Expert: Ian Smith - 4/1/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi,

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

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks, Ian.  We like the outdoors and do love the beach.  I know we hear a lot about the Gold Coast, but I've read that there are a lot of amusement-type parks there, so that makes me wonder if it is real touristy.  We enjoy the natural beauty, unspoiled beaches, hiking, biking, etc.  We live in Colorado in the US.  We don't have a plan as to which city in Australia to fly into. We want to decide what we want to see before we book airfare.  We would most likely fly into Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane.

Answer
Gold Coast is nothing but touristy!
Natural beauty - think north coast of N.S.W.
Think places like Forster, Seal Rocks, Crescent Heads to Point Plomer, South West Rocks, Mullaway - Arrawarra, Yamba and then, if you want to see rainforest and waterfalls, try Comboyne, Dorrigo or the Gwydir Highway where it crosses the range.  To do these you'll need your own transport.  If that's a problem I'll have to give you another schedule.
Also consider driving Thunderbolts Way and having a look at Wollomombi, Dangar, Ebor, Apsley, and Tia Falls.
Most places I've mentioned here aren't on the normal schedule but, take my word for it having travelled much of the area for 40 years as a rep, there's more than enough to keep you occupied.
If you look up a site called virtualtourist.com I have pages there with photos detailing some of things I've mentioned above.  My name on there is iandsmith.
Hope this has been of some help.
Cheers, Ian