Australia, any input?

[candyzire]

spring season na pag september - november

[papemelroti]

hi! can someone pm me a good travel agency that offers package tours of sydney and melbourne?

preferrably walang masyadong souvenir stops. i think that just eats up time=p

[iwantsuperman]

sobrang bilis lang ng visa dito, 2 days nga lang samin apporved agad.

Lots of outlets sa Goldcoast, I forgot the mall pero people there pretty much knew the place. Mga billabong, nike, adi, nine west, valleygirl na uber cheap talaga!

Mahirap lang talaga pag no car kasi pretty much long drive!

[papemelroti]

good day! pls comment and critique my itinerary below. i will be travelling with my family. my last visit was 10 years ago as a kid so i dont really remember a lot.

day 1: we arrive during the morning (either 8 or 10 am) and ready to start after lunch

-view the sydney harbour bridge
- take the opera house tour. are there other tours other than the one on the main website?
-royal botanical gardens

** any suggestions on what to do afterwards?
day 2:
join a tour: blue mountains and featherdale national park.
*is blue mountains very much like the grand canyon? is this combination too ambitious in 1 day? i read that there is a blue mountains scenic world tour with no/ minimum hiking.
day 3:
- trip to manly beach via ferry for great views of sydney harbour (might go on my own to visit a friend)
- head back to the city by lunchtime
- sydney aquarium or sydney maritime museum (can i do both?)

*my other question is where to squeeze a lil bit of window shopping time. 2 hours will be good=)


dec 26 we will be leaving sydney for melbourne (morning flight)
afternoon: tour at phillips island for the cute penguins

*there are a lot of tour options that combine with the penguin tour. is it worth it to go there just for the penguins? we will be visiting featherdale zoo and the sydney aquarium already so im hesitant in adding other similar activities

dec 27:
full day tour of ballarat

dec 28:
- drop by st patricks cathedral and federation square
- visit old melbourne gaol
- parliament house of victoria
- national gallery of victoria
- queen victoria market

*ps. is this doable? what attractions should i take out?

[aryl12]

sis sa tingin nyo ma aaprove yung tourist visa ko..kase sasama ako sa parents ko...si daddy business trip si mommy [textspeak!] holiday since may vacation leave ako sa work, sasama ako sa kanila..i'll pass tomorrow my documents pati itinerary ng daddy ko..naku kinakabahan ako....

[bex]

good day! pls comment and critique my itinerary below. i will be travelling with my family. my last visit was 10 years ago as a kid so i dont really remember a lot.

day 1: we arrive during the morning (either 8 or 10 am) and ready to start after lunch

-view the sydney harbour bridge
- take the opera house tour. are there other tours other than the one on the main website?
-royal botanical gardens
** any suggestions on what to do afterwards?

since most of the establishments close by 5pm/6pm, i think you can try going to the AMP Tower.  it's in the CBD. either you can go to the main viewing deck or try their buffet dinner on the revolving restaurant.  make sure you make a booking because it tends to be famous for tourists and locals.

if you can still make it to town hall before 5pm, check out  Queen Victoria Building. 


day 2:
join a tour: blue mountains and featherdale national park.
*is blue mountains very much like the grand canyon? is this combination too ambitious in 1 day? i read that there is a blue mountains scenic world tour with no/ minimum hiking.
day 3:
- trip to manly beach via ferry for great views of sydney harbour (might go on my own to visit a friend)
- head back to the city by lunchtime
- sydney aquarium or sydney maritime museum (can i do both?)

yes you can.  and whilst in the vicinity, you can check out star city for a very cheap (again!) buffet chow.  walk around the circular quay.  if you have more time, check out the paddy's market/haymarket for cheap souvenirs.


