Australia Travel Forum

Wife's birthday coming up and she'd like to go whale watching in Hervey Bay. Number of whale watch operators, all of which I'm sure will be quite adequate and professional. However, I was wondering if anyone could advise of personal experiences on any of the following tours and their recommendations:
Tasman Venture, Spirit of Hervey Bay, Quick Cat II, that's Awesome, Mikat, Whalesong, Blue Dolphin, Shayla and Volante III.

Any recommendations on best time of day? Some info I've got says in the morning for calmer seas, others say in the afternoon for increased whale activity.

While the "season" starts mid-July and finishes end-November, when would the best time be?

Appreciate any inputs! Thanks.

Hi, I'm planning for my first trip to Perth for 5-7 days in Sept. However, I can't find any accommodation is under US$40/night. As I understand from the forum that transportation system is very good in Perth, think it won't be a big headache if the guest house/motel is not in the down town? Can anybody help?

Many tks.

Arrive Darwin 1pm Saturday 1st August and joining tour Sunday Evening which leave us the remainder of Saturday and all day Sunday to do our own thing pre tour.
The tour includes a morning tour of Darwin Monday.

Any suggestions of special things happening weekend, including markets, possible boat cruise, where to take good photos and a good place for dinner Saturday night, something casual.

What is the best way to get around on weekend, public transport or taxi. We will be ataying at the Vibe hotel, which they say is on the dge of the city centre and close to wharf.

Appreciate all information.

Mike

Does anyone know a good website in Perth to find a room to rent?

thanks

Hi
Is there a coach service that would take me from Gold Coast Airport to Brisbane CBD?
Thanks.

Arriving in Hobart from Auckland via Melbourne late on 10 Feb. Got 10 nights to see as much as possible of the island. Leaving on early flight on 20 Feb. How far is the airport from downtown Hobart, or should we book an airport hotel? Any recs for a reliable car rental co? Is it easy enough to pick up accomm on the hoof?

I am taking my Mom to Australia for the first time in August. We land in Sydney at 6 AM on Tuesday, August 11 and we fly home from Sydney at 2 PM on Wednesday, August 26th, so that gives us 16 days in country. I love adventure and nature but I'm going to save the cage diving off the Great Barrier Reef for the next trip since my mom isn't a certified diver. My mom is in her mid-50s and although she is cultured and loves the wine and arts, etc. she also loves hiking and nature. We have taken several road trips together over the years, stopping at every national park and "world's largest ball of twine" along the way. So we'd love to take a road trip in Australia together.

We'd love to see some of the Outback and I hear that the Savannah Way is a must-do drive that passes through several national parks and the outback. So we are thinking about a couple days in Sydney with a day trip (or possibly an overnight) to the Hunter Valley for some wine tasting. Then we would fly to Darwin (or possibly Alice Springs??) and rent a car and drive PART of the Savannah Way, through the Kimberley Region to Broome. From Broome we would fly back to Sydney and spend a final couple days there.

Do we have enough time to do this? Is this a good route? How many days would we need to do this portion of the Savannah Way? Any other recommendations?

Hi ppl, i will be reaching perth this coming sunday 28th jun. will be leaving on the 1st july.
I am planning an overnight farmstay and 3 days city stay.
I plan to rent a car, should i go for the farm stay at swan valley first followed by the city stay? i heard that parking in the city is quite expensive. Should i use public transport while travelling around in city- fremantle, kings park , bell tower etc..

Hope that someone can give me some good advice. thanks in advance.

Hi all,

I'm arriving into Sydney airport (travelling from Ireland) next monday early in the morning at about 8am. Whats the best way of getting from the airport to Bondi Junction? Is there a direct train/bus I can get? How much would a taxi cost at around 8am?

Thanks

Does anyone know of a website with cheap flights from Melbourne to Lima, Peru. I am considering going over there late October.

The only website (in Australia) that I've ever really used for flights is Flight Centre. Can anyone recommend something for me?

I have booked my first trip to Australia for my 18 year old son & I mid-July this year. I only have one week and want to hit nice Caribbean type waters. Is the only way to do that to go all the way up to Cairns? Do people go to the beach and snorkel around Sydney in July? Thank you so much for your help...am desperate!

Hi all,

I need a bit of help. I am traveling to Sydney from US on Qantas. I arrive there at 8:05 am on a Friday. I want to buy some tickets to go to Christchurch, New Zealand flying Emirates. The flight is at 10:15 am. Do I have enough time to clear the immigration/customs and check in on the other flight? I guess both flights use the international terminal, right?
So would 2 hours and 10 mins be enough for this? I've never been to Sydney (or Australia for that matter) and have no idea how busy the airport gets.
Btw, I need an Australian visa being a citizen of Romania (even though I am a US resident). Would this result in a longer immigration line?

Thank you!

Hi!

I was just wondering which option would be better.

Should I book the tours I want beforehand, or book when I arrive in Perth?
Which option would be cheaper? or will it cost the same?


Thanks.

Hi! I'm going to Sydney with my friend in July for five weeks. Since it's quite a long period of time, could you please give me some tips of interesting places/activities in Sydney and environs (Sydney chiefly, we'll have a restricted access to the car)? Please bear in mind that it's winter and many activities are automatically excluded, so I'd like not to end up being bored to tears, not knowing what to do with something like eg. 2 weeks left :). Send both well-known and not really popular, but worthwhile alternatives - I'v been there twice already and would like to see something new (won't mind to see some old places, though - it's sooo beutiful there).
Thanks a lot, Peter

I have 4 nights to spend on Airlie beach/ whitsundays and would like some advice on what to do about accomodation. Would it be better for me to book 4 nights accom in Airlie and do day tours out to the islands or are there good places to stay on the islands themselves? Also can anyone recommended any good tours of the islands? Thanks!

I'm looking for advice on the best place to launch a one-day snorkeling trip to the Great Barrier Reef. It seems like Cairns is the place to be, but I have visions of being overwhelmed with tourists and lots of tourist traps (we're traveling first two weeks in Sept). Any recommendations for off-the-beaten path launch points that will offer great experiences without all the crowds? Mission Beach or Port Douglas? Can you still get a good feel for the Reef in Hamilton?

Hi,
We are a family of 4 (all Adult) from Malaysian. We need a comment from Melbourne/Victorian or Australian people regarding my itinerary. I had made a booking on the accommodations and car rental together with GPS already. You can kindly suggest any recommended activities to us. If driving, is the parking available easily at location mentioned below? and what is the average parking rate per hour?

Day 1,July 25 (5.00am): Drive from Melbourne airport to Apollo Bay (190km). Stop by along the Great Ocean Road for sunrise (what time is the sunrise during winter?). Check-in early at Apollo Bay Backpackers' Lodge, cook for breakfast and packed lunch. Without wasting any time, straight to Twelve Apostles at Port Campbell (another 92km driving). If had enough time, stop by at Otway Fly Treetop Walk.

Day 2, July 26 (6.00am): Drive from Apollo Bay to Phillip Island (325km). Passing thru' Lorne and Torquay. Stop by at any surfing shop (if open). Estimated time to arrive at A Maze N Things Phillip Island is around noon. Visit Penguin Parade, Koala Conservation Centre and Churchill Island.

Day 3, July 27: Drive as early as we can from Phillip Island to Lake Mountain Alphine Resort (190km). Take a sStandard 90 Minute Ski Lesson with Equipment cost AUD34/person. Spend the whole day here because we never experience the snow before. Later at late evening, drive to melbourne city and check-in at Melbourne International back. (AUD24pp/night)

Day 4, July 28: Today's plan is to go to Queen Victoria Market, Melbourne River Cruise (AUD29pp), Federation Square, Melbourne Museum and St. Kilda (for sunset)

Day 5, July 29: Today's plan is to go to Melbourne Sentral, Royal Botanic Garden, Street Art : Yarra River Gallery, Royal Exhibition Building and melbourne zoo. Return car at 11.00pm at d airport

Day 5, July 30: at 00:45, fly to Kuala Lumpur Malaysia. End of our journey

Hi - going to Noosa for a wedding in November and was wondering if anyone could recommend affordable accommodation close to Witta Circle? A B&B would be ideal. Otherwise any 3 star-rated hotels/motels?

Thanks

I just posted some excellent deals on Singapore Airlines from US and UK in Travel Deals which may be of interest to those travelling to Airlie Beach. Deals are for travel from 1 Sep and go to many destinations including Sydney and Brisbane.

My wife and I and our 16 yr old son will be spending two nights at Ayres Rock in July. All of the tours are rather expensive. We got the cheapest accomadation (bunk beds at the pioneer) but I wonder if the tours are worth it or should I rent a car? We don't plan on climbing the rock but want to see the caves and paintings. It also sounds worthwhile to visit Kata Tjuta.

Any thoughts?

Mike in Alaska

We will be in Cairns for two full days in July. From reading this board it seems wise to wait till we get to cairns to book a reef trip. We also plan on taking the railway and skyrail. I have also read its best to go from Port Douglas for snorkling. I read a tip for "Wavelength" but it only has full day trips that visit 3 reefs and it costs about 200. It seems a bit much. Know of any 1/2 day trips for snorkling?

My wife and I will be in Sydney for the first time for 8 days in a few weeks. We will be staying downtown, not far from the Harbor. I was told not to rent a car due to not being familiar with right hand drive and traffic. It appears there are good trains and buses. A week pass is $170pp. It includes ferries. We plan on also going out of Sydney whenever possible, blue mts etc. I also think its extra for the airport and out of town.

Is this pass a better option than using taxis? Are taxis reasonable for two or more expensive. Any thoughts?

Mike from Alaska

Hi all,

I will be travel with my 14 years son to Melbourne for holidays in Mid July. How bad is this flu affected the locals? Is it safe to bring my son for travel at this time?

I was worried that i need to cancel my trip and dissapointed my son. Please let me know the most update news from Melbourne on this outbreak.

Thanks a lot!

Irene

My wife and I are traveling to Australia in February 2010 for 2 weeks and know that this is the hot/rainy season in Cairns. Consequently, I wanted to see if people though it was still worth visiting Cairns/Great Barrier Reef for a day to go diving/snorkeling or would we better served spending all of our time in the south? As an fyi, we also plan to go to Sydney, Melbourne and drive along the Great Ocean Road for a couple of days.

Hi - I am hoping to get to Brisbane for a week or so in August - partly to stay with family in Albany (which I know is a fair way out) and partly to attend a festival at the Judith Wright Centre in Brunswick Street Fortitude Valley. That is Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

It seems to me that if I want to go to the late night events and socialise then I had better find a hostel to doss down in on those nights close to the venue rather than try and use public transport to get back to Albany.

Has anyone got any suggestions for a hostel within staggering distance of Brunswick Street?

I am an older lady so want to feel welcome, if you know what I mean.

Also, as I don't know Brisbane well, can you tell me, is Fortitude Valley inner city?

AND - how far out is the airport? There is a bus, train into the city? How much does it cost?

Hi forum

Do you recommend travelling around the east coast or west coast during August? Plan to rent car to travel around but being winter what's the roads condition like? I'll be flying into Hobart midweek and out of Hobart on the weekend.
Thank you!!

OK, if you were a group of 5 friends touring Tasmania starting in Hobart and ending with either Launceston or Davenport, what would YOU see for the roughly 11 days or so that your touring the island in a self rented car? Mind you this will be in early November of 2010.

Hi, can anyone tell me if there is somewhere to store our luggage when we leave our ship at circular quay? Or perhaps at the train station? We have the whole day in Sydney before we need to go to the airport. At this stage we plan to catch the train to the airport, probably cheaper than a taxi??! Thank you for all suggestions. Anna&Kym

I'm tempted to fly to Australia, but I want to explore the feasibility of going for one week.

Above all, low ticket prices have caught my attention...I have Labor Day week off in September, and round trip fares can be had for less than $800 out of Detroit, which is much cheaper than average.

However, would you consider the jet lag to be too debilitating for a 1 week trip? I've been to Europe and that was not too difficult to adjust to, but I am sure that this is a whole different animal.

also, if I fly to Sydney, is it easy to get around without and car and keep busy for a week? Is it rather cold then? (cold being a relative term, as I'm from Michigan)

I frequently take crazy weekend flights to random places and go on little sleep while being fueled by excitement, but this is a whole new level for me, so thanks for your input.

Other than Great Barrier Reef, any suggestions for the region visit for 2 days? I plan to spent one day for Great Barrier Reef in Port Douglas which only leave me for 2 days in the area.