Expert: Ian Smith - 9/5/2007

Question
QUESTION: Hi Ian,

I was impressed with seeing your advice re various trips that people are planning to Australia. I am looking to organise a holiday in 2009 (poss Jan, Feb, March or April) for 2-3 months say to honour a Big Birthday Year for me. I have never been to Australia so am completely green on is geography quite frankly. What I have in mind is that I want to spend "slots" of quality time in say 3 to 4 specific places staying in rented houses/apartments such that a number of friends can fly out to stay with me at specific times. I appreciate this will take a lot of planning but would really appreciate any help and advice you could provide on where to think of going/staying how to go about renting houses etc and things to see. Many thanks.

Debbie

ANSWER: Mmmm, we need more information.  Not much point sending you seaside when you really want to be in the outback.  We need to know you interests so one can recommend appropriate places to stay.
It also helps if you let me know what standard accommodation you're after.
Back to you.  Cheers, Ian
P.S. I'd recommend March/April personally.

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

QUESTION: Hi Ian,

Thanks for the reply. I am currently thinking Perth, Ayres Rock, Tasmania, Sydney and/or Melbourne. I definitely want to be by the sea but also want to "taste" some of the outback. I am basically interested in most things, nature, sea, history, sport and socialising.

Standard of house accomodation would be say 3 star level if that means anything. Would also be interested to know why you recommend March/April. I am trying to piece together a plan of attack.

Rgds

Debbie

Answer
Okay, the following are my choices based on what I've seen and believe people should be aware of.
Since Perth is a long way from anywhere, you may wish to consider Sydney AND Melbourne, the latter is especially good historically and has Australia's finest art gallery.  They are definitely different cities.  My must-dos in Sydney are a ferry trip to Manly and a walk out to Fairy Bower, also catch the ferry to Taronga Park Zoo and walk west to the next ferry stop or the one after that.
Ayers Rock is generally called Uluru these days over here and I would ask you to bear in mind that it's a long way from anywhere, costs to get there and you get slugged while you're there because it's controlled by a monopoly.
I think Tasmania is a wonderful choice, so often overlooked by overseas tourists.  Must-do's here are Cradle Mountain, Pieman River Cruise, Ross (must check out the bridge), a walk in the Tahune State Forest on the Huon River, Hobart's Battery Point and wharf area, coastal drive along the mid north coast and Eaglehawk Neck and beyond to Port Arthur, including a walk above Waterfall Bay.  You'll find all of these detailed in my pages in "virtualtourist" where I use the name "iandsmith".
I'm also very much pro Perth but, again, it's a long way from anywhere.
I recommend March/April because the weather is usually excellent and the water warm (I'm not talking Tassie here!).
For someone who wants to be by the sea I'm a little mystified as to why you are neglecting the north coast of N.S.W. where you can kick back along fabulous beach after fabulous beach and dip into some of Australia's finest rainforest at the same time.  Places like Forster, Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour aren't bad for socializing either.
If you're into history, for me the best of it is probably the gold mining towns of Ballarat, Bendigo and Beechworth with a little bit of Echuca thrown in.
Another place to consider would be Wilson's Promontory in Victoria - lots of nature and sea.
It's probably not practical for your time and travel constraints but my favourite outback experience is Broken Hill.  Well known and patronized by Aussies but few international tourists have even heard of it.
For accommodation you'd probably be best working out your itinerary and then going through google as so much changes in that industry.
Let me know your thoughts so far and I'll try and help you some more.
Cheers, Ian