AboutIan Smith Expertise Very good knowledge of N.S.W. from beach to bush to Broken Hill. Have also travelled in a lot in Victoria, Queensland (to Townsville), Tasmania, South Australia and a few weeks in southern W.A. Used to be Hunter Valley Tourist Officer. Contact me for sights to see, not which disco or pub to recommend.
Have also spent months in Europe, particularly the following: Italy, Germany, Spain, England, Scotland, Belgium, Holland, Austria and Czech Republic.
I am a retiree and have a Winnebago Motorhome which I plan to use over the next few years (and have done some trips already).
Experience I have surfed, raced motorcycles, ordinary cycles and a bit of fishing through much of the area as well as working there selling 5 days a week. I also have many photographs which I am currently working at putting on the computer. I have an extensive catalogue of where I've travelled at virtualtourist.com under "iandsmith".
Organizations Hunter Valley Veterans Cycling Club
Publications REVS, Surfing World, Soccer Weekly, Australian Motor Cycle News, Womens Weekly.
We just booked a fabulous airline deal to New Zealand in October. We will be staying a full month, but would like to split the time between NA and Australia. We will have to fly from Auckland to Australia and back to get the great airfare. However, I have heard that you can get inexpensive airfare between the two. Do you have any recommendations? Also, would you please suggest an itinerary for two weeks in Australia? It will be our first visit to both countries, so we would really like to see the highlights of each. However, I realize that Australia is much larger and would like some help in suggestions on where to best spend our time.
Thank you!
Answer Try lastminute.com or simply google up a cheap airfare, there's quite a few around at the moment but I'm not sure who has the best.
For two weeks in Australia I would HEARTILY recommend that you only do one state. Most people want to come in and do the eternal triangle of Barrier Reef, Uluru and Sydney.
So, to help me out I need to know what you're interested in. Not much good sending you to a beach if you want to be in the rainforest.
If, as I'm guessing, you end up in Sydney, I would recommend you spend at least four days looking around.
Walks around the harbour are, for me, a must.
Ferry to Manly and a walk to Fairy Bower make an excellent day. Going to Coogee and walking along the cliff tops is also wonderful.
Walking around the Rocks will also take up time, as will the Botanical Gardens.
The Blue Mountains are worth a couple of days and then you might include my area, Newcastle, where you can do Port Stephens, the vinyards, rainforest up at Dungog.
Alternatives would be the Southern Highlands, a beautiful and varied place.
So, let me know what you're interested in and I'll give you more details.
Cheers, Ian
