Visiting: Australia, NZ & the US
Discussion
From mid-February I'm going to be traveling for a few months and plan to visit Australia, New Zealand and America.
I'm meeting a few friends who have already been out there for the last couple of months, part of which was spent training with Shaolin Monks.
I was wondering if you guys had any recommendations of places to visit etc?
We all have our own ideas of things to do/places to visit - for example I very much want to visit the Aborigine's at Ayers Rock - but I'd hate to return from the trip to hear that we missed out on visiting something spectacular.
One of the lads wants to try to follow the old Route 66 but I'm told this is fairly hard to do, and that there are probably better routes.
Have any of you followed the route, or can recommend a better option?
Any recommendations would be gratefully received
I'm meeting a few friends who have already been out there for the last couple of months, part of which was spent training with Shaolin Monks.
I was wondering if you guys had any recommendations of places to visit etc?
We all have our own ideas of things to do/places to visit - for example I very much want to visit the Aborigine's at Ayers Rock - but I'd hate to return from the trip to hear that we missed out on visiting something spectacular.
One of the lads wants to try to follow the old Route 66 but I'm told this is fairly hard to do, and that there are probably better routes.
Have any of you followed the route, or can recommend a better option?
Any recommendations would be gratefully received
I think the longest remaining sections of the old Route 66 are here in Arizona and you could visit the Grand Canyon as well.
Trooper2.
Edited to add:www.national66.com/faq.html www.route66usa.com/arizona.html
>> Edited by Trooper2 on Friday 14th January 14:38
>> Edited by Trooper2 on Friday 14th January 14:47
Trooper2.
Edited to add:www.national66.com/faq.html www.route66usa.com/arizona.html
>> Edited by Trooper2 on Friday 14th January 14:38
>> Edited by Trooper2 on Friday 14th January 14:47
Alex said:
The Grand Canyon is an absolute must! It's worth staying a night in the El Tovar hotel on the South Rim; best hotel I've ever stayed in.
If you're a Western fan, it's also worth travelling a few hundred miles north to Monument Valley.
Agree. And when you've been past Tuba City, you start to wonder what the hell possessed people to come this far!
How long have you got in Oz? The one thing you musn't do is underestimate how big it is - for example, at the very least it'll take you a week of solid driving to get from Sydney to Uluru (it's not PC to call it Ayer's Rock any more). Also not quite sure what you mean by 'go to see the aborigines' there as I'm quite sure the last thing you want to do is actually spend much time on an aboriginal reservation - they're generally either desert or frankly a slum (sorry, but it's true. Entirely the fault of Australian (and therefore UK) government policy and overt racism towards the indigenous people, but it doesn't make them any nicer to visit).
To really travel around you'll need at least 3 months, and that's pushing it; any less than that and I'd stick to the east coast and chill.
To really travel around you'll need at least 3 months, and that's pushing it; any less than that and I'd stick to the east coast and chill.
In Oz, Sydney is great and I'd also highly recommend a visit to Cairns to scuba dive the Great Barrier Reef.
US-wise, as previously mentioned, the Grand Canyon is a must. You could stay in Vegas and take a helicopter trip. Avoid the plane trips, though as you can't see a lot, but the helicopter trips go right into the canyon, and the one I went on landed inside the canyon to allow you to get out for a look around and to take some pics. Yosemite National Park and San Francisco are also well worth a visit IMO...
US-wise, as previously mentioned, the Grand Canyon is a must. You could stay in Vegas and take a helicopter trip. Avoid the plane trips, though as you can't see a lot, but the helicopter trips go right into the canyon, and the one I went on landed inside the canyon to allow you to get out for a look around and to take some pics. Yosemite National Park and San Francisco are also well worth a visit IMO...
Thanks for the replies - they're very much appreciated
We have a limited amount of time in each country - around a month in each, plus two weeks in Thailand at the very start of the trip.
I've previously been told by family friends that a visit to Uluru () for an Aboriginal guide is well worth it - I'll have to look into that.
We're working on a relatively limited budget (circa £4k exc. flights), and so (sadly) I would think that things like helicopter rides are out of the question. I'd love to do stuff like this, but I'm currently trying to fit in with the others and so have to discount stuff like this for now.
