Australia
Australia's nick-name is 'Down Under'. The natural identity of Australia has been forged by 45 million years of isolation. It seems that the beautiful and diverse landscapes is reflected in the resilient character of its inhabitants. In 1788 England brought 763 prisoners to Australia, which acted as a prison colony. In 1852, 370,000 people landed in Australia in the hope to find gold during the gold rush. Today, the country is still blessed with minerals such as gold, lead, iron, zinc and manganese. Though the country may be geographically remote from the West, Australia remains thoroughly western.
Australia has 6 regions:
New South Wales (Sydney).
Most people live here. The scenery is very varied, from the fertile coastal plains with beautiful beaches to high mountains such as the Blue Mountains northwest of Sydney and the Snowy Mountains to the south.
Queensland (Brisbane).
Australia's most popular holiday destination characterized by coastal and nature areas including Carnarvon Gorge National Park and the Great Barrier Reef.
Northern Territory (Darwin & Alice Springs).
A scarcely populated area lovingly known as The Top End. Nowhere is the culture of the Aboriginals better preserved. The biggest attraction is Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Kakadu National Park.
South Australia (Adelaide)
Famous for its vineyards. The Murray River plays a major role.
Victoria (Melbourne)
As big as England. It is home to The Grampians and The Great Ocean Road. Amongst other activities, rock climbing, sailing and wine tasting are truly popular here!
West Australia (Perth)
Alias the Wildflower state and similar in size to Western Europe.There are numerous national parks, impressive mountain ranges, vast forests, pristine beaches and beautiful coral reefs.
Hotels & Meals
In Australia you are bound to come across the popular:
Insurances
Have a safe and carefree trip: travel fully insured with our Protections travel insurance! Our Protections insurance policies offer various formulas in order to offer you the widest possible cover (with even a fly-on-time, natural catastrophes and epidemics) for both single journeys or for the entire year. We guarantee you the best protection at the best price.
Tailored travel
The tours in our brochures are just a few examples of travel itineraries possible. Each one can be tailored to suit your specific needs. If you want to book a specific destination or combine it with a mini-tour, we will gladly suggest a tailor-made offer. For a personalised day-by-day program please contact our destination experts.
Would you like to travel in a group; with your entire family, friends or colleagues? (min. 10 people required). Put our know-how to the test and send us your details and wishes. We will gladly turn the blueprints of your trip into a detailed quote and a lasting memory for you to cherish. Contact our Connections’ Group Service by e-mail at groups@connections.be or by telephone on +32 (0)2 550 01 65. We would love to hear from you.
Travel Documents
- All Belgian nationals travelling on a Belgian passport (children and babies included) must be in possession of an international e-passport (electronic) containing min. 1 blank page and an electronic travel permit (ETA). This eVisa is free of charge for a max stay of 3 months and must be requestedvia de website: https://www.eta.immi.gov.au/. Your passport and travel permit must match. A new passport means obtaining for a new travel permit.
- Travelers with a non-Belgian nationality and / or travelers travelling on a foreign passport are invited to spontaneously reported this matter to the Connections travel consultant and shall contact their respective embassy (s) or Consulate (ate) to obtain the latest updates concerning all current travel requirements and documents.
Health
No mandatory vaccinations. To verify the latest updates on health requirements, please surf to http://www.itg.be
Time Zones
Australia has 3 main time zones :
GMT +8:00: Western Australia (Perth)
GMT +9:30: Australian Central (Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales except Broken Hill, Tasmania, Victoria & Northern territory all year long)
GMT +10:00: Eastern Australian Time zone (Summer New South Wales, South Australia & Queensland all year long)
Not all states and territories in Australia use Daylight Saving Time (DST). The states that use DST are the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, and Victoria.
Western Australia, Queensland, Northern Territory, and Eucla don't use DST.
Currency
Currency
Australische dollar( AUD): 10 AUD = 6,73 EUR & 10 euro = 15.85 AUD (11/03/2019)
Payment Methods
The simplest and most reliable way to obtain cash in Australia is to use an ATM. ATMs are numerous in both city and country areas. Credit cards are a widely accepted means of payment even in the most remote areas.
Climate
Seasons in the southern hemisphere are opposed to ours: winter in Australia is used during our summer and spring during our fall. The size of the country creates regional differences. For convenience sake we divide the country in north and south. Generally speaking it rains in the north during the summer, making the period May to October the best travel time. At that very moment, it is much cooler in the south. The best travel period here is from October to April. The December-January holiday season is busy as it is the absolute high season.
Average max. temperatures (in °C):
Destination | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adelaïde | 23 | 22 | 20 | 16 | 15 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 19 | 20 |
Ayers Rock | 38 | 36 | 34 | 29 | 24 | 20 | 20 | 23 | 26 | 32 | 34 | 37 |
Brisbane | 26 | 25 | 24 | 22 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 25 |
Melbourne | 21 | 21 | 19 | 17 | 14 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 19 |
Perth | 25 | 25 | 23 | 19 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 20 | 22 |
Sydney | 23 | 23 | 22 | 19 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 |
Highlights
Travel to Australia and visit Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, The Great Barrier Reef, Ayers Rock, The Snowy Mountains, The Blue Mountains and more and be inspired by this amazing country and its stunning natural settings.
- Sydney and Melbourne
have been ranked among the top 20 destinations in the world for the year 2016, a well-deserved reputation for a consistent number of years. The quality of life comes from the warm to moderate temperatures, a strong economy, a wealth of resources and a strict immigration policy. Sydney is a glamourous mix of beaches and bars and Melbourne is all arts and alleys.
- Brisbane, Adelaïde & Perth:
Brisbane is a subtropical town, Adelaïde is all about the festivals and Perth is bathing in West Coast optimism. No matter which city you are wheeling into you will never be left wanting for an offbeat theatre production or art gallery
- The great Barrier Reef
As fragile as it is beautiful. It extends over 2000 km along the coastline,. This complex ecosystem is populated with coral, sea turtles, reef sharks and tropical fish in every colour.
- Uluru
Nothing prepares you for the immensity and magnificence of Uluru as it first appears on the outback horizon. An exercise in architectural lyricism like no other.
- Amazing Coastline, national parks, outback and mountain ranges!
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