High School Squad Weekend: 48 Hours In BOHOL

Did you know that my Hong Kong trip with high school friends last March 2018 had a follow up trip? We (a group of 8 people) recently went on another weekend trip, but this time to a nearby domestic destination – Bohol. Yes, we only spent 48 hours in the beautiful island of Bohol. It may be too short, but I think we covered the places we wanted to visit. This barkada trip was more of a rest & relaxation one, so there was no pressure for us to explore everything the island has to offer. Let me share with you the details of this quick weekend trip.

Bohol squad with the Chocolate Hills! Photo credits to Mark 🙂

In case you missed it, I’ve been to 2 other 48-hour weekend trips this year – Hong Kong & Port Barton. Check out these stories to know more about these quick but super fun trips!

Airfare & Accommodation

We didn’t wait for any airline offer or promotion when we booked our tickets. We used Traveloka‘s discount codes instead. Our Tagbilaran return ticket cost us ₱3,264.12 each, after the discounts.

We were a big group of 8 so we had a hard time looking for a place to stay. Good thing we found this newly-opened accommodation called Casa Teofista. This accommodation is located a few meters off the main highway & about 8-10 minutes walk from Alona Beach.

We only stayed in Bohol for 48 hours but we fell in love with the place.

We got 2 spacious family rooms with 2 double beds each for ₱9,856 for 2 nights – that’s ₱1,232 per person already for 2 nights. We didn’t choose a beachfront & luxury accommodation because we were only there for a short time anyway. I forgot to take photos of our accommodation – I’m sorry. If you want to contact Casa Teofista, head over to their Facebook page & shoot them a message.

DIY Countryside Tour

My friends & I opted for a do-it-yourself countryside tour because we wanted to skip a few places (Loboc River, Blood Compact Shrine & Loboc Hanging Bridge) from the usual tour, plus we planned to go to Bohol Bee Farm for lunch (instead of the Loboc River Cruise). We hired a van with driver for ₱2,800 for a full 8 hours including gas & parking fees. We asked the driver to pick us up from the airport & we went straight to our countryside tour. We asked to be dropped off at Casa Teofista at the end of our tour.

This was a DIY tour so we paid the following entrance fees – ₱50 for Chocolate Hills, ₱60 for the Tarsier Conservation Area & ₱45 for the Butterfly Garden. Check out the countryside photos below.

Chocolate Hills

Tarsier Conservation Area

Man-made Forest

Butterfly Garden

Baclayon Church

Bohol Bee Farm Organic Lunch

We had mango pizza for appetizer? Lol so good!

Filipino food for lunch – everything organic!

That’s us having lunch at Bohol Bee Farm!

Also tried Bohol Bee Farm’s famous ice cream. Got Guyabano & liked it.

If you are travelling alone, you can always rent a motorbike & explore Bohol by yourself. You can also join countryside group tours. Rates vary from one agency to another.

Alona Beach Dinner & Night Out

Alona Beach at night

After a few hours of rest & sleep, we headed out to Alona Beach to explore the area. We had dinner at Pyramid Beach Resort & transferred to Outback Bar & Grill for drinks. I also met up with James, another friend of mine who was in Bohol, in Outback Bar & Grill.

Met up with James who was also in Bohol that weekend. Photo c/o James 🙂

Private Island Hopping Tour

We hired a boat for a private island hopping tour for our second & last full day in Bohol. The boat cost ₱2,500 for the whole day including gas & guides. We left Panglao Island at 7:00 am & went dolphin watching. We then went to Balicasag Island for snorkeling & swimming with the turtles. The last stop of the tour was Virgin Island, which is known for its long & beautiful sandbar. We were there during lunch time, so the sand bar was still submerged in water. We were back in Panglao at 1:00 pm.

Given ours was a private tour, we paid ₱650 each in Balicasag Island for entrance fee, environmental fee & snorkeling gear rental. Solo travelers can join group island hopping tours for a certain rate. Again, rates vary from one agency to the other.

View of Balicasag Island from our motor boat

I don’t have photos of the dolphins, turtles & the underwater creatures because I forgot my adventure camera. Let me share with you photos of Balicasag Island & Virgin Island’s (almost) sandbar.