A trip to The Grand Canyon sounds like a great suggestion though, and is one I'll definitely be putting forward
Route 66 sounds like it could still be a possibility - I'll definitely check out 'Road trip: USA', and thanks for the links to the sites.
Does anybody have any recommendations of car hire companies which accommodate the customer collecting the car on one side of the US and dropping it off on the other?
Somebody suggested to me that we should go and have a look at Area 51. I'm not really into the whole alien thing, but it may be worth a look.
We have a limited amount of time in each country - around a month in each, plus two weeks in Thailand at the very start of the trip.
I've previously been told by family friends that a visit to Uluru (
) for an Aboriginal guide is well worth it - I'll have to look into that. We're working on a relatively limited budget (circa £4k exc. flights), and so (sadly) I would think that things like helicopter rides are out of the question. I'd love to do stuff like this, but I'm currently trying to fit in with the others and so have to discount stuff like this for now.
A trip to The Grand Canyon sounds like a great suggestion though, and is one I'll definitely be putting forward
Route 66 sounds like it could still be a possibility - I'll definitely check out 'Road trip: USA', and thanks for the links to the sites.
Does anybody have any recommendations of car hire companies which accommodate the customer collecting the car on one side of the US and dropping it off on the other?
Somebody suggested to me that we should go and have a look at Area 51. I'm not really into the whole alien thing, but it may be worth a look.
AndyM, any of the 6 or so major car rental agencies here will be able to accomadate you. And you can no longer get any wher near Area 51 security is extremely tight the government has purchased all of the surrounding mountains so that the closest vantage point is 21 miles away and you need a powerful telescope to see anything. Great place to get into trouble with the law. I'd skip Area 51.
Trooper2.
Trooper2.
Trooper2 said:
AndyM, any of the 6 or so major car rental agencies here will be able to accomadate you. And you can no longer get any wher near Area 51 security is extremely tight the government has purchased all of the surrounding mountains so that the closest vantage point is 21 miles away and you need a powerful telescope to see anything. Great place to get into trouble with the law. I'd skip Area 51.
Trooper2.
Ah!
Hmm...good advice - I think we'll skip that one
The whole of the east coast of Oz is backpacker heaven - so there are loads of cheap deals when you get here - just check the small print to make sur you're not staying in a double room with 15 other tourists. And it is a big place - Sydney to Cairns can be drven in two days, but you'd feel like crap cos its about 1700 miles. Flights are cheap and easy - check out www.virginblue.com.au or www.qantas.com.au
Must see - sail the Whitsundays - one of the few trips on which not to skimp either. Will cost about AUD400 for two nights/three days on a boat with about 15 others. Cheap trips drop you on an island for camping - pay the extra and get a smaller boat on which you all kip.
As others have said - scuba on the Great Barrier Reef - you'll always remember it. Cairns is built around these activities, but other than that offers little IMHO.
If you want, drop me a note and I'll pass on some more-specific info for in and around Sydney.
Must see - sail the Whitsundays - one of the few trips on which not to skimp either. Will cost about AUD400 for two nights/three days on a boat with about 15 others. Cheap trips drop you on an island for camping - pay the extra and get a smaller boat on which you all kip.
As others have said - scuba on the Great Barrier Reef - you'll always remember it. Cairns is built around these activities, but other than that offers little IMHO.
If you want, drop me a note and I'll pass on some more-specific info for in and around Sydney.
If this is your first trip to the States and you are planning to visit the grand canyon then make sure that you do not miss Zion and Bryce Canyon. GC heli trip isn't that expesive btw.(www.americansouthwest.net/utah/zion/national_park.html ). Route 66 is good but I prefer the Natchez Trace Parkway. A bit out of the way given your limited time methinks. I'd plan a route that took in the Utah NParks and then out through Death Valley and up though Owens Valley to Yosemite and to San Francisco.
Too much to see in Oz with your time budget so just trundle up the east coast making sure to travel inland. The descent back down to the coast is wonderful as you see the flora change. Diving along the coast is good if a bit too commercialised in Cairns, I think.
Going to NZ then you must concentrate on the S. Island. Queenstown is not too bad a base, you have to visit Milford and Doubtful Sound. Travel the E coast to see the glaciers and the Rain Forest of course. Gliding from Omarama to Mt Cook was the highlight for me and so spectacular.
