If you are planning a family vacation to Australia, then this Australia practical information guide will come handy. Australia is a country located in the Southern Hemisphere; several other islands, including Tasmania, form part of Australia. Australia is a large country and is also the smallest continent in the world. If you are going on a vacation to this great destination, there are several things you will need to consider. However, one thing you can be sure of while visiting Australia is that you will be enjoy your visit to the fullest. Here are a few things you need to know.

Passport and Visa

If you are from any other country other than Australia or New Zealand, you will need to have a valid passport and apply for a visa before you get to Australia. Citizens of New Zealand with a valid passport can avail a visa on arrival. All other visitors will need to get in touch with the Australian Consulate in their home country and apply for a visa.

Time Zones

There are 3 time zones in Australia, and these are: Eastern Standard Time (EST), Western Standard Time (WST) and Central Standard Time (CST). The Central Standard Time zone is 30-minutes (half hour) behind the Eastern Standard Time zone and the Western Standard Time zone is 2-hours behind the Eastern Standard Time zone.

Customs

When traveling to Australia, you must be aware that carrying firearms, weapons, steroids, drugs and any protected wildlife is prohibited. Several food items such as packaged or fresh eggs, fruits, plants, meat, skins and seeds are also not allowed. You can carry any amount of money when you travel to Australia; however, if you are carrying over $10,000, you will need to declare the same at the customs.

Medication

You can carry personal medication when you travel to Australia. However, these medicines should be declared to the customs officials when you arrive in Australia. You will also need to have the prescriptions from your doctor regarding the medicines you are carrying and also have a letter from your doctor regarding your medical conditions.

Vaccination

You will not need to have any vaccinations before you travel to Australia. However, if you have been suffering from yellow fever or have just returned from a country that has been infected with yellow fever, you will need to have vaccination within 6 days of arriving in Australia.