Most Brits associate Christmas with cold weather, little sunlight, snow, families cosying up indoors and traditional Christmas cuisine such as turkey and mulled wine. But if that all sounds as appealing as that knitted reindeer jumper re-gifted through the family since time memoriam, Australia can provide an alternative Christmas holiday with things to see and experience to suit anyone’s tastes – whether you’re looking to experience the cities, beaches or the many natural sights.
The most popular city among tourists visiting Australia is Sydney, and it’s not hard to see why. As one of the most iconic cities in Australia it’s most well-known attractions include the Sydney Opera House, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Royal Botanical Gardens, Luna Park, Sydney Tower and its many beaches. Bondi Beach in particular has proven to be popular with British and Irish tourists looking to spend the holiday in the sun and the beach has many cafes, restaurants and hotels, giving spectacular views of the beach. Other major cities in Australia offering a similar experience include Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.
No trip to Australia would be complete without visiting the Great Barrier Reef. It is the largest coral reef system and the biggest single structure made by living organisms in the world. It composed of roughly 3,000 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for 1615 miles over an area of approximately 132,974 sq mi. Due to its vast biodiversity, warm clear waters and its accessibility from the floating guest facilities, the reef is a very popular destination for tourists, especially scuba divers. The reef is accessible via boat tours and cruises, from single day trips to longer voyages. Glass-bottomed boats and underwater observatories are also popular, as are helicopter flights.
Ayers Rock (or Uluru) is one of Australia’s most recognisable natural icons. The sandstone formation stands 1142ft high, with a circumference of 5.8 mi. It has great cultural significance for the A?angu landowners, who lead walking tours of the area, informing visitors of the local bush foods, flora and fauna and Aboriginal dreamtime stories. The sandstone formation is notable for appearing to change colour throughout the day and year depending on the light and weather, glowing red at sunset and silver-grey when it rains.
In addition to the mainland there are several islands to check out, including Tasmania. Promoting itself as the Natural State and the Island of Inspiration, almost 37% of Tasmania is in reserves, National Parks and World Heritage Sites. Despite its small size, there are plenty of sights to see, and Tasmania attracts many tourists for its trout fishing possibilities and the iconic Overland Track bush walk.
So if you’re looking to skip the cold climes of the UK and spend Christmas in the sun, a festive holiday in Australia is an ideal destination.
Many travelers hope to visit Australia one day. But with so much territory to explore, how do you narrow down your itinerary? Check out the recommendations below to make the most of your time Down Under.
1) Take to the waves in Surfer’s Paradise. The name says it all! If you’re a surfer, you simply can’t miss the beaches at Surfer’s Paradise on the Gold Coast. Ride the perfect waves, catch some rays on the sand, or take a surfing lesson from some of the world’s best teachers.
2) Eat your way through Tropical Fruit World. Housing the world’s largest variety of tropical fruit, this New South Wales plantation is a food lover’s dream. You can taste new fruits and fruit products, go on an orchard discovery walk, explore the grounds through a train safari, and so much more.
3) Sip some vino. Australian wine? The very thought would have raised eyebrows in the not-too-distant past, but Australian wines are well respected today. And luckily for wine aficionados, there are plenty of vineyards to explore. Some of the best include the Saltram Wine Estate in South Australia, Stringybark Winery in Western Australia, and Yering Farm Wines in Victoria.
4) Get up close and personal with a kangaroo. The Australia Walkabout Wildlife Park in Calga, New South Wales is a prime destination for those interested in native Australian animals, plants, and culture. Here you can choose from guided tours geared toward your interests-seeing kangaroos and koalas, discovering Aboriginal culture, or learning how to survive in the bush. Or you can go it alone to discover your own favorite things.
5) Hop a rollercoaster at Dreamworld. Kind of like the Australian equivalent of Disney World, Dreamworld (in Queensland) is Australia’s most popular amusement park and offers thrills for all ages. Whether you live for wild rollercoasters or your kids are dying for a Wiggles fix, Dreamworld can keep you all occupied for several days.
6) Tour the Sydney Opera House. Even if you’re not an opera buff, a visit to this quintessential Australian landmark is a must-do one afternoon. Tour guides will give you an insider’s peek and the surprisingly moving story behind its creation, and you can even grab some lunch and a beer while you’re there.
7) Immerse yourself in a rainforest village. In northern Queensland is the mountain retreat of Kuranda, where visitors can observe wildlife, learn about indigenous culture and art from Aboriginal residents, or go on a forest walk.
Dive the Great Barrier Reef. There are skilled companies all over Queensland ready to take you on the dive of your life. One of the top scuba destinations anywhere in the world, dive enthusiasts must make the time to explore this undersea phenomenon.
