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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think we have to be let in??

244 replies

yummyubereats · 30/12/2023 07:36

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.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
Tulipvase · 30/12/2023 10:23

Mangotango39 · 30/12/2023 10:20

Yes?
a lot of places scan passport/aus licence on arrival and can't do this with international licences. So it can be insurance purposes.

Show quote history

It’s a theme park - I just don’t get it. I don’t think I’d want to risk losing/having my passport stolen, just to get into a theme park.

But it’s not going to happen to me so not sure why I’m worrying about it.

Hope the OP sorts something out.

watermelonsugar56 · 30/12/2023 10:23

What a shame op, I’ve done something eerily similar.

I think you should give it a try in case they don’t check, and if pressed for the passport then at least you tried. Fingers crossed for you :)

Beautiful3 · 30/12/2023 10:26

Courier the passports over?

PamelaParis · 30/12/2023 10:26

I can't believe how dim some folk are! If you're abroad it's common sense to keep your passport where you can easily get hold of it at all times.

Tulipvase · 30/12/2023 10:29

PamelaParis · 30/12/2023 10:26

I can't believe how dim some folk are! If you're abroad it's common sense to keep your passport where you can easily get hold of it at all times.

Yes, tbf, taking it from city to city etc is a good idea of course.

lesdeluges · 30/12/2023 10:30

I'd give the British Consulate in Sydney a call for their advice. Worth a shot to explain your circumstrances. They may not be able to do anything, but it's surely worth a phone call in case they can help.They operate 24/7.

Wherearemybooks · 30/12/2023 10:32

From that screenshot, it says it’s for proof of age. How old are you OP? If you obviously look older than the age restriction, you shouldn’t need proof of age. Presumably they only check people they are in doubt of?

Aprilx · 30/12/2023 10:33

I also cannot imagine travelling around a foreign country and not keeping my passport with me! That said, I would also not be keen on going to a theme park on NYE carrying my passport. I think at this point you might as well make other plans unless you can get the passports couriered to you.

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 30/12/2023 10:34

lesdeluges · 30/12/2023 10:30

I'd give the British Consulate in Sydney a call for their advice. Worth a shot to explain your circumstrances. They may not be able to do anything, but it's surely worth a phone call in case they can help.They operate 24/7.

Consulates are to protect the interests of their citizens in that country. I don't think that includes trying to blag your way into a NYE party without the required documentation.

Milkybarsareonmeeeee · 30/12/2023 10:34

It’s a bit underhand I’d say. They only message the day before about passports .

Can you call and say that you have been traveling through Australian for 4 days you booked the tickets ages ago and only to be emailed now .
If they say you can’t get in ask for full refund .

HarrumphryBogart · 30/12/2023 10:35

Flatandhappy · 30/12/2023 10:11

I love the people saying rock up and give it a go from the other side of the world! Grow a pair and make a fuss and they will let you in - at Luna Park on NYE you are more likely to have security called to remove you if you make a fuss, keep making a fuss and it will be the police. I live in Sydney, I am not joking. They are not IDing people for age, they are IDing against tickets bought as the tickets are probably non-transferrable and there will be plenty of fakes out there. It is an absolute shit and you have my every sympathy but this might have to be a harsh lesson learnt.

So having a different ID to the ones listed may be ok for proof of identity, just not for proof of age...?

Wherearemybooks · 30/12/2023 10:38

Flatandhappy · 30/12/2023 10:11

I love the people saying rock up and give it a go from the other side of the world! Grow a pair and make a fuss and they will let you in - at Luna Park on NYE you are more likely to have security called to remove you if you make a fuss, keep making a fuss and it will be the police. I live in Sydney, I am not joking. They are not IDing people for age, they are IDing against tickets bought as the tickets are probably non-transferrable and there will be plenty of fakes out there. It is an absolute shit and you have my every sympathy but this might have to be a harsh lesson learnt.

Ah well there you go OP.

Prob best trying to sell the tickets and doing something else.

Aubriella · 30/12/2023 10:42

Flatandhappy · 30/12/2023 10:11

I love the people saying rock up and give it a go from the other side of the world! Grow a pair and make a fuss and they will let you in - at Luna Park on NYE you are more likely to have security called to remove you if you make a fuss, keep making a fuss and it will be the police. I live in Sydney, I am not joking. They are not IDing people for age, they are IDing against tickets bought as the tickets are probably non-transferrable and there will be plenty of fakes out there. It is an absolute shit and you have my every sympathy but this might have to be a harsh lesson learnt.

I love how people don’t read what people are saying. No one has said make a fuss.

But there’s no harm in trying, since the tickets are non refundable and OP is already in Sydney.

You’d be singing a different tune if they were your tickets and your NYE plans.

LangMayYerLumReek2024 · 30/12/2023 10:45

You need to call and ask.

I don't fancy your chances though.

If they do say yes ask them to email you confirmation.

Good luck.

ANightmareBeforeChristmas · 30/12/2023 10:46

Can you phone them and explain the situation?

StockpotSoup · 30/12/2023 10:48

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

Would people really rather risk handing their passport over to a complete stranger they found online than accept their NYE plans had gone tits up?

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 30/12/2023 10:49

SandyShores99 · 30/12/2023 10:17

When I was in the states a bunch of 60+ year old Brits were turned away from a bar as they had no ID. They scanned and took a photo of everyone's ID as they went in. I'm assuming so if any incidents they knew who was in the bar. Some places are very strict.

Show quote history

I wasn't allowed to buy a $20 magic band at Disney as I'd forgotten to take my passport with me!

StockpotSoup · 30/12/2023 10:50

lesdeluges · 30/12/2023 10:30

I'd give the British Consulate in Sydney a call for their advice. Worth a shot to explain your circumstrances. They may not be able to do anything, but it's surely worth a phone call in case they can help.They operate 24/7.

😆😆😆

Seriously?! The British Consulate would intervene if your passport had been stolen and you were stranded in the country - not because you’d forgotten it and then couldn’t get into a theme park.

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 30/12/2023 10:50

StockpotSoup · 30/12/2023 10:48

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

Would people really rather risk handing their passport over to a complete stranger they found online than accept their NYE plans had gone tits up?

Have to admit I was 😮at that suggestion.

ClareBlue · 30/12/2023 10:51

Beautiful3 · 30/12/2023 10:26

Courier the passports over?

A resident who lives between the two cities says it will take 3 days at this time of year and cost the equivalent of a return plane ticket.

AppleDumplingWithCustard · 30/12/2023 10:56

lesdeluges · 30/12/2023 10:30

I'd give the British Consulate in Sydney a call for their advice. Worth a shot to explain your circumstrances. They may not be able to do anything, but it's surely worth a phone call in case they can help.They operate 24/7.

I think you’ll find the British Consulate deals with serious problems. Not somebody wanting to get into a theme park. 🙄

SandyShores99 · 30/12/2023 10:59

lesdeluges · 30/12/2023 10:30

I'd give the British Consulate in Sydney a call for their advice. Worth a shot to explain your circumstrances. They may not be able to do anything, but it's surely worth a phone call in case they can help.They operate 24/7.

Imagine actually doing this

clara778 · 30/12/2023 11:00

@StockpotSoup
Of course they would...they can just ring the consulate for a new one 🙄😂

Beautiful3 · 30/12/2023 11:00

Give them a call. If its still a hard no, sell your tickets on and do something else with your friend. Lesson learned for next time.

caringcarer · 30/12/2023 11:00

I can't believe you'd go anywhere without your passport. I'd be terrified to go out without mine if overseas.