Singapore/Australia/New Zealand advice

fifeken

Booking the flights all on one ticket could prove cheaper and Emirates should be able to do that with flights from LON-DXB-SIN (stopover) - Aus - NZ with the trans-tasman legs on Qantas.

markandkate

Only Singapore Airlines and Emirates fly in and out of Christchurch you don't use one of those airlines you can waste a day flying from the South island back to anywhere.



In Singapore public transport is cheap and easy to use it also tells you where to get off to visit attractions. The Zoo is worth a visit but we did not book the river part and that is where the Pandas are so we missed them.Gardens by the bay is worth visiting and there is a free light show from the hotel every night around 9. China town and Burgis street are good for cheap excellent street food. Clarke Quay is mostly high end chains and bars but a good vibe by the river.


In Oz the distances are vast a flight from Cairns to Sydney is over 4 hours so don't consider driving. If staying in a hostel in Sydney or other city they will have tours that you can book on which will be budget ones designed for hostel users. On the Barrier reef you can usually see as much snorkeling from a platform as you can diving


In NZ there is often little to see besides scenery between towns so internal flights may be an option. They don't really have any motorways so driving is slow as it is mostly single carriage roads which can be frustrating if you have plans to get somewhere. Auckland and Wellington are Ok but apart form the amazing Te Papa museum in Wellington don't plan to spend too much time in the cities.


Accommodation in Queenstown is always at a premium so book in advance. The Youth hostels in NZ are excellent and they usually have a good range of budget trips and vouchers with discounts for local bars and attractions


Would endorse Trailfinders recommendation

Ballard

I did a similar trip a couple of years ago (although only 6 weeks) and it’s the best holiday I’ve ever had. I also added a stopover in HK on the way home.

Sorry - random order but I’m on my phone and am typing as things come to me.

I booked buses in NZ to take me from Wellington to Auckland over the course of about 8 days. Very comfortable and stupidly cheap (each leg cost me $1 because I booked well in advance). Off the top of my head I don’t recall either company that I used but I can look it up when I get home if you’re interested.

The parliament tour in Wellington was well worth it (and it’s free!)

I’m not a horticulturist but thoroughly enjoyed the botanical gardens in Singapore. It’s a nice large oasis in the city state.

Tasmania is a little different to mainland Australia and more akin to NZ. It could probably be a bit grim in August but I’d recommend it if the weather would be okay. Hobart is worth a couple of days, as is Cradle Mountains. At the north of the island there’s Launceston from where we flew over to Melbourne.

It’s probably worth pointing out that neither NZ or Aus allow food or plants etc. into the country. In Auckland I had to unpack my walking boots to show that there wasn’t any mud on them.

Overall an absolutely fantastic trip. I will return at some point.

zagfles

chocolatepennyfarthing wrote: »

Interests would be natural wonders, sightseeing & wildlife. Interested in diving with sharks.

Loads of geothermal wonderlands in NZ north island eg wai-o-tapu, craters of the moon. Dolphin trips in the Bay of islands in Northlands. Glow -worm caves, there's a small one just south of Paihia if you want to avoid the commercialism of Waitomo. Glaciers etc on south island (we didn't go there). Aus - you'll see reef sharks at the barrier reef, not sure where you'd go to see bigger ones.

Gloomendoom

Ballard wrote: »

It’s probably worth pointing out that neither NZ or Aus allow food or plants etc. into the country. In Auckland I had to unpack my walking boots to show that there wasn’t any mud on them.

While the ban on muddy boots may be true. Food can definitely be taken into Australia as long as it isn't on their list of prohibited items. My wife has in the past declared home made Christmas cakes, Christmas puddings, various jams and chutnies and the quarantine bods have just waved us through.

zagfles

Gloomendoom wrote: »

While the ban on muddy boots may be true. Food can definitely be taken into Australia as long as it isn't on their list of prohibited items. My wife has in the past declared home made Christmas cakes, Christmas puddings, various jams and chutnies and the quarantine bods have just waved us through.

NZ allow some foods in, they seem to be fussiest about fruit, you can email them to ask if you're unsure.

Ballard

Gloomendoom wrote: »

While the ban on muddy boots may be true. Food can definitely be taken into Australia as long as it isn't on their list of prohibited items. My wife has in the past declared home made Christmas cakes, Christmas puddings, various jams and chutnies and the quarantine bods have just waved us through.

Interesting. On my flight from Singapore there was an announcement that no food at all was allowed, including anything that was given out on the flight. Similar restrictions were in place between Sydney & Hobart.

I don’t think that there was much in the way of a check in Australia but I had a 30-40 minute queue in Auckland to get my bags x-rayed and checked for food.

dawyldthing

Ive been to all three so will give a few tips

Singapore - look into sentosa island. I went diving with sharks in the aquarium in sentosa island (although I'm sure there's somewhere in the wild to do it in Oz- I want to say near Melbourne)

Australia - there's a lot of trips I did that I honestly could have avoided and wouldn't have lost sleep but everyone thinks different. I enjoyed the Gold Coast - there's a show called Dracula which was brillant. You ride a like ghost train and stuff, meal included. Place itself is a bit like Blackpool but I enjoyed it for a few days. Surfers paradise too. There's a few theme parks in the area. I went to dream world and enjoyed it. If he goes have a slush, there something else.

Have a look at the itenaries on Peter Pan/ Loka as you'll get a jist what is where and be able to decide what you like/ don't like in each area. As there's a lot of places to visit, but most do the similar stuff so you could spend a week in one area and really enjoy it rather than being a few days here, there and everywhere. Rainbow beach was really good for canoeing with dolphins and kiakora in NZ for swimming with them (and I've done some things in my time but it's in the top 5 - they get so close)

I'd do a boat trip at airlie beach. This was one of the highlights. There's party boats or not so. I was lucky as I think it was a notirous party boat but it was a laid back crowd to be honest. But it was well worth the money.
Then there's riding in cairns. I did a trip with pro dive and highly recommend it. There are others and it depends if he already has his diving licence

NZ - I didn't rate the north. It's beautiful, odd natural pools and stuff but I wasn't ennamered to be honest. Could have spent a week in queenstown - went paragliding, luging, ate a ferg burger, canyon swing plus other bits. There's everything there you can imagine and more. Milford sounds is alright. Again look at an itenary on something like kiwi experience and pick and choose. Will help research

It really depends what you like and the budget

Flights - I booked them all myself. It's easy enough, just look on skyscanner. Be a bit flexible as they will vary. Internal flights were cheap enough. I booked from cairns to Auckland. Was over Chinese New Year so got upgraded due to bought being full from Brisbane to Auckland - Deffo a highlight.

You'll have a fab time but I wouldn't rush it, it's all vast and tiring. I travelled New Zealand in a month and was knackered by the end as only stopped off two different places for 2 days, rest were just a day and didn't get to see a lot half the time.

chocolatepennyfarthing

Thanks for all the info, really helpful.

Gloomendoom

Ballard wrote: »

Interesting. On my flight from Singapore there was an announcement that no food at all was allowed, including anything that was given out on the flight. Similar restrictions were in place between Sydney & Hobart

We usually travel via Singapore and SIA do warn you not to take prohibited food into Oz and you get a card to fill in that asks you to declare any food that you are bringing into Oz. My wife has always declared everything she has brought with her and has never had any problems. I did have my doubts about the home made chutneys, but the bods on immigration said there was nothing we had that that was a problem. This isn't an isolated incident, we have been visiting (and taking food into) Australia regularly since 2011.