Vacation. or how you would say it Holiday?

PoorMtnKid · **Posted:** Wed Apr 29, 2009 5:09 pm

So my lady and I want to plan a trip down under for sept of 2010. I have been researching online trying to get ideas on what city would be best to go and what to do while there. So far it seems like Sydney would be the best bet. From what I have read there is a lot of history their, beaches near by and zoos/aquarium. We are out doors type of people. I deff want to surf while Iam there. If possible check out some wild life. Any suggestions on where we should stay and what we should do would be great from some locals. Thanks!

Glend · **Posted:** Wed Apr 29, 2009 5:36 pm

The Australian 2010 Jeep Jamboree is going to be held in September (later part of the month probably) in Victoria. You might find that interestng.

pipeliner · **Posted:** Wed Apr 29, 2009 6:10 pm

Depends on why you want to come to Australia. Sydney is a big city (Australia's biggest) and can offer you everything a big city has to offer - but it is not what makes Australia what it is. Same thing with the Gold Coast - great surfing but it looks like Miami Beach (it even has a suburb called Miami).

How long is your holiday? I'd suggest flying in to Sydney, spending a few days there seeing the sights, then hiring a car or camper (RV) and driving via the inland route to Brisbane or Adelaide so you get to see the inland towns which is where the spirit of Australia really lives. Places like Broken Hill and Longreach are well worth visiting. Don't forget that Australia is a large place - we think nothing of driving a few hundred kilometres to visit somewhere for the weekend (sometimes just for the day).

A city zoo is a zoo is a zoo - Taronga Park in Sydney is a good one but I wouldn't fly halfway round the world to visit it. In September far better to go to Central Queensland where you can go whale watching from Hervey Bay (you have to experience a huge humpback whale breaking surface and diving 20m from the boat) then go further north and snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef - no aquarium can compare to that! Not much good surf up there though - you have to come further south for that. Take a tour to Fraser Island, the world's largest sand island - you can either be part of a tour or hire a 4wd and go by yourself.

By the way, I'm not really a local - I came here from the UK a mere 26 years ago!

pipeliner · **Posted:** Wed Apr 29, 2009 6:25 pm

By the way, a lot of our roads in the outback are a single width bitumen strip with gravel hard shoulders - when another vehicle approaches you, you both pull over so that you have the outside wheels on the bitumen and the inside wheels on the gravel to pass one another. DO NOT FORGET THAT WE PASS RIGHT SIDE TO RIGHT SIDE - when you've been driving for a few hours without seeing another vehicle it's easy to do what comes naturally, which in your case would result in a nasty accident!

And if the vehicle coming towards you is a big Mack semi with two trailers on the back, pull off completely and let him pass - coz he certainly won't be pulling over for you!

corwyyn · **Posted:** Wed Apr 29, 2009 7:21 pm

pipeliner wrote:

Take a tour to Fraser Island, the world's largest sand island - you can either be part of a tour or hire a 4wd and go by yourself.

Are you folks possibly going to do another Fraser Island trip sometime around then (hint hint?).

Glend · **Posted:** Wed Apr 29, 2009 7:24 pm

Gee I haven't been to Fraser Island since 1998. If there's ever a trip being planned for there just let me know.

pipeliner · **Posted:** Wed Apr 29, 2009 7:37 pm

corwyyn wrote:

pipeliner wrote:

Take a tour to Fraser Island, the world's largest sand island - you can either be part of a tour or hire a 4wd and go by yourself.

Are you folks possibly going to do another Fraser Island trip sometime around then (hint hint?).

Corwyn, just let us know if (when) you come over and we'll organise a trip in a flash!

Fouros · **Posted:** Wed Apr 29, 2009 7:58 pm

corwyyn wrote:

pipeliner wrote:

Take a tour to Fraser Island, the world's largest sand island - you can either be part of a tour or hire a 4wd and go by yourself.

Are you folks possibly going to do another Fraser Island trip sometime around then (hint hint?).

give us the dates mate and i would go to fraser in a flash

Team J.a.G · **Posted:** Wed Apr 29, 2009 8:35 pm

Yes, we would probably "go on Vacation to have a Holiday" or "have Holidays during the Vacation" which ever you like really. :wink:

What pipeliner has said covers it pretty much. What ever you decide and if you wish it, I am sure our community of LOST KJ's around Australia would be willing to show you around or at least give you the heads up on what to see and where to go etc. in their particular "neck of the woods"

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corwyyn · **Posted:** Wed Apr 29, 2009 8:39 pm

pipeliner wrote:

corwyyn wrote:

pipeliner wrote:

Take a tour to Fraser Island, the world's largest sand island - you can either be part of a tour or hire a 4wd and go by yourself.

Are you folks possibly going to do another Fraser Island trip sometime around then (hint hint?).

Corwyn, just let us know if (when) you come over and we'll organise a trip in a flash!

Well I was thinking mor of the OP, and that if you folks happened to be planning a trip to Fraser while he was in the vicinity then you could show him around.

