When travelling in Australia, it is important to note that Daylight Savings Time in Australia is very different from Daylight Savings Time in North America.

Australia is made up of six states: Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, and Victoria. Australia also has two territories: the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory.

Australia uses three times zones:

• Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST): New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, Tasmania, and Queensland. AEST is equal to Coordinated Universal Time plus 10 hours (UTC +10).
• Australian Central Standard Time (ACST): South Australia and Northern Territory. ACST is equal to Coordinated Universal Time plus 9 ½ hours (UTC +9 ½).
• Australian Western Standard Time (AWST): Western Australia. AWST is equal to Coordinated Universal Time plus 8 hours (UTC +8).

Starting in 2008, the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania all began Daylight Savings on the first Sunday in October and ended Daylight Savings on the first Sunday in April.

Western Australia is currently in the tail end of a 3 year trial period for Daylight Savings. During the trial period, Daylight Savings begins on the last Sunday in October and ends the last Sunday in March. March 29, 2009, marks the end of the trial period. Australians will decide in 2009 if Daylight Savings in Western Australia should be permanent.

Queensland and the Northern Territory do not participate in Daylight Savings.

When Daylight Savings is being observed:

• AEST becomes Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT), and time changes to UTC +11.
• ACST becomes Australian Central Daylight Time (ACDT), and time changes to UTC +10 ½.
• AWST becomes Australian Western Daylight Time (AWDT), and time changes to UTC +9.

When looking at maps of the Australian time zones, it can be seen that when Daylight Savings is not being observed, the time zones follow a typical vertical column pattern. During Daylight Savings, this changes because of the Northern Territory and Queensland not observing Daylight Savings. The pattern then becomes more horizontal. Because time zones will change if you are traveling by vehicle, ask your car hire service, for insights on when you will be switching time zones and be sure you know how to change the clocks to make sure you are on time, where ever you are.