Places to Visit in Australia ( Courtesy social Media)

Sydney the Full List ( i got the below from one of the posts)

1) The Harbour / Circular Quay / the Rocks (self guided walking tour - google one) / Lady MacQuaries Chair: the classic vista of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, with the nearby Botanic Gardens and Taronga Zoo.

2) Watsons Bay via ferry from Circular Quay: the Light house and the views of Sydney from the Eastern Suburbs

3) Coogee to Bondi walk: all the Eastern Suburb beaches

4) Manly: go for a walk along the promenade and see the beautiful views from different spots; Manly to Spit Bridge walk

5) Finger Wharves: posh restaurants in the harbour

6) Darling Harbour: food and nightclubs, Chinese Gardens, the Aquarium. Also near China Town which is buzzy and fun

7) Kings Cross: night life and good restaurants

 Oxford St: Fashion, food, boutiques, bars

9) Newtown: bohemian, alternative and Thai Food

10) Norton St Leichhardt: Little Italy

11) Double Bay: posh shopping 

12) Blue Mountains: beautiful nature walks and views

13) Cronulla: Beaches and Bogans

14) Parramatta: lots of meditarranean and Asian culture

15) Bowral and southern highlands - English country side, lovely walks, check out the Berkeloux book barn and the Box Vale track

16) Malabar and the coastal walk through the golf club 

Just pick 3-4 of these you’ll have an awesome time

Beach getaway list 

1. Mollymook (3hrs Southside)

2. Avoca (1.4hrs Northside)

3. Palm Beach (1hr Northside)

4. Kill Care (1.4hrs Northside)

5. Pacific palms (3hrs Northside)

6. Bundeena (1hr Southside)

7. Gerringong (1.8hrs South side)

8. Hyam's beach (2.5hrs Southside)

9. Moruya Heads (4hrs Southside)

10. Pearl Beach (1.4hrs Northside)

Places to lookout distance from Parramatta (Approx) :

