RHP

RHP User

F47

Holiday ideas

May 28 2016

So it's been a long time since I've had a proper holiday, and I'm thinking about organising one for later this year as a grad present to myself. I haven't travelled a great deal particularly outside of Queensland so am starting to look for ideas about places to go within Australia for a couple of weeks, which won't cost a bomb. Happy to hear any suggestions if you have them.

Comments

  • RHP

    RHP User

    9 years ago

    Got a car? Grab a friend and road trip it to WA. It's like another country here.

  • PatchworkGirl

    PatchworkGirl

    9 years ago

    I'd second WA. I also loved Tasmania when I was there last year, and would love to get back and explore a little more. I'm glad you're planning on treating yourself when you graduate - you deserve it! I'm planning something similar when I finish my masters next year. - Posted from rhpmobile

  • Travel_Bug

    Travel_Bug

    9 years ago

    It'll depend on the time of year - by later in the year I'm assuming that you're talking about Oct/Nov/Dec-ish It also depends on what type of holiday you're after - beaches/ocean, cities, wineries, hiking/nature, history, etc. Only within Australia? Travelling within Australia and cheaper travel don't really go hand in hand. You can get some good flight/hotel packages to SE Asia, some Pacific Isles and NZ. Again it depends on the type of break you want and the style you want to do it in.

  • AnnieWhichway

    AnnieWhichway

    9 years ago

    Cheaper in Asia for something exotic and different

  • RHP

    RHP User

    9 years ago

    14 days on a p&o cruise ship about the pacific would be fairly inexpensive and fun ....

  • RHP

    RHP User

    9 years ago

    Not interested in Asia, not at this stage of my life anyway. NZ yes one day but I'm only looking within Australia for this particular trip. As for the lack of specific detail about the type of holiday in my post, that's on purpose. I'm just looking for ideas at the moment, general suggestions which I can then research further. As I say in the OP, it will probably be for a couple of weeks and I'm not going to have lots of cash to splash, so 4 star hotels and fine dining every night aren't really in the picture. Anything else is probably negotiable.

  • RHP

    RHP User

    9 years ago

    Quoting 'PatchworkGirl' I'd second WA. I also loved Tasmania when I was there last year, and would love to get back and explore a little more. WA and Tas are both definitely on my list. Really want to go to Hobart's Dark Mofo festival held annually in June at some stage when I can travel at that time of year, even if I know I'll freeze my arse off!

  • RHP

    RHP User

    9 years ago

    Quoting 'Lord__Flashheart'Travelling within Australia and cheaper travel don't really go hand in hand. I just end up going somewhere locally around here / within Qld that's fine with me. I'm just exploring options at this stage.

  • RHP

    RHP User

    9 years ago

    Have you looked at Airbnb for good cheap accommodation. You can stay some amazing places for amazing prices. There are also websites where you can register yourself as a house sitter. You never know - you might find something amazing through there as well and all you would have to do is water some plants and make be feed a cat! Whatever you do I hope it's a great adventure.

  • sweetgem

    sweetgem

    9 years ago

    My first choice for travelling within Australia would be Melbourne :) love the relaxing and laid back atmosphere that that city gives, and the food options that I can choose, heaven holiday in my own experiences :) There are economic accommodation options such as, Ibis Budget (former Formule1) which still have you staying in the city (for convenience), but won't break your bank. Transportation also reasonably cheap in Melbourne and it's all free tram rides within the city areas. My next suggestion is WA, but go outside Perth. I had been to WA once and the sceneries there are amazing! Go visit the Wave Rocks, the Pinnacles, the wineries, etc. you would love it, if nature is your thing :) PS. About the food choices in Melbourne, I don't mean those fine dining options. There are plenty of economic food choices to choose and I certainly do not do fine dining everyday each time I go to Melbourne 😛 in fact, the majority of my meals consumed in Melbourne were all under $15 included a bottle :) - Posted from rhpmobile

  • RHP

    RHP User

    9 years ago

    For us means driving and that's the way we get to see most of our beautiful countryside. N.T is fantastic during the dry season but really is a boys playground.W.A is beautiful but is a really really long drive, especially if you are on your own but i have to say the drive from N.T to Perth was one of the most scenic drives i have done travelling. If we where in your location we'd look at driving to Cook Town and maybe some sailing around to the islands around the North of Queensland. Our next roadtrip will be a Tasmania driving holiday.

  • RHP

    RHP User

    9 years ago

    Not only is it spectacular and the furthest southern land point on this continent....there is a great deal to do once you get there ranging from some amazing beaches, walking trails, quaint little towns and absolutely killer food available at anything from the pubs to some very nice restaurants. I've access to a small beach house in Walkerville and have spent a great deal of time there. You'll also enjoy the drive to get there. If you do reconsider to an O/S holiday, my personal favourite to this day is Belize. Enjoy...

  • usnow

    usnow

    9 years ago

    What about W.A. , in particular the South West corner as well as Perth ?Based here in Mandurah we could certainly show you the sites and even accommodate you for some of the time .We have plenty of time on our hands and would enjoy the company . Usnow .