Balicasag Island

A beautiful & sunny day in Balicasag Island 😍

Virgin Island Sandbar

Crowded Virgin Island Sandbar

Last Night In Bohol

Inside St. Augustine Church in Panglao

We started our last night in Bohol by attending Sunday mass in St. Augustine Church in Panglao. We went back to Alona area afterwards to have dinner at Irene’s Restaurant. Majority of the group went back to our hotel after dinner. Marc & I went to Aluna Bar & met up again with James for a few drinks.

Last dinner in Bohol with the whole gang

That sums up our 48 hours in Bohol. The place is very beautiful & relaxing. We may be there for only 2 full days but we surely enjoyed the place with great company. We made memories which we will treasure for the rest of our lives.

Have you been to Bohol? How many days did you spend there? How do you think of the place? Are there other places that are worth-visiting? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below. If you want to keep your identity, feel free to send ’em to contact@thewkndtravel.com. You can also drop me a message on Facebook, post a comment on Instagram or send me a tweet on Twitter.

Thanks for the time & see you in the next 48-hour or maybe 24-hour trip?

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

N9 In Straya Series: Exploring SYDNEY By Foot Part 1 – Heritage Sites Within The City

Last month, my university blockmates & I flew to Sydney, Australia. We spent a few days around Sydney & took day trips to Blue Mountains National Park & Hunter Valley Wine Region. I also flew to Brisbane to visit my relatives who were living there. While I was away, my friends visited Taronga Zoo & Manly area plus went on a day trip to Australia’s capital, Canberra.

Martin Place at night 😍

I will post a series of blogs about our Australia trip in the coming weeks, this blog being the first. This & the next post will be mainly about exploring Sydney by foot. We were in Australia towards the end of winter so the weather was just right. It was not too hot & not too cold; it was actually perfect for walking around the city.

I’m Free Walking Tours

One of Lonely Planet‘s recommended activities in Sydney is to join the I’m Free Walking Tour. This guided walking tour is conducted by knowledgeable & accommodating Sydney-siders who have the passion of sharing the history & culture of Sydney to the visitors. This tour doesn’t require a booking. Interested parties need to just show up in the meeting place at a certain time & look for the person wearing the green I’m Free shirt. The guides don’t ask for a fixed fee; they only ask for a donation at the end of each walking tour.

Our guide Adrian in front of the Queen Victoria Building

Sydney Free Walking Tours have 2 tours. The 1st walking tour is the Sydney Sights Tour. The guide will take you through Sydney’s history up to what it is now in the present. The walking tour will go around downtown Sydney passing by historical & iconic buildings & places. This tour happens everyday & starts 10:30 am & 2:30 pm from Town Hall Square. The meeting place is located along George St, between the Sydney Town Hall & St Andrew’s Cathedral.

The 2nd walking tour is The Rocks at 6 pm Tour. This walking tour focuses on the history & interesting facts about The Rocks District, Australia’s 1st European settlement. The guide will walk the guests through various pubs, lane ways & buildings & share the stories of past & present controversies of The Rocks. The hour happens everyday & starts at 6:00 pm in front of Cadman’s Cottage.

Our walking tour group with our guide in front of St. Andrew’s Cathedral

My friends & I took both tours on our first day in Sydney. We joined the afternoon sights tour followed by The Rocks evening tour. This walking tour is a must-do when visiting Sydney. The walking tours were fun & very informative. We knew a lot about Sydney – it’s history, controversies & interesting stories. Shout-out to Adrian & Justine for the amazing walking tours!

If you have questions about these walking tours, feel free to check their website for more information. They also have these walking tours in Melbourne so check them out. I guarantee you a fun walking tour around the city!

In case you missed it, I already shared how I applied for my Australian Tourist Visa. Check this post to know more about the application process.

Heritage Sites Visited

The 2 walking tours lasted for around 4 hours combined. We walked past a lot of heritage & modern places. Here are some of the heritage sites we visited.

Sydney Town Hall

The Sydney Town Hall is a historic civic building that houses the Sydney City Council chambers, offices, meeting & function halls. The town hall is located in the corner of George & Druitt Streets in Sydney.

St Andrew’s Cathedral

Located next to Sydney Town Hall is St Andrew’s Cathedral. If I remember it right, this is the oldest cathedral in Australia & is the seat of the Anglican Church of Australia This cathedral is located in the corner of George Street & Bathurst Street, Sydney.

Queen Victoria Building

The Queen Victoria Building, called by locals as QVB, is one of the iconic historical buildings in Sydney. This building was built in the late 1800s & was used as a marketplace. Since then, the building has undergone a number of restoration projects to preserve its Victorian heritage. Today, this building is a shopping center housing various specialty shops & restaurants.

