Australia - Where to go

[The Oldman]

True Blue said


"Also near Melbourne, you can watch the penguins come out of the water as the sun goes down... fun, but you are sitting in a grandstand we'd be proud of at Withdean, so not exactly a 'backl to nature' experience."


LOL Know what you mean

 

[The Clown of Pevensey Bay]

Canberra, the capital, is a nice city, and you can get there and back from Sydney in a day.

Perth isn't worth it. Don't bother.

Gotta disagree there Perth. Canberra's a shithole... like an Aussie Milton Keynes but full of civil servants and drug addicts (though my cousins and my granny live there and they're all very nice people!)

And Perth is great -- a superbly under-rated city. Go to Rottnest Island and see the quokkas.

 

[Only 2 Kerry Mayos]

Cheers guys for all your advice.
Unfortunatley I only have time to travle the East coast (Cairns to Sydney) so it looks like your words of wisdom regarding Perth, Melbourne and Alice springs will go to waste.

Keep the advice coming

 

[albiongirl]

Tasmainia is a fantastic place and Oz,s secret if you get a chance. Blue mountains is a must when you are in Sydney. Plus book up to go on a wine tasting tour in Hunter valley if that,s your thing.

 

[Stumpy Tim]

Gotta disagree there Perth. Canberra's a shithole... like an Aussie Milton Keynes but full of civil servants and drug addicts (though my cousins and my granny live there and they're all very nice people!)

Spot on Clown. Canberra is rubbish - absolutely nothing there at all. Haven't been to Perth yet, but am planning a trip in the next month or two.

Get your ass down to Sydney & we'll get a few of us on the lash!

 

[Reading Posh]

Perth isn't worth it. Don't bother.

Agree with The Clown of Pevensey Bay, you've got to play soccer with a quokka at least once in your life

Make sure you go to the outer reef when at Cairns, you can get there in two hours by high-speed catamaran. Actually I'd go *up* to Karunda by train and back down by Skyrail, the engine has to work harder on the way up. Karunda itself is pretty naff, I found, but the silent journey across the rainforest canopy by Skyrail is superb.

 

[Trotster]

Hey, Kerry - I am leaving myself for oz on teh 5th Sept - am going for 4 weeks as well!!!

I am going to stay in Manly but am heading up to the whitsundays and gold coast at one point - Take your strips and PM me when your in Sydney/manley - we could meet for a beer and have a chat about the games weve missed

 

[Tooting Gull]

You'll have a top time wherever you go, but having done almost exactly that journey in the same amount of time, the highlights for me were (many mentioned already)

Blue Mountains, nr Sydney

Byron Bay

Hervey Bay - Frazer Island

Magnetic Island (more of a piss-up place, but still good)

Reef action nearer Cairns.

And make sure you get the ferry around Sydney harbour and out to Manly a couple of times, just a great view of one of the world's most famous skylines.

 

[Only 2 Kerry Mayos]

Cheers all
Trotser and Stumpy Tim I may take you up on your offers.
Have just booked my flights this evening

Am flying to Cairns on Saturday and making my way down to Sydney. In Oz till the 9th October. Flying back from Sydney

 

[midlandseagull]

If you are in Queensland go to Surfers Paradise for the best beaches and surf in Oz. We stayed in the Conrad Jupiter Casino...great hotel and the tables play 24 hours...try 2up, it's an aussie national treasure.
Agree about the Barrier Reef and everything about Sydney is brilliant. If you can, try the Ghan or the Indian Pacific..two long distance train journeys you will remember for the rest of your life

Good luck and enjoy:

 

[Lord Cornwallis]

I also found Perth to be a fine city. Probably the cleanest city I've ever visited.
Freemantle is also a great place to spend some time.