PJTravels

I'm weighing in late on this, but having had the luxury of spending a month in Australia and a month in NZ, I would suggest that you really pare down - perhaps eliminate NZ this trip and add Tassie back in. As others have pointed out, you have to decide what it is that is most important to you.

Our month in Australia didn't even scrape the tip of the iceberg. We spent time in Sydney, the surrounding wine areas, flew to Adelaide and toured the Barossa and McClaren Vale wine areas, flew to Melbourne and from there hopped over to Tasmania for close to 2 weeks of hiking and touring the island. Our month in NZ only began to scratch the south island - in fact we are currently planning another trip to try to see some of the north island but are already running into trouble as there is so much we want to redo on the south island.

lynniewinnie

Yes Bushranger to answer your question, plan 1 has only 4 days Alice/Uluru compared to 5 in plan 2, 3 Sydney 2 Canb. compared to 2 and 1 respectively plan 2, but plan 2 gives 1 more in NZ than plan 1. Plan 3 max days in all areas except not the additional in NZ. (By the way, can we just rent a car in Alice and drive to Uluru, spend 2 nights, and sightsee on our own rather than a tour? I know you suggest a tour)
My 3 plans are all loops in different order, are app same cost and time in air. Yes I could get to Christchurch through Brisbane in plan 3 but Sally suggested it wasn't the top of the list so I scheduled back through Sydney (same price and gives me the 3rd day Sydney in plan 3. Also better arrival time Christchurch if I remember correctly)
And yes I know all the air travel sites by heart at this point---we did get exceptionally great international fares.
Thanks PJTravels for chipping in---Because this is our first (hopefully of many, but who knows) trip over we wanted to experience both NZ and Australia. I can't skip NZ because we start and end in Auckland (because we were going to concentrate in NZ but now that has changed!)
Either way I know we will want more time everywhere but will make do with what we have....
Let me know what you think about the tour to Uluru....Do we need 3 days in Sydney area....Is Canberra doable in 1 day/night? Thanks

Bushranger

Yes Lynnie you can hire a car in Alice Springs and drive out to Uluru but it's a damm long way each way particularly one way if you want to do the drive into Kings Canyon and back out again which you have to do in staying on the bitumen [sealed road surface] unless you pay extra to hire a 4WD.

Beware of driving about dusk as roaming animals can be encountered.

Agree an extra day in Sydney makes more sense than trying to do something in Brisbane in a day unless you wanted the chance to cuddle a Koala.

You can see a reasonable ammount in your three days in Sydney but it is also the type of place a couple of weeks wouldn't go astray and our Canophiles could give you a list of things to keep you in Canberra longer but highlights should be covered in a day/night, War Museum tops and then you're looking at whether you want to visit some prominent buildings - High Court, Parliament House, old and new, historical farmhouses/smaller museums, Cockington Green, a miniature English village and have a look about Lake Burley Griffin or some nature reserves, think there could be one closer in with plenty of Kangaroos.

lynniewinnie

Okay----I think my final itinerary is good to go---One full circle loop with max days in all main areas except Canb (only 1), with good flight times and no connections (which saves a lot of time), and still the 2 days to add to NZ.
I may start a new thread after I search for places to stay/things to do.... I will definitely need advice and start a new thread for NZ although I already have some suggestions.
Thanks to you all and see you on the next threads or in travel somewhere!