Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - AU/NZ Travel

I have the once in a lifetime chance to take a trip to Australia/New Zealand. Not because of the destination, but the mode of travel there. I'm doing the Concorde/First to AU on BA, for a measly 175,000 miles. Just booked yesterday. Problem is I've never done any research on the area, and I leave in two weeks! I have about 16 days total (going to try and extend if possible, because total trip is 22 days. I need some guidance of not to miss stuff. I'm trying to go relatively low budget as well. I'd love to go diving if possible. I currently am booked to SYD, but can go to New Zealand as well if I want for no extra $ for the flight. Any help with suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Alphawolf

Welcome to FT. If you do not want to become the omega, you might consider providing a little thought into your request.

Are you a lone wolf, or traveling with your "pack"? What types of thing do you enjoy beside diving? Are you expecting this to be the first of several trips to the South Pacific, or your one and only?

You might want to do a little search in this forum. Just click on a longer search period than the "last 5 days" or whatever you have it set too. You can also do a search of all forums for NZ/Au. This question comes up a lot. A bit of easy work on your part will help you phrase your question such that replies will be very useful to you.

You are going there in mid-winter. That has both good and bad aspects. Great diving on the great barrier reef, but it is not exactly budget. Heron Island is outstanding and well worth a visit. Otherwise I would go to Perth this time of the year, though Darwin might be more to your taste. Just check for crocodile crossing signs before entering the water.

Thanks for the responses - not a huge number of posts in even the last year, but I have poked through them, and have begun to check out some of books from a friend.

Indeed I am alone on this trip. It's definitly not going to be my last trip to the South Pacific, although it will be the last for a bit, since there are other places to go in between (have to visit family in both the US and Europe, and of course the reality of work). I understand the magnitude of the region, and that there is no way to even begin to see it all.

I enjoy all types of things, and that's my problem. If I were just a diver, I'd head up to the Gold Coast and dive for a week. If I were a party animal, I'd go to a resort. I definitely will go to the Sydney opera, Bondi Beach, possibly go flying (I'm a private pilot), all sorts of other ideas so far. But in such a short period I want to make sure I don't miss any must see things (if I weren't leaving next Saturday, I'd have a lot more time to research).

The other big thing for me is expense, since I'm traveling alone, I don't get to split rooms or anything. Plenty of options I've found already, so I think I'll be ok on that. If I'm going to travel to other cities, I don't want to waste my time on planes all day hopping around the country, I'd rather focus on a couple of places to whet my appetite for the next time I go. Just like I wouldn't expect to see the US in 3 weeks, I don't expect to see many cities. Back to the books...

If you're still at 16 days, I think I'd suggest you stick with Australia, or do just a bit of New Zealand and focus on one area. I'm going to NZ in August, and have been madly working on my ininerary. I've got 15 days and it's not near enough.

My itinerary: Auckland 2 nights, fly to Christchurch & pick up car, Twizel, Queenstown, Te Anau 2 nights (to do Milford Sound), Wanaka, Franz Josef (glacier), Murchison, Wellington (channel crossing here), New Plymouth, Rotorua, Auckland.

Of all this, I think either Rotorua with it's thermal activity (think a town built on top of Yellowstone) or the Queenstown/Milford Sound/Doubtful Sound region will be the high points. But, I think the whole country will be filled with high points.

Be sure to file a trip report when you get back!

JP

I too suggest with that little time to stick to AU, east coast. Have you tried a search on trip reports?

Also going alone allows for better economics of tours. ATTKings and Australian Pacific Tours are the two that we have used (only for day tours, as for two people a car rental start making more sense). Both have web sites. Both do a good job. Broshures are available. Even if you do not take a tour (s) with them, the broshures help discover some of the more popular things to do and places to go. both have day tours and multiday tours. I would fly right by the Gold Coast and on to Caines for several of the days (scuba). Cleapest if done staying in town rather that one of the islands.

Ok..it may sound a little dull but since you only have 16 days, I would probably split my time between Sydney and Melbourne. Sure it's coming onto winter but our winter's are pretty mild compared to New York's. Our temps are very close to LA's winter.

When in Sydney, do the Bridge Climb, go out to the Blue Mountains, take a day trip up to the Hunter Valley if you are a wine lover, take the ferry to Manly, Taronga Zoo, a trip on the Hawkesbury River postal boat, etc etc. There is plenty to keep you busy for eight days. I have lived there almost my whole life and haven't seen it all http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/smile.gif

In Melbourne there is the Great Ocean Road whcih at this time of year is beautiful even if cold and windy. Dandenong Ranges, Phillip Island (not my kind of thing but what the hell..when in rome and all that). Then there is the Old Melbourne Gaol, where Ned Kelly was hung, this managed to keep my husband busy for a few hours. You can also go on the faboulous Tram Car Restaurant, sure a little pricey but well worth it. Five courses for $93.00 (AUD) and it's wonderful food, also includes all drinks. There are cheaper versions with fewer courses and of a lesser duration.

You can also do day trips to Sovereign Hill for a trip back in time to the Australian Gold Rush Days or a day to Echuca on the Murray River.

You won't be bored in either place for eight days. In 16 days, to do much more than two cities would be wasting too much time in getting from one place to the other. The distances in Australia are similar to the USA, even if the population isn't.

Phoebe