Like many others I am pleading for some help to guide planning. We (two 65 year old) have tickets from Portland, OR (via Vancouver, CA) to Sydney, arriving on Sept 19 and departing on Oct 16 (a total of 27 days). I looked at a few guidebooks and there is just too much to see, with considerable flying needed to get from place to place and I feel stuck...We want to avoid driving. While this will be probably our only trip to Australia, we do not want to just run around. We like cities, nature (but we are not into diving, skiing, hiking, etc.). We do not enjoy very hot climates and beaches are not a major attraction for us. While this doesn't say a lot, maybe some of you tireless, expert Fodorites can come up with some suggested, reasonable itinerary/length of stay (based on the climate during these weeks in different areas, time it takes to get from place to place, etc). Any suggestions would be very much appreciated.

it is true that to plan a trip to OZ that you need to figure in the travel time/distance.

a lot of places in Australia can be hot and humid during this time - it's our spring - with weather changing as it does all over the planet.

Queensland is lovely, but according to your posting may not be suitable for you. It is rainforest,beach, reef and sun destination (a lot of other attractions as well - such as Australia Zoo - so your choice).

NT has Uluru and many other notable landmarks - but again tempertures will be warm to say the least with cool to cold nights - subject to the 'usual weather'.

WA is large and many area can be for you. it is vast and beautiful - perhaps suited to a fly drive holiday. although you could tour Perth and Rottnest island within reason.

As you are flying in and out of Sydney NSW lends itself to exploration, but don't give up on Victoria.

Could be your best option (??) as in this time frame a quick flight from sydney (perhaps a duel city holiday) that has a cooler climate overall, great trams and public transport, fantastic food/restaurants, shows and attractions. as does sydney. yet many different aspects of our culture or sights (day trip to the great ocean road? or grampians?).

Sydney have day trips to the blue mountains and the monorail and museums/zoo etc plus the harbour and the ferries.

just food for thought

Sept & Oct are beautiful in WA - it's wildflower season.

How do you feel about train travel? The Indian Pacific to Perth would give you a sense of the vast emptiness of the country without the hassle of a drive. You could stop off at Kalgoorlie/Boulder for the goldfields history and the jaw dropping open pit mining operation. In Perth, visit the fabulous museum, walk around Kings park overlooking the city, take a day cruise on the Swan River Then a wildflowers and winery tour south to the Margaret River area. Temperatures should be quite comfortable at this time, and the scenery is quite varied, with forests, beaches and bushland.

I think this itinerary should take about 10 days including travel time. Another 8-10 days to visit Sydney and the Blue Mountains, and you still have a week or so for a third destination. You won't begin to see it all, of course, but you will see some wonderful sights with lots of variety. And you may just want to come back.

Thanks for your helpful suggestions, they give me a good starting point.

I have another idea for train travel.
have a look at The Ghan
http://www.greatsouthernrail.com.au/site/home.jsp

Perhaps after WA and Sydney you might consider Tasmania. Although I have not been there those who have sing its praises highly, and it looks a beautiful destination. Maybe 4 days there, then 4 days in Melbourne. I would love to suggest Northern Territory - Darwin, Kakadu, Uluru, and of course Alice Springs as they are all wonderful destinations with amazing things to do and see, as is Queensland too, but they will be too warm at that time of year for you I suspect. This nearly-65 year old is also not into diving, hiking,etc, and doesn't like temperatures much over 30 degrees either, but I do love the beauty and divergence of nature, and exploring even if it does include some walking out of my comfort zone. I explored a lot of Sydney by foot in 5 days at the beginning of last October. Great city to visit now with lots of museums (interesting ones!), the beautiful old buildings and homes, the inner city, and of course the water travel to different points around the harbour.
The Ghan could be an interesting option to get a feel of the Northern Territory, with little side trips at Katherine and Alice Springs to gain a little more insight of the region. My husband and I travelled on the Ghan from Katherine to Alice Springs (just a short overnight trip) and although the cabins are small - we were in a Gold cabin - we survived. The Ghan stops in the abovementioned places for 3-4 hours, and I think there are choices of trips you can do. I presume there are places further down the line too with such arrangements.
Whatever you plan, remember it is a vast country which is well-worth a visit, and it deserves careful research to include as much of its diversity as possble within a few destinations and your time frame.

I always come to this forum for help and it never fails. I will investigate the options for using the train since we want to avoid driving. Dottyp, since your likes and dislikes seem to be close to ours, if you have a trip plan that you could share, that would be great. Thanks.

Or, how about Sydney 4 days, 3-4 days Alice Springs/Uluru (the Red Centre), 5 days Far North Queensland (visit the Reef and Daintree) and 7 days Tasmania (Hobart, Freycinet National Park, Cradle Mountain). That would give you a mix of nature and cities. In Hobart there are some excellent restaurants like Garagistes and the Museum of Old and New Art is fantastic.

Thanks!

I have seen one recommendation for a local (I believe Melbourne based)travel agency and I looked them up. While I am sure they provide excellent service, they cater to those looking for luxury trips. Any suggestions for a good local travel agency that one could work with for day trips, plane and/or train tickets, etc.? How do travel agencies make money in Australia, do they charge the clients or they get paid by hotels, airlines, etc.?

Tasmania, of course!, that would be perfect Weather wise.

With transport while you are there perhaps join a couple of day trips around the island.

Tasmania has a lot to offer and many places are close (using Australian distances anyway!) to each other. within 2 - 3 hrs drive anyway.
Cradle Mountain is a great natural attraction and walking trails with the Tasmanian Devil sanctuary as well.

Hobart is lovely with the famous markets and wharf areas.
and many more great spots small villages, high rainforest walks, great bays and wonderful historic buildings and places. the food is amazing.

Travel agents: there are many to choose from, some airlines have a travel section that you might want to check. there are QANTAS, VIRGIN BLUE, JETSET and then there is FLIGHT CENTRE these are a few generic brands but may give you an idea of prices for motels/hotels in Australia and tours etc.

Thanks. Can one enjoy what Tasmania has to offer without a car?

If you base yourself in Hobart there are many day trips from there. Then do the same with Launceston.

Driving in Tasmania is quite easy if you want to drive. There is only 500 000 people in the whole state! So not much traffic and once you are out of the two main citie - very little.

It is quite a diverse state and has just about everything the other states have except hot desert and tropical forests. Wehave spent a total of seven weeks ther with only a couple of days doubled up. We are going back at Christmas for another four and again will only double up on a few days.

It is a great place to see wildlife, particularly penguins (much better than Phillip Island!)

I would suggest Sydeney for a few days including the Blue Mountains, then train to Melbourne for a few days and do a trip along the great ocean road. Then Tasmania and fly back to Sydney.



I have a trip report for Tasmania if you wish.

Great suggestions! Thanks, it starts to come together.

Thanks PeterSale, I just read your informative and entertaining trip report for Tasmania.

Suzanna, I second the suggestion made by peterSale about including Tasmania. On my second trip to OZ, we included 5 nights on Tasmania and loved it. On our second day at the market, we were talking with a couple from Sydney who had just arrived for a 3-week trip and we couldn't imagine spending 3 weeks on that little island. It didn't take but a couple of days before we too felt we could spend weeks there.

As suggested by peterSale, day trips from Hobart are available but driving there is VERY easy and allows you to explore in so many different ways.

Thanks. Two questions:

- I could not find any feedback re. AAT Kings Tours, a company that I am considering for some tours. If anyone used them, I'd appreciate some info re. satisfaction level. Hopefully it matches their prices.

- as I am considering Tasmania, I was looking at the weather for mid September to mid October (when I will be there) and I found the following: "Weather-wise, the best time to visit is from November through to March. While Tasmania has a nice spring, that is the season where the weather is least predictable, so if you are making very rigid travel plans, September-October could be a time to avoid. ". ... I guess nothing is ever perfect . Was anyone in Tasmania during this time and if so what was the experience with the weather? While I know that the past might not mean too much for the future, was it very rainy and cold?

A quick glance at the statistics shows a trend for the wettest time of the year in the west and north to be earlier than your visit you would be right in Hobart's wettest time of year. I think the key consideration is the variability of the weather at that latitude at any time of year and in spring in particular. Does that bother you or you can work around it is the place to start your thinking. Do not expect a lot of spring flowers as they come later in the season in my limited experience.

We've visted TAS in both Oct/Nov and March/April. We had much better weather during the Oct/Nov visit, but that could have been a fluke. Both detailed trip reports are posted here on Fodor's. If you're interested in reading them, just click on my screen name and scroll down through my trip reports.

Enjoy TAS. It's a wonderful place.