Fires in Australia

[nursetina]

Originally Posted by Claudette

I am sorry to hear this and am feeling cross on your behalf. Before we moved to Australia to live, we had booked a hugely complicated trip DIY, then the day we were due to fly the Iceland volcano closed air space. I made one or two calls, sent a few emails and every single penny of my trip including internal flights was refunded and all my bookings were cancelled free of charge. Australians are very reasonable and I think it is your TA being awkward here, or rather they want a slice of the pie and then the Australian tour planner does as well.

I know it is too late for you but I would implore anyone else to not use an agent if travelling to Australia. It is so easy, flexible and cheap (if you are prompt and travel at the right times of day) to organise yourself and get around.

Anyway, you need a solution. I have discussed this again with DH and we both strongly think this is no time for road trips. I don't believe any Australian would be undertaking Adelaide to Melbourne or Brisbane to Sydney or anything else similar right now. It is hard and a bit scary driving long distance in Australia at the best of times.

I honestly think I would avoid the whole SE corner of NSW and Vic as much as possible at the moment. If you are 100% sure you cannot cancel, then I would refocus your holiday around Western Australia. You have Perth, you can go north to Monkey Mia and Ningaloo, you can go south to Margaret River, Albany, Esperance. None of these places are as badly affected as the east and south and they are beautiful. Take a flight to Sydney a couple of days before you are due to fly home and catch your international flight.

You can still make this a great holiday, it just might not be the one you expected.

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Thankyou so much for the level headed advice Claudette at this point in time I'm struggling to think straight and feel very unsure what to do for the best. I will discuss the option for remaining on west coast tomorrow it is definitely an option. I will update again tomorrow with any news or changes. I loved the idea if the noosas and further north but another £1000 is just too much.

[Guest]

Western Australia is beautiful and deserves a trip of its own. I have posted just a small number of my pictures to try to cheer you up about other possibilities.

Esperance - this was our trip to the beach. I took the kangaroo picture and DH is the guy standing by the white hire car.

Ningaloo (the west coast's "Great barrier Reef")

You can snorkel off the beach and the Australian's strangely love their oversized prawns, bananas and other items as monuments.

I think your trip needs to be changed, but it doesn't need to be ruined.

[mitch84]

I lived in Melbourne for 7 years, and have many many friends there now, they say it’s hazy, but fine. There are lots of amazing day and overnight trips from Melbourne. Great ocean road, Philip island for the penguins, yarra valley wineries, Mornington peninsula for food and wine tours, daylesford for spas and art and food. You could quite easy fill well over a week here, plus Melbourne city centre is fab, Queen Victoria markets, St Kilda beach many many more. There is IMO far more round here than the Sunshine Coast, nice as it is though.
North of Perth to Kalbarri, Monkey Mia, Coral Bay is amazing, but also south, the Margaret river area is lovely.
I also find Brisbane just ok, I have been both as a tourist and with work socialising with locals, not a highlight.
I also wouldn’t drive Brisbane to Sydney or Melbourne to Sydney. Internal flights are cheap, could be worth looking yourself.
Agree with Claudette, no agents in future. Wish you the best of luck

[Guest]

Originally Posted by mitch84

I also find Brisbane just ok, I have been both as a tourist and with work socialising with locals, not a highlight.

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We would happily live in Brisbane, we do intend to retire in Australia as we are citizens and so it is an option. I have spent loads of time there, flew up weekly for five years and like the city. But I simply cannot recommend it as a holiday destination, even for two days. It is hard to explain why not.

My main point on this thread, is no long road trips, I would be very concerned about the potential for danger.

