We can help you plan your trip!

We are really happy that you are thinking about visiting us in Australia.  We know all too well that making the journey to Australia is no small trip.

Here are some things to consider as you plan your trip:

Timing: Australia can be a hot place – there is no doubt about it.  The seasons in Australia are reversed, so if you prefer cooler climates, plan to travel during the Canadian summer months.  If you like it hot, travel during the winter.  When it’s coldest in Canada it’s hottest in Australia.  Melbourne reaches lows in the single digits Celsius in the winter, but rarely less than 10 degrees during the day.  In the hottest times of the year, temps can reach more than 40-45 degrees celcius, but are more often in the mid to high 20’s in Melbourne, and hotter in other parts of Australia.  Rain is not as frequent as Vancouver, but when it rains it can rain very hard, so bring at least a light rain cover year-round.

Travel Expenses and Flights: Air travel to Australia can expensive and lengthy.  Expect to be traveling between 20 and 30 hours, depending on connecting flights.  Flights can cost between $950 and $2000 per person (though if you want first class you can spend as much as $12,000) return trip, so use the Internet to find the best deals, and play with your departure and arrival dates to see when you can get the best deals.  We used Kayak for one flight which was a great deal at just over $1000.  Kayak is a site that searches other discount sites for the best deals and returns them to you.  The final booking is made with the original site and not Kayak, but we didn’t find the same prices elsewhere so it’s a very good tool.  We also used Travel Cuts to book flights over the phone.  The service was fantastic and the price was good.  What we really liked is that although one calls into a call center, you can reach the person you booked with directly by calling their extension.  That’s a nice personal touch. The price for us to fly on fairly short notice can to $3000 for both of us using Travel Cuts.

There are no direct flights from from Vancouver to Melbourne, however there are several almost direct flights available.  Different airlines fly through different cities.  The best flights fly to Hong Kong and then to Melbourne, or directly to Sydney and then to Melbourne.  There are many inexpensive flights that stop often and can have lengthy lay-overs, so make sure you investigate the details before you book.

Unlike North America, shot notice flights can be very expensive.  Book early for the best deals.

Domestic and Surrounding Area Flights: You may want to travel within Australia or even visit some of the many neighboring countries.  There is so much to see.   Australia has many local airlines that fly within Australia and to the surrounding areas.  Check links to the right for links to local and domestic airlines.  Some of the prices are amazing.  I found a flight from Melbourne to Sydney on JetStar for example for $39 return!  Amazing.  It would cost more to take a taxi to the airport.

Don’t just see Melbourne:  If you have come all the way to Australia, you might want to consider seeing other parts of Australia.  Keep in mind that Australia is a large place.  For example, to travel from Melbourne, Victoria to Sydney, New South Wales is about 900 kilometers.  To travel to the west coast to see Perth in Western Australia, is about 3,500 kilometers.

Visas:  All people entering Australia require a Visa.  For those wishing to stay for a vacation, the Visa application is reasonably simple.  The visa required for a holiday for a canadian is the ETA – Visitor (subclass 976) visa.

The ETA is for people who want to visit Australia for holidays, tourism, recreation, and informal studies or training. Most applications will be processed within minutes.  You must hold a passport from an ETA eligible country (which Canada is) and can stay up to 3 months at a time, within a 12 month period.   No stamp or visa label is required in your passport, and the application fee is minimal ($0-20).

Each traveler requires a separate application.

For more information use the visa wizard on the Department of Citizenship and Immigration web site.