FODORITES PLEASE TELL US WHY YOU DECIDED TO COME TO AUSTRALIA. HELP US PLEASE WITH SOME FEEDBACK!
 

What made you decide to come to Australia for a vacation/holiday? What was it that peaked your curiosity?
When you got here, how did the "thing" that urged you to come appear to you? Was it as nice as you expected or was there something else that we should have focused on to entice you to come?
What I am asking you please is: what part did you find in Australia that you think is the most attractive to you that we should have used in an advertising campain, what aspect, which icon or way of life do you think we should target to show that we are different/special/boring/outrageous/under-rated/ over-rated.
Our latest tourism advertisements have been rated within Australia as dreadful and some of us have been saying for years that our advertising campain needs a great kick up the proverbial. So I thought that as we give out a lot of information to prospective travellers to Australia I would ask if you could spend a little time in giving us something constructive back.
In other words if you were promoting this country -WHAT WOULD YOU CHOOSE AS THE HIGHLIGHTS THAT YOU WOULD FEATURE?
In your replies can you please state if you have been to the following:
Sydney
Blue Mountains
Hunter Valley
Melbourne
Great Ocean Road
Wineries
Adelaide
Barossa Valley
Kangaroo Island
Perth
Wild Flower season
Wineries of the South
Darwin
Kakadu
Ayers Rock
Brisbane
Whitsundays
South East
Cairns and the Tropical North
Hobart
Cradle Mountain
Freycinet National Park
Port Arthur
West coast

Thank all and I hope that we get a lot of replies. I don't want a critique on where you were but more a general outline of what you would do to make it better - our advertising of Australia that is.
LizF

On first trip we visited Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart, Port Arthur, Freycinet Park, Cairns Port
Douglas,Hunter Valley, Great Ocean Road, Ayers Rock. Here are the main reasons that we came and I believe that an advertising campaign built around these virtues would be effective.

1. In this troubled world it still is a safe country to visit.
2. Friendly and honest people.
3. Low crime rate and is country is not very intimidating.
4. Warm climate for people from cold countries like Canada.
5. People speak my language.
6. Reasonable prices for vacations using world standards.

We loved our first trip so much we are coming again in 2005 and are planning a third trip in 2006.

Hi Liz,
What made me go to Australia??? My first memory of wanting to go was that some of my cousins' cousins moving there for a while and coming back with cute accents and stories of kangaroos messing up their backyard. As an 8-9 yr. old, I thought that was cool...As I got older my reasons matured, Australia became one of many countries I longed to explore. I loved that so much formed/was created independent of the rest of the earth. I was interested in knowing about more the Aborigines. (I learned very little about them growing up in the US but what I did know was fascinating.) I wanted to see a continent with so much physical diversity...the outback, mountains, and most definately the GBR. I teach Social Studies and Australia is part of the curriculum, Reading as I prepared lessons made me even more curious...

However, the ultimate reason that lead me to spend a good chunk of my teacher salary to cross the world and spend more time on a plane than I had ever spent before, was the people. A few years ago on a trip to Alaska, I met up with some Australian travelers and we really hit it off--becoming what I believe will be life-long friends. I loved their humor and fun-lovingness (is that a word?) and vowed to get my butt over there. Combined with my existing curiosity, friendships and the knowledge that Australia was a pretty easy place for a solo traveller, I came. I was only supposed to be away three weeks but extended my trip a week. I definately would've stayed even longer than that but I had to get back to work. Once I left, I longed to get back--I haven't yet but did make a serious attempt at finding a teachers' exchange program because I wanted to spend a year or so in your country and really experience life there...Fate intervened and I met the man I'm now married to, an American, so living in Australia for a year is no longer an option...but coming back for a visit definately is!! Australia is one of my favorite countries/vacations of all times. I met SO many wonderful, generous people while I was away. I think that's in part because we all speak the same language--although your version and that of your fellow countrymen's is a bit more colorful than mine ;-) Hehe. You guys have the best expressions!!

You asked what parts I visited:
Sydney--one of my most favorite cities of all
Blue Mountains
Melbourne
Wineries--too many LOL
Adelaide--liked it more than I expected, underrated by tourists IMO
Barossa Valley
Kangaroo Island--loved it as it satisfied my marsupial thing and loved meeting the artists that live there too...I loved that it wasn't all built up too...
Darwin
Kakadu--went for too short a time, 1 nt., next time I need to plan better
Cairns and the Tropical North--So much to do in one place!! I am not a big fan of Cairns but loved the GBR, the rain forest and diversity...Pt. Douglas was a cute town worth visiting...

There wasn't a part of Australia that I didn't like :)

Next trip, I want to make sure I get to Tasmania along with seeing some of the less travelled towns in Australia. I stayed with friends in Sydney and got a bit of an 'untouristy' perspective which is probably one of the reasons I enjoyed myself so much. I played tourist while my friend worked and lived like a local at night ;-) She's now in Canberra with a big gov't job so I'll definately see your capital too...

