Australia travel guide

Split Australia into Sydney's harbour and beaches and Melbourne's galleries and markets, and even a short trip works.

From Sydney Airport station a station access fee is added, and from Melbourne Airport SkyBus runs to Southern Cross station in the city.

Australia's emergency number is 000. The two cities are linked by air. If your trip is short, seeing just one city in depth is a good option too.

The seasons are reversed from the Northern Hemisphere, so pack accordingly.

Visa and entry requirements for Australia

Whether you need a visa, how long you can stay and which pre-arrival forms apply all depend on your nationality and the purpose of your trip. Check the official source below, and your own government's travel advice, before you book.

Holders of eligible passports visiting for tourism, family or business visits of up to three months can apply for the Electronic Travel Authority (ETA, subclass 601), only through the official Australian ETA app; you cannot apply while in Australia. Others need a visa; use the Visa Finder.

• Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601) (Australian Government Department of Home Affairs)
• Visa Finder (Australian Government Department of Home Affairs)

Sydney splits into the harbour, with Circular Quay and the Opera House, and beaches such as Manly and Bondi. In Melbourne, galleries and markets cluster in the city center north of the Yarra, connected on foot. The two cities are linked by air, so plan each separately.

With four nights or more, link the two. Flights between them are frequent; check times and fares by date with the airlines. Your airport transfer depends on whether you arrive in Sydney (SYD) or Melbourne (MEL).

Based on official information.

Continue with Sydney (in Korean) and Melbourne (in Korean).

Eligible passport holders apply for an ETA when visiting Australia for up to three months for tourism, to see friends and family, or for business visits. The ETA can only be applied for in the Australian ETA app, free on the Apple App Store and Google Play, with a non-refundable AUD 20 service charge per application. The Australian Government says there is no visa application charge for the ETA itself, only the app service charge. Sites that ask you to apply on a website or charge more than AUD 20 are not the official channel.

Results normally arrive by email within 72 hours, but you may be asked for more information, so apply four weeks before departure. An approved ETA is linked to your passport number and allows multiple entries for 12 months or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. Each stay can last up to three months, and you cannot work. If you get a new passport, you must apply for a new ETA.

You cannot apply for an ETA while in Australia. An ETA granted with incorrect personal details cannot be corrected; you have to apply again with the correct information. Double-check your passport details before applying.

The Sydney Opera House opened in 1973 and was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2007. Its design began in 1957, when an international jury chose the entry of Danish architect Jørn Utzon. Three groups of shell roofs cover two performance halls and a restaurant, set on a broad podium. The terraces around the podium serve as walkways.

The heritage property covers 5.8 hectares, with a buffer zone of 438.1 hectares, preserved under management plans by the Australian Government and New South Wales. Walk in from Circular Quay, circle the outer terraces, then time it with a tour or performance for a neat day.

At Sydney Airport stations, an AUD 18.61 station access fee is added to the train fare; the weekday peak total to Circular Quay is AUD 22.94. From Melbourne Airport, SkyBus to Southern Cross station costs AUD 25.90 one way for adults and AUD 43.40 return.

In Sydney, use an Opal card or a contactless card; in Melbourne, use a myki card outside the free city tram zone. Each city has its own transport card, so check the rules before you land. The Sydney Opera House tour lasts one hour, and the ferry from Circular Quay to Manly costs AUD 9.20 one way. The NGV's permanent collection in Melbourne is free, open daily 10:00 to 17:00.

Australia's emergency number is 000, and the police non-emergency line is 131 444. Save your own embassy's or consulate's numbers in your phone and on paper. The emergency number is the same anywhere in Sydney or Melbourne. Writing down your accommodation address too helps in case you are without your phone.

Confirm in the app that your ETA is approved before departure. The Sydney Opera House tour is AUD 5 cheaper booked in advance than on site, and is closed on 25 and 31 December 2026. Melbourne's Queen Victoria Market is closed on Mondays and Wednesdays. Note the days and closures for both cities first, then fit your flights around them. Buy tickets once your dates are set.

Pre-departure checklist

• Apply for your ETA (or visa) and confirm approval
• Check your government's travel advice
• Confirm whether you arrive in Sydney or Melbourne
• Check your Opera House tour date and Queen Victoria Market days
• Save the emergency number 000 and your embassy's number

• For harbour and beaches: center Sydney on the Opera House and the Manly ferry.
• For galleries and markets: time the NGV and Queen Victoria Market to their opening days in Melbourne.
• For both cities: four nights or more; check flight times first.