Travelling to Australia

Forums › Off topic › Travelling to Australia - Cf.Objective

jbard

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Topic # 70090 18-Oct-2010 20:29

So i was lucky enough to win a competition to go to Cf.Objective(ANZ)
This is the first time i have been overseas since i was a kid so i'm not really sure how this sort of thing works.
What do i need to take with me, so far i have got this:
-My Uk Passport with my returning residents visa in it
-My plane tickets :)
-An eVisitor Visa for Australia
-Travel Insurance

Is that all i need, can't help feeling i must be missing something?

Anyway i have 5 days in Melbourne so can anyone recommend things to do?
I want to see the city so what are some of the places i put on y must go list?

Thanks

nate

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Reply # 393364 18-Oct-2010 22:25

I assume accommodation is provided? How are you getting from the airport to your hotel?

jbard

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Reply # 393380 18-Oct-2010 22:48

nate: I assume accommodation is provided? How are you getting from the airport to your hotel?

Yeah accommodation is provided and i am getting a taxi to the hotel that is already booked.

And just out of interest anyone else from geekzone going to the conference?

NickiB

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Reply # 393407 19-Oct-2010 00:29

Melbourne Aquarium (this rates high in my books, I loved it)
Queen Victoria Markets (if you're into that sort of thing)
Eureka towers (haven't been, but it's more than just a look out point, apparently it's pretty trippy)
St Kilda - good for a wander on the beach with a gelato or cake
The zoo - a zoo's a zoo really, but it was kind of fun
NGV and/or any good exhibits around the other galleries (not sure what's coming up in November)
Museum (haven't been there myself, but have heard it's interesting)
Take in a show if there's something on you're into (might be hard pushed, at the moment there are things like Hairspray and Mary Poppins)
Just generally wander - up and down Flinders Lane/Collins/Bourke Streets, especially around the middle (Swanston Street is the central point)

It really depends on what you're interested in, what sort of time you have and how confident you are to get around on the trams and trains (it's super easy though), but there's a few ideas. Highly recommend picking up an Official Visitors Guide. You'll see them all over the airport as you make your way from plane to baggage (A5 sized white book, will probably be titled 'Melbourne in Summer' by then). It will give you more ideas of what to see and what's on at the time and, if nothing else, the map in the back is REALLY useful for getting around the central city.

nOOb alert

graemeh

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Reply # 393538 19-Oct-2010 11:30

Don't forget to either take spending money or some way of obtaining money (like a credit card or ATM card) :)

I think I've seen ATMs in Auckland airport that dispense Australian $. Just watch out for anything non-bank like Travelex. It's also usually cheaper to change money outside the airport.

You'll need a credit card for the hotel when you check in, in case you get the munchies in the middle of the night and empty the mini bar.

mentalinc

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Reply # 393543 19-Oct-2010 11:47

You forgot to pack your bags.....

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NickiB

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Reply # 393544 19-Oct-2010 11:53

graemeh: Don't forget to either take spending money or some way of obtaining money (like a credit card or ATM card) :)

+1

I thought about this after I posted my first reply. You will need cash. Don't just bring a credit card and assume you can put everything on that. Most places have minimum spends for eftpos and credit cards (credit cards can be higher minimums too).

This is the one most frustrating thing I've found here, and the minimum is always just above what you'd normally spend at each type of place. Go to a cafe for a coffee and muffin, the minimum will be $10. Go somewhere for a $12 lunch, the minimum will be $15. I went to dinner and spent $18 and thought surely they'd take eftpos for that, but nope, $20 minimum.

Depending on how much cash you need, I've found ordering in advance through travelex to be the cheapest way - slightly lower exchange rate, but no commission, so overall you're better off than going to the bank/using an ATM (check your banks fees, most are $5+ per overseas transaction).

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lyonrouge

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Reply # 393585 19-Oct-2010 13:30

If you know someone in Australia, get them to buy you a PrePay SIM and post it to you. I use Optus pre-pay and for $50 I get 500MB of data and a crazy amount of calls and texts (I never use them all up and instead phone all my friends overseas on the day I fly out).

The SIM stays alive for 6 months, so I have a deal with my friends when they go to Australia, they can use my SIM but pay the $50 recharge, that way they land with a working number and mobile data and I get my SIMs life extended by anther 6 months.

jbard

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Reply # 393794 19-Oct-2010 21:09

mentalinc: You forgot to pack your bags.....

Haha i haven't packed my bags yet - not going for another couple of weeks :)

I don't have a credit card but i have a westpac debit plus card so i can use this at all the places that would take a credit card am i right?

NickiB

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Reply # 393804 19-Oct-2010 21:50

jbard:
I don't have a credit card but i have a westpac debit plus card so i can use this at all the places that would take a credit card am i right?

Yep, should be sweet in 99% of places. Just make sure you're carrying cash for smaller purchases.

Something that really bugs me is that when you hand your card over they ask 'chequecreditorsavings' and press the button for you. Really annoying because 1) you don't know what the heck they're saying and 2) you're so used to pressing the account button yourself you'll press it again anyway.

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jbard

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Reply # 393805 19-Oct-2010 21:53

NickiB:
jbard:
I don't have a credit card but i have a westpac debit plus card so i can use this at all the places that would take a credit card am i right?

Yep, should be sweet in 99% of places. Just make sure you're carrying cash for smaller purchases.

Something that really bugs me is that when you hand your card over they ask 'chequecreditorsavings' and press the button for you. Really annoying because 1) you don't know what the heck they're saying and 2) you're so used to pressing the account button yourself you'll press it again anyway.

Yeah that really annoys me as well, sometimes i almost feel like say - "whats it to you?"

Linuxluver

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Reply # 393817 19-Oct-2010 22:44

jbard: So i was lucky enough to win a competition to go to Cf.Objective(ANZ)
This is the first time i have been overseas since i was a kid so i'm not really sure how this sort of thing works.
What do i need to take with me, so far i have got this:
-My Uk Passport with my returning residents visa in it
-My plane tickets :)
-An eVisitor Visa for Australia
-Travel Insurance

Is that all i need, can't help feeling i must be missing something?

Anyway i have 5 days in Melbourne so can anyone recommend things to do?
I want to see the city so what are some of the places i put on y must go list?

Thanks

If you're downtown, the trams are excellent. They run up and down and back and forth in the central grid - minutes apart / continuously. Get a day pass if you're moving around or going out in the evening.

The trains are good, too. You can go all over the place...and back. The train stations intersect with the tram lines.

It's good public transport, so you won't be used to it, coming from NZ.

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graemeh

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Reply # 393927 20-Oct-2010 12:05

jbard:
mentalinc: You forgot to pack your bags.....

Haha i haven't packed my bags yet - not going for another couple of weeks :)

I don't have a credit card but i have a westpac debit plus card so i can use this at all the places that would take a credit card am i right?

Not sure about the hotel. They may only accept credit cards or a cash deposit to cover anything you may charge to your room. If they do accept debit cards they will put a hold on some of the money in your account. They won't take the money until you check out but you won't be able to use it. This hold may last until after you checkout (like up to 7 days or so after you check in).

Probably easiest to ask the hotel directly what their policy is.