I want to go to Australia for 3 weeks in February 2009. What are the best places to see and best things to do?

Question

I'd really love to try some watersports and general fun stuff!

Answer 1

If your a water baby, then you have to first go to Queensland. No doubt. Cairns and Townsville have some great spots for scuba diving and extreme water sports. I think box jelly fish season is over by Feb, so you should be fine to do all activities in Northern Waters. Of course, there is the beaches of the sunshine coast but for true Aussie beach experience, you must go to Bondi in NSW (Sydney). You can also find some of the best water sports in NSW also.

Australia has heaps of other things to experience, if you like wine, head to the Hunter Valley in NSW for an awesome weekend of wine tasting from the cellar door and spa treatments. Or for the ultimate unwind after all your hard sports, by going to Tasmania and stay at Cradle Mountain Lodge... OMG! Talk about pamper and relax!!!!

WA has some great places to visit, but it is waaaaay far from the rest of Australia (it is the most isolated capital in the world). You can head to WA for beaches, water sports and head to Margaret River for best ever wine, chocolate and awesome spa's.

If you want a major Shopping experience, then Melbourne is the fashion capital. You can find some great designer buys there but to the rest of the world, the bargain shopping is probably rediculously expensive!!!

If you want any more info or different places to visit.... just ask and hopefully I can help!!!

Have fun!

Answer 2

Lanksnes has given you some good ideas......

just remember that Australia is pretty huge....and you won't be able to  cover it all in 3 weeks... So I recommend the East coast only....         ( although Perth in Western Australia is beautiful)

Unfortunately box jellyfish are still around in Northern waters...but you can still dive safely on the Great Barrier Reef, and swim in our lagoons or pools or inside the stinger nets at beaches.  Surfing at the Gold Coast is also legendary...as is Bondi.

Don't forget to check out Australia Zoo ( Steve Irwin's)  just north of Brisbane.... to cuddle a koala and feed the 'roos.

Answer 3

I'm probably not the best person to ask. I'm as good at water sports as an orang utan up a tree and as for general fun stuff... imagine Gordon Brown on his summer holidays!

Never mind.  I do have a brother in Adelaide, South Australia and have been there 4 times.  The beaches are superb - go snorkelling by the reefs in Noalunga where the fish go right up to the shallows.  The animal sanctuaries in Cleland or Warrawong if you want to cuddle a koala or feed the kangaroos and emus.  Adelaide city itself has an excellent Chinatown and a wide range of restaurants and food malls from all over the world.  Take a train or bus to the outback to see 360 degree sunsets in complete silence and complete darkness.

Adelaide boasts that it was settled by people who wanted to be there, rather than the convicts of NSW who were sent there. There are communities of the descendents of German Lutherans around Hahndorf, the £10 poms around Elizabeth.  Glenelg has the atmosphere of an English seaside resort.  Adelaide is quite civilised and cosmopolitan, and has some splendid festivals.

Aussies are some of the friendliest and least pretentious people on earth - never judge anyone (terrible sin) nor fail to give something a go (don't ever worry about making a hash of things) just get stuck in and you'll get on fine.

February can be hot, so take a little time to get acclimatised. Always wear a hat (ozone hole) and take water with you (dry heat).  The health service is one of the best in the world, but apply for Medicare if you can.  That gives you 2/3 off the price of urgent medical treatment, and EU citizens have a reciprocal agreement with Australia.  Don't know about the USA.