Things To Do Before You Arrive

International driver's licence

Please get an international driver's licence if you can. You should be able to do this by paying a small fee and at your local Automobile Association or licensing department.

Mobile /Cell Telephone

The Australian phone system operates on 900/1800Mhz. If you have a mobile phone that you use at home, please bring it with you. We can put a new SIM card in it and you will be able to use it while you are here. Please note that if you are travelling from the Americas you will need a tri-band phone that can access 900/1800 instead of 1900 which is commonly used in the USA, South America and Japan.  Sometimes people have telephones that are locked to their provider in their home country. If this is the case, please be aware that it does not cost a lot of money to buy both a phone and a SIM card here in Australia (~ $100).  The other good news is that calls received on a mobile phone in Australia do not cost the receiver anything!

Car insurance

If you have car insurance in your home country, get a letter from your provider that gives details of your accident records. You may be entitled to lower insurance premiums.
If you have membership in an automobile association in your home country you may be entitled to reciprocal rights with an automobile association in Australia. This means that you will be able to get free or low cost maps, and emergency road service.

Money

Purchase a small amount of Australian money if you can, just for refreshments at the airport or a bus or taxi just in case. You should find that if your home bank account has cirrus or maestro facilities, that you will be able to access your account from Australia. Check with your bank before you leave. Credit cards are used everywhere though most places have a minimum purchase of $20. Personal cheques are not usually acceptable.

Bring a piece of home

If you have room, bring some money, photos and favourite music of your home country. Your new Australian friends and the other Bibbers will all be interested. You might also like to bring a gift to give to your host winemaker or work colleagues. One or two bottles of your favourite wine to present to your winemaker in Australia and some of your home country treats will also be well received. Please be aware that there are very strict controls regarding the entry of any food or plant material into Australia. Most are not allowed so please be careful when choosing what to bring. Confectionary is usually OK but should be declared. Honey and things made from honey are strictly prohibited.

Bring a camera

Don't forget to bring your camera, or alternatively, buy a camera or a video camera if you don't have one. There will be many scenes and people to record on film to help your memory when you return home.

Keep a diary

It is a good idea to keep a diary of your adventure from start to finish. It is sometimes a nuisance to keep it up to date but it will serve as your memory in the future and help you live your adventure over and over again when you are back in your home country.

Packing

Try not to over pack. Bring only the bare essentials. The weather will be warm to hot for most of your time here so you will only need one or two long sleeved tops and one warm jacket for the evenings. Bring 2 jeans and 2-3 shorts, and several shirts.  You will also accumulate many extra things while you are here!

Visa

Make sure that you have your visa in your passport, or your visa grant letter with you if you do not need to get your visa label.  Please make sure that you DO NOT apply for an ETA visa because it may cancel your working visa!

Insurance

Before you arrive you will need to provide evidence of premium health/travel insurance. This should be faxed to Bibber International on +61 8 8227 2699, or emailed to us.

The Flight

The flight is a long one and for many of you, the first one out of your home country.
Some suggestions:

• Fly into Adelaide as a first choice and Melbourne as a second choice-both are much smaller than Sydney and much easier to navigate. If you are coming from Europe you should be able to fly directly to Adelaide.
• Get onto Australian time as soon as you board the plane.
• Think of that first meal as dinner.
• Have a few drinks but don't overdo it.
• You may also like to use melatonin tablets as they minimise jet lag. You need to take these at approximately 9pm Australian time. Melatonin is a naturally occurring chemical released while you sleep so by taking tablets you imitate the natural sleep. It doesn't eradicate jetlag entirely, but it seems to help.
• Drink lots of water
• Move about the cabin frequently. If you are stuck in a window seat and it is difficult to get out, make sure that you flex your toes and ankles as often as you remember.

Arrival details

Please provide Bibber with your flight arrival details so that we know when you will be arriving. You will need to travel to the Glenelg Beach Resort in Moseley Street Glenelg (Telephone 8376 0007). It is abut 10 minutes away from the airport and the cost in a taxi will be about $20. There will be a booking in your name. If your flight is delayed or you miss a connection, please call us on +61 418 474 642 or 0418 474 642 if you are in Australia. (Please note that if you call Sally out of normal business hours, you will owe her a beer at the orientation party!)

Further information:

When you arrive in Australia you will spend several days with us learning about life in Australia either as part of a group or as an individual. We will also provide you with much more detailed information about living and working in this great country.

Have a safe journey, see you down under!