First time trip to Australia
Discussion
Vipers said:
krallicious said:
This is probably very out of date but I was in Oz with 4 friends for a month in 2003. We flew into Cairns, had a car booked for 4 weeks and a return flight from Sydney.
Driving wasn't a problem and we saw a lot of nothing but also a lot of small towns and camped or booked into hostels/hotels whenever we though 'this looks interesting'.
We all had a great time and back then, everything was dirt cheap.
Petrol is about 66p a litre.Driving wasn't a problem and we saw a lot of nothing but also a lot of small towns and camped or booked into hostels/hotels whenever we though 'this looks interesting'.
We all had a great time and back then, everything was dirt cheap.
Agree with everyone else, the place is huge and driving can be monotonous. Best to pick an area and just explore that and enjoy it at your leasuire. I'd suggest South west or South East. I'm familiar with the Sunshine Coast area of Quensland and recommend it highly. Loads to see and do, Fraser Island, fly out to lady Elliot island (most Southerly point in barrier reef) or if in a camper, drive north, Hamilton Island , Cairns. I did drive down to Sydney because I wanted to 'see' Australia, but it was a looong two day drive and I know why they call it New South Wales, because it was like driving through old South Wales for the last day!
I drove into Katoomba in the Blue mountains, which was great, then two nights in Sydney, great city, also went to Manly. Then flew to Melbourne to visit relatives, but only in the suburbs. Then flew back to Maroochydore airport which only took around 2 1/2 hours. In hindsight, I wish I hadn't driven down to Sydney as felt it was time wasted. But obviously you would have to counter that with the cost of hotels and flights. So I'd pick an area like Perth, Freematle or Sydney to Melbourne and South Coast. If you want the crocodile Dundee experience pick Darwin and the Northen Territories (go in their winter time), but for a flirst time taste you won't go wrong with Queensland coast, Brisabane Northwards. It's a great country with great people, enjoy!
I drove into Katoomba in the Blue mountains, which was great, then two nights in Sydney, great city, also went to Manly. Then flew to Melbourne to visit relatives, but only in the suburbs. Then flew back to Maroochydore airport which only took around 2 1/2 hours. In hindsight, I wish I hadn't driven down to Sydney as felt it was time wasted. But obviously you would have to counter that with the cost of hotels and flights. So I'd pick an area like Perth, Freematle or Sydney to Melbourne and South Coast. If you want the crocodile Dundee experience pick Darwin and the Northen Territories (go in their winter time), but for a flirst time taste you won't go wrong with Queensland coast, Brisabane Northwards. It's a great country with great people, enjoy!
Edited by Ovaltine on Wednesday 25th February 11:34
You should fly between the main city's for expediency although driving between Sydney and Brissie will give you a good look at the coast and costal towns etc. Everywhere else is same, same (flat, dry, scrub between distant points of interest). Don't underestimate how big the place is. How long it takes to drive somewhere or how bad/congested the roads may be.
That said, if you're confident to make it up a bit and are flexible put yourself on this daily list and be prepared to act immediately, they get booked out in hours.... http://www.drivenow.com.au/onewayrentals.jspc#/rel...
Fuel is expensive, speed cameras are unrelenting as are the highway patrol. Just don't speed at all.
That said, if you're confident to make it up a bit and are flexible put yourself on this daily list and be prepared to act immediately, they get booked out in hours.... http://www.drivenow.com.au/onewayrentals.jspc#/rel...
Fuel is expensive, speed cameras are unrelenting as are the highway patrol. Just don't speed at all.
craig_m67 said:
No?
Distances are greater, far greater. It's usually cheaper to fly than fill a single tank let alone several.
The cheapest price for a Syd-Bris ticket with no luggage is $55. $70 with luggage. Distances are greater, far greater. It's usually cheaper to fly than fill a single tank let alone several.
A tank of fuel is around $70 at current prices.
So, about the same for one person, but if you have two or more people flying becomes rapidly more expensive.
Colonial said:
craig_m67 said:
No?
Distances are greater, far greater. It's usually cheaper to fly than fill a single tank let alone several.
The cheapest price for a Syd-Bris ticket with no luggage is $55. $70 with luggage. Distances are greater, far greater. It's usually cheaper to fly than fill a single tank let alone several.
A tank of fuel is around $70 at current prices.
So, about the same for one person, but if you have two or more people flying becomes rapidly more expensive.
Edited by craig_m67 on Thursday 26th February 03:18
craig_m67 said:
Yes, personally I'd drive (Syd~Bris only). Don't forget to include the cost of renting the car along with fuel, some insurance and at least one obligatory highway speed cam. Obviously it comes down to the journey and how you want to do it
Yep. Edited by craig_m67 on Thursday 26th February 03:18
But also factor in taxi/train to airport etc.
I wouldn't drive Brisbane - Melbourne, but Brisbane - Sydney would be ok.
