# What should I know before visiting Australia? > Australia travel tips for 2026: the AUD 20 ETA app, biosecurity fines, the card surcharge ban, vape limits, distances, stingers, sun and plugs. - Source: https://clevertourists.com/resources/things-to-know-before-visiting-australia - Authors: Evan & Clara, Clever Tourists (first-hand, from years of travel across 20 countries) - Published: 2026-09-05 - Last updated: 2026-10-29 **Before Australia, sort the ETA in the official app (AUD 20, no website), clean your boots and declare any food, and plan for distance: the country is almost the size of the mainland United States, so most trips need domestic flights.** Since 1 October 2026 shops can no longer add card surcharges on Visa, Mastercard or eftpos, tipping is not expected, and the seasons run opposite to the northern hemisphere, with a tropical wet season in the north from about November to April. We spent 29 days in Australia in January and February 2023, in Melbourne, Apollo Bay, Halls Gap, Coonawarra, Adelaide, Alice Springs, Townsville, Magnetic Island, Cairns, the Daintree and Sydney. Rules below are from the Australian government, checked in October 2026. ## Entry and the border **1. Americans, Canadians and Britons need an ETA from the app.** The Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601) is applied for only through the official Australian ETA app; the Australian Embassy in the US says there is no visa charge, only an **AUD 20** service fee, and that any website selling ETAs or charging more is a scam. It allows stays of up to three months per visit. Most EU passport holders use the free eVisitor instead. Walkthrough: [Australia ETA app guide](https://clevertourists.com/resources/australia-eta-app-how-to-apply-guide) and [do I need a visa for Australia](https://clevertourists.com/resources/do-i-need-a-visa-to-visit-australia). **2. Biosecurity is the part people get fined for.** Declare all food, plant and animal products, and say if you have been on a farm or are carrying used hiking or camping gear. Undeclared risk goods can bring an on-the-spot infringement notice running into thousands of dollars, and the Department of Agriculture says visas can be cancelled. Declaring is free, so when in doubt, declare and clean your boots before you pack them. **3. The arrival card is going digital, slowly.** Most passengers still fill in the paper Incoming Passenger Card on the plane. The digital Australia Travel Declaration has been piloted on selected Qantas flights into Sydney, Brisbane and, since May 2026, Melbourne; the government said in July 2026 it will be offered to all international arrivals as a web form from 2027. **4. Vapes are pharmacy-only, with a small traveller allowance.** Under the Office of Drug Control's traveller exemption you may bring up to **2 vapes, 20 accessories such as pods, and 200 mL of liquid**, for your own use only. Anything beyond that can be seized. ## Money and costs **5. Contactless cards work almost everywhere, and surcharges are gone.** From **1 October 2026** the Reserve Bank of Australia ended card surcharging on eftpos, Mastercard and Visa, debit and credit. American Express is outside the ban, so you may still see a fee there. Phone and card payments are standard even at market stalls; carry a little cash for remote roadhouses. See [cash or card abroad](https://clevertourists.com/resources/cash-or-card-for-international-travel). **6. Tipping is not expected.** Wages are higher and prices include GST, so Australians usually tip nothing at cafés and round up or leave around 10% only for good table service at a restaurant. Detail in [tipping in Australia](https://clevertourists.com/resources/tipping-in-australia-restaurants-guide). **7. Budget for the distance more than the daily spend.** Our [daily budget by country](https://clevertourists.com/resources/daily-travel-budget-by-country) puts Australia at about $70 to $100 a day on a budget and $170 to $250 mid-range, and the biggest lines on our route were domestic flights and car hire. Supermarkets beat restaurants by a wide margin; see [what to buy at an Australian grocery store](https://clevertourists.com/resources/what-to-buy-at-a-grocery-store-in-australia). **8. You can claim back GST on bigger purchases.** The Tourist Refund Scheme refunds the 10% GST on goods bought from one business for AUD 300 or more (on one or more invoices) within 60 days of departure, claimed at the airport. Carry the goods in your hand luggage to show if asked. ## Getting around **9. Fly between regions.