Australian Cruise/Land tour/Suggestions?

[Aussie Gal]

ILoveScotland,

 

I have just had a thought that you might be looking at Business Class airfares within Australia. Very few of us fly Business when flying locally so I gave you the prices of Economy.

 

Flying in Australia is very different from flying within the U.S. Qantas economy class is more like First Class on American Air or United. You do get something to eat and drink. The staff on all the airlines are very helpful, friendly and are quite young.

 

Jennie

Edited April 18, 2012 by Aussie Gal

[debshomespun]

Jennie--THANK YOU so much for taking the time to post so much detailed information. It is very much appreciated. I see you have traveled extensively, and have some great insight on these places in Australia. We are looking at a visit in Nov/13, and contemplating the visit to Ayers Rock. Our main focus will be Sydney and The Barrier Reef area, and we are looking at about a month. I have begun to search the information to see what our interests are for those 2 main areas, and if we will have the time and $$$ to add the trip to Ayers Rock. Thanks again.

[ILoveScotland]

Here are the links of the three airlines that fly within Australia. We always book directly with them.

 

Jetstar: http://www.jetstar.com/au/en/home

Virgin Blue: http://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/

Qantas: http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/home/au/en?alt_cam=QAN114:BRAND:ggl:qantas

 

Hope this helps a little.

 

Jennie

 

Great. I'll look at them later today.

 

Beth

[ILoveScotland]

Jennie, picking a specific city each time you visit the US is a great idea.

 

I'll plug my area of the country if you haven't been here which you may have although there's no city involved. The Blue Ridge Parkway which starts in North Carolina follows the ridge line of the mountains up into Virginia where it becomes Sky Line Drive. It is a real treasure.

 

Here's the web site: www.blueridgeparkway.org.

 

Beth

[TLCOhio]

Jennie--THANK YOU so much for taking the time to post so much detailed information. It is very much appreciated. I see you have traveled extensively, and have some great insight on these places in Australia. We are looking at a visit in Nov/13, and contemplating the visit to Ayers Rock. Our main focus will be Sydney and The Barrier Reef area, and we are looking at about a month. I have begun to search the information to see what our interests are for those 2 main areas, and if we will have the time and $$$ to add the trip to Ayers Rock. Thanks again.

 

Hi, Jennie!! I wanted to super second the comments from our Ohio neighbor, debshomespun! Yes, your info is very, very helpful. I have copied your great analysis to my laptop computer files and sent to our friends on this cruise with us. I'm sure I will have added questions and appreciate so much your knowledge and experience.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Did a June 7-19, 2011, Solstice cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Enjoyed great weather and a wonderful trip. Dozens of wonderful visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc., on these postings. We are now at 73,501 views for this live/blog re-cap on our first sailing with Celebrity and much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474

[Aussie Gal]

I am happy to help anyone who visits our country. We have travelled extensively overseas but we also have seen a huge amount of Australia. So if you have any questions at all just ask away.

 

Another great place to visit is Darwin, Kakadu and Litchfield Park. Incredible scenery and Darwin is a great city.

 

Jennie

[Happy retiree1]

Aussie Gal,

 

I have been reading your posts and you are a wealth of information. Thank you so much. We will be spending 3 days in Melbourne in Dec 2013 and I'm having a hard time trying to decide what to see. Perhaps you can help. So far we are touring the GOR for a day, then one day in the city and not sure what to choose for the 3rd day: the Grampians, Penguin Parade tour or take the train by ourselves to Ballarat. We will also be in Sydney (after a 12 cruise AKL to SYD) for 3 days with 1 day in the Blue Mts. I've read good & bad reviews of the Penguin tour so I'm a little ambivalent about it.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Nancy

[Aussie Gal]

Hi Nancy,

 

Thanks for your lovely compliments. I love both our city and our Country and I am always happy to help visitors see the best that is on offer in the time they have available.

 

The Great Ocean Road is a must and is a wonderful drive especially on a lovely, sunny day. Also the day in the city is a must as there is so much to see and do here. On your third day, the Grampians are too far away for a day trip. I love the Grampians but they are a good 3 hour or so drive from Melbourne.

