This page is a collection of information compiled that may hopefully be useful to overseas visitors, as well as Australian travellers, in their travels throughout Australia. Perhaps putting this info here will also attract a few international visitors to enjoy some of the theatre on offer in Sydney & NSW....
For Backpackers - Questions to ask your employer before starting work
https://www.travellers.com.au/work-in-oz/employer-checklist/
Australian Government Harvest-Trail Guide
For info on rural seasonal work (eg. fruit-picking work) in Australia. Farm work can be a great Australian experience but please be aware of some of the scams that some of the more ruthless and unscrupulous farms or farm labour contractors in the industry have operated in the past & present. There are some more links about these scams further down the page.
https://jobsearch.gov.au/job/search/harvest
Fair Work Australia - Top Tips For Backpackers & Seasonal Workers - Harvest Trail Campaign
YHA Australia Mobile App - Going on a roadtrip in OZ? – The Youth Hostels Association of Australia App available for IOS and Android is the perfect companion during your travels in Australia.
https://www.yha.com.au/travel-and-tours/travelling-in-australia/yha-australia-app/
Free state-by-state Field Guide mobile phone apps for the animals/creatures in each different Australian state take up a bit of space on your phone but once you have them ( for offline use) they are great. Found at either of the following links:
https://museumvictoria.com.au/discoverycentre/museum-victoria-apps/national-field-guide-apps/
http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/wildlife/2014/06/best-australian-wildlife-apps-of-2014
WIRES App- Wildlife Rescue App - Rescue help available 365 days a year. WIRES app provides a quick and easy way to find out how you can help sick, injured and orphaned wildlife. You can report a rescue directly from the app and access some of the most important information you need to know if you find native animals in distress. You can download WIRES rescue app to your smart phone or tablet to get wildlife advice and rescue assistance from WIRES rescue team 7 days a week.
http://www.wires.org.au/rescue/rescue-app
Questagame (wildlife app) : "a fun game to engage kids to engage with nature"
Emergency Assistance
In the event of an emergency (police, ambulance or fire) dial 000, or, from your mobile phone, you can also call 112.
The Red Cross First Aid app , is great, particularly for offline use ( and free)
http://m.redcross.org.au/content/first-aid-app?m=1
Facts about snake bites in Australia - via Trailhiking Australia website
https://www.trailhiking.com.au/facts-snake-bites/
'Health Direct' - this Australian National Health Services Directory app is very useful if you need to locate a chemist shop, GP/doctor or hospital emergency department which is open
Wikicamps app is great for finding camping spots across Australia....
http://www.wikicamps.com.au/help.php
Beachsafe App (for Android and IPhone) - provides the public with quality up-to-the-minute Australian beach safety information at all times
"Emergency+" ... smartphone app
http://www.triplezero.gov.au/Pages/EmergencySmartphoneApp.aspx
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732): 24 hour, National Sexual Assault, Family & Domestic Violence Counselling Line
https://www.1800respect.org.au/
Daisy - an app for women. Violence against women is unacceptable. Daisy is an app that connects women around Australia to services. Daisy can link you up with a service phone number, be used to search the internet for more information and let you know what to expect when contacting a service. Family members and friends can use Daisy to gather information and support a loved one’s decision making
https://www.1800respect.org.au/daisy/
Sexual Assault Abroad - published October 15, 2016
A blog post by backpacker Bethany Edwards outlining her poor treatment by Victoria Police after being sexually assaulted in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
https://newbrandorder.wordpress.com/2016/10/14/sexualassaultabroad/
Crisis Help Lines
A list of all the different help-lines available for you to call if you, or someone you know, are experiencing a crisis of some kind
http://www.whiteribbon.org.au/finding-help
Headspace - the National Youth Mental Health Foundation providing early intervention mental health services to 12-25 year olds. The service is designed to make it easy as possible for a young person and their family to get the help they need for problems affecting their wellbeing. This covers four core areas: mental health, physical health, work and study support and alcohol and other drug services.
http://headspace.org.au/about-us/
Rocky Travel Blog: How to travel solo and discover Australia like a local
http://www.rockytravel.net/blog/
8 Tips for the Solo Traveller to Australia
http://www.rockytravel.net/blog/the-solo-traveller-australia/
Tips for travelling alone in Australia
http://www.rockytravel.net/blog/tips-for-travelling-alone-in-australia/
Weather Warnings & Information: The Australian Bureau of Meteorology
Australian Domestic Quarantine rules for interstate travel.
