ClubSNAPpers in Melbourne..

[engta]

Hi all. I'll be taking a short trip (6 days) to Melbourne in Aug (bad timing I know). Besides GOR & Phillip Island is there any noteworthy sights/activities around Melbourne city that you would recommend? Trying to not rent a car as far as possible. Any recommended spots for landscape photography besides GOR? TIA

Hi, you may want to spend at least 1-full-day in the city.. explore by foot and the free city circle tram and enjoy the architecture, the laneways, parks, food, coffee etc.

Besides GOR & Phillip Island, you may want to visit the Victorian Alps.. Mt Buller is the nearest, around 3hrs drive from Melbourne.
You may want to consider Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges too.. the century-old steam train Puffing Billy kind of fun.

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[stuck]

Hi, you may want to spend at least 1-full-day in the city.. explore by foot and the free city circle tram and enjoy the architecture, the laneways, parks, food, coffee etc.

Besides GOR & Phillip Island, you may want to visit the Victorian Alps.. Mt Buller is the nearest, around 3hrs drive from Melbourne.
You may want to consider Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges too.. the century-old steam train Puffing Billy kind of fun.


Have a wonderful trip!

Thanks! I was thinking of the Dandenong range as well... but as I'm travelling with my parents with a 9mth old infant I'll prefer not to drive - going to do day tours for GOR (2days) & Phillip island (1/2day).

Any places in the city itself I should check out in particular? Is the Eureka skydeck & royal botanic gardens worth a visit?

 

[deregisteraccount]

Eureka Skydeck, not worth it IMHO. I have a much better view from my office frankly speaking. If you don't want to drive, your best option is to head to Federation Square and checkout the visitors centre. You might be able to find some coach tours, but to fully explore Melbourne you really need a car.

 

[engta]

Thanks! I was thinking of the Dandenong range as well... but as I'm travelling with my parents with a 9mth old infant I'll prefer not to drive - going to do day tours for GOR (2days) & Phillip island (1/2day).

Any places in the city itself I should check out in particular? Is the Eureka skydeck & royal botanic gardens worth a visit?

If you prefer, you can join the day tour for Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges too.

Explore the city by foot and city circle tram.. enjoy the architecture, the laneways, weather, parks, food, coffee etc... feel the city, just relax and enjoy.
If you have time, can consider Queen Vic. market (for some cheap souvenirs), Crown entertainment complex, St. Patrick or St. Paul cathedrals, State Library (visit their La Trobe Reading Room), Immigration Museum etc.

Royal Botanic Gardens is nice, but I'll probably go during autumn not winter.. as for Eureka skydeck, I thought its worth a visit.

 

[deregisteraccount]

Hi guys, quick question to ask about replacing SG passport with Aussie PR label? My SG passport expires sometime next year. I'm probably going back for CNY in Feb for 10-14 days, was wondering if that would be enough time for me to get a new passport? I was thinking of submitting the application online via internet, then flying back and collecting it from ICA, and then proceeding to the Australian Embassy at Napier Road to have my Aussie PR label transferred from my old passport to my new one.

Has anyone done anything similar in the past, or has any experience with renewing a SG passport w/ Aussie PR label and the amount of lead time required to get everything done?

 

[Ansel]

Harnam,
I did my new passport in Singapore. Did not transfer the sticker to the new passport. At the airport, when coming back to Mel, the SQ counter did a check with Aussie side immi, and the visa was electronically transferred. No need to move the sticker or apply for new sticker, as long as you still have the old passport with you.

 

[deregisteraccount]

How long did it take to make the new passport in Singapore? The Embassy in Canberra told me it'll take 6-8 weeks if done from Australia.

 

[keinc]

Hi guys, quick question to ask about replacing SG passport with Aussie PR label? My SG passport expires sometime next year. I'm probably going back for CNY in Feb for 10-14 days, was wondering if that would be enough time for me to get a new passport? I was thinking of submitting the application online via internet, then flying back and collecting it from ICA, and then proceeding to the Australian Embassy at Napier Road to have my Aussie PR label transferred from my old passport to my new one.

Has anyone done anything similar in the past, or has any experience with renewing a SG passport w/ Aussie PR label and the amount of lead time required to get everything done?

I've done it before, although it was with a 457 and not a PR label.

Apply for passport from APPLES, collect it in Singapore at ICA, then head over to the embassy to transfer the label. Like you said, 6-8 weeks to get the passport done online. You need to get into the embassy early, operating hours are pretty limited.

 

[Ansel]

Harnam,

Application of SG passport only takes 3-5 days through APPLES (online). More than enough time for the SG passport. Now, my experience is that I do not need to transfer the sticker or apply a new sticker for the new passport. Of course my case is a PR sticker, I'm not sure what is yours. Nowadays, it's done electronically, and they don't charge you for that. To be safe, just make sure you always travel with both your old and new passport with you.

If you want, you can just dropped by the Aus High Comm and inform them of the new passport and they should be able to do the electronic transfer for you without any charge. I think if you still want a new sticker you can, but they will charge you for it, possibly from $60-$100.

 

[deregisteraccount]

So just apply through APPLES one or two weeks before flying back to SG will be sufficient lead time? And yes mine's a PR, but I'll have the old passport with me when I fly back to Melbourne anyway

 

[Ansel]

So just apply through APPLES one or two weeks before flying back to SG will be sufficient lead time? And yes mine's a PR, but I'll have the old passport with me when I fly back to Melbourne anyway

Since you have around 10-14 days in Singapore, you can wait till you are back in Sg before going on the APPLES because it only takes 3-5 working days. That was what I did the last time.