The grand Oz reunion

Kiddlywinks · 18 Jun 18, 01:13 PM

Really getting excited now
At the end of August, we're off to Australia Baby!

Have friends out there I've not seen in a loooooong time (almost 20 yrs), and whilst we were planning on going to Disney again this year, flights to Oz were much cheaper!

Whilst I was chatting to friends on facetime, DD was scanning flight costs lol

So, we agreed we'd put Disney off till the 50th celebrations, and go to the land down under instead, to see J & L

It's our big birthdays this year, my 50th, DD's 21st, and DS's 18th, so needed to do something MASSIVE lol

Managed to get flights via Singapore @Ł728 return, with Singapore airlines - any hints and tips on how to get the best out of the loooong journey with them?

Flying to Melbourne via Singapore.
Staying there for a couple of days, before a little road trip to Sydney.
Couple of days in Sydney (Harbour bridge walk booked)
On to Alice Springs and Uluru (Ayers Rock), again, for a couple of days (Tour booked)
Then onto the Gold Coast for a few days (Theme park to be decided on, with a trip up the Skypoint observation deck for a meal) before returning back to Melbourne to catch our breath, then heading home again, via Singapore and Amsterdam.

Phew! I'm exhausted already

**Andi** · 18 Jun 18, 01:37 PM

Sorry no tips as I haven't been yet but DD and I are booked to go in November with Singapore Airlines from Heathrow to Singapore to Sydney, booked the Bridge Climb as well, and then flying home via Melbourne.

Oh one thing I thought of is be careful booking your evisitor visa, I did ours on Saturday and there are lots of sites out there on google that look official but are actually going to apply on your behalf and charge you Ł20 each. The official site doesn't charge for the evisitor 651 visa and it allows you 3 months stay from date of each arrival (multiple entries) for 1 year from approval date.

Will you put updates on the Dibb?

Disney1sttimers · 18 Jun 18, 02:11 PM

How exciting. Did you book directly with Singapore Airlines?

It's 25 years since I was last in Australia but I'm taking my 3 girls (16, 14 & 11) next year to meet their Australian family. My mum was born in Adelaide but lives in London now, she's 83 and is hoping to make the trip as well.

I can imagine the flight being a little easier these days with ipads, etc, but I have to say I'm not particularly looking forward to it. I remember the first time I did it - left Heathrow on Xmas Eve and didn't arrive in Adelaide till Boxing Day! Next year I'm thinking of a stopover for a couple of nights on the way to break the journey up.

I hope you have a fantastic time. Will you do a trip report - would love to read all about it.

Disney1sttimers · 18 Jun 18, 02:13 PM

Originally Posted by Andi

Oh one thing I thought of is be careful booking your evisitor visa, I did ours on Saturday and there are lots of sites out there on google that look official but are actually going to apply on your behalf and charge you Ł20 each. The official site doesn't charge for the evisitor 651 visa and it allows you 3 months stay from date of each arrival (multiple entries) for 1 year from approval date.

I noticed this over the weekend as well. Do you have a link to the official site please?

wez · 18 Jun 18, 04:19 PM

Singapore are a fab airline, with comfy seats. I’ve done the Oz trip a few times and it’s never as bad as you think.

**Andi** · 18 Jun 18, 10:06 PM

Originally Posted by Disney1sttimers

I noticed this over the weekend as well. Do you have a link to the official site please?

To apply for the visa you need to register an account first, they then send you an email for you to confirm and then you login to your immi account to apply for the visa. I was using an apple device so anything else probably needs www on the address line.

online.immi.gov.au

You can do multiple applications for family members through the one account.

There is also information on

homeaffairs.gov.au/Trav

I applied for the evisitor 651 visa which is free and allows multiple visits of up to 3 months within the 12 months from visa is approved.

They send an email confirming visa is granted, visa attached, to print off.

Kiddlywinks · 22 Jun 18, 09:28 AM

Hi all, thanks for reading

Andi, I can let you know how the flight went so you're prepared for November lol
Thanks to J & L, we were already aware of the immi site to get visa's so didn't get pulled into paying for them when we applied last month, thankfully.

Disney1sttimers - yes, we went through Singapore direct in the end. Had to call them, due to online payment being taken but declined, and they kindly held the fare for 24 hrs for me, whilst the issue got sorted, so very impressed with their CS so far.

I hadn't really given a trip report much thought tbh, but, if you'd like to come along for the ride, I'm sure one can be arranged lol

stockport1965 · 28 Jun 18, 07:56 PM

Originally Posted by Andi

Sorry no tips as I haven't been yet but DD and I are booked to go in November with Singapore Airlines from Heathrow to Singapore to Sydney, booked the Bridge Climb as well, and then flying home via Melbourne.

Oh one thing I thought of is be careful booking your evisitor visa, I did ours on Saturday and there are lots of sites out there on google that look official but are actually going to apply on your behalf and charge you Ł20 each. The official site doesn't charge for the evisitor 651 visa and it allows you 3 months stay from date of each arrival (multiple entries) for 1 year from approval date.

Will you put updates on the Dibb?

I am joining in

We go in October. Whats happening about the Bridge Climb tickets? Did you get a refund?