Debbie

Thanks guys - keep 'em coming!

I knew it! Its Monday here and I got dragged out of bed at 5. AM and coffee had not kicked in, therefore the spelling, grammar and typos were running amuck in my original post...... sorry!

Hello Liz,

Great question you asked! Here is what I can tell you from an American point of view. I must say before giving my opinions that people who respond to this should know a little something about traveling (preferably not your FIRST VACATION EVER so as to be somewhat intelligent comparing it to other places in the world. I must say I have been VERY BLESSED to have traveled extensively and enjoy the finer hotels, apsects of traveling.

Here is my view from an American standpoint (by the way I was born and have lived in America my whole life and have visited 40 out of the 50 states, so I think I have a good view of what America/Americans are like in general):

1) Only reason I've heard for people NOT to go to Australia is the travel time from America: too long of a flight, can't get off work that long, and very expensive airfare. Most people think you don't need to be in a plane 18 hours plus to see the "Common sights" of Australia - i.e. - big cities, mountains, rainforest, great snorkeling/diving (Reef). They feel you can see some or all of these things (similar) by staying MUCH CLOSER to the U.S.A. **I WOULD HAVE TO DISAGREE!! I believe my husband said it best when I asked him if we should really bother going to the Blue Mountains while in Sydney, he said: "Every mountain, ocean, city, rainforest,etc. is DIFFERENT, otherwise you wouldn't need to travel at all." (i.e.- Colorado mountains and Grand Canyon are nothing like mountains in Costa Rica, Hawaii, etc. - You get the point!! If people really think these are all the same, then I would say they are not PASSIONATE about traveling, experiencing/learning about new places!

Pro's/reasons why Americans generally travel to Australia:

1) We in America have read, heard,etc. that Aussies are INCREDIBLY FRIENDLY PEOPLE LIKE NO ONE ELSE AND LOVE TO LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST AT EVERY MOMENT- now why would anyone not want to be around people like that on vacation?!
2) Incredible/UNIQUE sites, such as Sydney (esp. Opera House, Bridge, etc.), Great Barrier Reef (One of the seven wonders- how could anyone compare diving/snorkeling there to other places in the world?); Also, Wonderful beaches, rainforest, and the Infamous Outback and Famous Animals!!
3)Very safe country and prices are not ridiculous (i.e. - Paris, New York, California, London,....)

In summary, ALL of my family/friends thought we were crazy when we said we've always dreamed of visiting Australia and are actually going this November - simply because it's TOO FAR. I replied: There are MANY THINGS I believe Australia has to offer that you CANNOT FIND anywhere else - PERIOD!! PLUS, I'VE NEVER HEARD OR READ ANYTHING NEGATIVE ABOUT TRAVELING ANYWHERE IN AUSTRALIA - and I've definately done more than my share of research!!! Can't wait till November - only 42 days and counting!! I plan on giving a great report when I return. If anyone else has travel advice for me please see my original posting - Thank you!

Kelly A.

Sorry - forgot 2 other MAJOR reasons why Americans go: 1)Speak the same language. 2) Wonderful climate/weather.

There are many more reasons, but I think I covered the main ones.

I decided to go to Australia and will return because my son married a very lovely Australian woman. Most people I know (from upstate New York, USA) say they would love to go to Australia. What stops them is the cost and the thought of spending all those hours in cramped airline seats. People here are fascinated with Australia -- they would go if there were a cheaper and quicker way to get there.

I agree Kathy, perhaps the airlines should look at a good way to come with some rather interesting stopovers! Is it Hawaii airlines that comes now - would be good to have them code share with Qantas perhaps.

When I was a freshman in college a LONG time ago (early 60's), there were several girls in my dorm who were going to be given one-way tickets to move to Australia if they would commit to a 5-year minimum contract to teach there. I thought, Wow, when I graduate, I want to do that too. It just all sounded soooo remote, especially for someone growing up in small town Illinois.

Well.... by the time I graduated from college and started teaching, I was married and had a son. My plans were put on hold. My son and I traveled on a vacation to Vancouver in 1986 for the Worlds Fair. I recall walking into the Australian pavilion and seeing a sign that said, "Come to Australia in 1988" for a worlds fair. I literally took out my calendar and wrote down, 1988-- Australia! I began planning for my first trip.

I made my first trip alone, as a married woman, leaving husband and son at home, in 1988. I was gone from home for about 5 weeks. I think I spent all of one afternoon at that worlds fair (in Brissy). I also went to Sydney, Cairns, Adelaide, Melbourne, Ayres Rock, Alice Springs and Darwin.

I have now just made my 6th trip to OZ. I still enjoy making that long journey from Illinois because I know I'll have a great time. The PEOPLE are my favorite part!!! There are not many places where you can feel comfortable striking up a conversation on a street corner, or in an elevator!