Travel between various states whilst carrying certain fruits and vegetables is prohibited/restricted by quarantine laws and checks at some state borders.
A particular pest (destructive to agricultural crops) is the fruit fly, whose larvae can live in the skins of fruit and vegetables.
See more about the rules here.
http://www.quarantinedomestic.gov.au
Buy the AIATSIS Map of Indigenous Australia (produced by AIATSIS - Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies)
Also available at many bookshops for around $25.
Buy online here: http://www.aiatsis.ashop.com.au/c/4326118/1/linguistics-languages.html
Online Interactive Map of Indigenous Australia
http://www.abc.net.au/indigenous/map/
http://aiatsis.gov.au/explore/articles/aboriginal-australia-map
Indigenous Australia - great website for info on Indigenous culture of Australia
http://www.indigenousaustralia.info/index.htm
Experience Aboriginal Australia - Australian gov't tourism website
http://www.australia.com/en/articles/aboriginal.html
Meetup App - join a Meetup social group to socialise and meet new friends in many locations across Australia, and worldwide
http://help.meetup.com/customer/portal/articles/886408-download-meetup-for-ios-or-android
Australian Government Apps - a wide selction of smartphone apps produced by Australia government agencies
http://www.australia.gov.au/about-government/apps
"Five tips to help you survive your Australian road trip"
http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2014/04/24/3991664.htm
Government Tourism Websites....
Australia.com http://www.australia.com/en
Explore Australia by Map http://www.australia.com/en/explore.html
Visit NSW http://www.visitnsw.com/
NSW http://www.australia.com/en/places/nsw.html
Visit Sydney http://www.sydney.com/
Queensland http://www.australia.com/en/places/qld.html
Victoria http://www.australia.com/en/places/vic.html
Western Australia http://www.australia.com/en/places/wa.html
South Australia http://www.australia.com/en/places/sa.html
Australian Capital Territory (ACT) http://www.australia.com/en/places/act.html
Northern Territory http://www.australia.com/en/places/nt.html
Tasmania http://www.australia.com/en/places/tas.html
NSW DISCOVERY PASS - Are you considering travelling (by train & coach) within New South Wales ?
A Premium DISCOVERY PASS entitles you to 6 months unlimited travel ($420 Economy or... $550 First Class) on the NSW Regional Train & Coach Network. It really is VERY good value.... the DISCOVERY PASS actually INCLUDES trips to Melbourne and Brisbane....from Sydney. Excellent!
http://www.nswtrainlink.info/deals/discovery
YHA Australia - Youth Hostels Australia has a network of quality hostels around the country
Travel Tips from YHA Australia - worth reading!
https://www.yha.com.au/travel-and-tours/travelling-in-australia/travel-hints/
Links to websites of 250 newspapers throughout Sydney & New South Wales
Wotif App -find accommodation & flights -
AirBnB app & website - find short term accommodation across Australia
Trip Advisor App - find accommodation, restaurants, cafes +++ more....
https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/apps
Yellow Pages Business Telephone Directory - to find businesses....
http://www.yellowpages.com.au/
Whitepages Telephone Directory - a combined Business/Residential & Gov't Agency national telephone directory
Yelp App - The free Yelp mobile app describes itself as "the fastest and easiest way to search for businesses near you"
https://www.yelp.com.au/mobile
Water Safety in Australia - website with some very useful information for travellers who may be unfamiliar with Australian water-environment conditions.
