I will be travelling in Australia and NZ by caravan in January and February. I have been told that the only coffee available is fancy coffee. (latte, espresso etc.)I am interested in trying all the different customs in Australia and NZ but I love my black coffee in the morning. I also love ketchup on my fries (chips)and have heard it is not available. Are ground coffee beans and ketchup available in grocery stores? Are there other foods that are unavailable?

Don,<BR>In Australia you will find a huge variety of coffee for sale at grocery stores - from ground to instant varieties. I am sure you will have no trouble locating your favourite.<BR>The same goes for Ketchup - just remember it is known as Tomato Sauce over here.<BR>I think you will find just about all food you are used to is widely available.<BR>Good luck on your travels.

Australia grows its own tea and a fair bit of coffee too. If you don't see what you like on the menu then just ask for black American style coffee.

Don,<BR>Aussie Tomato Sauce tastes just like it's name, not like the Heinz Ketchup North American's are used to. IMHO, missing a big squirt of ketchup on my fries is a small price to pay for visiting a magnificent country such as Australia ;-)<BR><BR>Debbie<BR><BR>PS I'm not a coffee drinker but there was brewed coffee everywhere, but know that most hotels supply instant coffee packets for the rooms. Melbourne, especially, had loads of great coffee cafes.

The tomato sauce does taste different, even at McDonalds. Plus there is often a charge for the little packets of sauce (maybe 20c), so we usually buy a bottle at the grocery store and cart it around with us for the kids. If you have never tried one, try a meat pie and sauce, they are awesome. As for coffee, you will find more people are tea drinkers than coffee, so sometimes it is hard to get what you are used to. But while in Rome, do as the Romans do. In other words, try something new! Tea in Australia is much better than you will find in the states - just my opinion.<BR>Enjoy Bill

I agree - try as much of the different foods as you can ... except stay away from Vegemite!!! Just kidding.<BR>Meat pies with sauce (called Dog Eye &amp; Dead Horse) are great. At McDonald's (Macca's) they have 1/4 pounders with beet root &amp; boiled egg on it ... yuck.

And dont forget to try Vegemite, but get instructions for use beforehand.

I didn't have a problem finding ketchup (tomato sauce) anywhere and I never had to pay for it. Restaurants would tend to bring a little of cup of it to the table if requested, rather than the whole bottle though like we are used to here.<BR><BR>I was confused by the coffee as well. If you ask for &quot;Long Black&quot; I think you will get what you are looking for.

Just to confuse this issue, Ketchup is a Cantonese word for Tomatoe Sauce. See what gems of wisdom you get when you are too tired to get out of bed when you are in Hong Kong!

Well, whatever you want to call it, Ozzie tomato sauce does not contain the ingredients (primarily vinegar) that Yanks find in their ketchup. And, as mentioned above, hurts to pay for little tomato sauce packets that don't really add much flavor. Take Debbie's advice and eat like the locals do. Ask for a hamburger with, 'the works', which includes an fried egg on top!<BR><BR>We found peanut butter to not be a widely-available item. When restaurants do have it, they generally react in horror at the thought of trying to create a peanut butter and jelly sandwich (for little kids). On several occasions, we explained what we wanted, and the server came back with a sandwich consisting of layers of peanut butter, jam, and dairy butter! <BR><BR>

Peanut butter is available at every supermarket in Australia.... buy some there &amp; take it with you.<BR><BR>Peanut butter &amp; jellie sandwiches are something we never eat, the same as eggs, bacon, pancakes &amp; maple syrup. (some 5 star buffet breakfasts will have the latter.)<BR><BR>One company has Ketchup on the supermarket shelves but I have never tried it. Just look where all the sauces are.<BR><BR>Ground coffee is everywhere all supermarkets have it. There are coffee shops everywhere including a few American coffee chains.. Gloria Jeans &amp; Starbucks. in tourists areas.<BR><BR>I take a plunger with me on holidays as I can't stand instant coffee which is in the motels / hotels.<BR>The one I have is non breakable.<BR>Buy one when you get here. It will be well used in the caravan.<BR><BR>Do yourself a favour &amp; don't even bother to try vegemite.. I love it but its a taste you require as a small child not as a visitor its a very salty spread.<BR><BR>Macca's qtr pounder does have beetroot &amp; fried egg ( not boiled)<BR><BR>The try ozzie burger with the lot (or works/ same thing.) comes with meat pattie, bacon, egg, lettuce, tomato, onion,beetroot,cheese,tomato sauce.<BR><BR>Most of all enjoy your holiday. The food really is not that different to home.<BR>

Hi Alf--<BR>I didn't exactly endorse the McOz burger--even after having 2 too many XXXXs one night, I was afraid to try it. Hehe!!!!! Beetroot and eggs on a burger goes in the 'acquired tastes' category, right next to Vegemite!<BR><BR>I hope everyone who's planning their trip to Australia has a wonderful time, Everything will be great except the ketchup!<BR>Debbie

Dear Don,<BR>I don't know who is telling you stuff about coffee in Oz, but I think others have given enough info. There is far more selection of many products in Oz than US as you get a much higher mix of US processed style stuff and European.<BR>If you go to Oz and go to McDonalds you should feel totally ashamed. The best burgers can be bought in Oz. I am amazed at the value you get from a milk bar, especially country ones wiht things like burgers - yep, fried egg on top etc if you want it. Just avoid the pineabpple on anything (not that common but do get it occassionally e.g on ham &amp; salad sandwiches) and can really dominate the taste buds. Meat pies I still like - but watch out, some states (especially in Sydney) have pies that split on you - hot gravy over your hands really hurts! As to dog eye and dead horse - never heard this is my life, sounds more cockney rhyming slang, but maybe one state says this or someone taking the mickey? Any other ozzies update me, maybe away too long.

Hi Don,<BR>I have found that heinz make Ketchup.<BR>It is on the Safeway supermarket shelves with all the other sauces.<BR>It is available in red or green.<BR>Enjoy your holidays.

We have always called a pie and sauce, dogs eye and dead horse, vegemite is fantastic...try it on toast or crumpets with butter, and to Sandi, try a hamburger from a local fish and chip shop, bigger and better than maccas, ask for a hamburger with the lot...more than a meal.