I think that info is largely correct, in Sydney in most restaurants (not cafes) 10% tip is what you would expect to give for good service. I do tip taxi drivers usually just rounding it up.

Nelsonian, I think Australia and New Zealand differ a lot on this. When I was a waitress I noticed New Zealanders don't usually tip, whereas about 70% of Australians do. In the service industry here, Kiwis are kind of notorious.

I always tip even if not required unless the service is so............bad as to warrant no tip. However as we all know prices are not cheap in Australia so while I may not tip as well as in US where 20% is the norm I do tip between 10-15%.

We never tip. It doesn't realy cross our mind.

We would tip a waiter if the service was really, really above and beyond. Have done this once or twice.

Would never, and have never tipped any other service staff, hairdressers, hotels etc.

Pizza etc. deliveries are the only exception, most people will round up to the nearest dollar or five. Some people will give good tips.

But I think there is now a bit of an expectation/hope that you will tip in restaurants.

The closest you would come to tipping in Australia is providing some beer, tea/coffee cake for a builder/gardener doing things around your home. But this is more a courtesy than a requirement or expectation.

I have have worked hard to earn my money. You have to work hard to get it from me. Not just turn up. This is the general attitude.

PS - Where is the tip of the day located?

On the very front page as you go into Fodors. However they also posted it on Facebook which is where I read it first.

I never go there. I just bookmark the lounge and Australia.

You don't have to PeterSale, its on the RHS of the front page of Australian forum right now.

Nelsonian, I think its pretty true, namely tip 10% in a restaurant with table service, as long as you're happy with service and meal, round up for taxi drivers and the pizza delivery person (or give them a bit more), but definitely not for hairdressers or theatre ushers. I know my hairdresser would be insulted if I tried to tip her.

As per my comment on 'tip of the day' - this is not accurate or helpful information.
Australia does not have set percentage tipping - and the tipping there is is entirely discretionary.

Hi Nelsonian - Thanks for bringing this to our attention here and in the tip comments.

There's definitely something wrong and we're in the process of correcting this tip now.

Revised tip: Know when to tip—and not to tip—in Australia

Australians don't expect tips and hotels and restaurants don't usually add service charges. That said, a small tip for good service is common practice and appreciated. Room service and housemaids are only tipped for special services. Taxi drivers don't expect a tip, but leaving small change will win you a smile. Guides, tour bus drivers, and chauffeurs don't expect tips either, though they're grateful if someone in the group takes up a collection for them. No tipping is necessary—indeed, it would cause confusion—in hair salons or for theater ushers.

Cate, I think this is now more misleading! Restaurant staff do expect tips for good service, especially in medium to upmarket restaurants.

From my experience, 10% is what by far and away the majority of Australians tip when they have had good service and good food.

Yes there are people that don't tip, and waiting staff have a name for them

I disagree that "10% is what by far and away the majority of Australians tip" - simply not true in my experience. Generally, there is no reason to tip. Unlike the U.S., where wait staff are paid minimum wage (for example $7.25/hour in Florida, $4.23 for staff who receive tips), Australian staff are better paid - and there is simply no reason to tip someone for doing their job. As for people that don't tip and what waiting staff call them, I suggest "good customers" would be a place to start.

I agree with tt7 - and let's not import this American and European custom downunder.
That said, we've always "rounded up" the bill at a restaurant to the nearest dollar or two, depending where you are.
It irks me no end in the USA, on top of $150plus overnight in hotels, to be expected to pay a tip to an underpaid "servant". Why can't the company who owns the joint pay their staff a decent wage out of my dollars!

I disagree too but I am a New Zealander not Australian so don't really know what the status quo is. I have asked my SIL who is Australian, a doctor, a foodie, and goes out to restaurants a lot whether her and her friends tip or not.

I don't tip here in Australia, but what do I know, I'm a Yank.

It depends on the restaurant for us - if it's a higher end restaurant we'd round the bill up, up to about 10%. For small cafes we never tip unless they went above and beyond the call of duty. With taxis we routinely round up, especially if they help you with luggage. We don't tip anywhere else, but do provide tradesmen with drinks (removalists, etc.). I might add we live in Sydney - relatives of ours who lived on the North Coast would never, ever tip so I think the habit is more widespread in cities.

I used to have a boyfriend whose father used to leave a slab of beer (i.e. 24 cans) for the garbagemen at Christmas, so that if during the year they left anything on the pavement that was not typically removed by council, it would be dealt with by the garbagemen as a favour. I think those days have long gone, especially as councils are much tougher about what gets removed!

Lavandula

I agree with lavandula and I live in Melbourne

The milkman would get beer as well as the garbagemen. Tradesmen get coffee/tea and cakes and perhaps lunch if they are really good. I cannot see why taxi drivers should get a tip unless, as Lavandula said, they get your luggage out and in.
In restaurants I will tip if its a good service but certainly not as a must do thing.
A friend of mine in the hospitality industry in Australia says that the worst tippers are Americans!!!!! Doesn't matter what you do for them that is extra - they will not tip. So I think that the suggestion about tipping is a good one for Australia. If the service is good then you tip especially if you are American/Canadian.

