Australia – Travel tips, health and safety

• In parts of Australia, there is little drinking water due to lack of rainfall. As a rule, this should not have an effect on travellers. Nevertheless, you should take enough supplies with you on hikes.
• The sun's rays can be very dangerous in Australia. Therefore, you should always use sun cream with a high sun protection factor (at least SPF 30) and wear a head covering. Our tip: Sprays are also useful to protect against insects, which can sometimes become a nuisance in summer.
• There is no compulsory vaccination for Australia. The Robert Koch Institute advises travellers to Australia to have all standard vaccinations refreshed before departure.
• In addition, vaccination against hepatitis A and B is recommended if you belong to the group of people at risk.
• Dengue fever occasionally occurs in the north of Australia (North Queensland, Torres Strait). This viral disease is transmitted by the diurnal Aedes mosquito and can lead to serious health damage with fatal consequences in individual cases. Our tip: Prevent infection and apply mosquito repellent during the day.

Medical care in Australia is of a high standard. However, you may have to expect longer waiting times in hospitals and doctors' surgeries. In the Australian outback, the so-called "flying doctors" provide rapid medical assistance and rescue in emergencies.

Medical treatments are usually carried out after advance payment (cash). To ensure that you do not have to bear these costs, the Federal Foreign Office recommends that you book an travel health insurance with a return transport guarantee. Australia's public health system is called "Medicare" and Australian hospitals are characterised by first-class medical facilities and standards of care. The staff mostly speaks only English.

Those who depend on taking medication regularly should bring it with them from home. Note, however, that these must be declared upon entry.

Our tip: Ideally, you should have a medical certificate with you so that you do not get into trouble with Australian customs.

Take a moment to think about your travel safety before your holiday – it pays off! Find out if the Australian Government has issued safety warnings for your destination. Or whether there are severe weather warnings for your holiday destination. So you are prepared for everything and can simply sit back and relax during your holiday.

Travel warnings and safety advice from the Australian Government

Basically, Australia is a safe destination. As everywhere else in the world, however, tourists should observe a few safety precautions. Always keep an eye on your luggage and do not leave your suitcase and handbag unattended. Backpackers should make sure to lock their backpacks securely in collective accommodation, if possible. If you are travelling with a rental car, it is better not to leave any valuables in it.

Always take good care of your valuables. Money, tickets and other valuables should be kept in a safe place, for example, in the hotel safe. Even in the USA, valuables should not be left in a parked car. This is especially true at airports, bus stations or railway stations: Beware of pickpockets! Just in case, it is advisable to make copies of all important documents, including airline tickets, and keep them separately.

German citizens need a passport valid for at least six months to enter Australia. Children need their own identity document.

Visas are required for Australia. The free visa must be applied for before travel and is valid for 12 months; however, the maximum length of stay is three months. Since 2008, there has been a simplified online procedure whereby the issuance takes place via the Internet. The so-called eVisitor visa can be obtained by registering on the homepage of the Australian Department of Immigration with your passport data and providing a valid email address. After checking the data, you will usually receive a message within a few minutes stating whether you are allowed to enter Australia as an eVisitor. Passport stamps or stickers are no longer required, as the electronic visa is automatically deposited digitally at border crossings.

When entering the country via the airports in Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney, all arrivals must undergo a body scan. Those who refuse are only allowed to enter with a delay or, under certain circumstances, not at all.

Australia is a fascinating and expansive destination, not least because the continent spreads across different climatic zones. When travelling to Australia, you can discover both the dry desert and green rainforests. The Tablelands in the west makes up 60 % of Australia's total size and is relatively dry. In the north, it is tropical, and towards the south, the climate becomes more temperate. Snow falls only in the south-easternmost mountain regions of the country.

Australia offers many attractions throughout the continent. Probably the biggest tourist attractions, apart from the larger cities (Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne), are the Great Barrier Reef, which, with its approx. 2,200 kilometres, has the largest interconnected coral reef on earth. Australia's cities have a lot to offer: Cafés and restaurants, street art, shopping and beaches.

Another highlight is the Uluru-Kata-Tjuta National Park in the state of Northern Territory, which is a Unesco World Heritage Site.  Here are other sights, "Ayers Rock" and "The Olgas", two sandstone massifs that are considered sacred by the Aborigines.

