Travel to Aussie
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Category: General Chat
Forum Name: General Chat
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URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=7308
Printed Date: 10 October 2025 at 11:49am
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Topic: Travel to Aussie
Posted By: Mazzy
Subject: Travel to Aussie
Date Posted: 06 May 2007 at 8:50pm
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Hey everyone,
I'm travelling to Australia in a couple of weeks with DD (nearly 8 months) for five days. I know there have been a couple of people who have travelled with babies recently, so was hoping for some tips! Also, when I asked about getting the bassinet from Air NZ for the trip the booking guy on the phone told me that they don't reserve them in advance, it was just first come first served at check in time. I thought I read somewhere here that you could book them in advance - is it worth me calling back and trying someone else? Will DD even fit in the bassinet at her age? TIA for your help! 
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Replies:
Posted By: Millie1976
Date Posted: 06 May 2007 at 9:52pm
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Hi Mazzy,
I am not sure why you were told you weren't able to book the bassinet? When I flew with Air NZ 6 weeks ago I rung them about 2 weeks beforehand and I spoke with a women and I asked if I was able to book a bassinet for my then 5 month old baby and she said that was fine - she booked my return flight too. I would ring them again and hopefully you will get someone else on the phone. My tip is to take some pamol and a dummy in case baby gets sore ears. Also if you breastfeed still you could try feeding the baby as you take off and also before you land - I gave Ollie a bottle as we took off and was fine. Another tip is to take a couple of new toys for your baby to play with. Hope you have a great trip over to Aussie  ------------- Sebastien 2 years old Olivier 3 3/4 years old |
Posted By: AnnC
Date Posted: 07 May 2007 at 5:33am
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I HAVE travelled all the way to Uk and yet to do the trip back in 4 weeks time.
The bassinets you can pre book but only if your child is under 8 months. they are on the small size (this is airnz)extra blanket for the bassinet as they said they provide it but they didn't. I also took my play arch from his pram to hang over the bassinet. extra nappies - they only gave me one and it was extra large so couldn't use. \disposable change mat.dummy was great for taking off and landing. will have more tips but going out for dinner so better get ready (its 6.26pm here) ------------- Ann 
Also Mum to Josh (15) and Brooke (10) |
Posted By: MyMinis
Date Posted: 07 May 2007 at 8:48am
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We have only flown national flights with DD but she was 6/ 7months at the time.
We found feeding ehr (bottle) on take off was great and she fell asleep right through, we had to change planes in chch to but she seemed to be pretty good really. but I was told so long as they sucking while taking off htey should be fine as it will prevent their ears from blocking. When we go to OZ we'll be taking a 2month olf and toddler (hmm guna be interesting lol). NEver knew they had bassinettes but good luck with that Im sure they owuld book in advance ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
http://tweetytweety85.bebo.com - bebo |
Posted By: lizzle
Date Posted: 07 May 2007 at 9:02am
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usually they book them in advance but I know when we booked ours with JAL they couldn't guarantee it, as it was also first come first served.
one tip i would recommend iis that often you are able to board the plane first. i would avoid doing so. Just that you get on the plane, organise yuourself, and then wait and wait and wait for everyone else to do the same....meanwhile baby is getting really annoyed at being confined. I ended boarding last with Jake and just letting him run around until the ;ast minute, then the staff helped me on and to get organised (was 8 months pregnant at the time)...we had to wait a lot less time and Jake was better behaved. taking food is a must, it is surprising what consitutes "baby food" on the plane. when we went to Thailand - jake's meal was a HOT HOT HOT prawn curry - he was 8 months old at the time.... Buyt remember to either chuck it out or declare it before you get through customs cause they'll sting you for it. When you pack, write a list of all medications and food products you have in your bag. Then when they ask you, instead of searching through yous stuff you can hand over the list and they can tell you to go through. i ALWAYS do this now and it cuts down how long I have to wait...usually (bloody Palmerston North airport!!!) |
Posted By: MyMinis
Date Posted: 07 May 2007 at 9:18am
thats a good idea thanks lizzle, I might keep tha tin mind for when we go to OZ ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
http://tweetytweety85.bebo.com - bebo |
Posted By: Mazzy
Date Posted: 07 May 2007 at 9:25am
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Fantastic idea about the food/medicine list Lizzle, I will definitely do that.
Thanks everyone for your tips, I am making a list of them all and will be calling Air NZ today to see if we have any better luck booking the bassinette. Unfortunately DD's passport application has been held up, just found out this morning, so we have to pay heaps more to rush it through! 
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Posted By: Katherine
Date Posted: 07 May 2007 at 11:31am
| Bumping for Emma -- she has travelled to Oz with her three girls a couple of times over the last few months, and I'm sure she'll have good tips. That girl is a world-traveller! :) |
Posted By: AnnC
Date Posted: 08 May 2007 at 9:14am
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[QUOTE=lizzle]
one tip i would recommend iis that often you are able to board the plane first. i would avoid doing so. Just that you get on the plane, organise yuourself, and then wait and wait and wait for everyone else to do the same....meanwhile baby is getting really annoyed at being confined. I ended boarding last with Jake and just letting him run around until the ;ast minute, then the staff helped me on and to get organised (was 8 months pregnant at the time)...we had to wait a lot less time and Jake was better behaved. QUOTE] Not to go against you Lizze but I found getting on the plane first best as you have the over head lockers to put your stuff in first if you get on last you run the risk of your carry on bags being stored a few rows behind or in front of you as there is no room above you. and getting off first or close to first was good although I had plenty of 'adult' hands to help out. ------------- Ann
Also Mum to Josh (15) and Brooke (10) |
Posted By: Bumble
Date Posted: 08 May 2007 at 9:28am
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Def take your own stroller up to the plane.... helps at other end when you are waiting for bags.
Try to pack light. When I went when Ethan was 6 months, my theory was, would push pram with one hand, pull suitcase with other. So any extra items were out.... Get parents (?) , peole at other end to hire everything else (carseat etc) Means less for you to worry about and lug around.... Dont stop at duty free, unless you really want to. By the time I got over, I just wanted to be thru customs. (Grizzly baby on plane.... very tired, plane delayed etc..) Do your best to look helpless!!! When I landed in oz i received NO help at all from anyone.... Look for the queues that are just for parents with children...But when I landed back in NZ this lovely man took me straight to the front of the queue for everything. I swear it all only took 5 mins to get from the plane to the outside world!!! buy nappies / formula if bottle feeding over there.. My mum had supplies ready. only take the minimun of bottles.... Remember that you will probably be buying or be given clothes so dont over pack. I always come back with more than when I left! and relax.... It is a wee bit tricky the first time (going over) but it is a learning experience!!!! re: bassinette - I booked it (Qantas) but didn't use it as Ethan wanted to be held... The flight attendants will also give you a dinky lapsash belt that attaches bubs to you for takeoff and landing. Really easy to use tho. Oh, change bubs just before takeoff and go to the loo yourself!!! I was lucky that the lady next to me watched Ethan while I went to the loo on the plane... ------------- formerly known as "Bee" Ethan ~ March 2003 Big 6 year old school boy! Micah ~ Aug 2008 ~ Smiley pants who loves telephones! |
Posted By: Bumble
Date Posted: 08 May 2007 at 9:29am
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Oh, where in oz are you going. I am a native to Melbourne, will actually be travelling on Thur 17th over (be really wierd if this is the same day.... I'll help if it is!!!!) AM travelling Air NZ too, gotta love that cheap flight promo! ------------- formerly known as "Bee" Ethan ~ March 2003 Big 6 year old school boy! Micah ~ Aug 2008 ~ Smiley pants who loves telephones! |
Posted By: MyMinis
Date Posted: 08 May 2007 at 9:56am
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I hated the lap sash belt thig, I found the airhostesses in Wellington were so rude and didnt even help us to figure out hwo to sue it until we were midflight and they told me I ahd it on wrong, at chch they were lovely and even gave us a pillow.
