Travelling advice for Australia & New Zealand?

Question

Thinking of going to Oz/NZ in jul/aug this year for @ 2/3 weeks total. Would start in Sydney, but considering also going to Perth & maybe Ayers Rock. NZ would be South Island @ Christchurch area. Any advice on sightseeing, places of interest, must see/do etc would be much appreciated - Particularly the Oz part of the trip as that is where the most time will be spent. It will be just me & my youngest daughter going, who will be 13 then, so advice would need to take into consideration things that are also suitable for her age. Thanks.

Answer 1

Taronga Zoo, not only for the animals (which are worth seeing, go to the outback house to see the spiders!), but for the fab view of the city skyline.  Best way to get there is by ferry.

If you are a film nerd, the lady in the red dress scene from The Matrix, plus loads more (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0133093/loca... locations.

Paramatta Park (can be reached by train, these are also worth travelling on-they are double decker!) if you like the historical stuff.

Manley Beach, get the ferry across from Circular Quay, although if you go to Sydney you must do Bondi, not matter how awful people say it is (& I didn't think it was that bad) you can't not go.

Ayers Rock is great, can be very cold a night (& during the day) in July/Aug, but also very sunny, so sun hats & coats are needed.

Answer 2

Never been to NZ, but if your going to Oz, start at Darwin NT, then you can go to Kakadu National Park, Arnemland National Park, the Yellow waters cruise, the Wetlands Tour,then go on to Alice springs, where you can travel on the Gan, see the Royal Flying Doctor service,The School of the Air, Rev Flynn's grave, the first telegraph station, and don't miss, The ROAD TRAIN HALL OF FAME!

Then go to ULURU resort, see the Olgas, ULURU, take the helicopter flight round ULURU, after you have taken the guided walk around ULURU, and have taken your photosof ULURU at sun rise and sunset,( the changes in colour are awesome).

Then go on to Freemantle, see the E sheds market, take the Swan River cruise from Perth to Freemante and back.

Lots to see in Freemantle, have fish and chips at Cicerillos, best in all Freemantle,( the Barramundi tastes great!).

After all this you will need a day to relax before catching your flight to NZ.

Have a Great Time in OZ we did!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 3

Perth!! Why??  See what you can of Sydney.  It is very much like what you see on TV.  Be sure to visit the beaches, even though it will be winter.  Then, why not head north to Queensland.  Our winter is like most other places summer.  "Beautiful one day, perfect the next"  On the Gold Coast, there is a heap of theme parks, 'Water World, Ice world, Warner Bros Studios, Sea World , Dream World, Wet n Wild, it goes on and on.  Not far from Brisbane is Frazer Island, the largest sand island in the world, great for 4 wheel driving, great zoos including Steve Irwins Australia Zoo, and bird sanctuaries.  And of course there is the Great Barrier Reef.  you cannot come to Australia without seeing that. When do you want me to stop?  Sorry, I do manage to get carried away, just a little.

Answer 4

i can tell u about Syd. it will be winter in Jul/Aug. Syd has the harbour bridge, opera house, blue mountains, jenolan caves - just to name a few. remember to take jackets.

If going to Ayers rock, just listen to what the guides tell u to do- the last thing u want to do is insult the locals.

im not too sure about Perth.

there will be a lot to do in NZ. its a tourist hot spot.

Answer 5

One of the greatest things about Sydney is that you can travel from the beaches to the mountains by public transport within hours!  Make sure you take your daughter to:

Bondi Beach http://www.waverley.nsw.gov.au/council/b... it will be winter here and a bit cold!)...also visit

Taronga Zoo

http://www.zoo.nsw.gov.au/taronga-zoo.as...

Sydney Aquarium (Darling Harbour)

http://www.sydneyaquarium.com.au/

The Opera House and Sydney Harbour bridge where you can acutally climb it!

http://www.bridgeclimb.com/

You can also check out the Blue Mountains

http://www.bluemts.com.au/

Hope these sites help you plan a great trip Down Under!

Cheers!

Answer 6

Nz, if you can get down to Oamaru and see the blue penguins its well worth it, if not up to Kaikoura whale watching. I would recommend Queenstown, there is so much to do, go up the skyline gondola for some great views or try the shotover jet, which is a high speed ride on the water. Here its suitable for all ages.  If you had time go to either Fox's glacier or Franz Josef is really breathtaking seeing the glacier in the middle of a rainforest. These are some of the things i did, you need weeks really but these are some of the best to do. Tip NZ south island is cold in the summer so it may be quite chilly in july/aug. (Milford sound as well but its a long day trip from Queenstown if you don't really have much time.) there are some great youth hostels in Christchurch,Queenstown, Oamaru and Kaikoura.  Enjoy it it well worth the visit.

Answer 7

I have been adelaide in Australia and that was ok...not the best place for sight seeing tho. Perth is nice as my dad went their, and he goes every year cos its very nice..i think sydneys the one to go to...cities are always better as their more busy and more things to do...my dad is living in new zealand at the moment and he lives in the busiest part of the place (not sure what its called) but he said its nice!

Hope you have fun on your travels...as your daughters 13, when i wwas 13 all i wanted to do was have a suntan and go to the beach and shopping...if she is like this make sure you do this! lol...she will love it...also we girls like to see the sights and I also enjoy seeing aquariums...she may like that too...Good luck!