Australia
Pick apps by state, verify entry first and prepare properly for remote travel
Australia's size makes app advice state-specific rather than national.
The essentials
What to know before you go to Australia
Install only the transit and hazard apps for the places on your itinerary, and verify Melbourne's current myki and contactless rollout because it is changing during 2026. Cards cover most everyday spending, but as of August 13, 2026, merchants may still add a lawful card surcharge. Keep a little cash and always pay in Australian dollars. Visa rules depend on passport.
ETA-eligible travelers must apply outside Australia through the official AustralianETA app, while many European passport holders can instead use the online eVisitor route. Biosecurity rules are strict: declare food, plant, animal and wooden goods, plus rural or animal-used equipment, whenever unsure. On road trips, offline maps do not replace live road closures, weather and fire warnings. Remote routes can have no mobile coverage, so carry water, fuel and a suitable emergency communications plan.
Save bookings, insurance details and exact addresses offline. Call Triple Zero (000), or 112 from a mobile, for a life-threatening emergency.
Ride Hailing
UberEssential
The broadest familiar ride app for major cities, airports and many regional centers across Australia.
DiDi
A current rideshare alternative in its listed Australian cities, useful for comparing pickup times and fares.
13cabs
Licensed taxi booking in major Australian cities, with standard, MAXI and accessible vehicles where available.
Shebah
A specialist prebooked ride service for women and children, with child-seat options in supported areas.
Food Delivery
Uber EatsEssential
Broad restaurant and convenience delivery across a long list of Australian cities and towns.
DoorDash
A major current delivery service for restaurant meals, groceries and convenience items in supported areas.
HungryPanda
A specialist delivery app for Chinese and other Asian food in supported Australian cities, with an English interface.
Messaging
Useful for some hosts, guides and international contacts, but Australian businesses also rely heavily on calls, SMS and email.
Navigation
Google MapsEssential
The main all-purpose map for addresses, walking, driving and many urban public-transport journeys.
Waze
A driving-focused alternative with community traffic, crash, hazard and road-condition reports.
Transit
Opal Travel
Official NSW trip planning, live departures, disruption alerts and Opal or contactless travel activity.
Public Transport Victoria app
Victoria's official journey planner for train, tram and bus departures, disruptions and myki information.
Translink
Queensland's official planner for live departures, disruptions, accessibility and fare information.
Transperth
Perth's official journey planner with live services, disruptions and network information.
Adelaide Metro Buy & Go
Optional mobile tickets and visitor passes for Adelaide buses, trains and trams.
MyWay+
Canberra's official journey and fare account app for the MyWay+ public-transport system.
Metro Tasmania
Official Hobart, Launceston and Burnie bus planning with scheduled and available real-time departures.
NT Bus Tracker
Official live bus locations and stop information for Darwin and Alice Springs services.
Shopping
Woolworths
Optional grocery shopping, delivery, pickup and store tools from one of Australia's major supermarket chains.
Coles
Optional grocery delivery, pickup, lists and store information from a major Australian supermarket chain.
Tourist Refund Scheme
The official Australian Border Force tool for preparing eligible departure tax-refund claim details and a QR code.
Travel & Booking
AustralianETAEssential
The official application route for eligible Electronic Travel Authority passport holders who are outside Australia.
WikiCamps Australia
Camping and road-trip directory for caravan parks, camps, dump points, water and other traveler facilities.
Language
Google Translate
Optional text, camera and conversation translation for visitors who are not comfortable communicating in English.
Intercity Transport
Rome2Rio
A useful comparison tool for discovering possible flights, trains, coaches and ferries across Australia's fragmented network.
Restaurants
OpenTable
Restaurant discovery and reservations at participating Australian venues, especially in major dining markets.
EatClub
Time-limited dine-in and takeaway deals at participating restaurants in supported Australian cities.
Utilities
BOM WeatherEssential
The Bureau of Meteorology's official forecasts, rain radar, warnings and saved locations for Australia.
Emergency PlusEssential
A national location aid that shows coordinates and information to help an emergency caller describe where they are.
Hazards Near Me NSW
Official NSW alerts and watch zones for bushfires, floods, tsunamis and other supported hazards.
VicEmergency
Victoria's official incident and warning app with location-based watch zones and notifications.
Emergency WA
Western Australia's official warnings and incidents app for supported hazards and watch zones.
Alert SA
South Australia's official warning app for current incidents, notifications and user-defined watch zones.
TasALERT
Tasmania's official warnings and emergency information app with saved locations and notifications.
Also covered
Internet in Australia
Mobile internet eSIM Best option when traveling
Guac
RecommendedReliable mobile internet at better prices than most travel eSIMs, with polished iOS and Android apps and support for making and receiving phone calls.
Airalo
One of the biggest travel eSIM brands, with a very large destination catalog.
Holafly
Known for unlimited-data plans in many destinations, at a higher price per gigabyte.
Buying a local SIM card ID registration required
- Bring your passport; the seller registers the prepaid SIM during activation.
- Optus tourist plan includes 5 GB for 7 days and costs around 12 AUD ($7.50).
- Airport counters and city carrier stores are the easiest places to buy; confirm activation before leaving.
- Airport prices are usually higher than city or online prices.
- Local eSIM is available and follows the same identity rules as a physical SIM.
After the 3G shutdown, some imported phones may be blocked even if they support 4G; confirm compatibility before buying.
Local carriers
Telstra
Best choice for broad coverage, including rural areas.
Optus
A solid alternative; compare current prepaid offers before buying.
Vodafone
Strong in major cities, with weaker rural coverage.
Frequently asked questions
What are the must-have apps for traveling in Australia?
The essential apps for Australia are Uber, Uber Eats, Google Maps, AustralianETA, BOM Weather.
How many travel apps does Australia have?
We've curated 34 apps across 12 categories for traveling in Australia, including 6 essential apps.
What is the best ride hailing app in Australia?
Uber. The broadest familiar ride app for major cities, airports and many regional centers across Australia.
