Holiday in Australia - help convince me

[drd63]

Hi, I’m looking for help. My son is working in Sydney for a year and I’m planning to go over for a month in November. That aside I’ve never had any desire to go to Aus apart from diving but I can’t do that due to an ear problem! So I’m going but really, what is there to do? I don’t mind driving or flying around when there but the east coast looks like urban sprawl with some business districts and beaches. Any suggestions welcome.

[captain_cynic]

drd63 said:

Hi, I’m looking for help. My son is working in Sydney for a year and I’m planning to go over for a month in November. That aside I’ve never had any desire to go to Aus apart from diving but I can’t do that due to an ear problem! So I’m going but really, what is there to do? I don’t mind driving or flying around when there but the east coast looks like urban sprawl with some business districts and beaches. Any suggestions welcome.

That's Australia for you. If you don't like beaches or nature there really isn't much left.

If you're going over to see family, my advice would be to not bother being a tourist and spend time with them. They'll probably have a few things they'd want to do but never had time for/got around to.

I'd not worry too much about driving, you'll come back to the UK and swear our worst drivers are motoring gods.

Only other advice if offer is to go a month or two earlier. November will be hot.

[ThingsBehindTheSun]

captain_cynic said:

I'd not worry too much about driving, you'll come back to the UK and swear our worst drivers are motoring gods.

This. My partner is Australian so we tend to go there for three weeks a year, each time I make her do all the driving. I did drive the Great Ocean Road about 10 years ago which was lovely, just watch the speed limits. They are very, very hot on speeding and even a few KM over the (frankly ridiculously slow) 100KM will get you a several hundred dollar fine.

If you go to Melbourne make sure you tap on with your Myki (like an Oyster card, only far crappier) card on public transport as the inspectors think they are the police and would love any excuse to have you on the floor with a knee in your neck. I got caught years ago as my credit had run out (you could only top up at the machines on the platforms back then) and three of them surrounded me and were very intimidating. I didn't give a crap as I was going home in two weeks and thought I would never be back, but it felt like they wanted me to kick off.

You will have seen all of Sydney in a few days (same with Melbourne) so make sure you can find other things you would like to do. Noosa is a very nice place to visit.

[PomBstard]

Really comes down to what you like and what you want to do.

Sydney life is designed around being outdoors, so if you don’t like walking, swimming, cycling, sailing, being at the beach or in the bush, then really you’re left with a handful of museums, the Opera House, some good bars/restaurants and a trip to Canberra….

Driving in NSW is a lot less hassle than Vic, yes the speed limits are low, and yes the drivers are crap, but go with the flow and it’s generally not too stressful.

You could drive to Bathurst for Mount Panorama and the motor museum - Bathurst 1000 is 9-12 October this year…

But when people come over to see us, we’ve usually got a few things planned for them, off the usual tourist trail, and maybe your son’s planning similar - you could ask??

[ThingsBehindTheSun]

PomBstard said:

Sydney life is designed around being outdoors, so if you don’t like walking, swimming, cycling, sailing, being at the beach or in the bush, then really you’re left with a handful of museums, the Opera House, some good bars/restaurants and a trip to Canberra….

Agree with that, every other woman you see will be dressed in tight gym gear, have a small dog on a lead and be carrying a coffee or smoothie,

We went for three days, I have never felt the need to ever go back there. Also when you get to Bondi beach you will think "is this it?" as it looks WAY more impressive and different on the TV.

The Opera house is actually a cream colour close up not white due to being covered in ceramic tiles, and inside I was getting 60s/70s concrete multi-story car park vibes.

[Kenty]

Best parts of OZ are Western Australia, Tasmania and possibly Adelaide. Sydney is worth a few days, ride the ferries/ opera house/ bondi.
WA has it all, Perth is great - notably Fremantle, beaches, restaurants. We are on our second 7 week road trip right now - the loop round Kalgoorlie/ Esperance/ Albany/ Bremer bay/ Margaret river/ Dunsborough and back to Freo is a must. Hire car from No Birds, book motels and ready to go!
With more time drive, with stops up to Exmouth and back stunning, desolate, warm, spectacular wildlife and sea life - holiday of a lifetime.
It’s can be very convenient and cheaper to fly to Perth Emirates business and then virgin/Qantas/ Jetstar to chosen places.