*my other question is where to squeeze a lil bit of window shopping time. 2 hours will be good=)

you might be able to do this on your day 3, since there's heaps of time after the museum/aquarium.  the late night shopping for sydney is thursday.  the shops close at 9 or 10pm.  so perhaps you can squeeze a lil bit of retail therapy on that day.


dec 26 we will be leaving sydney for melbourne (morning flight)
afternoon: tour at phillips island for the cute penguins

*there are a lot of tour options that combine with the penguin tour. is it worth it to go there just for the penguins? we will be visiting featherdale zoo and the sydney aquarium already so im hesitant in adding other similar activities

i'm not a huge fan of the fairy penguins, and i'd rather take the Great Ocean Road tour than the Phillip Island one.  Unless the tour includes other activities like the Puffing Billy ride, Olinda, Sherbrooke forest, etc.  But if it's mainly Phillip island, then it's bland.


dec 27:
full day tour of ballarat

dec 28:
- drop by st patricks cathedral and federation square
- visit old melbourne gaol
- parliament house of victoria
- national gallery of victoria
- queen victoria market

if you were able to shop at haymarket, then you can take vic market out.  haymarket in sydney is way better than vic market.

don't forget to take a shot of the flinders st station just across fed square. 




*ps. is this doable? what attractions should i take out?

[l_neveph]

if you plan to go on a great ocean road tour and the dandenong ranges try the atwad tours..very, very nice tour even the foods and the hosts..may personal touch pa since max of 9 person [textspeak!] yung tour

[stormy]

^^^@papelmelroti, sa rialto tower sis ayaw mo puntahan? Before (3yrs ago na kasi huli ko punta) yun ang tallest bldg sa melbourne di ko lang alam ngayon. Actually, then bf now hubby ko yung gusto pumunta dun pero nag enjoy na rin ako kasi may cafe dun na masarap potato wedges with sour creme dip hehe food pa rin e no

[papemelroti]

^^^thanks for the suggestion sis bex. google ko muna yun puffing billy etc

^^il also check atwad tours. i do want to try the great ocean road pero hindi ba dapat for overnight trip yun. is it still worth going to on a day trip?

^^^sis depends if we will go to the amp tower in sydney. im actually not a big fan of tall buildings except to get an overview of each city lang. ive been to taipei 101 and shanghai tower kaya nabababaan na ako sa ibang skycrapers

[papemelroti]

hehe akala ko wala ng magrereply so thanks for posting sisses

crossing my fingers that its not too hot during dec. im an autumn/ winter person during vacation mode.

[chinita8]

^naku sis, we spent xmas there na. december is summer hot in australia, naka-paa ang mga guys sa grocery, walang shirt at bitbit ang surf board, ganun ang december attire nila --- that was in Gold Coast and Cairns ha. In sydney naman, mainit during the day pero cool sa gabi.

[bex]

^^^thanks for the suggestion sis bex. google ko muna yun puffing billy etc

^^il also check atwad tours. i do want to try the great ocean road pero hindi ba dapat for overnight trip yun. is it still worth going to on a day trip?

^^^sis depends if we will go to the amp tower in sydney. im actually not a big fan of tall buildings except to get an overview of each city lang. ive been to taipei 101 and shanghai tower kaya nabababaan na ako sa ibang skycrapers

no worries papemelroti!

there are a lot of day tours offered for great ocean road.  check ATT Kings Tours.  nakakapagod nga lang but at least you're back in the city by 8pm and then you can do another leg of tour the next day.

the reason why i suggested AMP tower is not for its height alone although it's a plus when dining at night.  i thought you can have dinner on the revolving restaurant after a long day of walk... i'm sure gutom na gutom kayo.  as you're seated on your tables, the whole floor revolves so slowly that by the time you're ready to eat you're looking at a different view of the city already.  basta nice sya.  they offer buffet plus if you're adventurous enough, you can try their roast emus, kangaroo meat...etc.   

i didn't include rialto tower in my post above because i don't find heights exciting myself.

[jazzie]

is it easier to go though an agency or sa mismong embassy to get approved for the visa?

[iwantsuperman]

if you want cheaper tours, i suggest you go to chinatown, ang laki ng mura compare to their tourist information...

[selly]

^ i have done great ocean road for a day trip! i recommend it! if you have the money you can even do a helicopter ride over the 12 apostles on great ocean road.

^ in my opinion, i wouldn't bother with the amp tower and revolving restaurant unless you really really want to do it. the food isn't that great and the whole excitement is only the revolving bit. its a little expensive as well and for me, doesn't represent good value for money!

