Places to go & things to do in Australia & New Zealand
25 January 2010, 01:18 PM
#1
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Places to go & things to do in Australia & New Zealand
Me & my girlfriend have decided to take a 4 week trip around Nov/Dec. Ive never been before or tbh even thought of going. With so many places to see Im looking for some decent ideas from those that have visited before as at the moment find it hard to start a plan.
mrs has been about 8-9 years ago and is wanting to do east cost tour and NZ South Island. I love beaches & sun so whitsunday islands is a definite.
NZ I fancy doing one of those jetboat safaris, few nature reserves and possibly a trip to Queenstown to visit my brother.
Any input appreciated.
Cheers
Simon
mrs has been about 8-9 years ago and is wanting to do east cost tour and NZ South Island. I love beaches & sun so whitsunday islands is a definite.
NZ I fancy doing one of those jetboat safaris, few nature reserves and possibly a trip to Queenstown to visit my brother.
Any input appreciated.
Cheers
Simon
25 January 2010, 04:15 PM
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As above, a month is not long enough for Oz and NZ.
Did a month touring NZ by campervan just under a year ago. We did go to both north and south islands, saw a lot of stuff, and it was quite full on in terms on the travelling / driving. Now desperately want to go back and re-visit the places we liked, stay longer, and perhaps see a few of the places we missed.
Also did Oz and stayed a month, had a flight package with several internal flights so flew into Sydney, week touring round there, week in North Queensland, few days in Alice Springs, Ayres Rock etc., then finished off in South Queensland.
Did a month touring NZ by campervan just under a year ago. We did go to both north and south islands, saw a lot of stuff, and it was quite full on in terms on the travelling / driving. Now desperately want to go back and re-visit the places we liked, stay longer, and perhaps see a few of the places we missed.
Also did Oz and stayed a month, had a flight package with several internal flights so flew into Sydney, week touring round there, week in North Queensland, few days in Alice Springs, Ayres Rock etc., then finished off in South Queensland.
25 January 2010, 04:20 PM
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I have done both but both times spent two months in each so i would say that one month is the minimum for NZ as there is sooo much to do, i would take 6 weeks for oz as it is so massive.
Both are great places but i have to say i prefer NZ espesh if your with your missus many more intresting things to look at with no where near as much distance to travel.
You need to specify what kind of hol you want.
site seeing
outdoors adventure
or city shopping type??
Both are great places but i have to say i prefer NZ espesh if your with your missus many more intresting things to look at with no where near as much distance to travel.
You need to specify what kind of hol you want.
site seeing
outdoors adventure
or city shopping type??
25 January 2010, 08:24 PM
#6
Try visiting Palmerston
Comedian John Cleese raised the ire of residents in 2006 when he described the City as the "suicide capital of New Zealand". Cleese said he had a "bloody miserable time" while there as part of his 2005 tour of New Zealand, and suggested that "if you wish to kill yourself but lack the courage to, I think a visit to Palmerston North will do the trick". Locals responded a year later by naming a hill of refuse at the local landfill "Mt Cleese".
Comedian John Cleese raised the ire of residents in 2006 when he described the City as the "suicide capital of New Zealand". Cleese said he had a "bloody miserable time" while there as part of his 2005 tour of New Zealand, and suggested that "if you wish to kill yourself but lack the courage to, I think a visit to Palmerston North will do the trick". Locals responded a year later by naming a hill of refuse at the local landfill "Mt Cleese".
25 January 2010, 08:33 PM
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This place is worth a visit if you go the north island Skyline Skyrides Rotorua Luge, Restaurant, Gondola Rotorua Attractions Sightseeing Rotorua New Zealand
When I lived there I didnt go to south island so cant really recommend anything down there
When I lived there I didnt go to south island so cant really recommend anything down there
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25 January 2010, 08:43 PM
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26 January 2010, 12:09 AM
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Pontificating
If you like your beaches, try Hyams Beach, Jervis Bay, about 2 hours south of Sydney, for me it beats the Whitsundys hands down. It has the whitest sanded beach on the planet, allegedly, and I cant really argue.
Good thing about the beaches here is there are so many of them and not enough people to go on them, so most are usually pretty empty, unlike a British beach on a sunny day lol
Also do the Blue Mountains, the Jenolan Caves, walk across the Sydney Harbour bridge, tak a trip to Bathurst and drive round the track (Hire yourself a V8 SS Holden
). it's open to the public but has a strict 60km/h speed limit 
There are some brilliant driving roads in NSW, Kangaroo Valley, The tourist road to Oberon (on the way to Bathurst) that just twist and turn go up and down for mile after mile, just look out for Wombats and Kangaroo's they can do some serious damage, mate ost the front end of his SS hitting a Kangaroo which was in mid flight !!
Good thing about the beaches here is there are so many of them and not enough people to go on them, so most are usually pretty empty, unlike a British beach on a sunny day lol
Also do the Blue Mountains, the Jenolan Caves, walk across the Sydney Harbour bridge, tak a trip to Bathurst and drive round the track (Hire yourself a V8 SS Holden
). it's open to the public but has a strict 60km/h speed limit There are some brilliant driving roads in NSW, Kangaroo Valley, The tourist road to Oberon (on the way to Bathurst) that just twist and turn go up and down for mile after mile, just look out for Wombats and Kangaroo's they can do some serious damage, mate ost the front end of his SS hitting a Kangaroo which was in mid flight !!
