Cruising AUS & NZ 2018

Old Mar 28th, 2017, 10:40 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Cruising AUS & NZ 2018

My husband & I are both retired, and have traveled extensively in the past. This will cross off one of our bucket list to-do's. We start the cruise early Feb/2018 in Perth and end early Mar in Aukland. We have friends in Brisbane who have suggested we spend a week in Perth - seemed like an overly long time to me. We plan to return to AUS after the cruise. I have looked at train travel, which seems to take a considerable amount of time, or driving which has the same time issues, or flying from place to place. From all the reading I have done, it appears that not too many tourists consider train travel.We're trying to maximize time in AUS without sacrificing too much sightseeing. We are hoping to see: (in no particular order at this time) GBR; Brisbane; Alice Springs; Ayers Rock. Any tips/info anyone would like to share will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
r0sebud52 is offline  
Old Mar 28th, 2017, 12:14 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,963
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Maybe a week entirely spent in Perth is more than necessary if you're in a hurry, but a week traveling from Perth down to Denmark (really!) near Albany, criss-crossing that fabulous part of Australia, is certainly not too much time spent. You would need a rental car of course.

The trip by train across the Nullarbor is something a lot of visitors cherish - use Google and this here website to bring up many trip reports and other sources of information, incl. https://www.greatsouthernrail.com.au/rail-australia

If it doesn't appeal (it's long and pricey), then simply fly.

Overall, fly the long distances and cover regions by rental car, except for the cities themselves where public transport is the way to go.

Your targets are worthwhile, Brisbane being a bit less exciting maybe than GBR or Sydney or Melbourne or Uluru; don't overlook Melbourne and the Great Ocean Road.

A loop from Sydney down the coast to Batemans Bay and inland to Canberra and up to the Jenolan Caves and other Blue Mountain targets, then past Mount Victoria and Mount Tomah and Bilpin and Putty to the Rothbury/Pokolbin Hunter Valley wine country and back down into Sydney would be a week well spent.
michelhuebeli is offline  
Old Mar 28th, 2017, 05:42 PM
  #3  
 
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 631
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Australia is a big place that's why travel takes so long! Chose places in the same state to maximize your sight seeing but it's too big to see everything in a short time.
I'd do the Ghan or the Indian Pacific as they look pretty amazing.
A week in Perth sounds great. My sister in law lives there and we would love to visit one day and I'd plan on 10 days to 2 weeks there. Have a look at Margaret River and see if that appeals.
Brisbane is fine but other places offer more. Sydney is a very beautiful city with all it's harbours.
tasmangirl is offline  
Old Mar 28th, 2017, 06:04 PM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 19,758
Received 83 Likes on 5 Posts
A week in Perth is nothing...there is so much to see and do.

The SW of WA is absolutely stunning - within 3-4 hours of Perth you can experience the best food, wine and scenery in the entire state - forests, deserted white sand beaches, rolling countryside - you cannot go wrong.

Well...except for FEBRUARY! I lived in Perth for seven years and February was the month I hated the most. It's incredibly hot and sticky. Too hot to move, let alone explore. Make sure your accommodation has air con, which is easier said than done.

I have many trip reports posted on this forum from our seven years in Perth - we loved visiting the SW - Pemberton, Denmark, Margaret River...just click on my screen name and scroll through my reports if you want some ideas on what to see and do. It's endless, it really is.
Melnq8 is offline  
Old Mar 28th, 2017, 08:48 PM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 4,354
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
lots do the Ghan train - you can fly one way and train the other - that way you get Alice Springs , Katherine and Darwin in - which just adds more to your trip.

Uluru (Ayers Rock) - you can fly to via Alice Springs - expensive to fly there . We're paying $660 from Melbourne for April.

Inland Australia and many other parts are at the hottest (wet season/summer) in Feb. - as Mel says .
northie is offline  
Old Mar 31st, 2017, 02:57 PM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 854
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
My recommendation is also to head south after a short stay in Perth. So much to see even if you only go as far as Augusta. It will be cooler there too.
eliztravels2 is offline  
Old Apr 2nd, 2017, 09:59 AM
  #7  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thank you everyone for taking the time to respond. You have mentioned areas we had not considered (south of Perth), which we definitely look into. Thanks again and I will reach out again with questions.
r0sebud52 is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
BKD
Australia & the Pacific
10
Jan 11th, 2017 09:10 AM
James1989
Australia & the Pacific
5
Dec 3rd, 2014 09:44 PM
thursday
Australia & the Pacific
10
May 29th, 2011 08:27 PM
SB_Travlr
Australia & the Pacific
21
Oct 17th, 2009 02:45 PM
palmetto1
Australia & the Pacific
6
Jan 20th, 2006 01:16 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -