Travel Tips for Indian Students Before Going to Australia

On the list of countries that have the highest number of international students in the world, Australia is fifth on the list. In 2019, over 5.3 million students went to study abroad. If the current pace of growth continues, this figure will reach nearly 8 million by 2025.

As a student, you should not worry about going to Australia. You will have many students around you that have come from a foreign land. Your focus should be on getting ready to travel to a new country to fulfill your dreams.

We will discuss travel tips to ensure you don't have to spend too much time getting ready for travel:

1. Documentation - The first step in the planning is to ensure you have all the required documents to travel to Australia. You must have a passport, visa, driver's license, health record, birth certificate, and academic documents. Check your university's website to know the documents needed, and ensure you keep them.
2. Clothing - Australia is not just about beaches and deserts, as you would have seen in the movies. At times, the weather there is harsh and cold. You should carry many clothes, but you should not overpack. Carry a winter jacket, lightweight clothes, a rain jacket, etc.
   The best approach would be to carry a minimum of clothes and buy them in Australia, depending on the weather. Local garments are more suited for local weather. It would be best if you carried bedsheets and towels from India as they are expensive in Australia.
3. Driving license - You can use your current Indian driving license in Australia to navigate. However, many state and territory governments of Australia require you to get an Australian driver's license if you are here for more than three months.
4. Cooking utensils - Though you will find many Indian restaurants in most Australian cities, those are not affordable. If you don't want to miss Indian food for long, the best thing is to learn to cook and carry the essential cooking utensils. You must have a pressure cooker and Tawa as these are super expensive in Australia and difficult to find. Also, you should carry Indian spices and pickles as they are not readily available there, and if they are, they are costly.
   You cannot get started with cooking from day 1. Hence it would help if you carried some ready-to-eat packets from India. It will help you survive the first few days.
5. Electronics - You can carry your laptops and tablets from India if you have one. If you plan to buy a new one, check the specification your college is asking you to have. The better option would be to buy from Australia as you would get free services and can use the warranty.
   All the mobiles work in Australia, so you can carry your existing mobile phone. To capture the beautiful beaches, have a good phone camera. Or you can take a camera if you like photography.
6. Accommodation - You need to include accommodation in your travel plans. If the college provides you with on-campus housing, and you are comfortable with the cost (on-campus living is expensive), you don't have to think much about it.
   However, if you want to explore other options, you should decide according to your budget, area, facilities, your location at the university, etc. One of the best options for students who do not wish to stay on campus is shared accommodation near the college. It will bring down your rental expenses significantly. There are many websites - you can explore the option before you travel.
7. International Calling Plans- Being a student in Australia, you need to have a good international calling plan. Numerous providers offer cost-effective programs which every student wishes for. A few good companies are Telstra, Optus, TPG, Dodo, Felix, Lyca mobile, etc.
8. Bank Accounts- Being a student in Australia, it is imperative to open a bank account that will be used for your everyday banking and can be used for paying your bills, international money transactions, and managing your student accommodation. Australia's four leading banks, NAB, Commonwealth Bank, ANZ, and Westpac, offer online applications for their standard current and savings accounts open to anyone, including those traveling on visas.
9. You can work in Australia - Many students are looking to work part-time in Australia to meet their expenses. The good news is that there are many options for students to work in Australia. Students are permitted to work 20 hours per week while studying, with a minimum estimated national wage of $17.70 per hour. This way, the students can be safe enough to send money home.
10. Australian Dollar - Last on the list, but it is essential before you close your bag to travel to Australia. You must buy Australian Dollars to meet your initial expenses there, like paying for your first transportation to reach your destination or for the food, sim card, etc.
    You can get the currency exchanged at the airport, but it will cost you a lot. Also, the Indian Rupee cannot be exchanged at the airport in Australia. So, it would be best to buy Australian Dollars from India itself. You can carry up to 10,000 AUD (Australian dollars) without declaring it with the customs.