Must see places in Australia?

[wayneL]

first of all...
thanks for the fantastic answers!

where shall i start?
ok, i ´m really sorry if my grammar sounds terrible to you.
but i ´ll give my best...

That's OK Ella, our grammar is diabolical as well! Our German is even worse!

well, i ´m from munich ( octoberfest, soccer worldcup opening)

Fantastic place! I spent some time in Munich a few years ago. I attempted to sample every beer and every local dish while there. I came home as cargo

and i arrive in sydney on friday morning...
i think i ´m around sydney the first time. and thats everything i ´ve planed till yet...
in any case i want to see the cattle farms on the west side. (though i think my ideas are too romantic : books and films, you know...)
i can get a training. it ´s called jackaroo/jillaroo, where i can learn to ride a horse, catch calves and things like that.
i think its funny, at least it sounds so...

The cattle stations are interesting but jillarooing is a very tough job and the conditions are very harsh. It will be entirely different to anything you will ever experience in Germany, that's for sure.

of course i want to see the GBR. a friend gave me the order to dive there because he can ´t come with me...

dear 3 veiws of a secret:
if i ever finde birdsville on a map, i`ll report it to you. i think there is no problem to meet us...

thanks once more for the answers... Ella

The others will tell you more about Sydney, but if you ever end up over the other on side of the country in the exciting and world class city of Geraldton , look us up. We speak a little German (very little) and would be happy to show you around.

Tschuss

 

[GreatPig]

Ella,

it ´s called jackaroo/jillaroo, where i can learn to ride a horse, catch calves and things like that.
i think its funny, at least it sounds so...

As Wayne said, it's hard work and often in very harsh (hot and dry) country. There are easier ways to learn to ride a horse

i want to see the GBR. a friend gave me the order to dive there

An excellent thing to do, usually from Cairns or Port Douglas. Once you get there, ask around in youth hostels and the like for who the best operators are. If you don't have a diving certificate already, you'd need to find someone who does a course first, but many places did that when I was there (which was a long time ago though). If you do have some diving experience, I heard of a great wreck dive off Townsville on the Yongala. If you do a Web search you'll bring up some info. Unfortunately I didn't have time when I was there.

As I said before though, best to go between about July and October if possible.

if i ever finde birdsville on a map

It's in the middle of nowhere in southwestern Queensland. It's mainly famous for two things: its annual horse race event, and the Birdsville Track, a popular 4 wheel drive excursion through the desert.

Birdsville Wikipedia
Birdsville Races
The Birdsville Track
Birdsville Info

A Web search will bring up heaps more info. One thing to note though about the Birdsville Track, and other outback tracks like it, is that they can be very harsh and not for the inexperienced or ill-equipped. While they may sound like a great adventure, and tourists sometimes like hiring 4WD vehicles to do them, the tracks are usually very long and remote and numerous people have gotten into trouble trying to drive them. While the Birdsville Track is perhaps not as remote as many of the others, unless you have quite a bit of experience with this sort of thing, you'd be best to join a commercial trip if you can find one.

Cheers,
GP

 

[Smurf1976]

If you go to Tasmania then I suggest that you hire a car and do a round trip of the state. Come to Tassie if you're looking for wilderness, spectacular scnenery, fine food etc. DON'T come to Tassie expecting big cities and tall buildings however.

If you want something a bit exciting then the world's highest commercial abseil operates in South-West Tasmania (140 metres straight down). Lots of rafting opportunities too both short (afternoon) and long (week) trips in different parts of the state. Also lots of walking trips in remote areas, scenery etc.

Go to the Gold Coast (Queensland) if you want lots of "built" things like theme parks etc. Absolutely commercial and touristy but lots of fun.

As for cities, most seem to say that Adelaide is a bit "backward" compared to the others although in some ways that is a good thing. Depends on what you like. Personally I would rank Brisbane as the most boring of the major cities - lots to do and see in Queensland but most of it isn't in Brisbane. Just my opinion however.

 

[wabbit]

Just go outback.... and when you get there, just keep going a little bit further. When you are well and truly in the absolute middle of nowhere, wait until night and look up. It will make the entire journey worth it!.

No noise, no light pollution, just you and the universe!

 

[Realist]

Ella, Don't forget it is the middle of winter here now.

Sydney is bloody cold at the moment.

 

[Smurf1976]

Ella, Don't forget it is the middle of winter here now.

Sydney is bloody cold at the moment.

All relative depending on what you're used to.

It was just below zero in central Hobart yesterday morning. Such a shame that it was fine otherwise we'd have had some nice snow in the streets - lots of fun. :jump:

Sydney's forecast top of 18 seems decidedly warm to me. :

 

[mista200]

bubblenightclub.com

 

[Realist]

Sydney's forecast top of 18 seems decidedly warm to me.

It feels cold to me..

 

[NettAssets]

Just go outback.... and when you get there, just keep going a little bit further. When you are well and truly in the absolute middle of nowhere, wait until night and look up. It will make the entire journey worth it!.

