How to Call Australia From the United States

Don't mess up and dial the wrong country code

Home of the Great Barrier Reef, expansive deserts and snowy mountains, Australia spans a large territory. Be sure you know which part of Australia you're calling, because it covers three time zones. The last thing you want to do is call a friend or family member in Australia at 3 a.m. on a week night.

Things You'll Need

• Telephone Calling Cards
• Telephones
• Travel Guides
• Clocks

Instructions

1. Figure out what time it is in the region you are calling. Perth, in Western Australia, is 13 hours ahead of United States Eastern Standard Time (EST) - 8 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. Central Australia is 14 hours ahead of EST (9 hours ahead of GMT), and Eastern Australia, such as Brisbane, is 15 hours ahead of EST (10 hours ahead of GMT).

2. Dial 011, the international access code.

3. Dial 61, the Australian country code.

4. Dial the city code, followed by the personal phone number. Some codes for cities in Australia include 3 for Melbourne, 9 for Perth, 7 for Brisbane and 2 for Sydney.

Tips & Warnings

• If you follow these steps but still can't connect, dial 00 and ask the international operator to help you place the call.

• It can be very expensive to call long distance during business hours, so try to make your phone calls in the evenings and on weekends.