Blaxland park                               – 10 Kms

Featherdale park (touch koalas and feed kangaroos.) - 15 kms

Cockattoo island 30 min journey  - 19 kms

Fagan park                                       -26 Kms

Ku-ri-nggagai national park Bobin head – 30 Kms

Luna park                                        - 33 kms

Drive to blue point reserve           - 35 kms

Taronga zoo                                    -35 kms

Cranula                                            – 38 Kms

Berowara ferries                              - 38 kms

Le peruse beach                              - 40 Kms

Cronulla beach                                 - 40 kms

Coogie beach                                 – 42 Kms

Bondi beach                                    - 42 kms

Collins beach                                   - 42 kms

Bronte beach                                    - 42 kms

Royal national park                          - 42 kms

Hawksberry river                              - 45 kms

Long Reef beach                            – 50 Kms

Symbio park                                     - 55 kms

Wottamolla beach                           - 55 kms

palm beach ( awesome)                 - 56 kms

Garie beach                                      - 60 Kms

Wiseman ferry                                 - 61 kms

Wentworth falls                              - 70 kms

Central coast                                  – 70 Kms

Gosford                                          – 70 Kms

Umina beach (near to patong)    - 80 Kms

Blue Mountains                             – 80 Kms

Avoca beach                                   - 85 Kms

Killcare beach                                 - 90 kms

The entrance                                   - 95 kms

Morriset park(kangaroo feeding)-115 Kms

Caves beach                                   -125 Kms

Fitzroy Falls                                    - 130 kms

Jenolan Caves                               - 150 Kms

Lucas cave                                     - 150 Kms

Kangaroo valley                             - 150 kms

Port Macquarie                              - 380 kms

Hunter valley(wine tasting tour) - 238 Kms

Snowy Mountains                       – 480 Kms

Canberra                                      – 280 Kms

Gold coast                                   – 840 Kms

Sand Dunes                                 – 960 Kms

Philip island                               – 1,015 Kms

Tasmania                                   – 1400 Kms

Jervis Bay (white sand beach)   - 220 Kms

Famous berry donut van

Hyams beach ( white sand)        - 215 Kms

Huskisson pub in huskisson town-210 km

Army area 

Kiama: 145 Kms

1. Helensburg temple                    – 56 Kms

2. Stanwell park lookout               – 60 Kms

3. Sea cliff bridge (GRAND PACIFIC DRIVE) – 65 Kms

4. Austinmire beach                     – 75 Kms

5. Wollongong city                      – 114 Kms

6. Port kembla                             – 120 Kms

7. Minnamurra falls                     – 142 Kms

8. Kiama blow hole                     – 144 Kms

9. Little blow hole                       – 148 Kms

10. Nantein buddhist temple    - 120 Kms

Port stephen: 200 Kms

1. Whale & Dolhin watching

2. Parasailing

3. Gangan lookout                      – 201 Kms

 

Misc ( Unsorted):

Tugerrah lake

Somer bay water fall

Gosford water fall

===============

Wattamolla beach

Jenolan Caves

Lucas cave

===============

Fagan park

Caves beach (We went to caves beach in Swansea few months back, there are caves at the beach where you have to time ur walk inside the before you get half drown)

Bondi beach

Gari beach

Le peruse beach

Avoca beach

******************

Gervis Bay ( its a white sand beach)

Famous berry donut van

Hyams beach ( white sand)

Huskisson pub in huskisson town

Army area

******************

Wottamoola beach

Cronulla beach,  

palm beach ( awesome)

Collins beach

bronte beach

Cockattoo island 30 min journey

Hawksberry river

Killcare beach

Umina beach ( which is near to patong)

Shelly beach ( on the way to Tugerrah lake)

Royal national park 

 

Mooni mooni water sporting  

Kangaroo valley 

Jerwis bay

Fitzroy Falls 

Wentworth falls

Katoomba winter festival 

Patong

Drive to blue point reserve 

Hawkesbury harvest 

Luna park 

Cranula 

Berowara ferries 

Berowra waters

Port Macquarie 

Wiseman ferry

Featherdale park (You can touch koalas and feed kangaroos.)

Taronga zoo 

Symbio park 

8 shaped pool 

Hunter valley( take wine tasting tour )

 

Philip island 

Central coast

Blue mt

Snowy mt 

Canberra

Tasmania

Keins

Gold coast

Gosford

Food and Medicine ( What you can and cannot bring to Australia)

Source : SBS Hindi

From food to medicine, what you can and cannot bring to Australia

From April 17 2019, visitors to Australia failing to declare prohibited items might have their visas shortened or canceled.

Australia's strict bio-security laws prohibit certain foreign foods, plant materials and animal products from entering the country, due to the threat of introducing serious pests and diseases into Australia, devastating our valuable agricultural and tourism industries, as well as our unique environment.

From April 17 2019, new rules come into effect allowing airport authorities to shorten or cancel visitor visas if a visitor fails to declare prohibited items upon entry to the country. 

So before you send across a list of goodies for your family and friends to bring to Australia, or travel back to Australia from your home country and on a temporary visa, take a look at what you can and cannot bring into Australia.

WHAT CAN I BRING/NOT BRING TO AUSTRALIA?

Food

Food items brought into Australia must be declared on Incoming Passenger Cards when arriving by plane. Biosecurity officers may need to inspect some of the food you're bringing with you.

While you are allowed to bring coffee, biscuits, bread, cake, chocolate, maple syrup and oil, one needs to declare if they have brought tea, spices, pickles, rice, nuts, dairy products with them.

Take a look at the full list here.


An airport security person examining the contents of a bin with a traveler's fanny pack, shoes, sweater, and allowable liquids.

Medicines

Medicines for personal use are allowed. However, one must carry a letter or copy of the prescription (written in English) from the doctor to certify that the medicine has been prescribed to treat a medical condition and ensure the quantity of the medicine does not exceed three months supply.

“You should leave your medicine in its original packaging and declare it to the Australian Border Force when you arrive,” the Australian Border Force (ABF) advises.

For more details, click here.

Plants, flowers and seeds

Live plants are not permitted.

“Most live plants must not be imported to Australia unless the importer has a valid import permit from the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources,” the ABF advises.

For seeds, one must declare it if they are carrying seeds.

For more details, click here.

Seasonal or festive items


Many migrants bring special items related to Indian festivals like Diwali, Rakhi and Lohri to Australia. The ABF strongly advises one "declare anything you are bringing or sending so that it can be inspected by our staff at the border."

The ABF advises not to bring fresh fruits, flowers, dried fruit, nuts and Indian sweets like burfi, ras malai, rasgulla and pedas. For more details on these sorts of items, click here.

Besides these specific categories, there are many more items on the list that are prohibited or must be declared when being brought to Australia.

Take a look at the entire list here.

WHAT IF YOU ARE CARRYING A PROHIBITED ITEM?

When traveling to Australia you will be provided with an Incoming Passenger Card by the crew of your aircraft or cruise vessel.

“This is a legal document. You must mark YES on your card to declare if you are carrying certain food, plant material or animal items. You can take these declared goods with you to the clearance point where they will be assessed by a Department of Agriculture and Water Resources biosecurity officer and may be inspected. Alternatively, you can voluntarily dispose of food, plant material or animal items in bins located in the terminal,” the Department of Agriculture advises.


New grounds to cancel a visitor visa in immigration clearance

Australia has created new grounds for cancellation that gives authorities the discretion to cancel a visitor visa in immigration clearance.

WHAT IF YOU FAIL TO DECLARE?

A biosecurity officer may inspect your baggage, even if you do not declare any goods. They may use X-ray or a detector dog. You must declare or dispose of any goods with a biosecurity risk before inspection. If you do not or you make a false declaration on the Incoming Passenger Card, you:

may be caught

may be subject to civil penalties

may be prosecuted, fined more than A$420,000 and imprisoned for up to 10 years and a get criminal record.

You will not be penalised under the Biosecurity Act 2015 if you declare all goods, even if they are not allowed into Australia.

From April 17 2019, new rules state that if a visitor fails to declare anything that cannot be imported, the officers at immigration clearance points may shorten or cancel their visa.

ABF says the people found guilty of not following these rules may be prevented from returning to Australia for three years.

“Persons whose visas are canceled under these circumstances may be turned around and returned and will be prevented from being granted a visa to return to Australia for three years except under compelling or compassionate circumstances,” ABF spokesperson told SBS Hindi

Restaurants in Sydney List

My List 

• Taste of village = burwood
• Hutbazaar          = Rockdale ( Bangaldeshi biryani)
• Pepper lunch     = Town hall (Japanese)
• Thousands spice  = homebush
• Kaayal                = liverpool ( Kerala)
• Sambhandha     = Auburn (Momos)
• Malabar              = Darlinghurst ( Kerala)
• Urban Tadka      = Terrey Hills
• Maya da dhaba = Surry hills
• Laal kila              = Surry hills
• Jayara table       = Newport
• Mughal               = Norwest (South indian)
• Khalsa                = Seven hills
• Lazeez                = Rouse hill
• Kashi                   = Annangrove (Punjabi)
• Khan baba afgani restaurant = Merry lands

Visited :

• TAJ                            = homebush (Good)
• Grand Bwarachi        = Parramatta (Good)
• Mamak ( Malaysian) = Townhall ( Good)
• Holy basil (Thai)       = Town hall( Good)
• Bombay talkies         = Harris park ( Good)
• Dosa hut                    = Harris park ( Good
• Dos senoritas( mexican) = Gladsville(Good)
• Kabul (afghani)         = Auburn ( average)
• Kabul (afghani)          = merry land ( good)

Money to India ( Transfer) Providers List

1. Instarem
2. Transferwise( for every 1k is $6.99 fee)
3. Click to remit - kotak mahindra(no fees)
4. Worldremit( free if more than 1k)
5. Western Money
6. Remit to India ( no fees)
7. Orbit Remit
8. Remitly

Insurance Providers List ( Health and Car Comprehensive insurance)

Health Private insurance Providers list

• CBHS
• BUPA
• HCF
• ACA
• MEDIBANK
• GU HEALTH
• CUA
• Allianz Ovhc
• Australian unity 
• NIB 

Car Comprehensive insurance Providers list

1. Wooloworths
2. Youi
3. Coles
4. Allianz
5. Bingle
6. Aami
7. NRMA
8. Budget direct
9. Power Torque
10. Progressive direct
11. Virgin Money
12. GIO

