Australia in August Any Tips?

Dr.Lou

If you go to Perth, be sure to visit Kings Park, Rottnest Island and Freemantle. Perth is a really lovely City, but very isolated. You can take a trip along the western coast from Perth easily by train and bus, the scenery is wonderful but most of the towns are very quiet along the way.

I really loved it when I went there but wish I had seen more of Australia, will have to go again to the East coast.

richardw

Be careful, Perth and Sydney might not be good in August. The boats might not even go to Rottnest Island in August.

pjran

We were in Australia a couple of months ago and found very reasonable hotels by booking through http://www.check-in.com.au/.
If you go to Sydney check out the lunch at the Marriot Hotel....what a bargain!
I'ld also recommend staying just outside Sydney. Double Bay area has good transport links, ferry,train and buses.

GiJo

pjran wrote:

We were in Australia a couple of months ago and found very reasonable hotels by booking through http://www.check-in.com.au/.
If you go to Sydney check out the lunch at the Marriot Hotel....what a bargain!
I'ld also recommend staying just outside Sydney. Double Bay area has good transport links, ferry,train and buses.

Which Marriot hotel, I believe there's more than one in Sydney

Niki

Hi,

I am also going to Oz but we go in November and are planning to buy a camper and tour round for 6 months. We will start off at my familys area of the Sunshine Coast. Any tips on what to do, and what not to do in general and any advice on the camper van and voute would be very much appreciated! :-)

bap98189

Niki wrote:

Hi,

I am also going to Oz but we go in November and are planning to buy a camper and tour round for 6 months. We will start off at my familys area of the Sunshine Coast. Any tips on what to do, and what not to do in general and any advice on the camper van and voute would be very much appreciated! :-)

You must spend some time in Queensland. Take a trip out to the barrier reef. There are loads of companies doing trips from Cairns. We went with Quicksilver, the first day we went to the outer reef where they have a floating platform, the next day the inner reef, where they took us to a small island for the day. You don't have to go diving, you can just go snorkling and it is an experience like no other. The vast array of fish, coloured coral and turtles, makes it very much like a David Atternbourgh documentary.

Do visit North Queensland. In a camper van, you probably won't be able to get much further north than Cooktown (the roads become dirt tracks beyond there), but it is well worth a visit. The Atherton tablelands are also worth spending a couple of days touring round. They are only a couple of hours drive from Cairns, but higher up, so normally cooler than it is at the coast.

We drove from Darwin to Adelaide, which is a long way, but very worthwhile if you want to see the real Australia. During the journey, you can visit Alice Springs, Uluru, The Olgas, King's Canyon and Coober Pedy and numerous tiny settlements. It's a journey for the slightly adventurous, but an amazing experience nonetheless. We did it in a car with our tent, but if you do it in a camper van, you should have a great time.

pjran

Reply for GiJo
Sydney Marriot location.
Its the one near the ferry terminal, just a couple of minutes walk. Try this link http://marriott.com/property/mapandnearbyairports/default.mi?marshaCode=sydcc&mapFunc=Recenter&mapID=403233931&x=191&y=117

Sooboo

If you are in Sydney make sure you climb the bridge. I would strongly recommend booking this via their website now as it gets really busy. Also if you do get to Port Douglas don't go on the Quicksilver catamaran trip to the Reef unless you like things to be really commercial!! I would strongly recommend taking one the smaller company options that cater for fewer numbers.

calleyw

Sooboo wrote:

If you are in Sydney make sure you climb the bridge. I would strongly recommend booking this via their website now as it gets really busy.

I chickened out of this as it was windy enough just walking across the bridge let alone walking up there you have to kidding.

The harbour area by the mono rail is nice just as night falls as all the lights come on.

I would suggest even if you don't go far go on the mono-rail.

We stayed in the kings cross area which is where the backpackers stay but also the red light area. With woman out on the street during the day trying to drum up trade for the clubs they where stood out side of. But it felt safe and the police station was only up the road.

There are plenty of buses so you can get around really easy.

Manly beach was nice and as we travelled across on the ferry we saw dolphins.

I agree about missing out Canberra. We went because it is the capital city and it was a huge let down. The train station is a mile or so from the centre of town and I felt like I had landed in the middle of no where.

Brisbane was nice and they had some lovely fountains that where glass dinning room chairs and tables.

We also visited Australian Zoo which was very interesting.

Can't say what the weather is like as we went in may.

Enjoy. I want to go back for longer but can't afford it and don't like flying :rotfl:


Yours


Calley

ems2

For a good read and unusal touristsy things to do, not too mention some bizzare Aussie history (like most of it is... lol..) read Bill Bryson's Down Under.
It is very funny too.

Also for more backpacking/adventure/cheap type ideas try http://www.tntmagazine.com.au/

and download the Oz/NZ guide.

And dont forget the sunscreen the sun is much hotter and stronger down there