Climate

With warm summers and mild winters, Perth enjoys one of only five of the Mediterranean climate zones in the world. For most of the year, the weather is fine and sunny, even during the short mild winter. The temperature ranges between 30C and 33C in the summer to 15C to 18C in the winter.

Clothing

Dressing in Perth is casual and accommodates the weather so have warmer clothing for the winter and lighter clothing for the summer months.

Currency

The currency in Perth is the Australian Dollar. Credit cards and traveler checks are widely accepted in hotels and major shops. Credit cards are widely accepted and ATMs are available throughout the country.

Customs

Customs officers collect import duties and sales tax, check passengers and baggage for illicit drugs, firearms (including replica guns such as BB guns), animal skins and other prohibited items (such as blowpipes and flick knives). It is illegal to take or send out of Australia items identified as important to Australia's cultural heritage without a permit.
You must declare currency in the amount of A$10,000 or more into or out of Australia. An International Currency Transfer Report Form is available from Customs.

Failure to declare goods in excess of your concession could result in the application of penalties.

Quarantine and Inspection

Strict quarantine laws are in place regarding the importing or transporting of identified food stuffs - domestically and internationally. Inspection officers and detector dogs are on duty at all state entry points including air, sea, road and rail.

While they may seem harmless, nuts, seeds, fruit and vegetables, plants, flowers, honey, animals and introduced birds pose real threats to the Western Australian environment. Even used fruit and vegetable containers should be presented and scanned by Australian Quarantine and Inspection Services (AQIS) to ensure they are clean, and present no risk.

The best rule to follow is, "If in doubt, declare it".

Be warned, heavy penalties apply to those people not declaring items identified as a risk.

Electricity

Electricity is supplied at 240 volts, 50 Hz.

Emergency Call Numbers

The emergency number to dial is 000.
The main police station is 9222 111.

For emergency medical:
Royal Perth Hospital
Victoria Square Ph: 9224 2244

The Travellers Vaccination and Medical Centre
5 Mill Street off St Georges Terrace Ph: 9821 1977

Health

A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required by travellers over one year of age arriving within six days of having stayed overnight or longer in an infected country. No other special immunizations or medications are required for entry.

Insect repellents are strongly advised for travel into the Northern Territory, north Queensland and north Western Australia, as well as certain parts of New South Wales and Victoria, because of the risk of Murray Valley encephalitis, Ross River virus infections, dengue fever and other mosquito-borne illnesses. Beach-goers are warned to beware of jellyfish in the coastal waters; stings have proved fatal on occasion.

Local Area Information

PERTH CITY CENTRE is located alongside the peaceful waters of the Swan River, twenty Kilometres inland of the Indian Ocean on the West Coast of Australia. The river provided the original colony with transportation for themselves and for supplies. Today, most of the two million people who live in Western Australia reside in this sophisticated and scenic state capital. Perth is named after the Scottish city of the same name, and was proclaimed by Queen Victoria as a city in 1856.

Mobile Phones

Mobile phone operators use GSM and CDMA networks. Mobile phones are available for rent.

Public Phones

Local calls from public payphones are unlimited and cost a standard rate, while international and long distance calls are charged according to the time spent on the phone.

Shopping & Business Hours

Normal shopping hours are 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday. Thursday shops are open until 9pm. Shops are also open from 8am to 5.30pm on Saturday.

Bank and Government Offices

Banks and Government offices are open from 9:30am to 4pm from Mondays to Thursdays and 9:30am to 5pm on Fridays. A few banks now offer extended hours during the week and some are open on Saturday mornings.

Offices

Commercial offices are open from 9am to 5pm, Mondays to Fridays.

Taxes

Taxes are not applicable.

Time Zone

GMT +8 (GMT +9 from last Sunday in October to last Sunday in March)

Tipping

There are no mandatory gratuities in restaurant service charges of any kind in Australia, and tips are not expected anywhere, although it is becoming more common in expensive restaurants in the bigger cities to leave some money for good service.

Visa

Visa requirements vary per country. You can obtain the information from your travel agency on the requirements. Many countries require only the Electronic Travel Authority (ETA). An ETA is an electronically issued and verified visa, not visible in a passport. ETAs are issued to passengers travelling for tourist or business purposes. Tourist ETAs are valid for three months. ETAs are obtainable online at: www.eta.immi.gov.au or through most travel agents.

Disclaimer: All information is current dated (March 2008)