Australia/New Zealand 2007 GEAR (typical stay)

Australia at a Glance

• Area: 2,967,207 sq. miles (48 US states: 3,021,299 sq. miles)
  
  
• Population: 19,000,000 (US: 284,000,000)
  
  
• States and Territories (Capitals: Population)
  • Queensland (Brisbane: 1,600,000)
  • New South Wales (Sydney: 3,800,000)
  • Victoria (Melbourne: 3,300,000)
  • Western Australia (Perth: 1,300,000)
  • South Australia (Adelaide: 1,100,000)
  • Tasmania (Hobart: 200,000)
  • Northern Territory (Darwin: 83,000)
  • Capitol Territory (Canberra: 300,000)
  
  
• Prime Minister: John Howard (Liberal Party)
  
  
• Queensland Premier: Peter Beattie (Labor Party)
  
  
• Time Difference:
  Like the US, Australia has a number of different time zones. Eastern Standard Time (EST) is observed in Queensland. Geneva and Schenectady (NY) are 14 or 15 hours behind, depending on whether Eastern Daylight Time or (US) Eastern Standard Time is in effect. In Early September, here is how to figure out times: if it is 12:00 noon in New York, it is 02:00 AM in Brisbane. All of New Zealand is two hours behind Brisbane, so at 12:00 Noon in NY, it is 04:00 AM in New Zealand. Confused? Go to www.timeanddate.com.
  
  
• Currency:
  Australian currency is decimal based, with the Australian dollar as the basic unit. Notes come in $100, $50, $20, $10, and $5 denominations. Coins are minted in $2, $1, 50¢, 20¢, 10¢, and 5¢ denominations. There are no pennies. The terms "nickel" or "dime" are not used, and of course, there are no "quarters." In August 2002, 1 USD = 1.85 AUD and 0.54 USD = 1 AUD. The New Zealand system is virtually identical, but the NZ dollar is currently lower than the Aussie Dollar. In August 2002, 1 USD = 2.16 NZD and 0.46 USD = 1 NZD. You can get the latest exchange rates using the Universal Currency Converter.
  
  
• Passport:
  Bring it. Keep a photocopy of it separate from your passport. THIS IS IMPORTANT!
  
  
• Weather:
  As spring advances, it will be warming in Brisbane:
  
  

  Brisbane	Sept	Oct	Nov
  Average Max Temperatures	76	80	82
  Average Min Temperatures	55	60	64
  Average Rainfall (inches)	1.9	2.5	3.7

  
  In New Zealand, temperatures will be variable, but on average much cooler that in Australia. On the North Island it will be between 50 and 70 during the day, and on the South Island, expect temperatures between 40 and 65. On both islands, we will encounter cool rain.
  
  
• Homestay Gift:
  Bring a small gift for your host family. Perhaps something relating to your hometown or the USA.
  
  
• Phone:
  Local phone calls are not free in Australia. Discuss this with your homestay family, and come to some arrangement about how you will pay for them.
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• Medical:
  Standards of medical care are quite high in Australia and New Zealand: socialized medicine with universal coverage. We will have access to the U of Q Infirmary. You will have to pay any fees up front and be reimbursed by your insurance later. From the Office of Off-Campus Programs: "We do, as a matter of policy, strongly urge students to secure the ISIC. The card discounts are handy and in particular it provides some insurance coverage that is very important to have. The coverage includes evacuation, repatriation and some additional medical/accident protection. It can be issued to HWS students at the registrar's office, and is billed to the student's account. The cost is approximately $22 for the ISIC and about $8 for the photo." These cards are also available at the Union TA Office. It takes only about 5 minutes.
  
  
• Electrical issues:
  Australian electrical power is 240v, 50Hz using a flat-slanted 3-pin plug (grounded) or 2-pin plug (ungrounded). Unless you have equipment that can handle 240v, do not bring it (US is 110v, 60 hz). Plug adapters can be bought for about AU$10 (see below), but voltage converters to change 240v to US 110v are much more expensive (and heavy). For example, buy a hair dryer there (AUD $15-20) rather than buy a converter and adapter. Frequency mainly affects electronic devices, but most laptops can handle the difference, but check first. World Electrical Guide
  
  
• Plane Travel and Arrival:
  The flight over is long and hopefully uneventful as you will be over the Pacific at night time: drink plenty of water. No matter how much you plan, you will experience a certain amount of jet lag which may last from a day to a week. Stick together and watch out for each other. You will want to pack a few simple toiletries in your carry on bag --- toothbrush and the like. A backpack as a carry on bag works well. Bring a book and music.
  
