Hi Everyone!

We are looking for some trip advice! I've read some travel blogs, pages, books, forums etc but still need help! We are going to be taking about 7 weeks for our honeymoon (from Canada) to travel to New Zealand, Australia and Vanuatu. We will be leaving around Dec 3 2010 and returning around Jan 21 2011.

So far I was thinking we would fly to Auckland first, then to Oz, then Vanuatu, back to New Zealand then the loooong trek home.

We were thinking of hop on/off bus tour for NZ that would show us most of the island.

Some musts are:

Vanuatu - we figure about 5-6 days. Must see the volcano on Tanna.

Sharks - we were thinking the Zoo in Sydney that allows you to swim with sharks (as we do not have our divers and cannot relinquish 7 days for a proper swim with sharks trip.)

Great Barrier Reef is another must see - just not sure where.


Some questions we have:
Should we just do the reef and not Whitsundays? Or both?

Should we plan to see Uluru? Or skip it?

We are not city, busy people - should we avoid time spent in Syndey to trade off for Perth or not bother to travel so far.

Fraser Island? Must do? What are people's thoughts.


My head is spinning a bit with potential itinerary's. Here's one we have so far:

Day 1,2, 3 Fly to Auckland
Tour of NZ with bus company till Day 22.
Day 22 - 26 Sydney
Day 27-33 - Cairns
Day 34-36 - Whitsundays tour
Day 37-41 - Brisbane
Day 42-47 - Vanuatu

Dates are somewhat flexible - all travel times have to be within that 7 week period.

Any thoughts out there? Thanks in advance!!

If you are coming Dec/Jan then I would most definately skip Uluru because the heat and the flies would be intolerable as "could" Perth, Adelaide and possibly Melbourne's heat at that time of year. I would never forego Sydney for anywhere else at the best of time though as Sydney is much more than just a city and if you a lucky to be there on New Year's Eve then its the World's biggest party and well worth going to. Although it would be humid in and around the GBR if you plan to be near and or on the water than it makes for a nice time because the reef and water at that time of year is really good from the point of visability and lack of winds. I have said it thousands of times that the GBR is more than just a reef and in line with that I would be going to Cairns and surrounds mainly because there is a greater variety of things to see and do there. But I would do that on New Years Day onwards, after the party in Sydney. What had you in mind for Brisbane?

Thanks for the reply ivenotbeeneverywhere. Some great advice there about Uluru etc.

Brisbane, other than Steve Irwin Zoo, was really just a stepping stone onward to Vanuatu. We were on the debate about Fraser Island as it would be done during that time as well. We are trying to find a good balance with experiencing and travel.

Good points about Sydney at New Years. I hear it's the thing to do as well. I wish we had more time actually but just trying to hit the best while were down that a-way as it will be quite some time until we are back!

Actually you might research Morton Island which is just off Brisbane as it is very nice too and more easily accessable than Fraser ( you can feed the dolphins) Tangalooma resort is where the dolphins are. There was something about Fraser Island in the newspaper the other day regarding stopping people hooning around in cars without knowledge of driving on sand. Cannot remember what it was or when though. You can get the train (rail motor) to Beerwah from Brisbane and get to Steve Irwin's zoo there if you are staying in Brisbane but also I would suggest a trip south to the Lamington National Park for some good walks and different scenery. Do a search on South East Queensland for some good ideas.

If you're coming to Sydney, Taronga's a world class zoo in a show-stopping location.

I've flown Syd - Vanuatu, so unless routes have changed radically you could drop Brisbane if those were your only two reasons for being there. Nice little city, just the same.

I would go ahead and rent a car while you're in New Zealand. What do you want to see while you're there?

Lee Ann