Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
from 11am to 3pm in summer and
10am to 2pm in winter. Remember
that UV rays reflected off walls, water,
and the ground, can burn you even
when you're not in direct sunlight.
Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with
a high protection factor (SPF 30+).
Wear a broad-brimmed hat that covers
the back of your neck, ears, and face (a
baseball cap won't do it), and a long-
sleeved shirt. Remember that children
need more protection than adults do.
Don't even think about traveling with-
out sunglasses, or you'll spend your
entire vacation squinting against Aus-
tralia's “diamond light.”
Cyclones are occasionally experi-
enced in tropical areas such as Darwin
and Queensland's coastal regions from
about Gladstone north, during Janu-
ary and February, but serious damage
is relatively rare.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU GET
SICK AWAY FROM HOME
In most cases, your existing health
plan will provide the coverage you
need. But double-check; you may
want to buy
travel medical insurance
instead. (See the section on insurance,
above.) Bring your insurance ID card
with you when you travel.
If you suffer from a chronic illness,
consult your doctor before your depar-
ture. For conditions like epilepsy, dia-
betes, or heart problems, wear a
Medic
Alert Identification Tag
(
&
800/825-
3785;
www.medicalert.org), which
will immediately alert doctors to your
condition and give them access to your
records through Medic Alert's 24-hour
hot line.
Pack
prescription medications
in
your carry-on luggage, and carry pre-
scription medications in their original
containers, with pharmacy labels—
otherwise they won't make it through
airport security. Also bring along
copies of your prescriptions in case
you lose your pills or run out. Don't
forget an extra pair of contact lenses or
prescription glasses. Carry the generic
name of prescription medicines, in
case a local pharmacist is unfamiliar
with the brand name.
Contact the
International Associa-
tion for Medical Assistance to Trav-
elers (IAMAT)
(
&
716/754-4883
or
416/652-0137; www.iamat.org) for
tips on travel and health concerns in
Australia, and lists of local doctors.
The United States
Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention
(
&
800/
311-3435;
www.cdc.gov) provides
up-to-date information on necessary
vaccines and health hazards by region
or country.
If you get sick, consider asking your
hotel concierge to recommend a local
doctor—even his or her own.
STAYING SAFE
Driving probably poses one of the
greatest risks to visitors to Australia.
Australians drive on the left, something
that North American and European
visitors still often have difficulty
remembering. Drivers and passengers,
including taxi passengers, must wear a
seat belt at all times, by law. Avoid driv-
ing between dusk and dawn in country
areas, because this is when kangaroos
are most active, and a collision with a
'roo is something to be avoided at all
costs. Road trains—as many as three
big truck carriages linked together can
be up to 54m (177 ft.) long—are
another danger, particularly in the
Outback.
Warning:
If you break down
or get lost, never leave your vehicle.
Most people who get lost do so in Out-
back spots, and those who wander off
to look for help or water usually die in
the attempt. If it happens to you, stay
with your car. See “Getting Around by
Car,” later in this chapter.
