How to arrive and

During the flight and before landing

1. 
   For most people flying to Australia is the longest flight that they’ll ever undertake. This does come with its downsides. During your flight, do make the effort to walk around the plane when you’re not asleep. Try to get up every two hours and go for a little walk and stand for a while. This will improve the blood flow in your legs. Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot that can form inside your leg veins if your do not move them for long periods of time. DVT is very real, very dangerous and can be fatal if the clot travels into one of your vital organs. DVT is more common in elderly people but you’ll hear more about this topic in the plane.
   

2. 
   Avoid consuming alcohol during the flight, as it decreases the amount of oxygen in your blood and is likely to affect you negatively the next day. Having a painful sensation in your ears as the plane descends for landing is not pleasant. Remember that you’ll be tired, jet-lagged and somewhat stressed when you first encounter officialdom in Australia. You’ll want to be at your best for what will be a long day. Stick to drinking water and fruit juices on the flight.
   

3. Shortly before landing in Australia, the cabin crew will come around with forms required by the immigration control authorities. One of these is a questionnaire for the Customs people. You will have to declare what foodstuffs you are bringing into the country, whether you’ve been to a farm recently or some specific part of the world with a known health problem. They will also want to know how much cash money you are bringing into Australia. If you have food in your luggage, tick ‘Yes’, do not lie about it. Do not be tempted to take any food from the plane when disembarking, especially fresh dairy or meat products.

- Chapter 3 -
Arrival in Australia – The first few hours

Clearing Immigration Control
The vast majority of people arriving in Australia do so at Sydney and Melbourne International Airports. Just about everything is well signposted and finding your way around isn't too difficult. If you are overawed or feel lost, just follow the crowd.
The procedure involves clearing Immigration Control first, then on to collect your luggage with the finale being a walk through a corridor of Customs officials. If your papers are in order, you're visibly in good health, not carrying anything illegal in your luggage and don't look like you're hiding something, then you have nothing to fear. This process should be a formality taking just under an hour to complete.
As you get off the plane, look up toward the ceiling to spot the signs pointing to Immigration Control.
When its your turn at the counter of an Immigration Control official you will need to present your passport and an Incoming Passenger Card (or Advanced Passenger Clearance Card). This latter card should be given to you on the plane shortly before landing. These documents will be returned to you after immigration processing.
Depending on your visa and accompanying story, you may be asked for further information such as proof of funds, return ticket if necessary, accommodation details, work arrangements, all of which will be related to your visa stipulations. For the vast majority of people this encounter is a mere formality.
Some people find the process of clearing Immigration Control very daunting. So for their benefit here is some details of a proven successful technique to calmly clear Immigration. When you go up the counter to present your passport, don't be over-friendly or talkative. Just greet them politely as you hand over your passport. The official will first want to determine your nationality, perhaps browse through your passport and then find the relevant visa. Only then will they want to start talking to you. They will ask for the reason of your visit and your intentions depending on your visa. Don't be too elaborate in any of your explanations. You may give them reason to ask further questions. They may not even make eye contact with you as they busily deal with forms. Any questions that they may ask will usually be derived from your visa and what you answered to their initial questions. Make sure that your answers are related to and in accordance with your visa stipulations. Try and keep your answers short and courteous. It is common for them to ask to see a return ticket and finances for new arrivals in Australia travelling on short-term visas. They do have the power to deny you entry if your story/explanations/answers are not in accordance with your visa.
INSIDER INFO: Present your passport to the Immigration official with the cover closed. Having it open to your relevant visa annoys them. They have to do this job all day long and have a procedure that starts with looking at the cover to ascertain your nationality. Do not start the encounter badly.
INSIDER INFO: If you come from a country with a tuberculosis problem, then try not to cough too much at the Immigration counter. They may think you have TB and will send you away for a scan. You may be charged for this scan too.
INSIDER INFO: Whilst waiting your turn at passport control, don’t be too surprised if Customs and Quarantine personnel come around with sniffer-dogs. They’re interested to see if people have illicit goods in their hand luggage. Your checked luggage will be sniffed before you see it too.
In a small minority of cases the Immigration official may find grounds to refuse entry. The reasons could be many, but Immigration Control will explain these. If this unlikely event were to happen, you will be escorted to a secluded room where the situation will be resolved. Common reasons are that you were caught out telling a lie about your plans in relation to your visa. You may also have insufficient funds, a suspicious passport, incorrect visa, have been rejected visas by other countries, have been deported previously, but whatever their reason, it will be dealt with privately. This is to avoid any embarrassment and to free up the counter for other people waiting. They are allowed to search your luggage in order for either party's case to be proven. (Coming over on a tourist visa, but having your luggage crammed with CVs, a list of agencies to contact, photos in frames and medicines to last for a decade will not help your situation.) After some discussion you will either be allowed into the country or sent back on the next plane.
Even if your papers are in order, you may still be asked to undergo a medical test of some kind. This could happen if come from a country with known health issues and/or seem sickly at the time. This happens in a very small number of cases and is left to the discretion of the interviewing official.
The above two paragraphs are for your information only so that you know what can happen and will not panic if you see other people being led away. Of course there will always be people with suspicious passports or inappropriate visas that will attract attention too.
Once you've cleared Immigration you can head for the baggage carousels to reclaim your luggage. Look for the carousel that displays the Flight Number of the aircraft you were on. From there you make your way toward Customs Control. You have to choose between two corridors: "Nothing to Declare" (Green) or "Something to Declare" (Red). The latter choice is for people wanting to take something in to the country that is not "for personal use or consumption" or is a foodstuff that could be prohibited. In the popular "Nothing to Declare" exit you just keep walking through unless a Customs official calls you over.
INSIDER INFO: You will spend more time waiting for your luggage than anything else.
INSIDER INFO: Do not make eye contact with the Customs people. You are more likely to pass through unhindered. Talking to someone (if you're not travelling alone) as you walk by helps too.
If you are not entering Australia at Sydney or Melbourne airports, the procedure detailed above is largely the same at other airports. At a harbour you will have your luggage with you before you arrive at Immigration Control.