Going to Oz

[TheChosenTwo]

Dd2 is going to Oz on Friday, first time travelling alone and meeting her best mate over there. She thinks she’s organised but any last minute bits of advice or things we may not have thought of?

1. a pen to fill the incoming passenger card before landing. She can familiarise herself with the card by looking at it here https://www.abf.gov.au/entering-leaving-australia/files/ipc-sample-english.pdf flight crew will give her one onboard . DO NOT TAKE ANY FRESH FOOD , even a half eaten sandwich! Leave everything in the plane. Wrapped snacks are fine, but no fruit. If she is bringing fresh food - some are allowed - she must declare it on card.
2. ambulance is not covered by medicare (public health system) , she will need insurance for that. If she hasn't taken one relying to use the reciprocate system, she still needs ambulance cover.
3. a small torch, depending on where she is going to stay. Even bloody suburbia is so dark as street lights hardly cut through darkness
4. depending where she is going, warmer clothes. Many houses have no heating.
5. another form of ID to get into bars or clubs so she doesn't have to carry her passport with her.
6. If she has many items that plug in (phone, laptop, hairdryer, electric toothbrush, ....) the easiest thing is to have a UK multi socket and just 1 adaptor

Oh thanks for the tips, didn’t think about the pen, torch or ambulance not being included in her health insurance although she may have already sorted that out. I’ll check with her. She has warmer clothes mostly but with some summery options just in case, her friend has said she has loads of adaptors she’s found along the way! Dd not bothering with any hair tools but will have phone (not laptop though).
Looks like she’s pretty much good to go!

If she has travel insurance, ambulance will be covered. However many young people don't bother making travel insurance because of the reciprocity between NHS and the Australian medicare.
So far the winter is mild. During daytime , it is pleasant in Sydney right now, but the second the sun goes down, it is freezing and also near water because of ocean wind.
She will have a great time! People are soooooooooo nice here

Whereabouts in Australia?

This is good for travel on Oz.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Zealand-Australia-Adaptor-Extension-Sockets/dp/B06XCDT7FL/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2FZS0NEFUN8LU&keywords=australian+to+uk+plug+extension+lead&qid=1686074977&sprefix=australian+Uk+ext%2Caps%2C98&sr=8-3

DO NOT TAKE ANY FRESH FOOD , even a half eaten sandwich! Leave everything in the plane. Wrapped snacks are fine, but no fruit. If she is bringing fresh food - some are allowed - she must declare it on card

If she doesn't leave it on the plane the airport will have amnesty bins. Just don't forget to declare it if she wants to carry food through.

Those bins are before passport control. Once you are after that , you get a fine
"Aussie traveller hit with $2,664 fine after failing to declare Subway sandwich at airport" https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/aussie-traveller-hit-with-2664-fine-after-failing-to-declare-subway-sandwich-c-7516246# for a half eaten sandwich.
If a traveller doesn't know you can't bring fresh food, they won't know what the bins are for, especially after 20+ hours on a plane and a foggy brain.

Woah, I’ll remind her about the food thing again!! She’s flying into Adelaide and then they are doing a road trip over the next couple of months up to Brisbane, stopping off to meet up with other friends along the way.
She’s mainly earmarked leggings, long sleeved tops and hoody’s but has thrown in some beachy stuff and bits for some nicer days too. Her friend she’s meeting has been there a while and omg she just can’t wait to get out there! And she’s taking her coat 😂

In winter, it is cold in the morning and at night but during the day it can get up to 20 odd degrees. Hate it say it but good idea for a coat too. Not necessarily what we’d call a coat here in Scotland but something a bit warmer. There are so many shops where she can pick up a hoodie or an extra layer though.