To think we have to be let in??

[yummyubereats]

I am currently in Australia visiting a friend. We have travelled from Brisbane towards Sydney for the last few days. We are spending New Year’s Eve in a theme park next to the harbour bridge to watch the fireworks. We bought the tickets ages ago.

My friend and I, who have travelled together, didn’t bring our passports with us to sydney, just our drivers licenses.

We have just received an email from said theme park, saying that they ID on entry and do not accept foreign driving licenses as a valid form of ID. Only passports and Australian licenses. This was not made clear when we bought.

So now, we are panicking. We spent £120 on these event tickets and now we probably won’t even be let in.
NSW government guidance says any country license can be accepted as ID, so they’re not following this.

What can we do?? It’s tomorrow and we don’t have time to get our passports.

Phone ahead and explain. Or join some local social media community groups and see if anyone is making the Sydney- Brisbane journey for NYE and might help you out! You never know others might be coming for the same party. Or, find a courier! Not sure how easy that is in AZ but good luck! Hope you don’t have to miss out.

OP, it’s pretty clear what your options are:

1- Chance it and most likely not get in. Website super clear.

2- Get back in car and do a helluva shitty drive to get your passport.

I suppose the 3rd possible option is finding a motorcycle courier and getting the passports driven to you (assuming they are accessible in Brisbane), but otherwise you just have to accept it as one of life’s little fuck ups.

Sorry but this is terrible advice.

Of course OP should try to get in.

Are people really this gumption-less?

Before you do anything ring the venue and see what they will accept. If they are not open post something on the Facebook page to see if anyone has advice for you.

I know they say no copies of passports but could someone at the passport end video themselves with them , maybe they'd accept live footage plus drivers ID.

If you don't have the correct form of ID it's clear that they will not let you in isn't it

I think your only viable option is a courier surely? I don't think the website could be any clearer which presumably is because this kind of thing has come up before.

Oh, thank God you're here.

The website says they'll only accept passports as proof of age, they may be more flexible if it's to identify you as a person not a certain age. Call them and ask. Hopefully they'll be understanding when their website is not explicit.

Couriers from Brisbane to Sydney over a NYE weekend... eek. They're unlikely to even collect a parcel on Sunday/NYE let alone get it to Sydney. I live halfway between Sydney and Brisbane and it's generally 2-3 business days to get something from either city to me. Same day courier service costs more than an air fare there and back 🤨

Countrylink trains take unaccompanied luggage, and run on NYE, but there's no guarantee when it will arrive, and it's definitely not very secure.

I would call Luna Park and ask about a UK license specifically, it may carry more weight given the similar standard of security to Australian ones.

Is it for proof of age? How old are you? I'd doubled check that angle.

Geez. I'm sorry. Have you actually left your passports in Brissy? Possibility of a courier. Were you planning on going straight back on New years day? There will be people travelling down but I wouldn't let them have my passport. Is the manager of the hostel maybe able to help? Geez my almost DIL left Bris for Syd yesterday and would have helped you. Just one thing. You should really keep your passports with you ( though I'm sure you know this).

Yes if you look well over 18 yo you should sail through. Another thought.

Listen to an actual Aussie OP!

What a lovely offer! Shame she has left.

OP, might be worth posting in the MN Aussie board in case anyone else is travelling from Brisbane to Sydney.

My thought as above is it depends on how likely you are to need ID as proof of age. If you are 22 and look it; you may need to find a way to get your passport. If you are 45 and look it; different story.

Another one here who thinks that this relates to proof of age. If you’re old (ie 30s or above 😂) they might not be so fussed. And until relatively recently they were a British colony, although don’t mention that to them as it probably won’t go down well. But I’d have thought that a British drivers licence should carry more weight than other countries.

How old are you? Might it be if you're say 50 they don't need to check you're over 18 but if you're 30 then they might be more keen to check? I dk! But I had my id ready at a venue in London which said everyone needed id and they waved me through 😂

Look please don't rely on that, but I assume as people are heading through they are looking for the young ones. Maybe don't let the English accent flow until after you are in - nobody cares then. I'm trying to think of something. I do think a dated video of your passport may be your best fall back ( with your face and age shown).

How old are you? I’d think that if it is an 18+ event they might be more likely to let in someone with the wrong ID who is clearly in their 30s for example than a 21 year old who looks like they could potentially be under 18.

Hope you get in

Oh that's brilliant pp. Do you know anyone OP?. Borrow their ID if they are Australian and look well over 18 they will not be stopped. Hand it back when you get in. Best I can think of. It is an amazing spot for New Years so I hope you get in. If not go for Vivid in January if you are still around Sydney.

Sometimes venues have stricter rules than the government websites. Unfortunately I think you will be turned away as you will be trying to enter without proper documents.

DH’s parents went to a concert in America a couple of years ago. Majority of attendees were over 40.
When they tried to buy a beer and a wine they were asked for Id. The venue had decided to make a rule that Everyone must have Id to purchase regardless of age. Inlaws hadn’t thought to check the venue website.
They hadn’t taken their passports to it so were refused despite being over 70 and well over any age restriction there.

How old are you op? They won’t be age iding everyone. Only those near to the age limit.

Well done Captain Hindsight