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Questions for my Australia jaunt

post #1 of 12
8/14/09 at 8:23pm
Thread Starter 
What should I expect in terms of my electronics and adapters and voltage and all that business?

Any info on iPhone functionality?

Currency, etc? I know the conversion rate's about .85 with the US Dollar but I have no idea what to expect in terms of value, etc. with Australian dough.
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post #2 of 12
8/14/09 at 8:24pm
You have to buy a foreign iPhone plan. Don't even bother with data. Contact AT&T about the phone plan - it'll be not cheap. But the data plan is fucking INSANE. Like seriously 10 bucks a meg of download.
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post #3 of 12
8/14/09 at 8:30pm
Thanks for asking this Nick, I'm taking a trip there in November and was looking for similar information. Hooray for happy coincidences.

I'm not really sure it will be worth bringing your iPhone, but I know how lost some people are without their instant 'net access and having a phone at all times.
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post #4 of 12
8/14/09 at 8:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nick Nunziata View Post
Currency, etc? I know the conversion rate's about .85 with the US Dollar but I have no idea what to expect in terms of value, etc. with Australian dough.
Not sure how relevant this will be as I was there in 1994. On the whole items tend to be priced about the same once you get through the currency rates. IIRC music CD's were a slight bit cheaper.

Again, IIRC, taxes will already be included in item prices. If an item is marked 11.95, it costs 11.95. They didn't have pennies back then and I doubt they added them since so everything will be in multiples of .05.
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post #5 of 12
8/14/09 at 9:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by TzuDohNihm View Post
Again, IIRC, taxes will already be included in item prices. If an item is marked 11.95, it costs 11.95. They didn't have pennies back then and I doubt they added them since so everything will be in multiples of .05.
This is correct, our stuff costs what it says on the tag. We don't have pennies but things still get marked in 1c increments sometimes (they will round the total to the nearest 5c).

Voltage is 240V, which may cause problems if you don't have a dual voltage appliance (US is 110V I think?). On the up side, you can get a relatively cheap iPhone charger from Dick Smith (they're like Radio Shack, there's one on Bourke St, cnr of Lonsdale) that will work in Australian sockets and the cable should work with your iPhone. They have universal adapters there for a couple of bucks too.

For currency, things will work out roughly the same after conversion. Some things will be more, some less etc. but it should all work out about the same.
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post #6 of 12
8/14/09 at 10:24pm
Yeah the price of everything here is more or less the same as it is in the States. Make sure you have a shitload of change for the trams when you are in Melbourne. Dont even think about buying any cds down here. Also: every single insect we have down here can kill you.
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post #7 of 12
8/15/09 at 6:58am
As far as I can tell, we get royally fucked on most media. DVD's, CD's and video games are more expensive. I know the policy on piracy around CHUD (which I generally agree with) but a lot of Australians download TV as it becomes available in the states as it's simply the best option.

They charge $17AUS for the cinema and there's a good chance the sound or something else will be messed up (at least in my dodgy suburb).

On the upside, getting drunk in public is accepted and generally encouraged.
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post #8 of 12
8/15/09 at 8:42am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kriegaffe View Post
On the upside, getting drunk in public is accepted and generally encouraged.
That's all he REALLY wanted to know.
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post #9 of 12
8/15/09 at 12:42pm
Don't convert your cash at the airport. At least not in NY, I've gotten ripped off before several times.
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post #10 of 12
8/15/09 at 7:44pm
See if you can sign up for OZ's new Adventure Package.
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post #11 of 12
8/16/09 at 2:45am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Troy n View Post
Dude, you could have just asked me.

Devin is right, you'll get killed with your data plan. Most electronics will convert the voltage so you just need to buy plug adapters but stuff like razors etc you'll need a voltage converter.

Plug ins are crazy here and light switches are backwards......
Figured you might be busy directing a fucking fright flick!
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post #12 of 12
8/16/09 at 5:37am
I hope you guys do have a good time in your stay. I understand we suck in a number of ways. All things considered, I'd like to think we have a fun country to hang out in for a while.
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