Outside Queen Victoria Building

Make sure to look for the status of Queen Victoria & her favorite dog, Islay, right outside of the QVB. This beautiful building is bounded by George, Druitt, Market & York Streets.

Inside QVB

ANZAC War Memorial

Located a few blocks away from the QVB is the ANZAC War Memorial. This historic war monument was built in memory of the Australian & New Zealand Army Corps who fought during the World War 1. I was not able to take a photo of the war memorial because it was under renovation during our visit.

Hyde Park

The ANZAC War Memorial is located within a bigger parkland called Hyde Park. This park is located in the center of Sydney Central Business district & is the oldest park in Australia. Apart from the war memorial, make sure to look for the Archibald Fountain, the park’s centerpiece.

 Archibald Fountain – Hyde Park’s Centerpiece

St Mary’s Cathedral

Right across the Hyde Park is St Mary’s Cathedral Sydney. This cathedral church is the center of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney & the seat of the Archbishop of Sydney. This minor basilica is dedicated to the Patroness of Australia – Immaculate Mother of God, Help of Christians. The cathedral has one of the most beautiful heritage exteriors & interiors in Sydney.

Inside St. Mary’s Cathedral

Hyde Park Barracks

At the back of St Mary’s Cathedral is Hyde Park Barracks. This heritage-listed brick building was designed by Francis Greenway & served as a place to house convicts in the early days. The barracks building now serves as a museum. Visitors pay $12 entrance fee to enter the facility.

There are other notable buildings located near Hyde Park Barracks. These include St James Church, Supreme Court of New South Wales, Sydney Mint & the Sydney Hospital.

Macquarie Street

Sydney Mint located along Macquarie St

Macquarie Street is one, if not the most popular streets in Sydney. This street is named after Lachlan Macquarie, one of New South Wales’ first governors. This long stretch has the majority of the historical buildings & places in Sydney such as Hyde Park, Hyde Park Barracks, Sydney Mint, Supreme Court of New South Wales, Parliament of New South Wales, Sydney Hospital, State Library of New South Wales & the Royal Botanic Gardens. You need more than a day to explore everything that is located in this area. We passed by a few buildings during our walking tour.

Martin Place

Known as the Sydney’s Center of Business & Finance, Martin Place is slowly becoming a pop culture icon in Australia. Major financial institutions, businesses & offices such as the Reserve Bank of Australia, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Westpac, Sydney GPO & US Embassy are located in this area.

This area is also popular to movie fanatics because The Matrix (1999) & Superman Returns (2006) filmed some scenes in this area.

Customs House

Customs House is a heritage building that used to house the headquarters of Australia’s customs & border protection office. This is located at Circular Quay, a few meters away from the harbor. Currently, the building is used for several events & functions plus as one of the many libraries of the City of Sydney.

Don’t miss the Sydney city center model located in the ground floor of the building. This model can be viewed through a glass floor.

The Rocks

Random lane way in The Rocks

The Rocks is a small historical Sydney suburb located in the southern shore of the Sydney Harbour, right before the Sydney Harbour Bridge. This is one of Sydney’s first residential areas thus features very old but well-maintained houses. It also served as the government’s social housing settlement. The area now is characterized by restaurants, pubs & shops.

Inside one of the museums in The Rocks

This area had some of the most interesting controversies & stories about Sydney’s past. It will probably take me the whole day to share the story with all of you. If you are interested to know more about these controversies & stories, I recommend that you join I’m Free Walking Tours The Rocks Tour everyday at 6:00 pm. My friends & I joined this walking tour & oh boy, we knew a lot about the history of The Rocks.

Random street in The Rocks District

Cadman’s Cottage

Cadman’s Cottage is one of the oldest surviving residential buildings in The Rocks & in the whole of Sydney. The building housed various government agencies & offices from past until the 1970s. This building is now used as a tourist information center.

Heritage Sites Missed

Sad to say, I missed out a few notable heritage sites due to limited time in the city. These places include the University of Sydney, State Library of New South Wales, Royal Botanic Gardens, New South Wales Parliament House & Art Gallery of New South Wales. Pretty major ones, eh? I know! These places are the reasons why I’d love to fly back to Sydney in the future.

This list is just half of the places we visited when we took the walking tour plus when we walked on our own. I know you’re wondering where the other iconic Sydney sites are. Don’t worry, it’ll be featured in the next post. Stay tuned!