 

The penguins are also a fair drive - about 2 hours - for just an hour when they come out of the water and they only come at dusk so it would be late before you returned back to your hotel. The best way to see the penguins would be to stay a night on Phillip Island and not many visitors are able to spare that extra day. There are penguins down at St. Kilda here in Melbourne, so if you were really desperate, you could take a tram trip down there.

http://stkildapenguins.com.au/skp/?page_id=93

 

A trip to Ballarat on the train is a good idea. Ballarat has a wonderful Art Gallery and is also an interesting city to walk around. You could pop into the Craig's Royal Hotel and have a look around at this very old but wonderful hotel where we stayed for a night last August. It is full of history and Royalty has actually stayed there. http://craigsroyal.com.au/

Or you could take a tour, the freeway is very quick from the city to Ballarat and you would be there within an hour and a half. http://www.discoveraustralia.com.au/victoria_holidays_visiting/ballarat_tours/ http://www.viator.com/tours/Melbourne/Ballarat-and-Sovereign-Hill-Day-Tour-with-Optional-Wildlife-Park-from-Melbourne/d384-2230M3 Taking a tour would let you visit Sovereign Hill which is a bit out of Ballarat though on your own you could hire a taxi but you would need him to return to take you back to the train.

 

Alternatively, we have wonderful Puffing Billy and the Dandenongs, the Yarra Valley and Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary which is also a great day out. These are all a lot closer to Melbourne and are a great tourist attraction. http://www.daytours-victoria.com.au/Healesville%20%26%20Dandenongs.php

http://www.viator.com/tours/Melbourne/Puffing-Billy-Steam-Train-Yarra-Valley-and-Healesville-Wildlife-Sanctuary-Day-Tour/d384-2230M15

Our Dandenongs are beautiful with huge trees and big ferns and as they being so close to Melbourne, they are well worth visiting. These would be my choice for your third day. The Sanctuary is well known as a great place to see our native animals and is part of our wonderful zoos. http://www.zoo.org.au/healesville

 

If you thinking that as we will be visiting the Blue Mountains, why should we see the Dandenongs! They are so different in every way, that you cannot compare them. The Dandenongs are more like a part of England, whereas the Blue Mountains are very rugged.

 

I hope this has helped a little.

 

Jennie

[rugbypopsie]

As a near Sydneysider can I just say again how disappointing to see that every overseas cruise visitor seems to be told to spend their one day in Sydney going to the Blue Mountains there must be a huge profit margin in that tour.

 

Please reconsider...the Blue Mountains are lovely and if you have a few days i would put them on the list but not for your only day. You are visiting one of the most beautiful harbour cities in the world. You can buy a one day public transport pass which gives you unlimited travel on all public ferries, buses, light rail and trains. Just to start take a short walk around to the iconic Opera House, and walk through the gardens bordering the sparkling harbour to Mrs. Macquaries chair for fabulous photos, the Art Gallery is also located nearby. Or you could catch a public bus from the Quay to Bondi Beach and do a clifftop walk (easy few steps) to Tamarama Beach..spectacular. You could climb one of the Harbour Bridge pylons for wonder views up the Harbour...or take a ferry to Manly Beach for lunch...so many choices. If you go to the Blue Mountains you will see miles and miles of boring residential development and spend hours and hours getting there.

 

Sue

[Aussie Gal]

As a near Sydneysider can I just say again how disappointing to see that every overseas cruise visitor seems to be told to spend their one day in Sydney going to the Blue Mountains there must be a huge profit margin in that tour.

 

Please reconsider...the Blue Mountains are lovely and if you have a few days i would put them on the list but not for your only day. You are visiting one of the most beautiful harbour cities in the world. You can buy a one day public transport pass which gives you unlimited travel on all public ferries, buses, light rail and trains. Just to start take a short walk around to the iconic Opera House, and walk through the gardens bordering the sparkling harbour to Mrs. Macquaries chair for fabulous photos, the Art Gallery is also located nearby. Or you could catch a public bus from the Quay to Bondi Beach and do a clifftop walk (easy few steps) to Tamarama Beach..spectacular. You could climb one of the Harbour Bridge pylons for wonder views up the Harbour...or take a ferry to Manly Beach for lunch...so many choices. If you go to the Blue Mountains you will see miles and miles of boring residential development and spend hours and hours getting there.

 

Sue

 

I agree wholeheartedly with Sue. There is so much to see and do in Sydney itself, that a day spent travelling to and from the Blue Mountains in all that traffic is not worth wasting your precious few days in Sydney.

 

We love catching the ferry's on the harbour. There is lovely harbour walk from Mosman to Cremorne which you can do by catching the ferry to Mosman and then returning from Cremorne Point. Even taking a bus to Balmoral Beach is a lovely experience. The Zoo is also a great place to visit with the best views of the Opera House and Harbour.

 

We have also been out to Parramatta and visited the old Government House there as well as visiting Government House in Sydney. If you can book into Bridge Climb before you leave home, you will not be disappointed. Even just walking around the Rocks area and reading the signs, helps you understand how Sydney was first settled.

 

We visit Sydney often and we never run out of things to do in that city.

 

Jennie

[Goingagin]

I'm curious that several people keep saying that flying in Australia is cheaper than the train. Maybe I haven't looked at the right web sites, because the flights I've seen were very expensive.

 

I do understand what everyone is saying about the train, but I have a love for trains and train travel and would enjoy the trip regardless of how much I could see of the countryside. Trains don't cover all of the US either.

 

Well, as I've said, right now I'm just looking at options and certainly appreciate all the suggestions and will put them all into the hopper once I'm ready to make a decision.

Hi Scotland

Well you are certainly raking in the info. Here is some more.

If you want to see the Great Barrier Reef on a cruise I suggest you look up - CAPTAIN COOK CRUISES - That's a VERY good way to see the reef - apart from renting your own Yacht, probably the best way- for off the beaten track I agree with AAT but also try APT Australian Pacific Tours - Everyone is correct about the train - Its flat out there and I mean its flat - there really isn't anything in the middle except Uluru/Olgas - I'd miss Alice Springs (sorry Alice) there are problems there that will spoil your trip - FLY - Try Jet Star/ Virgin Australia - having said that one 0f the BEST drives anywhere in the world is The WEST MACDONALD RANGES (out of THE ALICE) and all the fantastic canyons and waterholes (we're fond of waterholes in Oz.) Now... about New Zealand - If you have seen Lord of the Rings - which is great - ALL THAT SCENERY IS FOR REAL - No special effects needed for New Zealand scenery- the people are great - the food is great - the roads are ******* - so everywhere takes at least 3 times longer to drive than you think but again try AAT or APT.

If you decide to drive in Australia - we drive on the OTHER side of the road and Aussie drivers are NOT polite or forgiving. If you head out of the cities into country side ( with a small population in Oz) you can find yourself in towns that WILL NOT have a standard of accommodation you might like. If staying in Sydney your hotel will have lots of Day trip options - from the Blue mountains to the Hunter Valley and probably even to Canberra (which is interesting) But if heading for Canberra I'd opt for an overnight(or 2) there - bound to be a tour that does that. I'll probably think of lots more as soon as I've finished. Best Advice here - CAPTAIN COOK CRUISES for the GREAT BARRIER REEF.

Enjoy

[rugbypopsie]

Seriously I am so glad there are sites like this to give fellow travellers a hand. We realise that Australia and NZ are a long long flight from pretty much everywhere. The best advice I can give is to not to be too optimistic about how much you can see in one visit. I think its more important to have a great travel experience in a smaller area than to rush through thousands of miles and see almost nothing..just my opinion.

 

One more thing...because our distances are huge, population relatively small and the train options few...yes they are VERY expensive.

 

Sue

[Goingagin]

Goodness, the air fares I saw were close to $1000 - not sure if that was AU or US. Is there one web site for me to look at, or should I look at each airline separately? Because, with this information gives me me something to think about if I can fly that inexpensively. Thanks.

 

Oh, and Amtrak here in the US is not like European trains, either, by a long shot.

 

Beth

 

Do NOT take a P&O cruise out of Australia - they are Not for ferquent cruisers - they are party cruisers for the young or those who have not yet grown up - they even charge for the prawns(shrimps)

[MMDown Under]

We have been researching this area for some time, and are about ready to make some plans to come "Down Under" in November of 2013. Waiting for the RCCL to release their cruises for this time of year. We are planning to fly to Sydney, and stay several days to tour this area. Then, thinking of doing an 11 night Queensland cruise that will have stops in New Castle, Brisbane, Cairns(overnite) and Arlie Beach. Hoping this will give us a real taste of this part of the country. Wanting to know if the cruise would accomplish this, or do you think it would be best done all on land? Looking at cost of land vs. cruise. We do love to cruise, and I was thinking this would be a mix of both worlds to see as much as we can while there.

 

I would also love to go to the islands off the coast. Looking at either the New Caledonia stops vs the ones that also include Vanuatu. Or possibly doing New Zealand while there. We are looking at taking at least a month to visit Australia. We are open to some suggestions from all our friends in Australia. We are open to staying in Sydney for a week, and renting a car for transportation. Not afraid to drive places. Or taking the train, or a flight to another area. I will also be posting this on the Australia boards. Thanks all for your input!

 

You might like to consider hiring a car or campervan and flying into Sydney, out of Cairns. You can then go off highway and visit all the delightful places, beach and bush, which make Australia so wonderful.

 

http://www.visitnsw.com/

 

http://www.queenslandholidays.com.au/

 

If you want to fly into Sydney out of Melbourne -

 

http://www.visitvictoria.com/

[rkhtex]

Wow!~ I just found this thread and it looks like I've made some pretty good choices on my own. We're doing the Celebrity Solstice cruise out of Sydney, leaving March 3. We're flying in a week early, spending a few days in Cairns and a few days at Ayers Rock (where we have booked the Sounds of Silence Dinner). We've booked a trip out of Sydney to the Blue Mountains, and a trip out of Melbourne to the Great Ocean Road. On one of our stops, in Akaroa, we're spending the day with the mailman. I can't wait!!!!!

[Happy retiree1]

Hi Nancy,

 

Thanks for your lovely compliments. I love both our city and our Country and I am always happy to help visitors see the best that is on offer in the time they have available.

 

The Great Ocean Road is a must and is a wonderful drive especially on a lovely, sunny day. Also the day in the city is a must as there is so much to see and do here. On your third day, the Grampians are too far away for a day trip. I love the Grampians but they are a good 3 hour or so drive from Melbourne.

 

The penguins are also a fair drive - about 2 hours - for just an hour when they come out of the water and they only come at dusk so it would be late before you returned back to your hotel. The best way to see the penguins would be to stay a night on Phillip Island and not many visitors are able to spare that extra day. There are penguins down at St. Kilda here in Melbourne, so if you were really desperate, you could take a tram trip down there.

http://stkildapenguins.com.au/skp/?page_id=93

 

A trip to Ballarat on the train is a good idea. Ballarat has a wonderful Art Gallery and is also an interesting city to walk around. You could pop into the Craig's Royal Hotel and have a look around at this very old but wonderful hotel where we stayed for a night last August. It is full of history and Royalty has actually stayed there. http://craigsroyal.com.au/

Or you could take a tour, the freeway is very quick from the city to Ballarat and you would be there within an hour and a half. http://www.discoveraustralia.com.au/victoria_holidays_visiting/ballarat_tours/ http://www.viator.com/tours/Melbourne/Ballarat-and-Sovereign-Hill-Day-Tour-with-Optional-Wildlife-Park-from-Melbourne/d384-2230M3 Taking a tour would let you visit Sovereign Hill which is a bit out of Ballarat though on your own you could hire a taxi but you would need him to return to take you back to the train.

