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Be guided on what places to visit on our must see list and don’t miss out on what foods to try by checking out our must eat section in this Australia travel guide curated for Filipino travelers like you!

Determine what type of visa you need

There are a lot of reasons to visit the Land down under, and the only thing preventing Filipinos from visiting it is the visa! Filipinos aren’t given visa-free entry to Australia yet and still need to go through an application process before heading down under! But fret not, as the visa application for Visitor Visa (Subclass 600) is via online and is easy and fast (some results even take only two days!).

If your purpose of visit to Australia is leisure, visiting family or business for upto 3, 6 or 12months, the visa you need is a Visitor Visa (Subclass 600). For other visa types you may check through Visa Finder.

The following are the things you need to know for the Visitor Visa (Subclass 600) application:

1. • Prepare these documents:
     • Valid Philippine passport for more than 6 months from target travel date and the photo page lamination must not be broken
     • NSO Birth certificate
     • Applicant’s Passport Size Photograph (45mm x 35mm against a plain background). Applicants must write their name at the back of the photo.
     • Current and previous acquired visas
     • Scanned pages of all valid and expired visas and stamps
     • Original Bank Certificate (issued within the past 3 months and the bank account should contain the cost of the entire trip and daily expenses)
     • Income Tax Return
     • Employment Contract or Certificate of Employment
     • Sample Australia Itinerary (write down target daily activities)
     • Flight and Hotel Reservations (not required but may help increase chances of getting granted visa)
   • Create ImmiAccount (Note: For those travelling in group need to create only one account) and accomplish the online application form. Make sure to check filled-up details and uploaded documents before submitting. The application can cost around AUD140 to AUD1,020.

Note: Other requirements may be required such as medical documents depending on applicable circumstances. Applicants can submit upto 60 files, so if you think your required documents aren’t enough, you can submit other supporting documents you deemed may help your application.

To learn more information regarding Australian visa application and requirements, you may visit VisaGuide.

Check travel restrictions and regulations

The following are the information from the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs about the travel restrictions and regulations of travelling from and to Australia:

• Masks are no longer required on flights travelling to Australia starting September 9, 2022
• As of July 6, 2022, the following are NOT required:
  • Provide evidence of vaccination status (regardless if entering or leaving Australia)
  • Complete Digital Passenger Declaration or Maritime Travel Declaration
  • Provide travel exemption to travel to Australia for unvaccinated visa holders

Note: Airlines, vessel operators and other countries may have specific and varying requirements that travellers need to comply with.​

To learn more about latest updates on Australia’s travel restrictions and regulations, visit Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs

Note: Especially for those Filipinos coming back from abroad, when entering the Philippines, travellers (whether Filipinos or foreign) must fill-up e-Travel Registration, a mandatory requirement for arrival in the Philippines, imposed by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) that started last December 1, 2022. Make sure the form is filled-up and you have the QR code for this ready before checking in to your flight.

Must See and Do in Australia

Australia is one of the largest countries in the world, its capital is Canberra, but the popular regions being visited in Australia by tourists are Melbourne and Sydney. On this Australia travel guide, we have compiled the must visit spots in Melbourne and Sydney.

Melbourne

Ranks top in Australia and 10th in the world as the most liveable city according to 2022 Global Liveability Index. Melbourne achieved perfect scores in education and infrastructure (100/100). It also scored highly for Culture and Environment (98.6/100) and Stability (95/100).

Below is the list of must see and do during your Melbourne visit:

• 12 Apostles

  Magnificent rock stacks that rise up majestically from the Southern Ocean on Victoria’s dramatic coastline. Takes around a four-hour drive along the Great Ocean Road, west of Melbourne.

• St. Kilda

  Visit its pier that offers panoramic views of the Melbourne skyline and Port Phillip Bay, and is a popular destination for a stroll, cycling, rollerblading and fishing. It is also home to the world’s oldest roller coaster, The Scenic Railway (operating since 1912!), and sea baths with a history dating to the middle of the 19th Century.

• Brighton Bathing boxes

  Colorful historic bathing boxes have been passed down through generations. Don’t forget to bring your Togs (swimsuits) and thongs (slippers) if you want to go for a swim here.

• Melbourne Free walking tour

  This walking tour gives you an overview of famous places for no cost! Tour includes places namely Yarra River, Eureka Tower, Chinatown, iconic street art, Old Melbourne Gaol, Carlton Gardens, Royal Exhibition Building, Princess’ Theatre, Carlton Gardens, Federation Square, Bourke Street, Flinders St Station, State Library of Victoria, Ned Kelly, Degraves Street, Centre Place, Royal Arcade and Block Arcade and Tattersalls Lane.

• Free tram transport within the city

  Another no cost in Melbourne is the City Circle Tram service providing a free and convenient way to get around central Melbourne.

• Puffing Billy Railway

  Australia’s premier preserved steam train, located in the heart of the Dandenong Ranges and only one-hour east of Melbourne. It operates every day (except Christmas Day).

For tours around Melbourne, you may book via Klook.

Sydney

Australia’s largest city and is nicknamed as the harbour city.