Have you been to Sydney? What were your favorite heritage sites? The city is so beautiful & full of character, right? Share your thoughts in the comments below. You can also send me an email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Feel free to connect with me via my social media channels such as Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.. If you haven’t liked or followed my Facebook page, check this link. You know what to do!

Druitt Street Sydney full of heritage buildings

In case you missed it, I already shared a detailed post about my first hostel in Sydney – The Pod Sydney. Head over to this post to know more about his contemporary minimalist hostel.

Thank you for reading. 🙂 Have a great day, mate! ✌️🇦🇺

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Tuesday Tip: How To Survive Low Cost Long Haul Economy Flights

Low cost airlines are starting to infiltrate the long haul flights market. These airlines offer basic & affordable fares to long haul destinations. Imagine paying ₱6,500 for a return flight from Manila to Sydney or paying around ₱2,800 for a return flight from Manila to Dubai. Super cheap, right? Yes, these fares are real. But as they say, you always get what you pay for. These tickets only include carry-on baggage & a pre-assigned seat. It doesn’t include check-in baggage, flight meal/s, insurance & in-flight entertainment. These options are always available for an additional cost; these can be availed up to few hours before the flight.

Recently flew with a low cost airline from Manila to Sydney

Recently, I had my first low cost long haul economy flight to & from Sydney, Australia. I paid ₱6,455.92 for a return flight from Manila (booked 8 months before the flight). I availed a few add-ons such as baggage, a flight meal & a comfortable front seat. I bought a seat because I initially don’t have an idea on how I will survive this close to 8-hour flight to Sydney with the seat assigned to me by the airline. The ticket with add-ons cost me ₱11,455.92. The flights surprisingly went well, even with the absence of in-flight entertainment. Legroom was alright; the service was also good.

Apart from my personal experiences, I also observed the people on the flights how they managed to conquer the 8-hour flight to & from Sydney. Here are some tips on how you can survive low cost long haul economy flights.

Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored by a certain brand or company. I just used the photos I took in my recent low cost long haul flight.

Choose a red-eye flight

Flying a low cost long haul flight can be very difficult for first timers. Imagine doing nothing for 7 or 8 hours straight – no inflight entertainment, no food whatsoever. A tip to survive a low cost long haul flight is to choose a red-eye flight. Red-eye flights are those who leave late at night or wee hours in the morning. You won’t have any problems on how to endure the long flight because you will only sleep most of the time. Don’t forget to bring your own neck pillow, eye mask & blanket for a more comfortable sleep.

If the flight is a not full – you can always get the whole row of seats & sleep

Bring Personal Entertainment

What is there to do in the absence of in-flight entertainment? Simple. Bring a book to read throughout the flight. You can also stock up on movies in your personal electronic devices (laptops, tablets & phones). If you’re not into watching movies or reading books, make sure to have enough songs in your music player. Having these forms of distraction will help you kill time during the flight. Next thing you’ll know, you’re already on your final descent towards your destination.

Have Cash On Hand

Always make sure to bring cash when flying. There will be times when you want to buy something like a bottle of water or a cup of hot coffee. These items are always available for purchase during the flight. Also, please note that most airlines only accept cash payments of currencies from the country of origin & the country of destination. For example, the crew from Manila to Sydney flight will only accept Philippine Peso & Australian Dollar as the currencies of payment. Don’t expect the staff to accept Japanese Yen & Malaysian Ringgit.

Bring Your Own Food

Majority of low cost carriers in the world offer pre-paid in-flight meal. This means that passengers need to pre-order their meals at least 24 hours before the flight. Limited food options are available during the flight. However, the prices of these food are beyond the usual price. A good tip to get away with these expensive airplane food is to bring your own food. You can always bring a sandwich or two for your flight. Other options include chips, nuts & biscuits. Having these food on hand will save you loads of cash, plus you get to eat what you want or prefer.

Airline’s in-flight meal – bought this when I flew from Manila to Sydney; Brought my own food (sandwiches) when I flew from Sydney to Manila 😋

Bring Your Own Amenity Kit

Flying economy & flying low cost airlines give passengers limited facilities & services. Unlike full service airlines, low cost airlines do not provide amenity kits to fliers of low cost long haul routes. One thing you can do is to bring a small pouch with the necessary items such as toothbrush, toothpaste, face wash, small towel, skin moisturizer & hand sanitizer. Nothing beats the refreshed feeling after a long & tiring fight.