We were on antional flight though. I was wondering when flying would they (if we paid extra) let us use the capsule for baby (will be nearly 2months) and give Haleigh (who will be 23months) a seat of their own? I never flown international with kids, my arm nearly died carrying haleigh the whole flight when we went to queenstown. Also anyone whos been to Melbourne what way would you recomend getting round from airport? My parents dont like driving around mebourne itself so said they would meet us in or around Point Cook where they live but we trying to think whether taxi, bus or train would be easiest to get there?? and because we're moving there we need to take alot. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
http://tweetytweety85.bebo.com - bebo |
Posted By: Bumble
Date Posted: 08 May 2007 at 10:35am
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To get from Airport to Laverton Station or Altona Station, via public transport (Which sounds hard, but in reality will be easy - Better transport system)
Take the Sky Bus from Arrivals to into the city. http://www.melair.com.au/to_from_airport/bus_services.asp - Sky bus info here Get off the bus at Southern Cross Satation Bus Interchange (Also known as Spencer Street Station) Proceed to enter the Train Station http://arts.monash.edu.au/bioethics/intensivecourse/IBC06SouthernCrossStn.pdf - Map Here Not too sure which platform, you will be looking for the "Werribee" line. Purchase a Zone 1 Ticket if getting off at Laverton or Altona. If getting off at the next stop Airport, get Zone 1 & 2. http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/maps_stations_stops/metropolitan_trains - Metro train info here Get your parents to meet you at the station. If the flight is your "moving there" flight, get a taxi, will be heaps easier if you have lots of stuff. Should only be about a 20 - 30min taxi journey. Which probably wont enter into the city at all.. ------------- formerly known as "Bee" Ethan ~ March 2003 Big 6 year old school boy! Micah ~ Aug 2008 ~ Smiley pants who loves telephones! |
Posted By: Bumble
Date Posted: 08 May 2007 at 10:41am
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These sites will be helpful:
http://www.visitmelbourne.com/ - Melb tourist info - has things to see outside of Melb like Phillip Island (Penguins), Healsville Sanctuary, Puffing Billy.. http://www.thatsmelbourne.com.au/info.cfm?top=259&pg=3059 - City of Melb info - this one has lots of places to eat and things to see within the city.... ------------- formerly known as "Bee" Ethan ~ March 2003 Big 6 year old school boy! Micah ~ Aug 2008 ~ Smiley pants who loves telephones! |
Posted By: Mazzy
Date Posted: 08 May 2007 at 12:01pm
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Thanks Bee - we are going to Brisbane, not Melbourne, leaving on the 18th so pretty close to when you are going. That would have been pretty cool if we were leaving on the same day, I would have looked for you in the airport!
Passport hopefully sorted today, I'm beginning to get nervous about it. Off topic slightly, but the passport office people on the phone are so helpful, the best customer service I've had over the phone in ages! 
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Posted By: MyMinis
Date Posted: 08 May 2007 at 12:36pm
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Thanks Bee, will look up those sites.
My parents have only lived there since Jan and in Point Cook since easter so are still getting used to it. but taxi sounds like the best option with alot of things. The passport people are great eh I lsot my passport 6yrs ago and didnt realise I needed to report it or anything and they were so good at sorting things for me so that I odnt ahve to worry about it, I never get service like that with government people. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
http://tweetytweety85.bebo.com - bebo |
Posted By: Mazzy
Date Posted: 25 May 2007 at 10:05pm
Well, we are back (in case you couldn't tell from my posting frenzy today  ). I thought I'd update how the plane trips went. In short, because I think below will be a novel, try to book on a big plane and if things aren't right make yourself known - the other passengers will thank you for it.