  • RHP

    RHP User

    9 years ago

    My brother and his girlfriend road tripped it from Cairns to Perth a year ago. They did it in a Mazda 3, with sleeping bags and basic camping equipment, and did it pretty cheaply, I believe. I moved here 7 years ago from Brisbane on my road bike...and I think I took 10 days to make the trip, via Melbourne and the GOR to visit relatives. That was 7000kms, but I took my time as a bike quickly gets uncomfortable. I've crossed the Nullarbor a few times now, and I'm quite fond of the seaside town of Ceduna in SA...I was offered a job as a chef in a motel I stayed at, but I had places to be...and I love the crumbling cliffs of the Australian Bight. The sea is so blue and the cliffs so high, you can see the curve of the earth from them. Just stay back from the edge!

  • RHP

    RHP User

    9 years ago

    😉😉😉😉😉

  • Travel_Bug

    Travel_Bug

    9 years ago

    A few posts already that mention WA - from Margaret River (wine & food) and north along the coast through Perth, Cervantes, Kalbarri (the town as well as the National Park that Summer mentioned), Shark Bay and up to Coral Bay & Exmouth (great snorkeling and diving in the Ningaloo reef - Whale Sharks too depending on the time of the year). I haven't been up as far as Broome but have heard good things. Some great spots all along the NSW coast too. There's Byron Bay, Ballina & Coffs Harbour (The Big Banana) on the north coast, Port Stephens (Nelson Bay, Shoal Bay & Fingal Bay) & Newcastle on the central coast (there's also the Hunter Valley wineries inland from Newcastle/Port Stephens) and Jervis Bay, Narooma, Bermagui & Merimbula on the south coast. I'd try and avoid school holidays though, as some places get insanely busy (Nelson Bay in particular) and accommodation prices rise accordingly.

  • Travel_Bug

    Travel_Bug

    9 years ago

    Another option for NSW is an inland route that takes in Tamworth (get your country music on), Dubbo (check out the 'roar & snore' 'glamping' at the Western Plains/Taronga zoo), Parkes (The Dish - I went because I love the movie and I'm a bit of a science nerd), Canberra & Jindabyne/Kosciuszko National Park. You can then loop down to the coast near Merimbula as mentioned in my earlier post.

  • RHP

    RHP User

    9 years ago

    goes to the Whitsundays unless you will be traveling in stinger season . Tassie is great , so very scenic and WA as well.

  • RHP

    RHP User

    9 years ago

    Luck_Dragon, as someone else said above, it depends on the time of the year, whether you are driving or going on a tour bus & what your interest are. The "tourist" destinations in most areas have season prices & can be rather more expensive. For example to stay at a caravan park in Broome in the tourist season is an extra $9 a day (for a powered site); in Warrnambool in summer, the cost goes up significantly ($20) & in Narooma in NSW it costs $100 a day for a powered site. If you don't want to pay, you go elsewhere! Have a look at Kangaroo Island - that is fairly low cost - probably cheaper in winter time! You could also check out the wine areas of SA - south of Adelaide, the upper SE & the Barossa Valley.Or you could go to the west coast of SA & sample the best oysters from Smoky Bay, Ceduna or Coffin Bay. The coastal scenery around Port Lincoln is spectacular too. Oz it rather big & it would take a lifetime to see it all.

  • RHP

    RHP User

    9 years ago

    So many awesome places to choose from in our beautiful country. WA - Kalbarri, Shark Bay, Ningaloo. NSW - Hunter Valley region, Lake Macquarie. VIC - Mornington Peninsula and wineries. I'm sure you'll enjoy wherever you choose 🌻 - Posted from rhpmobile

  • RHP

    RHP User

    9 years ago

    Tas has everything you could wish for in such short travelling distances. All the Mofo activities are just as amazing as they claim. Yes, I'm a Tasmanian export and although it's a bit $$$ to get there, costs are easy to keep down once you're there. There's just about everything you could amuse yourself whether it be historical, walking, art, adventure, plain beauty or gastronomical. As a now Westerner, yes, it's nice but I'd say expensive and huge amounts of travel. The weather currently is perhaps dimming my love for the place. There's a fair bit to do but each attraction will be quite spaced out. I haven't been north, south (like the area Summer was mentioning) is a fave of mine because it's beautiful in its own right and it reminds me of Tas. Waterfall way is fabulous and the Byron area. In fact I quite like all of NSW's coastline too. A good driving and camping holiday. Wilsons Prom is as lovely as ppl are saying. (Vic) The limestone coast is really remarkable (SA) and a great carry on from the 12 apostles (Vic) plus then you can head into Adelaide and enjoy the arts there's a world music festival called WOMAD, that might float your boat. Barrossa and Clair are two of my fave calling spots 🍷 Bellingen global carnival is great (NSW) as is, Port Fairy folk festival. (VIC) Mona events kill them all though! 😉 You'll have to let us know what you decide and how it goes LD xx P.s. Vic has decent Skiing at Falls creek. Don't go skiing in Tas, it sucks!!! - Posted from rhpmobile

  • RHP

    RHP User

    9 years ago

    Come down here and we can go to Melbourne for some lovely food, maybe a show or two and heaps of shopping - Posted from rhpmobile