Hey Aussie DUers: A relative of mine to study in Newcastle Australia

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

He is doing a study abroad program for his biology major and will spend our summer (your winter) in Newcastle. The web information I've found about this city make it look wonderful and relatively close to Sydney.

Just wondered if any DUers down-under could share some travel tips about this area.

Whenever I can dedicate a full month to travel, I WILL someday visit Australia. I want to visit Sydney, Melbourne, Tasmania, Canberra, Brisbane, Ayers Rock (I know the name is changed now but ???) and the often forgotten Perth. A two week trip is just too short to see it all.

[Catamount]

1. Hi, Oh boy will you be busy!

Ayer's Rock is now known by it's Aboriginal name ULUHRU (I'm not sure about the spelling)and I love your Itinerary-- but I doubt you can see all those places in one month alone- unless you stay on the run- fly everywhere and miss a lot of the beautiful scenery along the way. Especially on the east coast-you must drive from Brisbane to Sydney--it's a lot like our Interstate 101 here on the west coast. You will then run into Newcastle, before you hit Sydney (my last home city before coming to the USA. You must spend at least one week in Sydney and then go to Melbourne via Canberra, and spend another week there. You could catch the ferry to Tasmania, where it will be pretty cold, even with snow in some places.I think you can catch the same Ferry from Sydney too!
Then perhaps fly to Uluhru to get back to some warmth and then try getting to Perth from there, unless you want a 2 day train trip from Adelaide.
Anyway I must go right now,
More later if you're interested.
Whatever, I hope you go and have a bonza time mate!

[Random_Australian]

3. Customary spelling: Uluru

[Violet_Crumble]

2. I love Newcastle...

Nowadays whenever I'm up that way, I'm usually busting to get past Newcastle and get further up the coast, but I've always loved Newcastle when I've stayed there...

If yr going to visit Uluru and Perth, you'll need to fly in order to fit everything into a month. The other places (except Tasmania) are all in driving distance (Canberra to Sydney is around 2hrs, Sydney to Brisbane is about 12hrs, and I think it's about 8 or 9 hrs from Sydney to Melbourne). I'd definately suggest going from Melbourne to Tasmania on the Spirit of Tasmania. It's an overnight trip, but well worth it...

If you do get yr plans more finalised and know what yr going to be doing, give me a PM if I can give you some tips on what to see in Canberra...

Violet...

[Djinn]

4. my main tip would be

avoid Newcastle it's a shithole filled with bogans.

Other than that - like others here said Oz is a bif country you'll need a fair bit of time to see all those - a month would leave you doing the "it's Tuesday this must be Uluru" type tour.

I'd cross off Canberra, apart from a pretty cool fellow DUer there's fuck all there to see, and frankly Uluru is a big red rock bit of a let down I thought.

Even though residents of Melb, Syd, Brisbane and Perth will argue for hours about their relative merits they're basically the same as any western city - I'd suggest getting out of the capitals and see Cairns (beautiful tropical rainforest and pristine beaches - altho no swimming in summer coz of jellyfish) QLD, Byron Bay area (particularly around the Blues & Roots festical time) NSW, the Great Ocean Rd VIC and the Styx Valley in Tas before it's all gone

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

5. First off, what's a "bogan"????

And if I do make the trip, Newcastle is where my relative will be studying. He's a bio-engineering major and there's a wildlife reserve or two near Newcastle where he will be studying. Newcastle looked nice on their website but I know pictures can be misleading.

I'm still undecided about whether or not this summer is the right time for me to go down-under. I have always wanted to see Australia but, although my husband says he can take care of the kids, I am reluctant to go THAT far away for such a long period of time. My kids are much too young to travel 12+ hours in a plane.

Also, been looking at Air Tahiti Nui which travels from New York to Tahiti then on to Sydney. We all live on the east coast of the USA and would rather fly out of New York, not Los Angeles. Some of my family are going to visit Australia this summer and I told them about that airline. Have you ever flown with them?

Thanks for your input.

[Djinn]

6. MMM translation of bogan

I'm not sure there is a correct translation but trust me you can do without meeting one!

On Newcastle I have to admit I'm a little biased for reasons I wont go into, but I'm sure there are some OK people who live there...maybe...possibly. ;-)

On coming over in summer, I'd consider autumn/spring if you're an east coaster, 40+ degrees (that's celsius) can be a bit of shock for those used to frigidity although there does tend to be more to do/see in Summer.

Have never flown Air Tahiti but I generally go with big airlines, the small saving on fares wont mean much when the plane plummets into the ocean - although I have flown Malaysia Airlines which I'd recommend as they actually have edible (and recognisable) food and hosties that actually smile and don't come across like they'd like to kill every single passenger

Also kids, while annoying for other passengers, tend to do OK in planes. They're smaller so the cramped conditions don't worry them as much and several airlines have seat back entertainment now (playstations, movies etc) even in economy.

I did a 24+ hours flight as a 5 year old, my brother was 3 and we loved it