jim_supra Posted September 28, 2005 Share Posted September 28, 2005 Well, as the title says i'm off on my hols to Australia in 6 weeks!, Can't wait! This is going to be my first ever holiday, so I would like some tips from anyone that has been so I can make the most of my time over there! stuff like places to see, places not worth seeing, things to take, stuff like that. Myself and a friend will be going for just over two months, the first part of the holiday we will be travelling from Perth through the outback to Ayers Rock (we have a spacecruiser people carrier sorted for travelling about), then on to Brisbane. from there we will travel back to Perth along the southern coastline, through Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Adelaide and a few little towns along the way. Anywhere else we should stop? any suggestions for places to go in the cities? The second part of the holiday will be from christmas day onwards, we will stay in Perth for christmas and new years and then not too sure what to do for the remaining 3 weeks. we have thought about spending a week camping on Rottness Island off the coast of Perth, Anyone been here? is it any good? Now just have to finish off my damn clothes shopping (hate it!!) thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter richards Posted September 28, 2005 Share Posted September 28, 2005 watch out for these little buggers :eek2: , and the sharks, have a nice time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burna Posted September 28, 2005 Share Posted September 28, 2005 My girlfriend and I did the same a few years ago. Spent most of our time in Adelaide staying with a relative then spent some time in Sydney and then onto Cairns to relax in the tropical climate. In Adelaide I suggest you take a drive out to the Barossa Valley and sample the local wine for a good day out. If a few of you are going then maybe hire a limo for the day so everyone can get lashed . If you can, get yourself on someone’s boat, the fishing is great and you get to see plenty of dolphins, but beware if the dolphins scarper get the hell out of the water, usually means theirs a shark about, they get some big great whites done there. Plenty more to do in Adelaide but a couple for you to start on. Sydney is a great city, very clean. Usual things to do are Opera House, Aquarium etc... Was a bit quiet when we went for nightlife as it was just after New Years 2000, everyone must have been still hungover or something One of the best parts of the trip was the stay in Cairns. Went on two scuba diving trips out on the Great Barrier Reef, has to be one of the most memorable experiences of my life so far. The second diving trip was far better than the first trip as it was a smaller boat and it wasn't so regimented as the first big company. If you want I can dig out the details. Oh the girlfriend has been out to Oz twice, the first time she went to Uluru (Ayers Rock), she reckons it's not worth the trip and when your there everything is way overpriced. I would still like to go one day. Hope you enjoy your trip and if you want any more info just let me know Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Posted September 28, 2005 Share Posted September 28, 2005 The bridge climb in Sydney is well worth doing, as is a helicopter ride around the city. You can take speed boat rides out on the water too, then head to one of the many bars around the front. Melbourne is a great night out, a lot more relaxed than Sydney. I was only there for a weekend, and spent most of that in various pubs and bars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim_supra Posted September 28, 2005 Author Share Posted September 28, 2005 Cheers peter will definitely be on the lookout for creepy crawlies! Thanks for the tips Burna, will try to avoid the sharks, and aligators! I heard about that guy that got eaten by one while snorkelling! Like the sound of drinking wine all day so will try that! I heard there was not much to do around ayers rock, but still, It will be an experience. Am gonna try to get to cairns depending on how quickly we make it through the middle! I really want to go diving on the great barrier reef! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim_supra Posted September 28, 2005 Author Share Posted September 28, 2005 Cheers nick, was thinking of the bridge climb, but not so good with heights! would be a great way to get over my fear though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Class One Posted September 28, 2005 Share Posted September 28, 2005 Went to Australia a couple of years ago with my wife and daughter. Stayed mainly in Brisbane, but travelled to Sydney. If you can't manage the bridge climb, do the AMP Tower, great views day or night. You can also take a boat plane ride around the harbours that's great. Or the ferry to Manley, good beach great views . Kings Cross is the place to go for night life. Did Cairns, fantastic along with the scuba dive on the great barrier reef. In Brisbane we went to a place called Tangalooma, its on a island about and hour and a half ferry ride.Stayed there for 3 days its a wild dolphin feeding resort good place to kick out and relax. Went down to Surfers Paradise and the Gold Coast. Did a helicopter ride from Sea World, and there's a good water park called Wet n' Wild. Also went to Steve Irwins Australia Zoo which is about 2 hrs drive north of Brisbane in the Glasshouse Mountains. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim_supra Posted September 28, 2005 Author Share Posted September 28, 2005 cheers matey, will definitely check out the beaches! and i had completely forgot about australia zoo, must go and see that. and feeding dolphins! always wanted to be up close with wild dolphins, so will be doing that too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burna Posted September 28, 2005 Share Posted September 28, 2005 Went to Australia a couple of years ago with my wife and daughter. Stayed mainly in Brisbane, but travelled to Sydney. If you can't manage the bridge climb, do the AMP Tower, great views day or night. You can also take a boat plane ride around the harbours that's great. Or the ferry to Manley, good beach great views . Kings Cross is the place to go for night life. Did Cairns, fantastic along with the scuba dive on the great barrier reef. In Brisbane we went to a place called Tangalooma, its on a island about and hour and a half ferry ride.Stayed there for 3 days its a wild dolphin feeding resort good place to kick out and relax. Went down to Surfers Paradise and the Gold Coast. Did a helicopter ride from Sea World, and there's a good water park called Wet n' Wild. Also went to Steve Irwins Australia Zoo which is about 2 hrs drive north of Brisbane in the Glasshouse Mountains. The tower in Sydney, is that Centre Point? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MARTIN R Posted September 28, 2005 Share Posted September 28, 2005 Myself and the Wife travelled around Australia for nearly a year. We loved Kangaroo Island ( South of Adelaide). Fraser Island is a must if you have time its a fantastic place. Ayers rock( Uluru) is in my opinion worth the visit the best time to go is either sunrise or sunset the contrast is stunning. Less visited places like the Capricorn Coast 10 hours north of Brisbane are also worth a look. Keppell Island is great, you have the Whitsunday Island and the Barrier reef about 5 hours a more further north. Need any more pointers send a pm if I can help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burna Posted September 28, 2005 Share Posted September 28, 2005 Myself and the Wife Wonder if thats the first time you've typed that, feel weird? lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Class One Posted September 28, 2005 Share Posted September 28, 2005 The tower in Sydney, is that Centre Point? Yeah it's called the AMP Tower now, it's also got some interactive tour thing called the "Australia Experience" which was quite good too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
black cat Posted September 28, 2005 Share Posted September 28, 2005 have a safe trip mate, i dont like that flying thing too much, well the flying is ok, its the crashing 100s of miles from any where that gives me the shits. ............................................enjoy!! tt steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burna Posted September 28, 2005 Share Posted September 28, 2005 Yeah it's called the AMP Tower now, it's also got some interactive tour thing called the "Australia Experience" which was quite good too! Oh, didn't see any stuff like that when I went. We were staying at the Wentworth Hotel just around the corner from it so we popped there late one night for a meal in the revolving restaurant at the top. Made a bad choice though, we went for the buffet style, food was awful and it was like a bun fight. Wish I had gone with my gut feeling and gone for the next floor up and waiter service Nice views anyway Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burna Posted September 28, 2005 Share Posted September 28, 2005 have a safe trip mate, i dont like that flying thing too much, well the flying is ok, its the crashing 100s of miles from any where that gives me the shits. ............................................enjoy!! tt steve. The flying is great! Make sure you book with Singapore Airlines, at the time they were the only airline that gave free champagne to economy class , maybee they don't anymore after I took advantage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
