Australia here I come!

Beany

Well I finally did it...gave my 4 weeks notice today, have my flights booked...now the waiting game! Flying out on Oct 3rd, hanging around Thailand/Malaysia for 5 weeks and then into Sydney to start my year-long visa. Woo-hoo!

So any tips or checks from some seasoned travellers before I go?

Do I need to get some injections for my 5 weeks in Asia?

Do I need a Thai visa if I'm only staying less than 3 weeks in Thailand?

Are there any internet recruitment agancies that I can contact now to get a job set up in Sydney in November before I get there? I'm a mechanical Engineer by trade but will work at almost anything. Probably be in Sydney for about 4 months to make travelling money.



Anyone else heading over around that time?

Beany

Oh yeah, and what do you do about mobile phones...get a new phone when I arrive in Oz and bring my sim card so I don't lose my numbers?

mollser

Great move Beany - just in time for summer as well - nice one!! Just be prepared to get a bit peeved off cos you didn't do it sooner....

Dunno about thailand et al, but bring your phone with you, they cost a feckin fortune in Oz (and the ready to go's are rubbish), buy a Vodafone sim card $29, comes with $29 worth of credit, widely available (go with V'fone, cos you can text home on these, other networks people have difficulty texting Oireland).

Then, if you see a phone you like, you can just buy it - don't have to waste that beer money

Enjoy the trip!

Beany

Cheers Mollser.

Just found out that my Trailfinders flights have to be used within one year...I was thinking of travelling for a little longer than that...maybe I can trade the "Boston to home" flight mileage in for some internal flights in Oz or America, and get another ticket home from the US when I'm good and ready...hmmm...should've read the small print.

Ah sure I can decide what to do after a few months out there...maybe 9 months will be enough in Oz, then give myself a month in Thailand/Malaysia, a month in New Zealand/Fiji and a month in the US.

Just thinking out loud there!

Silvera

I'm planning to head to Oz in October or November ..... currently waiting to get my New Zealand visa also !

Hmmm ........ where to first - Oz or NZ ?

I wonder will flights be more expensive in October on account of the Rugby World Cup (likewise with accomadation) ?

Also, what's the story about entering the U.S after next October ? You need an "encrypted" passport, or something like that.

That means I would have to come home to get a new passport before entering America ? Right ?

Beany

Silvera, check out this thread regarding the US passport...

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=110660&highlight=passport

Frank Grimes

You'll get a one month visa for Thailand when you enter the country.
Same with Malaysia. (although first time I was there, they gave me a 3 month business visa for some reason).
wrt vaccinations, check with the Tropical Medical Bureau (www.tmb.ie) before you go.

Beany

Found this in the meantime...
http://www.thetravellerslounge.co.uk/visas/visa.htm


Says I can stay up to 30 days without a visa in Thailand...cool.:D

UbahOne

I have never been to Australia but is no one else freaked out by the spiders that look like some sort of rat? There fecken huge!!!!!! The wildlife is nuts...am i exaggerating?

Just what i picked up and from the Crocodile hunter show...:D

ur mentor

ho hum,
sorry to butt inhere. probably should be on another thread. any ideas on flights to oz for melbourne weeken. just got lucky email from buddy in mbourne with free bed-- so now need flights for last weekend in oct 1st week nov. Irish times (fooey) offer packages for €2.5k- 2 rich 4 me. help? abbey travel are up to 7.5k. search for flights has some better offers nearer to 1.5k. any other ideas out there

ando

do you guys have people over in australia that your going to be meeting? or are you going on your own?

Beany

Originally posted by ando
do you guys have people over in australia that your going to be meeting? or are you going on your own?

I'm just going on my own...don't really know anyone in Oz...hopefully will meet people in hostels and the like.

Silvera

Likewise.... going on me tod'.

Apparently, 70% of backpackers go on their own !

Check out www.stownedcrow.com

Silvera.

HarryD

Just back from them places a few months ago..

You shouldn't need any shots unless you plan to head to northern Thailand (jungles) or Cambodia/Laos/Vietnam..
U might wanna get malaria pills just incase..

What type of phone u got ?
You could probably bring it out (you might need it unlocked, which is easy for Nokias).
I found Telstra network the best in Oz.
You can call a mobile in Ireland, for $0.25 per min !
That's cheaper than phoning a mobile in Ireland from Ireland !
You can pick up a SIM pack for $25 with $25 credit.. (free basically)

I'm jealous, I'd love to be doing it all again.
Best year of my life..
You'll have a ball.. enjoy

Beany

Originally posted by HarryD


What type of phone u got ?
You could probably bring it out (you might need it unlocked, which is easy for Nokias).