 

Alternatively, we have wonderful Puffing Billy and the Dandenongs, the Yarra Valley and Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary which is also a great day out. These are all a lot closer to Melbourne and are a great tourist attraction. http://www.daytours-victoria.com.au/Healesville%20%26%20Dandenongs.php

http://www.viator.com/tours/Melbourne/Puffing-Billy-Steam-Train-Yarra-Valley-and-Healesville-Wildlife-Sanctuary-Day-Tour/d384-2230M15

Our Dandenongs are beautiful with huge trees and big ferns and as they being so close to Melbourne, they are well worth visiting. These would be my choice for your third day. The Sanctuary is well known as a great place to see our native animals and is part of our wonderful zoos. http://www.zoo.org.au/healesville

 

If you thinking that as we will be visiting the Blue Mountains, why should we see the Dandenongs! They are so different in every way, that you cannot compare them. The Dandenongs are more like a part of England, whereas the Blue Mountains are very rugged.

 

I hope this has helped a little.

 

Jennie

 

Aussie Gal,

Thank you very much for your suggestions/insights and recos for tours. The Daytours-Victoria looks like the perfect tour company for us. Now we just need to find another couple who would like to go along to help defray the cost a bit. The Dandenongs looks like it would be a beautiful trip. We are not much into the touristy places with big crowds but we would love to see the countryside to get a feel for what AU is like outside the cities. Just to clarify, we are actually spending 3 days in Sydney so we'll be sightseeing there for 2 of our 3 days and taking the Blue Mt tour on our 3rd day. Both you & Rugbypopsie are so right, there is so much to see. That's what makes it difficult to decide when you have limited time. We are really looking forward to our trip.

Nancy:)

[Aussie Gal]

Aussie Gal,

Thank you very much for your suggestions/insights and recos for tours. The Daytours-Victoria looks like the perfect tour company for us. Now we just need to find another couple who would like to go along to help defray the cost a bit. The Dandenongs looks like it would be a beautiful trip. We are not much into the touristy places with big crowds but we would love to see the countryside to get a feel for what AU is like outside the cities. Just to clarify, we are actually spending 3 days in Sydney so we'll be sightseeing there for 2 of our 3 days and taking the Blue Mt tour on our 3rd day. Both you & Rugbypopsie are so right, there is so much to see. That's what makes it difficult to decide when you have limited time. We are really looking forward to our trip.

Nancy:)

 

Nancy,

 

Your time in Sydney sounds a good balance. Enjoy our country and I hope that you will return home with many happy memories the same as we have after visiting your country. We particularly love Washington DC, New York of course, who doesn't live that vibrant city and Chicago which was a big surprise! We have also visited Boston, San Francisco, Seattle, New Orleans, Las Vegas and Los Angeles and last but not least Hawaii and all the islands which we love.

 

Australia is like the U.S. in that it covers a huge distance and you can only do so much in a short time. We have been to the U.S. five times now and we think it may be our last but who knows, one can never say never.

 

If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to ask. Cruise Critic is a great way to find out any information on travelling.

 

Jennie

Edited February 21, 2013 by Aussie Gal

[donaldsc]

ILoveScotland,

 

The Ghan is a very expensive exercise and though it is a lot quicker than most of our rail lines, you could fly many times between Adelaide and Alice Springs for what you will be paying out.

 

 

 

Jennie

 

I am not sure if they still offer it but if you join the American Youth Hostel Association and you are willing to give up a sleeper compartment, you can get some really good deals on the Australian Railways. We went from Darwin to Adelaide with a layover of several days in Alice Springs for $362.

 

Check them out -

http://greatsouthernrail.com.au/site/backpacker.jsp

 

DON

[Desert Cruizers]

We are looking forward to our first visit to Sydney and will be arriving 2 days pre cruise next March 2014 for a 13 day NZ cruise, we then will spend 9 days in Sydney seeing the sights and outlinning areas. The Blue Mountains is on the list but we also want to spend time seeing Sydney and surrounding areas. If we had planned a land trip vs a cruise, we would have spent the time driving around and seeing more of Australia.

