Originally Posted by vintagepilot

From my limited searching on Qatar, you not only need to link your accounts, but you also need some avios (not necessarily the full amount) in your QR account before you can see QR award availability. If you have enough avios, I would say that QR will offer a lot more flexibility in airports served in Oz, and at better times, and with better service.

Also look at cash fares on QR flying from another european city as a starting point, and use your avios to position to that point and back. Since you are retired, and time rich, you could spend a pleasant couple of days in, say, Rome and then fly QR from there, in Q-suite comfort (or on a 380 with a bar on the upper deck), out to SYD and back from PER, at convenient times.