Move Around

Sitting for 7-12 hours in a plane can be very difficult. Also, the passengers’ bodies don’t have enough movement for a long time due to limited legroom & space. Passengers are allowed to walk around the plane as long as the other passengers are not disturbed. The simplest exercise one can do is to stand up in the aisle & do some stretching. Remember that the blood in our bodies needs to circulate – a few minutes of movement won’t hurt.

Boarding pass & passport for my recent low cost long haul flight; sorry I had to cover the name & bar code

Be Friendly

The last tip I can give on how to survive a long haul low cost economy flight is to be friendly to your co-passengers. There is a big chance that you will be seated next to a stranger inside the aircraft. You can always start a conversation by saying ‘hi’ or ‘hello.’ The next thing you’ll know, you already have someone to share ideas & experiences throughout the flight. I’ve heard stories of people who talked to their seatmates during the flight & ended up traveling together in a certain place.

This sums up the list of tips on how to conquer a low cost long haul economy flight. It may sound hard at first but I believe that the experience all boils down to how a person prepares for the flight. Regardless of ticket price & flight class, all passengers on board the flight (may it be from a low cost or full service airline) will reach the destination at the same time.

One advantages of flying a red-eye flight – you witness the beautiful sunrise from your airplane seat 🌅

Have you tried flying a low cost long haul economy flight? How was your experience? Are there other tips you can share with the other readers? Feel free to share them in the comments below. You can also send those tips via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. You can also connect with me via my social media channels such as Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.. If you haven’t liked or followed my Facebook page, check this link. You know what to do!

If you want to know about the past Tuesday Tips I posted, check them out here. Thank you for reading & until the next set of Tuesday Tips!

Hostel Of The Day: THE POD SYDNEY – Minimalist & Contemporary Hostel In The Middle Of A Busy City

I recently got back from a week long trip to Australia. I explored Sydney with my college friends for 5 days & spent quality time with my cousins & relatives in Brisbane for 3 days. In my first 3 nights in Sydney, I stayed in a minimalist & a contemporary capsule hostel called The Pod Sydney. Let me share with you some information about this hostel plus I will give you some insights on how my stay went.

Location & Access

The Pod Sydney is located in Level 6, 396 Pitt St Sydney 2000. It is located in the middle of the busy city, in the corner of Goulburn & Pitt Streets. Access to this property is very easy. It is about 7-10 minutes walk from the Central Station. The other 2 nearby stations are Town Hall & Museum Stations, which are both few minutes walk from the hostel. Train fares from the domestic & international airports start from $16.90, depending on which station you board or get off.

The Pod Sydney is located on Level 6 of 396 Pitt St building in Sydney

Another way to go to the hostel is by an airport shuttle bus. It costs around $15 per person & can be availed in the airport arrival halls or online via Klook. You can also take an Uber or a taxi which will cost around $30-$40 per way.

The hostel is strategically located in the city & is very accessible to public transportation. There are also convenience stores & restaurants in the area. The nearest supermarket is a crossing away. I took the train from the airport to Central Station for $16.90 & walked to the property which is less than a kilometer from the train station.

Pricing & Room Options

The Pod Sydney offers both dormitory & private rooms. According to the property’s website, a night in a dormitory room costs $59 while a night stay in a private twin / double room costs $129. Dormitory rooms can be converted to private rooms for 4 or 6; these rooms cost $239-$349 per night. The rates look expensive, but these are the maximum rates. In fact, you can get the dormitory bed for as low as $35 per night. I booked my stay with Agoda & it cost me $105 for 3 nights, that’s $35 a night. Rates vary per website so watch out for those deals & discounts available in your preferred booking website.

My spacious dormitory bed in The Pod Sydney

Staying in these capsule-type dormitory rooms & private rooms includes the following: free Wi-Fi access throughout the property, electronic key card access, air conditioning, fresh linen, bath towel & toiletries, free locker (bring your own padlock), individual reading light & power plug. Guests also have access to some facilities which I will share in the next section.

The room / dormitory prices of The Pod Sydney may not be the cheapest in Sydney, but it is still in the cheap accommodation bracket. For such an affordable rate, guests have access to a clean & comfortable accommodation in an expensive city like Sydney.

Facilities

The Pod Sydney may only be located on one level of the building, but this small space didn’t hinder the management in giving its guests a range of amenities.