Fruits and Vegetable Picking Month Wise ( Courtesy social Media)

http://www.parraparents.com.au/things-to-do/pick-your-own-fruit-calendar-parramatta-region/

Month by Month Fruit Picking Calendar

===April===

• Chestnuts (photo credit: Nutwood Farm)
• Apples           :       TNT Produce (drop-in, $2 entry fee, weekends) Bilpin Fruit Bowl (drop-in, entry fee, last day 25th April); Glenbernie Orchard(bookings required, weekends), Shields Orchard(bookings required, Thursday to Monday); Pine Crest Orchard (drop-in, no entry fee, 27th April ONLY)
• Chestnuts     : Kookootonga Nut Farm (now closed), Nutwood Farm (now closed) and Campanella Cottage (now closed)
• Eggplants     : Canoelands Orchard (7 days 9am to 3pm, drop-in, fee to pick)
• Passionfruit  : Canoelands Orchard (available in 2020/21)
• Persimmon   : Pine Crest Orchard (drop-in, no entry fee, 27th April)
• Strawberries : Berrylicious Strawberries (set times, bookings required – 27th April)
• Sunflowers    : Food Farm Central Coast(honesty box – $1 each); Central Coast Sunflower Harvest at Yarramalong Turf Supplies (27th April, 7am to 2pm)
• Tomatoes      : Canoelands Orchard (7 days 9am to 3pm, drop-in, fee to pick)
• Walnuts         : Kookootonga Nut Farm (now closed), Nutwood Farm (now closed) and Campanella Cottage (now closed)

===May===

• Apples                    : Bilpin Fruit Bowl (Pink Lady); TNT Produce (Pink Lady)
• Mandarins              : Watkins Family Farm – Imperial, Hickson and Emperor (from 25th May)
• Passionfruit           : Canoelands Orchard (available in 2020/21)
• Persimmon            : Bilpin Fruit Bowl, Cedar Creek Orchards
• Strawberries          : Bilpin Fruit Bowl
• Tomatoes               : Canoelands Orchard

===June===

• Cumquats        : Watkins Family Farm, Fords Family Farm
• Eggplants        : Canoelands Orchard
• Mandarins        : Anderson Farm; Watkins Family Farm; Fords Family Farm
• Oranges           : Anderson Farm
• Passionfruit     : Canoelands Orchard (2020/21)
• Pecans             : Pecan Lady
• Tomatoes         : Canoelands Orchard

Harvest Festival Central Coast is on 8th to 9th June.

===July===

• Mandarins       : Anderson Farm (Emperor, Imperial, Hickson)
• Oranges          : Anderson Farm (Washington Navel); Schofields Orange Orchard (NO PYO in 2018)
• Tomatoes        : Canoelands Orchard

===August ===

• Mandarins       : Anderson Farm (Emperor, Imperial, Hickson)
• Oranges          : Anderson Farm (Washington Navel); Schofields Orange Orchard (NO PYO in 2018)
• Tomatoes        : Canoelands Orchard

===September===

Mandarins      : Anderson Farm (FINISHED for this year)

• Oranges         : Anderson Farm (Washington Navel); Schofields Orange Orchard (NO PYO in 2018)
• Strawberries  : Berrylicious Strawberries (late September/ early October)
• Tomatoes       : Canoelands Orchard

===October===

• Nectarines     : Canoelands Orchard (from about mid-October)
• Oranges         : Anderson Farm (until early October)
• Peaches         : Canoelands Orchard (from about mid-October)
• Strawberries  : Berrylicious Strawberries
• Tomatoes       : Canoelands Orchard (until early October)

===November===

• Nectarines
• Apricots
• Pine Crest Orchard (late November)
• Cherries
• Pine Crest Orchard (set times from 10th November, no bookings required)
• Bilpin Fruit Bowl (late November)
• Nectarines
• Canoelands Orchard (open daily, no bookings required);
• Cedar Creek Orchards (set times on weekends and Wednesdays from 10th November, bookings required);
• Glenbernie Orchard (have not yet announced opening times for 2018)
• Peaches
• Canoelands Orchard (open daily, no bookings required);
• Cedar Creek Orchards (set times on weekends and Wednesdays from 24th November, bookings required);
• Glenbernie Orchard (have not yet announced opening times for 2018);
• Bilpin Fruit Bowl (mid November)
• Plums
• Canoelands Orchard (late November)
• Raspberries
• Glenbernie Orchard (have not yet announced opening times for 2018)
• Strawberries
• Berrylicious Strawberries (set times, bookings required);
• Bilpin Fruit Bowl (set times on weekends from 11th November, no bookings required)

