Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Telephone
The increasingly elusive public payphone is either coin- or card-operated; local calls are unlimited and cost 50¢, calls to
mobile phones are timed and attract higher charges. Some accept credit cards; many don't work at all.
»
area code
03
»
country code
61
»
international access code (for dialling out)
0011
»
toll-free
1800;
1300 numbers are the cost of a local call.
Mobile Phones
All Australian mobile-phone numbers have four-digit prefixes beginning with %04. Australia's digital network is com-
patible with GSM 900 and 1800 handsets. Quad-based US phones will also work. Prepaid SIM cards are available from
a range of telecommunications providers:
Dodo
(
13 36 36;
www.dodo.com
)
Optus
(
1800 780 219;
www.optus.com.au
)
Telstra
(
13 22 00;
www.telstra.com.au
)
Virgin
(
1300 555 100;
www.virginmobile.com.au
)
Vodafone
(
1300 650 410;
www.vodafone.com.au
)
Phonecards
There's a wide range of local and international phone-cards available from most newsagents and post offices for a fixed
dollar value (usually $5 to $50). These can be used with any public or private phone by dialling a toll-free access num-
ber and then the PIN on the card.
Tourist Information
Regional centres throughout the state will usually have a visitor centre or tourist information booth in a central location.
These are listed throughout this topic.
Tourism Victoria
( 13 28 42;
www.visitvictoria.com.au
) The state tourism body has a thorough website and phone
service. Its online travel planner offers maps, travel ideas and a route planner.
Travellers With Disabilities
Many of the attractions in Melbourne and regional Victoria are accessible for wheelchairs. Trains and newer trams have
low steps to accommodate wheelchairs and people with limited mobility. Many car parks in the city have convenient
spaces allocated for disabled drivers. All pedestrian crossings feature sound cues and accessible buttons.