If you had more time I'd mention how wonderful and unspoilt the Cook Islands are.
Good luck and have fun.
Too much to see in Oz with your time budget so just trundle up the east coast making sure to travel inland. The descent back down to the coast is wonderful as you see the flora change. Diving along the coast is good if a bit too commercialised in Cairns, I think.
Going to NZ then you must concentrate on the S. Island. Queenstown is not too bad a base, you have to visit Milford and Doubtful Sound. Travel the E coast to see the glaciers and the Rain Forest of course. Gliding from Omarama to Mt Cook was the highlight for me and so spectacular.
If you had more time I'd mention how wonderful and unspoilt the Cook Islands are.
Good luck and have fun.
Hopefully this thread will be of some help:
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?p=1&f=23&t=131870&h=0&hw=New+Zealand
Have fun!
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?p=1&f=23&t=131870&h=0&hw=New+Zealand
Have fun!
Buffalo said:
I have a book called Road trip: USA. It has all of the modern versions of the old "famous" american road routes, incl '66.
Good recommendation - I've followed a good number of their Western routes, the book comes up with some fascinating Americana that's worth visiting along the way
Thanks again for the recommendations guys (and gals)
I've noted everything down and have e-mailed the other lads. Some really good suggestions, and one in particular that's stuck in my mind (from the other NZ thread) is the hiring of a camper-van, not only in NZ but also in the US.
Can anybody recommend any camper-van hire companies in the US who would be willing to rent to a 23 year old?
Also, I currently have travel insurance from a family holiday a couple of months ago. Having read the summary of cover and the t&c's, I'm not sure it's comprehensive enough for a trip like this (ie: Permanent Total Disablement: £10,000
and Personal Property: £1,750).
Do any of you have any recommendations of companies (and policies) to go with?
For information purposes I'm probably going to be traveling around with around £4k's worth of equipment so I'd like for it to cover that at least.
Thanks again
I've noted everything down and have e-mailed the other lads. Some really good suggestions, and one in particular that's stuck in my mind (from the other NZ thread) is the hiring of a camper-van, not only in NZ but also in the US.
Can anybody recommend any camper-van hire companies in the US who would be willing to rent to a 23 year old?
Also, I currently have travel insurance from a family holiday a couple of months ago. Having read the summary of cover and the t&c's, I'm not sure it's comprehensive enough for a trip like this (ie: Permanent Total Disablement: £10,000
and Personal Property: £1,750). Do any of you have any recommendations of companies (and policies) to go with?
For information purposes I'm probably going to be traveling around with around £4k's worth of equipment so I'd like for it to cover that at least.
Thanks again
www.cruiseamerica.com/ Should be a good starting place for you, I see their R.V.s everywhere.
Trooper2
Spelling edit.
>> Edited by Trooper2 on Monday 17th January 02:11
Trooper2
Spelling edit.
>> Edited by Trooper2 on Monday 17th January 02:11
Try kiwikombis for camper van in NZ - not sure of webpage. Original VW Kombis in good nick.
Insurance - we've always used Navigator - specialise in backpacking and travelling many countries, rather than family package hols. Good price too, but you'll probably find that going through the US bumps the price up.
Insurance - we've always used Navigator - specialise in backpacking and travelling many countries, rather than family package hols. Good price too, but you'll probably find that going through the US bumps the price up.
Trooper2 said:
<a href="http://www.cruiseamerica.com/">www.cruiseamerica.com/</a> Should be a good starting place for you, I see their R.V.s everywhere.
Trooper2
Thanks for the recommendation
Just got a quick quote off their site to go from LA -> Washington.
A 'drop your trousers, we're going to take you for all you're worth' $6,500
Ouch!
One of the lads wants to buy a shack of a car when we get over there, I'm pretty much convinced that this would not be allowed due to none of us being a US Citizen (with US address). Is this correct?
www.rent-a-wreck.com/ Try these guys for a qoute. And yes I would assume that buying a wreck for the short time you would be here will be out of the question- no permanent adress to get it registered, the time it would take etc.
$ 6500.00 know wonder I never take a vacation!
Trooper2
$ 6500.00 know wonder I never take a vacation! Trooper2
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