===December===

• Cherries           :  George and Sue’s Cherry Farm, Bathurst)
• Apricots           :   Pine Crest Orchard (finished)
• Cherries           : Pine Crest Orchard (finished)
• Nectarines       : Bilpin Fruit Bowl (weekends); Canoelands Orchard(FINISHED NOW)
• Peaches           : Pine Crest Orchard (Friday-Sunday, NO bookings required), Bilpin Fruit Bowl (weekends); Glenbernie Orchard (set times, bookings required)
• Plums              : Canoelands Orchard (FINISHED NOW)
• Strawberries   : Berrylicious Strawberries (set times, bookings required)

===January===

• Apples (late Jan): Pine Crest Orchard (drop-in, open Friday to Sunday – CLOSED Australia Day long weekend); Bilpin Fruit Bowl (drop-in, open weekends from 26th Jan); Glenbernie Orchard (set times, bookings essential)
• Peaches                : Pine Crest Orchard (drop-in, open Friday to Sunday – CLOSED Australia Day long weekend); Glenbernie Orchard (set times, bookings essential); Bilpin Fruit Bowl (drop-in, open weekends)
• Pears                    : Pine Crest Orchard (drop-in, open Friday to Sunday)
• Plums                   : Pine Crest Orchard (drop-in, open Friday to Sunday)
• Strawberries       : Berrylicious Strawberries (set times, bookings essential)

===February===

• Apples        : Pine Crest Orchard (drop-in, no entry fee, Friday to Sunday); Bilpin Fruit Bowl (drop-in, entry fee, weekends); Glenbernie Orchard (bookings required)
• Peaches      : Glenbernie Orchard (bookings required); Bilpin Fruit Bowl (drop-in, entry fee, weekends)
• Pears           : Pine Crest Orchard (drop-in, no entry fee, Friday to Sunday)
• Plums          : Pine Crest Orchard (drop-in, no entry fee, Friday to Sunday)

===March===

Tomato picking season is from about mid-March

Apples             : Pine Crest Orchard (drop-in, no entry fee, Friday to Sunday – CLOSED 29th-31st March); TNT Produce (drop-in, $2 entry fee, weekends only from 30th March) Bilpin Fruit Bowl (drop-in, entry fee, weekends only); Glenbernie Orchard (bookings required, weekends)

Chestnuts        : Kookootonga Nut Farm (7 days 9am to 4pm), Nutwood Farm (weekends, 9am to 4pm) and Campanella Cottage (weekends, 9am to 3pm)

Eggplants        : Canoelands Orchard (weekends drop-in, weekdays bookings required)

Persimmon      : Pine Crest Orchard (drop-in, no entry fee, Friday to Sunday)

Plums               : Pine Crest Orchard (not currently available for picking)

Quinces           : Pine Crest Orchard (drop-in, no entry fee, Friday to Sunday)

Strawberries   : Berrylicious Strawberries (set times, bookings required – 10th March)

Tomatoes        : Canoelands Orchard (weekends drop-in, weekdays bookings required)

NOTE: Strawberries are available to be picked at Berrylicious Strawberries throughout the year when there is enough fruit to pick. They do generally open during the school holidays and bookings are required.

Melbourne Trip itinerary(Courtesy social Media)

Stay overnight at :
Sydney - batesman bay
Batesman bay - lakes entrance
Lakes entrance - Phillip island/Mornington peninsula 
Phillip island to Melbourne 
Spend 4th, 5th day at Melbourne 
Head to GOR for 12 apostles and maybe stay at lorne on way back (if not back to Melbourne) - around 1-2 days here. 
Choose couple of day trips between Macedonia, Yarra valley, daylesford, dandenong ranges. 
On way back, via humes stay at Goulburn or around and back to base.


Sovereign Hill at Ballarat is also good...  And if you want to skip Philip island (penguin watching), you could do it at, St Kilda, which is in the city(saves you a day)...  Lot of penguins do return at dusk, yarra Valley wine tour and 

dandenong ranges (do not remember the place, but there's bird park where you could feed the birds (lot of birds sit on you ) and 
a mini forest walk which is very beautiful)

Newzeland trip itinerary(Courtesy social Media)

Itinerary 1:

Sydney to Christchurch flight

Day 01: Christchurch to Arthur Pass
Day 02: Arthur Pass to Franz Josef
Day 03: Franz Josef to Lake Wanaka
Day 04: Lake Wanaka to Manapouri
Day 05: Manapouri to Milford Sound and Back to Manapouri
Day 06: Manapouri to Cromwell
Day 07: Cromwell to Queenstown and back
Day 08: Rest and roam around
Day 09: Rest and roam around
Day 10: Cromwell to Twizel, Mount Cook and back to Twizel
Day 11: Twizel to Lake Pukaki, Lake Tekapo and then Christchurh
Fly back to Sydney

Following are the most beautiful places/ drives which are must

1 Milford Sounds , Drive from Manapouri to Milford Sounds
2 Drive from Franz Josef to Lake Wanaka
3 Drive from Twizel to Mount Cook Village (along Lake Pukaki), 
4 Hiking in Mount cook to Glacier lake (Must do if you can manage, short hike(2 hours up/down) and you don't need to stay in mount cook for this


U need about 7 days each for North and South island. Both are beautiful, but if I had to choose, it'd be South. Check in Google maps for the above routes and add a couple of hrs to it. The roads are windy there, so we took much more time than that mentioned in Google. Caravan is popular there and would help cut cost, but we personally think it'd be uncomfortable with family. We stayed in Airbnb. Rented car from Avis/europcar(check if u have any discount from credit cards, nrma etc). Like Aus,it starts getting dark early (5ish) from May, so we had to start our day early to see the views. Also we found there were hardly any vehicles on highway road after it gets dark. Food is also expensive, so get groceries from countdown/new world (like coles) n try to cook simple food at home as much as possible. Jetstar has frequent sales to NZ, book a couple of months ahead for great deals. We got return fare to Christchurch for $190!!


You can do couple of modifications 
1. I spent three nights in Cromwell, it can be cut by one day and you can stay anywhere near queens town. Just avoid staying in queens town itself as it’s bloody expensive and commercialized 
2. If you can find accommodation in mount cook village then stay there than staying in twizel. It’s a very small village which gets booked out very soon. I couldn’t find accommodation even seven months in advance for Christmas period

Itinerary 2:

New Zealand
Europe of Southern Hemisphere 

2 islands: North Island, South Island

North Island: Totally Green, Adventure sports

South Island: Totally White (snow, glaciers), scenic views, buildings. 

*Places in North Island*
Cape Reinga
Holy place of Moaris. Northern most tip of NZ. 3 Oceans meet.

Bay of Islands & Coromandel Coast
Adventure Sports

Auckland 
Biggest cosmopolitan city. Sky Tower. Swami Narayanan Temple. Haldirams. Mission Bay (like Darling Harbour - go at night)

Hamilton
River. Gardens. 

Jenolan Caves
Glowworm caves *Do not miss*

Rotorua
Natural Hot water Springs. Herbal mud pools. Geysers. 

Taupo
Big Lake. Adventure Sports. 

Milford Sound
Waterfall *Do not miss*

Wellington, Christchurch

Best Italian Restaurant 
La Porcheta

Best Icecream
Movenpick

Best Pizza
Hell pizza

Best Burger
Burger Fuel

Best Soft Drink
L&P

Bali Trip itinerary(Courtesy social Media)

1. Adventure divers bali for snorkelling and diving. They are in amed and best team. Search online for website. David and Liselotte are lovely people. 

2. Sunset venues : Tanah Lot temple,  Ulluwatu temple,  Rock bar cafe. But very difficult to cover all the sunsets. We saw Tanah lot in afternoon, went to Ulluwatu for sunset and rock bar after sunset.

3. Drivers generally charge for 10 hrs depending on the distance. Amed is far from Kuta, seminyak etc. Our driver charged 5,50,000 IDR for 10 hrs. Better start with your driver around 12 - 12:30 one day and cover above sunset veues. We did like this. There are cheaper and expensive drivers too. But our experience with a cheaper driver on day 1 was really bad. 

4. Water sports are in benoa and probably Amed too (not sure on Amed). If you go to Benoa, do go to Nasa Dua beach. It is beautiful...Try cocktails (I tried Long island ice tea) at beach bar of Ayodya. They make nice cocktails and around 4-7 pm (not sure of time) is the happy hours.

5. Dont go to Kintamai if you dont want to trek. It is time waste, just a view and takes around 2 hours to go.

6. Coffee tasting is good which everyone will tell you but don't buy. We bought but it was tasty there only not once you try making at home :-)
Monkey forest is ok, can be seen or given a skip.

7. tirtaempul is a nice temple. Goa Gajah is ok, can be missed...

8. Ku De Ta at seminyak is really nice. reach around 4:30 to get good seats at front to see sunset view. 

9. There is silver making and wood carving places where people go. We didn't go..

10. Most Important ************* exchange only 50-100 $ at the airport. Exchange rest of your money only at Kodak Shops , PT Bali Maspintjinra, Kuta Jl Sriwinjays No 16A,  BMC Seminyak PT Bali Maspintjinra(opposite Bintang Supermarket, next to Sip restaurant on the Kuta side.) , PT Bali Maspintjinra, Head office Jl Raya Seminyak No 16A,  PT Bali Maspintjinra, Sanur, Jl Danau Tamblingan No 18 ,  PT Bali Maspintjinra also has offices in Makassar and Lombok. Check if PT Bali has branch in Amed else convert all money from Kuta.

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11.  For Indian food, at Benoa, there is a queen of india restaurant. Amazing, specially fish tikka.  Atithi restaurant in Kuta is good.

12. Get simcard of company "Simpati" at Kuta (many shops are there) in 30,000 IDR ( 2 -2.5 USD) from kuta...Dont pay more than this...it has around 2 gb data and some calling which should be enough for you.....recharge calling later if needed.

13.  Always take bluebird taxi only. We had other only once and we were in trouble. if driver dont use meter then dont sit in taxi...take taxi only for short distance (total going and coming back) otherwise book full day taxi when going for sight seeing...

14. Beware of people selling drugs.

15. Don't get massage from Bali Airport. Very expensive and he doesnt know anything. Gave me worse backache.

16. 3d trick art is OK, not must see or amazing though.

17. Take your whisky bottles from India/Australia. In Bali, alcohol is very costly. Cocktails you can drink outside.... and finish the whisky or gift it to some one 
:-) . People at airport won't let you get it back to india. If you can have a narrow escape, it s a luck otherwise they keep the bottles.

18.  Potatohead is another overhyped restaurant club. But we didnt like in pictures so we didnt go. 

19.  Pools are amazing in most of the hotels. Take some time off from sightseeing to relax and drink at pool bar of your hotel :-)

20.  Massage at our hotel wasn't that good, have heard for most of the hotels...better to search outside...Amed has some good massage parlours, I have heard.... Foot massage is generally cheaper...you can get it done from anywhere....Kuta market has them in series.

21. Google map would be the best friend while exploring local market area.... :-)

22. I wont suggest driving yourself as the traffic there is very bad...From Kuta to Amed is around 2- 2.5 hrs..... i would suggest the day you hire taxi karega, same day tell him for sight seeing in morning and get dropped to Amed in evening.... paying separately wont make sense...

22.  Places like waterbom water park, bali safari marine park, rafting and sunset cruise...upto ur will, if you are in mood to go :-)

23. Last but not least....have a lot of fun and enjoy ur trip...share pics when come back :-)


Hey, we have got back from holidays in Bali, best place to live in is Kuta, you'll find Alot of Indian restaurants there and other fellow indians too. Also, we had a local guide who help us with airport pick up/drop off and sightseeing, his number is +62 822-3707-5462 you may whatsapp him and his prices are great, trust me.