what you need to know

Western Australia is a magnificent, massive part of the world and there's so much going on. The activities you're interested in will most likely determine the time of year you visit, so you should be aware of the difference in climate throughout the regions in order to best plan your holiday.

have any questions?

Please feel free to email us if you have any questions about travelling in Western Australia.
We are more than happy to help.

time zones

Western Australia is on Western Standard Time (WST), which is eight hours ahead of GMT and the same time zone a Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong. WA is 1.5 hours behind South Australia and the Northern Territory, and 2 hours behind all other states. Time differences can increase by 1 hour during daylight savings, from Oct-Mar in most other Australian states.

telephone

A standard fee applies to all local calls made from fixed lines irrespective of the length of the call. Minimum payphone charge is 50c.
STD (long-distance within Australia) and IDD (international direct dialling) calls are charged by distance as well as time. Payphones take coins, credit cards and/or prepaid phone cards.
For details of long distance rates call 1300 362 162.
For directory assistance call 1223 for Australian numbers or 1225 for international numbers.

postal

Australia Post offers a range of services including packaging materials and postpaks suitable for sending gifts.
All post offices are open 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday, and some are open Saturday mornings.
Stamps can be purchased at most newsagents and all Australia Post offices.

banking + currency

Australian currency is decimal, notes come in denominations of $100, $50, $20, $10 and $5
coins in $2, $1, 50c, 20c, 10c and 5c.
Currency exchange facilities are available at the Perth International Airport, at city banks and International class hotels will arrange exchange of major currencies for guests.
The most commonly accepted credit cards are Visa and Mastercard. Amex and Diners club are also widely accepted.
Banks open 9.30am - 4.00pm Monday to Thursday, and until 5pm Fridays.
Some smaller banks and credit unions may be open Saturday mornings.
Perth and Fremantle have numerous ATMs, most of which accept international cards.

electricity

The electrical current in Australia is 240/250 volts AC 50Hz.
The Australian three-pin power outlet is different from many Asian and European countries.

studying + work

Perth is a vibrant multicultural city with many world-class educational institutions running courses in English as a second language, and a great place to choose to live because it is clean, friendly and the weather is great! Many students take advantage of homestay accommodation with a Perth family, a more personal taste of Australia than just a hotel or hostel.

Working holiday visas can be obtained by citizens of many countries including the UK, Japan, Canada and Germany. There arrangements allow people aged 18-30 with no dependent children to holiday in Australia for a specific period of time and supplement their funds through incidental work. Visas must be organised before arriving. For more information contact the Department of Immigration.

A wealth of opportunities exist for travellers to volunteer or do seasonal work all year round in Western Australia. Perth offers plenty of temporary work that you would expect from a major city, from business and hospitality to labouring and IT. Step outside of the city and would-be employees could find themselves on a cattle station, a vineyard, mustering sheep or picking fruit. As Western Australia is so vast it is possible to find fruit picking work at any time of the year. Have a look at the Harvest Trail for more information. Those interested in volunteering should look at Conservation Volunteers Australia or the WA Department of Environment and Conservation for environmental projects. Willing Workers on Organic Farms help people volunteer on organic farms.

Click on the image below to view the guide to seasonal harvest work in Western Australia.