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With international airports in Brisbane, Cairns and the Gold Coast plus many regional and island airports, air travel is an efficient and reliable way to get around. Qantas, Virgin Australia, JetStar and Tigerair plus a number of smaller regional carriers operate throughout the state with most offering in-flight entertainment and dedicated staff to ensure you arrive in holiday mode.

Queensland has a warm, sunny climate so casual, lightweight clothes (in natural fibres) are generally worn. Most Queenslanders dress informally, although you should include smart casual outfit for restaurants, hotels and bars. Comfortable shoes, shorts and jeans are a must for bushwalking, fossicking or horse riding. Sand shoes (sneakers) are recommended if you intend to reef-walk. 

In winter in the southern part of Queensland, temperatures can drop so some warm clothing such as a jacket or sweatshirt should be included. It is advisable to wear a hat during the day, sunglasses, and sunscreen to protect you from the warm rays of the sun.

The national currency of Australia is the Australian Dollar (AUD). Australian currency is decimal, with the dollar as the basic unit. 100 cents (100c) = one dollar $1. Notes come in $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 denominations. Coins come in 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, $1 and $2 denominations. Australian prices occasionally end in a variant of 1c or 2c. Where this occurs, at the cash register, the price is rounded to the nearest 5c.

ATM's
ATM’s (Automatic Teller Machines) are commonly found throughout Queensland and generally teller money in denominations of $20 and $50. Please note that some banks ATMs will charge a small fee for withdrawing money.

Credit Cards and Traveller's Cheques
Major credit cards are widely accepted with the most common being Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club and their affiliates. Traveller's cheques are also accepted in Queensland; however please note that some banks will charge a small fee for cashing travellers’ cheques. Currency exchange facilities are also available at international airports and in major city centres.

Tipping
Tipping is not common in Australia and prices are generally inclusive of GST. Tipping is appreciated for exceptional service (generally 10% at restaurants and rounding up of taxi fares), however is not compulsory or expected

Taxes
There is a 10% tax on all goods and services purchased in Australia. You can claim a refund of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Wine Equalisation Tax (WET) that you pay on certain goods you buy in Australia. The refund only applies to goods you take with you as hand luggage or wear on the aircraft or ship when you leave the country. 

Australia's public health care system is called Medicare. Eligibility for benefits is generally restricted to residents of Australia. While Australia does have reciprocal healthcare agreements with several countries, it is best to check before you leave home and to always have appropriate travel insurance.

Hospitals
There are a number of hospital and health care facilities around Queensland.
For health emergencies call 000.
If you have a health concern but it is not an emergency, you can phone 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for help.
Some visitors to Australia are covered under the Australian Government Reciprocal Health Care Agreements, for more information please visit the Department of Human Services website. Please note, charges apply to patients who do not hold a current Medicare Card. If you are travelling to Australia, it is recommended that you have travel insurance. You should refer to your own travel insurance company for more information about healthcare inclusions to check your level of cover.

Emergency Numbers
The emergency number for Police, Fire Brigade and Ambulance in Australia is 000. From mobile phones call 112.

Insurance
Visitors to Australia are strongly advised to take out travel insurance. Most travel insurance policies will cover medical expenses (including hospitalisation), cancellation charges, luggage, personal effects, travel documents, money, cash in hospital, hijacking, death, disability, loss of income, personal liability and some additional expenses.

Vaccinations
There are no compulsory immunisations required before arriving in Australia unless travellers have been in a quarantine zone within 14 days before travel.

Taxis
‘Metered’ and ‘Exempted’ Taxi Services operate throughout Queensland. ‘Metered’ taxi services are in more populated cities, whereas ‘Exempted’ taxi services are in areas with small populations. F

Bus/Coach
Bus and coach travel in Queensland is comfortable, easy and economical, offering a reliable service, linking you from destination to destination. Coaches generally have air conditioning, reading lights, adjustable seats and videos and are available for quick transfers, long-haul journeys or door-to-door services.

Trains
From Cairns in the tropical north to the stunning Whitsundays islands, the Great Barrier Reef, the Fraser Coast and the sunburnt plains of the Outback - Queensland offers the largest and most comprehensive network of long distance and tourist trains in Australia - delivering unique travel experience to suit every traveller.

Public Transport
Getting around couldn’t be easier with Queensland’s extensive public transport network. Most of South East Queensland is serviced by buses, trains, ferries and trams on the TransLink network, which stretches from Gympie in the north to Coolangatta in the south and west to Helidon.  Some services within the Translink network are prepaid, it would be recommended if travelling in these areas to use a GoCard or a SEEQ card depending on your travel requirements. 

Unless you are an Australian or New Zealand citizen, you will need a visa to enter Australia. A tourist visa is for people visiting Australia for a holiday, sightseeing, visiting friends or relatives and other short term non-work activities.

The Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) allows people to visit Australia for short term tourism or business purposes of up to three months. An ETA is available to passport holders from more than 30 countries, regions and locations.

If you are a non-resident and wishing to work in Australia, a Working Holiday Visa or a Work and Holiday Visa is required. Visitors should ensure they apply for the correct visa to suit their requirements.

Once in Australia, a visa is not needed to enter Queensland when travelling from other states.

Queensland is blessed with an enviable climate of warm sunny days. Warm summers and mild winters are what you can expect, plus loads of sunshine (with just the occasional shower).

Average temperatures by season:
Summer (December-February) Brisbane: 20°C to 29°C
Cairns: 22°C to 31°C

Autumn (March-May)
Brisbane: 14°C to 28°C
Cairns: 20°C to 30°C

Winter (June-August)
Brisbane: 10°C to 22°C
Cairns: 17°C to 26°C

Spring (September-November)
Brisbane: 13°C to 27°C
Cairns: 19°C to 30°C