In my own opinion, a lot of Americans do not have large blocks of time off from work and many ppl don't want to fly 13-18 hours to Australia. Don't get me wrong-I LOVE AUSTRALIA. If you can tell me how to get a job in my field that comes with a visa I"ll move there. I've done 2 month-long house swaps in Sydney and visited on 2 other occasions. I think I am an exception. I used to work in a school and had July and August free. Even though I sacrificed my summer I figured it was better than not going to Australia. Therefore, I feel that many Americans who go to Australia feel that it's better to go even if it's for 2 weeks then not go at all. I'm sure that more of us would go for longer if we could, but due to work and financial obligations it's just not possible. I just don't agree that if you can't "DO" Australia-and that means I guess visit the entire country in one visit-then you shouldn't go. That is kinda ridiculous. I mean, I am American and while I"ve traveled all over the world there are many places in the US I've never been. For example, I've spent months in Oz and NZ and have never been to Vegas. Just no desire.

I don't think a lot of the ppl that I know who have been to Australia expected to see all of the wonderful country in one visit. As I said earlier, it's better to just go and see what you can than never experience this wonderful continent. If you think about it like that-that it's an entire continent-then maybe only seeing Sydney and then a trip to GBR is an accomplishment in itself.

In any case, I see these commericals all the time asking "where in the bloody hell are you" so it seems like detracting ppl from visit is sort of hypocritical when the Australian govt wants us to visit! I can't even see my whole country and I"ve lived here for 30+ years, so if others want to visit Australia for only 2 weeks then why detract them from doing so only b/c they can't see ALL of Australia during their visit? I thought I'd go once and I"ve now been 4 times in 5 years and spent months at a time there! Again, if you know someone who'd get me a visa let me know-I'm a college counselor who works with high school students. Unfortch for me they aren't utilized in Australia so I'm stuck here in NYC dreaming of my next visit to this wonderful country. I also only wish that all of my friends had the time and money to visit the country I wish was my new home. :)

Reviewing this thread I have to say that fuzzylogic's "advice" to Melodie, who knows Australia and the logistics of Australian travel very well, was off-beam and appears to reflect a prejudice against America and Americans which may be English in its origins.

Lizf thank you so much for the information about how to get cheaper flights than going through the travel anents. I spent last December in Australia and was hoping to go again but was worried about the cost. I have just done a bit of checking on prices and can get three cities and a return fare from SF for $1387 which is absolutely awesome, I am hooked and I am booked.
Neil seems to have shut his mind to alternatives since his trip over to the US here but I guess he feels he has to support his new friends seeing they are in the travel industry. I did think that advertising was against rule and also making nasty remarks about the possibility of being English was against the rule. You are showing your racist side Neil.
I have previously been using other travel sites but have found this one to be the best because the people living in the areas of my interest are the ones answering most of the time and that is what I want. If I want the information from a travel agent I will go to one.

MB, please tell us the particulars of your flights: Origins, destinations, costs, airlines, approximate dates. Tell all!

Well Betsy, this is what I have per person SF - Hon return bought through Priceline for 10/22/07 return 11/21/07 $241.75 US. I then logged onto www.jetstar.com in Australia and booked for 10/23/07 $413.85 US and returning on 11/20/07 $450.98 US. The total so far is $1086.58
A few days after arrival in Sydney I have got flight from Sydney to Brisbane with Jetstar for $69 Au 4 days then 149 Au from Brisbane to Cairns. Return is $139 and 89. That comes to $441 Au and converts to about $300US making the whole trip about $1400. Sure I have to have a couple of nights in Hawaii but as I have relatives I want to see that is fine with me. Even so it would only cost about $160 for 2 nights on Priceline.

If you were doning Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra or Hobart it would be cheaper as they are not as far as Cairns. If you wanted to go by train to Canberra and then fly Sydney to Melbourne it would work out at about $1290 according to the prices I got.

Thanks so much, MB. We don't have a return trip scheduled at the moment :-(, but we'll factor in this option when we start to plan seriously. We'd originate at SFO also.

Hawaiian Airlines also has hawaii-oz flights.They may be competing on price wth Jetstar.