I have now visited ALL of your capital cities plus Canberra. (how many native Aussies can say THAT? LOL) I made the trip to Perth on the Indian Pacific all the way from Sydney. Several of my trips were for reading conferences because I had joined the Australian Literacy Educators Assn so I could deduct them from my taxes. Yeeehawwww

I have returned to some favorite places more than once again (Sydney, Cairns, Adelaide) and continue to add new adventures on each trip down under. This last time, just weeks ago, I added the bridge climb in Sydney!

I have managed to make half my trips to OZ alone, and half with friends. My hubby and son still have NOT been there, but I hope they will come with me sometime soon. They both love to travel, so it isn't that they don't want to leave home.

I have good friends in Sydney, and we always manage to spend time together each time I return. A few weeks ago, we spent a week together in Cairns.

As long as the Aussies keep being so friendly, I'll keep coming!! I think Sydney is just about my favorite city in the world. That harbor is pretty hard to beat.

Carol

Hi Liz,

Just returned one week ago from three weeks in Australia (Still in post-vacation depression!!!) We visited the following areas: Sydney, Adelaide, Barossa Valley, took the Ghan to Alice Springs, Ayers Rock, and Cairns (Palm Cove) w/ a day trip to Lizard Island. We now realize now how much more we have to see.

We decided to visit Australia because the last 6 years we have vacationed in Europe and felt we were running out of really unique and different places to go. We were looking for somewhere completely different than we had been before!! We had always considered Australia, but it's soooo far, and the costs seemed prohibitive. It's still far, but I was wrong on the budget issue. Careful planning kept us within our budget, with experiences that we couldn't have had anywhere else!!! And yes, it is Hawaiian Air that now flies to Sydney from Honolulu. That allowed us to break up our flight both ways.

As for things to highlight, here's my list:

1... The friendliness of EVERYONE we met!! I know that it has been mentioned by others....but it's so true. We didn't meet an Aussie we didn't immediately take a liking to!! The people we met have had so many varied and interesting experiences and were open and more than willing to talk about them. They were genuinely interested in our day to day lives as well. We are from the Detroit area, and they seemed interested in our part of the country, and how it's different from both the East and West Coasts.

2... How civilized, yet crazy wild the country is. The cities are modern, fun, great things to do, yet drive 100 miles or so and you are in the most wild country you can imagine. So different than the USA. We have our rugged wild areas, but nothing like yours!!

3...The wildlife...nothing like we have at all. Our first day in Sydney, we walked through the Royal Botanical Gardens...the birds (and flying foxes) just blew me away. Where can you see Cockatoos, Gullahs and all your other beautiful birds, in a city, not in a zoo. I was taken by surprise. In all the reading I had done I was totally unprepared for that sight. Wild camels, 3 ft long lizards, all the types of kangaroos, a spider as big as my hand (Ok, maybe not that big, but big!!) just roaming free....totally unlike anything we can ever see outside a zoo in the USA. The Great Barrier Reef just blew me away!! I have never seen so many colors in my life. I'm sure I'm now spoiled for snorkeling anywhere else in the world for life.

4... English speaking country, easy to get from place to place.

5... It's a safe place to travel

With that said, we will be back. Looking forward to visiting Tasmania, The Top End, more of the Great Barrier Reef....so much more to see. I'm completely hooked!!

DKW

Hi Liz,
I have taken my family to Australia twice in the past 3 years.
My reasons are:
Relaxed culture
Fabulous values for good living
Beautiful clean environment
Unusual creatures (Fodorites excepted)
Superb weather
You don't seem to have the same tacky commercial attitude that so many places have.
How did Australia sell itself to me:
We were enticed by the Queensland beaches/islands (and Palm Cove), the classy relaxed culture of Sydney, the Architecture and multi cultural feelings in Melbourne
The harmony that so many different races live in .
And above all It feels as comfortable as home.
Although why us Brits ned a visa beats me, especially as you Aussies don't need one to come here, (but thats for another day).

Muck

Its all to do with when the UK decided that we, NZ and Aust were not the flavour of the month when it came to our exports in the dairy industry. NZ was very dependant on the UK in commercial terms and for that matter so was Australia. We felt somewhat more than slighted that we had been given the 'flick' seeing that we had been good enough to help fight your wars and take unwanted people off your hands for so many years. For the sake of those many immigrants from the UK here the authorities only went as far as to make you lot get Visas which is much better than the fate which would have befallen the Brits if the feelings of the passengers on one particular ship going to Australia and NZ had had their way. Besides we were once allowed to go to the UK and 'work' without any problems if we had grandparents who came from there but now we are relegated to the "foreigners" queue at Heathrow.
Finally though, when England refused to stand up and play cricket with us and make it a game, well that was the living B.. end, although it seems that someone has been coaching them in secret over the last 6 months. I know that they won the RWC but that was a fluke as everyone knew it should have been the French :0)

Liz,
The historical theories you talk about are a result of the British Governments typically blinkered approach to most things.
It must have been an easy solution to send all the undesireables to oz. Little did they know what they were creating.I sure if they had considered that building paradise may not quite be the punishment they anticipated I am sure that it wouldn't have happened.
Cricket...now here is a subject very dear to my heart.(didn't England beat Australia last week in the semi's) Roll on the ashes tour !!
Unfortunately the number of Glamorgan players has been limited to 2 which is quite astounding really as Glam won the 1 day comp, promoted in the championship and reached the semis of the 20/20 competition.
(Ok we had some help from Elliot and Kaspo too)
It seems that Wales is a long way from the selectors rooms at Lords.

