In many ways Australia is very similar to the United States and in many ways it is completely different. The "land down under" is on the opposite side of the world. It is sparsely populated with few major cities. It contains bizarre creatures and scenery not seen anywhere else on Earth.

On the other hand, it is a modern nation with all the modern conveniences Americans are used to. The people speak English and enjoy many of the same cultural diversions as Americans. Since it is so far away, traveling to Australia is a major endeavor. Follow these travel tips for a smooth journey.

Time Frame
Stay for a while. Australia is very far away. Flight time between Los Angeles and Sydney is about 13 and a half hours. If you need to make a connection it will take even longer. The time difference is 15 hours ahead of the U.S. east Coast and 18 hours ahead of the U.S. west Coast.
It will take you several days to get to Australia and recover from jet lag. You cannot see Australia in one week. A two week trip will be extremely limited. If you are going to travel half way around the world to get to Australia, stay for at least three weeks.

Size
Buy an air pass. Australia is a huge country. It is about the same size as the continental United States. It takes a long time to explore and a long time to get around. Several airlines and alliance programs offer air passes for Australia and the South Pacific. They allow you to fly a set number of segments at a set price. This will save you both money and time getting around Australia. Qantas has one of the most popular Australia air passes. It is impractical to travel Australia by car or train unless you have months of free time.

Identification
Keep your passport with you at all times for identification. Americans do not need a visa to visit Australia. The Australian dollar is the unit of currency. You can convert your U.S. dollars when you arrive or use your ATM and credit cards. Your banks will do the conversion for you. Don't forget to keep all your receipts. Foreigners can apply for a refund of the 10% goods and services tax and the wine equalization tax when leaving Australia.

Considerations
The electrical current in Australia is different than the United States. It is 240 volts and 50 Hz in Australia and 120 volts and 60 Hz in the United States. The sockets also look different so you will need an adapter for your electronic devices. Some devices can adapt to the change in current while others can not. If you are recharging an expensive computer or camera you should also use an electricity converter.

Warning
Australians drive on the left hand side of the road. Driving on the left can be extremely challenging for someone who has driven on the right all of their life. Be very careful crossing streets in Australia. Americans instinctively look to their left when crossing the street. In Australia the cars come at you from the right.