Other operators include British Airways, Quantas, Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, Thai and Emirates. Sydney in July and August is similar to a mild summer's day here. Spring and Autumn are ideal. The busy times when you must book accommodation well in advance are Christmas, the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras festival in February, the main Mardi Gras parade in early March and at Easter. Credit cards are widely accepted, while most cash dispensers will provide money direct from accounts in Europe.
Notes are plastic, washable and virtually unbreakable.
There are many shops specializing in Australian clothing from outback hats to skimpy swim wear. Many shops sell locally mined opals, but enlist the help of an expert before you buy. Black and Boulder opals are the genuine article. Doublets and triplets are just cheap sliced stone. A disturbing number of Australian shops now market animal skins.