Australia
Australia travel guide for Britons
Yes, Britons need a visa or ETA to enter Australia. Apply for the Australia Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) online before you fly; it is quick and valid for 12 months. Without it you will be refused boarding. Costs in GBP are roughly £1,000–£1,500 per person for two weeks, excluding flights.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
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GuideAustralia
Key facts
- Visa needed
- Yes – ETA (subclass 601) or visitor visa (subclass 600)
- ETA validitycheck
- 12 months, multiple entries, up to 3 months per visit
- ETA costcheck
- About AUD 20 (roughly £10) – check current fee
- Passport validitycheck
- Valid for duration of stay; check for any minimum validity rules
- Currency
- Australian dollar (AUD); cards accepted almost everywhere
- Plugs
- Type I (angled flat pins), 230 V 50 Hz
- Tipping
- Not expected; wages are high
- Emergency number
- 000 for police, fire, ambulance; 112 from mobiles
Entry rules for UK passports
British citizens must hold an approved Australian visa or Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) before flying. The ETA is the usual choice for a holiday; the visitor visa is the alternative. Airlines check for approval at check-in, and there is no visa on arrival for UK passport holders.
The authority that decides is the Australian Department of Home Affairs. Confirm the current subclass, fee, permitted stay and passport rules on its site before you book flights, because this page has not been field-verified.
UK government travel advice for Australia is the second place to check, especially for passport validity and any change to entry rules.
| Item | What to confirm | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Visa or ETA | Which subclass applies to a UK holiday and how to apply | check |
| Validity and stay | How long the approval lasts and nights allowed per visit | check |
| Fee | Current charge in AUD before you pay | check |
| Passport | Validity rules for UK passports at the Home Affairs site | check |
Rules and fees change; treat every line above as unconfirmed until you read it on the official site.
UK embassy and consular help
The UK diplomatic mission in Australia is a High Commission in Canberra, and there are consulates in the larger cities for consular help such as a lost or stolen passport.
Use the embassy tool to find the current address, phone number and opening hours for the post nearest your route. Do not rely on an address from memory.
- British High Commission, Canberra — main mission
- Consulates in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide — consular help
- Check current contact details in the embassy tool before you travel
Costs in GBP
Australia prices in Australian dollars (AUD). The parent country facts confirm the currency and that cards and phones are accepted almost everywhere, so you need little cash.
A two-week trip is not a budget holiday. Build a daily figure from the travel-costs page, then convert at the rate on the day you book; this page does not quote a GBP total because no source here fixes one.
The same page covers meals, internal flights and accommodation by city, which is where the range is widest.
| Cost line | Currency | Figure |
|---|---|---|
| Local currency | AUD | Australian dollar |
| Cards and phones | AUD | Accepted almost everywhere |
| Daily budget | AUD | check — see travel-costs page |
| Return flights from the UK | GBP | check — compare on the day |
| Trip total in GBP | GBP | check — depends on route and season |
No GBP figure is fixed here; confirm prices and the exchange rate before booking.
Flights from the UK
Most UK itineraries reach Australia with one stop, often through Singapore, Dubai or Doha, landing at Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Perth. Perth is the shortest hop from Europe.
Use the flight-time planner with your home city to get the hours and the time difference for your dates. The parent facts give the time zones: UTC+10 on the east coast, +9:30 in the centre and +8 in the west, with daylight saving only in the south-east from October to April.
- Main gateways: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth
- Typical pattern: one stop in Asia or the Gulf
- Check exact hours and time difference in the flight-time planner
Plugs and power
Australia uses Type I sockets with angled flat pins, at 230 V and 50 Hz. UK Type G plugs do not fit, so bring a travel adapter; dual-voltage chargers need only the adapter, not a converter.
Check the voltage label on anything you pack that heats or motors, such as a hairdryer.
Tipping
Tipping is not expected in Australia; wages are high and the bill is the bill. Round up for good table service if you want to, and leave nothing at a counter or in a taxi unless you choose to.
Emergency numbers
Dial 000 for police, fire or ambulance. From a mobile you can also dial 112, which works even without a SIM card.
Save both numbers before you land, and note that mobile coverage outside towns can be thin on long drives.
- 000 — police, fire, ambulance
- 112 — from mobiles, works without a SIM
Questions people ask
Do Britons need a visa for Australia?
Yes. UK passport holders need an approved Australian visa or Electronic Travel Authority before flying, and airlines check at check-in. The Department of Home Affairs decides which subclass applies, the fee and the permitted stay. Confirm all of it on the official site before booking; this page is not field-verified.
How much does a trip to Australia cost in GBP?
Prices are in Australian dollars, and cards work almost everywhere. No GBP total is fixed here: build a daily figure from the travel-costs page, add flights from the UK, then convert at the rate on the day you book. Treat any quoted total as a check item.
Where is the nearest United Kingdom embassy in Australia?
The main UK mission is the High Commission in Canberra, with consulates in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide for consular help. Use the embassy tool for current addresses, phone numbers and hours rather than relying on an old listing.
What plug adapter do I need for Australia?
Type I sockets with angled flat pins, at 230 V and 50 Hz. UK Type G plugs do not fit, so pack an adapter. Dual-voltage chargers need only the adapter; check the label on anything that heats or motors.
Should I tip in Australia?
No. Tipping is not expected because wages are high. Round up for good table service if you want to, and leave nothing at a counter or in a taxi unless you choose to.
What is the emergency number in Australia?
Dial 000 for police, fire or ambulance. From a mobile you can also dial 112, which works even without a SIM card. Save both before you land.
Verify with the official source
Draft, not field-verified
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
Ask about Australia
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