Travelling Smart When In Australia

They call Australia a wide, brown land. It's true. Getting out and travelling the vast expanses of this island continent can sometimes be a long, arduous and gruelling journey - especially if you are going to do it by road. Sydney to Ayers Rock is definitely not a day trip (even though some seem to think it is!).

You may not be planning to travel the length and breadth of this wide land, but with adequate insurance and a bit of common sense, there are still a number of things you can do to keep your trip "Down Under" a safe and pleasant experience - no matter which part of the country you choose to explore!

Driving.
Whilst driving throughout Australia can be an awesome, eye opening experience, unfortunately our roads are not always as pristine as some of the motorways and expressways found overseas.

Although there have been improvements over the past few years, once you are out of metropolitan areas, many major highways and thoroughfares are still only two lanes wide (or even single lane in some cases!), so care always needs to be taken, especially when travelling at high speed. Most major highways you drive will be shared with interstate trucks and oversized vehicles meeting a deadline, so be aware - a horrific accident is only a silly mistake away!

Suburban and country roads can also often be potholed or patchy, so care needs to be taken - especially at night - with a large proportion of roads outside the major city or suburban areas also without adequate (read: any!) street lighting. Dawn and dusk are also times of major activity for local wildlife, so take care at these times to avoid kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, possums, koalas and other nocturnal creatures that may be moving about.

Road safety in recent has become a major priority for Australian Governments in recent years, with speed cameras and police radars increasingly common, so always observe the road speed limits. Speed is measured in kilometres per hour (kph), with most city roads limited to 50-60kph, and most highways between 80-110kph. If you are not familiar with Kilometers, a rough rule of thumb is 8 km = 5 miles. In other words, a speed limit of 80kph is equal to around 50 mph.

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is also quite heavily policed, and those caught can face stiff fines or loss of licence. Don't go there.

If taking a long trip, rest breaks are recommended every 2 hours. FrogandToad provides an easy guide to for calculating major road distances to help you plan your road journey.

International driving licences are generally accepted for driving in Australia.

For Pedestrians.
Aussies drive on the left hand side of the road, from the right hand side of the car, so if you are used to doing things from the other side, take extra care!

If you are a pedestrian, be aware, as cars will be travelling in the opposite to what you would normally expect. Look right, look left, and look right again when crossing the road - the traffic closest to you will be coming from your right.

Most main roads have allocated pedestrian crossings either at lights or "zebra" crossings, however it is common for Aussies just to cross where they wish. Yep, we're a bunch of jaywalkers!

For foreign tourists who are either driving the streets or crossing the road yourselves - be aware of cars and other pedestrians! A lot of car and pedestrian accidents can occur from a simple lack of concentration if you are not familiar with our road procedures.

In The Water.
As the world's largest island continent, Australia has more than its share of beaches and water activities. Keeping an eye on a few basic rules will ensure that your water activities are undertaken safely and without danger to yourself or others.

Most major beaches are patrolled by volunteer lifesavers (or "lifeguards"), usually recognised by yellow or yellow and red caps. Over the years, Surf Lifesavers have performed over 500,000 rescues. These guys and girls are there to look out for your safety, and will keep an eye on potential dangers both in and out of the water. If they instruct you to move or get out of the water, it is usually for good reason, so do your best to heed their warnings.

If you are swimming at a patrolled beach, always stay between the red and yellow flags which will usually be positioned by lifesavers on the safest part(s) of the beach. This is the safest swimming area of the beach, and is marked out for your safety. Many times beaches can contain "rips" or undertows where massive amounts of water are naturally drained from the beach back into the ocean. Many unsuspecting beachgoers have been caught in rips over the years and been swept out into deeper water and into danger.

If you do find yourself caught in a rip, don't try and be a hero and swim back to shore. It won't work. These currents are generally way too strong and you will end up exhaused and in danger of drowning. The best way to get out of a rip is not panic! Firstly, try and swim parallel to the shore, across and with the current (rather than against it). You should eventually be free of the rip current and then be able to make your way back to breaking waves and back to shore. If you are not a strong swimmer, attract the attention of lifesavers by sticking your hand up in the air for help.

We recommend visiting the Surf Livesaving website for more detailed information on beach and surf safety in Australia. Oh, and if you are on the beach or outdoors for any period, remember the sunscreen - 30+ is a must! The sun is strong here, and getting burnt is pretty easy (Australia has one of the highest incindences of skin cancers in the world). Don't say you weren't warned! The Cancer Council has a simple motto - Slip, Slop, Slap! Slip on a shirt, Slop on some sunscreen, Slap on a hat. it will keep you well protected and save you from trouble.

