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Travel Forum / Destinations / Australia and NZ / June 2009planning a month is Oz
I've been thinking month long stay in Oz. I've just inherited a small amount of cash, which hopefully I'm going to use to visit Oz and NZ this year. I quite enjoy roughing it to be honest, I don't want anything fancy, I'd be happy to use a tent. I'd quite like to, either hire a camper, or, hire a car and drive from Perth to Brisbane. Driving the distance isn't an issues for me, I drive a truck all day long. Or, do the same road trip via bas or train. Am I right in thinking I can get a visa waiver as I'm from the UK? Do I need a place organised for my first night in Oz, as you do when you fly to the US? I'm going to mainly use credit cards to pay for things, I can draw cash (maybe expensive) on my CC. I will take a small amount of A$, but I don't like to have too much on me. Any other suggestions, or something I've forgot? TIA >I've been thinking month long stay in Oz. > [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > >TIA Backpacking isn't my hting but a couple of observations. The train across Australia takes several days, driving more so. look at the cost of fuel (and the paucity of destinations) and you will see that flying is the only way to get from Perth to damn near anywhere. Get you Aussie dollars on arrival at the airport from an ATM, draw it directly from your checking (Hey, I'm a Yank we spell things funny) to save on the cc interest fees. You get a ETA (electronic travel authority) for $20AUS on line. The Electronic Travel Authority for Australian Tourist Visas is the most advanced and streamlined visa authorisation system in the world. The ETA replaces visa labels or stamps and removes the need for application forms. The Australian ETA is an electronically stored authorisation for travel to Australia, meaning you don't need paper documentation or a stamp in your passport. Click Here to Apply Online for your Australian ETA Tourist Visa Tourist Visa Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) An ETA Tourist Visa allows you to stay in Australia for up to 3 months on each arrival within 12 months from the date the visa was granted. * The ETA differs from traditional visas in that there are no application forms to fill in and no visa label or stamp in the passport. * The ETA is available to passport holders from Australian Government specified countries and regions. To apply for an ETA (Visitor), you must be outside Australia and hold a passport issued by an ETA-eligible country or region (see below for the full list). * You must apply for your ETA with the passport and passport number you will be travelling to Australia with; the visa is linked to this number. If your passport is lost/stolen or replaced before you travel to Australia, you will be required to re-apply for an ETA visa. Click Here For Your ETA Tourist Visa ETA Eligible Countries The following passport holders are able to access Australia's Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) issuing system online. ETA Eligible Countries The following passport holders can be issued an ETA Visa online: Andorra Austria Belgium Brunei Canada Denmark Finland France Germany Greece Hong Kong (SAR) Iceland Ireland Italy Japan Liechtenstein Luxembourg Malaysia Malta Monaco The Netherlands Norway Portugal Republic of San Marino Singapore South Korea Spain Sweden Switzerland Taiwan* United Kingdom (British Citizen) United Kingdom (Overseas)** United States of America Vatican City * Holders of Taiwan passports can only be processed for an ETA if resident in and applying in Taiwan. ** Holders of UK passports which indicate their nationality to be British National (Overseas) can only be processed for an ETA if resident in and applying in Hong Kong. Joseph Coulter Joseph Coulter Cruises and Vacations www.josephcoulter.com Cheers Joseph for the info. I will apply for an ETA Tourist Visa in the next few days. I've, until now, always liked to draw cash on my credit card abroad, its safe, and not my money if something goes wrong at the ATM. Even thought it is more expensive. Maybe I will change that this time. I guessed the train would take a long time, I've used Amtrak a lot in the US, and they aren't that quick either. I'm in no real hurry. I just love to travel and see things, its all part of the experience for me. To use an Aussie colloquialism, no worries on checking vs chequeing. I knew what you meant. >Cheers Joseph for the info. I will apply for an ETA Tourist Visa in the >next few days. [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] >To use an Aussie colloquialism, no worries on checking vs chequeing. I >knew what you meant. :-) More on the train. 3 nights each way Perth to Sydney. Sydney up to Cairns will run another 48 hours or more (it is from experience 24 from Brisbane to Townsville) The adelaide to Sydney and Sydney north will have more to see. Note that the worlds longest straight stretch of rail is on the Perth run at 478 kilometers. for more see http://www.gsr.com.au/our-trains/indian-pacific/the-journey.php Joseph Coulter Joseph Coulter Cruises and Vacations www.josephcoulter.com > More on the train. 3 nights each way Perth to Sydney. I like that idea a lot, I've done similar in the US, so I'd feel comfortable with the situation. I'd take my time doing the trip and stop off on the way.. I wonder if I can get a rail pass? Answering my own question, yes they do. http://www.gsr.com.au/travel-advice/rail-passes.php Seems quite cheap too. On 6/28/09 11:43 AM, in article h28dk5$ak3$1@news.albasani.net, "Hiram" > Cheers Joseph for the info. I will apply for an ETA Tourist Visa in the > next few days. [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > To use an Aussie colloquialism, no worries on checking vs chequeing. I > knew what you meant. When I went to Australia in 2007 from Canada, I didn't pay for my ETA. The travel agent gave it to me when I picked up my ticket. No it wasn't hidden. When I asked about paying for it, she was surprised. Must have been included in the plane ticket or something.  