Last edited by Funkii Munkii; 26 January 2010 at 12:11 AM.
26 January 2010, 12:14 AM
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You really do need a month in NZ and OZ. We went to Queenstown a few years ago, its a fantastic place and if you go you must go on the jet boat. We liked OZ that much we moved over here so have plenty of time to explore it!
26 January 2010, 07:18 AM
#11
If you like your beaches, try Hyams Beach, Jervis Bay, about 2 hours south of Sydney, for me it beats the Whitsundys hands down. It has the whitest sanded beach on the planet, allegedly, and I cant really argue.
Good thing about the beaches here is there are so many of them and not enough people to go on them, so most are usually pretty empty, unlike a British beach on a sunny day lol
Also do the Blue Mountains, the Jenolan Caves, walk across the Sydney Harbour bridge, tak a trip to Bathurst and drive round the track (Hire yourself a V8 SS Holden ). it's open to the public but has a strict 60km/h speed limit
There are some brilliant driving roads in NSW, Kangaroo Valley, The tourist road to Oberon (on the way to Bathurst) that just twist and turn go up and down for mile after mile, just look out for Wombats and Kangaroo's they can do some serious damage, mate ost the front end of his SS hitting a Kangaroo which was in mid flight !!
Good thing about the beaches here is there are so many of them and not enough people to go on them, so most are usually pretty empty, unlike a British beach on a sunny day lol
Also do the Blue Mountains, the Jenolan Caves, walk across the Sydney Harbour bridge, tak a trip to Bathurst and drive round the track (Hire yourself a V8 SS Holden
). it's open to the public but has a strict 60km/h speed limit There are some brilliant driving roads in NSW, Kangaroo Valley, The tourist road to Oberon (on the way to Bathurst) that just twist and turn go up and down for mile after mile, just look out for Wombats and Kangaroo's they can do some serious damage, mate ost the front end of his SS hitting a Kangaroo which was in mid flight !!
26 January 2010, 12:34 PM
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Thanks for the replies - esp FM Unfortunately 4 (possibly 5) weeks is the absolute limit due to cost & leave work will allow. We want to cover both countries. NZ will probably be for the last 10 days. I know more time is always better but lots of people go for less.
FM thanks for the info on the beach. So is that a pic of Hyams Beach as pic URL says Shoal Bay? Either way looks very nice.
Looks like we may start Cairns and work our way down to Melbourne then fly over to NZ.
Simon
Unfortunately 4 (possibly 5) weeks is the absolute limit due to cost & leave work will allow. We want to cover both countries. NZ will probably be for the last 10 days. I know more time is always better but lots of people go for less.FM thanks for the info on the beach. So is that a pic of Hyams Beach as pic URL says Shoal Bay? Either way looks very nice.
Looks like we may start Cairns and work our way down to Melbourne then fly over to NZ.
Simon
26 January 2010, 10:36 PM
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Thought about Western Australia? A roadtrip from Perth to Darwin for a month would be awesome, then you're seeing the REAL Australia rather than the tourist area known as the east coast.
There is some awesome scenery along that route and the beaches around Coral Bay / Exmouth are superb (and empty) with snorkeling on the reef less than 50m of the beach. Karijini, Bungles, Kimberley, Litchfield NP and Kakadu are all amazing places to see and beat the east coast hands down for a real Aussie experience IMO - only problem is you ideally need more than a month to really enjoy this route.
There is some awesome scenery along that route and the beaches around Coral Bay / Exmouth are superb (and empty) with snorkeling on the reef less than 50m of the beach. Karijini, Bungles, Kimberley, Litchfield NP and Kakadu are all amazing places to see and beat the east coast hands down for a real Aussie experience IMO - only problem is you ideally need more than a month to really enjoy this route.
27 January 2010, 12:35 AM
#17
Pontificating
27 January 2010, 11:54 PM
#21
They are pretty much all the same ie. not much fun.
Cheap price and direct route with short stopover times are what you want to look for. All fairly obvious stuff.
Business class if you can afford it is great- but you are looking at 2k minimum and generally 3k.
Austravel are not a bad place to start.
Cheap price and direct route with short stopover times are what you want to look for. All fairly obvious stuff.
Business class if you can afford it is great- but you are looking at 2k minimum and generally 3k.
Austravel are not a bad place to start.
28 January 2010, 12:19 PM
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Flew Emirates to NZ, no stopovers except few hours plane change in Dubai 
Was okay but a bit gruelling towards the end. Was worth it though, couple of days chilling in Christchurch and we were properly into the holiday vibe ready to pick up the camper and get on the road 
I posted some of my NZ shots in the photography forum so check this thread to get you in the mood: https://www.scoobynet.com/photograph...e-pics-nz.html
Was okay but a bit gruelling towards the end. Was worth it though, couple of days chilling in Christchurch and we were properly into the holiday vibe ready to pick up the camper and get on the road I posted some of my NZ shots in the photography forum so check this thread to get you in the mood: https://www.scoobynet.com/photograph...e-pics-nz.html
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