Currency:
Phillipine Peso (Approxiamtely 39 PHP to 1 Australian Dollar)

Manilla International Airport is the main entry point for international flights.There are no direct flights to the Phillipines from Australia. Royal Brunei( via Bandar Seri Begwan), Singapore Airlines (via Singapore) and Qantas/Cathay (via Hong Kong) offer the most popular indirect routes.

In the oldest part of the capital Manila (Luzon island), see the remains of the massive wall which protected the Intramuros (Walled City). Places of interest include San Agustin Church and Manila Cathedral, the ruins of Fort Santiago and Chinatown .Baguio, 1525m (5000ft) above sea level is a cool haven from the summer heat.

Banaue is a nine-hour bus ride north of Baguio. The beautiful rice terraces are the main attraction of this area. A breathtaking sight, they rise majestically to an altitude of 1525m (5000ft), and encompass an area of 10,360 sq km (4000 sq miles). Now listed by UNESCO as World Heritage sites, they offer an unforgettable sight to tourists and trekkers in the area.

On Mindoro island, reached by ferry from Batangas pier and south of Manila, discover the stunning scenery of Mount Halcon, 2695m (8841ft) high, Naujan Lake and Tamaraw Falls.

Davao province (Mindanao island) is the site of Mount Apo, the highest peak in the country, while the Apo Range has spectacular waterfalls, rapids, forests, springs and mountain lakes.

Diving is also popular on the islands of Batangas, Bohol, Mindoro (particularly Apo Reef Marine Park) and Palawan. Sicogon Island is a haven for scuba divers, and has mountains and virgin forests to explore. Boracay Island is another such island paradise. A survey considered its powdery-fine white-sand beach to be amongst the best in the world

Australian passport holders can stay in the Phillipines without a visa for 21 days. If you are intending to stay longer then a 3 month visa will cost about $60 or $120 if you require a multi-entry visa. The

Embassy of the Philippines
1 Moonah Place, Yarralumla ACT 2600
P.O. Box 3297, Manuka ACT 2603
PH. (61-2) 6273 2535
FAX (61-2) 6273-3984

Philippine Consulate General
Philippine Center
Level 1, 27-33 Wentworth Avenue,
Sydney 2000
Telephone No. (61 2) 9262- 7377
Fax No. (61 2) 9262-7355

If you need help whilst there:

Australian Embassy,

Level 23-Tower 2,

RCBC Plaza,

6819 Ayala Avenue Makati City
MANILA

Telephone: (+63 2) 7578 100 Fax: (+63 2) 7578 268

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