My wife and I are planning a 10 week vacation in Australia and New Zealand. We will arrive in Sydney on Jan 2, 2002 and plan to rent a motorhome. We have 5 weeks to see eastern Australia. Would like explore the south then drive up to Cairns to see the GBR. We would fly from Cairn to NZ possibly Auckland then drive to the south island and explore along the way. Any info on travel time between cities, things to do and see would be greatly appreciated.

Are you planning to go from Sydney to Melbourne, then up to Cairns? If so, I'd suggest following the coast south from Sydney, staying at places like Narooma, Bateman's Bay and Merimbula. From Melbourne, you can take the Newell Highway north (bypassing Sydney) as far as Coonbarrabran, then turning east to Tamworth. From Tamworth, continue east to Port Macquarie, then head north again. There are so many little towns along the way and lots of nice beaches. You'll be doing a lot of driving but I'm sure you have already thought of that.<BR>We've done this trip many times with a caravan - if you want more info, feel free to email me direct.<BR>If you want information on caravan parks, try www.big4.com.au and www.toptouristparks.com.au - these are the two big caravan park chains. You will be travelling in the peak school holiday period so be prepared to book ahead. There are books available that list free camping areas.

I assume you meant Jan 2003 ( not 2002)<BR><BR>We can help you book the whole thing campervan etc.. we have a special running at the moment for both Australia & New zealand. Distances and maps available.<BR>We are a National Us/Canada wholesaler/tour operator and get super deals <BR><BR>Thanks<BR>Peter<BR>A&A Holidays,Ltd<BR>tel: 1-800-611 7783<BR>[email protected]

Would everyone send all their junk emails to this Peter and clog up his email address. <BR>

Don,<BR>a good site for working out travel distances is www.travelmate.com.au check out the Map Maker section.<BR><BR>Definitely book ahead as the peak holiday season is over Christmas when all the kids are on school holidays.<BR><BR>Well worth seeing on the way north to Cairns, is the Whitsunday Island area, you can island hop if you want, there are ferries running all day (Fantasea have their own website). There is a secure lock up garage you can store your campervan in if you want a couple of days on an island, or just do a day visit. Garage is in Shute Harbour, near Airlie Beach, where the ferries go from.<BR><BR>Also another nice spot, a little further north, is Mission Beach. You can see Dunk Island from the beautiful beach and there are day trips you can do there. Also white water rafting at Tully near by if that's your thing.<BR><BR>In Melbourne don't miss the Queen Victoria Market, Sat morning is best if you can make it. It sells just about everything, and the buskers are great. The view of Melbourne from the top of the Rialto Towers is amazing. Also St Kilda on a Sunday would be great, walk along the Esplanade to see the craft market then along Acland Street for coffee and cake - the cake shops are to die for!!<BR><BR>You'll have no trouble filling in 10 weeks. Have a wonderful time.<BR>Kay

Hi there Don<BR><BR>Look at www.purenz.com<BR>It is full of info.<BR>Get lost Peter what's your name, we can plan our own holidays thankyou very much.

My wife and I are heading over th AU 10/02 to dive the GBR (Fitzroy & Heron) and then renting a motorhome in NZ (South Island). Does anyone have any ideas or know of any restrictions on where you can park overnight i.e; beach areas or campsites. We have 8 nights to explore the island. Any tips would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! Herb & Ali

Hi Don<BR>I would not take the Newell Highway from Melbourne to Queensland if you have a motorhome and are travelling in January as this is our mid-summer time and the outback ( which is what the Newell goes through) it HOT HOT HOT and very boring during this season as its brown and dry and dreadfully uninteresting in this state. A bit like travelling across the Prairies in winter ( I lived in Edmonton for 2 years so I am aware of what that is like) <BR>As you have plenty of time I would go around the coastal areas because that is a lot cooler and prettier, however for the first 2 weeks of January you will have to contend with school holiday crowds but with planning and flexibility you shouldn't be too put out. <BR>Remember though that you will be travelling into the rainy season in Queensland and that could hamper some of your plans. I am not sure if I would do that in a motor home for the whole of the time. I think that the cost of a one way drop off would be prohibitive actually so perhaps you could think of flying some of the way ( over the boring bits) and only renting a motor home when you get to a destination. Hone down your plans and we will keep you on track with them to the best of our ability. <BR>Liz<BR>

Thanks for all the information. I have just dumped the idea of driving to Cairns. I am now planning to spend 4 days in Sydney take the train to Melbourne and motorhome up the coast to Brisbane. If there is time left over I will try to find a tour package that will fly me up to the GBR somewhere for a week. Any suggestions? Is this too much for 5 weeks?

Now your talking Don.Much more realistic.<BR>However you are still 50:50 oz :nz...the debate over the relative merits could go on forever but nz is a smaller place.I think you should give urself an extra 4-5 days in oz to squeeze in a gbr trip.You will be able to get a "cheap" deal brissy to reef islands or palm cove or cairns etc after school holidays finish in the last week of Jan or first week of feb.<BR><BR>You do seem wedded to the motorhome(campervan) idea...i would check the costs versus car hire and motels.<BR><BR>The trip melbourne-brisbane at that time of year could be a memorable one.<BR><BR>maybe you could get a cheap flight cairns nz on freedom air

I am sure that you can fly from Cairns to NZ and I too would underline the merit of going to see the GBR and everything along with it. If I told you that I went to Kamloops but didn;t go to the Rockies/Lake Loise you would probably think I was out of my mind. But I did anyway. <BR>Which every way you go try and get in a trip up north as you won't be disappointed. How you do that is up to you but remember that it is much easier to motorhome in NZ than it is in Australia because of the smaller distances, while flying in Australia, especially if you get an on-line ticket is quite economical. There will be plenty of good deals for the GBR at that time of year which will include accommodation if you wish it. <BR>

Just another thought: when in NZ drive your van to Wellington ( north island) and leave it there and take the boat and get another van on the south Island. I took my van across that stretch of water some years ago and I thought I would have to mortgage the house - very expensive.