owl

hello! I'm going to stop-over in one of these cities for 5 nights on my way to a 2-3 week adventure on the south island in NZ. Any advice on the best place to stopover?

Thank you!

LizzyF

1/ Sydney

2/ Sydney

3/ Sydney

DownUnder

Why don't you consider 3 nights Sydney and 2 nights Melbourne.There are plenty of flights from Melbourne to N.Z.

wannabakiwi

DownUnder, that is a great idea! Although I am a HUGE and partial fan of New Zealand, Auckland is not my most favorite city. It is not bad in any way, just not super remarkable. I am sorry fellow Kiwi fans! Sydney is beautiful, incredible, memorable and my husband loved Melbourne (I have sadly not been yet) as a wonderful university town.

owl

Thanks for the replies, but I've got only one stopover point allowed on my award ticket, so I want to spend 5 nights in just one of these cities before heading to the NZ south island.

Any recommendations for Brisbane?

Carrabella

I agree with Lizzy

1.Sydney
2.Sydney
3.Sydney

There is so much to see and do here in this world-class city, and plenty of interesting day trips.

Brisbane is not in my opinion, any comparison. Not such a "Wow" city as Sydney.

JohnFitz

Depends on your interests , what month you are in Australia ,whether you like big cities etc , want night life , dine out or ??Every Australian city is different to the other and offer different attractions .I love Sydney in Winter and Spring but hate its humidity in Summer , Melbourne in August/September is windy and it can be unpredictasble waether wise but at least you know it will change in a couple of days however in March is generally lovely sunny mild weather .Good eating in both cities , better shopping in Melbourne in my view ( I am a native )but then there is that wonderful harbour in Sydney . Do both .

longhorn55

I've been to all four of those cities and my choice would be Sydney, hands down, no matter what time of the year.

mrwunrfl

Not Auckland. But a few days in the northland, Bay of Islands area, could be well spent.

I'm planning a day in Sydney right now and see that it would be easy to spend 5 nights there, esp. in summer.

margo_oz

Yep!
Sydney.................

<daylight>

the rest in no particular order!

Donc

I'd agree - not Auckland. It's not bad - just not special! I'd go for Sydney.

cheryllj

What everybody else said. Sydney, absolutely.

NZ is wonderful, but Auckland is nothing to write home about. It pales next to Sydney.

sandys

Sydney for sure. It's a beautiful city and there is lots to do.

AustraliaZooIsGreat

I wouldn't spend 5 nights in any city in Australia. You will be bored out of your head by night 3. Base yourself in a city but organise some activities for some of the days that take you away from the cities... best? well they all have their good and bad points.

Melbourne has the best restaurants/shopping/cafes and the worst weather and outdoor attractions. It's basically a try hard european city.

Sydney has the best inner city sight seeing ok restaurants, slightly better weather and offers a chance to get away from the city and actually see something interesting (like the blue mountains).

Brisbane has the best weather of the 3 and the best outdoor attractions but doesn't measure up to the restaurants and shopping of melbourne nor the sight seeing attractions of Sydney.

tropo

AustraliaZoolsGreat - what about arriving in Brisbane, then transferring across from Redland Bay to Nth Stradbroke Island, for 2-3 nights at Main Beach or Cylinder Beach, then back to Brisbane & onto NZ.