I've decided to make my dream of going to Australia and NZ come true, even though I have nobody to go with!
I am very overwhelmed though with planning this trip. I am thinking a tour might be best for me. I see Contiki tours has a lot of options. Has anyone traveled to NZ or Aust. with Contiki? Also, do you you think I should definitely include 6 days in NZ or should I stay all of my 2 weeks seeing Sydney and Cairns?

Thank you. Happy travels.

I would think that in only two weeks you would be better off seeing one part of one of these countries. the advantage of a tour is that you will be travelling with other people. the disadvantage of a tour is that you will be travelling with other people.

Good for you, Alex - now tell us a little more about what you like, and what you think you might want to see.

I would definitely recommend one country or the other.

And there are companies other than Contiki who offer very good tours - are you a party animal? Or would you prefer something that covered less ground but offered a more rewarding experience.

Thanks for the replies. Thatis funny about the tours! Yes, traveling with so many could be a disadvantage- especially if there are a lot of annoying ones.

I'm really not a party animal...at my old age of 33 I just like to concentrate on the sight-seeing and having nice dinners out...to bed at 11 and up at the crack of dawn to sightsee again. I know the first few days I will be beat from the jet lag from NYC flight. I'd probably do well on a seniors tour...lol. But I'm single and do want to meet some other single people!
The more I try to plan traveling these 2 countries, the more confusing it gets. I am leaning towards doing Contiki 7 day tour of NZ and see Australia on my own for 10 days. Sydney and then up to Cairns.

p.s. I'm all about more rewarding experience and covering less ground!

Go to NZ. Go to the Great Ponsonby, an inn in Ponsonby which is the most happening place in Auckland. Gerry will have you all sorted with interesting things to do places to go to around NZ.

You will be with a lot of elderly people on a tour.
Do day tours instead and use a combination of trains, busses and rental car to get around.

We did a week in Sydney and a week in Auckland with day trips and once overnighted out of Auckland. Was great.

Hello Alexal29!

First of all, GOOD FOR YOU!! That's fantastic that you're willing to head out for a great adventure on your own!

Of course, I can't tell from your screen name, but I'd be willing to bet that you're a woman.

In the past few years I've been working with several women clients who have decided to go outside of their comfort zone, tired of trying to find a friend to go with them, tired of putting their plans on hold and have taken the bull by the horns and decided to go solo. It's a daunting experience for most of them, but I can tell you that once done, they've all been glad they took the plunge, so have heart, you'll be fine!

OK, let's talk Contiki -- their advertising states that they do tours for the 18-35 yr. old age range.

As with any tour, there are pluses and minuses. First of all, you're on a "cookie cutter" tour which may or may not feature your specific interests. There's no doubt there will be things scheduled that you have absolutely no interest in doing or seeing; that's a given.

On the plus side, everything's taken care of for you, and there's "safety in numbers" factor. Of course, you could very well end up with an entire tour of 18 year olds who want to party and hook up and you'd be the "grandma" of the group! There's no way of telling.

As Fuzzy sez, there are other companies out there that may offer more of what you're interested in.

Regarding NZ in 7 days and Australia for 10; bottom line..you can't see NZ in 7 days. You can get a TASTE of NZ, but not really "see" the country in a week.

I really think you should concentrate on one country and see it to its fullest in the time that you have. And by the way, since you're coming from NY, you may want to consider flying to LA or SFO and overnighting to break up the trip if you can spare the time. Then, it's a direct flight to either destination.

We don't really know what your interests are, except that your not a party animal and you like sightseeing and nice dinners. There's a whole wealth of options out there -- as in interest in: history, unique animals, architecture, walking/hiking, beaches/snorkelling/diving; shopping, etc.

Hope this is helpful!

Regards,

Melodie
Certified Aussie & Kiwi Specialist

Wow- you all are the best! Thank you so much for the great tips.

Yes, I fit that category perfectly - of women sick of waiting for friends to be able to travel and wanting to strike out of my comfort zone. I really think Australia will be the perfect trip for me. It is just planning the trip using my frequent flier miles that is the pain!

I can see myself being the grandma of the group on Contiki! I like your idea of day tours and taking buses to get around..Thank you. I'm a bit hesitant to rent a car in a strange country...
I am not a scuba diver but I do love hiking and want to see a rain forest. Also want to see koalas and kangaroos!
Thanks again!
-Alexa

I too am a single woman who has decided to stop waiting and visit Oz, prolly next winter. I'll be interested to keep up with this thread.

Hi Alexa,

You wrote:

>>I am not a scuba diver but I do love hiking and want to see a rain forest. Also want to see koalas and kangaroos!<<

Then I would spend the whole two weeks in Australia.

Lee Ann

Hi - me again.

I just want to say that it so, so easy to travel in Australia alone. When I first arrived, I had a plan - I knew what I wanted to do, and where I wanted to go. I had researched it, read about it, thought about it. But - hey - I had six months!! It's even more important if you only have two weeks.

I travelled by bus - linked up with people I met in a hostel sometimes for a trip in a hired car.

I had travelled alone quite a bit before that - sometimes to places where English is not widely spoken.

So please remember:

It is not hard.

English is spoken everywhere.

There is a network of excellent hostels.

There is a huge choice of companies offering cheap and cheerful tours.

Thousands and thousands of people travel on the cheap round Australia. Most are under 30 but many are not.

You must decide what you want to do.

Here's an itinerary for you to play with. Fly into Cairns (3 days); fly to Alice: take budget trip around to Uluru (4 days). Train to Adelaide; Take waywardbus to Melbourne (4 days). Fly to Sydney and depart.

