🇦🇺 Australia travel essentials
Everything you need to plan a trip to Australia — climate, currency, packing essentials, public holidays, voltage and plug types, and what locals actually wear.
Top cities in Australia
Local style + dress code
Sydney dresses smart-casual. Beach-friendly fabrics; UV is extreme — strong sunscreen + hat year-round.
Dress code: smart casual
Public holidays in Australia
Plan around national holidays — many businesses close, transport gets busier, and prices for flights/hotels can spike.
Money & currency
The Australian Dollar (AUD, symbol A$) is the official currency. Live exchange rates are updated daily.
Cost of living & travel — Sydney
Estimated daily budgets per person across three travel tiers. Lodging assumes single occupancy or shared dorm; food covers 3 meals + a coffee/drink; transit covers metro and short rides; activities cover one paid attraction per day.
| Per person per day | 🎒 Budget | 🏨 Mid-range | 🥂 Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lodging | $55 | $185 | $510 |
| Food | $30 | $75 | $195 |
| Transit | $11 | $17 | $65 |
| Activities | $20 | $45 | $110 |
| Daily total | $116 | $322 | $880 |
Estimates as of 2025-2026, in USD per person. Actual spend varies with season, neighborhood, and trip style.
Visas & entry rules
Top-passport entry rules for Australia — quick reference, but always confirm with the destination's official consulate before booking flights:
| Passport | Rule | Stay | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 US passport | eTA (online) | up to 90 days | ETA online before travel (A$20). Multiple entries for 12 months. |
| 🇬🇧 UK passport | eTA (online) | up to 90 days | — |
| 🇪🇺 EU passport | eTA (online) | up to 90 days | — |
| 🇨🇦 Canadian passport | eTA (online) | up to 90 days | — |
Last reviewed 2025-2026. Visa rules change with little notice; this table is informational and not legal advice.
Plan a trip to Australia
Use one of our planning tools to figure out exactly when and how to go:
What to pack
Each city has month-by-month packing lists computed from local climate data — temperatures, rainfall, peak hazard seasons, and Australia's dress code.