Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Australia Holiday Travel Tips




Down Under Bucket List

As a lifelong traveler, I have always seeked out adventure, thrill, great food, fun people, and a clear mind. So, when my sister approached me with the idea of finalizing our lifelong goal of seeing all 7 continents, I only had had three words to respond with – Let’s Do It!

Our travels of the past have not been smooth sailing. To name a few things: I have had a tough time obtaining visas, I have been hospitalized in Nepal, kicked out of Canada, and have almost came face to face with a bear in Russia. This time was going to be different. This time things were going to run smoothly.

I started out taking my sister Jenna’s advice to obtain my Australian visa in advance. She recommended a website called EasyETA.com to get our Australian Visa, which is known more commonly as an Electronic Travel Authority (or ETA). The site was very helpful, their information clear, and their process simple. I went online, obtained my visa and, within a couple of hours got the approval I was hoping for.

A quick note: Your citizenship/nationality needs to be from one of EasyETA’s listed eligible ETA countries. If you are on that list, then an ETA is a lot easier than going through an embassy or the government itself. Also, to find out more information about what an ETA is and the details regarding how the visa works, please visit this page for general Australian Visa Information.

Anyway, everything was off to such a smooth start that I felt better about this trip down under already. My next concern was shots. However, both the Center for Disease Control and EasyETA confirmed to me that I do not need shots for Australia. Wow, easy!

My last concern was the flight. I’ve always heard it takes 17 hours or so to get down to Australia from Los Angeles. Wrong! I was delighted to see that my Qantas flight was just going to take 14 hours. Sweet! If you are ever in the air on a transcontinental flight of over 10 hours, consider knocking yourself out with a sleeping pill. I literally woke up in Sydney rested, relieved, and excited, putting aside the rumors that a flight that long would be a disaster.

Once in Australia, the people, food, and weather all made my voyage well worth it. I stayed right in the downtown area of Darling Harbor in Sydney. If you haven’t been to Australia before, be sure to check out downtown Sydney. The setting was rich with flavor, the people were delightful, and the place was reasonably priced considering it’s a major metropolis.

I will spare you the details of my trip but, I’ll tell you that from start to finish, nearly everything on this last voyage went smoother than I could have ever imagined. Be sure that when and if you consider travelling down to Australia, you plan for hurricane season. I was lucky on this trip as Cyclones are quite common in Queensland during the summer months. So, do your homework, and be sure that when you are travelling is a suitable time to be there.

The visa I obtained lasted for 90 days, and after such an enjoyable time taking an East coast road trip up to Cairnes, I nearly stayed for the entire allowed stretch of time.

I hope this message finds you, the reader, in an inspirational mood. If it does, please do yourself a favor and see for yourself what an amazing place Australia is. From the jungles of Fraser Island to the beautiful, crystal clear waters of Cairnes, to the magnificent 12 apostles in New South Wales, you won’t regret the long flight or the commitment of going across the ocean to visit.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

What You Need to Know about Traveling to Australia

What is required by immigration when visiting Australia?

There are a few basic requirements to speak of for visiting Australia. First off, travelers must obtain an Australian Visa, otherwise known as an Electronic Travel Authority (or, ETA). This is an electronic version of a visa which is issued by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship. It is a requirement that you obtain one outside of the country before you depart for Australia. It is also advisable to obtain one in advance from an online Australian Visa specialist as more likely than not, you will save money and have it done in a timely matter (usually a few hours or a day).

You will want to apply up to 12 months for an Australian visa, but no later than 2 days in advance before departing for Australia. Here is an example of a popular Australian visa application, which can be filled out in less than 5 minutes.

An Australian ETA is actually a fantastic system as it replaces the need for a visa label or stamp in a passport. It does not require a lengthy application form and enables tourists to pass through immigration lines quickly and effectively. Upon arrival, immigration officials will simply swipe your passport, verify your ETA exists, and you’ll be on your way to customs.

Keep in mind that Australian ETA visas are only available for citizens of one of the following ETA eligible countries. However, if you are carrying a passport from an ETA eligible country, then you will save time and money by applying online versus at the airport or with the DIAC.

Any additional question regarding Australian travel, please visit Australian ETA information and FAQs for more information.

When is the best time to travel to Australia?

Usually the best time to travel to Australia is the summer months (December-February). However, keep in mind that where you go is just as important as when you go. The country is extremely large in land mass and there are a lot of different regional conditions that may affect the best time to visit.

In general, the northern top third of the country can be extremely tropical feeling during the peak summer months (hot, humid weather with seasonal cyclones). Most of the visitors who head north often land themselves in Cairnes to visit the Great Barrier Reef. Cairnes is an excellent coastal city with lots of water sports to offer, but if you aren’t much of an ocean dweller then you’re best bet may be to either stay south or travel during an off-peak months. The summertime also draw mild crowding in larger cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Cairnes. So, if you your goal is to avoid crowds and still enjoy some decent weather, then the most favorable time may actually be the shoulder season (October-November & March-May) or to even visit in the winter if you don’t mind a bit of rain in the south.

Do I need any shots for Australia?

You may want to seek out a medical professional if you plan on visiting a forested area on your trip, whether it’s before or during your time spent in Australia. But under normal circumstances, you are not required to obtain any preliminary shots before travelling to Australia.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

What is an Australian ETA?

An ETA, or Electronic Travel Authority, is an electronic visa which is used by the Australian department of immigration for foreigners of select countries to use when travelling into Australia.

At EasyETA, we are the leading independent provider of official Australian visas and will have your visa processed and e-mailed to you within 24 hours.

Visit Australian visa eligible countries to see a complete listing of which countries are eligible to apply.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Monday, January 11, 2010

5000 Australian ETA Visas processed!


In just our first year, we have now processed over 5,000 Australian visas! We have gotten some great feedback from our customers and are looking forward to a great new year. Come visit us soon, we make it quick, easy and inexpensive to obtain a Australian tourist visa today!

Thursday, January 7, 2010

EasyETA Australian Visas

Hello all. If you are traveling to Australia, come visit us at www.EasyETA.com . We make it quick, easy, and inexpensive for you to obtain an Australian ETA travel visa.