No, that won't do. You see - you do not have the time to do it all (all? I haven't even mentioned WA and Tassie which were on my first time list, and all the other glorious places).

Let me try again:

No - will wait for you to decide what you want to do. But I would recommend any of the Wayward bus trips.

You need to do some thinking here, dear Alex.

Yes, a lot of thinking is needed for sure! My head already hurts. The airlines do not make using your frequent flier miles easy!

I'm stubborn, too and I figure if I'm flying to the opposite end of the world I might as see New Zealand too, still!
I'm thinking of flying to Christchurch and seeing that and Wellington. I hear the scenery is amazing.
I like your itinerary ideas but I don't have time. I definitely want to do the 3 days in Cairns and Port Douglas. Do a rain forest tour. And then you think a couple days in Sydney and a day at the Blue Mountains? Is the Blue Mountains worth it?
Am I missing much if I skip Alice?

I guess I'm all about seeing beautiful scenery, a rainforest and hiking. Also want to spend 2 days in the city (Sydney).

Good to know about traveling alone. I figure I will be OK since they speak English! I think I will try staying at hostels for the first time for part of the trip. I'm paranoid though about my things being stolen while sleeping. (this happened to me on a train in Europe). The hostels are safe? Guess I should just sleep with my valuables in my bed?!

Thank you!

Alexa,

A big welcome from another New Yorker =). I am going on a 22 day (Oz,Nz,Tahiti) tour with www.smartours.com (located @ 42nd st/Timesquare). My trip starts on 11/29 and ends 12/20/06. The price tag is just $3499 with JFK departure.

Check it out NOW. I am booking it tomorrow and this deal may not last. Let me know,

Wayne

you might also like to look at these tour companies -
http://www.intrepidtravel.com/
http://www.worldexpeditions.com.au
http://www.ozexperience.com/

i'd be tempted to try and do maybe a 9day oz, 5 day nz split - if I was coming to oz for short time, I think i'd want to see sydney GBR and uluru - sadly, they're all very far apart!

somewhere like cairns, GBR if you are staying in a hostel, you are going to meet people to hang out with and do things with. the hostels in oz are generally of a good standard and you'll probably find you would probably be able to get a double/twin room for a reasonable price, given you are coming from US. this way you get to sleep in private and benefits of security in your room but still have people around.

good luck.

Going to NZ to see Christchurch and Wellington is fine. Both pleasant cities, and although the most spectacular scenery is further south, if you are determined to see both countries ...

On my third trip to NZ I only had 5 days and did something similar. Here's how it went more or less.

Arrive in Christchurch, spend the night. Take a shuttle next day to Kaikoura; spend the night, go whale watching in the morning; take a shuttle to Picton. (night #3). Next day go walking on the Queen Charlotte Track. There is (used to be?) a mailboat that will drop you off and pick you up 4-5 hours later at another jetty.

I did this in September and it was sublime. Saw only one other person. But I was lucky with the weather.

Spend another night in Picton; next day take the boat to Wellington. If you have good weather (I did) sailing out of Picton Sound, across Cook Strait and into the amazing harbour of Wellington is awesome.

Spend night #5 in Wellington and fly out.

I don't know if you can fly from Wellington to Cairns. You can certainly fly Auckland to Cairns.

That is what I would do - fly into Cairns for your Australian landfall. Do whatever you want there. Then fly to Sydney.

And enjoy!! and yes the Blue Mts are definiteley worth the trip.

If you are doing a short trip to NZ I would focus on Queenstown, if it is possible to get there with your frequent flyer miles. The scenery right in town is "Remarkable" with a lake backed by mountains. It is a tourist centered location and you can book a day trip or overnight to Milford Sound which is a top sight, and it does have some night life. I like Christchurch but it is not in the most scenic part of NZ (surrounded by flat plains). However if restricted to Christchurch with frequent flyer miles you can do easy day or overnight trips to Akaroa, Kaikoura, and Arthur's Pass. There is a good tourist info office in Christchurch. A friendly B&B that works nicely for singles in Christchurch is Windsor Hotel (I've stayed there 3 times). They tend to book up so use their website (windsorhotel.co.nz). Another alternative for singles is the Christchurch Y (you can get a private room). I found it very noisy but it will do as a backup and is in a good location. Also in Christchurch Dux de Lux is great for dining as a single and they have entertainment many evenings. Don't worry about going alone. You will find it easy to get around and the locals are most friendly.

I am also planning on travelling alone (32 year old SWF - will be 33 by then). Since I can only go for 2-3 weeks, I am planning on only going to Australia. My trip is going to focus on the animals and outside. Sydney is my first stop and I am planning on booking a hotel for 2 nights (to get over jet lag). Then Blue MTN, drive/train north down the coast to Adelaide, then Kangaroo Island. Then fly back to Sydney. I am probably going to do hostels and day tours.

have fun on your trip,
Shelley

Hi alexals29 - there is a website worth checking out called: www.travelaloneandloveit.com - which is worth a visit. Sharon, a flight attendant, wrote a book of the same name. The beauty about the website is that there is a section for questions such as yours.

Have fun!

Hellyes - have a great time. Most hostels are brilliant.

But don't go north looking for Adelaide!!

Guess it was a typo.

Thank you SO much to everybody. Can't thank you enough for all of these awesome replies. You all have given me such great ideas and I'm printing out to help in my planning.
I had to push my trip back to November and have to pay for my own to fly from Sydney to Christchurch, but that's okay. VirginBlue has an amazing price anyway. I am soooo excited. More to write later - need to re-read all of these ideas from you guys!