Brisbane, Australia Hotels and City Guide

Brisbane - Travel Tips

Brisbane Traveller's Tips

Currency

The Australian Dollar (AUD) is made up of 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of A$5, A$10, A$20, A$50 and A$100, and the coins in use are 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, A$1 and A$2.

Language

English is widely spoken throughout the continent.

Time Zone

Brisbane is ten hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.

Visa Requirements

All foreign visitors are required to carry with them their passport, a visa or an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) at all times. Travellers from New Zealand are issued a visa on arrival; all other visitors must obtain one in advance. There are several different types of visa depending on the reason for visiting Australia, but most vacationers will need a standard tourist visa.

Your passport must remain valid for six months after your stated date. Visas are available at Australian embassies and consulates for a nominal charge. Some airlines and travel agencies also issue visas. Multiple-entry visas are also available if you plan to travel to Australia again within a four-year period.

Tourist Office

The Visitor’s and Convention Bureau is located along Elizabeth Street and generally remains open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm from Monday to Thursday, until 7:00 pm on Fridays and 4:00 pm on Saturdays. The office is also open from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on Sundays. The bureau maintains an additional branch within Queen Street Mall near Albert Street, which functions at similar times.

Credit Cards

Visa, Diners Club, MasterCard and American Express are widely accepted by retail enterprises and hospitality establishments in the city. In rural areas it is recommended to transact in cash. Before travelling, verify with your credit or debit card company on merchant acceptability and other value-added services which may be available.

Tipping

In Brisbane, tipping is not obligatory; but, it is customary as a gesture of appreciation if someone has gone the extra mile for your convenience. Giving a small tip (10% of the bill) in a restaurant is considered reasonable if the service is good. As taxes are already levied in the bill, tipping is not mandatory at bars, hotels or when travelling by taxi as these service employees do not rely on tips for additional income. It is suggested to pay just the specified price.

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted in government buildings and while travelling in public transport (including domestic flights).

Emergency

In a life-threatening emergency, dial 000 (fire, ambulance and police assistance).

Tax

A 10% Goods and Services Tax (GST) was recently introduced in Australia. Under the Tourist Refund Scheme, foreign visitors are entitled to a tax refund on purchases costing over A$300 bought in the same shop and purchased within the last month of your stay in the country. To benefit from this service, visitors will need to hand over their respective receipts at customs and your refund will be paid without hassle.

Electricity

Electricity in Australia is 220 - 240V.

Health Risks

Presently there are no major health risk issues in Australia. Water is clean, while meat and dairy products are stringently hygienic. It’s advised to take added precautions against heat and sun strokes.

Business Hours

Several restaurants are closed on Monday and / or Tuesday nights, while bars are generally open from 11:00 am until midnight.

Shops in Brisbane are generally open from 8:30 am until 5:00 pm from Monday to Friday and from 9:00 am till 4:00 pm or 5:00 pm on Saturdays. As of recent times, many major department stores and tourist-oriented boutiques are open on Sundays, from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm.

Offices: Monday to Friday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Banks: Monday to Thursday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, till 5:00 pm on Friday
Government: Monday to Friday 9:00 am to 5:30 pm

Currency Exchange

Foreign currency exchange or changing traveller’s cheques is hassle-free and can be transacted in any one of Brisbane’s numerous banks. Banks normally function between 9:30 am and 4:00 pm from Monday to Thursday and till 5:00 pm on Fridays. In addition, foreign exchange bureaus are strategically located at the Brisbane International Airport as well as at selected city centre outlets. Though these city centres may charge comparatively higher commissions, the operating hours are more flexible.

Telephones

The country code for Australia is 61 and the area code for Brisbane is 07. Dial this number first when making a call outside Queensland and omit the 0 if calling from overseas. Local calls from public phones cost 40 cents for an unlimited amount of time. You can make local calls from Telstra payphone booths and also from the gold and blue phones found in many shops and hotels. Long-distance calls can be made from almost any public phone. Many public phones accept Telstra Phonecards, which come in denominations of A$5, A$10, A$20 and A$50. These prepaid cards are available at any retail outlet which displays the Phonecard logo. Otherwise, it is also possible to use coins of 10 cents and upwards. Long-distance calls are charged according to the distance and rates vary depending on what time you call. The lowest rates are currently offered during weekends and after 8:00 pm on weekdays.

Post Office

The main post office in Brisbane is situated at 261, Queen Street and is open between 7:00 am and 6:00 pm from Monday to Friday. There is also another branch in the Myer Centre, which functions between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm on Saturdays, 10:30 am and 4:00 pm on Sundays and until 9:00 pm on Fridays. You can also purchase stamps at most newsagents. All post offices will hold mail, keeping it for one month before returning it to the sender, and for a small fee you can arrange to have mail forwarded to you.

Holidays

New Year’s Day 1st January
Australia Day 26th January
ANZAC Day 25th April
Labour Day 2nd May
Queen’s Birthday Celebrations 13th June
People’s Day at the Brisbane Royal Show 12th August
Christmas 25th - 26th December

Clothing

Australian fashions are similar to those worn by Europeans and North Americans, with a preference for skirts and dresses. Men should wear conservative jackets and ties for corporate functions. During the summer months, jackets are often not required. Sunglasses, sunhats and sun block lotion are recommended during summer time.

Hotels in Brisbane, Australia