Australia Trip Nov/Dec 2019

[GICNJC]

 Australia Regatta trip 2019 Segment 1 Toronto to Perth 

 (We will post updates as vacation progresses) 

 

Two years ago we booked an Amazon Oceania cruise as a gift to ourselves for our 40th Anniversary, but found out just before full payment date that we could not have the obligated yellow fever inoculations as we are both medically compromised so we decided to switch to an Australian Sydney to Bali cruise.  

We love to travel, but as we are not retired, our long vacations can only happen between July  and December 31st due to my employment in the Canadian and US seasonal tax business. 

Our pre trip planning is done on an colour coded Excel spreadsheet, which becomes our daily guide during the trip and the printout is a back up in case electronics are not working.  We start with the cruise dates and work information in or out from there.  On this sample we have deleted personal information  for security reasons.  Also removed is data about costs so we can keep track of what is paid for, to be paid, listing of passport info, and airline/hotel points numbers and currencies amounts we have to take with us. 

AUSTRAILA TRIP 2019Printed on2019-11-04 

 

 

 

While I am a detail planning person due to my managerial  operational and production background, My lovely wife of 40 years, is a notorious list maker to make sure we (she?) don’t forget things.  As it takes two half to make a whole, I also have attached her “don’t forget“ packing list.  As we collect items for packing we set them aside in a laundry basket and cross the items off the list as they go into the basket.  Like most we talk to, we generally pack the suitcases a day or two before except for last minute items.   

 

AUSTRALIA TRIP  BACKPACK on Self  Cell Phones  Cash/Passports/Travel Documents  Compression sleeves   Book (Buy more in AU)  Ear buds (2) or headphones   Snacks/Gum  Rain ponchos (2)  Samsung Camera Lenses  2 Travel Neck Pillow  1st Aid Kit  Disinfection wipes  Toothbrush & paste  Cannon Powershot Camera  Travel C Pap Machines & Batteries  Metal Water Bottles (2)  Sunglasses  Green floss picks  LAST MINUTE PACKING  All listed elsewhere  Chargers: Phone, Notepads   Cell Phones  Gerry Razor  Medicine pills G & N  Medicine fridge/cooler bag  C Pap Machines (1 large 2 Mini)  CARRY ON LUGGAGE  Luggage Scale  Travel info folder  one set of clothes changes  Medicine pills G & N  Medicine fridge/cooler bag  Needles (Package min 60)  Swimsuit  Hats

OTHER in large Suitcase  Two Convertors and convertor extension  Tide Laundry Pods (2)  Clothes pins (10)  Mesh Laundry Bag  Bathroom kit  Chargers: Phone, Notepads  Zip lock bags large and medium   Tiny tissue packs  Duct Tape  Decaf Tea  Highlighters/Post it Notes  Stevia Sweetener  Pepto Bismo tabs  Cloths dryer sheets  Electric extensions/Power Bar  Large C-Pap Machines  Samsung Camera Lenses  Cross Chest Sling Bags  Hub Master for charging  BATHROOM KIT   (in large Suitcase)  Tweezers   Small scissors   Nancy Razor   Nail clippers/files  Under nail cleaner metal stick  Deodorant   Face cleaning sheets  Q tips  Make up & Nail polish & remover   Gerry Razor  Sewing Kit  Sunscreen  Toothpaste  Polysporin

CLOTHING NANCY   Jewelry   Shorts (2)  Pants (3)  Sweater or light jacket  Socks (7)  Underwear (7)  Blouses (5) Day & (5) Evening  Dress  Capris (4) / Skirt (2)  Bras (4 or 5)  Hosiery  Dress  Running/Water shoes/Sandals  Shoe Bags  CLOTHING GERRY   Shorts (3)  Pants (3)  T-shirts (2) Golf shirts (5)  Sweater or light jacket  Socks (7) &Underwear (7)  Suit (1) & Bow Tie  Dress shirts (4)  Masonic Apron & jewels  Dress shoes/Sandals/Water shoes  Shoe Bags  Waterproof Top & Bottom (mini bag)

 

 

Starting in our hometown of Toronto Ontario Canada, we recognized in advance the stress of long-haul flight as we are both large on our width, so booked our own flights to Australia through our neighbor’s travel consolidator flying Air Canada premium economy. (Return flights were arranged through Oceania  OLife). 

We arrived at the airport roughly three hours before the flight and breezed through check in and security and headed to the Air Canada  Maple Leaf Lounge to wait for boarding for our YYZ to YVR leg.  We have used Priority Pass lounges previously when traveling and find them worth the expense, as the entry cost includes food and drinks, and when compared to regular airport restaurants cost is about the same as lounge entry cost.  The bonus in the lounges is no hard plastic chairs linked together just soft leather chairs. 

