Please tell me I don't need to take an organised tour

I will be in OZ from the 28/2/2010 to the 25/3/2010, landing in Brisbane and travelling alone. I was in oz ten years before, but never saw fraser island or the whitsundays. These two places, alongside seeing an old friend (75yrs) who I met on my last trip, are my is my only reason for returning.

However in my haste, I chose to fly into brisbane, rather than cairns, and out of sydney, which means doubling back on myself, and is making the whole thing far more complicated than I would have liked. They won't let me alter my ticket now.

I hate the idea of going on an organised tour, plus it would eat up a large chunk of my bugdet for only a few days sight seeing, and I still have 5 months left of travelling when I leave.

I can't afford to hire a car alone, and would much prefer to do this with others for safety when camping and a good laugh whilst on the road. Getting a greyhound Kilometre pass will get me to the places I want to see, but I don't know if I could just turn up and get on a 3 day whitsunday cruise, without prior booking and as a single without paying a extra suppliment? and the same for fraser as you can only go in a 4w4 car, either self drive or small group tour. I'd like to spend at least 3 days doing each, but those are my only "must do's" really.

I've been looking at all the STA offers but nothings really appealing, or even leaving on the right days to get me back to Syndey in time.

So really not sure what to do, even thinking of scaling my time back in australia to 2 weeks its getting so fustrating/expensive.

Any suggestions on how I can see those two places as a single female traveller without paying single suppliments , and be down in Sydney in time to catch my flight would be greatly appreciated.

I have a budget of a £1000 for the whole time, but , would if possible like to not spend all of it, as I need to watch the money.

I calculated that even at £25 per day for accomodation, i've eaten into most of that without even buying a meal, or a nice cold beer

Help! how do I have the experiences of a life time without bankcrupting myself, having to sleep 12 to a dorm with party loving 21 yrs olds, (im 30 and did all that last time), and without going round in circles of longggggggggg grey hound rides? CAN it be done without a tour? Reply to this

Cheers for that Reply to this

I was worried about the weather, but march is the only time to really fit in into my schedule unless I go to OZ after thailand, in say August September do you think that would be better? Had great news to day managed to add an extra 3 months to my trip wooooooo hooooooooo

Thanks for your advice travel camel, can you explain a bit more about the couch surf part, as was thinking of doing a bit in sydney, its seams like some really cool people are signed up to it, who ( all things permitting), id be happy to host in london. Recently joined the site, but decided not contact anyone till the new year, in case they forget they agreed to host me and i turn up at there door to a empty house, or blank face, lol Reply to this

Hi Travel camel. I have now ammended my trip for the millionth time, and will be going to perth for a week in last august, then on to cairns down to sydney taking two weeks, and then of the NZ for a week. I know it sounds a bit rushed, but its about all my budget could handle, and I after changing my ticket to a RTW, it seamed silly to get that far and not see NZ.


How would I go about getting my profile looking better before I go on couch surfer? At the moment by couch is not really avallable due to work being done on the place, but would be happy even grateful to meet up with fellow intrepid people, especially any from the places I will be travelling to. Any tips how I'd go about this/

Thanks again Reply to this

Remember that you don't have to physically host someone in your home to be a host. Even showing someone around your city (such as a little known eating place or attraction) is considered to be 'surfing'. Contributing in a small way to a forum will help and so does attending the get togethers - they are the best place to meet visitors and possibly organise to show someone the sights of your city. This is how I managed to be get references. Reply to this