  DANGER: Traffic travels on the left! When you arrive you will be tired. At this point, no matter how tired you are, WATCH TRAFFIC CLOSELY, it comes from the opposite direction!!! Look BOTH ways before crossing any street after you arrive in Australia.
  
  
• Local Transportation:
  The Brisbane City Council provides services for traveling about the city: bus, high speed "cat", or ferry. The bus system in Brisbane is extensive and economical when weekly or monthly tickets are purchased. Because many busses travel along parts of the same route, it is important to know the particular route number(s) that will take you to your destination. You must hail the bus; they do not automatically stop, even if people are waiting.
  
  The city is divided into 5 zones (concentric rings). The fare is determined by the number of zones you travel through. This may well be confusing initially, but soon begins to make sense. Bus schedules are available at the information kiosk in the Queen Street Mall in downtown Brisbane, in the Brisbane City Hall building, and at many local libraries. A bus pass providing unlimited 2 zone travel for a weekly travel is about $AU20 and monthly is about AU$70. They are widely available at many convenience stores ("newsagents"), but may not be purchased on a bus.
  
  Tickets for Queensland Rail services may be purchased at train stations.
  
  
• Taxis:
  Meter operated taxicabs are found in all major cities and towns. Taxis can be a reasonably inexpensive and convenient option when travelling in groups of 3 or so. Tipping is not expected.
  
  
• Money:
  Among the larger banks in Australia are the ANZ, Commonwealth and National Bank of Australia. All have branches on the University of Queensland campus. Banking Hours are similar to those in the US. Most banks have automatic teller machines.
  
  Though traveller's checks are a safe way to carry funds, they are often inconvenient and the rate of exchange is sometimes unfavorable. Some banks require a passport to cash them and then charged a substantial fee to exchange them to Australian dollars. If it is possible to obtain traveller's checks denominated in Australian dollars, then do so.
  
  Potentially the cheapest method to obtain Australian currency is by using an ATM debit card. A more expensive alternative is using the cash advance feature on credit card. The differences are:
  
  1. If your bank card shows the Cirrus symbol (or if you know that it has the Cirrus encoding), then you can use this card at any of the ATM machines of the ANZ and the Commonwealth banks. This gives you direct access to the funds in your checking account. There is usually a minimal fee for accessing your own funds this way. If you have a bank card that shows the Plus symbol (or if you know that it has the Plus encoding), then you can use this card at any of the ATM machines of the ANZ bank. Again, any transfer fees are minimal. Make sure you keep track of any funds withdrawn this way, taking into account the exchange rate; otherwise you may overdraw your checking account.
  2. If you have a bank card that is actually a debit card and it shows a MasterCard or Visa logo, you can use it at most ATM machines to access funds from your bank account. Again, any transfer fees involved are minimal. (Debit cards are not credit cards; the amount of a "charge" is immediately deducted from your checking account. Debit cards are less common in the US than credit cards.) Again, keep track of any funds withdrawn this way, taking into account the exchange rate; otherwise you may overdraw your checking account.
  3. If you have a credit card, (MasterCard or Visa), then you can use it in most ATM machines to get a cash advance. There can be substantial fees involved to do this! Usually there is a transaction fee plus interest charges that will appear on your next credit card statement. You are essentially taking out a small loan. This differs from the transactions in 1 or 2 where you are simply accessing your existing checking account funds. This is the least preferred method of getting money. It less expensive for you to use your credit card to actually make the purchases you require than it is to get "cash advances".
  4. Any card showing the MasterCard or Visa logo can be used inside almost any bank at a teller to get cash. It will be either a debit transaction (see 2) or a cash advance transaction (see 3) depending on whether you are using a debit or a credit card. Note: An ordinary US bank card (showing no Visa or MasterCard logo) cannot be used to get cash from a bank teller, even if it has the Cirrus or Plus encoding.