Our flight to Vancouver left 10 minutes late and arrived only 25 minutes late.  While we had to get off the plane (with our carry-on’s) and change gates due to the second leg being an international flight we were on the same plane for the Sydney leg. The plane departed 35 minutes late.  

We both use CPAP so due to the three long flight legs during this vacation, we invested in two mini  ResMed CPAP’s and 12-hour matching batteries as some aircraft do not have seat power outlets .  We also took one of our full-size machines in case one of the Mini’s failed.  We did test the Mini’s for two weeks before the trip.  The mini’s worked well for me during this flight leg however Nancy had problem which we traced to the switch on the battery not being on.  Air Canada meals and service were average on the flights in comparison to other flights. 

It took us 20 minutes to clear Australia customs.  We had applied for, and received, on line our e visa several months in advance.  We notice Customs were seizing all items on their no import list even if it was packaged (eg fruit and nut bars).  It also appeared most tourists who had those banned items were sent to secondary screening.  

Our flight from Sydney to Perth was an Air Canada code share.  After customs we had to change terminals via dedicated bus and that internal airport trip took about 15 minutes  after customs to the departure gate.  We flew Virginia Australia economy for this code share leg.   Virgin Australia provided excellent service and food and was on time at both ends of the flight. In fact the stewardesses safety presentation was functional but extremely funny in gestures. 

We were picked up at the airport by my oldest sister Gail, and her second husband Fred, where we are staying for the next two weeks while touring Perth 

Watch for the next installment in a few days, once we recover from the jet lag. 

[Paulchili]

On 11/22/2019 at 1:53 AM, GICNJC said:

Two years ago we booked an Amazon Oceania cruise as a gift to ourselves for our 40th Anniversary, but found out just before full payment date that we could not have the obligated yellow fever inoculations as we are both medically compromised so we decided to switch to an Australian Sydney to Bali cruise.  

FWIW and for future reference, if you get a letter from your MD to that effect, you will be exempted from taking the yellow fever shot.

Of course, then you may need to deal with possible potential consequences 🙂

Edited November 24, 2019 by Paulchili

[GICNJC]

We understand the Doctor's letter exemption.   However it was our specialist Travel Doctor who recommended not taking the chance unless we planned on staying aboard in enclosed areas due to the 5 times increase in effected individuals.   Also, one port required the proof of inoculations to get off ship without exemptions.

[Ken the cruiser]

We just finished a 30 day Australian circumnavigation cruise on the HAL Maasdam last week and had a great time! If you dont mind I would like to tag along on your thread to read about your experiences on your upcoming O cruise. For us it was an experience of a longtime and I'm sure it will be the same for you!

 

We really enjoyed our overnight in Fremantle where on one excursion we were on stopped at a cemetery on the outskirts of town where there were a good 15-20 kangaroos freely roaming on the grounds.

Edited November 24, 2019 by Ken the cruiser

[roadmaster]

Should we say welcome to Australia, which you may have worked out by now is a very similar size to USA and if you have forgotten anything on that comprehensive list to pack we can accomodate you here, even if you have to dodge the kangaroos  to get to the shops. 😁😁. 
Enjoy our wonderful country.

[GICNJC]

Well we have recovered from jet lag.  My sister, Gail, and her husband, Fred, have been keeping us very busy and well fed.

We have covered all the items listed for our visit on the spread sheet.  The party was held at her house, where they have an outside stage.  Fred is an accomplished musician as his side gig.  Theater was a local amateur play house which did an fabulous Les Miserables.

 

For those visiting Perth, my top three recommendations are:

Rottenest Island:  There are a number of ferry lines, we chose SeaLink Travel from Perth which included a great narrated tour of the Swan River as well as transport to the Island.  We bought the Grand Island all inclusive tour package.  On the Island there was a bus tour around the island that was great for nature pictures.  The military gun tour was excellent and worth while.  The train was out of service for maintenance but according to the guides, should be operational at the end of November.  The free time enable you to get a lot of Quokka pictures and grab a sweet from the bakery. 

Fremantle Prison:  Our visit to the prison was very good, although we only went on the tour about the famous prisoners that were incarcerated.  Had we had the time it would have been nice to take some of the additional tours.

Wine Country:  Despite the fact that I can not drink the last three years due to medication reasons, Nancy enjoys her white wine.  Fourteen year ago our daughter spent three month with Gail and Fred and returned with a great bottle from a organic wine vineyard.  We made a point of returning to that vineyard and bought a number of bottles for the upcoming cruise.  It is the only organic vineyard in the area.  Also very close to a great chocolate outlet and Honey outlet.

 

The other areas are worth seeing, but for those doing one day port stop, chose one of the above.

 

[Cruise Junky]

We left Perth just as you got there :)  we spent 5 nights in Margaret River.