I have a Nokia 3210, but its a 'bill' phone so I'll be cancelling the contract before I go. I'll bring the phone itself just in case I can get one of those SIM cards for it. Cheers for the advice.

HarryD

If it's a bill phone it could be locked to Vodaphone (or O2) Ireland, and hence you'd need it unlocked before using it abroad.
To check if it's locked try another SIM card (from a different network) or type in the following code:
#pw+1234567890+1#
if it sez SIM NOT RESTRICTED you phone is unlocked
if it sez CODE ERROR yer phone is locked, and you'd need to get
it unlocked. This is quite easy..

skywalker_208

how did u go about getting your visa and how much r your flights Beany? (if u dont mind me asking...

Beany

Got my visa from Visa Australia (http://www.australianvisas.ie/) in Temple Bar...around €125-€150 I think...but you can get it online too from the Aussie government site...they don't stamp your passport until you get to OZ now so all you get is a certificate...which you can print from the net.

I got a round the world trip from Trailfinders which was around €2000 after tax...you could probably get it cheaper if you booked individual flights but I was too lazy to do all the organising!

Silvera

I used Visa Australia also.
They also can provide travel insurance (vital !) for circa €350 per year.

I'm planning to fly direct to Oz (then NZ).
Am a bit wary of going to Thailand/Malaysia etc - Heard some horror stories - like the guy from Dublin who had a stolen camera planted on him in Thailand, and then spent several months chained up in a slum jail (in a 12ft x 12ft cell with about ten others ! ).
His mother was on the Joe Duffy Show at the time looking for help.

Be aware if you go there.

Silvera.

[nicK]

im thinking of doing something similar next september/october.. just curious, but how much money are you guys thinking of bringing with you?

solice

hey just wondering, are you going to stay in sydney for the year or are you going to travel.

if traveling head north to the rain forests and coral reef. Cairns is a really cool city in northern queensland. its got everything from bungee to scuba to rainforests and skydiving and crocidile farms and everything up there is reasonable, if you shop around.
a must do is Cape Tribulation. its the most amazing place on earth. words cant describe its beauty. and with all the back packers (those are the good tourists, you dont get many sight seers up that far north) there is always a good atmosphere. but make sure you go north in the dry season. in the wet seaon little creeks turn into raging torrents.

and by the by, you must try some croc and kangaroo meat. they are delicious.
trust me

Silvera

Probably stay in Sydney for a few months and then travel .... will "play it by ear", so to speak.

Will be going to NZ also - if I get my visa that is - still waiting

[nicK]

so.. if i was to head out next september/october.. i'd be looking at saving at least 2000e for tickets + insurance... (backpacks etc) .. then getting a crappy job to save for spending money and travelling elsewhere around oz.. - could it be done for any less?..

Silvera

If you are applying for an Australian work visa, you have to show proof that you have funds of (at least) €3800 (or €2000 for NZ) - otherwise I doubt you will get a work visa.

Check out www.visaaustralia.ie

You should budget for c.€5000 if at all possible.

Silvera.

bringitdown

Okay

Am in Oz at the mo via LA / Fiji, you'll love it mate

see http://sbradish.net for a blog

costs upfront:
E1500 flights
E110 visa
E300 insurance
All USIT

costs so far:
loads but have a job now - hostels are better when booking weekly rates as low as $15 or lower for a good hostel, YHA are a good bet generally. You'll need at minimum $200 a week to (just) survive....

Any more questions pm me or comment my blog!

Beany

Cool blog...picking up some tips for the way back!

Gaz

Heading off myself on the 3rd of October also , flying to Bangkok , spending 3 months travelling around Thailand , Laos , Vietnam and Cambodia , then flying on to Sydney Christmas week.

Cant feckin wait !!!! Only another 9 days to go !!!

skywalker_208

wow! i didnt think u needed that much for OZ - 3800 quid! lot of money!

Beany

Originally posted by Darth Homer
Heading off myself on the 3rd of October also , flying to Bangkok , spending 3 months travelling around Thailand , Laos , Vietnam and Cambodia , then flying on to Sydney Christmas week.

Cant feckin wait !!!! Only another 9 days to go !!!

I know...its deadly! Today is my last day at work!

Might see you on the plane so Darth...I'm getting the 19.30 out of Dublin I think...wear the darth vader mask so I recognise you!

IgnatiusJRiley

Can people not think of somewhere else to go. The whole Australia/Sout-East Asia thing has been so overdone at this stage.