Cruising to Australia

australia-cruise.jpgHave you been wanting to visit Australia but are looking for something other than a regular flight?  It might surprise you to learn that there are many cruise lines now offering trips from North America to the land down under.  Many people consider cruise life as the ultimate luxury vacation package, so if you have the time, why not take a leisurely trip to Australia?

There are several options that a vacationer can choose from.  One is to cruise to Australia from North America, a trip that usually takes anywhere from ten to fourteen days and requires several days at sea.  Some vacationers choose to make this part of an extended or world cruise.  Still others will cruise to Australia, spend some time enjoying the country, and then fly home, or vice versa.  If you choose to cruise to Australia, be prepared to do so during the fall and winter months.  You’ll be crossing the equator which means that North America’s winter is Australia’s summer, making it an excellent time for cruise travel.  One option is to take a repositioning cruise at the end of the season.  Cruise lines need to move their ships to different parts of the world, depending on the time of year, so it may be possible to take a ship home from Australia that is being repositioned to North America.  These cruises can be slightly more affordable, but can also require more days at sea.

Another excellent option is to fly to and from Australia, but enjoy a cruise while you are there.  There are many cruise lines offering a wide variety of trips, from simple three day jaunts to a trip around the entire continent of Australia.  These cruises often also feature New Zealand, Fiji, and other areas in the South Pacific.


The Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS)

This Australian government initiative allows travelers to claim portions of the goods and services tax (GST) and the wine equalization tax (WET) that they pay on goods purchased while in the country.  It can result in a large amount of savings for travelers, and so should be considered whenever purchasing goods, and prior to getting on board the plane and heading home.

In order to qualify for the TRS, you must purchase at least $300 worth of goods, including the GST, at one location and ask the cashier for a single tax invoice.  Goods must not be purchased more than thirty days before your departure from Australia.  All items that you are claiming must be worn on your person or carried in your carry-on luggage, unless security measures prevent them from being brought on board the plane.  Goods and services that have been consumed or used while in Australia (ie chocolate, hotel costs) are exempt from the refund.  You must make your claim at the airport at least thirty minutes before boarding the plane.

Upon arrival at the airport, you will first pass through Customs and Immigration, after which you will be able to approach the TRS counter to make your claim.  You must have the goods, your single tax invoice, passport, and proof of travel, such as your international boarding pass.  The refund will be paid by cheque, deposit to an Australian bank account, or payment to a credit card.

Items such as beer, spirits, and tobacco are not eligible for the TRS, however can be purchased at a duty-free store to save on cost.  Wine is acceptable for a refund.  Since customs must confirm that the goods are leaving Australia with you, eligible goods must be on your person, therefore items that do not fit into your carry-on luggage or worn on your person are not eligible for a refund.

For more information, contact the Australian Customs Service.


Making the Australian Outback a Family Vacation

The Outback may not immediately come to mind as a great place to take children, but in reality it has much to offer to families and can also be an affordable but exciting roadtrip. Many kids love following the dinosaur trail, and seeing these massive creatures brought to life is enough to awe the most imaginative of minds. For many kids, reliving life in the old west is a dream come true, so visiting a station and learning how to do ranch chores and ride horses is a fun and exciting way to enjoy the region. It can also be great for burning off all the excess energy that kids seem to pack with them! If a stay at a station isn’t quite what you are looking for, try a visit to the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame, where visitors can learn about the past through interactive displays, and also a show that includes working dogs, horses, mules, and authentic Outback stockmen.

 

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The Min Min Encounter, in Boulia, gives visitors a show unlike any other, complete with fibre optics and special effects. It tells the true story of the Min Min light, a ghostly light that residents of the area have claimed to have seen for more than seventy years. If traveling with smaller children, the Tambo Teddies workshop may be more appropriate. Here you can watch the famous teddy bears being made from scratch. The Bilbies Centre in Charleville is home to Queensland’s most endangered species, a loveable little marsupial that is being bred at the centre as part of the effort to save the animals.

Older children will enjoy the Cosmos Centre and Observatory in Charleville, where they can enjoy films about the universe and at nighttime view the skies up close. The Qantas Founders Outback Museum in Longreach is an aviation museum full of interactive displays that are sure to please children of all ages.


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