Communal Kitchen & Dining Area

Guests have access to a fully-equipped kitchen & a spacious dining area. Guests can store some food in the refrigerator & can also cook their own food. They can also use the dining area to eat food & also to meet fellow travelers. Guests also have access to free tea & coffee. This area has a vending machine which has snacks & drinks.

Television Area

The Pod Sydney has a television area where guests can watch shows & hang out with other guests. It is a good place to meet with other guests & travelers. This area also has a nice view of the city.

Luggage Store Room

Guests can store their luggage for free on the days of check-in & checkout only. The hostel does not accept overnight luggage storage.

Lobby Lounge

The hostel has a lobby lounge which guests can use while waiting for check in or check out. This area has a wide range of tour brochures which guests can get.

Communal Toilet & Shower Areas

All guests have access to communal toilet & shower areas. The male & female amenity area is located between the reception area & the kitchen & dining area. The hostel also has a dedicated disabled toilet & shower for guests who require disable mobility.

Limited Reception Time

Reception is open from 9:00 am to 11:00 pm daily. Check-in is from 2:00 pm to 11:00 pm while checkout is until 11:00 am. The hostel receptionists & staff are very nice & helpful. You can also ask reception for airport shuttle & printing services. Charges may apply.

The Pod Sydney’s reception area

Laundry Facilities

The Pod Sydney has a coin-operated washing machine & dryer which the guests can use. Just ask the reception where the machine is & how to use it.

The Pod Sydney is perfect for those who are looking for a minimalist, modern & cheap accommodation in Sydney. It offers both private & shared rooms for affordable rates. The Pod Sydney may not be as social as the other hostels in the city, but its facilities make up for it. I was not able to fully enjoy the facilities & amenities of the hostel ,but I am happy that I had a comfortable & peaceful stay in The Pod Sydney. I’ll definitely check this out again when I fly back to Sydney in the future.

Feel free to contact The Pod Sydney in the contact details below:

The Pod Sydney
Address: Level 6, 396 Pitt St, Sydney NSW 2000
Phone Numbers: +61 2 8959 1293 / +61 411 476 966
Email Address: thepodsydney@gmail.com / service@thepodsydney.com.au
Website: www.thepodsydney.com.au
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/thepodsydney

Have you been to The Pod Sydney? How was your stay? Are you flying to Sydney soon & looking for a place to stay? Make sure to check out this hostel / capsule hotel. It’s worth every penny. Do you have any questions about my stay? Feel free to post a question in the comments below. You can also contact me via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com or contact me via Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Watch out for my feature about Bounce Hostel Sydney & my upcoming blogs about Sydney & Brisbane. Thank you for reading! ✌

Tuesday Tips for Filipinos / Philippine Passport Holders: 6 Steps On How To Apply For An Australian Tourist Visa

A few hours from now, I will be flying to Sydney & Brisbane, Australia for a week long trip with my college friends. It will be my first trip to this country & also my first trip outside Asia. Right before I leave, I want to share with everyone how I applied for my Australian Tourist Visa & also to share some tips regarding the visa application process.

Philippine passport holders are required to secure a visa before flying to Australia. The country’s Department of Home Affairs offers a wide range of visas a visitor can apply for. For this specific post, I will talk about how I applied for the Visitor Visa Subclass 600. Filipinos need this visa to visit Australia as a tourist, to visit relatives living in the country & to engage in business visitor activities. This visa allows visitors to stay up to 3, 6 or even 12 months.

More details about the Visitor Visa Subclass 600 from the AU Gov’t website

If you are unsure of what visa you need for your visit to Australia, head over to this page to see the list of visas one can apply for.

Unlike any other usual visa, Australian visas are applied online via the Department of Home Affairs website. This means that you don’t need to go to a travel agency to submit your requirements or go to the embassy to line up & lodge your documents. Everything is done online. Let me now tell you what I did & what you need to do to get your Australian tourist visa.

Step 1 – Create An Immi Account

The first step is to create an Immi Account. This is your account in the Australian government’s immigration portal. The visa application process will be through this portal. All you need is a working email address & a password (must include an upper case & a lower case letter, a number & a symbol). You will receive an email notifying that you have successfully created your account plus you need to verify it with the link provided in your email.

First step – create an Immi Account

Step 2 – Start The Application & Fill Out The Form

After creating your Immi Account, you should now start your application. The website will ask you to fill out about 20 pages of questions – mainly asking for personal details, travel plans, family & travel background. Not that you can stop & save your details at any time. Please do not submit your application until all questions are answered & all documents are uploaded. Take note of your visa reference number throughout the application process.

