Skip navigation

United States Department of State

Image: United States of America Embassy Seal

Embassy of the United States of America in Canberra

U.S. Reference Service

Frequently Asked Questions

Travel - Tourism

Questions

Answers

How can I visit the White House?

U.S. citizens
Public tours of the White House are available for groups of ten (10) or more people. Requests must be submitted by American citizens through their Member of Congress and are accepted up to six months in advance. These self-guided tours are available from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday (excluding federal holidays), and are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis approximately one month in advance of the requested date. Please submit your request as early as possible since a limited number of tours are available. All White House tours are free of charge. For the most current tour information, please call the 24-hour line at [0011 1] 202-456-7041. White House tours may be subject to last minute cancellation.

Australian citizens
The Embassy of Australia in Washington, D.C., does not assist in setting up White House tours for Australian citizens: "We know that the White House Visitors Office and the Pentagon Tour office in Washington DC often suggest to non-United States citizens that they may request a tour through their embassies. While we'd like to help, we regret we are unable. [...] we get dozens of requests for tours every day. It's just not feasible for us to apply Australian Government resources to facilitate tours of national buildings in the United States by private individuals."

How do I obtain travel information about the United States?

If you are planning a trip to the United States and you have access to the internet, we suggest you search for the specific locations you wish to visit. All states, big cities, and well-known tourist attractions have their own websites.

Your local public library may offer access to the internet or you may ask a librarian to help you find books about the area you would like to visit.

What are some of the main attractions in the United States?

Some websites you may find useful:

What is the the weather like in the United States?

Some websites you may find useful:

What kind of accommodation can I find in the United States?

Some websites you may find useful:

What public transportation is available in the United States?

You can drive, fly, ride a bus, or take a train.

Some websites you may find useful:

What time is it in the United States?

The continental United States is divided into four times zones: Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific. Alaska and Hawaii are each in their own time zone. The continental states observe daylight savings time during the summer months.

Some websites you may find useful:

Where can I find maps of the United States?

Some websites you may find useful:

Contact Information

If your question is not here, please contact us:

Postal Address
U.S. Reference Service
Public Affairs Section
U.S. Embassy
Canberra, ACT 2600
Australia
Phone
(02) 6214-5874 (then press 4)
Email
usrsaustralia@state.gov

Note: Please do not send visa questions to the USRS mailbox. Visa questions should be directed to amvisa@state.gov.

Last update: Friday, 14 August 2009 GMT+1000

Embassy of the United States

This site is managed by the U.S. Department of State.

External links to other internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.