JEFFERSON WORLD TRIP: março 2011

sexta-feira, 4 de março de 2011

AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND - Know Before You Go.

1 - Visa.
Regardless of whether you intend to work on your travels or not, you will need to get your hands on the relevant visa before arriving, so find out what type of visa you require right well ahead of your departure date. In Fiji and New Zealand holiday visas are issued on arrival but for Australia you will need to organize your visa in advance. In the case of all three, work visas must be obtained before entry into the country.

2 - Travel Insurance.
While it might sound like an obvious thing to take into consideration, organizing insurance is something else which must be done before you leave home. Also bear in mind that travel insurance covers a multitude of areas so you will need to shop around for a policy that best suits your needs.

3 - Flights.
Lots of people visiting Australia and New Zealand do so on a RTW (Round-the-world) ticket which is valid for one year from the date you depart your home country. If you are flexible about flights, however, you can buy a one-way flight ticket to either country and book your home flight when you are there. This means that instead of your entire trip lasting one year, you can spend one full year in Australia or New Zealand and spend much or little time as you like in other destinations on your way home.

4 - Prepare Your CV.
Ensure that you also have an updated CV/Resumé prepared before traveling. There is nothing worse than preparing it on a dodgy PC in an internet café at AUS$ 5,00 an hour. Save it to a disk memory/pen drive/ memory stick and just in case, e-mail a copy to yourself so you have access to it anytime.

5 - E-mail Document Copies to Yourself.
A final tip before you leave for your trip is photocopy all your important documents, scan them and e-mail copies to yourself. This includes flight information, insurance policies, travelers’ cheques, visas, passports, etc. That wayyou have access to them at anytime and simply logging into your e-mail account.

AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND - Some Essential Tips.

SOME ESSENTIAL TIPS FOR YOU TIME IN AUSTRALIA:

1 - Do it Yourself.
Get your own set of wheels and make your way around Australia at your own pace. Numerous car companies specialize in backpacker deals and their cars can be rented or bought outright. Many even come complete with tents, sleeping bags, and cooking utensils. All you need to do is organize insurance, fuel and a route around this amazing country.

2 - Catch Movies on Tuesday.
Cinema tickets on “Super Tuesdays” are 50% cheaper than on any other day of the week. This offer applies in all the main commercial movie theaters throughout Australia and in the smaller independent ones too.

3 - Book Your Bus Seats in Advance.
If you are traveling by bus, always book your seat at least one day in advance. There is nothing worse than having something planned at your next destination, only to find you can´t get there because the bus is fully booked.

4 - Claim Your Tax Back.
If you intend to stay six months or more in one town/city, compile evidence of this. Once you can prove that you are living the same way as an Australian citizen – example: name on lease, bills in your name, etc…) you are entitled to be taxed in the same way. Then when filing your tax returns you will receive a much larger refund than your everyday working holiday maker. For more information about claiming tax back, visit: http://www.taxback.com/.

5 - Plan Road Trips in Detail.
Put simply, Australia is huge! So when planning any road trips, research all stages in detail before you set out. The longest distance between some fuel stops is 200km, so it could be quite a hike if you happened to run out of fuel. Remember to stock up some water and spare parts before you hit the road, too. Finally, driving at night is a bad idea too, thanks to all manner of wild animals which roam the highways, so your driving in daylight if at all possible.

SOME ESSENTIAL TIPS FOR YOUR TIME IN NEW ZELAND.

1 - Flying in New Zealand.
Fly into Christchurch and out of Auckland. Most of what to see is the South Island, so if you plan on going on a shopping sphere before you leave, do so in Auckland before you get to your next destination. This way, you won´t have to haul around lots of extra luggage.

2 - Get your outdoor equipment when you are there.
Tramping ( walking ) and ski gear is much cheaper in New Zealand than it´s anywhere else. Plus, if you buy it in the destinations where you are going to use it, you won´t have to bring it all around the world before you get there. And shop around, as you may find that it´s more economical to rent equipment.

3 - Book you Mltford Sound Trip in advance.
Milford Sound is a 22 kilometers fjord and it one of the high-lights of the South Island. The best way to see the fjord is on an overnight trip. To ensure that you get to experience this amazing natural attraction, book your overnight trip well in advance.

4 - Looking for Work.
If you´re planning on working in New Zealand, rather than looking in the most popular places such as Queenstown and Auckland, try out some other places which are not as popular with backpackers. Other towns such as Nelson and Wanaka have thriving industries but not as many people looking for work, so your search for employment should be a little easier.

5 - Travelling from the north to the south Island.
When travelling from the North to the South Island book you ferry approximately a week in advance. Also, the night ferry are cheaper than the day ferries, while if you are driving you can travel across the Cook Strait on the freight ferries.

AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND - Places not to miss.

PLACES NOT TO MISS - Part 1:

AUSTRALIA:

1 - SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES.
Located on one of the most famous harbours in the world, Sydney is surrounded by a host of golden beaches and has two of Australia´s most instantly recognizable land-marks - the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the opera House. Thanks to to a thriving nightlife and a list of things to do as long as the country´s coastline, no trip to Australia is complete without seeing it.

2 - GREAT BARRIER REEF, QUEENSLAND.
Listed as one the “Seven Natural Wonders of the World” the Great Barrier Reef hugs the east coast of Australia from Bundaberg in southern Queensland all the way up to the most northern tip of the state. Some of the best locations to snorkel/dive include the Whitsunday Islands, Magnetic island and off the coast of Cairns at the outer reef.

3 - ULURU, NORTHERN TERRITORY.
Regarded by many as nothing more than a big rock, Uluru (Ayer´s Rock) is much more than that. There is a very spiritual atmosphere all around Uluru National Park, and what many people do not realize is that while you´re there you can also visit the Olgas ( a group of large, dome-shaped rocks ) and Kings Canyon. The stop-off point for “The Rock” is Alice Springs, one of the liveliest places in the northern territory.

4 - BROOME, WESTERN AUSTRALIA.
Reacheble only by a dirt track until the mid 80´s, Broome is the most remote town in Australia. Closer to Indonesia than New South Wales, it serves as the southern gate to Kimberly and also home to world-renowned Cable Beach. With it´s 22km, picture camel rides at sunset, the famous “Staircase to the Moon” and old pearl luggers bobbing on turquoise waters.

5 - 12 APOSTLES, VICTORIA.
Synonymous with Victoria´s Great Ocean Road, the 12 Apostles are a group of twelve rock figures which soar from the Southern Ocean just off the coast of Victoria. The drive along the coastal road which leads to them is just breath-taking as the sight of the 12 Apostles themselves.

PLACES NOT TO MISS - Part 2:

NEW ZEALAND.

1 - QUEENSTOWN, SOUTH ISLAND.
Situated in one of the most scenic places in the world, Queenstown is a thrill-seeker’s dream come true. Activities including skiing, white water rafting and bungee jumping to name but a few. To top that off there is also a good range of restaurants, bars and nightlife to sample after your daytime exertions.

2 - FOX AND FRANZ JOSEF GLACIERS, SOUTH ISLAND.
You can´t leave New Zealand without checking out a glacier. If you´re feeling energetic you can do a glacier walk, but for the less athletic but equal adventurous why not take a scenic flight, or even parachute jump over it! While these are two main glaciers in the area, there are many others.

3 - PAIHIA & BAY OF ISLANDS, NORTH ISLAND.
Made up f close to 150 islands, this archipelago is in a most idyllic setting with turquoise waters and hidden coves. You can enjoy a tourist cruise, but to really experience the islands take a sailing trip around them for a few days. The departure point for tours to the islands is Paihia, a small seaside town in an extremely picturesque location.

4 - WAITOMO CAVES SOUND, NORTH ISLAND.
Waitomo on the North Island is home to some of the most spectacular caves and limestone formations in the world. A trip to these caves is one of the most unique experiences in New Zealand, as you get to swim down underground rivers while thousands of glow worms hang overhead.

AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND - Events.

1 - SYDNEY FESTIVAL – (Late January – every year )
The three-week-long Sydney Festival, which takes place every January, is the premier cultural event in the city. Showcasing the finest dance, arts and music performers, it is one of the most prestigious festivals in Australia.

2 – AUSTRALIA DAY – ( January, 26th, Nationwide )
Australia Day has evolved from event with lots of political undertones to a day that Australians all over the world celebrate their country and people. While formal ceremonies still take place, the day is more about partying and having a good time than anything else.

3 – MARDI GRAS - ( March, Sydney ).
Although this annual festival begins in February every year, the highlight is undoubtedly the outlandish parade through Sydney´s city centre on the final day of the festival in March. It might be cheesy, and it might be tacky, but it is still not to be missed.

4 – ANZAC DAY – ( April, 25th, Australia and New Zealand ).
Every year on April 25th both countries commemorate the landing of Anzac troops at Gallipoli in 1915 where thousands of soldiers lost their lives. Even though it is a very somber occasion, you can enjoy the game of “Two Up”, a game played in pubs all over both countries for the entire day.

5 – KAIKOURA SEAFEST (October, Kaikoura, New Zealand).
Held on the first Saturday of every October, this is an annual celebration of the ocean and everything in it. Held at the Takanhanga Domain on the Esplanade, it is primarily a food and drink festival but you can expect much more as it is a sight and sound extravaganza.