I'm going to Australia and would like advice ;)?

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bogakbridgetaker

I did a study abroad in Australia for 6 months and also went there for a month for Christmas once. Here's what I'd suggest:

At all costs, get up to Cairns. Go see the Great Barrier Reef. Due to the rising temperatures, it is estimated that in 10-20 years, the reef will be gone. It is amazingly beautiful. (World Heritage listed)

While you are up there, go into the rain forest, another world heritage listed destination. Living in the US does not afford us the option of visiting a rain forest within our own country. The rain forest is another beautiful place that should not be missed. As a bonus, the rain forest and the reef are literally right beside each other, so you can take tours from Cairns into both.

Fraser Island is another "don't miss" destination spot, and yes it is world heritage listed. It's the world's largest sand island (and Australia's 3rd biggest island). It has a shipwreck, amazing natural beauty, and a creek that I swam up for a long time and then waded gently while it carried me back to where I started from.

If you've got a spare evening and want something a bit more "adventurous", check out "Kroombit Cattle Station." It's a cattle farm where you can do things like ride a mechanical bull and help them rustle up the sheep (while you are on horseback, screaming out for the sheep to move. It's all very amusing and fun).

Since you didn't give enough information, I would advise Brisbane for the 3rd big city. It's along the way to Cairns and is close to the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, both nice beaches to visit (as well as "smaller cities" depending on your perspective. If you are from L.A., they are small. If you are from somewhere like me, they are actually fairly big.

Australia is safer than the U.S. That doesn't mean that it is safe, because obviously if you go walking into the wrong parts it can be dangerous. But as a whole, follow standard tourist safety rules and you will easily come out of there alive. The people there are very friendly. The wildlife? It's a bit more dangerous than what we are accustomed to. If we get bit by a rattlesnake, you have time to go to the bar, maybe play some frisbee, then go to the doctor where you'll wait for a few hours. If you get bit by a snake in Australia? Let's just say there's a bit more reason to panic.

I've taken the flight from LAX to Sydney twice. Once was in coach, and that was about 12-14 hours of wanting to kill myself. The other time I was upgraded to business class, and while the flight was still very long, the fact that I could lay the chair completely back made it a much more pleasant flight. Just be prepared for 14 hours of sitting on a plane, not being able to move much, and you'll be okay. If you can manage to stay awake for a long time before getting on the plane, all the better. That is one flight you want to sleep for as long as possible on.

*edit* Ooohh, the person below me is right! Go see Steve Irwin's zoo -- Australia Zoo. It's a wonderful treat for adults and children alike. I have some great memories from there (one of which is embarassing; let's just say they tricked me pretty good). Getting to walk along the exhibit where they keep their snakes is fascinating. It starts with the number 1 most venomous snake and does 9 of the top 10 most venomous in the world - all native to Australia. That's kind of scary when you think about it.

hemsty

the flight from LAX to Brisbane is shorter than the one to Melbourne but not much - you lose a day and move from Winter to Summer all in the space of 14 hours. Some Qantas planes are fairly old (it will be a 747-400 probably) make sure you take water with you, cabin staff sometimes forget to bring it round. All the seats have personal TV with current movies, just hope yours is working but take a book in case it isnt. If you are coming from America, did you realise that in Australia people drive on the left of the road not the right? Between Brisbane and Sydney I dont really know - look at the websites listed below for tourist information. If you want to splash out in Sydney take a night cruise on the harbour, for a scenic route take the coastal road between Sydney and Melbourne but allow a couple of days for the drive, or take the Hume Highway which is still about 12 hours drive or more. In Melbourne (where I live) make sure to be on the South Bank of the Yarra river on the hour after dark near the casino, have a meal on the Colonial Tramcar restaurant as it moves round town (the evening trip is splendid with a five course meal and ends up at the Casino). Take a trip out to the Yarra Valley to some lovely wineries and sample the produce, have a little retail therapy in Bourke St and see the street artists there and on Sunday all day on South Bank. Take a trip down the Great Ocean Road and stop at Torquay and Lorne, visit Mount Dandenong and see Melbourne from (I think) 350 metres up and also visit William Rickets reserve which is quite a way up the mountain. Have a great time, there's so much to do - in two weeks you'll only scratch the surface and you will want to come back.

fab40nola -I'm back...

If you are driving between Brisbane and Sydney, Nambucca Heads is about a 6 hour drive down th Pacific Hwy. It is beautiful and quiet. I stayed there last weekend at a cabin at the White Albatross caravan Park. There is not much there in the way of tourism, but it is Beautiful and friendly. Stay a day or two before going on to Sydney. The whole route is as safe as anywhere so long as you are sensible and keep your doors locked and money safe.

Jeremy - No Gators, just Crocs, but they are mainly up north.

P.S. If you wish to hold a Koala make sure you do it in Queensland at Lone Pine or even better Australia Zoo, because I don't think you can do it anymore in New South Wales.

wizebloke

G'day.
Brisbane has the tourist capital of Australia about 1 hour south The Gold Coast focused on Surfers Paradise.
1 Hour north of Brisbane is Steve (Crocodile hunter) Irwin's Australian Zoo run by his family.

