Travel Answers

Australia

Hi, I'm a 37 year old woman and I'm thinking of travelling alone to oz and New Zealand. I have travelled alone before in the states and Vietnam but I'm not really into it, unfortunately due to circumstances again ill be travelling alone. It is easy to meet people when you are younger I think and most people who backpack are in their gap year. Has anyone travelled when a little older or any advice on meeting people my age over there?? Any advice would be appreciated. Xx

We are a family of four - 2 kids aged 17 and 14 and are looking at touring Tassie in December. We were thinking of hiring a motorhome but are now considering hiring a car and booking accommodation. My question is: is it better to stay in a central location or locations and do day trips or are we better to drive to the next town and stay? Any itinerary suggestions would also be appreciated. Thanks in advance, Trisha

We are going to be in sydney in July what kind of weather should we typically expect? And do museums and attractions close earlier in winter?

best half day tour please?

Hi me, my wife and 3 yr old daughter plan on visiting Perth on 1st week of july 2013.It's our first time to travel abroad from Manila. We are staying for 3 to 4 days.Are there any hotels near or in the city with price range 80-120 aud per night? How about transportation to and from the airport? We also like to visit places of interest that are child friendly. Waiting for you suggestions. Many Thanks in advance.

I am a 21yr old female from the uk, I want to come to australia on a working visa for a year, i want to travel for a few weeks, then settle and find a job fruit picking or what ever i am not fussy, but there's a few things i would really appreciate some advice on as I dont know anyone who has travelled before -

1. Would £2,500 GBP be enough money to enter the country on a working visa?

2. I am looking to travel for maybe a few weeks untill my money starts running out, then I am planning on finding a job, where would the best place to do this be? I would like to go somewhere lively on the coast, but when the time comes, a job is easy to find?

I have my flight and visa money saved, I just dont want to book it untill I am sure £2,500 will be enough to last a few weeks and where I need to book my flight to!

All answers would be really appreciated as I have no idea where to start!

Hi, We are staying at the whitsunday apartments and they dont appear to have BBQ facilities. Are there any public BBQs eg in a park that we could use?

Whitsunday apartments are self contained and we are ordering our groceries through coles on line.

Me and my wife are travelling to Australia for the first time this year(2013).
The travel dates are going to be from 8th to 31st of August. This gives us approximately 3 weeks of time in the continent. That's about 23 days including all the traveling.

Right now we are THINKING of covering : Adelaide - Alice Springs - Carins - Gold Coast - Sydney - Melbourne and back.

One concern is that how to we plan the itinerary, as it all depends on where we land and start the journey.
For Example, if we land in Adelaide, then the route that we might follow is Adelaide (1 night) -> Alice springs (2 nights) -> Carins (3 nights) -> Gold Coast (5 nights) -> Sydney (4 nights) and Melbourne (4 nights) leaving me about 3 more nights. I am guessing in this whole route I have not counted the time that will be required to travel between these places. Or should I land in Brisbane or Melbourne and plan the route accordingly.
I mentioned Brisbane because thats where Gold coast is and a lot of activities to cover. So I am not sure if we should keep it in the starting of our trip or during the middle.

Or should I just skip Adelaide & Alice springs and give more time to the other cities mentioned.

I would also like to know what are the "must do" things that need to be done in each city. For example, I am not sure what exactly there would be in adelaide This can probably be used as a rest day after 24 hours of travel. In Alice Spring there is the Ayers Rock, but that's about it (Hence, is Adelaide and Alice Springs really worth the extra cash that we might be spending, as I know its quite expensive to reach the Ayers Rock)

In Carins, we plan to do the coral reef (not sure which cruise / boat is the best in providing a tour of the reef, and scuba diving as such).

Coming to Brisbane , there is as such nothing to do there, so we would be heading directly to Gold Coast. In Gold coast, I suppose there are lots of attractions, namely : Dream world, Sea World, Movie world ,(not sure if i will do Wet n Wild). Then the speed jet boat ride. Apart from that if there is anything that needs to be done , do let us know.

From Gold Coast, its off to Sydney, where I am not sure what all things to do, as there is just too much to cover. And finally ending it all in Melbourne, even here I am not sure which all places to visit.

This is more or less the thought process that we are in now, and a lot of confusion as to even take this trip or not. As we would be traveling all the way from Bahrain and spending a lot of money. It'll probably be once in a life trip for us, as it would be tough to come back again, unless a job opportunity calls in.

I would appreciate anyone who could guide us in the right direction and help us out through your experiences.

Thanks
Nirmit

off to brisbane in november aint had all that much responses on other forums just curious who else is heading out to that are around november december time as would like to get chatting to a few other people travellled on my own in the past but australia is such a popular place would like to meet a few others heading out

Hi,Guys...I am going to Melbourne next week and travel alone,I am backpacker,so i will travel around Melbourne by taking train or bus...Is there any way I can check timetable for that?
Thanks
Geela

I will be visiting Brisbane Aust for a workshop. I would want to know where the cheapest place is to shop. I will be at the Royal Albert Hotel.

Hi, I am thinking to go to Melbourne but want to know if there is any bus or shuttle from the international terminal to Melbourne CBD...

If anyone can share the info, that will be great!

Thanks!!

