Australia... things to know?

Travel Info
I am going to Australia and New Zealand next year for a school trip for july 14 - july 28. Is there any thing I should know before going? Any different laws from the USA?

Travel Tips

Aussies are more free spirits than Americans.
You can drive here at 16 - 16 1/2 years old (to get your L plates) depending on the state. NZ you can be 15 years old.

Australia uses the metric system, America doesn't
America has a president, Australia has a Prime Minister.

As for our culture :::::
Aussies are informal and 鈥渓aid back,鈥?br /> Greetings are: 鈥渕ates鈥?and 鈥渟heilas鈥? G'day (Good day).

Our fashions and entertainment differ little from those in Europe and North America.

Our humour is often characterized as sarcastic, ironic, and self-deprecating. <grin>

Drinking and gambling is a very important aspect of Australian popular culture 鈥?Beer being the top choice!

Australian cuisine has kangaroo and crocodile on the menu (you can buy kangaroo meet in any supermarket butcher department. Barbecues (鈥渢he barbie鈥? is the Australian pastime.

Traditional Aboriginal Outback cuisine consists of such unique foods as kangaroo, wombat, turtle, eel, emu, snake, and witchetty grubs (larvae of the ghost moth).

Vegemite, a salty, dark-brown yeast extract, is an Australian icon and used on toast for breakfast. You must try some while you are here otherwise they will not let you leave the country, it is custom.

To be a true Aussie you need to know the slang used.
go to http://www.australianexplorer.com/austra... for a 'hoot'. (laugh)

Australia is huge compared to NZ. NZ really does have the four seasons. Some parts of Australia does too, but much more diverse - as we also have the outback and the tropical way of life 鈥?

Enjoy your trip and don鈥檛 forget the vegemite !
Others

drinking age is only 18, which is good.
we dont have Kangaroos hopping down the streets.
it will be winter, so it will be cold.

we dont carry guns like you crazy americans.
Remember that we drive on the left side of the road, bear in mind when crossing the street.

Tipping is not our custom but is appriciated.

Americans are considered loud and boastfull, a bit off putting.

Be carefull of the boys.

People will offer to sell you the Opera house, just say NO.

You can drink alcohol at the age of 18 everywhere.

use a bit of common sense and have a great time.
leave your magnum 44 six shooter under the bed,you cannot buy ammo legally,really you shoulda come over in 2000,then one u.s dollar got you 2 aussie pesos,now its u.s one gets1.25 pesos...gringo amigo tacos to go.........
yeah don't bring any drugs gun or be racist and watch out for the croc's snakes and spiders they are huge lol