If Wales had beaten England in the RWC as they were supposed to do; then England wouldn't have won.
Its a shame that Welsh rugby has not reached that peak since. Nor is it likely too.

Muck

I finally went to Australia this year after dreaming about it for a long time. I loved it, even though a lot of the things I wanted to do in Cairns got rained out.

I want to come back at some time when it's not POURING in Cairns. (I still had a great time, but missed out on diving the GBR.) Also want to go to Melbourne again. The idea of relaxing ocean/pool side for Christmas really does sound appealing.

My interest started when watching the channel 9 telecasts in India, of the 'Benson and Hedges World Championship of Cricket'way back in 1985 as a very impressionable lil girl :). reading all the reports from local journalists in Autralia, it seemed a very fun and beautiful place to visit.

Was 2001 before I did go- and it was awesome - very friendly people, good food - variety of activities evrything from city stuff, hiking, beaches. We spent time in Sydney, the Blue Mountains and the Cairns area.
Things that stand out:
very friendly people
great food
The diversity of activities as I mentioned before.
relaxed fun atmosphere

unlike other major cities - Sydney feels much more relaxed (maybe because we visted around christmas time:)

I always wanted to visit Australia but distance and cost to get there made it difficult until kids finished college, married and left home. When the opportunity presented itself we made the trip and our only regrets were we should have done it sooner and we didn't stay long enough. Visited Sydney, Cairns, Darwin, Brisbane, cruised along the Great Barrier Reef, stopped Lizard Island, Flinders Island, Thursday Island, Cape York, and Port Essington. We felt safe wherever we went, had some terrific meals, encountered many, many friendly people. All in all a great trip and we can't wait to go back - many more sights to see.

John_j and Jenny

Margo Oz

Alan and wife

Pat and Mike at Liliybank

Neil Cammack, my faithful e-mail political reporter

Kath Nolan at the Euramo Hotel

Ron and Merle at Old Tram Rd B&B

The nice receptionist who upgraded us to a harbor view room at the Lenna even though we were paying discounted rates

Sue at Lakeview Park, Jabiru

All the car rental agents who gave us extra nights free

Dinky the world famous singing and piano playing dingo of Central Australia

and last of all you Liz, for your wry humor and endless helpful advice

FYI we were in Sydney, Blue Mtns, Tasmania, Whitsundays , aboard Solway Lass, Cairns, Cape Trib. Kakadu and Arnhemland, Alice Springs, Kings Canyon and Yulara

and we can't wait to come back

AndrewDavid

Short answer:
Why do we want to go to Oz? Because it's REALLY far away.
Why haven't we actually DONE that yet? Because it's REALLY far away... ;)

Everyone has stated well the reasons to come. I grew up in the UK, now live in the US, east coast. I've been fascinated with Oz ever since I read A Town like Alice in my youth which was - ahem - a few years ago. DH and I have a list of places we MUST travel before we get too old and decrepit, and Oz is right up there on the list.

Problem is, there's so much to see there, and we still have limited vacation time (not retired yet). In 3 weeks, I don't think we can see Sydney and Melbourne, take the train to Perth, go to Alice on the Ghan, see the rainforest, and snorkel the GBR. And remain sane. But we will figure it out, and we WILL be there in the next couple of years. Promise. :)(And a short Honolulu stopover would sweeten the deal, too!)

<snif> <snif> thank you AD.
Talking about political reporters though, I have my green card ballot already signed, a letter saying why I have not lived in the USA all my life although I have American parentage, I am not going to be here for the election so if the election goes to the drones then I'm off. If I can't get into north America then I am sure the Argentinians at Baroliche will have me - been learning Spanish just in case, well anyway that will help me if I get to the US of A and take up one of those now unwanted residences in Florida which should be going cheap by now.

Liz ?

We made two trips to Australia in the mid-90?s and are currently planning a trip to Tasmania. We?re American expats living overseas ? at the time of our Oz trips, we lived in Saudi Arabia. We chose Australia for the following reasons:

1. Hubby is a scuba diver and absolutely had to dive the Great Barrier Reef. He took a liveaboard from Cairns and had a great time.

