Packing list for Australia, travel insurance for Australia, and taking your belongings

To take or not to take to Australia, leave at home or arrange locally?

Sufficiently insured or not for your activities in Australia?

Sufficiently insured or not for your trip to Australia?

What to bring to Australia: highlighted

Highlighted items:

• Documents: passport valid for at least 6 months upon arrival, a visa confirmation and a copy of both.
• Money: your debit card! Cash (Australian dollars) can be useful just in case.
• Mosquito repellent and anti-itching agent (see also DEET mosquito repellent) if you are going to areas with dangerous mosquitoes (the north)
• Outdoor: a good hat with a wide brim comes in handy if you want to go hiking a lot, or if you really want to become part of the Australian outback!
• Clothing: for both the warmer and cooler areas, and somewhat neat clothing, if you are also looking for work.
• UV-resistant travel clothing: especially if you have very sensitive skin.
• Technology and equipment: see also world plug or travel plug.
• Sunscreen: with a high protection factor. Although you can buy the best in Australia, so only take something with you for the first few days.
• Sunglasses: with guaranteed UV protection due to the enormous UV radiation.
• Reusable water bottle - there are fountains with drinking water everywhere, especially in the city!
• Medicines and travel kit: a first aid kit for when you go into the outback.

What else can you take with you:

• Water shoes given the coral and rocks in the water at the various locations.
• Access to photos of snakes and/or means to suck out poison from spider and snake bites, among other things.
• A dose of patience to decipher the Australian accent.

What knowledge is useful when you go to Australia?

• Knowledge of the area you are going to. Australia is gigantic so each area has different seasons, health hazards and weather conditions.
• Knowledge of the most dangerous animals and what you should or should not do if you encounter one.
• Knowledge of the indigenous lands and culture - and how it relates to society nowadays. 

Are there mosquitoes in Australia?

• Australia has more than a hundred species of mosquitoes, several of which also transmit dengue, not malaria.
• More about protection against mosquitoes and insects.

Do sand flies occur in Australia?

• Unfortunately, yes. Both coastal and inland. The sandfly feast places are tropical and subtropical areas, near sandy estuarine and riparian areas, and in mangrove swamps.
• Your set of mosquito repellents with DEET can help!
• More about sand flies and sand fleas.

Can you buy DEET, or other mosquito repellents, in Australia?

• Yes, and the Australians are not shy about the DEET percentage in their mosquito repellents.

Where can you get your food and drinks in Australia?

• You can cook on one of the public barbecues in the parks, or simply join a group and ask if you can eat something from their barbecue!
• Supermarkets such as Coles, Woolworths (Woolies) and Aldi are plentiful.
• There are often nice food courts or beach markets with all kinds of delicious food around and in the cities.
• Restaurants also come in all shapes and sizes.
• Vegan food is difficult to find in the countryside, but in the city you will find places!

Can you buy a joint or weed in Australia, or take it with you to Australia?

• It is illegal to possess, use, grow or sell cannabis. It MAY be possible, but it MUST NOT be.
• The ACT (Australian Capital Territory) does allow the growth and use of small amounts of cannabis.
• Medicinal cannabis is available with a doctor's prescription.
• Do not bring it with you, even between states, unless you want a new, maybe not so fun, experience.
• You can request an exemption for medicinal cannabis.