Communications & Electricity

Australia offers modern and reliable telecommunication services. Telephone, post, email and Internet services are readily available to visitors. The details below will assist with your communications home.

Telephones
Australia has a modern and competitive telephone system. You can make local calls, long-distance calls within Australia (STD), and International Direct Dialling (IDD) calls. Local calls from public payphones are untimed and charged per call. Long distance and international calls are usually timed.  Public payphones accept Australian coins and some accept credit cards and pre-paid phone cards. Language assistance is available through Telstra's Foreign Language Services in the White Pages directory. Visit www.aca.gov.au or www.telstra.com.au for more information.

Mobile Phones
Mobile phones are available for rent, or bring your mobile phone with you. Australia’s mobile network operates on the 900 and 1800 bands for GSM and 800 for CDMA. Before arriving, check with your telecommunications carrier to see if your mobile phone will operate in Australia and to activate international roaming while you are here. If you a travelling for a short period, it may be beneficial to buy a prepaid mobile phone starter kit. This includes a SIM card and a prepaid phone card.

There are five main mobile phone providers in Australia:
- Telestra www.telstra.com.au
- Optus www.optus.com.au
- Vodafone www.vodafone.com.au
- Virgin www.virginmobile.com.au
- Three www.three.com.au

Calling Queensland
Queensland’s area code is 07, but the zero is left off when calling from outside Australia.To call Queensland direct from your country dial:

  1. Your country’s international access code
  2. Australia’s country code:61
  3. Queensland area code:7
  4. Number you are dialling:…

For example:

To call the Queensland number (07) 3456 7890 from your country, you dial: (your country’s international access code) — 61 — 7 — 3456 7890.


Email and Internet
Internet and email access is readily available at numerous Internet cafes, hotels, hostels and libraries. Australia uses RJ-45 telephone plugs and Telstra EXI-160 four-pin plugs. If your connection is not correct go to a local electronic shop. Also check that your PC-card modem is suitable in Australia. An easy way to access Internet and email is via one of the many free web-based email services such as Hotmail or Yahoo.


Postal Services
Post offices are usually open 9.00am — 5.00pm Monday to Friday with General Post Office in Brisbane open from 7.00am — 6.00pm Monday to Friday. Stamps are usually available from hotels and motels, and selected retail outlets.

 

Electricity
The power voltage in Australia is 220-240 volts, AC 50Hz. You will need an adaptor plug for the standard Australian three pin socket. If your appliances are 110V, you will need a voltage converter. Multi-voltage appliances and round-the-world adaptors are available at most large hardware and department stores.