G'day!
guh-DAY
Hello (short for 'good day')
Greeting anyone, at any time of day
Travel guide
Learn Australia before you go
Red desert and coral reef, koalas and kangaroos, beaches and big cities: a whole island continent, home to one of the oldest living cultures on Earth.
CapitalCanberra
CurrencyAustralian dollar (AUD), divided into 100 cents, in use since 1966
Official languageNo official language is set down in law. English is the national language in practice, and Auslan (Australian Sign Language) and many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages are also used
Drives on theLeft
Calling code+61
10 phrases to learn
In Australian English. Capital letters show the stressed part. Tap the heart to practise a phrase later.
How are you going?
how-ya GOH-in
How are you?
A friendly greeting; answer 'Good, thanks, and you?'
No worries!
noh WUH-reez
You're welcome, no problem, that's all right
Answering thanks, or telling someone not to worry
Good on ya!
GOOD on-ya
Well done! Good for you!
Praising or thanking someone
She'll be right.
sheel bee RYTE
It will be all right; don't worry
Calming someone down about a small problem
Fair dinkum?
fair DING-kum
Really? Is that true? (as a statement, 'fair dinkum' means genuine, honest)
Reacting to surprising news
See you this arvo.
see-ya this AH-voh
See you this afternoon.
Making plans for later in the day
It's my shout.
its my SHOWT
I'm paying (especially for a round of drinks)
Offering to buy the drinks or the coffee
Chuck a U-ey.
chuk uh YOO-ee
Make a U-turn
Giving directions in the car
I reckon...
eye REK-un
I think...
Giving your opinion
At the table
- If you are asked to 'bring a plate' to a party or gathering, it means bring a dish of food to share, not an empty plate.
- In a pub, friends often take turns to buy a round of drinks for the group, called a 'shout'. 'It's my shout' means 'I'm paying'.
- Meat pies are usually eaten from the hand, not with a knife and fork, often with tomato sauce on top.
- At a barbecue, the host usually cooks the meat outside, and guests may bring a salad, a dessert or their own drinks.
- Christmas comes in the middle of summer, so many families have a cold lunch with seafood and salads, and pavlova for dessert.
Local tips
Respect the sun
The Australian sun is very strong, even on cloudy days. Follow the Cancer Council's advice: slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen, slap on a hat, seek shade and slide on sunglasses.
Swim between the red and yellow flags
Swim only at patrolled beaches, between the red and yellow flags, where lifesavers are watching. Rip currents are the main danger on Australian beaches. If one pulls you out, stay calm and swim parallel to the beach or towards breaking waves, not against the current.
Crocodiles in the north
Saltwater crocodiles live in rivers, estuaries and along the coast of northern Australia, from Broome in Western Australia across the Top End to Gladstone in Queensland. Obey every crocodile warning sign, and do not swim in rivers, creeks or billabongs unless you know it is safe.
Stinger season in the tropics
In tropical waters, box jellyfish and other stingers are most common from late spring to early autumn. Swim at patrolled beaches, inside stinger nets where they exist, and wear a full-body stinger suit. Vinegar is used as first aid for box jellyfish stings.
Leave snakes and spiders alone
Australia has venomous snakes and spiders, but they rarely bite people who leave them alone. If someone is bitten by a snake, call 000, keep them still and calm, wrap a firm bandage over the bite and up the limb, and do not wash the bite.
Emergencies: call 000
The official emergency number for police, fire and ambulance is 000, called Triple Zero. From a mobile phone, 112 also works and is connected to 000.
Arrange your visa before you fly
Everyone except New Zealand citizens needs a visa or an electronic travel authority before travelling to Australia. As of 2026, citizens of EU countries and the United Kingdom can apply online for a free eVisitor visa, and people from some other countries apply for an ETA through the official Australian ETA app, for a service charge. Use only official Australian government websites and apps.
Drive on the left and allow for distances
Traffic drives on the left. Distances are huge: the mainland spans three main time zones, and towns in the outback can be very far apart. Carry water and rest often on long drives.
Dishes to try
- Meat pie: A hand-sized pie of minced or diced beef in thick gravy, with a shortcrust base and often a flaky top. It is eaten hot, straight from the hand, usually with tomato sauce squeezed on top.
- Pie floater: A meat pie sitting in, or turned upside down into, a bowl of thick green pea soup, usually with a swirl of tomato sauce on top.
- Sausage sizzle: A barbecued sausage, often called a 'snag', wrapped in a slice of white bread with fried onions and tomato sauce or mustard. It is sold cheaply at fundraisers for schools, sports clubs and charities.
- Vegemite on toast: Hot buttered toast with a thin scrape of Vegemite, a thick, dark brown, salty spread made from leftover brewer's yeast. It has a strong taste, so it is spread very thinly.
- Pavlova: A large round of baked meringue, crisp outside and soft like marshmallow inside, topped with whipped cream and fresh fruit such as strawberries, kiwi fruit and passionfruit. It is a favourite summer dessert, especially at Christmas.
- Lamingtons: Squares of sponge or butter cake dipped in thin chocolate icing and rolled in desiccated coconut. Some are cut in half and filled with jam and cream.
- Anzac biscuits: Crunchy or chewy biscuits of rolled oats, flour, sugar, butter, golden syrup and usually coconut, with no eggs. They are baked at home especially around Anzac Day on 25 April.
- Damper: A simple bread of flour, water and salt, with a little butter if there is any, traditionally baked in the hot ashes of a campfire or in a camp oven. It is eaten warm with butter, jam or golden syrup.
Cities to see
- Canberra (capital): Parliament House, opened in 1988, Lake Burley Griffin, The Australian War Memorial and national museums.
- Sydney: The Opera House and the Harbour Bridge, Bondi and other surf beaches, Ferries across the harbour.
- Melbourne: As of 2026, the largest urban tram network in the world, The Melbourne Cricket Ground and Australian football, The Melbourne Cup horse race.
- Brisbane: South Bank parklands on the Brisbane River, Easy trips to the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast beaches, A subtropical climate.
- Perth: Kings Park, one of the largest inner-city parks in the world, Rottnest Island and its quokkas, The port town of Fremantle.
- Adelaide: The Adelaide Festival and Fringe, Food and wine, The pie floater.