2. We had friends in Brisbane at the time, so we combined our trip to Oz with a visit with them.

3. We?d always been fascinated with Sydney, and had to see it for ourselves.

4. Oz is closer to the Middle East than to the US, so the flight was a wee bit shorter.

5. No language barriers (or so we thought!)

6. Curiosity about such an intriguing country

7. We also visited NZ on both trips, not realizing the first time how far apart they are.

8. Living overseas, we have more vacation time than in the US, so we were able to spend several weeks, making the long flights and jet lag much more tolerable.

9. Koalas, kangaroos and other creatures we just had to see for ourselves.

As far as how things appeared to us ?

We loved Sydney ? it exceeded our expectations (and we?re not city people).

We found Cairns and Magnetic Island a bit disappointing ? we thought they would be more tropical (similar to Hawaii). Loved the koalas on Magnetic Island though.

Enjoyed Brisbane ? yet another city (in part due to the Lone Tree Koala Sanctuary).

As far as advertising goes, I think an emphasis on quality of life, leisure activities, diversity and the unique aspects of Oz (and there are many) would do the trick.

The highlights for us were the Sydney Opera House, the ferries, Sydney Harbor and the koala sanctuary.

While in Oz we visited the following:

Brisbane
Cairns, Townsville & Magnetic Island
Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast
Sydney

Our visits were too short, we?ve barely scratched the surface. My idea of a holiday these days is to take my time and see as much as possible, so a much longer, more leisurely trip to OZ is in order.

We?re going back to Oz because we?ve wanted to visit Tasmania for years, but haven?t been able to find the time as NZ keeps calling us back.

We now live in Indonesia, so we can get a direct flight from Singapore to Melbourne - only five hours - yippee!

Hopefully, we'll be seeing alot more of Australia in the future.

Oops... forgot to edit all those pesky ?s

lizf:
we stopped in australia on our way to nz because it was an opportunity for us to take in another country. we stayed in sydney. we were very surprised at how large it is! we live in a big city (chicago) and we found it extremely easy to navigate. plenty of landmarks. it is much more than just the opera house and bridge. the neighborhoods were fun to explore.

(1) Because it is the other side of the world
(2) Because EVERYONE I have ever met REALLY loved it and I struggled to find anyone who has had anything really negative to say about the place.

We went there and Agree with them!

Went to Australia because of fascination with scenery, culture and people. Began trip in Tasmania and loved Hobart, Port Arthur, the Tasmanian Devil Park, and Launceston. Great driving on the left with little traffic.

Sydney is a world class city. Museums, Opera house, restaurants and being able to walk about without fear. Even the Bridge Climb is unique and the Blue Mountains make a great day expedition.

Finally Great Barrior Reef is fabulous. We spent 5 days there and enjoyed snorkling and particulary loved a heliocopter flight over the reef. It is so beautiful to see the reef from the air.

Finally everyone we met was so friendly and helpful. Would visit again in a minute.

Could we be Fodorians ( rather classical sounding and perhaps appropriate considering large greek- ozzie population down under) rather than Fodorites ( which makes us sound like minerals)?

AndrewDavid

Hello lizF

I think much of what I think about Australia has already been said. Australia is a curiosity: so far from other countries, different/interesting flora/fauna, great people, vast/diverse areas, interesting cities and so on. And like Canada where I live, unless you have a couple of months you can't see it all on one trip.

Unfortunately, for so many who express a desire to travel to Australia, it is a matter of flight cost or time or distance or all three. On the other hand, if the high cost of flights can be overcome, the Australian dollar is about equal to Canada and must be a bargain for Euro countries and Americans (what say you AndrewDavid?).

So flight cost is a big factor (we are spending our kids'inheritance to travel). Better inflight entertainment on board, seating, etc., would probably help and I believe this is being done on newer aircraft.

I think the Australian Tourism websites are very good, but you can probably make them even better by scrutinizing the excellent websites of other countries. The internet is a valuable tool for travellers so make the most of it.

We were not disappointed.

LizF - I have skipped over this post more than once - it is obviously directed at the American denizens of this board - it is an American board after all.

But I have to say I really resent your rant against the UK. Yes, the Uk finally did decide its place was in Europe, though that is still not totally accepted just like Keating's view that Australia's place is in Asia isn't here either. History is history - and if you hate the Brits so much maybe you would have preferred that the French won the prize. Do you think Australia's place in the world would be different? At least you speak English and from the aforesaid posts from Americans indicate - that is one of the big draw cards for them. Do you think Americans would be more likely to come if you spoke French? Or maybe you would prefer it if the big Southern Land had been left untouched for another century and had been colonised by the USA? Hmm?
Sometimes it looks like it was - and I guess you must like that. Hmmm!!!

As for me - well - after spending a good long time in Africa and Asia I was drawn (how could I resist) into taking a trip from Katmandhu to Beijing. And as I had to fly to get to the start and thought - hey, that round the world trip looks like really good value - I decided it was about time I checked out Australia.