But as you say, plenty of options (well, 2) each with pros and cons.
craig_m67 said:
You should fly between the main city's for expediency although driving between Sydney and Brissie will give you a good look at the coast and costal towns etc. Everywhere else is same, same (flat, dry, scrub between distant points of interest).
Totally disagree. Pretty much all the things that make Australia a unique destination are found away from the cities and towns. We have an abundance of those in Europe.
craig_m67 said:
That said, if you're confident to make it up a bit and are flexible put yourself on this daily list and be prepared to act immediately, they get booked out in hours.... http://www.drivenow.com.au/onewayrentals.jspc#/rel...
Bear in mind with this option you can't really stop anywhere as you're on a very strict timescale. It might be the cheapest way to travel but you'll see everything through the windscreen and you can't choose your route (which could be quite interesting in itself ).Colonial said:
Yep.
But also factor in taxi/train to airport etc.
When you're travelling you should also put a value on your time too and flying means time gets wasted sitting in departure lounges, waiting for your luggage etc.But also factor in taxi/train to airport etc.
craig_m67 said:
Vipers said:
craig_m67 said:
Fuel is expensive.
At about 60-70p a litre LESS than UK, I don't follow you.Distances are greater, far greater. It's usually cheaper to fly than fill a single tank let alone several.
It's a beautiful coast, with lots of interesting places and makes for a great trip. The very cheap fuel for the hire car was an unexpected bonus.
Thing to do is some research, what is on the road that you may want to stop and look at. I only stopped at Byron, didn't bother with Surfers as I just think Benidorm (plus it was Schoolies week). Found the drive quite a slog to Coffs and then next day got caught in outskirts of Sydney Friday afternoon rush hour. I found flying internally no problem, it's not like you have to check in 3 hours before international flights. So half a day to fly vs two days drive, pays yer money etc...
L
Totally disagree. Pretty much all the things that make Australia a unique destination are found away from the cities and towns. We have an abundance of those in Europe.That's my point. It's pretty much flat, dry, scrub between distant points of interest ie. Kakadu, Uluru, Whitehaven beach (don't travel here just for the city's as you say, you have those already).
).There is rarely more than one route to somewhere interesting in Australia. Road routes between major city's are usually limited to two or three (Coast or Inland). Personally, I've always found the journey as interesting as the destination so this is a cheap way to relocate bases (and quickly see all the dry, flat scrub and endless distance that so interests/wigs you Europeans out )
Exactly, opportunity cost. Whom you're travelling with and how long you have obviously forms the foundation of any journey plan. Australia is endless, dry, flat, scrub punctuated with small (dead) regional towns between very distant points of interest (be that a city or geographic/nature feature).
durbster said:
craig_m67 said:
You should fly between the main city's for expediency although driving between Sydney and Brissie will give you a good look at the coast and costal towns etc. Everywhere else is same, same (flat, dry, scrub between distant points of interest).
Totally disagree. Pretty much all the things that make Australia a unique destination are found away from the cities and towns. We have an abundance of those in Europe.
durbster said:
craig_m67 said:
That said, if you're confident to make it up a bit and are flexible put yourself on this daily list and be prepared to act immediately, they get booked out in hours.... http://www.drivenow.com.au/onewayrentals.jspc#/rel...
Bear in mind with this option you can't really stop anywhere as you're on a very strict timescale. It might be the cheapest way to travel but you'll see everything through the windscreen and you can't choose your route (which could be quite interesting in itself ). )durbster said:
Colonial said:
Yep.
But also factor in taxi/train to airport etc.
When you're travelling you should also put a value on your time too and flying means time gets wasted sitting in departure lounges, waiting for your luggage etc.But also factor in taxi/train to airport etc.
Edited by craig_m67 on Monday 2nd March 06:22
craig_m67 said:
L
The majority of Australia's scenery is repetitive but I still think it varies massively from region to region. I've driven the road from Darwin to Kakadu several times and it's not exactly desert. Where it's not a swamp it's forest durbster said:
Totally disagree. Pretty much all the things that make Australia a unique destination are found away from the cities and towns. We have an abundance of those in Europe.
That's my point. It's pretty much flat, dry, scrub between distant points of interest ie. Kakadu, Uluru, Whitehaven beach (don't travel here just for the city's as you say, you have those already).I should stop replying to this thread as it really makes me want to go back.
Kenty said:
We are in Brisbane at the moment having experienced cyclone Marcia in Rockhampton, I hope your daughter is ok because Rocky is trashed and in a very serious condition, no power, little fuel, short of water and sporadic lawlessness. We escaped the day after and after two very stressful days got to Brissy.
Cheers Kenty, glad to report they're all fine. They live in Gladstone which is 50/60 miles south of Rocky. We spoke to them on Skype a few hours before Marcia was due to hit and we could see they were worried about it (the children especially so). Luckily after smashing up Rocky it turned inland on a south west heading and degraded rapidly from a Category 5 down to about a 2 when it (by)passed them. They just had a wet and windy day in the end. Glad to say we're off out there again 5 weeks tomorrow.Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff