Expert: Mick Maurer - 2/12/2008

Question
Hello and thanks for the service. A friend and I are planning on visiting Australia by the end of the year. We are fairlt young and would like to do tourist-style things as well as party a bit. We would like to visit Sydney, Melbourne, Cairns, the Gold coast and some of the not so popular places as well. When is the best time to go, weather wise? What is the best menas of transportation to different cities? If we go for a month, will it be enough time to see most places? Also, any approximation on a cost, say for cheap hotels and flying when necessary.Thank you for any info. you can provide.

Answer
Andrew:

The best weather will be in the summer, Dec/February but that is also the most crowded and expensive time.  
Transportation depends on where you are going and how fast you need to get there.  There is everything from busses to trains to airlines.  
A month will give you a pretty good taste of the east coast of the country.  
You can do a 31 day escorted tour including most meals for under $5,000.00 each so if you are trveling independently, you can save somewaht on that.
I would suggest you look at a tour company that specializes in travel for people under 35 years of age (if you are that young).  They do a little bit of everything and that includes parties.  
You really need the services of an Australia Specialist Travel Agent to help you plan exactly what you want to see at a cost you can afford.  If you want to email me directly, I can help you or get you in touch with someone else.

Mick Maurer
Aussie Travel
Aussiemick@aol.com