Mainland Australia is the world’s largest island but also the smallest continent. The country is divided into six states and two territories.

Australian Capital Territory

The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) bounds the national capital of Canberra and is the centre of government. 

New South Wales

New South Wales (NSW) is Australia’s oldest and most-populous state. Sydney is the nation’s largest city and is renowned for its idyllic beaches, great walks and world-class dining. New South Wales is also home to popular attractions including the Blue Mountains and the Hunter Valley wine region.

Northern Territory

At the top end of Australia lies the Northern Territory (NT). It is home to the famous Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Kakadu National Park.

Queensland

Queensland (QLD) is Australia’s second-largest state (in size) and is home to the world famous Great Barrier Reef, the world’s most extensive subtropical rainforest and the beautiful Queensland Islands – including the World Heritage-listed Fraser Island. 

South Australia

South Australia (SA) sits in the southern central part of the country. The state’s capital is Adelaide and is a great base for exploring the Barossa wineries, the Flinders Ranges and Kangaroo Island. 

Tasmania

Tasmania (TAS) is separated from mainland Australia by the Bass Strait and is the smallest state in Australia. One-fifth of Tasmania is covered by national parks and wilderness – abundant in driving routes and walking trails – and it is one of the world’s most mountainous islands.

Victoria

Victoria (VIC) is the smallest of the mainland states in size but is home to the country’s second most populated city, Melbourne. The only thing more sacred than  the footy  is Melbournians love of coffee, and here you’ll find some of Australia’s best flat whites, cappuccinos and piccolo lates.

Western Australia

Western Australia (WA) is Australia’s largest state, the state’s capital is Perth; the fourth most populous city in Australia and famed for its uncrowded beaches, parklands and fresh seafood.

Australia’s climate varies greatly throughout the eight states and territories; there are four seasons across most of the country and a wet and dry season in the tropical north.

Spring: September – November

Australia’s spring is characterised by sunny days and cool nights. Jacarandas and wildflowers are in bloom, creating a spectacular display of colour in many of the country’s cities. It’s also the time of year when koala and kangaroo joeys begin to venture out of their mothers’ pouches for the first time. It’s a great time to take advantage of the cooler daytime temperatures in the outback and the last few months (September and October) of the Northern Territory’s dry season.

Summer: December – February

Summer brings sunny, warm days that are best spent at one of the country’s gorgeous beaches. The tropical north is in the midst of its wet season (November to April), which brings heavy rains and tropical storms to Darwin, Broome, Cairns and the Whitsundays. It’s also stinger season on the Great Barrier Reef, meaning snorkellers and divers are required to wear full-body wetsuits.Learn to surf and Bondi, discover the white sand beaches of Esperance, kayak with pods of dolphins in Byron Bay or hike one of Tasmania’s many stunning trails.

Autumn: March – May

See the country transform from lush green to brilliant hues of orange, red, ochre and gold as the temperatures cool in autumn. It can still be wet and stormy in the tropical north, so aim for late in the season if you’re heading up there. For a bit of wildlife magic, witness tiny turtles hatching in the Southern Great Barrier Reef. If you’re hoping for a beachy, tropical feel, spend a few days soaking up the sun and surf in the Gold Coast, Byron Bay or the Sunshine Coast.

Winter: June – August

Widely known for its red outback and golden sand beaches, many visitors are surprised to learn that a white winter is common in Australia. If you don’t like the cold, winter is the ideal time to visit the north, including Darwin, the Top End and the Kimberley. You’ll get balmy days and cooler evenings, ideal for getting outdoors and exploring the incredible natural landscapes of the region. Cairns and the Whitsundays have warm days, low humidity and excellent water temperature, perfect for discovering the Great Barrier Reef. It’s also whale watching season, so head out on a boat to spot magnificent humpbacks as they migrate north.

Australia is divided into three separate time zones

Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST)(UTC +10):

Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT);

Australian Central Standard Time (ACST) (UTC +9.5):

South Australia, the town of Broken Hill in western New South Wales and the Northern Territory;

Australian Western Standard Time (AWST)(UTC +8):

Western Australia.

Australia’s official language is English.

