Discussion
Thinking about a trip out to Australia next year, probably October/November time before it starts to get too hot.
My initial plan is to spend a few days in Sydney, Melbourne and then Adelaide, have any of you guys been there?
This trip is also to serve as a prospective plan to gaining knowledge on possibly living in one of these cities in the future. So I guess I'm looking to be able to spend enough time in each of these cities to get a feel for the 'way of life'.
So what I'd like to know is how many days would be best to spend at each location to take in the 'vibe'/'feel' of the city?
My initial plan is to spend a few days in Sydney, Melbourne and then Adelaide, have any of you guys been there?
This trip is also to serve as a prospective plan to gaining knowledge on possibly living in one of these cities in the future. So I guess I'm looking to be able to spend enough time in each of these cities to get a feel for the 'way of life'.
So what I'd like to know is how many days would be best to spend at each location to take in the 'vibe'/'feel' of the city?
I've spent a fair amount of time in Sydney & Melbourne (none in Adelaide, though).
To get a reasonable feel for Sydney, I would suggest 4 - 5 days, as there is quite a lot to see if you want to get up to the Northern beaches etc, as well as just seeing the CBD / downtown. for staying in Sydney, I always aimed for as close to Circular Quay as possible, although the Marriott at Pitt St is hugely expensive for what it was, so I often ended up staying at the Sofitel on Maquarie St. It's often worth looking at last minute sites for hotels there, as they are HUGELY expensive.
I would give 3 days to Melbourne. The city centre is much more attractive, but for me, I much, much prefered Sydney.
ETA. Every time I went back to Aus (pretty much 3 out of every 6 weeks), I spent at least 10 days in Sydney & still came across new places (even if some of them were like Croydon in the sun - Paramatta...!).
To get a reasonable feel for Sydney, I would suggest 4 - 5 days, as there is quite a lot to see if you want to get up to the Northern beaches etc, as well as just seeing the CBD / downtown. for staying in Sydney, I always aimed for as close to Circular Quay as possible, although the Marriott at Pitt St is hugely expensive for what it was, so I often ended up staying at the Sofitel on Maquarie St. It's often worth looking at last minute sites for hotels there, as they are HUGELY expensive.
I would give 3 days to Melbourne. The city centre is much more attractive, but for me, I much, much prefered Sydney.
ETA. Every time I went back to Aus (pretty much 3 out of every 6 weeks), I spent at least 10 days in Sydney & still came across new places (even if some of them were like Croydon in the sun - Paramatta...!).
Edited by schmalex on Tuesday 2nd October 14:00
schmalex said:
I've spent a fair amount of time in Sydney & Melbourne (none in Adelaide, though).
To get a reasonable feel for Sydney, I would suggest 4 - 5 days, as there is quite a lot to see if you want to get up to the Northern beaches etc, as well as just seeing the CBD / downtown. for staying in Sydney, I always aimed for as close to Circular Quay as possible, although the Marriott at Pitt St is hugely expensive for what it was, so I often ended up staying at the Sofitel on Maquarie St. It's often worth looking at last minute sites for hotels there, as they are HUGELY expensive.
I would give 3 days to Melbourne. The city centre is much more attractive, but for me, I much, much prefered Sydney.
ETA. Every time I went back to Aus (pretty much 3 out of every 6 weeks), I spent at least 10 days in Sydney & still came across new places (even if some of them were like Croydon in the sun - Paramatta...!).
+1To get a reasonable feel for Sydney, I would suggest 4 - 5 days, as there is quite a lot to see if you want to get up to the Northern beaches etc, as well as just seeing the CBD / downtown. for staying in Sydney, I always aimed for as close to Circular Quay as possible, although the Marriott at Pitt St is hugely expensive for what it was, so I often ended up staying at the Sofitel on Maquarie St. It's often worth looking at last minute sites for hotels there, as they are HUGELY expensive.
I would give 3 days to Melbourne. The city centre is much more attractive, but for me, I much, much prefered Sydney.
ETA. Every time I went back to Aus (pretty much 3 out of every 6 weeks), I spent at least 10 days in Sydney & still came across new places (even if some of them were like Croydon in the sun - Paramatta...!).
Edited by schmalex on Tuesday 2nd October 14:00
Thanks for the replies.
Am I correct in saying that Australian cities are probably among the safest in the world in terms of crime and healthy living?
The only city daring to raise its head onto the radar being Sydney?
(Somebody told me that western areas of Sydney can have crime issues, gangs, etc.)
Am I correct in saying that Australian cities are probably among the safest in the world in terms of crime and healthy living?
The only city daring to raise its head onto the radar being Sydney?
(Somebody told me that western areas of Sydney can have crime issues, gangs, etc.)
