And now for something completely different

[kryscat]

Rob and I have been talking for a while about taking a trip to Australia and New Zealand. We're thinking of trying to do it in October or early November of this year, since we've determined that we actually have some time for it. Yeah, it's short notice, we know, but it's not clear when the next opportunity will be do do it.

Anyone have recommendations of good places to look for flights? I know the standard sites, but was thinking that there might be ones more specific to the region. Suggestions?

We're also looking for general travel recommendations for both Australia and New Zealand. Are there places we *have* to see? We're thinking that we probably won't go up to the Great Barrier Reef. I've heard something about taking a train in Australia being a good way to see things. Sydney, Melbourne, outback, etc... Haven't done research on it much yet, and I know even fewer specifics about NZ.

Comments

[mechagojira.livejournal.com]

We're thinking that we probably won't go up to the Great Barrier Reef.

But that's the best part! Val and I honeymooned in tropical north Queensland by the reef.

[uloixia.livejournal.com]

Matt Nelson (theaggregator) would be a help since he just did that trip in June. You know him, yes?

[eviladmin.livejournal.com]

I don't know where to start! Will talk in person or on phone!

[otterley.livejournal.com]

Travel agents are your friends.

New Zealand

[joshbuckler.livejournal.com]

Coolest thing I saw in NZ was Tunnel Beach. Pretty + wildlife = cool. Just South West of Dunedin.

[teamnoir.livejournal.com]

I did oz & nz in 2000. I shipped a motorcycle to Melbourne, rode up the coast, flew from Cairns over to Auckland, rented a car for a week and drove south, swam with dolphins, then back north, back to Cairns. Dove, rode south, hit tazzie, rode a little west to the apostles, then back to Melbourne & home.

I put about 3 months into it, and I dove a lot, including several weeks off dive boats.

Much of travel depends on what you want to see. My mother, for instance, has always travelled to see "nature", natural configurations, rocks, animals, etc, and has avoided towns. Personally, I tend to travel the cities.

NZ, however, has tiny cities, the entire place is pretty much rural, so natural formations are about all there are to see. Luckily, they're all stunning and the place is full of them.

Oz, however, is huge - bigger than the continental US or Alaska. I think my favorite, aside from the reef, was tazzie. Tazzie has some small private zoos where you can see tasmanian devils being fed and their social behavior is amazing. I also got into reading about and studying the thylacine when I was there and I'm still fascinated.

I also loved crossing the tropic line. That was very exciting with the difference in sun, moon, and star placements.

Sydney and Melbourne, (and Brisbane), all have typical city culture and they're all ok, but rather smaller than most US cities. If you're skipping Queensland, then you'll be missing rainforest, (unless you catch it in tazzie), and a few aboriginal tourist centers. And comparing and contrasting Australian aboriginal treatment with the NZ treatment of the Maori is a stark and startling exercise.

Some curious stats: Most Australians weren't born there. They are UK/British immigrants. Yes, even today this is true. Sydney and Melbourne have roughly 2 million people, which is basically the population of San Jose. San Jose, Melbourne, and Auckland are all about the same distance from the equater. Population density in Great Britain, (including Scotland and Wales, which are relatively sparse), is 10x greater than the population density in the US, (including Alaska). And the population density in the US is 10x greater than the population density in Australia. I grew up in rural Ohio and Australia was very familiar to me in that sense, just hella bigger.

90% of all Australians live within 2 miles of the coast. 95% of Australians live in one of the state capitals. Essentially, that's everyone. So listening to the news, weather, etc, they're always talking about "the capitals".

I didn't make outback. It's nontrivial. Heck, Darwin is nontrivial since the roads close & wash out half the year. And my motorcycle was a pavement and autobahn kinda bike. Actually getting into the outback is a trip all on it's own, though you can catch a flight out to near the rock. Just note that even travelling to the rock is now often considered sacreligious and exploitative by the aboriginals.

For flights, try sidestep.com and try booking a round trip to Auckland, then a round trip from Auckland to pick-a-city-on-west-island. Or various permutations. Best flights are usually to Sydney, Melbourne second best. Also make sure you check flights through L.A.

Happy to answer questions if I can.

Visiting OZ and NZ

[gryphonaire.livejournal.com]

Skip Cairns, but North Queensland is really a must-see, and diving the outer GBR is really, really, really amazing -- which usually means doing a live-aboard (a great experience in itself)... the Daintree rainforest is well worth a visit, especially if you can manage to get north to Cape Tribulation. I was lucky enough to take a motorcycle (tip of the hat to teamnoir) up and despite occasionally getting pelted with warm tropical rain it was one of the most beautiful and memorable bike trips I've ever taken.

But truly the most amazing experience, that I cannot more highly recommend, is a sea-kayaking trip you can arrange to take from a hostel in Cape Tribulation to Snapper Island (the profile of the island looks like a crocodile). The island is protected, so you can't visit it without a permit (or a guide with one). I went with a girl I met from Germany. She and I paddled out to the island, stopping to snorkle some of the reefs along the way, and our guide motored ahead with camping supplies and food. When we caught up with him he'd already set up camp, and put on the kettle. We had the entire island to ourselves! :-)

In NZ, I recommend Wanaka. Spend a few days there. Go to the movies. Pre-order a dinner and it will be waiting for you on the table at the intermission (yes, the put one into every movie they show there). Otherwise you will be too tempted by the aroma of the trays of freshly baked cookies that they strategically pull out of the oven just as you walk out of the theater. Oh, and forget sitting in the rows of theater seats (although the couches are very comfortable) -- I recommend building a little pillow fortress. Sitting in the convertable VW they parked in the front left of the theater is very cool but not the most comfortable option.

Have fun!

[joeshlabotnik.livejournal.com]

We once spent a few days on North Island, then two weeks driving from Melbourne to Sydney. I would totally go back and do everything we did all over again exactly the same. But if I had to pick one place to go back to in each country, it'd be:

1) The Phillip Island Penguin Parade, about 2 hours southeast of Melbourne. Hundreds of penguins returning from the sea every night at dusk. You won't ever want to leave. http://www.phillipisland.net.au/penguinparade.html

2) Hot Water Beach on the Coromandel Peninsula in New Zealand. Dig your own personal hot tub right on the beach. Really. It's awesome.
http://www.newzealand.com/travel/sights-activities/scenic-highlights/coastal-highlights/sh-hot-water-beach-hot-pools.cfm


Enjoy, and let me know if you want any more suggestions!

Peter