Shianne

I have been planning on just doing a tour in Australia next year, but today after visiting the travel agent, I'm thinking more about doing a tour of New Zealand as well. Should I do both tours or just one and then in the future go back to New Zealand when I have more time to spend there??

Melnq8

How much time do you have? Where are you coming from?

kiwi_rob

It will depend on how much time you will have available.

Many people make the mistake of trying to "do" NZ in a week or less as an add-on to an Aussie trip. It doesn't work well.

Perhaps you could give an outline of your possible itinerary and then we can give some indication as to whether or not it is workable or if "you're dreamin', mate".

Rob.

Shianne

I am looking at doing a 24 day tour between Australia and New Zealand. It would be about 12 days in Australia and 8 days in New Zealand. I am coming from the US, so the tour includes 4 days of travel as well.

longhorn55

I have visited both countries a number of times. I think you "could" visit Australia and New Zealand with the time frame you mention, but you run the risk of not being able to see and do all you want in either country. If you just want to do the "Sydney, Reef, Rock" tour in Australia and either the North Island or the South Island (but not both) in New Zealand, then I think it would work out OK.
If you think you can manage to go back to New Zealand at another time, then I'd recommend spending your entire 20 days in Australia. You'll find more than enough to occupy that amount of time.

Lizzie_17

Last year I went from the US to Australia with 20 days on the ground there. Initially I thought about including NZ as well but decided against it and I am happy I made that decision. Australia has so many diverse things to do and there is some time used up for travel between cities, so 20 days is not as much as you think it is!
Based on your comment of doing a tour, can I assume it's a group tour? I would suggest doing it on your own, your days might be better used for exactly what you want to do.

Shianne

I am planning on doing a group tour. I will be 31 by the time I am planning on going and figured that a group tour would be the easiest and cheapest way for me to get to see Australia. Am I wrong in thinking this?? Ideally I would like to see Melbourne, Sydney, Ayers Rock, and GBR/Carins.

longhorn55

I wouldn't make the assumption that traveling on a group tour will be easier or cheaper than doing it on your own. Planning an Australian vacation on your own can be very easy these days with all the info that's out there on the Internet. Also, depending on your travel style, a group tour can be much more expensive than doing it on your own where you have more choice as to accommodations, meals and transportation. And, of course, the main advantage of doing it on your own is that you can decide exactly where you want to go, how long you want to spend there and what you want to see and do there.
Also, I would advise you to carefully choose your destinations based on the time of year you plan to travel. For example, I wouldn't want to deal with the heat and the flies at Uluru (Ayers Rock) in the Australian summer and I wouldn't be particularly keen to go to Melbourne in the Australian winter because it can be cold and rainy.
Since you have some time to plan your trip, whether by group tour or on your own, I'd recommend taking a look at a couple of guidebooks. (Your public library may have them.) I'm fond of the Lonely Planet and Rough Guides series, but there are a lot of guides from which to choose.

freetoroam

IMO, traveling on your own is the best way to travel. It does require a lot of pre-trip planning [I enjoy this part almost as much as the trip itself], however, and if you don’t feel comfortable with that option you might want to consider goahead tours’ http://goaheadtours.com/tours/AUN/au...land-tour.aspx 22 day AU/NZ tour. Have not taken the tour myself but have friends who did and they were very pleased with the experience and the tour company [the couple have since taken 2 other goahead tours and have booked another for next year].

Whatever you decide, enjoy your trip.

Lizzie_17

I did the same locations you mentioned on my own. It just takes a little bit of planning, but that's half the fun! If you look at the tour group itinerary, other people's posts and read a few guide books, you can make a great itinerary for yourself that is affordable. What time of year are you going? If you go more in the off season you can probably get very good hotel rates. I went in June, so it was a bit chilly in Melbourne but it was beach weather in the Cairns area.
In any case I am sure you will have a wonderful trip.

Shianne

I am planning on going in November of 2011, it will be easier to get the time off from work then. The one concern I have about traveling on my own is I guess the doing it on my own part and not really travelling or being with anyone else. I guess the idea of a tour appeals to me in the sense of having a group, but I like the idea of travelling alone for the fact that I can do and see what I want.

mlgb

Depending on your budget and interests, you might do NZ instead of Australia. The distances are smaller and it's also more affordable (see recent postings on food prices). The BBH and YHA hostel chains are good places to meet like minded travelers in all age ranges and they also have several hop on hop off bus passes.

Some of the less expensive plane fares route you through Sydney to NZ so you could also spend a few days around there and then the rest in NZ.

Ayers Rock gets mixed reviews...have you been to red rock country around the Four Corners?