A trip to Australia, is it worth it?

[Cat]

Ha! I just knew I would get your attention this way! ;D

Of course Australia is worth a trip! And although this is a GFE-board, I could really use your input.

The situation is as follows: me and my parents (and maybe a friend of mine) are in the very early stages of planning a 3 to 4 week trip to Australia. Heck, I've seen quite a bit of Europe, I live there, so I want to expand my travels to another continent.

We really haven't gotten further than deciding we want to go ' down under' and that we want to travel 3-4 weeks in March or April (not a lot of time, I know ). Cities we must visit are Melbourne and Sydney, because we have friends and relatives there, for the rest of the trip we haven't planned anything yet.

I would really appreciate it if you could give me a few cities and sights we must see. As my mother has got a bad back, hiking trips are not really an option, although we do like to visit national parks.

Any help would be greatly appriciated. I'll give you inside-Europe-information in return!

Cat

[Nicstar]

I just don't have the time right now as I'm off to work, but I can give you loads of info later when I get home from work.

I'm afraid though I could end up giving you far too much info!

How will you be travelling around? There are some places that I love around where I live that are really only more accessible if you've got access to a car- there are buses, but alas, few, and the trip is long and doesn't really allow you to explore around.

[Cat]

I think we will be driving mostly. My parents aren't really the backpacker/bus type.

I've heard of some bus tours you can take for a few days, so maybe we would go for one of those as well. In the cities we will be using public transportation.

Thanks in advance for any advice you can give me.

[Nicstar]

am assuming you'll be getting a plane over the long distances- eg Melbourne-Sydney etc. esp since it takes a whole day to do those distances in a car.

A city to add which I really like is Adelaide, South Australia. I've cousins that live there and I go over about once every couple of years (last time cost me $200 (AUD) return flight with Qantas from Sydney). We always hire a car there and end up doing the wineries. I usually go for about 4/5 days at a time, although one day of that is always spent with family. Stay in a great little place in North Adelaide- 3 bedroom house thing, right near all the cafes and right on the busline into Adelaide itself.

Queensland:
Brisbane is also another nice place to see, although I find a weekend/3 days does me, but that could also be cos I'm worried about running into my aunty!

Gold Coast- while others head there habitually, I don't like it. Too touristy for my liking. But if you like that thing, with the beach, lots of people, etc then its alright. I much prefer the Sunshine Coast, further north of Brisbane.

NSW:
You say Sydney is a must, if you've got time you ought to head up my way - Newcastle. Newcastle itself isn't a city you could spend a heck of a lot of time in as a tourist (But we're working on it!), however from Newcastle you have easy access to the Hunter Valley wineries (we gals take a bus trip every 6 months or so, karaoke on the bus and all!), as well as being close by to Nelson Bay and its surrounding beach areas. (Nelson Bay is the start point for a lot of dolphin/whale day cruises) You could easily spend a few days "up at the bay" (Nelson Bay/Port Stephens) Newcastle is a 2 hour drive north of Sydney, the Bay is another hour north driving. The wineries are about an hour out of Newcastle too. Getting to Newcastle by train is fairly easy too. 2 &1/2 -3 hours, only $17.50 each way! (I do loads of weekend trips to Sydney!) We do have a regional airport here, however is out of town and my friends discovered it cost them just as much in transfers into Newcastle itself, as it would have if they'd caught the train to Sydney airport and flown from there, plus got a cheaper flight from Sydney airport.

Out of Sydney, the Blue Mountains are lovely to see- especially if you are keen to see some National Parks. I used to live in Western NSW and used to have to get the train every few weeks through the mountains, and the scenery was just beautiful.

Victoria:
I did this many years ago when I was a kid, but the drive along the Great Ocean Road is also lovely. We did it as part of a weekend trip out of Melbourne, can't remember where we stayed overnight-basically drove there, stopping off at nice places, stayed the night and drove back.



They are all the places I've been to which I would say for a 4 week trip, wouldn't be too far out of your reach, provided you chose carefully, and caught some cheap flights between the major cities. There is of course loads more that are great to see- north Queensland (Great Barrier Reef, Cairns, etc). Alice Springs, (Northern Territory) is supposed to be alright for a week, so I've heard. Perth (Western Australia) is supposed to be a great city to go to as welll. BRoome in the north of Western Australia is said to have some beautiful beaches. Although all these places are longer to reach on flights, however, if you really wanted to see them you could cut out other places I suppose. I've never been to those places so can't offer any advice as to whether its worth seeing over somewhere else or not. And some of the places I've mentioned may not be good tourist destinations, but ok for me as a local Aussie...you'd have to check on people who have visited.

Anyways, I'm tired, I've been babbling with the first thoughts that come to my head, so i hope it gives you any of the info you need.

[GG]

Its sunny and 28 degrees today!

Why wouldn't you want to come?

March and April will at least be a bit cooler.
Kathy

[Travel Bugger]

Australia is seriously spectacular! It's amazing how I live here but only just realised when I'm on my way out to Europe next month how amazing Australia really is! Depending on what you want to do, there is a lot to do here. I live in Brisbane and will always love it, but what others have said is right, it's much slower than the other cities, so if the party scene is what you're after, then don't go here! However, accessible from Brisbane is Stradbroke Island, Moreton Island and Tangalooma which are definite hot spots to swim, sand surf, dive and snorkel.

Brisbane is also close to the Gold Coast (1 hour drive approximately) which hosts the tourist attractions such as Wet 'n Wild (a water theme park), Dreamworld (adrenaline park!), Movie World (need I say more?) and Seaworld (dolphins, sharks...) these are quite expensive but you can now get passes which gives you access to three in a certain amount of days. You might not want to go to these places but if you do, I recommend you find out when it's still school holidays and don't go then and go when it's relatively cool as there won't be as many people.

Also, from Brisbane, you can go up the coast to the Sunshine Coast - Caloundra, Mooloolaba, Maroochydore, Noosa, Coolum.. all fantastic spots for a swim, surf and lie on the beach!

getaway.ninemsn.com.au/

thegreatoutdoors.com.au/

Some great sites for some great places around Australia! And overseas of course!

When I come back from Europe in a few years, I'm going to do a road trip of Australia because there are so many places here that you can just stumble across and didn't even know was there!

[Jimbo]

If your going to be in Melbourne definately try and do the Great Ocean road. About 3 hour drive south and there are plenty of small towns along the way to stay at.
The Blue mountains just outside of Sydney is an excellent spot with plenty of accomodation for all ranges and trains run there from Sydney. If you like caves then Jenolan caves are in the Blue mountains and would be worthwhile.
Adelaide is a very nice city and good point to go off to see the wineries in South Australia.
Brisbane is small but more relaxed than Melbourne and Sydney and has some of the best beaches 1 hour drive north or south.
You picked a good time of year to come here as the weather is a bit cooler. Best airfares are on the net from Qantas, Virgin and Jetstar.

[Cat]

Thank you for all the information you have provided me with. Unfortunately the trip fell though.

But I do hope to go next year and I'll keep all your advice for when I actually can go. Although it is an island, I don't think Australia is going anywhere soon.

I do have some good news: I am travelling to London for a few days in April. I can't wait !


Thanks again guys!