Frommer's Australia from $50 a Day 13th Edition - To Parent Directory

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CHAPTER 2 . PLANNING AN AFFORDABLE TRIP TO AUSTRALIA
Business Hours Banks open Monday through Thursday from 9:30am to
4pm, 5pm on Friday. General business hours are Monday through Friday
from 8:30am to 5:30pm. Shopping hours are usually from 8:30am to
5:30pm weekdays and 9am to 4 or 5pm on Saturday. Many shops close on
Sundays, although major department stores and shops in tourist precincts
are open 7 days.
Car Rentals See “Getting Around Australia” earlier in this chapter.
Currency See “Money” earlier in this chapter.
Dates Australians write their dates day/month/year; so March 6, 1958 is
06/03/58.
Driving Rules See “Getting Around Australia” earlier in this chapter.
Drugstores These are called “chemists” or “pharmacies.” Australian
pharmacists are permitted to fill only prescriptions written by Australian
doctors.
Electricity The current is 240 volts AC, 50 hertz. Sockets take two or three
flat, not rounded, prongs. North Americans and Europeans will need to
buy a converter before they leave home (don’t wait until you get to Australia,
because Australian stores are only likely to stock converters for
Aussie appliances to fit American and European outlets). Some large
hotels have 110V outlets for electric shavers or dual voltage, and some
will lend converters; but don’t count on it in smaller, less expensive hotels,
motels, or B&Bs. Power does not start automatically when you plug in an
appliance; you need to flick the switch located beside the socket to the
“on” position.
Embassies & Consulates Most diplomatic posts are in Canberra: British
High Commission, Commonwealth Avenue, Canberra, ACT 2600 (& 02/
6270 6666); Embassy of Ireland, 20 Arkana St., Yarralumla, ACT 2600 (& 02/
6273 3022); High Commission of Canada, Commonwealth Avenue,
Yarralumla, ACT 2600 (& 02/6270 4000); New Zealand High Commission,
Commonwealth Avenue, Canberra, ACT 2600 (& 02/6270 4211); and the
United States Embassy, 21 Moonah Place, Yarralumla, ACT 2600 (& 02/
6214 5600). Embassies or consulates with posts in state capitals are listed in
“Fast Facts” in the relevant state chapters.
Emergencies Dial & 000 anywhere in Australia for police, ambulance, or
the fire department. This is a free call from public and private telephones
and needs no coins. The TTY emergency number is & 106.
Holidays See “When to Go” earlier in this chapter.
Information See “Visitor Information” earlier in this chapter.
Internet Access Internet access is available just about everywhere, including
some of the smallest Outback towns, which generally have at least
one cybercafe and/or coin-operated machines, which are also available at
larger airports. Major tourist towns such as Darwin and Cairns sometimes
have whole streets full of cybercafes.
Liquor Laws Hours vary from pub to pub, but most are open daily from
around 10am or noon, to 10pm or midnight. The minimum drinking age is
18. Random breath tests to catch drunk drivers are common, and drunkdriving
laws are strictly enforced. Getting caught drunk behind the wheel