So I came - backpacked around anti-clockwise from Cairns - Been to the Daintree, GBR, Whitsundays, Kakadu, Gibb River Road, all the way down the cost of WA, Perth and the SW corner, over to Esperance; Uluru, Ghan to Adelaide, whizz around the area south of that city: Flinders Ranges, William Creek, Coober Pedy; Melbourne, Tassie, Echuca, Albury, Canberra and SYDNEY!!!

Have since travelled the NSW coast up to Brissie and seen Hervey Bay, Noosa, Fraser Island. Travelled overland from Cairns to Alice on the Plenty Highway.

I think people who come here whose main aim is to stay in bijou B&Bs or 5* hotels are missing the point - which is that although the cities are great, and the museums and art galleries are, IMHO, world class, what Australia IS is vastness, and in a small way in the country, life without globalisation and the all pervasive dumbing down that is American culture.

I guess the point of your post was commercial and maybe it wasn't meant to be really thought about.

I will close by saying what you probably already know - that is that backpackers spend more than two weekers who stay in the plush places.

Alice you obviously learned little about the Australian psyche when you came - or are you still here? Your nit-pick regarding my "rant" about the English is just stupid and one-sided. I was stating facts, history if you like because the British DID drop us antipodeans like hot cakes although we had supported them in all ways ever since this country was founded. The truth sometimes does hurt!
As for this being an American site and this particular request directed at Americans, I would be more than grateful if you would direct me to the UK site that offers the same service and I would be more than happy to write the same post on that.
I will however pick you up on one point Alice and that is your statement that "at least you speak English" - do please tell me what is so wonderful about being able to speak English? Has it occurred to you that those people who do not speak English as their first language manage to speak several languages and are therefore far more adept at communication than those of us who speak only one language and flounder when we go anywhere else in the world.
I might ask you this question too, "what was the official language in England in 1500"?
In answer to another question of yours, yes, I would have preferred to have seen the French win the RWC because I thought that they played much better than most of the others and in particular the English - and the Australians for that matter.
No, this was not a commercially motivated question, no, this was not directed at the Americans and yes personally I would have preferred it if Captain Cook has been a few weeks late in discovering Australia even if that meant that we had to speak French - just think what we have had to endure with 200 years of the World's worst food! Oh and by the way my English born and bred husband agrees - he who speaks 3 languages and thinks that the POMS are the biggest bigots the world has ever seen.

PS I should have said "some POMS are the biggest bigots"

Alice

"Australia IS vastness"

Not really. Australia has one of the world's highest standard of living and is also one of the most urbanised. So essentially the real Australia is as much the big cities as it is the country. I don't think living in a YHA is more representative than staying at a B & B. Usually just an age factor. The older we get the less likely we are to put up with over crowded hostels.

Also "vastness" may hold more appeal to someone from a crowded island than someone visiting from a country that has it's own unique vastness and also equally unique country folk.

I always think I will travel around Australia (grey nomad one day)...(better start planning, the temples are greying)..(yikes) but probably never will, the vastness doesn't hold appeal.maybe jusy bits at a time. I don't believe this makes me any less Australian. Or do Australians also miss the point about their own country?

I am more at home living in multicultural Sydney than I would be living in the country with the local RSL the main entertainment. Just me, we all have a different reality about a place.

But doesn't make it any less Australian. Sydney is Australian, I can't imagine it anywhere else. Complete with the occasional whale and fairy penguins right in a major harbour.

If anything is taking away a unique Australian cultural from the cities it is European influence more than American. Cafe society is taking over from the Aussie pubs as meeting places. Not McDonalds.

LizF,

interesting thread. I wonder if your ads there are the same as our ads here? I'm sure the Tourist Commission would be less than thrilled to hear they're not doing a very good job, so I wonder if it's a local thing. The current ad campaign is the "Have You Ever?", which you can find on their website, and it's pretty much the same thing they've had for years, they just dust it off, and name it something new, but it HAS been effective I believe, in the American market.

A common thread in these postings is the distance, and while this is relative to where in the US you live, when you go through the course of study to become an Aussie Specalist, it's almost the first thing that's mentioned. Many times, it's a matter of perception. I'm on the West Coast, and I will have clients tell me that it's wayyyy to far / long to go to Australia. These are the same people that I booked to Italy / France / Spain last year. There are NO direct flights from SFO to Europe. So, when you take into account that they are going to have a stopover SOMEWHERE ("where", depending on which carrier) and you add the time up...well, it's the same or MORE than travelling to Oz.

Personally, I'd rather have a straight flight with no stopover to Australia, or, the direct flight from SFO -AKL: (which I'm soooo looking forward to in the next few weeks, that's going to save 5 hours not going to LAX).

Not only do I love going to Australia myself;, which is why I became a Specialist, but I love sending my clients there! Why? Because, it's the ONLY area of the world (including NZ in this) that I send people to that I get NO COMPLAINTS. Seriously. I'm a Specialist in other areas too, but this is the only place that I never ever get complaints!