Due to the long distances involved, anyone travelling to Australia should think carefully beforehand about which itinerary to choose so that no personal highlight is missed. From Sydney to Cairns, for example, it is just under 2,500 kilometres, from Adelaide to Perth around 2,550 kilometres and from Brisbane to Darwin almost 3,500 kilometres.

• The wildlife in Australia is sometimes dangerous and you should be careful when coming into contact with animals. For example, snakes, spiders, jellyfish, other marine animals and crocodiles cause injuries and illness. Please be sure to follow warnings and seek prompt medical attention if needed. Our tip: Always wear sturdy shoes when hiking and watch where you step. However, if you are bitten or stung, immediately immobilise the affected area, photograph the animal if possible and call an emergency doctor immediately.
• In the summer months, poisonous jellyfish repeatedly appear in the northern coastal waters. Besides sea wasps and box jellyfish, there are numerous other species that can cause skin irritation, cardiovascular problems and even respiratory or cardiac arrest with their tentacles. Our tip: If you have been touched by a jellyfish, leave the water immediately and speak to a lifeguard . These helpers are available at most beaches and ensure the safety of bathers and call for medical assistance in case of emergency. In addition, relief measures should be started immediately. Rubbing the affected areas of skin with vinegar has proven to be effective, as it loosens tentacle threads and thus prevents more toxins from being absorbed through the skin. Vinegar is found on all affected beach areas.

Natural disasters usually occur unpredictably. Therefore, it is advisable to inform yourself about the holiday region and potential dangers in the regional and national media. The Australian Government and local authorities also issue notices at affected beaches, nature parks. Your safety is our top priority and we want to prepare you for what natural hazards occur in Australia and how best to protect yourself in the event of a disaster.

• Current natural disasters: Warnings and information Australian Government website
• Bush and forest fires: October to March, South and East Australia
• Tropical cyclones (hurricanes): November to April, Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia

If you want to drive in Australia, you need an "international driving licence" (available from road traffic offices / driving license office) or an English translation of the driving licence in addition to the German driving licence within the first 3 months after arrival. Carry your driver's licence with you on every journey. Attention: Some car rental companies require the German driver's licence and an international driver's licence upon conclusion of the contract.

• Thefts and car break-ins also occur in Australia. Handbags, backpacks or the like should not be left unattended, valuables should not be left in the car. Backpackers should be aware of the risk of theft, especially in collective accommodation.
• Smoking is prohibited by law in public buildings, transport, shopping centres, bars, restaurants and cafes in Australia. Smoke-free beaches have also been established.

Swimwear is compulsory: With the exception of specially designated beaches, nudism is prohibited in the USA and is punishable by fines. 

German Embassy Canberra
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany
119 Empire Circuit
Yarralumla, ACT 2600, Australien

Contact:
Tel: +61 2 62 70 19 11
Fax: +61 (02) 62 70 19 51
Website: www.canberra.diplo.de

German Honorary Consulate General Sydney
Level 17, 100 William St, Sydney (Woolloomooloo)
NSW 2011, Australien

Contact:
Tel: +61 2 83 02 49 00
Website: www.sydney.diplo.de

You will find further German diplomatic offices in Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Hobart and Perth.

Australian Embassy Berlin
Wallstraße 76–79
10179 Berlin

Contact:
Tel: +49 (030) 88 00 88 0
Fax: +49 (030) 88 00 88 210
Email: info@australien-embassy.de
Website: www.australian-embassy.de

The most important number in an emergency is 000 – you can reach the police, fire brigade and ambulance via this number. The number is available 24 hours a day, every day, regardless of where you are in Australia.

Important numbers at a glance:

000 Police, ambulance and fire brigade

Royal Flying Doctor Service
Western Australia: 1800 625 800
Southern Australia and Northern Territory: 08 8648 9555
Queensland: 07 4654 1443
New South Wales, Tasmania, Victoria: 08 8088 1188

HanseMerkur's Emergency Call Service is there for you as an insured person worldwide. 
24 hours a day – around the clock. Including on Sundays and public holidays, quick help in case of emergency.

Phone (worldwide): +49 40 5555-7877