just make sure the laptop has "WiFi"... anything with "Centrino mobile technology" will have this.
they'll also have a connection on the side for an ethernet cable or a normal phone connection for dial-up internet.
you should then be able to find "wifi hotspots"... little areas where there is a wifi (wireless internet) connection available. often in coffee shops like starbucks. You'll probably only find this in the more major of towns and cities in Aussie. Not sure how you'd go about getting an internet connection in the middle of the outback, without a satellite connection or something.