Practical information Australia

Yes, all French travellers must obtain a visa before arrival. For a tourist stay, the free eVisitor electronic visa (subclass 651) is applied for online on the official Department of Home Affairs website and is generally granted within a few hours to a few days. It is valid for one year and allows stays of up to 90 days maximum per entry, with multiple entries. Your passport must be valid for the entire duration of your stay. Avoid intermediary websites that charge for this visa: the official application is free. For longer stays or working holidays, other visa categories exist and we will guide you according to your profile.

No vaccines are mandatory to enter Australia from France. However, we recommend updating universal vaccines: DTP, hepatitis B, MMR, pertussis. Hepatitis A may be advised depending on your health profile. No malaria on the territory, no yellow fever. Dengue circulates sporadically in Far North Queensland during the wet season: protection against mosquitoes is recommended. A consultation with an international vaccination centre one month before departure is still advisable. Although Australia has an excellent healthcare system but without a social security agreement with France, travel insurance covering medical expenses and repatriation is essential.

Budget between 150 and 250 euros per day and per person excluding international flights, for a mid-range to luxury trip. Accommodation is the main expense: 120 to 200 euros per night in a decent hotel, more in Sydney or on the Great Barrier Reef. Domestic flights range from 80 to 250 euros depending on distances. A restaurant meal costs around 25 to 40 euros, a coffee 5 euros, a beer 10 euros. Car rental runs 50 to 90 euros per day, a campervan 120 to 200 euros. For an 18-day circuit, budget between 4,500 and 7,500 euros excluding flights depending on regions and comfort level.

It all depends on the regions. The east coast from Sydney to Brisbane is best visited from September to April, with temperatures ranging from 22 to 30°C. The Red Centre and Outback are explored from May to September, avoiding the extreme heat of the Australian summer. The Top End (Darwin, Kakadu) requires the dry season from May to October, as roads can be cut off otherwise. Tasmania is ideal from November to March. The Great Barrier Reef can be explored year-round, with better visibility from June to October. For a first trip covering multiple regions, we recommend the August to October window, which works well for combining the north, centre, and south.

Distances make flying often essential: Qantas, Virgin Australia and Jetstar serve all major cities, with regular flights and reasonable fares if booked in advance. For regional routes, car rental remains the best option, with left-hand driving and excellent road conditions. Motorhomes are popular along the east coast, the Great Ocean Road, and Western Australia. Long-distance trains (the Ghan from Adelaide to Darwin, the Indian Pacific from Sydney to Perth) are an experience in themselves. In cities, public transport works well in Sydney and Melbourne. We tailor your transfers to match your pace and time constraints.

Australia is among the safest destinations in the world. Crime rates remain low, cities are well-organized, and emergency services are efficient (single number 000). The main risks are nature-related: very high UV index year-round requiring a hat, sunscreen, and protective clothing; strong currents on certain beaches (swim between the red and yellow flags); wildlife to be respected without approaching (saltwater crocodiles in the North, snakes, tropical jellyfish in season). Bushfires may affect certain regions during the Australian summer. Our English-speaking team provides tailored advice for each stage of your itinerary before your departure.