[bex]

^i've lived in sydney for 4 yrs and we frequent amp revolving restaurant with friends actually quite a few times to bring tourists and celebrate events.   i actually enjoyed the experience and wouldn't mind going back.

but since you're a sydneysider, perhaps you're best to recommend places to dine, and see in your city?
   

[hasty_jelly]

I LOVE MELBOURNE!!! the city is really nice and have so much to offer. i enjoyed melbourne museum and seeing kangaroos and koalas at the melbourne zoo.

[Bag_Snob]

Been to Sydney twice and to Perth once.  Both places are wonderful but Perth is a little laid back.  April-May is mostly still the Fall season but it already starts to really get cold in May.  Was in Sydney when the 2000 Olympics site was being built so it was quite an experience being able to take pictures at an Olympics site.  Of course, it would have been much more memorable had I been there during the Olympics itself.    The Opera House is a popular tourist attraction.  The ferry ride from Circular Quay to Darling Harbour to see the Oceanarium / Aquarium was also fun.  My most memorable experience in Sydney, just like in any other foreign country I visit, was of course, shopping.  Prices in Australia are generally higher so finding good deals was a challenge except at Paddy's Market (tiangge-style).  Still and all, shopping was a whole lot of fun, as always. 

[papemelroti]

no worries papemelroti!

there are a lot of day tours offered for great ocean road.  check ATT Kings Tours.  nakakapagod nga lang but at least you're back in the city by 8pm and then you can do another leg of tour the next day.

the reason why i suggested AMP tower is not for its height alone although it's a plus when dining at night.  i thought you can have dinner on the revolving restaurant after a long day of walk... i'm sure gutom na gutom kayo.  as you're seated on your tables, the whole floor revolves so slowly that by the time you're ready to eat you're looking at a different view of the city already. 

thanks sis! napush back yun australia trip ko to march/april naging taiwan na. i had difficulties regarding airline reservations. sq is fully booked same with cathay. qantas never kami sasakay while pal has 1 stopover. pal is actually okay for me since they offered internal flights mel-syd or syd-mel. eh arte ng family ko re: stopover, i actually thought its the same with sq or cx both have stopovers sheesh.. at least the weather will be cool

sorry OT but i am definitely going to try the great ocean road. i do hope the road trip is worthwhile btw what do you think is better for the other day trip: ballarat, dandenong ranges or philip island.

also is it worth it to book a show in sydney opera house?

[selly]

^ oops! didn't see the reply above . here are my sydney recs:

food:
for meals:
- for good, cheap, decent meals head to chinatown! i recommend the sussex food court, dixon street food court, menya ramen noodle bar, kura japanese, minh hai for roast pork, bbq pork and soya chicken. too many to mention but great food here. sometimes on friday nights they do a night market so you can sample the food at once.
- musashi, my fave japanese restaurant
- pub food (steak and beer) at shark hotel, strattons or star bar ($6.95 meals), forbes hotel etc. lunch is best
- sydney fish market. sit by the water or nearby at the park on pyrmont bridge road and eat seafood. highly recommend the sashimi.
- king street newtown
- any of the cafes down glebe or broadway.
- lindt chocolate cafe at cockle bay wharf or martin place, guylian chocolate cafe at circular quay
- bungalow 8, james squire or kobe jones (a bit more exxy) at king street wharf

anyway, there is heaps! let me know if you want more recs but this website is good for food www.eatability.com.au

things to do:
- markets: the rocks for some kitsch souveneirs, paddys markets in haymarket/chinatown, glebe markets on saturday to check out unique clothes and accessories, paddington markets for similar stuff and art
- bondi beach: just go because its an icon and easily accessible from the cbd. alternatively, take a ferry to manly which is really nice as well
- taronga zoo: i like it best out of the aquarium or other wildlife parks because of variety
- of course, walk around the rocks, circular quay, harbour bridge, cbd (QVB and the strand are nice for photographs) and hyde park
- show at the opera house is a great idea! last year, went to see a random ballet on and it was fantastic!
- day trips: blue mountains is always nice. if you have time, go for a trek