9) Hit the trail. Horse lovers can explore Tamborine Mountain in the Gold Coast hinterland on horseback. These trail rides are geared toward both first-timers and experts and take visitors through an ancient rainforest and towering gums.
10) Climb to new heights in a hot air balloon. One of the best ways to explore the scenic coasts and interior landscapes of Australia is from above. Hot air balloon rides are common in Queensland, and you can choose what kind of trip appeals to you: nature, romance, luxury, adventure, and more.
Once you have decided to have an Australian holiday, the next thing to consider is to get your Australia visa. Before you could even think about scuba diving, outback tours, and lying in the pristine beaches, you should first consider getting an Australian visa. Listed below are some helpful guidelines regarding Australia visa:
Who Needs an Australian Visa?
For your Australia holiday, you and your company would be required to have a visa so that you could enter into Australia. Some exceptions to this are if you are holding a New Zealand passport or if you are simply continuing your trip within 8 hours of your arrival while in possession of a valid onward plane ticket and if you are not departing from the transit lounge. You also need to remember that each Australian visa has to be acquired before your actual departure towards your Australian holiday. You would not be permitted to board your plane without presenting a valid visa or ETA as well as your passport and other travel documents.
Which Australian Visa is Required?
Due to the country’s natural beauty, unique charm, warm climate and its fast growing economy make Australia one of the most ideal places on earth to establish a business, work, live or simply visit.
Suffice it to say that there are plenty of Australian visas that could allow you to enter Australia. It is absolutely vital that you have obtained the right visa for yourself and your company, which would cover your intended stay as well as the purpose of your visit to Australia.
Tourists in Australia are required to have a travel visa. If you want to go to Australia with the intention of sightseeing, visiting friends or relatives, as well as other non-working activities, what you would specifically need is either an ETA Short-Stay Tourist Visa or a Long-Stay Tourist Visa. But then, if you also want to travel to Australia for business purposes, you would need an ETA Short-Stay Business Visa or a Long-Validity Business Visa, depending on the length of your stay.
Because you are planning to have a fantastic Australian holiday, you could apply via the internet for an Electronic Travel Authority visa, otherwise known as the ETA visa, before you embark on your Australia holiday. This Australian ETA is an electronic visa for visitors who are going to Australia for either tourism or business purposes for a visit that will not last longer than three months. This is an electronically stored authorization for travel to the country and therefore, you would not need any paper documentation, labels or even a stamp issued in your passport. This would be digitally assigned to the passport number that you supplied during your application.
Similarly, if you are planning to work and live in the country on a permanent basis, you could also apply as an immigrant to Australia via the Australian General Skilled Migration Program. This program intends to match some skills shortages in the country by luring skilled migrants who would be able to create an immediate contribution to the economy of Australia. Or if you are planning on studying in Australia, you could also obtain a Student Visa.
An Australian holiday is undoubtedly a hit for most people because it offers some spectacular sights and great adventures. You could anticipate a fun-filled and relaxing Australia holiday. Prior to your Australia holiday though, you need to process your Australia visa first. The type of your visa would still depend on your purpose in visiting Australia. If you truly want an Australian holiday, get a travel visa real fast so that you could finally step foot and roam around this beautiful continent.
For many, a trip to the “Land down Under” is the trip of a lifetime. Australia really does offer something for everyone, exciting cities, spectacular scenery, friendly people and some of the most unique wildlife found anywhere in the world. Part of the excitement of a big trip is in the planning and if you are visiting this huge and fascinating country, there are several things you should not overlook.
The most important thing is your passport. Without this vital document, you will not get very far at all as your airline will not board you. Your passport needs to be valid for the length of your visit to Australia and the name on your passport should exactly match the name on your plane ticket. Actually, it is surprising how many travelers put their middle name or nickname on one or the other.
All visitors to Australia, except citizens of neighboring New Zealand, also need to have a visa, or in keeping with today’s electronic environment, an electronic travel authority, (ETA) as it’s now called. The ETA is easy to obtain, you can apply for it on line, and most airlines and travel agencies will process your application, for a fee. Unless you are in poor health or have a recent criminal record, you should not have any difficulty being granted the ETA.
There are several different types of ETA, depending on the purpose of your trip. If you are vacationing in Australia, you will need a visitor’s visa – valid for three, six or twelve months, although extensions are possible. If you intend to work or conduct business in Australia, you will need one of several visas allowing you to work in the country, either on a temporary or permanent basis.
One thing you probably will not need for your trip to Australia is a paper plane ticket. Today, virtually all plane tickets are electronic, and are usually referred to as e-tickets. You may want to carry with you a faxed or e-mailed copy of your itinerary and receipt when you travel, although it is not actually necessary. Also, it’s also a good idea to confirm flight times before leaving, just in case of a schedule change.