Step 3 – Prepare & Gather Documents

Before uploading your documents in the immigration portal. You first need to gather the documents you need to submit. The portal divides the documents into 2 parts – the required documents (passport details, passport photo, travel history & financial documents) & the recommended documents (ticket & hostel bookings, evidence of family composition). You can submit the following ‘usual’ visa application requirements:

⦁ Philippine Passport – Your passport must be valid for more than 6 months during your trip.
⦁  Passport-Size Photo (Front & Back – with Full Name at the back)
⦁  Travel History (Old & Current Passports)
⦁  Personal Bank Certificate
⦁  Personal Bank Statement (3 months recommended)
⦁  Certificate of Employment & Income Tax Return Form
⦁  Payslips & Company ID Details
⦁  NSO Birth Certificate
⦁  Confirmed Airline Ticket
⦁  Itinerary in Australia (Day to day plans when in Australia)

You can add more documents such as evidence of leave from work, marriage certificate (for those who are married), cover letter, title deeds, credit card statements & anything that will prove your financial capabilities & your strong ties here in the Philippines.

The Department of Home Affairs doesn’t specify any requirement (amount balance, average daily balance, etc.) on bank statements & bank certificates. Make sure to have enough money in your accounts before having your papers printed.

Step 4 – Scan & Upload Documents

You always start by logging in to your Immi Account

After gathering all the requirements & documents, you need to scan & upload them in the application portal. As per the Home Affairs website, only files with these extensions are accepted: bmp, dcm, doc, docx, dot, gif, jpg, pdf, png, ppt, pptx, rtf, txt, xls & xlsx. Each file should not exceed 5 MB & should not be compressed & encrypted. Documents which are not in English need to be translated into the English Language. Each applicant can upload up to 60 documents.

You can upload your documents by batch; just don’t forget to save your application before you close the page. An application is stored in the portal for 30 days. All incomplete applications & uploaded documents will be deleted after the prescribed time.

Step 5 – Submit Application & Pay Application Fee

After completing the 20-page application form & uploading the necessary requirements & documents, you can now formally submit your visa application. After submission, you will be directed to the payment page where you need to pay the visa application fee of AUD 140 per person [2024 update – visa application fee has increased to AUD 190 per person]. Only PayPal, credit & debit card form of payments are accepted. These modes of payments also have surcharges. You can refer to this page for the updated surcharges for all types of payments.

After payment, you will receive an acknowledgement email confirming that your visa application has been submitted and that your biometrics need to be collected in the visa collection center.

[2024 Update] Step 5.5 – Biometrics Collection

Since the pandemic, the Department of Home Affairs has required all visa applicants to have their biometrics collected within two weeks of online visa application submission.

The VFS Global Australian Visa Collection Centre in Manila is located at 6th Floor, Tower Two, Makati Circuit Corporate Center, AP Reyes Street and Theater Drive, Circuit Makati, Barangay Carmona, Makati City, Philippines 1630.

Biometrics collection appointments can be scheduled here. Applicants need to bring the documents mentioned in the biometrics email request and the biometrics collection service fee of PHP 557. The center only accepts cash payments as of this writing.

The waiting game begins after biometrics collection.

Step 6 – Wait For Your Visa

Visa application processing times vary per person. As per the Australian government website & as of 30 June 2018, 75% of all the tourist visa applications are processed after 19 days while 90% of tourist visa applications are decided after 24 days. Take note that your visa application can be decided sometime between 48 hours from application to more than 20 days depending on internal factors.

I got my Australian Tourist Visa after 8 calendar days. I can very well remember I was on the boat back to Siargao Island when I got my Visa Grant Notification via email. The Australian government granted me a 1-year multiple entry tourist visa. This visa allows me to stay in Australia for 3 months from the date of each arrival.

Bear in mind that Australian Visas are not glued to your passports. It’s simply a grant letter which you will show upon check-in & in the immigration counter. How does the grant letter look like? Check out my grant letter below:

Have you applied for an Australian Tourist Visa in the past? Are there other tips you can share to your fellow readers? Feel free to post these tips below. If you want to be anonymous, you can send it via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com for suggestions. Feel free to also contact me via Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

That’s it for now. I need to go & pack my things for my Australia trip. Thank you for reading & until the next Tuesday Tip! 😊