Hi,
I will be travelling to Perth from KSA in mid of Oct 13 with my wife and two little kids (4yr & 2yr). I have to complete the immigration landing formalities in this visit. Please advise where to live and where to visit with little kids.
How will be weather in Oct? Thanks

i am on my way to brisbane in december will land on the 31st of november and will want to get to dao some thionk as soon as so any ideas help hostels nighrtspots or eoutes up to lakefield or down into sydney would be greatly appreciated thanks in advance

My family of 8 adults and 5 children will be travelling to Gold Coast at the end of June 2013. We plan to travel to Sydney to visit my sister while we are there and rent a van for 12 seaters. Anyone can provide me the best car rental?

Planning a trip to australia and need a little advice.
London to sydney Dec 13 to be in sydney for new year as a start, then on to alice springs, cairns and Brisbane. Obviously from what i have read its essential to book accomodation for sydney in advance but wondering if just to go with flow re accomodation for rest of trip ???
Cheers for any advice

Hello folks, I am a 22 year old from Belfast, Ireland. i have just been granted a 12 month working holiday visa to Australia and i intend on going early 2014, ALONE!! I've been reading quite a few websites and will continue to do so, but just thought i would come here and ask someone who has recently done the 12 month travelling, working in fruit picking and that alike and also arranging short stay accommodation to see if they could give me any tips.

This is all quite new to me so i don't have any definite locations to start off, where to work or stay so any information is highly appreciated! Thanks!

Anyone be so kind to share experience n recommendation?

We are a couple in our sixties and need a apartment for a month to six weeks in dec/jan when our daughter has her baby. We need an apartment to rent but hopefully not at an exorbitant price. Can anyone advise us as to good plces to look. Thank you.

What is the price for kids and adults to go fossicking in the sapphire gemfield in the central highlands in Queensland?

I wanted to check if I was completely crazy. I've never been to Australia before but have the opportunity to go the Lions third test in Sydney. The issue is (because of work/other commitments) I can only realistically go for the weekend. I would fly out on Thursday from London and arrive in Sydney on the Saturday (early morning), go to the game on Saturday evening, leave late on Sunday and arrive back in London on Monday. I would effectively spend more time in the air than on the ground in Australia. It would be in business class, which will help somewhat, but I am concerned that I would simply find the jet-lag, etc too much - I have never flown that distance before. (I am a late-40s male, good health, used to flying to Asia/West-coast US). Opinions welcome.

MY TRAVELING PARTNER CAN NOT ACCOMPANY ME FOR 5-6 WEEKS IN EASTERN AUSTRALIA AND A CRUISE AROUND NEW ZEALAND LEAVIING AUKLAND. SHARING COSTS IS CRUCIAL. I HAVE ROUND TRIP FROM PENSACOLA TO SYDNEY 9/1/13 PLUS ROUND TRIP TO AND FROM AUKLAND 10/1-15/13. WOULD LIKE TO DO A CRUISE AROUND NEW ZEALAND AND SPLITTING COST OF THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT. DATES MIGHT BE FLEXIBLE, BUT NOT FOR LONG. I AM AN ALMOST 70 YEAR OLD NON SMOKING FEMALE WHO LOVES TO TRAVEL. LAST SOJOURN WAS ALMOST 3 WEEKS IN SOUTHERN CHINA AND JAPAN. TOKYO WAS MIND BOGGLING. I ABSOLUTELY LOVED GUILIN. I HAVE REFERENCES, REFERENCES FROM "PROFESSIONAL HONEST AND JUST "GOOD" PEOPLE I TRUST WITH A KEY TO MY HOME AND OTHER THINGS. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS? TRAVELING ALONE IS KINDA LONELY.

Hi everybody,
We are a beautiful couple, a italian and a french, and we're looking for 2 people who want to make the travel with us from Cairns to Brisbane. We have a big camper for four people.
We'll leave the 10 of June and we want to arrive in Brisbane max the 12 of June.
Quick journey but comfortable.
Cheers.
Caroline and Luca.

I need to decide on the best transport from a motel in main beach to the gold coast airport. My husband is not in the best of health so is a taxi the best and quickest option when being seated in a car or a transport company ? If a taxi is the better option I was wondering what the "approximate'' charge is.

Hi all,

I was just wondering if anyone has been to Monkey Mia and has been out on a yacht?
What was it like?
Was any harm done to the animals?
Was the yacht eco-friendly?

Thanks,
Much appreciated

Which way did you go?

Hello,
My wife and I are flying from the US in January for a road trip from the Gold Coast to Cairns, we're going to be there for 16 days an would love to know what places we should hit up along the long winding road to the great barrier reef.
We do road trips here in the states all the time, last year we went from coast to coast via Route 50, saw long stretches of nothing but was worth the experience.
As we are flying into Brisbane we'd like to know what places, beaches, restaurants, and sights to see along the way.
What beaches should we hit up? what places should we avoid? Where are places to meet people and share an experience?
Any suggestions would be great. Thank you
-D

I am looking for the name & phone number of shop on the corner of Boonara st where Lawsons realty used to be

Hi all. Ive posted before regarding a place to stay and i came across this apartment. I kinda like it already, but before i actually book it, is this place convenient enough? Is public transport access close enough? Cafe? All within walking distance maybe? I am travelling with my mom, hence I would prefer everything within walking distance. I am aware that to visit 'things-do-to' places, we may need to travel by bus, but what i wanted to know is if we were to take the morning off or the day off from travelling by transport, going down to this street, will there be a handful to see and do? Or should I make a booking at "Breakfree Peninsula Apartment"? Thank you all!

Help Please, my inbox is filling up with general questions about places I have no interest in or know about. How can I stop these emails or do I have to close my VT account?
Thanks