(Last updated: 9 Sep 2013)
Visiting
Business hours
General business hours are Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 4.30pm.
Government offices are open between 9.00am and 4.00pm.
Banks (main branches) are open between 9.00am and 3.15pm Monday to Friday and are closed on Saturday, Sunday and public holidays. Some banks are open until 5.00pm on Fridays.
Shops are usually open between 9.00am to 5.00pm, some until 7.30pm, Monday to Saturday and half day on Sunday and public holidays. Shops in towns such as Rose Hill, Vacoas, Curepipe and Quatre Bornes also close half day on Thursdays whereas shops in Port Louis generally do not open on Sundays.
Public holidays
January 1-2 – New Year
January 27 – Thaipoosam Cavadee
February 1 – Abolition of Slavery
February 10 – Chinese Spring Festival
March 10 – Maha Shivaratree
March 12 – National Day
April 11 – Ougadi
May 1 – Labour Day
August 9 – Eid-Ul Fitr
September 10 – Ganesh Chaturthi
November 1 – All Saints Day
November 2 – Arrival of Indentured Labourers
November 3 – Divali
December 25 – Christmas
Climate
The climate in Mauritius is sub-tropical, with only two seasons – summer (roughly October to April) and winter (May to September). There is a cyclonic season that spans from November to March. The average temperature varies from 20°C–27°C with a variance of 3°C–5°C along the coast.
For weather details in Port Louis, please visit the World Meteorological Organization.
Time zones and time differences
Mauritius is six hours behind Australian Eastern Standard Time.
To find out the current time in Mauritius, view the World Clock.
Currency
Oanda currency converter
The monetary unit is the Mauritian rupee (Rs), which is divided into 100 cents.
Dialling codes
Mauritius' country code is 230.
For calls to Mauritius from Australia dial: 0011 + 230 + area code + telephone number.
For calls from Mauritius to Australia dial: 020 + 61 + area code + telephone number.
For further information (eg. area codes) please visit the White Pages - international dialling codes.
Electricity and water
Mauritius’s power supply is 220 volts, 50Hz 1, 3 phases, 2, 4 wires. The square three-pin plugs are the most common.
Links and resources
Travel and tourism
Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority – www.tourism-mauritius.mu
Voyaz.com (Mauritius) – http://mauritius.voyaz.com
Please note: this list of websites and resources is not definitive. Inclusion in this list does not imply endorsement by Austrade. The information provided is a guide only.