Australia

[kll]

I just won a trip - it's kind of random - 3 nights at Hamilton Island and 2 nights at Ayers Rock. I will be adding on an extended trip to wherever, but would be happy to have suggestions. The airfare is thru Virgin Australia. Any insight would be cool... thx!

[Kid Presentable]

At work so can't go into detail, but my answer would be:

Anywhere, it's all good

[mikizee]

Yep. It's a big country with wildly varying landscapes/temps from deserts to rainforests to snow alps.

What are you hoping to see?

[Planetary]

Yep. It's a big country with wildly varying landscapes/temps from deserts to rainforests to snow alps.

What are you hoping to see?

what's the best spot for skiing? my mate teaches it in hotham(?) every year while it's summer in this hemisphere.

[mikizee]

Hotham, Perisher, Falls Creek, Thredbo, they're all good.


Although I haven't been to any of them.

[kll]

I don't actually know what I hope to see other than the kangaroos and koalas, which sounds so lame. I never thought I'd ever visit, so it's not a place I ever really researched.

I see the area attractions mentioned for places like Sydney and Melbourne, but can't pick one over the other just yet. For those of you who have been to say the big 3 or 4 cities (incl. Brisbane and Cairns), what's best for a 3-night stay as far as feeling as if you've seen and done a lot in a metropolitan Aussie city?

I'm already getting the outback and reef experiences with the other two hotels.

[Echewta]

All you need to know and learn (http://youtu.be/MeG-hNXXy6I)

[jabumbo]

you better bring me back a vegemite sandwich, and don't forget to smile

[Documad]

What time of year will you be going? I read up on the weather before I went and that talked me out of a couple of things I'd thought about. I decided against the outback in their summer for instance.

Also, it's a much larger country in reality than in my head so I scaled things down a bit. I thought Melbourne was really lovely but if you're only going to Australia once I can't imagine skipping Sydney. On the other hand, if you're not into big metropolitan cities maybe it's not for you. I stayed right on the harbor and it's just so beautiful. Plus they have the most exotic birds. The noises alone make you know you're someplace different. One of the best cheap things I did in Sydney was taking a ferry that did a tour of the harbor--it wasn't fancy, just a ferry --but they had a guy doing voiceover and explaining what we were going by. I stayed at a really cheap local hotel in a great location but it was summer and there was no air conditioning so it wouldn't have been for everyone.

Trip of a lifetime. Congratulations on the win!

[Kid Presentable]

If it were between Melbourne and Sydney I'd go with Sydney, but Melbourne is pretty fucking awesome. That's just a personal preference of mine. What time of year is the trip?

I reckon Cairns and the Gold Coast would be worth checking out, Barossa Valley in South Australia, and (if you can be bothered and afford it) Margaret River et al in WA.

[icy manipulator]

if you're up in hamilton island there's a lot of good places you can go up there. there's plenty of other nice little islands around there like Magnetic Island plus the Daintree rain forest is worth checking out if you're into that sort of thing. and of course the Great Barrier Reef for snorkeling, whale watching etc. what time of year is pretty important because of Box jellyfish and what not, they're nasty little fuckers. Brisbane's alright but it's great for day trips if you want do lots of touristy stuff like go to Australia Zoo or the Gold Coast or even Fraser Island if you have time.

i think most Australians would say go to Melbourne over Sydney but for a foreigner you'd be better off with Sydney

[dave790]

If you're more of a culture vulture and into the 'arty' side of life then Melbourne is definitely the place. I like St. Kilda. Lots of nice little local cafes, a general trendy but welcoming vibe, and a tiny bit of sleaze at night.

[mikizee]

Yeah depends on how long you want to stay, but for seeing/doing lots of cool shit over a few days Sydney would be the go. Bridge, harbour, Opera House, zillions of great places to eat. A train inland to see the Blue Mountains too.

Melbourne is awesome too. Great for food, music, culture.

And if you've got time come to the Barossa Valley, I'd be happy to show you around

[Myu-to]

you better bring me back a vegemite sandwich, and don't forget to smile
:D

Congrats, and where is my invite?

[Yetra Flam]

Don't go to Tasmania, you'll be disappointed

[kll]

I've chosen May to visit. Thank you all so much for the insight... I think Sydney will for sure be a stop as far as big city... now if you want to give specifics, like best places to eat, best bars, unique shopping, etc., that would be awesome! I will most likely get rooms at the Four Seasons (because my work can get me rooms), so anywhere around that spot, which I believe is close to the Opera House???

It's far enough off that I can really plan, but I am a control freak, so I need to have most of my trip thought out or else I will drive myself crazy!

Other larger cities may be added on, but not confirmed yet...

Oh, and the "lotto curse" has set in - everyone has an opinion on who I should take, and it's REALLY annoying!!!

[Documad]

I stayed at the Russell which is about a block away from the Four Seasons. You only have to take a short walk to see the bay and you have a great view of the opera house from there.

Everything I ate was terrific -- lots of fresh fruit and other fresh ingredients even at corner restaurants. I'm sure others will give you good recommendations but i just stumbled around and everything was lovely.

[mikizee]

Shit weather in May. For lots of the country. Hamilton Island will have nice weather though.

Four Seasons is in a great spot. 2-3 min walk maximum to Circular Quay.

Check out Darling Harbour which is the next small bay over. Wildlife World, the Aquarium.

When me and the girlfriend last went we got a smartvisit card, where you pay a fee for a card that gets you free entry at tons of places.

Well well well worth the money. Here. (http://seesydneypass.iventurecard.com/)

And definitely do the jet boat ride. Just prepare to get very very wet.

[Splashleigh]

May will suck balls. as will sydney. art, culture and food is much better is melbourne.

[venusvenus123]

Byron Bay is a worth a stop off if you have time.

[Myu-to]

Oh, and the "lotto curse" has set in - everyone has an opinion on who I should take, and it's REALLY annoying!!!
My post was not an opinion, it was a demand.

Take me, I'll shave your feet, make sure rental cars have leather interior, and open wine bottles for you.

[mikizee]

If there's any chance you could come in March instead... Its festival month here in Adelaide, the Adelaide Fringe is on which is the 2nd biggest Fringe festival in the world after the Edinburgh Fringe. Just about every famous stand up comic in the world is here plus loads of other shit.

Also got a big street car race that goes through the city streets around that time as well. And Womadelaide, one of the world's biggest world music festivals.

It all happens in March.

[russhie]

what's the best spot for skiing? my mate teaches it in hotham(?) every year while it's summer in this hemisphere.

Hotham is great, just got back from a boarding trip up there. Hotham & Falls Creek are close together, about 5 hrs drive from Melbourne, and boarders seem to prefer Hotham cause it's easier to get from one run to another. Thredbo & Perisher in NSW are supposed to be wicked - though I've never been. Nothing here really compares to o/s mountains anyway, in terms of elevation, snow depth and choice of runs. Still, it's a unique experience boarding through the gumtrees :)

May is an ok time to be visiting AUS, the weather is already warm now and if we have a cracking summer it'll stay warmer for longer.

Everything else here is pretty correct, though...Sydney is for tourists, Melbourne is for culture. It's hard giving advice as a person who lives here, because my ideal AUS holiday involves natural beauty and isolation...and people visiting either don't have the time, or want to go and "experience" things, not drive for two days to get to a deserted beach or mountain campsite to just enjoy the natural beauty of this place.

[mikizee]

oh hey russhie, long time no see!