However, Australia is a multicultural nation with a significant migrant population, so it’s common to hear a diverse range of languages in Australia’s cities.

Australia’s national currency is Australian dollars (AUD).

Australia has a Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 10 per cent. You may be able to claim a refund for the GST paid on goods if you have spent AUD$300 or more with a single business, no more than 60 days before departing Australia.

Hotels and restaurants do not add service charges to your bill, and tipping is always your choice. In upmarket restaurants, it is common to tip waiters 10 per cent of the bill for good service.

Emergency services telephone number

000 – contact to Police, Ambulance and the Fire and Rescue Service

Poisonous animals

Marine stingers are present in the tropical oceans around northern Australia from November to May. During this time you can only swim within stinger-resistant enclosures, which are set up on the most popular beaches. You will also need to wear protective clothing when swimming, snorkelling or diving on the outer Great Barrier Reef. Always observe warning signs. 

澳洲是全球最大的島嶼，卻是面積最小的大洲，全國分為六個州份和兩個領地。

澳洲首都領地

澳洲首都領地覆蓋國家首都坎培拉的領域，更是政府的中心。澳洲首都領地距離悉尼南部約290公里，是很多重要國家機構的所在地，當中包括國會大廈、澳洲戰爭紀念館和澳洲國立美術館。

新南威爾士

新南威爾士是澳洲歷史最悠久、人口最多的州份。 新南威爾士最初是積克遜港海岸成立的刑事殖民地，現在已成為繁華的首府城市悉尼的所在之處。 悉尼是澳洲最大的城市，其如詩似畫的海灘、優美的步道和世界級美食聞名於世。新南威爾士擁有不少知名景點，包括藍山和獵人谷葡萄酒產區。

北領地

澳洲的頂端地帶就是北領地。北岸的達爾文是當地首府，愛麗斯泉是該地的內陸主要城鎮。 在地理上，愛麗斯泉是澳洲名副其實的正中心位置。遊覽位於北領地的烏魯魯-卡塔丘塔和卡卡杜國家公園。

昆士蘭

昆士蘭是澳洲第二大的州份，更是世界著名大堡礁的所在地。全球最大的亞熱帶雨林和美麗的昆士蘭島嶼，包括已列入世界遺產名錄的費沙島亦位於此處。 布里斯本是該州的首府，您可以在這裡盡情享受冬日陽光，這裡的氣候較大多數澳洲城市溫暖，所以非常適合玩戶外活動與水上運動。

南澳

南澳位於澳洲南部的中央，覆蓋澳洲部分最乾燥的地區。 首府阿德萊德是探索巴羅莎釀酒廠、弗林德斯山脈以及袋鼠島的絕佳基地。 南澳的藝術圈子發展蓬勃，被譽為「節慶之州」，每年舉行超過500項盛事與節慶活動。

塔斯曼尼亞

塔斯曼尼亞是澳洲面積最小的州份，巴斯海峽將其與澳洲大陸分隔。 首府荷伯特於1804年成立為刑事殖民地，是繼悉尼之後澳洲第二個歷史最悠久的首府城市。 塔斯曼尼亞有五分之一的土地是國家公園和荒野，設有大量行車道路和步行徑，更是全球最多山的島嶼之一。

維多利亞

維多利亞是澳洲面積最小的州份，卻是全國第二大人口稠密的城市墨爾本的所在地。 墨爾本是澳洲的文化之都，當地的塗鴉小巷、風格前衛的時裝店以及成行成市的咖啡館均非常出名。維多利亞的居民熱愛運動，這裡也是澳式足球的發源地。 唯一能勝過對足球的熱愛的事，只有墨爾本人對咖啡的熱衷，您可以在這裡找到澳洲最優質的白咖啡、卡布奇諾咖啡和皮克洛拿鐵。

西澳

西澳是澳洲最大的州份，景觀對比鮮明，多姿多彩。 西澳東面有沙漠，西面則有超過13,000公里的天然海岸線。首府珀斯是澳洲第四大人口稠密的城市，以寧靜海灘、公園及新鮮海產而聞名。 西澳南部埃斯佩蘭斯海岸線以外就是中央島，這裡是獨一無二粉紅色希利爾湖的所在地。