 

Gay

[Aussie Gal]

We are looking forward to our first visit to Sydney and will be arriving 2 days pre cruise next March 2014 for a 13 day NZ cruise, we then will spend 9 days in Sydney seeing the sights and outlinning areas. The Blue Mountains is on the list but we also want to spend time seeing Sydney and surrounding areas. If we had planned a land trip vs a cruise, we would have spent the time driving around and seeing more of Australia.

 

Gay

 

Gay,

 

It is a pity that of your time in Sydney - 9 days - that you couldn't have spent some time in another area. In other words, divided up your 9 days so that you spent say 4 or 5 days in Sydney and 4 days somewhere else such as Tasmania or down here in beautiful Melbourne or in Queensland. Sydney is a wonderful city but spending the entire time there is like us spending our time in the U.S. in just Washington DC or Chicago and saying we have seen the U.S. You are only seeing one city of a vast country and I do believe that after 4 or 5 days you will be running out of things to do unless you hire a car and head for Canberra or go up or down the coast though if you were here now, you would run into floods and rain as Sydney and N.S.W. have had a very wet summer whereas down here in beautiful Melbourne, we haven't had rain since November and have had a lovely warm summer.

 

Jennie

[Desert Cruizers]

Hi Jennie the details of the 9 days haven't been fully planned yet, our daughter would love to do a trip to Queensland and I would also love to see other areas, but because it will be our first trip, not sure which direction to go . I have looked at doing a Coastal drive but not sure we wish to drive oursleves. My DH sister has now joined us so we are trying to stay within her budgit now. Both my husband & I love seeing the country.

 

Gay

[Aussie Gal]

The coastal drive between Sydney and Melbourne on the Princes Highway is a lovely trip where you will see some beautiful scenery as well as drive through huge forests. It would take 3 days to do it, staying two nights or you could do it even more leisurely. It is not a busy highway as most people drive down the Hume from Sydney to Melbourne.

 

From Sydney, you could also hire a car and drive 2.5 hours north to Port Stephens, a lovely unpoilt area and stay a night or so. From there you could return to Sydney via the Hunter Valley which is a wine growing area. We were there in November and loved our time in that special part of Australia.

 

As your daughter wants to see QLD, I presume she means the Far North and the Barrier Reef, so the only way in a short time is to fly. If she only wants to go to the Gold Coast then again flying is the easiest way to go. The highway between Sydney and Brisbane/Gold Coast is very busy and would be quite stressful to drive.

 

Have fun planning and researching.

 

Jennie

Edited February 25, 2013 by Aussie Gal

[Goingagin]

Hi Jennie the details of the 9 days haven't been fully planned yet, our daughter would love to do a trip to Queensland and I would also love to see other areas, but because it will be our first trip, not sure which direction to go . I have looked at doing a Coastal drive but not sure we wish to drive oursleves. My DH sister has now joined us so we are trying to stay within her budgit now. Both my husband & I love seeing the country.

 

Gay

Be warned - there are very few 'coastal' drives in Oz where you can ACTUALLY see the sea - One is from Cairns to Port Douglas in FNQ (Far North Queensland) and another is the Great Ocean Road in Victoria ( In US terms that means one is in Florida and one is in Maine ( That sort of distance apart) A 'coastal' drive from say Brisbane to Cairns (QUEENSLAND) would take about 4 days of 8 hour drives (truckies can do it more quickly of course) Our distances are huge and we do not have your lovely roads (or polite drivers) and there are some VERY long stretches in Aust where there is nothing!!

