Day-to-Day Insider Tips On Life in Australia
Australia is such an incredible place, to say the very least! There is only so much you can learn before experiencing it yourself, but I’ll do my best to share all the advice I can on what I have picked up on from living here. So far, I’m three weeks into being on this continent for an exchange program and will continue to update this post as I learn more. I so hope you find this helpful. Comment any and all questions you have below!
Beaches:
Expect patches of seaweed to have built up near shorelines. Entirely harmless, just something to be aware of.
If there are flags setup by the water, swim between the flags for extra safety. Some beaches’ lifeguards won’t allow you to swim outside them at all, but you may get away with it at others ;)
Spots like Cottesloe in Western Australia have shark nets. Swimming between the flags, therefore within the net, will keep you 100% clear of sharks swimming your way.
Usually the water is crystal clear or close to it, especially on the Indian Ocean side.
A small handful of beaches like Swanbourne in Western Australia are “clothing optional.”
Dining:
Most, if not all, restaurants will serve you with a glass bottle of water for your table to fill your glasses with.
There are so many cafes! Hot tip: you may order, say, an iced latte and get asked if you want ice cream in it. A common menu option and I would argue this is a must-do at least once ;)
Brunch spots especially have silverware containers with forks and knives that get brought to you.
Some establishments are closed on certain weekdays, particularly true for Mondays and Tuesdays. Check their website and/or social media for clarification.
Lifestyle:
The shops tend to only be open from 11:00am to 5:00pm on Sundays.
In Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia, a single-use plastic ban has been in play since September of 2023.
Even when my sister and I were in Sydney, New South Whales (NSW), we barely saw any plastic outside of the drinks aisle on the grocery store… at all.
The Aussie sun is not to be underestimated, even when sitting out at lunch for a few hours (which is how my sister and I got fried on our second day, dining at Sydney’s Opera House Bar in the mid-afternoon). Daily sunscreen is truly imperative!
Woolworth’s (affectionately known as Woolie’s) brand of sunscreen applies seamlessly with no white cast.
So few Australians get sunburnt… seriously. When my sister and I were recovering but still going out and about, probably a dozen people came up to us with genuine, kind concerns and advice on how to heal (aloe, stay inside, use umbrellas, etc.).