http://www.watersafety.nsw.gov.au/home/
"Water Safety - When swimming at any patrolled Australian beach, always swim between the red and yellow flags. This is the safest part of the beach for swimming and is monitored by lifesavers who will assist swimmers who are in trouble. If you need help from a lifesaver, signal for help by holding one arm up and waving. While you wait for the lifesaver, try to float on your back and stay calm. When in northern Australia, never swim where crocodiles are known to inhabit. Dangerous jellyfish also inhabit the waters in northern Australia during the months of October to April."" See also : the Beachsafe App (for Android and IPhone) - http://beachsafe.org.au/apps
State-based Fire Safety apps and info
For bushfire info app FIRES NEAR ME in New South Wales (showing fires near you) could potentially save lives
QLDFires App on iTunes - info on current fires in Queensland
https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/qld-fires/id576245922?mt=8
FireReady App - Victorian Country Fire Authority
http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/plan-prepare/fireready-app/
South Australia Country Fire Service App
http://www.cfs.sa.gov.au/site/news_and_media/cfs_smartphone_application.jsp
Western Australia Fire Alerts and Warnings Map
http://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/alerts/Pages/alertsmap.aspx
See also, Bushfire Warnings, the sites and apps you need
http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2013/01/bushfire-warnings-the-sites-and-apps-you-need/
Bushwalking websites (bushwalking = walking in wilderness/forests)
http://www.bushwalkingnsw.org.au/
http://www.bushwalkingaustralia.org/
http://www.aussiebushwalking.com/
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/australia/things-to-do/bushwalking-in-australia
TREK - safety information on bushwalking from NSW Police
"Basic bushcraft crucial to outback survival, says expert bushman"
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-09/back-to-basics-bush-skills-needed-says-expert/7312064
Bob Coopers Outback Survival Course (and shop) - near Perth, Western Australia
http://www.bobcoopersurvival.com/
And this US. Army Survival Guide app (at top of the list) is a good one... for offline use in emergency situations
http://appcrawlr.com/android-apps/best-apps-army-survival-guide
Tesltra Phone Coverage in remote areas - for mobile phone coverage in regional Australia (outside the main cities) ... i think Telstra network is generally best
http://www.telstra.com.au/coverage-networks/our-coverage
Prepaid sim cards can be bought.
QUEENSLAND EXPLORER PASS - ....in Queensland.... but for overseas travellers only... Queensland Rail have a 1 month unlimited QUEENSLAND EXPLORER PASS ($300) and a 2 month pass (for $389) which is actually less than a return economy rail trip from Brisbane to Cairns....
https://www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au/Planyourtrip/Railinformation/Pages/Rail-Passes.aspx
Australian English & Slang
http://www.koalanet.com.au/australian-slang.html
http://blogs.acu.edu.au/international/2160/8-essential-australian-slang-expressions/
http://www.australianexplorer.com/slang/phrases.htm
https://thingsaussieslike.wordpress.com/speaking-aussie-style-2/
What is a 'road train' ?
http://www.shorttraveltips.com/what-is-a-road-train/
"Five tips to help you survive your Australian road trip"
http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2014/04/24/3991664.htm
Nullabor Net
http://www.nullarbornet.com.au/
The Nullabor Traveller
Our Languages - Info on Australia's traditional Aboriginal Languages
http://www.ourlanguages.net.au/languages/language-maps.html
Experience Aboriginal Australia - tours, group travel, tailor-made travel - via the Aboriginal Benefits Foundation
http://www.aboriginalaustralia.com.au/
Voyages - Indigenous Tourism Australia
Preparing your visit & travel to Aboriginal Australia
Tips for responsible travel in Aboriginal Australia
BackpackAround.Com - Australia
http://www.backpackaround.com/
"15 tips for backpacking Australia & New Zealand"
http://stayatbase.com/blog/15-travel-tips-for-backpacking-australia-new-zealand
"My Top Ten Backpacker Tips For Australia"
http://www.traveldudes.org/travel-tips/my-top-ten-backpacker-tips-australia/27845
"15 Tips for Your First Experience Backpacking in Australia"
http://www.backpackingmatt.com/backpacking-in-australia-tips/
Public Transport Apps - Sydney / Melbourne / Brisbane / Perth / Adelaide
Tripview Sydney-Melbourne - iTunes
https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/tripview-sydney-melbourne/id294730339?mt=8
Tripview - Sydney-Melbourne - Google Play
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.grofsoft.tripview&hl=en
Translink - Brisbane - iPhone & Android
http://translink.com.au/plan-your-journey/mytranslink
Public Transport Victoria for iPhone & Android
http://ptv.vic.gov.au/getting-around/mobile-apps/
TransPerth App - Perth Western Australia
http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/Journey-Planner/Mobile-Services/Official-Transperth-App
Adelaide Metro Public Transport Apps
https://www.adelaidemetro.com.au/Timetables-Maps/Mobile-Apps
National Public Toilet Map - Australia
National Public Toilet Map App
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/national-public-toilet-map/id323279108?mt=8
Just In Time Toilet App - by DGSD (Australian Public Toilet Directory)
Busting for a dunny? This App will relieve your problems by pointing out the nearest public toilet for your convenience
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dgsd.android.publicToiletFin