As for me, well let's just say things are in the works but no set time frame as yet. I just found out this last week that I have been accruing vacation time at a rate about 1.5hrs per pay period less than what I should be and this has been going on for two years! So it looks like I may get a big lump of vacation time dumped in my lap, then I'd just have to sort out finances. But don't worry about me, get PMK sorted out first.

angryassdrummer · **Posted:** Wed Apr 29, 2009 9:35 pm

i would fly into sydney, stay a few nights and see what sydney has to offer, hire a car and drive up the coast and fly out of brisbane.
To me, the best thing about australia are the tons of small coastal towns up and down the east coast. Stay a night or two wherever you like the look of.
Really depends how long and how much money you have to spend.

PoorMtnKid · **Posted:** Mon May 04, 2009 6:04 pm

Well a min of 7 days would be best. That is 7 days in Aus not including the flight there and back. Money is going to depend on how much we can save up between now and then. Iam sure we will have a min of 3000 of cash on hand and I personally would not mind putting some money on a credit card for a good trip.

pipeliner · **Posted:** Mon May 04, 2009 7:02 pm

Just let us know the sort of things you really want to do and see and we can make some good suggestions - though with only 7 days you won't want to waste many of then just driving on the main roads. Sydney to Brisbane, for example, is 1000 km (600 miles) so that is a day wasted as there is very little to see on the trip. Two days if you have to return to Sydney to fly out.

Qantas/American Airlines do direct flights LA-Brisbane as well as LA-Sydney.

Let us know what your biggest interests are and we will try to help.

pipeliner · **Posted:** Mon May 04, 2009 7:06 pm

By the way, Jeep parts over here cost a zillion times more than they do in the States, so I'm sure you can find people prepared to provide accommodation and meals in exchange for a few air filters or tie rod ends, etc!!

PoorMtnKid · **Posted:** Mon May 04, 2009 8:23 pm

hahaha Iam sure filters would be possible but tie rod ends those might get a little heavy Iam not sure of their weight. But I will keep that in mind. Well I would for sure like to surf or at least try. I have done it in California before and would like to just say " yeah I surfed in Aus." It seems like whale watching is a good thing to do out of sydney so my Girl friend would deff enjoy that. She is crazy about photos so any place we could go where there is awesome natural formations to see would be awesome. Possibly check out some type of sporting even that us people dont have such as rugby( spelling ). We personally said that whenever we go on vacation we have to go to some type of zoo or wild animal park. We are trying to make a record for the most zoo's visted haha. Have an amusment parks with roller coasters?

Glend · **Posted:** Mon May 04, 2009 8:52 pm

Yeah there is an amusement park in Sydney (Luna Park - right on the water under the Harbour Bridge), but for a real amusement park experience you'll need to go to the Gold Coast in Queensland where there are a number of specilised parks within a few kilometres of each other: Wet and Wild, Dreamworld, Sea World, etc. Check out the Gold Coast tourism website for links and details:

http://www.tourismgoldcoast.com/tours_themeparks.html

Team J.a.G · **Posted:** Mon May 04, 2009 8:55 pm

I Think you benefit a lot more with 14 day stay to just touch on what there is to see. How ever if 7 days is it and as Pipes has stated the least amount of long distance road travel the better. Here's some of my thoughts

Sydney: 1. Taroga Park Zoo - 1 full day - Suggest you access by ferry to sight the harbour at the same time (e.g. Opera House, Harbour bridge, Fort Denison etc.)

2. Natural Formations - Three Sisters Rock formation - Blue Mountains about 3hours west of Sydney - At least 1 full day or over
night
3. Shopping is everywhere depending on where you are staying, if in the city then try the THe Rocks & Darling Harbour (Which has the
underwater Observatory - Not quite the same as snorkelling in The Great Barrier Reef, but hey when on a schedule!!!:lol: ) - 1 Day

Ruby League or Ruby Union or Australian Rules Football can be seen either at Sydney's Homebush Stadium or Brisbane's SunCorp & Gabba Stadiums, depending on schedule at your time of arrival (Afternoon or Night matches)

Brisbane - you can access -1. Fraser Island/ Rainbow Beach and/or
2. Gold Coast's Surfing Beach's & either Dreamworld and/or Movie World (- 1 full day each World) for the Roller Coaster
experiences etc.
3.North Stradbroke Island - is worth a look for Surfing and Whale Watching

It would be a very quick 7 days , but possible (of course L.O.S.T. AUS. TRAVEL ASSIST :lol:

would be happy to help where possible I'm sure in most of these destinations)

pipeliner · **Posted:** Mon May 04, 2009 9:09 pm

3-star hotel/motel rooms in Sydney will cost between A$130-A$200 a night full rate. A small car will cost A$40-A$60 a day to hire for a week (more for single days).

Check out www.Wotif.com.au for hotel specials and book online before coming over - but currently they only show specials up to the beginning of August so you will have to wait a month or two before booking.

Plenty of good surfing beaches around Sydney - Bondi for one.

Fouros · **Posted:** Mon May 04, 2009 9:42 pm

i would probably surf manly beach rather than bondi, its to full of english backpackers

Team J.a.G · **Posted:** Mon May 04, 2009 9:46 pm

Fouros wrote:

i would probably surf manly beach rather than bondi, its to full of english backpackers

I agree. Used to be New Zealanders :lol:

But yes there are plenty of good surfing Beaches in Sydney & the east coast NSW for that matter

Vacation. or how you would say it Holiday?

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