Travel Information
Visas
Australia
U.S. citizens are required to have a valid U.S. passport to enter Australia and must enter with an Australian visa or, if eligible, through the Electronic Travel Authority (ETA). The ETA replaces a visa and allows tourists a stay of up to three months. It may be obtained for a small service fee. Please note that U.S. citizens who overstay their ETA or visa, even for short periods, may be subject to exclusion, detention and removal by the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship. Click here for more information.
New Zealand
No visa is required to travel to NZ. USA is a visa free country for stays of less than 3 months. Click here for more information.
Passports
Please check the expiry date on your passport at least two months before your trip. You need to have 6 months validity left on your passport when you travel.
Customs and quarantine
Australia’s customs laws prevent you from bringing drugs, steroids, weapons, firearms and protected wildlife into Australia. Some common items such as fresh or packaged food, fruit, eggs, meat, plants, seeds, skins and feathers are also prohibited. There is no limit on currency but you will need to declare amounts over $10,000. For more detailed information go to the Australian government Customs & Quarantine page.
- Hotel reservations, take along confirmation numbers
- Travel reservations, take along airplane tickets
- Taking out a travel insurance policy that covers theft, loss, accidents and medical problems is highly recommended. If you plan on doing any adventure sports like scuba diving, bungee jumping, motorcycling, skiing and even bushwalking, check that your policy fully covers you. The Australian Government has reciprocal agreements covering limited subsidised health services for medical treatment with some countries through Medicare. For more detailed information go to the Medicare Australia website.
- Driver's license, registration, insurance cards (leave unnecessary cards at home).
- Money or foreign currency (cash, traveller's checks, credit cards). You will be unable to use US$ in Australia or New Zealand.
- Do not pack your travel documents or money in a suitcase they may get lost.
- Take your important documents and money in a wallet or purse that you can access at all times.
- Make sure that your luggage has a tag with your name, address, and telephone number.
- Tie a colourful ribbon or attach distinctive stickers to your luggage so that you can identify it easily, and other travellers will not take it by mistake at a busy terminal.
Australia’s stable political system, well-maintained roads, low crime rate and high standard of health care make it a safe and relatively easy country to explore.
The Australian sun is very strong. Always wear a shirt, hat, sunglasses and SPF 30+ sunscreen lotion, even on cloudy days. If spending the whole day outdoors, reapply sunscreen regularly. Stay out of the sun during the middle of the day when the sun is strongest. Make sure you drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.
The temperature on the Gold Coast during June ranges from 13-21 degrees Celsius. This is the equivalent of 55-70 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you are in the USA please call 1-877-569-8657. If you are based in NZ please call +64 3-352-5598. If you are based in Australia please call toll free 1800-124-113 or 07 5574-0322. Alternatively you can email us on:edgedownunder@hardingconsultants.co.nz