black cat Posted September 28, 2005 Share Posted September 28, 2005 ive flone with them, best flight ive ever had....... free drinks entire flight. tt steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom S Posted September 28, 2005 Share Posted September 28, 2005 Jim. what ever you do, don't watch Wolf Creek at the Movies before you go mind !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terawua Posted September 28, 2005 Share Posted September 28, 2005 have a safe trip mate, i dont like that flying thing too much, well the flying is ok, its the crashing 100s of miles from any where that gives me the shits. ............................................enjoy!! tt steve. You been watching 'lost' or something? Anyway I was just Aus a couple of weeks ago (second trip there this year! - spend all my money travelling, none on the supe!) Sydney - Downtown, opera house, manly and bondi beaches, Kings Cross (no good curry though ) Melbourne - quite nice.. bit colder though - MCG tour, Yarra River south bank for beers etc, that drive along the coast to the tweleve aspostles (cant remeber what it is called) Brisbane - dont know as I just landed and hired a car. Dont know about the zoo but if class one says its good try it. Fraser island... cool... go there and hire a 4x4 and then cane it into the sea (seriously you can drive along the eastern beach 80mkh limit but didnt see any rozzers when I was there (sorry Class One!) Cairns - pretty damn good... train ride to Kuranda, Scuba Diving, Hot air ballooning quad biking, skyrail thingy - golf (Paradise Palms - yes I hacked my way round!, Sheraton Port Douglas - Bill Clinton's golf course of choice when he stays there - in fact he was on the course when he heard about 9/11). My recommmendations are Big Cat for the diving, and Hot Air for the ballooning (early start though about 4.30am!) Northern Territory - Hire a jolly fast car as there is no speed limit in the outback anway hope that made sense, so enjoy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doughie Posted September 28, 2005 Share Posted September 28, 2005 OK i spent 3 months in Oz earlier this year. Brief summary - Melbourne, then flew Alice Springs (slap bang in middle of Oz), then Darwin, then Cairns, then Whitsunday Islands, then Sydney, then Melbourne again. Here's my recommendations on specifics: Melbourne is great - my fave city i think in the world. has the best looking women of anywhere i've been. You will NOT see any fat women there. - it's illegal for fat people to live in Melbourne, and they're specifically barred from walking down the street. I preferred Mebourne to Sydney. Sydney - DEFINITELY 100% do the Harbour Bridge Climb. No make that 200%. It's brilliant, and it's easy to do, the guides are very funny, great fun, great views, totally safe as you're secured with a line all the time. - Opera House of course is great for pics. - Botanical Gardens is GREAT and brilliant for pics. Right near the Opera house. very chilling to wander through there. - Get a Ferry or Cat to Manly. Very cool place. loadsa surfers there. BLUE MOUNTAINS = MUST DO !! they're about 60 miles or so West (inland) from Sydeny. Head for the village of Katoomba in the mountains. SPEC-FUKCING-TACULAR VIEWS !! Go to Echo Point, and also some other views a few miles away. I might try to post up a few pics tomorrow. The Blue by the way is a super-fine oil mist coming from all the Eucalyptus trees. Alice Springs = highly recommended. Right in middle of desert. It's population is about 25,000 and it's the largest town almost anywhere in Oz that's NOT on the coast. i.e. there's a whole lot of nothing much for 1000+ miles in any direction. Ayers Rock (=Uluru) is DEFINITELY worth the trip. It's an amazing chunk of rock and fapping huge. do the sunset/sunrise thing. It rises 348mtrs up from the desert floor (that's approx. 2/3rds the height of the former-World Trade Centre). Flies are BAD, so buy a cheap AUD8 fly-net and an Aussie bush-hat. Wear fly-net over hat and you may retain your sanity. Nearby are the Olgas (huge rock formations) and they're great too. Also do the West MacDonnel ranges. It's a mountain range, a day trip out from Alice Springs. Go to Simpsons Gap, Stanley Creek etc. Oh by the way, on most roads in Northern Territory there's ...... NO SPEED LIMIT !!! yes sir ! Now you're thinking "great i can max. it the whole way". Er, no. The roads undulate quite a bit, there's no kerb just gravel at side of road and a lot of people get it wrong and get on gravel and roll it and die. So about 130kms is sensible. also (this is no joke) try NOT to drive at night, cos you will likely hit wildlife. Fukcing kangaroos everywhere and they're BIG. Also i had 5 wild horses just stroll across road in front of me at 10pm. STROLL. they were slap bang in middle of road, i came round corner, they just stood there. hit the anchors. sh1t scary. if you hit a horse you're in trouble. (i know i know, bottle of T-cut will sort it...). Also i saw buffalo in Oz ! short-tempered b*ggers those things. 