The NT is point of Commodores - most of the roads are unlimited. Although, most of the roads are not metalled, so you can't go THAT quickly anyway!
I used to hire an HSV GTS (VXR8) when I was over there. It sounded lovely, but was utterly pointless, as you could never use the grunt!
The drive from Sydney to Canberra is about 3 1/2 - 4 hours of sitting on a dual carriageway with the excitement of 3 corners and 1 junction along the whole route!!!
I used to hire an HSV GTS (VXR8) when I was over there. It sounded lovely, but was utterly pointless, as you could never use the grunt!
The drive from Sydney to Canberra is about 3 1/2 - 4 hours of sitting on a dual carriageway with the excitement of 3 corners and 1 junction along the whole route!!!
AJI said:
Thanks for the replies.
The only city daring to raise its head onto the radar being Sydney?
(Somebody told me that western areas of Sydney can have crime issues, gangs, etc.)
I spent a year in Sydney back in '97. At one point I was living in Kings Cross during the time of the axe wielding backpacker attacker. This is no joke, a guy was literally going about his night with an axe looking to bump backpackers on the head with it. The only city daring to raise its head onto the radar being Sydney?
(Somebody told me that western areas of Sydney can have crime issues, gangs, etc.)
If he's gone, then your safe.
AJI said:
Thanks for the replies.
Am I correct in saying that Australian cities are probably among the safest in the world in terms of crime and healthy living?
The only city daring to raise its head onto the radar being Sydney?
(Somebody told me that western areas of Sydney can have crime issues, gangs, etc.)
I haven't been but my friend went - He was so eager to go based on his experience of Australians in the UK / London. But having gone he had lots of bad experience (mostly Sydney) - unfriendly rude people, then being assaulted on a night out. Am I correct in saying that Australian cities are probably among the safest in the world in terms of crime and healthy living?
The only city daring to raise its head onto the radar being Sydney?
(Somebody told me that western areas of Sydney can have crime issues, gangs, etc.)
I got into a bit of trouble in a bar in Sydney (Bar 333 on George St) once, due to a pissed up Bogan not being too happy that we had just whipped the Aussies at rugby. It was all a bit of a storm in a teacup, but nothing too serious.
I've only ever found really friendly people there. I'm a pretty gregarious person & travelling on my own, I always made sure I went out & met new people in bars & clubs, some of whome remain really good friends to this day.
I've only ever found really friendly people there. I'm a pretty gregarious person & travelling on my own, I always made sure I went out & met new people in bars & clubs, some of whome remain really good friends to this day.
Driven all the way round Australia. The cities are really no different to European cities. Bars, shops, traffic, busy people etc.
Sydney's like London only much prettier but without the history, Melbourne's a bit more cultural and arty, Adelaide is just a big town (we drove past it by accident, had to turn around
).
A couple of days in any big city is plenty for me so can't add much more. Westernised cities are pretty much the same the world over under the skin in my experience.
Sydney's like London only much prettier but without the history, Melbourne's a bit more cultural and arty, Adelaide is just a big town (we drove past it by accident, had to turn around
).A couple of days in any big city is plenty for me so can't add much more. Westernised cities are pretty much the same the world over under the skin in my experience.
AJI said:
Thanks for the replies.
Am I correct in saying that Australian cities are probably among the safest in the world in terms of crime and healthy living?
The only city daring to raise its head onto the radar being Sydney?
(Somebody told me that western areas of Sydney can have crime issues, gangs, etc.)
Not quite. http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/08/13/10291...Am I correct in saying that Australian cities are probably among the safest in the world in terms of crime and healthy living?
The only city daring to raise its head onto the radar being Sydney?
(Somebody told me that western areas of Sydney can have crime issues, gangs, etc.)
Funnily enough, someone I know on another forum is in Australia at the moment and posted this:
Was casually having some lunch in Adelaide in a busy shopping street, all of a sudden there is a load of commotion about 5-10m away...someone got stabbed in the chest and stomach. Madness in broad daylight in the middle of the day in such a busy place. Police everywhere, ambulance came, guy got arrested.
4th incident I've seen in 9 months now. This was headline news on the 6pm news too.
Was casually having some lunch in Adelaide in a busy shopping street, all of a sudden there is a load of commotion about 5-10m away...someone got stabbed in the chest and stomach. Madness in broad daylight in the middle of the day in such a busy place. Police everywhere, ambulance came, guy got arrested.
4th incident I've seen in 9 months now. This was headline news on the 6pm news too.
Lived here 13 years and its getting worse. Place is overrun with bogans. Have a look on Google Earth at Melbourne and stare in amazement at the lack of greenery it's one continuous sprawl upto the border. Some stunning places here but it's getting steadily ruined by cashed up bogans bleeding the joy out of the beach, the snow and anywhere that they can install themselves.
Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff