Enjoying yourself Australia
Timetable Australia
Whether it is winter or summer, in Australia the restaurant hours are variable as they are everywhere in the world. However, Australians tend to dine early. In urban areas, restaurants often have fixed hours and do not offer continuous service, so you can have lunch from 12 to 2pm and dinner from 6 to 10pm. Beware, in some tropical cities (Cairns or Brisbane), some restaurants follow the rhythm of the sun and close their kitchens at 9pm. In some remote areas, restaurants have variable hours and sometimes close their doors completely randomly. In some bush and outback towns, you will sometimes have no choice but to go to one address: the famous roadhouses, where you can sleep, eat and buy groceries and gas.
Budget & Tips Australia
It's easy to cut costs when it comes to your catering budget, as long as you're not too fussy about your diet: burgers, pizzas, hot dogs or the classic cheap steak/fries often go hand in hand with a good calorie intake! These are usually found in pubs with a friendly, even boisterous atmosphere. You'll often get by for around AU$20 and leave with a full stomach.
While fast-food outlets and most restaurant chains offer interesting and economical daily menus including starter, main course, dessert and drink, most other restaurants offer dishes directly from the menu, and menus are rarer.
Backpackers and other road-trippers go to supermarkets (Woolworths, Coles, IGA...) to do their own shopping. You can then prepare your own meals if your accommodation has a kitchen, or if you have a converted van.
In town and country, all methods of payment are accepted. It may come as a surprise, but some of the most isolated establishments in theOutback offer to pay by credit card. Just to be on the safe side, make sure you have cash on hand. Finally, if you've bitten off more than you can chew, you should know that even if the practice is still not widespread in France, it's not at all frowned upon to ask for a doggy bag in Australia... on the contrary! It's a completely democratized practice. It's a great way to save money for tomorrow's meal!
What costs extra Australia
Tipping exists but is not customary. If you wish to leave a tip, please allow for 10% of the total due. If you pay by credit card, the TIP (tip) on the printout allows you to add the desired amount when paying. Make a habit of crossing out the box if you do not enter any amount, to avoid any falsification.
The local way Australia
In restaurants, you will often see the acronym "BYO" which stands for Bring your own. This means that you can bring your own bottle to the restaurant. This is either free of charge or averaged out via corkage, a flat fee charged for "uncorking" the bottle. Outside of restaurants, there's nothing more local than eating a barbecue prepared in the open air in the traditional Australian way of cooking with others and enjoying the food in a friendly atmosphere. Everywhere in Australia, in the parks, on the seaside, on the camping areas and some national parks, you will find spaces equipped with modern barbecues ready to welcome your grills. Access is free, just make sure you clean up after yourself: you can check it yourself, Australians have a great sense of citizenship, they always make sure to leave the place spotless for the next visitors!
To be avoided Australia
If you want to try the local game and in particular kangaroo or crocodile, allow us some recommendations: make sure of the quality of the products. Finally, it goes without saying that you should opt for local addresses and avoid the big chains!
Kids Australia
Children are welcome in most restaurants, with the exception of some upscale restaurants that promise privacy and quiet, but do not allow children under the age of 18 to dine there.
Smokers Australia
Smoking is not allowed in restaurants, although some terraces are equipped for smokers.
Tourist traps Australia
Like any self-respecting big city, you will come across touts in front of the restaurant or on the sidewalk who will try to get you in, offering you long menus and endless dishes: this is where you have to be careful! Beware, Melbourne or Sydney are full of this kind of restaurants, too expensive for the quality offered. Generally, a menu dressed with non-contractual pictures offers dozens and dozens of dishes, which often announces a cuisine that is not homemade. A short menu is a sign of quality and freshness of the products.
Take a break Australia
Timetable Australia
Whether it's craft beer, Australian wine or expertly brewed coffee, there's no time like the present to sample the delights Australia has to offer! Cafés are generally open from 6am to 7am until mid-afternoon. In high season, the doors are open every day on weekdays and sometimes even on Sundays, but beware, the opening hours become more random as you go deeper into the bush. Some cafes convert to bars in the evening and keep their doors open late into the night.
Budget & Tips Australia
Drink prices are significantly higher than in France and Europe. For alcoholic beverages, take advantage of happy hours , usually from 6pm, when you can buy two drinks for the price of one, or benefit from discounts of up to 50% off the price of a glass. Generally speaking, a schooner (425 ml beer) costs between AU$8 and AU$10. If there's more than one of you, it's best to order a jug (1,140 ml).
Age restrictions Australia
In Australia, the sale and consumption of alcohol is not permitted under the age of 18. Some establishments may ask for your identity card or passport in order to allow you to drink. Legislation varies from state to state in Australia, but New South Wales accepts a French driving license as proof of identity in establishments serving alcohol.
What's very local Australia
In Australia, most bars and nightclubs will ask for your ID after a certain time of night (usually 10pm). So don't forget your passport! Also, when ordering a beer, different formats exist, although the vocabulary varies slightly from state to state. Order a jug(1,140 ml), a pint (570 ml) - the most common - a schooner (425 ml) or a pot (285 ml). Be aware that if you order " a beer on tap ", it's a beer at the counter, and a draught beer is a beer on draught. If you're greedy and a bit curious, try the Oyster shot, a kind of cocktail made from a raw oyster in a glass of tequila: drink it straight up!
Last but not least, when it comes to non-alcoholic beverages, don't forget coffee: you can find it everywhere in Australia, and the varieties are much more diverse than in France. Don't ask for a coffee - they won't know what to get you. Here are the most common varieties: Long black is a long coffee and Short black or espresso is a tight coffee. Cappuccino is coffee covered with milk foam and sprinkled with chocolate. Flat white is quite similar to latte, the difference being the amount of milk foam: flat white has less than latte. Mocha coffee is a coffee made with chocolate, milk and coffee. If you want one of these decaffeinated drinks, add "decaf" to the name. Note that in the cities, you'll find oatmilk,soy milk oralmond milk in almost every café.
