• > How do we travel to and in Australia?
• > Where do we spend the night?
• > What do I need for the camping nights?
• > What can I expect on the train trip with the Ghan?
• > How is the tour leading arranged in Australia?
• > I am traveling with a Dutch group. Will I have a difficult time with communications?
• > Does it make a difference if I arrive in Cairns or Sydney?
• > How do I arrange a visa for Australia?
• > What is the best time to travel in Australia?
• > Can I climb Ayers Rock?
• > Is it possible to arrange a combination trip Australia/New Zealand?
• > What is the electric currency in Australia?
• > Can I call or e-mail home during the trip?

How do we travel to and in Australia?

For our Australia tour we fly with Qantas Airlines or United Airlines via LAX to Australia. In Australia we travel by a very comfortable private bus that can also handle the unpaved roads. Between Katherine and Alice Springs we travel with the famous train, the Ghan, through the outback.

Where do we spend the night?

In the large cities we spend the night in centrally located, comfortable tourist-class hotels. Most hotels are air-conditioned and in most of the rooms you can make your own coffee or tea. In some of the more remote places we spend the night in simple but atmosphere rich pub-hotels, a typical Australian accommodation. In Coober Pedy we spend the night in a simple pension that is carved out of the rocks. We also sometimes pitch a tent in the midst of nature. We camp a total of six nights.

What do I need for the camping nights?

Djoser arranges the necessary camping equipment, dome tents, mats, chairs etc. You only have to bring a sleeping bag (if you don’t want to bring one you can also locally rent one for around $20.00) you also might want to bring an extra sleeping mat. On the camping you find sanitary facilities and sometimes you also find a store and a restaurant. For the meals during the camping you will be billed on your invoice. For the two-day excursion to Kakadu national park there are no single tents available.

What can I expect on the train trip with the Ghan?

The Ghan drives straight through the red heart of the Australia continent, between the north-and the south coast. We travel the newest addition of the railroad, the rails between Alice Springs and Katherine that is only in use since 2004. You travel through magnificent desert landscapes, with salt lakes, red rock formations and sporadic settlements. The trip takes from late afternoon until the next morning, about 16 hours. In addition to watching the landscape pass by so can also allow the train equipped with adjustable chairs, to gently rock you asleep. Of course you can also stretch your legs and visit the bar or the restaurant aboard the train.

How is the tour leading arranged in Australia?

the event the trip starts in Sydney, you are met by our local English speaking driver/guide who will be the guide for the trip up and including Alice Springs and is available for helpful information and to solve any problems. A local guide accompanies the group for the two-day excursion to Kakadu National Park and in Darwin and Cairns our local agent representative is your source of information and main contact. This is also the person who will meet you if the trip starts in Cairns.

I am traveling with a Dutch group. Will I have a difficult time with communications?

On this trip there can be from 1 to 4 North American travelers in a group up to 20 people, most of whom are from the Netherlands. In that we have an English speaking drive/guide, communication is quite easy. You will also find that your fellow travelers from Holland have an excellent command of English. If you are traveling alone, it may take more effort on your part to initiate English conversations on the bus or at dinner, particularly in the first days. But as the group gets to know each other, that also becomes easier.

Does it make a difference if I arrive in Cairns or Sydney?

It does not make a difference in the program if the trip starts in Sydney or in Cairns. Both programs follow the same routes only in reverse order. The time we spend at each place is equal. The route description on this website follows the route from Sydney to Cairns. On this website the reversed order is available on (fill-in web link)

How do I arrange a visa for Australia?

An updated passport is needed for this trip. Passports should be good for six months arrival in Australia. A visa is required which you can get on-line. As of July 1, 2005, all ETA-eligible applicants (except for citizens of Taiwan and British Nationals Overseas) should apply for this visa on-line. The on-line visa application process is quicker, more convenient and there is no need to send your passport to this office. Visit the following website for instructions: http://www.eta.immi.gov.au/

All applicants aged 70 and over must have a "Fit for Travel" certificate completed. To obtain this form, please see: Over 70 Proforma form at the following website. This does not need to be completed by a panel physician, but must be filled out be a registered MD.

http://www.austemb.org/DIMA/visiting/documents/ProformaforApplicants70andolder.pdf

What is the best time to travel in Australia?

The seasons in Australia are opposite ours, but the real season differences only occur in the southeast. Here you find a sub-tropical climate with relatively cold winters in our summer season and warm dry summers in our winter season. The north is tropical with a dry period from May until November. In the “rainy period from December until May occasionally you experience a rain shower. In the middle of the country you find a desert climate with temperatures that can climb above 120 degrees Fahrenheit and drop below freezing at nighttime.

Can I climb Ayers Rock?

The Australian government decided in 1985 to return Uluru (the name the Aborigines Originally gave to Ayers Rock) to the original owners. The Aborigines consider The monolite as one of their holiest places. For that reason they ask visitors not to climb the rock, However it is not forbidden. An alternate way to get a good impression is to make the six mile walk around the base of the rock.

Is it possible to arrange a combination trip Australia/New Zealand?

Yes this is possible. You book the complete trip to Australia and the land only for New Zealand. In addition we book the extra flights between Australia and new Zealand. The cost for this arrangement is on request. For the necessary adjustment of the original international flights there is no charge.

What is the electric currency in Australia?

The electric currency in Australia is 220 volts.

Can I call or e-mail home during the trip?

Making phone calls home in the large cities is easy. The coverage for cell phones is quite good in general. However do check with your local cell phone provider regarding cost and service. In most places with the exception of the camping you find internet cafes.