Hi, I'm a first time traveller, going to Oz for six months travelling around seeing family and friends. just have a few little questions?......
I'm going to set myself up with a group tour for the first few weeks to settle in and make some friends. Does anyone recommend a certain company? I've looked at "real gap" for the main reason they set up friends to meet before i get their and they meet you from the airport.
Also, I'm thinking of leaving in April 2010, because I'm inpatient and want to get there NOW! lol! is this a good time to go, weather wise?
Last question....what airline do you recommend? Money isn't really an issue with the flight, I'm just looking for comfort and service.....and SAFETY!!!
I'd be so grateful for your comments?!
thanks...Alana x
Reply to this Hello Alana and welcome to the Forum!
Regardless of which time you come here, there will be at least some part of the country which is good to travel, and parts which are not.
If you come now - it is the start of summer. The tropics and the centre of Oz are going to be too hot and/or humid for the forthcoming months. Once the rainy season hits, tropical storms abound and though they don't last for long, things can be different if a cyclone arrives when it can pour for days. For this reason, avoid North Queensland, the northern part of Western Australia and the Northern Territory. The southern part - Sydney, Melbourne and the like are much better now.
Conversely, if you head in April - it is a great time to head north, but weather is becoming poor in Sydney, and it is already poor in Melbourne. Though winter is much milder than the UK during our winters, since Australia has most of its activities based around outside pursuits - any rain quickly reduces your options.
As for airlines - fly either a Middle Eastern or Asian airline. It is no coincidence that the six 5-star airlines in the world (according to Skytrax) are based in Asia (who have five) and the Middle East (who has one). The quality of airlines in this part of the world is very high and I better than their European counterparts. If you wish to travel via the Middle East, try Emirates (Dubai) and Ethiad (Abu Dhabi). For Asian airlines, Singapore Airlines is excellent and so is Cathay Pacific (Hong Kong). All of these have good connections to Australia. I also liked Malaysia Airlines and Eva Air (Taiwan), but they are not in the same league as Singapore Airlines. Eva Air only flies to Brisbane, but Malaysia has good connections.
Like you, airline safety is a primary concern for me, and all of these have superior-excellent safety records.
Reply to this Hello Alana,
I want to sort fact from fiction for you. I am 50 years old and have lived all over Australia with my family and beautiful daughters. We have lived in the outback where I was a bank manager in several towns and in my own import business now I have visted around the world.
Some things you read about Australia is just sensationalism. You can visit ANYWHERE in Australia at anytime of the year. If this was not the case then they would have to evacuate the thousands of people who live there throughout the year. Most of the negative comments are from people who live in one city and have no first hand experience. They are just as a tourist as you when they leave their homes.
In fact, sometimes the "off-season" is the best because it is just a few people and the locals.
The east coast is pretty and a good pick for a first time visitor. As far as airlines in Australia are concerned then they are the safest in the world. They fly new planes, even the budget airlines. Flying is Australia is easy, cheapish and very safe.
Also, the previous post about avoiding north Queensland is crap. I own apartments throughout north Queensland and vist them all year round. I grew up in Sydney and you can find the summer weather hotter on some days down south than up north.
The best advice I can give you is to look at where the tour companies go and then try to visit what you like on your own. I would suggest buying a cheap car and selling it when you leave.
Australia is a great place to visit, you will have a hard time getting your head around the size of it, but once you get out of the cities you will find people very friendly and helpful if you get into any bother. If you are in the bush, then call into either the CWA (Country Womens Association) or the local lawn bowls club and you will find lots of locals to help you out. Now most Aussie youth will say that this is just a lot of old people, but in country towns a lot of young people are involved in these associations.
Have a great trip.
Reply to this Just to clarify, there is nothing wrong with North Queensland - I have visited North Queensland many times and love it up there - it is one of the best parts of Australia. I have lived in Queensland for over 30 years (plus have driven around Australia, only having missed Tasmania), but unless you are used to the humidity that a Queensland summer can bring - it can make many people feel uncomfortable and tire them quickly. As a comparison, just think of the south in Spain in summer, but a lot more humid.
As an example, I was in the south of India a few years ago - I found the humidity okay - similar to a very warm summer's day in Brisbane - but almost all of the people from the UK and Europe I met were having problems - they said they were lethargic and didn't want to do much apart from laze around the hotel until the late afternoon because it was such an effort to do anything. I have seen this replicated in other places such as in Singapore, Thailand and the Middle East (the latter being a dry heat). There is one thing living in Queensland does for a person, and that gives them a high tolerance to heat and humidity.
It is for this reason I suggest to people the winter months (with a couple each side) are the best time to visit Northern Australia.
I agree with you Mark about visit the places on your own - and about such places as the CWA - this gives you a real feel for the country areas in Oz and it is something that even most city folk in Australia have no experience of. Highly recommended to get away from the cities for a while - and not just the tourist spots (i.e. Byron Bay).
Reply to this Hi Alana
I am going to Oz in March 2010, I am thinking of using Oz Intro who are similar to real gap, not sure if you have looked into them also
Reply to this Dear all,
if i am on a budget to sydney .
which airline should i use and when is the best time to visit for sydney 2010?
Reply to this Hello Amy, which country are you coming from?
Sydney usually has good weather during a lot of the year, but I think that parts of Spring (September-early November) and Autumn (March-early May) are the best. It rarely gets cold in Sydney, but it can sometimes get hot in summer.
Reply to this thanks .. but which airline is the best and worth of money from malaysia?
Reply to this Air Asia has the best prices. Departs from the LCCT terminal in Kuala Lumpur.
Reply to this but they do not go sydney ... hahha.
how is jetstar? reliable?
Reply to this Amy, If you are trying toi get the best prices, sometimes it is better to look outside the box. Depending on the time of year you travel, you can get great prices. I have travelled from K.L. to the Gold Coast for $119 with Air Asia. From the Gold Coast you can fly to Sydney really cheap. e.g. 27th January fares from $68 one way. Add that up and you are going to get to Sydney for less than $200. Even if you overnight on the Gold Coast that is still a great place to hang out for the day. If you travel in peak times then the fares will be more but there should still be a difference in costs between airlines. In my opinion, Jetstar, Virgin and Air Asia are all similar. Low cost, new planes and you pay for what you use.
Reply to this thanks mark.
so have u been to malaysia before?
well... good idea to go to gold coast too...
Reply to this Amy, I've lived in Malaysia for 3 years when I was young and have been there heaps of times. (5 times this year on my way to other destinations as I am a self confessed travel junkie). It is a great place to visit especially if you get beyond K.L. It is a very open Muslim country and as a westerner I am able to do what I want, drink and party. If you have time, visit Penang and Langkawi for great beaches and swimming. Their coral is not as good as their advertising tends to believe, better off visiting the Great Barrier Reef for coral or the pacific islands such as Vanuatu.
Enjoy your trip!
Reply to this try sabah or sipadan island ( its top 10 in the world).
guess malaysia are goodfor shopping in some ways and we speak good english hahahha
Reply to this Amy, I didn't realise you are a Malaysian national, so you already have seen what a wonderful country Malaysia is. The problem with snorkling in Malaysia is that you are confined to selected areas. It is understandable to protect the wider reefs but what the tourist sees is badly damaged coral. It is the scientists that get to see the best of nature (like my daughter did this year in Sabah) but for the tourist it is not as good.
I don't know how far you have travelled, but you will find Malaysia is one of the best places on this planet. Maybe I am bias because I keep going there. You will find Australia very expensive by comparison.
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