Getting to Australia actually takes quite a bit of work. Especially because international travel is so closely watched these days, but remember that is for our protection. Although there are many hassles, it is good to have the security.

First you need a passport to leave the country, well not so much to leave the country, more so to get back in. To get a passport, you must have two passport photos and the application filled out and take them to the post office. Remember to bring cash or cheque, they wouldn't let me use a credit card in Champaign. Then they said it was OK for one fee but not the other. It is much easier to use cash or cheque. There is a way to expedite this process for a fee, and all of that info is on the passport site.

Once you have the passport you must have a Visa. This is compulsory to enter the country of Australia, and they don't muck around about it. There are many type of Visas - Holiday Visas, Working Visas, Student Visas... the list goes on. But be very careful as to which Visa you apply for and get, there are many stipulations on if you get a Working Visa, then you cannot get another for so long after it is used up, and that sort of thing. So basically read and understand everything about your Visa before you apply so that you know what to do. And apply for this early, the Visa office is very careful and may take considerable amounts of time to process your Visa.

Australia is a pretty good continent as far as disease goes and they want to keep it that way. They are very strict on quarantine, which means they will check what you are bringing into their country. There are no shots that are compulsory to enter Australia. The Center for Disease Control has a great site that I provided a link to. If you want info, I would say you want to go there over any other site. It is also worth your time even if not coming to Australia to have a check up with your doctor to make sure you are all caught up on all immunizations any way. Some take up to six weeks, so plan ahead.

There are many Trans-Pacific options to choose from. I choose Qantas and it was really good considering it is a 20 hour flight. Even in Coach there is a bit more leg room than in the usual short American flights. Plus the service is exceptional. But shop around and see what you can find.

Australia is set up for tourism. It is a bit different than the American way of having everything booked as far as accomodation and the whole bit. We came over and didn't know where we were going to stay for the first two days we lived here. There is an amazing network of travel and accomodation. Trains and buses go everywhere and you can call one number to set it all up, practically the day before. If renting a car, I would say allow at least a day. However if bussing or training it, you can pretty much just go to the station and get a bus or train later on that day. Hostels are everywhere. Hostels are mostly for travelling 18-35's. You can choose a double (room with one double bed), a twin (room with two twin beds), small dorms (room with a few bunk beds), or a dorm (room with heaps of bunk beds). I've stayed in them all. I'd say try them all, but it all depends on your mood. If hostels aren't your thing, there are loads of hotels and resorts all over Australia. I have provided links to the Gold Coast accomodation in case anyone is thinking of visiting me. <wink>