Coffs Harbour and Byron Bay are good stop-overs on the way to Sydney.

Sydney has a lot happening inside the city. Go out on the harbour by ferry, and stay between the flags when swimming on surf beaches (undercurrents can drag you out otherwise).

Melbourne is ten hours by road so just fly there. Hillsvale Sanctuary has all the Aussie animals. You may be here during the Moomba Festival.

All of the cities have Night clubs, golf clubs, yacht clubs, -so what do you like?

Safe: Yes

Friendliness: Best in the world

Traffic: Obey the signals! (even as a pedestrian)

Food: Try lots of things you haven't tried before, like fish we don't readily have in the US

Wine: It's cheap! Explore lots. If going out to eat, bring you own from a wine shop.

Flight: Be sure to get up and walk around during the flight to stretch your legs.

Sydney: If you don't already have a hotel and need one, I recommend the Kirketon: http://travel.yahoo.com/p-hotel-368902-the_kirketon_hotel-i

Sites: Climb the Sydney Harbor Bridge; it's worth it. Also, the Blue Mountains: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Mountains_(Australia)

Lisa

The flight from LA to Aus is one of the longest so in that respect it is uncomfortable, but Qantas is great. Australia is not known for being dangerous, but normal precautions are always good.

The Gold coast is really popular which is only 1 hour from Brisbane and it has great theme parks. Movie world, Sea world and Wet and Wild (you can buy a 3 park super-pass for these) They is also Dream world that has great rides and is where Big Brother Australia is filmed.

You could stay in Port MacQuaire - it is a beautiful coastal area and will break up the long trip nicely.

In Sydney you would want to go to the opera house, visit Circular Quay, go shopping and visit the Tarronga zoo.

You should go to the nations capital - Canberra. Go to Parliament house, take in some museums culture and stuff...

Then it is about a 7 hour drive from Canberra to Melbourne.

The entire trip is about 22 hours if you do it straight (which my mates and I have done!)

The Eastern states (QLD NSW and VIC) are all about beach and beautiful coastlines, alfresco dining and shopping. You should take the tram up Lygon street at night in Melbourne - It is famous for it's alfresco dining. Go to the casino and see the fire towers go off there, sit in Federation square, walk along Southbank (Blue Train has great food) and go to the Aquarium - It has penguins now!

Have fun!

Rachel

In Brisbane a nice small place to visit is Bribie island. Its only about an hour away from the city but its a small and lovely place. In brisbane you could check out the beach in the city at south bank .Sydney look at the opera house. And in melbourne threre'ss a huge skyscraper you can go up and see the whole city which is good. Also in the cities go on thecity catss. Basically waterbusess.

the unknown child

quantas is generally good if you exclude the week is had a broken wing emerency landin etc every second day...theyre still having heaps of problems but there getting critisism so the planes are now waaaay safer i think, its pretty comfortable, you get a tv most of the time i personally disliked the food but hey, i dislke food on any plane

Daaaph.

in sydney you have to Visit bondi beach, climb the harbor bridge , Visit the Opera house

in melbourne Visit the huge ferris wheel, Visit the eureka sky deck tower (its the best http://www.eurekaskydeck.com.au )

if you go to perth swim with the dolphins

have fun.

countonme

From your post, it seems you are traveling with your family. there are certain things you should know when traveling. you can check out here http://www.ebooks.thehelpster.com/the-family-holiday-guide/?id=mfon
. i wish you goodluck

fitz

There is heaps to do but try to go on some organised tours as well.

Gemma B

australia is a wonderful country and the people are so warm it's safe just relax have a great time and say hello to skippy for me ha ha

wolves

Australia is seriously one of the safest countries ever, so you shouldn't have any worries there (No guns or anything stupid like that) Byron Bay is a nice cute little place to stay and just outside Melbourne there's some beautiful wineries you can stay at.
In Brisbane, make sure you take a trip to Fortitude Valley on a Saturday for the markets and in Melbourne, if you want to shop go to Brunswick St via the free brown tram.

John B

dont

Jeremy B

beware of gators

Lord of the Morning

Ok, everyone in Aus practically carries knives, in one form of another. It's not illegal to carry blades along the east coast of australia, which is the area you will be traveling through. Although the irony is, that native australians (aboriginals) are not allowed to carry bladed spears in ithe central region of the country despite the fact that it conflicts with their culture.

What I suggest for your safety is the purchase of a decent mid-sized hunting knife. They are realitively inexpensive and you really don't want to be without one if you run into any trouble. There have been some serious issues in recent years with conflicts easily escalating into people being fatally wounded because of the widespread ownership of knives.

Also it sounds like you'll be traveling by car between cities? Then it is even more vital that you carry some form of legal self defence. The smaller towns you may stay in on your travels may seem scenic in parts, but in all honesty, they might have one law officer in them (if your lucky) and a wrong comment to a local, or a run in with aggressive adolescents could turn your vaccation into a tragedy.

Be prepared. It's a rough country.

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