澳洲八大州及領地的氣候差異很大；全國大部份地方都四季分明，而北部熱帶地區則分為兩季和旱季。  

春季：9月至11月

澳洲春季的特點是日間溫暖夜間清涼。藍花楹和野花盛放，為坎培拉和悉尼等城市和珀斯附近地區添上色彩。這亦是樹熊和袋鼠寶寶首次離開母親的袋出來探索的時候。到陽光海岸的澳洲動物園看牠們。這個時候內陸地區日間氣候清涼，亦是北領地旱季的最後數月（9月及10月），是到當地旅遊的最好時機。

夏季：12月至2月

12月至2月是澳洲的夏天。這段時間陽光普照、天氣和暖，最適宜到漂亮的海灘去。熱帶北部正值雨季（11月至4月），達爾文、布魯姆、開恩茲及聖靈群島通常會下大雨和受熱帶風暴吹襲。這亦是大堡礁的刺胞生物繁殖季節，在此浮潛及潛水必須穿著全套潛水衣。在內陸地區，日間溫度會颷升。此時南部的天氣是全國最好的。到邦迪學滑浪，發掘埃斯佩蘭斯的白沙海灘，在拜倫灣跟成群海豚划獨木舟，或到塔斯曼尼亞選擇一條精彩的遠足徑漫步觀光。

秋季：3月至5月

看著澳洲隨著秋天轉涼從一片青蔥變成鮮艷的橙、紅、赭及金色。維多利亞的高地區、格蘭坪山及塔斯曼尼亞的搖籃山—聖佳爾湖國家公園尤其艷麗。熱帶北部依然多雨及有風暴，故宜在季節將盡時前往。澳洲各主要城市會在秋天舉行最大型的節慶活動，氣氛熱鬧。在南大堡礁可觀賞野生動物和看小海龜孵化。要在海灘享受熱帶氣息，可以到黃金海岸、拜倫灣或陽光海岸，逗留數天曬曬太陽及滑浪。

冬季：6月至8月

澳洲以火紅內陸地區和黃金沙灘著名，但原來白色冬季在澳洲亦很常見。南部的澳洲阿爾卑斯山有不少上佳的滑雪場，適合冬季運動和滑雪愛好者。不喜歡寒冷天氣的話，最適宜在冬季到北部觀光，例如達爾文、頂端地帶及金伯利。這裡日間溫暖夜間清涼，最適宜到戶外探索區內的漂亮自然景色。開恩茲及聖靈群島天氣和暖、濕度低且水溫適中，最適合到大堡礁探索。這亦是觀鯨季節，您可以乘船出海到座頭鯨遷徒到北方途經的水域。

澳洲分成三個獨立時區

澳洲東部標準時間（AEST）（UTC+10）:

昆士蘭、新南威爾士、維多利亞、塔斯曼尼亞及澳洲首都領地;

澳洲中部標準時間（ACST）（UTC+9.5）:

南澳、新南威爾士西部的布羅肯山鎮以及北領地;

澳洲西部標準時間（AWST）（UTC+8）:

西澳。

英語是澳洲的官方語言。

然而，澳洲是一個多元文化國家，有大批移民在這裡居住。因此在城市及市鎮中聽到各種不同語言亦是非常平常的事。

澳洲的貨幣是澳元（AUD）。

澳洲的商品及服務稅稅率是10%。如果您在單一商店消費滿$300澳元或以上，即可在離開澳洲前60日內，申請退還所購買商品的已付商品及服務稅。

酒店和餐廳都不收服務附加費，但您可自由選擇付小費。在高級餐廳，給服務生賬單款額的10%作小費以表揚其優質服務是常見做法。

緊急服務號碼

000 – 可聯絡到警察、救護車及消防處

有毒動物

有毒水母於十一月至五月會出現在澳洲北部附近的熱帶海洋。在這段期間，您只可以在設有防水母圍場的最著名海灘內游泳。 在大堡礁外圍游泳、浮潛或潛水時，必須穿著保護衣，經常留意警告標誌。