Reader tips: How to visit Hawaii with minimum hassle

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This was published 2 years ago

Reader tips: How to visit Hawaii with minimum hassle

Updated
Many of the Waikiki hotels have pop-up clinics for the mandatory pre-departure RAT but are charging up to $US225 per test.

Many of the Waikiki hotels have pop-up clinics for the mandatory pre-departure RAT but are charging up to $US225 per test.

TIP OF THE WEEK

KEY TO WAIKIKI

My wife and I recently returned from a week in Hawaii (gohawaii.com). Sure there was a lot more admin required compared to before COVID, but it was worth all the hassle. Many of the Waikiki hotels have pop-up clinics for the mandatory pre-departure RAT but are charging up to $US225 per test. We found a super-efficient testing clinic charging $US60. Book an appointment at pcrwaikiki.com For your return to Australia, you'll need to set up an account to be able to fill out the required Australian Travel Declaration (the new Digital Passenger Declaration is to replace this) (atd.homeaffairs.gov.au). We tried doing this on our phones in Hawaii and it was not easy. The app requires you to confirm your email address twice which means the app sends a validation code to your email address. On our first 10 attempts the email with the validation code took so long to arrive it expired by the time we received it. Set it up and study it before you leave Australia. The Hawaiian people are very glad to have Australians back and their COVID protocols are seamless.

Peter Denovan, Kew East, VIC

LONG AND SHORT OF GEELONG

I've just returned from an enjoyable three days in Geelong (visitgeelongbellarine.com.au). We took a comfortable train from Southern Cross Station (vline.com.au) and spent the next few days exploring the city. Highlights included the Geelong Gallery (geelonggallery.org.au), the impressive Geelong library (grlc.vic.gov.au), the fascinating bollard trail along the foreshore, the beautiful Botanic Gardens and lively Little Malop and Pakingston Streets. Our long walks were interspersed with many eating and drinking breaks at some great finds including The Arborist, A Spot For Joe, King Of The Castle, the James St Bakery and even a cheese high tea at the Flying Brick Cider House (visitgeelongbellarine.com.au). All are worth recommending, including our comfortable stay at the R Hotel (rhotelgeelong.com.au) with the final highlight our water trip back to Melbourne's Docklands via Port Phillip Ferries (portphillipferries.com.au)

Penny Repse, Brighton, VIC

I GO TO RIO (AND ROME)

If you're researching a trip overseas or even domestically, try the free website rome2rio.com It searches any city, town, landmark, attraction or address across the globe with thousands of multi-modal routes to easily get you from A to B. It's helped me out so many times, including when we were stuck in West Sweden and found the correct bus changeover. My granddaughter was also helped by rome2rio in South Australia getting from the airport to a suburban location .

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John Peterson, Bayview, NSW

SWEET POTATO

"Potato Point?", my five-year-old asked. "Are there lots of potatoes there?" Potato-less-ness was quickly outshone by the beauty of this beachfront spot backing onto NSW's Eurobodalla National Park (national parks.nsw.gov.au). We stayed on an unpowered site at the Beachcomber Holiday Park (beachcomberholidaypark.com.au), with tracks to explore, waves for all ages, a balance of wildlife to intrigue and terrify (kangaroos, goannas, snakes, emus, birds) and a fabulous on-site pizza oven (pre-order your dough). Kangaroo poo dodging makes you nimble on your feet. The five-hour (are we nearly there yet?) journey from Sydney (almost nine from Melbourne) was more than worthwhile and recommended.

Kirsty Galpin, Balmain, NSW

CLIFF HANGING

We recently had a wonderful road trip to the opal mining town of White Cliffs (visitnsw.com) in far western NSW. Travelling through vistas of red earth, grey saltbush and endless blue sky, with black tailed kites and wedge tailed eagles feeding and flying on the roadsides was a delight. I was transfixed by the views. White Cliffs is a special place, with houses built into the sides of the spaceship shaped hills, in the middle of a lunar landscape. The hummocks everywhere from the diggings dating back to the 19th century. And sitting outside at the hotel that night and waiting for dinner to arrive at our table, while absorbing the absolute silence, was amazing.

Kerrie O'Brien, Orange NSW

WRITE AND WIN THREE LONELY PLANET TRAVEL BOOKS

Send us your best tips and advice from your own travels in 100 words or fewer. Letters may be edited and must include your address and phone number for verification. Note we can't accept letters/tips from operators about their own business.

Write to:

travellerletters@traveller.com.au

The Tip of the Week writer wins a set of three great Lonely Planet travel books worth more than $100, including Australia's Best Trips, Best Day Walks Australia and Gourmet Trails Australia and NZ.

See shop.lonelyplanet.com

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