SignatureMartha Canada . > I'd quite like to, either hire a camper, or, hire a car and drive from > Perth to Brisbane. Driving the distance isn't an issues for me, I drive a > truck all day long. http://www.apollocamper.com/ We rented from these guys..good prices, sometimes GREAT if they want some vehicles "returned" to their home office. Also have "cheapa" cars..about 4 years old, in good shape for considrably less that renting a NEW one. Also good ONE WAY rates (no "penalty") We used them when available. They also have locations in NZ. You'll want car insurance. We NEVER buy the insurance from the rental outfit..its often almost as much as the rental. Try and arrange insurance from "home"-perhaps your house/car insurance carrier can set something up. When we went to OZ, we had coverage on our "Signature" level Visa card. I contacted VISA in advance and they assured me I had full rental car coverage "built in" to my Visa card. Saved $$ > I'm going to mainly use credit cards to pay for things, I can draw cash > (maybe expensive) on my CC. I will take a small amount of A$, but I don't > like to have too much on me. I 'd never take Cash Advances on my CC..We went for 6 weeks. Used our Credit Union ATM card (No fees) at Aussie Credit unions to take out $AU. Never use the exchange booths at airports..they re a rip off ! > Any other suggestions, or something I've forgot? Take a good quality FLY SWATTER (or two) They don't sell them over there and the flies are very annoying. Nextime, I'd consider replacing one piece of my luggage with a "cooler"..just stuff my clothes inside(and take a folded up nylon bag for the clothes on arrival) for the flight (make sure it doesnt exceed the Airline baggage size requirements) Coolers ("Esky") are quite expensive over there and usually get left behind for the return trip. Rudy, Thanks for the tips. I will enquire about car insurance this end, never really thought about doing that. I will check with my VISA card supplied and see what deals they have. Not sure they sell fly swatters here either to be honest, this is a cold country. :) > Rudy, > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Not sure they sell fly swatters here either to be honest, this is a cold > country. :) Try cars from www.driveaway.com.au They have an insurance excess waiver plan at $5 a day. I've found them considerably cheaper than going direct to the major companies and with more inclusions such as second driver and airport hire surcharge at no extra cost. Have used them for world-wide car hire. Use bank ATMs for your money, some of the ones found in clubs, stores etc may charge an extra fee. As far as fly-swats go, you can buy them at virtually any supermarket. And for sand flies, mosquitos and the like the local product Aeroguard does the trick. Regards David Bennetts Australia >Rudy, >Thanks for the tips. I will enquire about car insurance this end, never >really thought about doing that. I will check with my VISA card >supplied and see what deals they have. >Not sure they sell fly swatters here either to be honest, this is a cold >country. :) As far as driving goes, Perth-Brisbane is almost as long a trip as you could do in Australia, short of going all the way round. You can go across the Nullarbor, via Adelaide, and then either via Melbourne or Broken Hill. The other way is up the Western Australian coastline and then through the Pilbara and Kimberley. You could only really go that way in the dry season [March-October], because most of the roads up north are impassable due to rains caused by cyclones, and it also starts to get insanely hot. It's the kind of thing you might do as a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Either way you are talking about extreme remoteness. Driving across the Nullarbor on the Princes Highway is OK, but go off-road to, say, Forrest or Giles weather stations and you are talking total self-sufficiency. At certain times of the year, the Gibb River Road [northern WA] probably only sees one car a week. The other issue is cost. It's 7-8000 km. Even at daily rates, you will be paying a great deal more for the experience of driving than you would just to fly. If you are driving a rental vehicle, they often have prohibitions on going 'off-road', by which they mean gravel. You might be best to restrict your driving to the east coast, where the distance between attractions is not so extreme. That's not to say the Super Pit at Kalgoorlie isn't worth your attention, but it's the best part of a day's drive from Perth. Some guys might drive that long for the brothels, but flying is cheaper and safer. Atom Egoyan Melbourne, Australia > Either way you are talking about extreme remoteness. Yeah some of that does worry me a bit. I'm fairly practicable, but I think I could easily get out of my depth. I'm gradually easing towards taking the train, I still fancy the road trip, but like you say, its going to cost more. It is helpful to get your advice - it gives me food for thought. >> Either way you are talking about extreme remoteness. >Yeah some of that does worry me a bit. I'm fairly practicable, but I >think I could easily get out of my depth. >I'm gradually easing towards taking the train, I still fancy the road >trip, but like you say, its going to cost more. >It is helpful to get your advice - it gives me food for thought. I've done the Nullarbor in a car, visiting various caves