dreamingofoz

Hey guys! I haven't posted in awhile but we are trying to get our itinerary squared away for next October. So far we are thinking of doing about 4-5 days Sydney, 4 days Cairns, 2 days Ayers Rock, and 3-4 days Melbourne. This will leave us between 5 and 6 days unaccounted for. Should we go to LHI, a couple cities in Taz, or a couple places in NZ? We like things about each but we were hoping that people experienced with all of them could help us decide which would be the best to round out our trip. Any advice is appreciated!

Bushranger

After the onslaught of travelling about, LHI would definitely be a place to relax and recuperate whilst still having enough to keep you occupied - it's a magically enchanting place far surpassing what you'll find in either Tassie or NZ and I've been to all three.

On top of that, whilst weather Sydney, Cairns, inland and Melbourne ought to be reasonable, Tassie and NZ could still be a bit winterish and LHI ideal.

LizzyF

With all due respect Bushranger YOU HAVE TO BE KIDDING ME. I don't know where you have been, where you live or what age group you are in but really mate that time year in Tasmania is spring and is beautiful - absolutely beautiful and the best time of year to be there. I know that you are keen on giving people websites on just about everywhere in Australia but your bonafides are yet to be determined and this last idea of yours does not help you in any way. LHI is about as boring as you can get and is about as expensive to get to and from as you can get. So unless dreamingofoz is 85 yrs old with lots of money and the wish to do and see absolutely nothing then LHI is the go.

RalphR

LHI = Lord Howe Island? I'm sure a lot of readers of this forum have never seen this acronym before, let alone have heard of the island.

dreamingofoz...is this your first trip to Australia? If so, seeing two big cities seems unnecessary...I'd stick with Sydney, scrap Melbourne and use the time elsewhere.

dreamingofoz

"RalphR"...I am sorry if I used an abbreviation that others cannot understand. I have seen it used on this board, so I assumed that most people (esp. Australians) who posted on this board would recognize it. As far as Melbourne, I would really like to visit the GOR (Great Ocean Road), so I don't think I can rule it out. Thank you for the advice!

RalphR

No problem dreamingof oz. I'm thinking mainly of new readers of this board and people doing searches looking for travel information.

The GOR (which you have defined above!)is certainly a good idea. Have you considered driving one way Melbourne-Adelaide or reverse? Adelaide and South Australia would be lovely in October. You could also work Kangaroo Island into the itinerary.

Ralph

kiwi_rob

Hi, dreaming.
Just to throw in a vote for NZ. With all due respect for the GOR drive, if coastal scenery is an attraction for you, 5-6 days spent in the South Island driving on either the east or the west coast (you would have enough time to do a loop, Christchurch to Christchurch, covering both coasts, actually) would give you sights that, IMHO (more damned acronyms) far surpass those of the GOR.
This would also cover mountains, beaches (a bit cold for swimming at that time of year, though), a whale-watching opportunity, bush walks, wine-tasting, etc, to name but a few of the attractions on offer.

Bushranger

Despite the pushers of Taz and NZ dreamy, if one looks at the latitudes of both those islands and throws in the prevailing winds of the southern ocean, you appreciate that be it spring or whenever it will be a damm side cooler and every chance of wetter weather in comparison to LHI and I wouldn't be concerned too much with using abbreviations.

I also put LHI at top of list in context of you already having had what to me seems a reasonably hectic schedule and to get best of Taz and NZ it would mean more driving whereas on LHI you either walk, cycle, swim, snorkel, fly a kite or play golf etc.

LizzyF

TWADDLE Bushranger, you can look at all the prevailing winds, factor in whatever you want to but as I live in Tasmania I can tell you you are wrong in saying that LHI would be better in October than Tassie. LHI is a midget of an island stuck somewhere in the middle of the ocean and you have to pay a King's ransom to get there and back. I note that you are always quoting websites but never personal experienced travel and I have to wonder about some of your suggestions as I happened to encounter one of your suggested tours the other day in Cairns and let me tell you that I think you need to rethink some of your ideas if that is indicative of your idea of good tours. Perhaps you have a fixation within a certain age group. Furthermore the South Island of NZ or the north Island for that matter would certainly have more going for them than LHI. I also agree with Ralph about scrapping Melbourne but I would also go as far as to scrap the idea of the GOR as well. By the way everyone I will be doing a report on the Wildlife park in the Daintree that I stayed at ( they have a B&B in there as well) overnight. If anyone wants to experience Australian animals and birds first hand that is the place to spend a few nights to be sure. Perhaps spending more time in Cairns area would be best dreamingofoz - look up the reports that Ralph has done recently for some ideas.

