The official currency of the Republic of China on Taiwan is the New Taiwan Dollar (NT$). Coins come in denominations of NT$1, 5,10 and 50 while notes are issued in values of NT$50,100, 500 and 1000. Exchange rates vary from day to day but the NT$ has been valued for some time around NT$24-24.5 to one Australian Dollar.

As the Australian Dollar is generally not accepted in most places on the island exchange some money at the airport bank on arrival. While shops won't exchange Australian Dollars is available through most banks and major hotels.

Major credit cards are valid in Taiwan. Nevertheless, some small shops and restaurants don't accept cards. This is especially true in the countryside. Ensure that you carry some cash when venturing into rural areas. While traveller's cheques can be exchanged for NT Dollars in banks or international hotels in rural areas stores and restaurants generally will not exchange money.

Use theCurrency Converterto check the exchange rate that corresponds to your local currency.

• Telephones: Coin operated NT$2 telephones are found in larger towns and cities.
• Facsimile: A 24-hour fax service is provided at the CHT main office for the transmission of documents or pictures within Taiwan or overseas. International hotels also provide a fax service for their guests.
• E-mail: If you are travelling with a portable computer and a modem all you need is an International Direct Dial (IDD) line with an RJ-11 phone jack to access your ISP. There are also numerous cyber cafes in larger towns and cities.
• Mail: The rate for domestic letters is NT$5 and NT$12 for express delivery. International express mail service is available. Most hotels can post letters and postcards. For additional information visit: ROC Post Office.
• When dialing Taiwan telephone numbers from Australia use the country code prefix of 886 and then the city code. Taipei is 886 2 while Kaohsiung is 886 7 and Taichung is 886 4.

There is abundant coverage of world events in Taiwan although much of it is in Chinese. A host of cable TV operators blanket the island with most of them offering a number of English language channels including CNN. Larger hotels provide cable TV to their guests.

Additionally, Taiwan has three local English language newspapers, Taiwan News, Taipei Times and China Post. Check search engines to locate the URLs for these newspapers. The radio station ICRT (International Community Radio Taiwan) is a good source of English language news.

Taiwan is 8 hours ahead of GMT and does not observe daylight savings time. The time in Taiwan is two hours behind Eastern Standard Time (Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane).

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