Last minute trip to Australia?

[nicholj]

No holiday booked yet - was hoping for last minute deal to Florida from about 25th Aug but husband now has to be in Melbourne for work mid Sept and suggested we both travel out to Australia so that we just pay for my airline ticket and have holiday there instead. We haven't done any research but I assume we need to go north (Brisbane/Cairns etc) for decent weather. Husband is also going to check with his work if instead of travelling business class we can travel together on cheaper tickets. We've never been to Australia before & seems too good to miss. Would like a couple of days in Sydney then chill out somewhere in sunshine - also wouldn't mind stop over in Far East as unlikely to get any other opportunity. Can anyone give us ideas of where to go for about 2 weeks - we would be on shoestring budget as always. Would it be best to get flights to Sydney then internal flights from there. Thanks, Anne

[ian180]

Lucky you! Obviously it is predominantly cooler over in OZ this time of year, just coming out of their winter in most southern areas (you may have seen the news last week with Melbourne experiencing heavy snow for the first time in years), but nevertheless, whatever time of year you go, Sydney is an experience!! It will be cool in 60's, but pleasant, though it could be raining/cold etc - think of our late Autumn, I guess.

Perth (Western) is warm as it is surrounded by desert and there is quite a bit to do. Cairns and Darwin are more tropical - we went 3 Novembers ago and it was hot and humid - now it will be slightly less humid and pleasantly warm. Just checking on the forecast for you tomorrow is sunny and 78 degrees - very nice! Of course in Cairns you have the Great Barrier Reef and surrounding islands, the Kakadu national park a great city centre and harbour and shops, with varying price hotels to suit all budgets.

Stopping over is reccommended. Not only does it break up the long flight it gives you to see another part of the world. We have done Singapore before and are doing Hong Kong this November - if you can, do one of those. Most international flights go direct to Sydney and also a lot of the internal flights start from Sydney too.

You may want to fly direct there, spend a few days seeing this amazing city then fly up to Cairns or Darwin (currently 82 degrees - here there are tropical forest to explore, rivers to sail down to see the natural animals and crocs. etc. national parks, amazing landscape and scenery).

Hope this helps - any q's please ask - we have been to Sydney, Ayers Rock, Darwin, Cairns, Melbourne and Singapore as said.

Good luck!

[signtalker]

Were booked to to in May, we decided on flying into Brisbane, and then an internal flight up to cairns, so we could take in the great barrier reef, mission beach,daintree and atherton table lands, finishing off in cairns.

There is some excellent accmadation about, with amazing views, I cant wait.

Jules

[nicholj]

Many thanks Ian and Jules. If DH's request to company for 2 cheaper tickets is approved it looks like we might go next week on 26th -eek! After spending past year idly researching trip to Florida Keys now have little time for proper research to Oz so will be very grateful for your further advice. DH is keen to get straight there (probably because he has been to Far East). We are looking at booking flight to Sydney (staying 3 days here) and return to UK from Melbourne(2 days stay? - DH has business here for 2 weeks so I would travel home to UK alone from here). Booking internal flights ourselves to Cairns (for weather/scenery) also car hire. Jules, where did you book your internal flight and accommodation? Like the look of great barrier reef, mission beach and daintree etc. Can you give me an idea of costs? If we have maximum stay in Cairns area of 8-10 days what are your recommendations of where to visit. Lastly am I mad to consider this holiday so far away without DS 1 (20) about to start last year at Uni and DS2 (17) in 6th form? Will I come back to house wrecked by parties? Anne

[JaneSi]

We booked all our interanl stuff via Travelmoods - a great deal. We did practically what you're doing. 3 nights in Sydney, 3 nights in Cairns and then 9 nights near Bendigo with friends. We had an action packed trip. £ nights in Sydney, we did the coffee cruise, a trip to the Blue mountains. In Cairns we did a trip up to the rainforest on the rickety train and down on the cable car. And a day on the barrier reef. I think the most we paid for 3 nights accom was £99 per person for the duration! Any more info - pm me.

Jane

[ian180]

Originally posted by nicholj
Many thanks Ian and Jules. If DH's request to company for 2 cheaper tickets is approved it looks like we might go next week on 26th -eek! After spending past year idly researching trip to Florida Keys now have little time for proper research to Oz so will be very grateful for your further advice. DH is keen to get straight there (probably because he has been to Far East). We are looking at booking flight to Sydney (staying 3 days here) and return to UK from Melbourne(2 days stay? - DH has business here for 2 weeks so I would travel home to UK alone from here). Booking internal flights ourselves to Cairns (for weather/scenery) also car hire. Jules, where did you book your internal flight and accommodation? Like the look of great barrier reef, mission beach and daintree etc. Can you give me an idea of costs? If we have maximum stay in Cairns area of 8-10 days what are your recommendations of where to visit. Lastly am I mad to consider this holiday so far away without DS 1 (20) about to start last year at Uni and DS2 (17) in 6th form? Will I come back to house wrecked by parties? Anne

If DH is keen to go straight there as he has been to far east that's fine, but what about you!! It really does break up an awful long flight and even 2 nights does the trip to help catch up with jet lag, and you will be able to see a different part of the world - Singapore is clean, cheap, very friendly and just enough to pack in in 2 days.

Also there are great direct flights to Sydney. You will need at least 3 nights there (we had 4 and that was only just enough, which is why we are going again this year, 'dropping in' on way to NZ!) with so much to see and do - opera house, brdige, bondai, manly beach, rocks district; we also did a river boat lunch cruise up and down the river sailing by natural power over a fantastic buffet in the heat of the sun - great trip. Also we did a day trip to the Blue Mountains - again amazing scenery and a chance to drop in on a wildlife park with kangaroo's, koala's etc. tame but wandering around so you can touch and feed them. Also we did a city and suburb tour of Sydney, lasting 3/4 day stopping off at all sorts of places seeing the local sights as well as the famous ones.

We did 2 nights in Melbourne and wished we had done 3. You have the river Yarra cruise (miss that if really pushed for time) the Great Ocean Drive, a whole day trip round the pacific coast of Australia with some amazing coastline scenry, beaches and of course the famous Apostles (natural formed rocks in the ocean). A must is the Dinner tram ride through Melbourne, eating a 3 course gourmet dinner with as much as you can drink, while seeing the city sights in an authentic Victorian style tram. Pre-booking is a must, but well worth the money.

We were in Cairns for 3 nights and that was just right, with a nice shopping centre, great scenery and of course the Barrier reef. It has mass appeal, but was not our personal favourite.

Hope that helps, but any more specific questions, please ask.

Have a great time!