Bushranger

Don't quite know why you're so het up Lizzy but to answer a few of your questions, I 've been to FNQ a few times, Tassie also and NZ and LHI as I indicated in opeing response.
Yes I use appropriate links for places/regions I have visited for they contain more relevant information than I am prepared to type.

I have been in Tasmania when it has been low teens in summer and know that about Xmas time snow is not unheard of about Cradle Mountain region and yet I have been on LHI in togs in September, the weather there being far less variable than what you can have on Tasmania or in NZ and certainly far more reliably pleasant at that time of the year.

Have you been to LHI Lizzy? and with your "I have to wonder about some of your suggestions as I happened to encounter one of your suggested tours the other day in Cairns and let me tell you that I think you" rather than you stay in a tizzy, what was the suggestion, with link please and I am more than happy to discuss.

Cheers

Bushranger

Lizzy might have a twaddle or dizzy tizzy over me supplying yet another reference but using http://www.worldclimate.com/

And so simple to type in Hobart, Launceston, Auckland, Sydney and Lord Howe Island and you will get some idea of what trend in temperatures to expect in moving towards the equator, about 4.5C between Tassie/NZ and LHI, and you can also look at what rainfall has historically been - it does and is varying but Spring does still remain a relatively unseetled time of the year in respect to weather.

That said, if you want to continue touring despite what weather may be, Tassie is more compact and you'll need to consider your flight connections (losing more time in customs etc. as well as flight time)going to NZ but if you want somewhere to stop/relax, LHI or somewhere on eastcoast for a couple of locations will win hands down.

dreamingofoz

Thank you everyone for all your great advice! I'm sorry if I caused a heated debate (although I have no idea what a twaddle or a dizzy tizzy are, I assume they involve a heated debate!). I am glad to see that someone is passionate about each of my choices, hopefully that means they are all great! It looks like I still have a tough decision ahead of me, though, since I think I actually have more choices now than I did before! I would appreciate any continued advice, and if it helps I can tell you a little more about us...we are in our late 20's (not 85!) and we are using this trip as our honeymoon. This is his first big trip...I went to Peru in 2004 and LOVED it! We are very adventurous and love anything involving natural beauty and wildlife. We like most any outdoor activity and are not afraid to try anything once! We are very laidback and don't need anything fancy as far as posh accomodations...we just want a really unique and memorable adventure and we definitely want to make the most of our time there! I know people prefer to post on the board, but if you are willing to offer any additional advice I would love to hear it! My email address is [email protected]

kiwi_rob

If you did make it to NZ (thereby avoiding any cross-fire from the Bushranger/Lizzy wars), you could have a go at swimming with the dolphins at Kaikoura. Check out www.dolphin.co.nz

Bushranger

I'm cool rob and other than saying it'd take longer to get to NZ than Tasmania, you may appreciate a certain openess with my posts and I'm not about to start proposing preposterous claims about weather nor fire off Capitals salvos but do not besurprised on a Capital Broadside.

Dreamy, dizzy tizzy rhymes with Lizzy and a tizzy is an aussie word for when whatever is happening to them for they to start using Capitals - not good form on any forum - maybe time out needed for anger management classes.

And btw (and for rob too) you can swim with dolpins in Oz and like NZ as well I suspect, it is whale migration season.

I've seen people of all ages able to enjoy many places on the planet dreamy and just depends on what you're dreaming of for the six days or whatever.

Bushranger

Dreamy, My email address is [email protected] isn't working; is it correct?

dreamingofoz

Yes, that is the correct address. Could you try again? Thanks!