Australia's Dangerous Fauna.
Like any country, Australia has it's fair share of dangerous animals, reptiles and insects. However, the chances of you falling victim are very remote, and perhaps the stereotype of Australia being a haven for "Dangerous Creatures" has been blown a little out of proportion. Sure there are dangerous sharks, crocodiles, snakes and spiders which can be found here (as they can in many other countries) but simple common sense will generally avoid any remote chance of injury.

Salt and freshwater crocodiles are fairly common in Australia's Northern tropical regions, and are now a protected species in this country. If you are swimming, always be sure the area is safe and crocodile free beforehand. Crocs love lurking around estuaries and do not always take kindly to strangers! Attacks are reasonably rare, but they do occur - usually due to someones stupidity!

Sharks can be found in Australian waters, but most patrolled surf beaches (see above) have shark nets installed, and any serious chance of meeting one face to face is extremely rare. However, stick to patrolled surf beaches, and always obey instructions from the Life Savers.

Snakes can be sometimes found in rural, semi suburban and country areas. Most Australian snakes are reasonably timid, and will generally slither out of your way if they hear you coming (hint: heavy walking will let them know you are coming!). However, should you be confronted by a snake, remember a simple rule - he who moves first generally loses! Keep still and wait until the apparent danger is over.

There are a number of other dangerous creatures to be found in Australia, including box Jellyfish (North Eastern Australia), Brown Snakes (Eastern Australia), Tiger Snakes (Southern & Eastern Australia), Blue Ringed Octpus (coastal waters & reefs), Funnel Web Spiders (East Coast), and Red Back Spiders (urban areas). General awareness of their habitats and the level of potential dangers is a good idea, and most local tourist organisations will be able to advise of potential dangers.

All in all, attacks or injuries are rare, but should you find yourself in trouble, seek medical attention as a matter of priority. Emergency services within Australia can be reached by dialling 000.

Tips on Travelling Safe.
Finally, some tips on keeping safe and secure when travelling within Australia. Like many modern cutures, there are unfortunately a small number of people who will try and take advantage of tourists in a number of ways for their own personal and criminal gain - especially in city or metropolitan areas. Simple common sense will avoid most hassles and make sure your trip is safe and enjoyable.

Money. When it comes to carrying Australian currency, try and avoid carrying large amounts of cash. Travellers Cheques are still a reasonably safe option, but most establishments and retailers will take major credit cards such as Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Amex & Diners. Australia also has an extensive ATM network for you to withdraw cash as you need.

Foreign exhanges are also available at airports, hotels, shopping centres and at financial institutions throughout the country, but avoid changing your cash at airports or hotels as the rates are generally not as favourable.

Plan ahead for what you will likely need, and keep cash to a reasonable minimum. Keep your wallet or purse secure - "bum bags" or other wallet holders which strap to your body or waist are an ideal way to keep your cash a little more secure.

Keep your valuables secure in your accommodation. Many hotels provide in room safes or security boxes for storage of valuables and personal effects. If you are out of the room for an extended amount of time, it is always best practice to use the facility - especially when it comes to passports and other valuable documents. Although hotel room robberies are reasonably rare, it does sense to stay on the safe side and avoid potential heartache. When leaving the room, make sure your door is closed properly and locked, and your room windows are secured.

Going out at night. Aussies are well known for enjoying themselves, but there are some times when things can get out of hand late at night. Most people are responsible and helpful, however it is always best to be aware of your surroundings. If you are female, be aware of strangers buying you drinks, as there have been recorded cases of "date rape" drugs being spiked into the drinks of unsuspecting women. If you can, make sure you go out together with friends you know reasonably well, and try and avoid being left alone with strangers. Always try and remember the way back to your hotel - if it is dark and you are a bit "happy", you can always get a taxi. Better to be safe than sorry. Use your common sense and you should be able to avoid dangerous or compromising situations.

Travelling & Luggage. If you are travelling, make sure your bags are clearly identified with your forwarding address and contact details. If your bags are of a reasonably common style or colour, why not tie an identifying ribbon to the handle so that you can make easy and quick identification at the other end and avoid possible hassles with lost or misplaced luggage.

Always check your itinerary departure and arrival times, and make sure you get to the airport or terminal with plenty of time to spare. Nothing worse than stuffing up the whole holiday with a missed connection!

Phone Calls. Australia has a number of mobile (cell) phone networks including Telstra, Vodafone, Optus, and Hutchinson Telecoms ("3"). Prepaid sim card or phone & sim packages are generally available at most Australian airports and retail shopping centres, or you can check network compatibility for your phone with your local carrier before departing.

Cell coverage in Australia is generally quite good, but you may find some remote and country areas can offer fairly patchy reception. In this case, it may be best to look at purchasing a prepaid phone card, which are easily purchased from newsagents, phone shops, currency exchanges and general stores. Phone cards can generally be used from any public or standard phone, are much cheaper than hotel or public phone rates (or even cell rates for that matter!), and can keep you in touch with family or friends at an economical cost.