I'm something of a novice when it comes to RTW fares. I'm mostly a leisure pax & prefer to travel in premium cabins.

Each year I like to make a trip from home (that is SYD) to JFK, LHR & hopefully add on a few destinations in EUR. I also like to take a vacation in Cairns (Australia).

I've never used a round the world ticket but I think it could be to my advantage if what I understand from tonight's research is so: That I can buy such a fare (Explorer) & travel OS then return to my home city & then go off overseas again etc on the 1 ticket.

The way I am reading it is that you can return to your original continent twice on this ticket. Meaning I could take a trip to NYC in say, March, then work away in Sydney again for a few months then in August go off to London & Europe & back home again.

Is this correct? And can I fit Cairns into the equation as part of the ticket too?

If not, does anyone have any other advice?

Your understanding is incorrect. Do a lot more browsing on this board, come up with an itinerary, then use the validation tool and come back and ask for advice.

In short and in general, one cannot return to the continent in which one starts and then leave again. Additionally, one must travel around the world in only one general direction, west or east. To come as close as possible to what you want, you might consider buying a ticket to either BKK or CMB from Australia and originating/purchasing your xONEx there. That way you could travel in Asia, Europe, NA, then return home for awhile before returning ot Asia and starting a new xONEx.

Just buy a 12 month fare to BKK (B class on QF works well). It's about as flexible as you can get (apart from Y) but not the cheapest thing around. It's validity dates will fit nicely with the xONEx fare you are targetting. Alternatively, fly to SIN and get an AY AUD110 e-fare SIN-BKK.

Thanks for the advice & I'll keep researching!

Trouble is trying to dechiper all the rules and sort through the jargon.