, the prongs on your plug will be different and won’t fit into Aussie electrical sockets. This is easily remedied by an adaptor, which is cheap and available at any travel-goods or electrical store.
Money: The currency is the Australian dollar. Most European currencies are worth substantially more than the humble Aussie dollar (for example, at the time of writing this article, 1 British pound will buy you 2.34 Australian dollars, and 1 Euro will buy you 1.67 Australian dollars).
Accommodation: The choices are endless – from yachts drifting along the tranquil Whitsunday Passage, to century-old cottages set in vineyards, to oceanfront apartments – you will find all you dreamed of and more. Gone are the days of resigning yourself to a simple hotel room; while these are certainly available throughout Australia, you can choose an option that is truly memorable for the same price. Check out TakeABreak for the best of every style of accommodation, at the best prices.
Making your plans: Australia is a huge country, and it may be difficult to decide where you are going to visit. Before you make any plans, be sure to check out the many destination articles available at Holiday Inspirations where you’ll find plenty of details about each of the towns and their attractions, history and culture.
About the Author
Kylie-Jane Degeling is a freelance writer who has lived in Adelaide, Yulara (Uluru), Alice Springs and Canberra, as well as five different countries throughout the world. After backpacking around Australia, she worked as a tour guide in Central Australia, before training for her Commercial Pilot License and working as a flight instructor, scenic flight and charter pilot. She later worked as a travelling IT trainer for the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, which involved spending time in each of their 16 District Offices around the country on a frequent rotating basis.
Having experienced Australia as a backpacker, tour guide, pilot and business traveller, Kylie now enjoys family holidays with her husband Alex, and children Jezzy and Jordan. She says, “I have been lucky to see Australia from a variety of perspectives, and as a travel writer can use this experience to inspire others to find holidays they would
enjoy.”
Kylie currently works as a travel writer in addition to being a government writer and columnist for two parenting magazines.