I hear "I could move there"; "we're going to go back"' "next year we want do to NZ". Always, always, positive feedback.

Regards,

Melodie

Liz,
I believe Air New Zealand recentl inagurated non stop SFO Auckland service. The ads in the BART stations in San Franscisco had beautiful scenery w/ the tagline. " Emigrants welcome!".

That's the kind of invitation I'd like to receive from Australia esp. w/ the dismal political state here.

fond wishes from fodorian A/D

Vastness! well yes and no! With perhaps 90% of Australians living around the edge of Australia and most of the activity happening in that area I would say that the vastness does not apply to most visitors especially those from the USA who have some of the world's most beautiful vastness on their own doorstep! Oh how I loved the vastness of the 4 corners - the magnificence of the N.W. USA - the towering mountains the endless deserts. The fact that most Americans have a short holiday in comparison to us they can only see the major areas in Australia and whether they stay in 5 star hotels because that is what they like is of no consequence either. If that is what you like to do then do it!
I, on the other hand, prefer the intimacy of a B&B with all that entails and I also like to have the luxury of a 5 or 6 star hotel once in a while ( I sure enjoyed my weekend at the Versace Hotel on the Gold Coast last year for instance. Its a matter of "what makes you feel good".
I have stayed in South America in Bed and Breakfasts that would probably be condemned anywhere else in the Western World but the owner's consideration, help, love and attention will make those stays some of the most enjoyable I have ever had in the many years of travelling I have done and those people will remain my friends forever.
I don't think American's miss the point when they visit Australia in fact I would go as far as to say that perhaps they get the "point" much more than those of us who take our life here for granted. Neither do I think that Australia has had a "dumbing down" either by Americans or anyone else for that matter or at least no more but probably less than most of the world has been dumbed down ever since the UK rocked with the Beatles - if anything was going to dumb anyone down they would have. There is enough dumbing down going on in our little patch to worry about anyone else's.
For what is worth - and that may be nothing at all - I for one would be a very happy person to see a wave of migration coming from the US of A in fact I think it has started as I phoned a business the other day - first talked to someone who was from California then was put through to someone from Kansas - ended up asking her what country was I talking to and if their business had been out-sourced to the USA? No, it was Australia.
If the politicians had an immigration policy that was good for Australians and not what looked good in the eyes of the World ( who could care less ) then that too would make me so much happier.
So ya'll come - ya hear!

I have been following this thread and others on this forum with great interest and often amusement. We have not yet been to OZ but we're coming in December! And this forum has been a GREAT help in planning our trip!!

Why are we going to OZ? A number of reasons. Everybody that has been has raved about the trip. There is a minimum language barrier. (I remember going to Scotland thinking I would have no trouble because they spoke English. Could barely understand a word.) It's someplace new with lots of things to see. We have time to travel.

Why haven't we been before? It's a long way to travel for just a week or two and you can't see that much in just one or two weeks. Our trip will be about 5 weeks - 2 weeks in NZ and 3 weeks in OZ. Even with 3 weeks, we find that we will be rushed and won't be able to see and/or do all the things we would like.

It's not like going to Europe. First, like most Americans, we have a cultural and heritage tie to at least some countries of Europe. Second, when you go to Europe, you can concentrate on one or two countries that cover a relatively small geographic area. Australia is a large country/continent. Great distances between places.

I'll have a better idea of what it's all about after we get there and see some of the wonderful sights and meet the FRIENDLY people. We are anxiously looking forward to our visit.

Our 3 weeks in OZ will include 4 nights and 3 days in Sydney, 3 nights and 3 days in Melbourne, 2 nights - 1 1/2 days in Kangaroo Island, 1 night and day in in Adelaide, 2 nights and 1 1/2 days in Ayers Rock, 1 night in Cairns, 4 nights and 4 1/2 days on cruise of GBR, 3 nights and 3 days at Port Douglas (Silky Oaks), 1 night in Sydney. The difference between the number of days and nights is travel time.

I absolutely loved Australia and want to make it back there some day. Only the distance is stopping me.
Australia was always a mysterious place that just seemed to be steeped in adventure and discoveries. The Sydney Olympics helped introduce me to how cosmopolitan it is as well.

I had high expectations before I went and they were all more than exceeded. I had only had 2.5 weeks (including travel time) so I didn't get to see too much.

I loved Sydney - one my absolute favorite cities in the world. It has everything a city should have and more: lots of great restaurants and night-life, a beautiful harbor, clean and safe, lots of cultural activities, shopping, history, great transportation, and lots of outdoors activites. So many wonderful beaches so close by. And the people are just fantastic, friendly and helpful.

Love the Blue Mountains, great hiking and easy access from Sydney.

Melbourne was OK. The city itself was OK. Lots of things to do in the area. Liked the sporting activities.