THERE:
Not too bad. We checked our massive stroller in and Air NZ gave us a loan one to use until we boarded, which was really helpful. DD was making full use of her new noise - a very loud, very high pitched squeal, so there were many passengers in the terminal obviously hoping she wasn't on their flight. We bought her some new toys to play with just for flying. We ended up boarding when everyone else did as there was a wee nappy change emergency just before the boarding call so we missed the 'passengers with babies board first' anyway. The plane was quite a big one and the bassinette was a perfect size, easy to use and came with a free bib, packet of baby wipes and they gave us a free jar of organic baby food. Nice! DD didn't sleep the whole way over as she's way too nosey, but was happy and playful the whole way. The bassinette was great to sit her in so she could play and not get too sick of being held for three hours. And it gave us a break! So overall, the flight there was pretty great. HOME: 
Not so great. While we got to take our stroller to the departure gate, which was great, we were on a smaller plane, the new airbus I think? The bassinette wasn't attached to the bulkhead as a permanent fixture (the one on the way there simply folded up onto the wall and was permanently fixed). It was boiling hot on the plane and they delayed take off after we had all boarded for about 1/2 an hour so DD was well over it by then. Once we were airborne we had to ask three times for the bassinette to be brought out and attached, but it was useless. It was at a really awkward height so it was difficult to get DD in and out of it, and some genius plane designer had decided to place it right under the tv screen on the bulkhead (there for the six rows behind us - other flight had individual screens). So there was no way she was going to settle with that there. The heat didn't get any better in our seats as the bulkhead seemed to interrupt the flow of air, so while the rest of the plane was cool and dim we were hot and in bright lights for some dumb reason. After two hours of crying and fussing from an extremely overtired baby (it was 11pm) I moved down the back to find a spare seat and finally managed to get her settled...in time for landing. No baby food or freebies on this flight either. Possibly we were spoiled for the first one, but man, that flight home was a horror. Good thing about NZ customs is that they have a seperate line for passengers with children under 5 - woohoo! And all the airport and most of the airline staff were extremely helpful to us when they saw we had a baby. We are very glad to be home, it was an experience and the trip was pretty good, but NZ is just a lovely place to be.
Sorry for the novel - I have missed Oh Baby! Addict anyone? 
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Posted By: Skyflame
Date Posted: 26 May 2007 at 8:31am
Monique the only way you can make sure that Haleigh gets her own seat and that you can use the capsule for James would be if you paid for seats (child fare instead of infant) If they arent busy and there is spare seats they may let you have extra seats but you cant be certain. |
haleighsmum wrote:Posted By: MyMinis
Date Posted: 27 May 2007 at 7:26am
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Welcome home.
Pity your trip home wasnt as comfortable as on way over. How was brissie? nice and hot I bet. yeah we are going to book haleigh in as a 2yr old so she can have ehr own seat (it not going to cost all that much to fly haleigh over as a 2yr old and she'll be close enough to 2 anyway), and look at the bassinette possibility for James like Mazzy said used. we were going to book online but because we ahve alot of stuff i told DF to go throguh an agent so we may be paying a little extra than we wated but I think Id like to know that we are organised. Is there changing facilities on planes for babies/ toddlers?? Id hate for my minis do leave a wee pressie in their nappies and me not being able to change them 
Would I be best to use sposies rather than cloth nappies while on plane? ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
http://tweetytweety85.bebo.com - bebo |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 28 May 2007 at 9:53am
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We love the Under 5's line at Auckland Airport
Sorry to hear your flight home was a PITA Mazzy, but at least going over wasn't so bad. Some of the bassinettes are blimmin stupid, the best ones I've ever seen were on BA and they were shaped like a cradle so Maya's legs could hang over the end coz she was a wee bit long for a standard bassinette. Haleighsmum - I use sposies on the plane, that way if they explode I don't have to carry the icky nappy all the rest of the way with me. We use sposies for the day before we leave too so I'm not leaving dirty or wet nappies at home. There are change tables in some of the toilets on the plane but they are really, really small and awkward to get at so make sure you only take what you need to change bubs into the toilet with you. No room for nappy bags .