** Sydney, Melbourne, Cairns, Alice Springs and Perth are far enough apart that driving between them takes days, not hours. A road trip works within a region, such as the Great Ocean Road from Melbourne or the coast north of Cairns; for anything wider, book domestic flights early. Pace ideas are in [how many days in Cairns](https://clevertourists.com/resources/how-many-days-in-cairns) and our [Melbourne guide](https://clevertourists.com/guides/melbourne). **10. Drive on the left, and watch for wildlife at dusk.** Visitors can drive on a current overseas licence; if it is not in English, carry an International Driving Permit or an official translation. Outback distances between fuel stops are long and kangaroos are most active around dawn and dusk. Rules and road types: [driving in Australia](https://clevertourists.com/resources/driving-in-australia-tourist-guide). **11. Coverage drops off fast outside towns.** City mobile data is good, but large stretches of the outback and national parks have no signal. Download offline maps, tell someone your route on remote drives, and compare options in [eSIM or local SIM](https://clevertourists.com/resources/esim-or-local-sim-for-international-travel). ## Sun, sea and the outdoors **12. The sun is stronger than you expect.** UV levels are high for much of the year and extreme in summer, even on cloudy days. Hat, sunglasses, SPF 50 and shade at midday are normal local habits, not overcaution. **13. Swim between the red and yellow flags.** Surf Life Saving Australia patrols beaches between those flags, and rip currents are the main danger on surf beaches. If a beach is unpatrolled, do not swim alone. **14. In the tropical north, stinger season changes how you swim.** Box jellyfish and Irukandji are present in Queensland's tropical waters roughly November to May; swim inside stinger nets where provided, wear a stinger suit on reef trips, and obey crocodile warning signs in the Cairns and Daintree area, where rivers and some beaches are not safe for swimming. See our [Tropical North Queensland guide](https://clevertourists.com/guides/tropical-north-queensland) and [Magnetic Island guide](https://clevertourists.com/resources/magnetic-island-koalas-ferry-forts-walk-guide). **15. Respect closed and sacred sites.** Climbing Uluru has been banned since October 2019 at the request of its Anangu traditional owners, and some rock-art and ceremonial sites ask visitors not to photograph them. Follow the signs in parks around Alice Springs and the Red Centre. ## Seasons and practical details **16. The seasons are reversed and vary by region.** December to February is summer: hot in the south, wet and humid in the tropical north. The north is best in its dry season, roughly May to October, and the south in spring and autumn. Big dated events include the [Australian Open in Melbourne in January](https://clevertourists.com/resources/melbourne-in-january-australian-open-2027-guide) and [Sydney's New Year's Eve fireworks](https://clevertourists.com/resources/sydney-new-years-eve-fireworks-2026-best-spots-tickets). Month by month: [best time to visit Australia](https://clevertourists.com/resources/best-time-to-visit-australia). **17. Plugs, water and emergencies.** Australia uses the angled three-pin type I plug at 230 V, so most visitors need an adapter ([packing list](https://clevertourists.com/resources/what-to-pack-for-australia-packing-list)). Tap water is safe to drink in the cities. The emergency number is **000**, and 112 also works from mobiles. ## Frequently asked questions ### How much does the Australian ETA cost? AUD 20, paid as a service fee in the official Australian ETA app. There is no visa charge, and the Australian Embassy in the US says any website selling ETAs or charging more is a scam. ### Do you tip in Australia? Not usually. Prices include GST and wages are higher, so tipping is optional; around 10% for good table service at a restaurant is generous. ### Can shops in Australia charge a card surcharge? Not on eftpos, Mastercard or Visa since 1 October 2026, when the Reserve Bank of Australia's ban took effect. American Express is outside the ban. ### What plug does Australia use? The angled three-pin type I plug at 230 V. Most visitors from the US, UK and Europe need an adapter.