10 days in Australia, suggestions please
 

Hello all,
In April I will be travelling on an award ticket from ORD-SYD and flying home MEL-ORD. Below is my itinerary I have on hold. Since my time is short (10 days), should I cancel my trip to Auckland and just fly from SYD-MEL right before I depart (or go to Melbourne a couple days earlier to visit) for the states and spend all my time in Australia? Thanks

10 APR 04 - SATURDAY
Flight : AMERICAN AIRLINES 729 BOEING 737-800
Departure: CHICAGO OHARE 4:57 PM TERMINAL 3 4HR 18MIN
Arrival: LOS ANGELES 7:15 PM TERMINAL 4 NON-STOP
Name: FIRST CLASS FF#: AA- DINNER

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Date: 10 APR 04 - SATURDAY
Flight : QANTAS AIRWAYS 108 BOEING 747 400
Departure: LOS ANGELES 11:45 PM TERMINAL 4 14HR 35MIN
Arrival: SYDNEY 7:20 AM TERMINAL 1 INTERNATIONAL REF: YJFK54 NON-STOP

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Date: 15 APR 04 - THURSDAY
Flight : QANTAS AIRWAYS 119 BOEING 767 300
Departure: SYDNEY 9:30 AM TERMINAL 1 INTERNATIONAL 2HR 55MIN
Arrival: AUCKLAND 2:25 PM INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL REF: YJFK54 NON-STOP

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Date: 21 APR 04 - WEDNESDAY
Flight : QANTAS AIRWAYS 134 BOEING 767 300
Departure: AUCKLAND 4:15 PM INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL 3HR 55MIN
Arrival: MELBOURNE 6:10 PM INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL REF: YJFK54 NON-STOP

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Date: 22 APR 04 - THURSDAY
Flight : QANTAS AIRWAYS 93 BOEING 747 400
Departure: MELBOURNE 10:35 AM INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL 13HR 55MIN
Arrival: LOS ANGELES 7:30 AM TERMINAL 4 REF: YJFK54 NON-STOP

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Date: 22 APR 04 - THURSDAY
Flight : AMERICAN AIRLINES 1364 BOEING 767 300
Departure: LOS ANGELES 10:32 AM TERMINAL 4 3HR 56MIN
Arrival: CHICAGO OHARE 4:28 PM TERMINAL 3 NON-STOP
Name: FIRST CLASS FF#: AA-


[This message has been edited by traveler60657 (edited Jan 08, 2004).]

Have you been to any of these places before? A first-timer could easily spend all of that time in and around Sydney alone and not get close to exhausting the place. Flying backwards and forwards to three cities is only going to waste time, and give you nothing more than a glimpse of each of them.

A lot of your answer is a personal preference thing.

Do you want to skim around multiple cities or go indepth in just one (or two).

Keep in mind, a 4/10 departure has you arriving on 4/12. So you only have 3 days until the Auckland flight, not 5.

I agree, a total of 10 days is really only enough for one or two destinations unless you've spent a lot of time down here before. If you want to visit AKL and optimise travelling times there are better flights (eg QF034 AKL-MEL on 22 April connects through and you can fly in the evening for SYD-AKL).

There is a fairly active Australia/NZ Travel forum where you may get more specific advice.

[This message has been edited by Kiwi Flyer (edited Jan 08, 2004).]

Do you realise that the most popular beer in Australia is called Castlemaine XXXX ( four X) The reason it was called XXXX is because no one knew how to spel S H 1 T

Lots of info in the Australia forum

------------------
Visit FlyerTalk Dining http://flyertalk.com/diningfr.shtml
“I did absolutely nothing and it was everything I thought it could be.”

Actually, the way I always heard the joke was (note that i attended Melbourne Uni in Victoria)

Q - Ya know why they call it XXXX up in Queensland?

A - They're to stupid to spell SH*T

Of course I don't believe it, as the person usually telling this overused joke was usually not the bright bulb to begin with.

file under - consider the source

Having traveled extensively throughout Australia and NZ and IMHO I would hit Melbourne, Sydney and Cairns (for the reef).

I love the contrast of both Sydney and Melbourne. But, while I love the outdoors - I really love checking out Cities. Snorkling/diving the reef was probably the coolest thing I ever did. I'll never forget the first time I popped under the water to snorkel at the reef. I was literally scared as the it so teeming with fish, bright colors and reef.

Auckland has never really done much for me. But, of course, there are some who find the best place on the earth.

You really almost can't go wrong. Check out a few guidebooks for both countries and puruse the more specfic parts of this site. Fodors.com always has an active discussion for those areas

best of luck

Egad! http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/eek.gif A specific forum exists for such a discussion? http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...starsmilie.gif Right here on our very own moderated board? http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...m/thumbsup.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...m/thumbsup.gif