Is Sydney the best place to start our Australian adventure?

Q We’re looking ahead with optimism and are determined to get to Australia in the autumn of 2022 – and plan to stay a month or so, exploring widely. We want to make the most of our time there and, therefore, aren’t bothered about stopovers along the way. I seem to remember hearing a statistic saying something like two-thirds of visitors started their trips in Sydney. Should we follow the crowds, or is there a better place to begin?

Donna G

A Had you asked two years ago, I would certainly have said “Perth”. While I encourage all Australia-bound travellers to stop somewhere (even if for just a couple of nights in Singapore), I recognise that many people simply want to get to the other side of the world as swiftly and as stresslessly as possible.

In March 2018, nonstop flights began from London to Perth – and provided the perfect answer for travellers like you. In normal times, the Western Australian capital is just 17 hours on a reasonably comfortable Qantas Boeing 787 from Heathrow. And Perth provides a perfect introduction to the nation: a big, friendly city with strong cultural attractions and a diverse community delivering an array of superb cuisine. The Swan River flows elegantly down to the historic port of Fremantle – gateway to a fabulous Indian Ocean coastline with some outstanding beaches.

Venture deeper into Western Australia to explore Aboriginal heritage, wine country and surreal desert landscapes. Then you can continue by air or rail across the continent to the less sparsely populated east of Australia – having acquired a sense of the scale and the nation.

Mark McGowan, the state premier, announced on Monday: “Western Australia will safely ease its hard border controls on Saturday 5 February and reconnect with the rest of the country and the world.”

But that does not immediately mean foreign tourists can return; initially, the only international visitors will be those on working holiday visas.

Even when the state does allow British visitors in once again, there is no certainty that Qantas will re-establish its nonstop link from Heathrow to Perth. At present, flights from the UK are operating via Darwin, which is almost an hour closer at the top end of the Northern Territory.

This northern city is far from a busy, enticing metropolis – but Darwin does give easy access to astonishing national parks, notably Kakadu, and is the gateway for Alice Springs and Uluru (Ayers Rock). So, a worthwhile place to start. And you will be able to save Sydney – with its spectacular location and array of attractions – until last.

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Q We fly to the US at the end of January. Do you have any guess or indication of how long you think all these extra testing rules will last? Also, what happens if you test positive in America? Do you have to notify the US authorities? And what happens about accommodation?

Name supplied

A At least we got through a whole weekend without the UK government introducing any further travel restrictions in response to concern about the omicron variant of coronavirus. As you know, two weeks ago, PCR tests plus self-isolation until a negative result is received became compulsory.

A week ago, pre-departure tests were brought back. On Wednesday, the health secretary, Sajid Javid, predicted that all travel restrictions would be removed “very soon”. I have not been able to get any clarity on what Mr Javid meant, but I will keep asking. Meanwhile, Huw Merriman MP, chair of the Transport Select Committee, has written to the health secretary, asking what conditions are required for the rules to end.

The significance is: political pressure is growing for the evidence underpinning the restoration of Europe’s most onerous travel restrictions and an explanation of the government’s future thinking.

On the American side, the window for fully vaccinated travellers to the US to test before departure has been reduced: you must now take a lateral flow (or, if you insist, a PCR) on the day of travel or the day before. In the unfortunate event that a British traveller tests positive for Covid-19 abroad, they must immediately inform the local health authorities. In the US, what happens next depends where you are – each of the 50 states has its own protocols for isolation. Some may well provide free accommodation and meals, others will expect the traveller (or travel insurance) to contribute.

Any UK traveller in a difficult position should contact the nearest British Consulate for support.

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Q We are due to travel to Spain for Christmas. All members are fully vaccinated, including our 15-year-old daughter (two jabs). But how can we prove her status? The 119 support line, NHS app, doctors and Foreign Office are all no help.

Name supplied

A Two months after I was first told by the Department of Health that it was working on finding a solution for vaccinating teenagers, the government in England has finally said that NHS Covid Pass letters will be available from “early next week”.

The statement reads: “12-15-year-olds, who have received a full course of an approved Covid-19 vaccination in England, can request an NHS Covid Pass letter online via NHS.uk or by calling 119, or by asking a parent or guardian to request the letter on their behalf.

“The NHS Covid Pass letter will be sent to the 12-15-year-olds using the address recorded on their GP record. Parents and guardians are advised to check that the young person’s registered address is up to date before requesting an NHS Covid Pass letter on their behalf.

“The letter can take up to five working days to arrive.” So you should just have time to apply. Crucially, though, what constitutes “fully vaccinated” for teenagers in the UK does not automatically meet Spain’s stipulations.

The NHS says: “One dose is being offered to children aged 12 to 15 to give them the best protection against Covid-19. Some children are being offered two doses of a vaccine if either they live with someone who is more likely to get infections or they have a condition that means they’re at high risk from Covid-19.”

Spain is interested only in travellers who have received both jabs of a two-dose vaccination (and got the second jab at least two weeks ago). So while your trip should be fine, thousands of others are in jeopardy.

Email your questions to s@hols.tv or tweet @simoncalder