Australian trip

sicnarf_1978

sicnarf_1978

Active Member
Joined
Mar 22, 2009
Messages
231
Location
St-Jérôme, Québec
Car(s)
2017 Buick Regal and 1997 Peugeot 106
I am planning a 2 week vacantion trip in Australia starting October 22. My first plan was to pass all my time in Sydney, with maybe a short trip to Canberra. A trip to the travel agency gave to me a few ideas. The cheapest fare was with United Airlines. But last time I went in Australia (in august 2006), the 14 hours flight was a nightmare. An old Boeing 747 with non operational lavatories, no space for legs and the old TV's sliding from the ceiling with black and white movies... For an extra 300 CAD, I have the Ottawa-Chicago-LAX flight with American Airlines and the crucial 14 hour flight with Qantas... yes, with the amazing Airbus A380. With more legroom, more lavatories, places to walk a little bit, on demand films and TV. Interesting...

And what is also interesting, while I use Qantas, I have some flexibility to visit more cities for a very small extra. So I have to chose... For sure I want to return to Sydney. But I want to see other places. I will probably go to Melbourne. And I hesitate between Perth and Brisbane for the third city... or maybe Auckland in New Zealand...

I know that there is many people here from Australia, so I would appreciate your help and suggestions. If you have a better trip planning, I am open to it.
 
Well the war museum is worth a look if you're into that sort of thing. Parliament house is open to tours. Even the Australian Institute of Sport do tours if you're the sporty type.
 
Yeah wouldn't bother with Canberra, if you want to party Melbourne is the place to come (we easily have the best night life by far)
 
I liked Canberra *hides from the aussies*

but don't plan on more than 2 days there at most, the parliament house is nice as well as the war museum but both could be done in the same day.

If the choice for the 3rd (4th) city is between Brisbane and Perth, I'd take Perth, it's not that Brisbane is horrible, it's just a little meh, especially compared to Melbourne and Sydney, I thought Perth 'felt' a bit different, dunno how else to put it.
 
If you like fireworks and pornography, go to Canberra. :p

If you like the arts, culture, sports and food while in a small district, come to Melbourne. :p
 
Nah, Canberra isn't that good for pornography these days :p

Come on down to Melbourne :D
 
The floods have been completely cleared, you can't actually notice it, but I would suggest skipping Brisbane and Perth entirely and maybe take a couple more days in VIC or NSW and delve into the countryside. If you really want to come to Queensland then I suggest maybe going to Stradbroke Island or go up to Byron bay or something along those lines. I'll admit it, Brisbane defines 'meh', it's a city, but it's pretty generic.
 
mgkdk said:
I liked Canberra *hides from the aussies*

but don't plan on more than 2 days there at most, the parliament house is nice as well as the war museum but both could be done in the same day.

If the choice for the 3rd (4th) city is between Brisbane and Perth, I'd take Perth, it's not that Brisbane is horrible, it's just a little meh, especially compared to Melbourne and Sydney, I thought Perth 'felt' a bit different, dunno how else to put it.
Click to expand...

That's exactly what I wanted to know. I plan to do a quick trip to Canberra. 5 years ago, they were selling guided tours of Canberra starting from Sydney early in the morning et comming back late. I can also take the train in Sydney in the morning and come back in the night.

For my third city, you gave me my answer. I was thinking that Brisbane was not so different comparing to Sydney and Melbourne. You confirm it to me. And if I am lucky, I will be able to take good photos of the outback from the plane.

If I would have tme and money, I would rent a car (a typical Ford Falcon) in Sydney and make an epic Australian tour... but I have only 2 weeks.
 
Canberra is good! For two days. Their art gallery gets all the best exhibitions, and parliament house/australian institute of sport/the mint/the science museum is worth a visit. Otherwise yeah come down to Melbourne, we have fun night life :)
 
And Auckland, New Zealand ?
 
I'd still recommend renting a car, our public transport is useless. Also, as much as we complain about it our cities are hardly congested in the true sense of the word.
 
sicnarf_1978 said:
That's exactly what I wanted to know. I plan to do a quick trip to Canberra. 5 years ago, they were selling guided tours of Canberra starting from Sydney early in the morning et comming back late. I can also take the train in Sydney in the morning and come back in the night.

For my third city, you gave me my answer. I was thinking that Brisbane was not so different comparing to Sydney and Melbourne. You confirm it to me. And if I am lucky, I will be able to take good photos of the outback from the plane.

If I would have tme and money, I would rent a car (a typical Ford Falcon) in Sydney and make an epic Australian tour... but I have only 2 weeks.
Click to expand...

Indian Pacific will get you across from Sydney to Perth (albeit in three days)and you'll be able to see all of the outback you'll ever want to see! ;)

But seriously though, Canberra is worth a quick visit (a day trip will allow you to see all you need to see such as the war museum and Parliament house).
 
Hbriz said:
I'd still recommend renting a car, our public transport is useless. Also, as much as we complain about it our cities are hardly congested in the true sense of the word.
Click to expand...

In Sydney It isn't so bad if you are catching a train into the city and then bus-ing it around.
 
Within Melbourne city the tram network isn't too bad.
 
Cold Fussion said:
In Sydney It isn't so bad if you are catching a train into the city and then bus-ing it around.
Click to expand...
My experience with Sydney's bus network isn't so great, but yes as long as you stay in the inner city it's not too bad.

nsx_23 said:
Within Melbourne city the tram network isn't too bad.
Click to expand...
True this.

Still, I'd avoid the train to Canberra or using public transport to go anywhere outside the CBD. You're coming this far, why confine yourself to the inner city?
 
It is reserved. October 22 to November 5th. Flight by American Airlines for the Ottawa-Chicago-Los Angeles segment, then Qantas for the rest (including the A380 between LA and Sydney). 5 nights in Sydney, then 4 in Melbourne, then 3 in Auckland, then back home with Qantas and American Airlines.

For public transportation, it cannot be worse than what we have here. Busses passes every hour and no metro or train... in Ottawa, a little bit better with more busses. In Montr?al, they have a good metro system, but the busses are ridiculous... When I went to Sydney 5 years ago, I found the public transport not so bad. But I saw a lot better solutions in Europe. But Europeans don't have kangaroos ! :p

For Canberra, I will probably do a short trip from Sydney. By bus or by train. And I don't plan to rent a car. I don't know the local laws and the road network. But it would be interesting to drive on the good side of the road.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top