15 coming towards me when i was video-ing them and so i backed off and got back in car. OK - go to Kakadu National Park up near Darwin. highly recommended. Take a boat trip at White-Water or white-river. something like that. Loads of crocodiles there. I got great shots of croc feeding. One was 4.7mtrs long - about 15 or 16ft. do not mess with crocs. OK speeding it up - Cairns= great go there. Port Douglas is 1hr north of Cairns = very cool relaxed place and completely different to Cairns. Great rainforest trips there. Book one of those either from Cairns or Port Douglas. Billy-Tea tours is brillaint. Say hi to John - looks a bit like Father Christmas ! Whitsunday islands = very pretty load of islands off Queensland coast. recommended. Brisbane- to be honest, i wasn't impressed. it's just another city. In general in Oz, stay out of the cities cos it's the scenic stuff you want to max. on. Take a GPS with you. I have a Garmin etrex Vista. You can see exactly where you are as it draws a line of where you've been and you can compare to shape of line of road on your map. (you do have a map don't you??). Also you can plot in waypoints, see how far you've got to go, it'll give you an ETA to destination, also altitude etc. About 200quid in the UK, though you can get cheaper ones. Take SHEDLOADS of water if you're going on a mammoth drive + food + maybe UHF radio. Mobile phones don't work in desert dued, and it can be days before another car comes by if you're on a really small road. 2 men (locals) died of thirst in Simpson Desert when i was there. their Land-rover broke down, they had no map, only 20ltrs of water (i did say take a lot of water didnt i?) and no UHF radio. They were found a week later, died under a tree, everything had had a nibble of them. Ok i'll shut-up now. PM me if you want further info. I'll try to post a few pics up in a day or two. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doughie Posted September 28, 2005 Share Posted September 28, 2005 Melbourne - quite nice.. bit colder though - MCG tour, Yarra River south bank for beers etc, that drive along the coast to the tweleve aspostles (cant remeber what it is called) Hot Air for the ballooning (early start though about 4.30am!) oh yeah - forgot that. The Great Ocean Road is a must-do. It starts about 1.5hrs West of Melbourne. Take a couple of days at least for that. Great scenic road. Oh and it's no longer the Twelve Apostles !!! LOL !! One of them FELL DOWN a couple of months ago. So now there's only 11 of them !! I got pics of the 12 though. One place that you MUST do is 'Lake Elizabeth'. It's a lake about 1 hour off the Great Ocean Road. In the middle of nowhere but it's the most amazing place. A dam burst in the 1950's upriver and zillions of tons of water crashed down the valley and smashed everything in its path and created Lake Elizabeth. The 'petrified' tree stumps of trees killed 60years ago all stick out of the lake. it's very weird. great for photos/videos. Oh yeah - i also went Hot Air balloongin too. BRILLIANT ! you can do that in a lot of places, but i did it out of Alice Springs. just fab thing to do, and you're dropped off back at your hotel by 9:30am !! ps. the hot-air burners make stunnign video when the balloon is still on ground, and they're heating up the air. Whole ground glows orange (it's just before sunrise) and makes for amazing video footage. Take a good Mini-Dv-based digital camcorder. I got two, shot 40tapes, ask me anything on that sort of stuff. cheers again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz Walker Posted September 28, 2005 Share Posted September 28, 2005 Ever thought of writing a guide book Stu?! Gaz. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim_supra Posted September 28, 2005 Author Share Posted September 28, 2005 Wow!! cheers for the info guys!! thats a hell of alot of stuff! all sounds amazing, and hope I can fit it all in (or will die trying, not difficult to do in Oz!) Tom, will be sure not to see that wolf creek. God i hope they don't show it on the plane! Burna, yeah i have booked with singapore airlines so bring on the free booze! i'll be the first person to get deported as soon as i've set foot off the plane! Blackcat, Cheers for the reassuring comment as well, just what i need for my first plane journey! oh well i have the free booze to calm me down Terawua, stu, cheers for the info guys, as gaz said stu you could make a shedload of money writing a travel guide! so much info! really appreciated. as i say the time scale to do it is the only factor as my mate wants to be back in perth fo christmas day to see family, it gives us 5 weeks to travel about. I suppose we can travel back along the coast after new years and see more stuff! a hell of a lot of driving will be involved! I hope the petrol is cheap and not the ridiculous prices like over here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz Walker Posted September 28, 2005 Share Posted September 28, 2005 I hope the petrol is cheap and not the ridiculous prices like over here http://motormouth.com.au/pricesearch.aspx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MARTIN R Posted September 29, 2005 Share Posted September 29, 2005 Wonder if thats the first time you've typed that, feel weird? lol It still feels strange, I keep telling myself the more I say or type it eventually i will get used to it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MARTIN R Posted September 29, 2005 Share Posted September 29, 2005 The flying is great! Make sure you book with Singapore Airlines, at the time they were the only airline that gave free champagne to economy class , maybee they don't anymore after I took advantage We went with Singapore Airlines as well and it was the same, the service is economy was excellent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now