General Tour Information
ENTERING AUSTRALIA: U.S. citizens may travel to Australia on a valid U.S. passport with an Australian visa or, if eligible, on a valid U.S. passport and an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA), which replaces a visa and allows a stay of up to three months. The ETA is free of charge and is available from airlines and many travel agents. More information about the ETA and entry requirements may be obtained from the Embassy of Australia at 1601 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036, telephone (202) 797-3000, via the Australian Embassy home page on the Internet at http://www.austemb.org/, or from the Australian Consulate General in Los Angeles, tel (310) 229-4840.
CLIMATE: The weather in Australia varies from state to state. In general, we should experience mild to warm weather but it could be cold in Victoria at the start of the tour, especially on Phillip Island and it will be hot, with high humidity in the Darwin region. Nights will vary from cold to warm. Rain is possible at any time.
PACE OF TOUR & DAILY ROUTINE: The tour will not be physically strenuous in any way. Most days will be broken up into optional sections, with pre-breakfast excursions, morning/afternoon trips, and, on some nights, after dinner spotlighting for nocturnal mammals and birds. Thus you will be able to choose all-day birding or a more relaxed scheduled as you so wish. Please bear in mind that this is a very long tour, so it is important to pace yourself appropriately. On some days, especially when we are traveling from one area to another, opportunities to take time off will be more limited. In some areas, especially in the south we make some long drives, so come prepared to spend a little more time than usual in the vehicles.
We’ll normally have breakfast in our hotel, though sometimes this will be cereal, fruit, juice, coffee and toast in our rooms. On some days we will have a picnic lunch while on others we’ll stop at a small cafe or take-away for sandwiches and a drink. We’ll usually return to the hotel in the late afternoon/early evening and we’ll almost always have a break of an hour to shower and relax before dinner. We’ll compile a checklist of the birds we’ve seen just before or just after dinner each day.
PELAGIC TRIP: The pelagic trip at the end of the tour can be rough, though the birds are fantastic. Those who suffer badly from sea-sickness may prefer to spend the day sightseeing in Sydney. (Please note that our tour schedule does not allow any time for sightseeing in Sydney. Those wishing to do this, as well as the pelagic trip, might prefer to spend an extra night in Sydney at the end of the tour. We can arrange this on request.)
HEALTH: No immunizations are required for visitors to Australia (unless you are visiting other countries en route).
ACCOMMODATION: Throughout the tour we’ll be staying in good quality hotels, with private bathroom facilities in every room. Our hotels will vary from fairly basic motels in out of the way small country towns, to international airport hotels in Melbourne and Sydney. Almost all Australian hotels provide tea and coffee making facilities in the room and have self-service laundry rooms. Some have a laundry service as well.
DRESS: Neat informal dress is accepted in most places, although denim jeans are not accepted everywhere. Flip-flop type sandals are not acceptable as footwear in some restaurants, though leather sandals are accepted. Shorts are commonly worn throughout Australia, even as formal dress, when they are usually worn with knee-length socks.
TRANSPORT: Transportation throughout most of the tour will be in minibuses driven by the leaders. During our day trip to Ayers Rock we will use a 20-seater coach with a local driver.
SMOKING: Smoking is not allowed in the vehicles or when the group is gathered for meals, checklists etc. If you are sharing a room with a non-smoker, please do not smoke in the room. If you smoke in the field, we ask that you do so well away and downwind from the group if possible.
GENERAL INFORMATION & CONDITIONS: Please take a moment to read the (WINGS General Information & Conditions)[/about]. This section contains important information about how we conduct tours, e.g., what is included in the tour price, refund and cancellation policies, pace of the tours and other information that will help you prepare for the tour.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: A more complete General Information for Tours to Australia will be sent to each registrant on receipt of their booking. Final information with instructions for meeting the group, hotel addresses, etc., will be mailed about three weeks before trip departure. Other news will be communicated as necessary. If you have any questions, please contact us.
Updated: February 2006