Why is your friend even expecting tips Mary, it has never been the norm, and it is only the fact that this custom has been brought in from other countries that it is becoming expected.

I think that when people ask if you will do their laundry for them and you do it then that is cause for a tip. If they want you to babysit their hound while they go on a tour away for a day or so I think that that should attract a tip. I you bbq ( cook ) their fish catch that might attract a tip.

Fair enough those things probably warrant a tip. I was more thinking of hotels/restaurants.

No not restaurants Nelsonian. I think that if the salary is not high enough then it is up to the workers to demand better wages not up to the customer to subsidise wages.

Nelsonian, whilst I agree with Mary, tipping in restaurants for good service (not cafes, pub bistros, coffee bars, clubs etc) is nevertheless common and has been as long as I can remember, at least in Sydney and also here in Cairns. Usually no more than 10%, and nothing if service isn't up to expectations.

Years ago I worked in Australia House, London, and back then London taxi drivers wouldn't pick up outside the building as Australians had reputation of being notorious non-tippers, probably the same outside New Zealand House too!

I realise this topic is a year old but I'm an old phart with an opinion.

We recently had some American visitors who asked about tipping, and we asked them to please, absolutely do NOT tip for anything. It's entirely unnecessary. We and everybody among my family and friends have never tipped here, ever.

Wait staff in Australia get at least the minimum wage of $18.76 per hour (I believe it could be increasing to $22.96) and that includes being paid for the hours of prep and clean up. If they earn less than that (e.g. young kids on working visas being taken advantage of) they need to contact Fair Work Australia immediately. We have a relative who is a waiter at a good restaurant and his wages are $26+ hour plus holidays and super (pension plan)plus other perks.

With the added cost for visitors to Australia given the current exchange rate, tipping is an unnecessary expense and no one is going to glare at you or chase you down the street for not leaving one.

I can only re-iterate my agreement (expressed earlier) with ThulaMama's comments. In Australia, there is simply no reason to tip someone for doing their job. I don't understand the notion of tipping in "restaurants" but not tipping in cafes, bars etc. -- the cost of eating out has reached the point where the prices, certainly in many up-market restaurants - are eye-watering as it is. Even in middle-of-the-road restaurants, the prices are bad enough these days (in part, because of the wages being paid) and adding a tip is simply unnecessary.

we generally tip restaurants...not cafes
but if we are not happy we would never tip

dont tip taxis..just round up

nobody else gets tipped and it irks me when the nail salons have a glass for tips

i was travelling with an american who tipped someone in LA...omg ...they lost our meal...we couldnt get coffee and when we did it was bitter and then finally my friend went behind the counter to find milk cos the waitress had vanished lol..i was horrified that he included a tip

for what? the self-service?

Unfortunately, tipping is so ingrained in the American culture and psyche that some folks don't think twice about it.

And this from an American, who fails to understand her country's obsession with tipping. I suspect it's a guilt thing, and I admit I've been guilty of the guilt thing.

PS - just because there's a tip jar doesn't mean you have to tip!

I often wonder if tip jars here in Australia are a concession to the visitors who can't seem to not tip.

Don't tip unless it is exceptional service or special requests fulfilled and then make it worth while.

Tt

Melnq8 - You are American and you don't understand why people tip?? Tell me you are kidding. If not, let me help you: in the US, people who work in the service industry get paid like slaves so they need tips to actually earn a decent income. Luckily in Australia, we have a semi decent minimum wage so tipping is not necessary at all. Unless you are going to high-end places, don't bother. I sometimes give cab drivers tips but they dont expect it and don't ask for it. Besides this, I never ever tip. Isn't Australia expensive enough?

I didn't say that travelbug, I said I don't understand the American 'obsession' with tipping.

Tipping has gotten out of control in the US. It's extended well beyond 'the slaves' you refer to. Haven't you seen the 'how much should I tip the garbage collector' threads on other forums? The assumption seems to be that everyone who performs a service in the US is underpaid, and that's not the case. Where do we draw the line?

I'd love for the US to jump on board and pay restaurant workers more to avoid the whole tipping thing. I'd also be pleased to see tax included in the quoted price (although I don't understand why service is taxed here in Australia), but I'm living in a fantasy world.

Ever wonder why things are so expensive in Australia? High wages among other things, so essentially you are tipping (quite alot), it's just built in. If yo were expected to tip on top of that, no one would ever eat out.

To sum up, for potential tourists there isn't a consensus on restaurant tipping in Australia. Some people never tip and others always do if the service was good, at roughly 10%.

As I said above from my restaurant experience I'd put the tippers at roughly 70%. Big groups and older Australians rarely tip.

It is a bit of mystery why we tip in restaurants and not in shops or elsewhere, but from when I was a waitress I can say it did make up for the unsociable hours and fairly bad pay.

First, Melnq8, I doubt that the garbageman is on good money and as the minimum wage is so pathetic in the states its a necessary evil. Second, I will re-iterate for anyone coming to Australia, tipping is not needed - ever. Dont feel pressured to do so.