Time difference - Allowing for various local time variations (and this can vary by up to 3 hours from Eastern to Western Australia) are 2.5 to5.5 hours ahead of India.

Electricity - Domestic electricity is 240 volts/50 cycles A.C. Plugs are three flat pin and transformers and adaptors are easily obtainable.

Telecommunication - Australia has a modem telephone system with two main telecommunication companies Telstra and Optus. Public telephones are available at all post offices, shopping centres and are often situated on street corners.

Telephone credit cards and international phone cards are fast becoming popular and enable phone calls overseas (and within Australia) to be made without needing to insert coins. It is generally cheaper to ring India from Australia than vice versa.

Custom laws - Custom regulations are very strict in Australia keeping in line with the stringent environmental and sanitation requirements. As almost every product of daily necessity is available in Australia, you are advised to confine the weight of your baggage to the 20 kg limit. Charges for extra baggage are very high, and in most cases exceeds the cost at which many of the items can be bought locally.

For more details on quarantine and inspection service, you may contact the AEC Manager at the Australian High Commission or the institution concerned.