Australia Tours

The best time to visit Australia largely depends on what you want to experience. The shoulder seasons of Spring (September to November) and Autumn (March to May) are generally considered the best times to visit. You’ll find mild temperatures, fewer tourists, and more affordable prices during these time periods. Summer (December to January) is the most popular season to travel here, though the weather can be scorching — especially within the Outback. The Winter months (June to August) are a great time to visit the Northern Territory, the ski slopes of the Australian Alps and other areas of the north.

Mobile phone coverage is usually excellent in large cities and towns across the country. However, it may be patchy in remote spots like national parks and the Outback or Daintree Rainforest. Make sure that global roaming is on and be aware that you may be charged — contact your phone provider for further information.

It’s not customary in Australia to tip service providers, but if you do experience outstanding service, then it’s good to do so. Such service would only usually be in places like quality restaurants and it would be very rare that you would tip more than 10%. Unless specifically asked to do so at the time (by your CEO), do not tip your local guides. At the end of each trip if you felt your G Adventures Chief Experience Officer did an outstanding job, you may consider a tip.

Internet access in Australia is generally excellent, with widespread availability and high speeds. You’ll find free Wi-Fi in most public places like restaurants, bars, and libraries. However, expect it to be better in major cities and towns than in rural areas.

You’ll find ATMs in cities, towns, and even smaller villages across the country. They’re commonly located in bank branches, shopping centres, petrol stations, and convenience stores too. Most accept major international cards (such as Visa and Mastercard), though some may charge a fee — check with your bank directly for further details. As currency exchange rates can fluctuate often we ask that you refer to the following website for daily exchange rates: [www.xe.com](http://www.xe.com).

Yes, Australia is generally very LGBTQ+ friendly. However, cities like Melbourne and Sydney tend to be more welcoming than rural areas. There are plenty of world-famous events here like Sydney’s Mardi Gras parade, and there are plenty of bars and nightclubs catering to the LGBTQ+ community. As part of their commitment, all CEOs receive LGBTQ+ inclusion training so every traveller feels respected and welcomed on all of our tours. We commit to making our tours a safe and inclusive place for people to express their authentic selves without judgement, free from any discriminatory language or harassment. While travelling with G Adventures, all travellers must treat each other with dignity and respect to create an environment that is positive, safe, and where everyone feels welcome. You can find out more via our [LGBTQ+ travel page](https://www.gadventures.com/about-us/lgbtq-travel/).

There are over 300 different languages spoken across Australia, with English being the predominantly-spoken one. However, Vietnamese, Mandarin, and Vietnamese are also widely spoken across the country, and there are a range of indigenous languages spoken here too.

Yes, Australia is generally considered a very safe country to visit. It has low levels of crime, however, like everywhere else in the world, it pays be to be careful. Natural threats, such as dangerous animals, strong ocean currents and riptides, and UV exposure, are more significant risks here. Take heed of local advice. G Adventures takes all reasonable measures to ensure your safety and enjoyment while travelling with us. All of the included activities are properly vetted and regularly checked by us, and we take great care in choosing the right transportation, stays throughout your trip, and guides to lead your tour. However, there are always inherent risks when travelling — you can find out more via our [travel safety page](https://www.gadventures.com/travel-resources/safety/).