For a nine day glimpse of Oz perhaps Sydney for three days- harbour ferries instead of a cruise (more economical - used by commuters so not expensive) - a trip to Manly beach - fish and chips on the beach, Ferry to the Zoo - best located zoo in the world for views over a city.Good OZZIE animals to see. A train to the Blue Mountains and they have a HOHO there - lots of places to pick up food for a picnic at one of the outlooks. This would be a full day trip. Just walk the city - What the HOHO does you may as well walk - If you really want to go to Bondi (not our best beach although most famous) - there are lots buses from Circular Quay (near Opera House). Another option for country side is a day trip to the Hunter Valley (wine region) but get a tour to avoid the traffic.If you would like a drive then to Canberra - our Capital City would certainly give you a taste of the countryside (about a 6/7 hour drive depending on how long it takes to get out of the city and an overnight for two nights - Better though would be to find a tour that goes to Canberra and does it for you. What's left - 3 days? There are so many great places. Probably top is

1)THE GREAT BARRIER REEF (4/5 hour FLIGHT) from Sydney to Cairns

2)ULARU (4/5 hour FLIGHT TO ULARU) - dont go to Alice Springs ( it about the same distance as Las Vagas to the Grand Canyon as Alice is to the Rock - but without the road, gas, or facilities ... 'Oh we'll stop at the next place' - miss the one stop fill up and THAT'S IT

3) KAKADO - you don't have the time

4) BUNGLEBUNGLES - you don't have the time

5) TASMANIA - is lovely but you would need more than the time to get around to the best bits

6) Melbourne if you like to shop and eat - they have some great places to visit but are all OUT - Dandenongs, Great Ocean Road.

 

I appreciate the budget thing - and Australia is expensive. Having said that we all speak a form of English (LAUGHTER) and local transport is good. From memory I think there is a travel lodge in Sydney (WYNARD) which is well located and friends from US have stayed there and found it well located and reasonably priced. With only about 22/25 Million People in Aust and we are approx the same size as the lower 48 - there is not the infrastructure on roads or facilities. Our major road ( HIGHWAY ONE ) is for 90% of its circuit two lanes - one each way.(and some of that is dirt track)

I hope I haven't put you off - it is great down here but like the States you are not going to see a lot in 9 days (imagine trying to tell someone what to see in nine days in the US)

[Aussie Gal]

Goingagain,

 

I disagree with you regarding our roads. Here in Victoria, our Hume Freeway is four lanes all the way from the border to Melbourne. What happens in N.S.W. is another thing Also we have great freeways to Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo.

 

Also, you could easily spend 3 to 4 days in Melbourne. Besides shopping and eating which you seem to think is all we have to offer, there are the wonderful buildings. We have a city that has the most Victorian buildings outside of London. We don't have a harbour or an Opera House but we do have wonderful wide streets, trams, little Lanes, great Arcades and the best Art Galleries in Australia. Most U.S. visitors who come here, prefer Melbourne to Sydney as we are so different. We have the most beautiful gardens and parks, a great Zoo and a fantastic Museum with great aboriginal artifacts. Plus the wonderful sporting precincts that surround our city.

 

From here, one can do a trip along the Great Ocean Road which is a true Ocean Road and also a visit to the Dandenongs, Puffing Billy, the Yarra Valley and our Healesville Sanctuary. There is certainly plenty to keep you busy in our fantastic part of the world. Plus we have great weather. No rain since the beginning of November unlike other parts of our country.

 

Jennie

[Desert Cruizers]

I probably should have clerified the plans at the moment, which Jeannie was answering me on. We are doing a 13 day NZ cruise then upon our return to Sydney on April 1, 2014, we will have 9 days to sight see. I didn't really want to spend all those 9 days in Sydney, but perhaps say April 2 to 5, then travel to the Blue Mountains for one day, and possibly another day or two outside Sydney. Our 2nd cruise will depart Sydney on April 10th of 2014. Our daughter who is traveling with us wants to see Queensland if she can during the 9 days we have.

 

During the 13 day NZ cruise we will visit, the three Sounds, Dunedin, Akaroa, Wellington, Tauranga, Auckland & Bay of Islands from March 19 to April 1, 2014. We will revisit Wellington during on Transpacific April 10th, 2014.

 

Goinagin, with so much to see in our US and much of it I have not even seen, I would only be able to skim places to see.

 

We are so looking forward to visiting Australia and the Ports in NZ for the first time and realize, 9 days isn't enough time to see as much as we would like unless we had planned to travel by car and not cruise. I appreciate all the information I have received on CC since I began planning our journey.:)

 

Gay