When Andy and I got married and were planning our honeymoon, there was one place that we both wanted to go to and that was Australia. It made the decision really easy. There were lots of things that we need to consider when planning the trip, including an Australia Visa. With the girls being older, it is somewhere that we would love to take them and I thought I would put together how we plan our trip.
Flights
The flight is a long one, and it will be the longest flight that the girls will have done. You need to consider the timing of the flights and what stopovers you are going to do. When Andy and I went our flight left the UK at 10.30pm and this was great, as it meant we could go to sleep once we were settled. It’s also worth looking at what time you land in Australia, as they have busy periods and your passport and visa will need to be checked.
Where to Visit
Australia has many beautiful places to visit and you need to think about what your must be places are that you have to see. Then plan your route accordingly. We were in Australis for New Year Eve and we really wanted to be in Sydney for it. I also wanted to visit Ayres Rock. We planned our route around Australia to fit this in. We flew into Melbourne and spent a few days there, before flying to Sydney and seeing in the New Year. We spent 5 days in Sydney. We then flew to Ayres Rock, there isn’t much else to do there and it is very hot. We flew in and out, only staying one night. We then went to Cairns and spent the remaining of our time in Australis there, visiting the Great Barrier Reef. We had also decided to stop off in Bali on our way home, and this is something to consider when getting a visa.
Where to Stay
Where you stay whilst travelling around Australia, will come down to your budget. Andy and I stayed in a mixture of hotels and apartments. In Melbourne will stayed in a gorgeous hotel, and our room had a separate living area which was brilliant. Sydney is really expensive, and we had an apartment. It was probably our least nicest accommodation, but it was clean and it was in a good location. Ayres Rock, only has a couple of options and we stayed in a hotel, which had a swimming pool. It was VERY hot and we spent all our time in the pool, apart from when we went to see Ayres Rock. In Cairns we had a lovely apartment in a block overlooking the beach. It had a swimming pool and it was a great location. Things to consider when booking accommodation, is location, public transport, facilities onsite and within your room. We always like to have a safe for our passports and visa.
Arranging a Visa
When travelling to Australia you need to apply for a visa, this includes children. The visa requirements are for all travellers, the only people who don’t need a visa are those that hold a Australia or New Zealand passport. The visa checks happen as soon as you check in your flight or board the plane. It usually takes a few days to receive your visa, but the recommendation is to do it a few weeks before leaving. There are different types of visas, the most common is eVisitor which is for both work related trips and tourist trips. You can apply online.
Research
Before you go, make sure you research all the best places to visit. It makes the trip a lot more enjoyable, if you have planned out your day trips and places that you want to see when you get to each destination. You don’t want to be wasting time having to do when you arrive. However, also leave yourself some time in the schedule to add things in, as when you arrive you might come across something that you really want to do. Don’t over plan, but don’t not plan anything.
Australia is an amazing place to visit, and not somewhere that people tend to visit often. You need to make the most of the opportunity to go and enjoy it. As long as you have your passport, visa and money, you are good to go.
Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.
