Australia in Oct - Sydney or Perth?

Old Jul 19th, 2013, 07:52 AM
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Australia in Oct - Sydney or Perth?

We're planning a first trip to Australia for two weeks in October. Considering either Perth or Sydney, plus trips to natural areas outside the cities. Interested in museums, cultural stuff, gardens, hiking in national park type places. We're an active senior couple, not so interested in beaches, night life, and wine tours (one is enough). Actually we love coastlines, just not interested in lying on the beach, surfing, et al.

Looking for opinions - head to Sydney or to Perth?
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Old Jul 19th, 2013, 03:57 PM
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Most folks will probably suggest Sydney, but I'm jaded as I live in Perth.

Few international visitors (and Australians) ever make it over to Western Australia. We're often overlooked, despite being one third of the continent.

There are logistics to consider of course, as we're so far from the rest of the country, but WA has a lot on offer.

Perth is surrounded by National Parks and nature reserves and has some of the prettiest coastline in Australia IMO. The state is sparsely populated, so that means fewer tourists and no 'crowds', but it also means fewer tourist driven activities and less infrastructure. It not uncommon to find yourself the only person on a beach or a track (outside of summer and school holidays anyway).

The biggest issue will be allotment of time. Two weeks isn't much time to explore a state as big as WA. In two weeks you could see Perth and the vicinity, and make a trip down south, which is the prettiest part of the state IMO. Down south you'll find thick forest, massive tingle, karri and marri trees, rolling countryside, lakes, endless coastline, and serenity. There are also caves, loads of wineries, food producers, marron (fresh water crayfish), incredible birdlife, and plenty of good tracks.

Esperance, which is about a 8.5 hour drive from Perth has the most incredible beaches I've ever seen - the sand is like compacted salt. It's surrounded by national parks, but they’re not particularly close (Cape Le Grand is 50 km east, Stokes is 80 km west, Peak Charles is 100 km inland from Stokes, and Cape Arid is 120 kms east). Many roads within these parks are unsealed, and some are inaccessible without a 4x4 vehicle.

If you do make it down to Esperance, don't miss the easy detour at Hopetoun to Fitzgerald River National Park, a world heritage Biosphere Reserve with UNESCO, where more than 20% of WA’s plant species grow even though it’s only 0.2% of WA’s land mass. Sixty-two percent of the 1,800 flowering plant species are found only in Fitzgerald River National Park and 81 types of orchids, 70 of which appear nowhere else on earth.

As October is wildflower season, I'd think it would be pretty spectacular that time of year.

No need to go that far, but in two weeks you probably could. You could make a big driving loop, even incorporating Kalgoorlie if you want a taste of the goldfields and outback.

A few places you might want to research - Margaret River (three hours south of Perth), Pemberton, Denmark, Walpole, Albany (4-5 hours drive from Perth) and Esperance (8.5 hour drive from Perth).

If the north appeals to you, I suggest you consider New Norcia and Cervantes (home to the Pinnacles), but I wouldn't suggest going much further north than that with so little time (and at that time of year), unless doing the loop mentioned above.

http://www.visitesperance.com/

http://www.amazingalbany.com.au

http://www.denmarkwa.asn.au/

http://www.pembertonvisitor.com.au/

http://www.margaretriver.com/

I have several detailed trip reports for these areas. Just click on my name and scroll down through my trip reports should you want to read them.
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Old Jul 19th, 2013, 05:16 PM
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Go to Perth. lots of people come to Sydney, tick off the 3 " must do's" in their guide book - Bridge, Bondi Beach & Opera House, fly up to Cairns for the GBR & home thinking they've "done Australia".

You've a great opportunity of exploring some of the country that really makes Australia unique. And with your interests, I think you'll have a wonderful time.

Melnq8 is right - hardly any tourists & very few Australians ( comparatively speaking) have been to this wonderful part of our country. I've been probably 20 times & have barely scratched the surface as I'm usually tacking a few days onto a business trip.

Nothing wrong with Sydney, it's beautiful with lots to see & do. I've lived here happily for 25+ years .... But WA's really something special
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Old Jul 19th, 2013, 09:00 PM
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I am a Sydney sider but must say I think , for what you are seeking, Perth and WA might suit your purposes. Funnilly , before I scrolled down to see the answers, I instantly thought to myself "This is one for Mel!".
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Old Jul 19th, 2013, 09:02 PM
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Melnq8 that is!
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Old Jul 19th, 2013, 11:34 PM
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You knew I'd think so too, I bet, Peter!
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Old Jul 20th, 2013, 05:10 AM
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"Interested in museums, cultural stuff, gardens, hiking in national park type places. We're an active senior couple, not so interested in beaches, night life, and wine tours (one is enough). Actually we love coastlines, "

With those interests, you should be coming to Melbourne, generally acknowledged to be the cultural / shopping / dining / sporting capital of Australia. Get your wine tour in the Yarra Valley (or the Mornington Peninsula), spend a few days exploring Melbourne on foot or by tram, drive the Great Ocean Road, visit Daylesford, Ballarat and Bendigo. I'm biased but with those expressed interests, Melbourne makes a lot more sense than either Sydney or Perth.

http://www.visitmelbourne.com
http://www.visitmelbourne.com/United...ing-route.aspx
http://www.australia.com/explore/ico...cean-road.aspx
http://www.visitmelbourne.com/Region...on-Ranges.aspx
http://www.visitvictoria.com/Regions.../Ballarat.aspx
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Old Jul 20th, 2013, 04:06 PM
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Well, considering the OP loves coastlines, and WA has the longest coastline of any state in Australia...
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Old Jul 21st, 2013, 03:58 AM
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The OP says Perth or Sydney so go to Perth so much to see and dpending on where you are coming from you may be able to go there from your international flight.So much to see and all that you have wished for. (from a melbourne person)
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Old Jul 21st, 2013, 11:50 PM
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From a Melbournite now living in Sydney. Come to Sydney!
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Old Jul 22nd, 2013, 02:14 AM
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Thanks all! Lower airfares for the days we needed to fly started closing down this weekend, forcing a quick decision. Available flights to Sydney fit our schedule better, so it will be Sydney this year. We hope to get a change to visit Perth another time. It sounds wonderful too!
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Old Jul 31st, 2013, 08:21 AM
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Perth if the fly season is over, otherwise Sydney.
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Old Aug 6th, 2013, 01:39 AM
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I would decide on Sydney, a city you simply must have seen. Btw when I travel to a foreign country I mostly check out some basic facts just to know, what is that country I'm travelling in general. So for Oz check out those facts if you want: http://www.statista.com/topics/752/australia/
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Old Aug 8th, 2013, 02:27 PM
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There is something to be said for both places. I personally love Sydney for its spectacular harbour and the proximity to the blue mountains.
However for a less "touristy" experience I prefer Perth. It's dryer (less rainfall) but it is handy to Rottnest Island (gorgeous) and yes down south is really nice but what blew me away personally is Cervantes which is a couple of hours drive north. The Pinnacles are there as well as the stromatolites (natural formations are created by the oldest known organisms on Earth) but the sand is so white that you'd swear it was snow! Best of all it's still a sleepy village that hasn't quite woken up to its tourist potential. There are few places like that left in the world.

Whatever decision you make, plan it well and you will love it!!! Good luck.
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