Population: 19 million.
Area: 7,686,850 square km, 7,686,850 square miles.
Language(s): English.
Capital City: Canberra.
Major Cities: Sydney, Melbourne.
Local Time: Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales & Victoria:
From 28 Mar 04 to 31 Oct 04 GMT +10.
From 31 Oct 04 to 27 Mar 05 GMT +11.
Lord Howe Island:
From 28 Mar 04 to 31 Oct 04 GMT +10½.
From 31 Oct 04 to 27 Mar 05 GMT +11.
Northern Territory: GMT +9½.
Queensland: GMT +10.
South Australia & Broken Hill:

Passport & Visa Info

The following details relate to holders of adult normal passports (requirements for children may be different), if any other type of passport or travel document is held, entry requirements should be checked with the relevant embassy or consulate.

Passports
Required by all.

Passport Validity: Passports must be valid for duration of stay.

Visas
The following DO NOT require a visa:
1) Nationals of Australia.

• Adelaide (ADL).
• Alice Springs (ASP).
• Ayers Rock (AYQ).
• Brampton Island (BMP).
• Brisbane International (BNE).
• Broome (BME).
• Cairns International (CNS).
• Canberra International (CBR).
• Darwin International (DRW).
• Dunk Island (DKI).
• Gladstone (GLT).
• Hamilton Island (HTI).
• Hobart International (HBA).
• Launceston (LST).
• Lizard Island (LZR).
• Melbourne (MEL).
• Perth (PER).
• Sydney (Kingsford Smith) (SYD).

Australia is a highly developed, stable democracy with a federal-state system. Tourist facilities are widely available.

Crime: Crime rate is low.

Medical Facilities: Excellent medical care is available.

In princile no risk for infectious diseases

Arthropod borne diseases:

• Dengue fever may occur in the northern part of Australia.
• Meningitis may occur in remote areas.

The greatest risk is contact with coral fish and bats infested with a virus similar to rabies.

Climate: Australia's climate can generally be divided into five areas. Summers & winters are the reverse to those in Europe, so summer is Nov-Mar & winter Apr-Oct.
Central Australia; including Alice Springs & Ayers Rock, is a vast desert region, the sun shines practically every day & rainfall is scarce. Temperatures are extremely hot during summer & cooler during winter, however temperatures can be chilly during the evening. Rain falls during winter months (Apr-Oct) in the south of this region & in the north during the summer period (Nov-Mar).