Country Information

Country Code: .
Payhone phonecards are available at newsagents, supermarkets and chemists and can be used for local or international calls. Most payphones also accept coins. You can send text messages to Australian mobiles from almost half of all payphones. Creditphones, which take most major credit cards, can be found at airports, city-centre locations and many hotels. Multimedia payphones are available in parts of Melbourne and Sydney. A touch screen allows you to gain access to information services, including tourist information which can be printed off for future reference. You can buy phonecards for these telephones from nearby shops. You can also make Skype calls from many internet cafés.

Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good in and around populated areas; access in some of the more isolated, outback and rural areas is limited. US handsets are not compatible.

Available throughout Australia. Internet cafés are prevalent in all capital cities and tourist towns, and individual hotels may also provide facilities. Wi-Fi access is increasing in cities and is mainly found in hotels, bars and cafés.

There is good freedom of the press. The biggest-selling nationwide newspaper is The Australian, although regional newspapers actually enjoy higher readerships. The most notable of these are The Sydney Morning Herald and The Daily Telegraph (both Sydney-based) and The Herald Sun and The Age (both Melbourne-based). There are two publicly funded media outlets – the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS). They both broadcast on free-to-air television, radio and online. Almost everywhere in the country also receives three commercial television stations – the Nine Network, the Seven Network and Channel Ten.

There are post offices in all the main towns of every state. Stamps are often available at hotel and motel reception areas and selected newsagents.

Mon-Fri 0900-1700; some post office are also open Sat 0900-1200.