Electronic tickets offer big advantages to the airlines as well as passengers, they are less expensive to produce and distribute; and they involve less paperwork to keep together. Previously, if you lost your paper ticket, the airline would generally charge you to replace it. With an electronic ticket, there is usually no such problem, your airline will simply re-send it to you at no cost.
Many people drive while in Australia, a driving trip across the famous Outback is absolutely a memorable experience. If you plan to drive, you will need to take your regular driver’s license or an International Driver’s Permit with you. It is a rule in Australia that you carry your license with you at all times, it must also be written in English or you will need a translation. The minimum driving age is 16 or 17; sometimes 21 to drive a four wheel drive vehicle.
Many people visit Australia to experience the fascinating culture of the country’s original inhabitants, the Aborigines. If you intend to travel on Aboriginal land, other than on a designated road, you will need to contact the Land Council in that state to obtain a permit. You can apply for the permit in advance, although the process can take up to six weeks, so you do not want to leave it until the last minute.
Australia is considered to be one of the safest and healthiest places in the world to visit. No vaccinations are necessary unless you have been in a yellow fever danger zone, usually found in Africa or South America. Be sure to take adequate prescription medication with you. By law, Australian pharmacies can only fill a prescription written by an Australian doctor. And it is a good idea to have a spare pair of glasses or contact lenses.
You may not need to take out additional travel insurance; the insurance included on your credit cards may cover you against such things as lost luggage, airline delays and a tour operator ceasing operations. Most health insurance plans will not provide coverage in Australia and it is vital to take out adequate health insurance, especially if you are planning to visit remote areas. Make sure you have signed everything and filled out all forms correctly.
When flying, always carry important documents and paperwork with you in your carry on bag, never in your checked luggage, just in case your bag is one of the few that is lost. It’s also a good idea to make copies of any important papers, passport, plane tickets, tour itinerary, driving license and medical documents. Be prepared and enjoy your trip!
Australia, the most preferred holiday destination often tempts the tourists for its amazing attractions and sparkling beaches and once you have planned to spend your vacations in the gorgeous land of Australia you need to arrange for an Australian Visa. To acquire a Visa for Australia, you need to follow some important tips to help you get an Australia Visa effortlessly and efficiently. Firstly, you need to know that who really needs to apply for an Australian Visa. If you want to enter Australia then you definitely need to have a Visa for Australia. But if you want to continue your journey forward and you have just made a halt on the Australia airport for less than eight hours where you do not leave the transit lounge and also hold a valid ticket for your connecting journey then you need not apply for the Australia Visa. Hence it is a prerequisite that before you depart for Australia you need to have each valid Australian Visa or ETA along with your passport and various other important travel documents. Secondly you need to know the type of Australia Visa you might require for your stay in Australia. Australia attracts a number of tourists from all over the world for its natural and scenic beauty, the awesome beaches and a numbers of tourists places like the Sydney Tower, Sydney Opera House, the Sydney Harbor Bridge, Luna Park, The Royal Botanical Gardens, the Great Barrier Reef and a lot of beaches, like the most famous Bondi beach. A lot of people are attracted to either permanently settle down in Australia, or for a short period to enjoy their vacations or for a stay at their relatives place for 3 months or more, or jobs and ongoing projects fro some companies. Different Australian Visas permit you to stay in this country peacefully and it is most necessary to apply and acquire the right kind of Australian Visa for a comfortable and a peaceful stay. – For Tourists who visit Australia for enjoying vacations or to visit their relatives or friends, need to particularly for an ETA (Electronic Travel Authority) Short-Stay Business Visa or can apply for an ETA Long-Validity Business Visa and to choose among this completely depends on the time period of your stay in Australia. – For a perfect holiday in Australia you can apply for an ETA online before you board for your Australian holiday. This is an Electronic Visa for the tourists who visit Australia for a short stay or for business purposes for which you do not need to stay for more than 3 months period. To visit Australia on the ETA Visa it is not necessary to have any kind of paper certification, labels or even a stamp on your passport for that matter. All these important certification process will be automatically assigned with your passport number at the time of application. – If you are planning to shift to Australia permanently either to work there permanently or to reside there for ever, you need to contact The Australian General Skilled Migration Program for a smooth immigration process. – If you are planning to continue your studies in Australia you can apply and easily obtain a Student Visa. Whatever may be the cause to visit Australia, it is definite that your visit to this amazingly beautiful city is going to be splendid where you get the worth for the price paid for. Your vacation to Australia will undoubtedly be fun-filled and adventurous, the memories that will cherish forever. So apply and get a valid Australian Visa and enjoy your stay to the fullest.
Dive the Great Barrier Reef. There are skilled companies all over Queensland ready to take you on the dive of your life. One of the top scuba destinations anywhere in the world, dive enthusiasts must make the time to explore this undersea phenomenon.