No noise, no light pollution, just you and the universe!

Hi Ella
Definitely the thing to do
Hook up with some others and get a 4WD to "Go Bush".

But when you do then buy or hire an EPIRB to take with you!
its a cheap satellite tracking device. Then if you do get bogged or run out of tyres or water the emergency services don't have to spend days looking around for someone in trouble, you just push the button and you , your friends and the SES can be back home in bed that night.
People only seem to think of them at sea but they are a dream in the outback
John

 

[Julia]

Hello Ella

Forget all the above. Go to New Zealand instead.

Julia

 

[scsl]

Hi Ella,

no doubt you've got a whole bunch of places to consider but if you do decide to come down and visit melbourne, you should give the following a go:

- head down to one of the city's laneways for a nice drink or something to nibble on. great, relaxing atmosphere. don't forget a scarf if you go in the evening!

- visit the Melbourne Cricket Ground for a taste of Australian Rules football... always good fun.

- it's quite touristy, but the penguin parade at phillip island is pretty good.

cheers
scsl

 

[wayneL]

Hello Ella

Forget all the above. Go to New Zealand instead.

Julia

Don't you live in Oz Julia?

If so why stay here if you like NZ?

This is not a jingoistic attack, just curious, cause I havn't been yet and would love to go one day soon.

Cheers

 

[GreatPig]

IMO it's not a case of either/or, but rather both.

I've travelled extensively in NZ and along most of the east coast of Australia and both have a wide range of things worth seeing.

GP

 

[Novski]

C'mon guys, enough chatting up Melanie. The name alone has got you all hooked.

 

[Julia]

Don't you live in Oz Julia?

If so why stay here if you like NZ?

This is not a jingoistic attack, just curious, cause I havn't been yet and would love to go one day soon.

Cheers

My post was somewhat tongue in cheek, Wayne. I hope Ella has a great time in Oz.

To answer your question: the weather.
No other reason. NZ is beautiful, the people are the same, but it's just too cold.

Julia

 

[bunyip]

Ella

If you're visiting the Great Barrier Reef you must also include a trip to the Atherton Tableands, which is in the same general north Queensland region.
I've been around most of Australia but found few places that can match the Atherton Tabland for sheer scenic beauty.....mountains, waterfalls, rainforest, rolling green hills dotted with dairy farms, sleepy villages loaded with character. And the markets are unique at Kuranda and Yungaburra.
The skyrail from Kuranda on the tablelands to Cairns on the coast is another unique experience not to be missed.
An hour or so north of Cairns is the magnificent Daintree region. Take a boat cruise on the pristine Daintree River where you'll be very likely to see wild crocodiles.
All in all the north Queensland area is a magnificent and unique part of our country.

Bunyip

 

[Melanie]

hi...
thanks Julia.
i want to visit NZ too, at least for 30 days.
maybe i stay there for a year after OZ.

i ´m just 22 years old. i still have a lot of time
to see the whole world...

Ella

 

[bvbfan]

Ella,

I was just in Munich for the Brazil game, will be back in Australia around 15th July
If you came to Canberra I'm happy to tell you some places to go, clubs etc...
Bring some warm clothes it's winter, and getting to -4C or so at night. (Canberra that is, rest of Australia isn't that cold, except the interior - Alice Springs etc)

People in Munich were very nice showing me the clubs and places although couldn't get into the Hofbrauhaus due to too many Aussies I was told.

So just returning the favour if you want to use it...

Unfortunately, Canberra is pretty much all tourist stuff but if they are still around Cockington Green and the Dinosaur museum might be some that the usual tourist promotions might not mention.

As for the tourist things, the War Memorial, National Museum worth while.

Oh and if you want a good picture, I reckon the view from Mt Ainslie (free, but need to get driven to the top) or Black Mountain tower are pretty good (not free, probably need to get driven there too)

Outside of Canberra, maybe do the walk up Mt Kosicuszko and in Tasmania Craddle Mountain, but you need to be quite fit for those and they will be cold and wet since its winter.

 

[GreatPig]

maybe do the walk up Mt Kosicuszko and in Tasmania Craddle Mountain, but you need to be quite fit for those and they will be cold and wet since its winter.

And probably both covered in snow.

GP

 

[tech/a]

The Kimberlies.--Take the Old Gibb River Road in the dry.(around now).
Get to Mitchell Falls,Cunnanurra,Lake Argile is a MUST.

Definately visit NZ South Island seeing your this close! Its around $350 flight from Melbourne or Sydney.

If you wish to kick back and visit the Southern Wineries in Adelaide can help you out with 1/2 price accomodation in one of our apartments on the Esplanade on one of Adelaides premier Beaches.(Moana)

That goes for any ASF members-----had a few stay with us over the years (from Reefcap forum). Subject of course to availability.
Private mail me addresses and I'll post out a brouchure.