and doing botanical surveys. Camping out in the open for the 'big sky' experience is still something that resonates with me thirty years after the event. Travelling across by train will at least give you that 'f.ck it's a big country' feeling, providing you want to spend three days of your holiday doing that. Another way would be to spend those three days flying out of Perth using a regional airline to get to the Kimberley or Pilbara, then continuing on to Darwin. From Darwin, it's easy to get to Alice Springs, then hop a flight to Uluru/Ayers Rock, another place that will leave a lasting impression. The big six things most people want to see in Australia: Ayers Rock/Uluru [and the Olgas] Great Barrier Reef Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge Great Ocean Road [Victoria] Kakadu Bungle Bungles [Kimberley, Western Australia] Other things that leave a strong impression for those that visit them: Blue Mountains Flinders Ranges Kalgoorlie Super Pit Giles Weather Station [and the exerience of getting there] Grampians [Victoria] Mount Kosciuszko Sovereign Hill and Ballarat Gold Museum [Victoria] Cape Tribulation and World Heritage Queensland rainforests Cape York Peninsula Warumbungles [inland NSW] Broken Hill [mullock heaps, underground mine tours and the Mundi Mundi Plain] Wild Dog Ranges [NSW] My interests tnd towards the natural and unspoiled, but the cities also have plenty to offer. Atom Egoyan I'm definitely into the camping out under a big sky thing. I've been to the high desert of Nevada and I just loved it. Camping was one of my early thoughts once I'd decided to go to Oz for a holiday. Coming from a small over crowded island, space is something I really look forward too. And, I've just spend the best part of four hours in traffic. I don't mind 3 days on a train. I have all the time I need, apart from the restrictions of my travel visa - I may be slightly short of funds for a really long stay. I have A$10000 to spend for the whole trip, that will be the limiting factor on how long I stay. I do like the idea of using internal flights. I can't make my mind up yet which way to do it. But it is nice to have some choices. Probably the only place I need to visit is Coffs Harbours as I have a mate there. I quite fancy going to Coober Pedy. And, yep, got to go to Alice Springs. I'm with you 100% on the great countryside, I'm not really that into cities - once you've seen one you've seem them all imho. One thing I'm not sure about is what flight arrangements I will use to get to Oz. I want something open ended, I want my budget to be the limiting factor not when I said I'd return. I was looking at round the world tickets earlier, but from what you've said, I may not do it that way, and just get a flight into Perth and one out of Brisbane and sort the rest out as I need. > I'm definitely into the camping out under a big sky thing. Camping was > one of my > early thoughts once I'd decided to go to Oz for a holiday. Don't lie on the ground in Snake season. Is it ever NOT Snake season in the outback ? > I do like the idea of using internal flights. I can't make my mind up yet > which way to do it. But it is nice to have some choices. These guys had the best fares when we were there http://www.jetstar.com/au/en/index.aspx Book ahead for best rates and avoid weekends if you can. >Coffs Harbour.. as I have a mate there. BEWARE the MacDonalds parking lot ! We parked our rental car there and the wife of a bloke that works in the smash repair shop next door backed into our parked car while driving her brood to school...(They were LATE) Thats how I know about VISA SIGNATURE CARD rental car insurance >> I'm definitely into the camping out under a big sky thing. Camping was >> one of my >> early thoughts once I'd decided to go to Oz for a holiday. > > Don't lie on the ground in Snake season. Is it ever NOT Snake season in > the outback ? Wouldn't be too worried about snakes - they almost invariably are timid and get out of the way. I'd be more concerned about redback spiders in the outdoor dunnies (toilets). >> I do like the idea of using internal flights. I can't make my mind up >> yet which way to do it. But it is nice to have some choices. > > These guys had the best fares when we were there > http://www.jetstar.com/au/en/index.aspx > Book ahead for best rates and avoid weekends if you can. Except they are renowned for crap service - they won't do anything for you if you're one minute late for your flight, or look after you when they stuff up. (along with Tiger who are possibly worse). Virgin Blue have a better reputation. >>Coffs Harbour.. as I have a mate there. > > BEWARE the MacDonalds parking lot ! We parked our rental car there and > the wife of a bloke that works in the smash repair shop next door backed > into our parked car while driving her brood to school...(They were LATE) > Thats how I know about VISA SIGNATURE CARD rental car insurance You got off lightly - would have been worse on 17 June at nearby Port Macquarie See news.ninemsn.com.au/.../shots-fired-in-nsw-restaurant-siege Regards David Bennetts Australia > I've just inherited a small amount of cash, which hopefully I'm going to > use to visit Oz and NZ this year. > Am I right in thinking I can get a visa waiver as I'm from the UK? You can get a Visa "online" from the Aus Government site http://www.eta.immi.gov.au/ Dont get "tricked" by other, more costly "private-for profit" websites > Do I need a place organised for my first night in Oz, as you do when you > fly to the US? Its my understanding that nearly ALL the flights to the major Ports of Entry in AUS arrive in the EARLY AM having flown "overnight" ..such were all the options that I checked into |
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