Update: thank you for your feedback to date, especially manecca and Ben for your info sensors and lenses and what it means.

Today I visited a major Aussie discount retailer (Harvey Norman) old model clearance, just to see if there were good pickings.

Aside from some small savings on Canon S3 (not much saving/almost superseded now?) and an equivalent Panasonic and Fuji, I looked at these 'bridge' models and this discounted DSLR:

Olympus E300 (2yr old?) 8MP DSLR
Fuji S9500 & S6500 bridge cameras.

Note the Oly E300 and Fuji S9500 are a couple of years old, new-old stock, offered for AUD$599.
I think I'm able to get them ex-GST (10% less) as we are to buy as a 'duty-free' purchase, so this converts to USD$497/$447 ex-GST. The Fuji S6500 is offered forAUD$549 (8% less).

The DSLR is pretty small and light, compared to the Canon equivalent, which is a couple hundred more, which is more than I need to pay.

Considering the DSLR has a 28mm lens, does this make it a better bet than a bridge camera or a Canon S3, for scenic HI photos?.

Is the included lens sufficient for my basic scenic photography needs, or is it worth ordering another from the retailer or a US retailer or local eBay?

A monopod? I'm trying to keep it all as compact, light, portable and simple as possible.

Mahalo, ta and cheers! ^