Below is the list of must see and do during your Sydney visit:

• Noël Sydney

  Free evening magical festival transforms Macquarie Street’s historic buildings with captivating Christmas-themed projections and lights leading to The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney happening from December 9, 2022 until Christmas Eve.

• Sydney Opera House

  This is multi-venue performing arts centre located on the foreshore of Sydney Harbour, it is widely regarded as one of the world’s most famous and distinctive buildings (odd shape like enormous shells) and a masterpiece of 20th-century architecture. Fun fact: This building is turning 50 this coming 2023.

• Harbour Hanger bridge

  Also called Sydney’s Coat Hanger. Try walking/jogging to see panoramic views or hopping on a ferry from Circular Quay to marvel at the bridge (as well as the Opera House) from another angle.

• Bondi Beach

  It is one of Sydney’s most iconic beach suburbs, with its golden sands, proximity to the city makes it easily accessible, bustling social scene and top-notch restaurants and cafés and is even home to Australia’s biggest skatepark.

• Sydney tower eye

  The tallest building in Sydney. Try dining in its rotating restaurant and checking out the views of Synedys from its observation deck.

• Watsons Bay

  Australia’s oldest fishing village that is just one ferry away from Circular Quay across majestic Sydney Harbour.

For tours around Sydney, you may book via Klook.

Foodie trip in Australia

Australia is blessed with a variety of climates, from the warm tropical north to the cooler southern regions, enabling it to grow numerous crops and produce quality protein sources, making its cuisine broad.

In this Australia Travel Guide for Filipinos, we have compiled you the top Australian foods that you should try during your visit in the land down under:

• Vegemite

  Usually being spread on bread or bikkies (biscuits). Don’t spread it too thick as it is quite salty. Can be paired with butter to lessen its overpowering saltiness.

• Lamingtons

  Cake moist inside, coconut sprinkled and can be topped with fruits.
  .

• Anzac biscuits

  Sweet biscuit, popular in Australia and New Zealand, made using rolled oats, flour, sugar, butter, golden syrup, baking soda, boiling water, and desiccated coconut.

• Pavlova

  Cake-like circular block of baked meringue, pavlova has a crisp crust and soft, light inside.

• Tim Tams

  Combination of contrasting layers of milk chocolate, biscuit and cream. Some use it as straw to drink hot chocolate.

• Snot block or phlegm cake or the pus pie

  Rectangular pastry consisting of thick custard sandwiched by flaky puff pasty topped with vanilla icing. There’s even an annual competition, the Great Australian Vanilla Slice Triumph, organised in honour of this pastry.

• Beef burger

  Burger that has lettuce, tomato, and cheddar cheese, onions, bacon and chili mayo sauce, Australian beef and added with grilled pineapple, runny fried egg and pickled beets.

• Sanger or sando or sambo

  Basically a snack formed of various ingredients between two slices of bread or in a more familiar term – sandwich.

• Spagbol

  Short for spaghetti bolognese and is one of Australia’s national dishes. It’s an Australian take on the classic Italian tagliatelle al ragù alla bolognese.

For more Australian food reference, check out this guide.

But if in case you miss Pinoy dishes, try checking out our kababayan’s authentic Filipino restaurant in Australia: Sizzling Fillo. They serve Pinoy favorites such as Crispy pata, sisig, sinigang and many more. They are located in36 Railway Street, Lidcombe, Sydney. To learn more about their menu and operating hours, you may visit their page here.

How to manage your Australia Trip budget

Visiting Australia doesn’t have to cost outrageous amount from your budget. In fact as per BudgetYourTrip, a weeklong stay in Australia with a travel style of “budget (cheap)” can only cost you around AU$519 or Php19,000+ per person.

But make sure to not forget to still bring ample cash if you plan to shop pasalubongs such as Lucas Papaw, Australian chocolates and easy-to-cook pre-mixed foods and ofcourse souvenirs (especially those cute koala clips!). Also, make sure to bring backup sources like debit cards that you can use to withdraw funds from ATMs worldwide just like the Security Bank Mastercard Debit Card. And minimize your travel cost as much as possible by using your credit card rewards points in purchasing flight tickets, booking hotels and even in shopping. If you don’t have credit card yet, check out this Security Bank Mastercard Credit Card that can be used worldwide and even offer installments and ready cash services whenever and wherever you needed.

When getting your plane tickets, check patiently from time to time the ticket prices in Google flights or Skyscanner. And be sure to be one of the first ones to know about airline promos by following their social media accounts, constantly checking their websites and applying for their free memberships. Know more hacks about how to score cheap airline fares by checking this blog. And for hassle-free travel, be guided of the common travel mistakes and tips on avoiding them by reading this blog.

For airlines offering direct flights from Philippines to Australia, check this list:

• Philippine Airlines
• Cebu Pacific Air
• Qantas

So what are you waiting for? Book that flight to Australia now and fill your social media accounts with pictures of Australia foods you ate and iconic spots you visited. Don’t forget to share this blog to your family and friends who are also planning to visit Australia. Hope this curated 2022 Australia travel guide for Filipinos will make your travel-planning easier.

And if you are also aiming to go to Taiwan this year, check out this curated 2022 Taiwan Travel Guide for Filipinos.