Great Ocean Road - so hard to describe, it was so wonderful and beautiful. The scenery was so breath-taking. The drive is worth doing multiple times.

Ayers Rock - has a wonderful spiritual feel to it. Having the aborigines be an integral part of the area's tourism added greatly. The spirit of the place does not get lost in commercialism. Glad to know that development in the area is limited to preserve the sacredness of the area.

Cairns and the Tropical North. Again too hard to describe, very wonderful. Lots to do. Opportunity to see the wildlife in their natural habitats (a little scary too). Like how much of the tourism is eco-tourism to preserve and protect the beauty and state of the area.

Great Barrier Reef - could spend a whole week here alone. So much to see and do. Went with a marine biologist who showed us things that an ordinary snorkeler/scuba person would ordinarily miss. Like how protection of the environment is integrated into the activities.

Loved Australia. Liked how the people obviously took pride in their country - sharing it and preserving it without arrogance. Like the laid-back attitude and welcoming nature.
So much to do and see with such varied terrain (desert to tropical wildlands to ancient forests with primitive trees and fauna that is found nowhere else in the world). I think no other country in the world has such variety. I like also the untamed feeling of the outback and the amount of different adventurous activites that were offered overall. Australia just seems to have everything in such great abundance.

We originally came to Australia because we thought it was a magical, mysterious place on the other side of the world. A vast, unspoiled land, totally unlike our own, with new places & things to explore.

When the opportunity came to actually visit, there were no second thoughts. We read everything we could get our hands on and learned as much as we could before our visit. Our homework paid off. Many of the Aussies we met were genuinely impressed with our knowledge of their country. They were appreciative that we made the effort to learn about them.

When we travel, we like to see the "touristy" things but our main focus is to try to immerse ourselves and live as a local would live. Instead of staying in a big hotel and eating out every night, we try to find an apartment in a non-tourist neighborhood. Doing this gives us the opportunity to meet local people around the neighborhood, in the park, at the grocery store, etc. Staying in a fancy hotel only lets you meet other travelers.

In our Australian travels, we've visited Sydney & the Blue Mtns, Alice Springs & Uluru, and Cairns/GBR & surrounds. We've also spent over three weeks in Southeast Queensland/Northern NSW (Brisbane, Gold Coast Hinterland, Byron Bay) where we've made many dear friends. We've met all kinds of Aussies including the lovely Fodorian LizF, a famous radio & TV personality, immigrants from New Caledonia, a rugby union player, bush poets, working class people and senior citizens. Without fail, every single Aussie we've met is rough & tough on the outside, but soft on the inside. If they tell you they're going to do something, you can believe they'll do it. And if you give someone your word, you're expected to keep it. They're quick to lend a helping hand but also expect you to pull your own weight. We really like this direct, honest approach.

Now that I've spent some time there, I can tell you that it was far better than I ever expected. When I'm in Australia, I constantly feel like a kid at Christmas. Around every corner is a new place or experience. It's similar to the feeling I got as a child sitting down at the Christmas tree and opening each new present. And the people are genuine & friendly, like it used to be here in America.

As for promoting Australia, I think the biggest obstacle to Americans is the myth that it's going to cost a boatload of money. We've all seen the images of the Opera House, Uluru & GBR. Americans think it all looks so nice but it's so far away so it must cost a lot to get there. With the favorable exchange rate between the USD/AUD, we found it very reasonable to visit Australia. In fact, we had a visit to New York & Washington D.C. planned last summer but went to Oz instead because the total cost of the trip was much less!! Many of our friends think we must be filthy rich to visit Australia but when we explain to them how reasonable it is, they can't believe it. Convince us that it won't cost an arm & a leg and you'll see more Yanks considering a trip over.

And Liz, I'd migrate to Australia tomorrow if I could. Can I say you're my sister?

You bet John in Miami - say I am your sister/mother/whatever only the authorities would probably put that down as a minus - much better to say Geoff is really your father - I can break the news to him later but I am sure he will give out the cigars!
You obviously ducked the latest attack on Florida from Jeanne thank heavens and I hope that will be the last taste for you this year. The old NW must be looking kind of wonderful right now.
Love to Brenda
Liz

The reason we visited Australia for the first time (just got back Sep 22)was a long time interest, timing and opportunity. There was an especially attractive hotel/air package with United. BUT, the reason we'll return soon, is the wonderful Australian people. We've traveled extensively (Oz was the sixth continent and we've vacationed in all 50 U.S. states), and we've never been so warmly received by such open, helpful and friendly people. This began with the respondents on this forum and continued with virtually everyone we met throughout our short visit to Sydney, Blue Mountains and the Port Stephens area. You have unique and wonderous animals, sights and scenery, and Sydney must be experience by all who consider themselves well traveled, but your single greatest asset is your people. From the bottom of my heart, this Yank says "Thanks Mates!".

Pottle
I am glad you had a great time, and found us congenial?

When are you coming back?

Trip report?