[Sparksy72]

Originally Posted by nursetina

Well this is going from bad to worse, I'm am so stressed and angry it is really spoiling my long saved and planned for holiday
The tour provider got back to my ta today, apparently as we want a change of destination we have to pay. The costs are mostly due to airlines not willing to change flights so they have to be booked on TOP of what we have already paid. If we change to sunshine coast it's going to cost around another £1000! If we opt to change flight from Perth to Melbourne (original booking) to Perth to brisbane... its going to cost around £750. This is for 3 adults.
They've also made out we've asked to change our itinery... not that it's because we cannot go on our original itinery due to bush fires. I'm fuming with them.
We get no money back if we cancel as it's a natural disaster. They say we can stay in Melbourne for the week then fly to Sydney, or possibly drive from Melbourne to Adelaide then fly to Sydney. Apparently this should be around our original price. I have looked on virgin Australia, where our original internal flight from Perth to Melbourne us booked with, we could get an internal flight from Melbourne to Brisbane on the day we want for £85! I think they are taking advantage trying to make more money out if us. My travel agent is being really understanding and trying to sort it out for us but I'm not holding my breath. I'm not willing to settle for something just because it's easy.

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I have just seen your update and I’m really sorry to hear this. Western Australia is beautiful and there are lots of beautiful coastal towns to visit (I was born in Perth but grew up on the Sunshine Coast). I would say if you do go to WA please be really careful as to which beaches you swim at. On the sunshine coast we have shark nets at our main beaches, I believe they now have one at Cottesloe (in WA) but not at the other main WA swimming beaches. Not trying to alarm you, just so you are aware.

I hope you manage to change the itinerary to something that you feel happy with. I personally wouldn’t be doing any driving from Vic or NSW.

[nursetina]

Thanks for everyones support. The main issues have been around rescheduling the main flights with big airlines. Have been told we have to basically book new flights so that is where the high costs are coming from. As we are flying home from sydney we have to go to that area at some point to fly home as new flights would be ridiculous. So I dont think staying the whole time in perth is an option 😣 I know a few people have said brisbane not really for tourists but I'm looking at bading ourselves near there then taking trips up to sunshine coast and down to gold coast as all accessible from there. Then still finish in sydney for last few days. I'm waiting for them to see what is available hotel wise currently. I looked online myself at internal flights and they start at £40 but have to add luggage. I cant see where they got £800 to 1000 from? I'm willing to pay up to around £500 for extra flights so will see what they come back with today.

[Sparksy72]

I agree with the idea of basing yourselves in Brisbane, I also don’t understand the negative comments about Brisbane itself? I spent a few years there while I was studying and had a ball. You can do day trips to Tangalooma Island from Brisbane, the beaches are beautiful and you can also feed wild dolphins. I loved doing this! They have a Hotel there too so you could stay overnight if you wanted to. If you have access to a car then you aren’t far to the Sunshine Coast and there is plenty to see and do there too (if you fancy getting out of the city). The Gold Coast has great beaches but is quite touristy. I hope they can find you some suitable accommodation.

[mitch84]

I think that living/studying/working in Brisbane is quite different to visiting as a tourist if that makes sense.
I travelled to Brissy quite a bit with work, and enjoyed the laid back Queensland feel, but I just don't think it's what visitors to Australia as tourists are expecting. It'll be very sweaty and humid too.

For me, if the original plan was to fly to Melbourne, then drive to Sydney, I'd fly to Melbourne, spend extra time there, then fly to Sydney, and spend extra time there perhaps. That means just adding on 1 internal flight, which is only just over an hour, and can be done quite cheaply.

It might be worth looking at Qantas, as they include luggage, but also JetStar/Virgin Australia it can be added on quite reasonably. I can't recommend Tiger airways, I've been stranded too many times to consider it a bargain.

Brisbane/Sunshine coast is a viable option, but if that includes 2 internal flights, I'd choose Melbourne personally..

[nursetina]

Hi everyone, sorry for delay in update but it has all taken a fair bit of sorting out but it's all done now and I picked up all tickets yesterday.
The plan now is Perth for 6 nights with friends, flight to Melbourne then we get in too late to catch next flight so an overnight stay at the airport. Next day flight to Brisbane. Pick up car, 1 night in Brisbane, 2 nights surfers paradise, 1 night Byron bay, 1 night coffs harbour, 1 night port Stephens then 3 nights in sydney. The hotels all look really nice and we are planning to get out and about fires permitting. Due to recent rain situation has currently improved so hopefully no issues/ risks but will be very vigilant each day and do lots of research before we go anywhere.
I will try and do a bit of a trip report on my return.

[Sparksy72]

That’s great news. I hope you have a wonderful time!