Re: booking thru a travel agent, you can book online and get a cheaper fare, then ring the airlin direct and make any requests eg: bassinette, special meals etc. That's what we've always done, altho sometimes some of the travel agents have specials that make it cheaper than booking online. -------------  Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: meow
Date Posted: 28 May 2007 at 10:27am
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Oh we had trouble coming back from Aussie too! I should have mentioned it before you went, but forgot
Book a morning flight back if you can! We got back at midnight our time, thinking (stupidly) that DD would sleep on the way back.. yeah right.. 3.5 hours with a restless baby on the plane wasn't fun. Next time I'm definately booking a morning flight home just incase!! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: MyMinis
Date Posted: 29 May 2007 at 11:54am
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we wont have to worry about the flight back thank goodness
thanks for that emma. we havent booked our tickets yet, df didnt realise we could get a bassinet for the flight so hes quite impressed as it'll save my arms. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
http://tweetytweety85.bebo.com - bebo |
Posted By: jldev
Date Posted: 20 June 2007 at 11:19am
| There has been some great advice already listed on this thread but for more help I suggest you go to www.travelwithkids.co.nz and see the Travel Tips section. |
Posted By: Mazzy
Date Posted: 20 June 2007 at 12:42pm
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Hi, I see you are a new member so don't want to seem unwelcoming (hi! welcome!) but your post here and the new one on travel seems like advertising for the travel website.
Emma or someone could correct me if I'm wrong but there are companies who pay to advertise on Oh Baby and keep it running, so it's a bit off to come and post something like that as your first post. We would love to know more about you and get to know you, and hear your tips on parenting, just be aware that its not acceptable to come and spam advertise, if that's what you're doing. If I've got it completely wrong then you have my apologies, just seems like advertising to me!
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Posted By: jldev
Date Posted: 20 June 2007 at 1:40pm
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Hello Mazzy, yes it is an unusual welcome to a forum but I guess I can see where you are coming from. I only just came across OH Baby last week, and wished I'd known about it earlier (my youngest is now 2). However as my oldest daugher is 9 (and I have a 6 year old too) I feel that I've been in touch with the "baby years" for a long time now and therefore can probably still offer some helpful information. With regard to "advertising" the Travel with Kids website, to me that implies that I make money off the website. This is a site that I have set up myself in order to help other parents and I don't earn a single cent off it (that's not to say that I would one day like to but that's wishful thinking). I have a passion for travel but it is expensive and quite a sacrifice to the budget. So I realise what a important decision it is as to where a family stays on holiday. Personally I like to know all the info possible on a hotel before I book and I found that hotel websites do not have the family friendly info that I wanted. So I decided to start a website myself providing that information for myself and other parents. I could have replied with my own travel tips to your question, but I have only just recently put them on my site so it was just quicker and easier to post the link. In future I will cut and paste if you prefer.
One other point, after reading your posts is that Air New Zealand technically do not offer infant or kids packs on their Pacific Island or Australia flights (or offer kids meals - I think its terrible) On your outbound flight which was on a larger aircraft, the plane was either going onwards to a further destination or had been to one recently - regardless it was stocked with baby packs. On the return flight, the smaller aircraft would have been limited to the shorter flights and never gets stocked with baby/kids packs. We had the situation when we went to Fiji a couple of months ago that my in-laws left from AKL the day before us and the kids on their plane got great kids packs, because that plane was bound for LA after Nadi. However our little plane the next day from WLG only flys short flights so our girls got nothing. In a nutshell, on Australia or Pacific flights, go expecting nothing and if you get something its a bonus. Qantas still give out the packs on their flights though. |
Posted By: Mazzy
Date Posted: 20 June 2007 at 1:51pm
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Hi again,
Thanks for your post, I was probably way out of line (having one of those days after one of those nights!) and am really glad you didn't take it the wrong way. Emma, feel free to tell me off if I've overstepped the mark! Sorry everyone! 
Just looked funny as this is a bit of an old post and you hadn't posted before (although I'm in and out so may have missed it). Your website sounds great, what a neat idea. Our return flight was a letdown, I wish we had had them the other way around, but I guess NZ isn't exactly on the way to anywhere else! Apologies again, I hope I haven't put you off Oh Baby, it is a great site. Ignore me! I look forward to chatting with you more.
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