Visting independently? It'll cost you $35 to get the Uluru Express to Ayers Rock. Get the sunset tour with combined walk, it's the same price as the sunset tour alone. The Olgas are $50, the gorge walk is quite disappointing though. Don't forget you need to add $25 to all this for the park three-day pass. Bring a mosquito net -- flies will drive you mad.
Mallacoota: whether drowning a worm, wetten ya board, slice'n on skies or dinken at the pub, it's a great place to be. The guys are great for a drink and the girls are good for a look.
Fremantle is a breath of fresh air. It has a quirky vibe, anything goes! Beautiful climate, beaches, historic buildings...
Here's my TOP 10 to-do's for Freo: (in no order)
1. Fremantle Markets, get a beer at the market bar and listen to the buskers.
2. Definitely do the night-time Prison tour, its excellent.
3. Go to Little Creatures for a pale ale and frites, you'll love it.
4. Get the ferry to Rottnest Island, its so pretty... but don't feed the quokas!
5. Get a caffeine fix on Cappucino strip, Gino's and Benny's do great coffee.
6. Old Shanghai foodhall opposite markets does great food, cheap (especially Taka's Japanese).
7. Jump on the free bus (it's orange and has CAT written on it).
8. Shopping... cool clothes and jewellery by local designers.
9. Go see a band in the Newport, or DJs in Norfolk.
10. Seafood haven... some os the best in the world (according to the locals!). Go to Fishing boat Harbour, for fish 'n chips.
Warrnambool is a great place to live and visit... the beaches are fantastic!!!
Merrigum is a quaint little place populated with an assortment of strange people for which it has always been known.
Lorne is one hour from Geelong and approximately 100 minutes from Melbourne. Go to the lookout for fantastic views of the beach and Erskine falls is a must. Plenty of bush walks available.
Launceston is right next to Cataract Gorge, a 150m cut into the rock with the river at the bottom. Literally 10 minutes walk from the city centre and you're in the heart of nature. The city has an adequate bus system during the week, based at St John Street. Always call taxis from payphones instead of mobiles as the numbers otherwise go back to Hobart! Some company runs a $35 Tamar River cruise which is worth checking out. All in all I'd say Launceston is a much nicer, more relaxed city than Hobart and with no shortage of things to see and do. I used Launceston as a start/stop point for the Under Down Under tour also.
I abolutely love Halls Gap. I love the mountains, just to climb them it's amazing. The view is absolutely out this world! It's great. Love it!
Margate Beach is glamorous -- it's wonderful. I love it.
I have a caravan in Taggerty and if your ever hungry you should visit 'The Shamrock.' It's located in Alexandra, only a 15 minute drive from Taggerty and is a beautiful place for a counter lunch. Cheers!
I have visited Denmark and I have to say that it is one of the most beautiful places in the world! Nature is stunning and the inhabitants are great!
Mackay is a safe town to walk and explore. Non-touristy and friendly locals.
Echuca is a great place to stay, the people are lovely and there is nothing better than sailing down the murray with friends around to have a few beers with. Loved the place and hope to get back in the future.
Check out the funky shop "New To You" in a lovely old house on Kuranda's main street. It has everything imaginable for sale, in the original rooms of the old house. Everything else in town is Chinese crap!
Bunbury is an amazing city with excellent opportunites to see beautiful dolphins right before your eyes.
Broadbeach is great, its only minutes to Surfers and has some great things to do as it is on the beach with its surf clubs. And the casino is always great with Thursday night -- cheap drinks in the casino's Prince Albert Bar. It's where a lot of the young loacals go.
I have visited Apollo Bay many times and I would like to recommend to EVERYONE that they must try one of the delicious treats from the local bakery. The food is excellent and the staff are delightful.
Rainbox Beach was just too lovely to describe with any justice. Anybody who wants a little paradise should definitely go to Rainbow Beach.
The biggest attraction to Shark Bay is the area of Monkey Mia, which is known for its friendly dophins. Denham is also in Shark Bay and it's the nearest town to Monkey Mia (at about 25 Km away).
Melbourne is a fantastic city, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time there. There are some beautiful parks in the center of the city, and some lovely galleries and museums. I ended up staying in Melbourne for longer than I originally planned as I found it to be a 'fun' city - great bars and nighclubs, to suit all tastes. Also, Melbourne has some of the best shopping in Australia and the best selection of restaurants, where you can sample food from every corner of the globe. I couldn't believe the selection! If you're thinking about when to visit Melbourne, I would probably recommend going in summer, as temperatures are warmer and a little more stable.
Moree sucks ass. It's too damn hot and swarmed with murderous bloodythirsty kangeroo's.
Bremer Bay is such a beautiful place, just dont spoil it with development of more hotels and rising buildings. What's there now is enough.
Visited Fraser Island in March 2008 with the Cool Dingo Tours. They are a brilliant company to go with. I was traveling on my own but was made comfortable and made lots of friends. Fraser Island is beautiful and is well worth a visit.
I stayed in Tully for two and a half months as work was plentiful. If you want work you don't have to go through a hostel, just get up bright and early, say 5:30 am, and stand at the post office junction. Ask the farmers if they need help as no qualifications are ever asked. Tully and its environs have a lot to offer and I must say I had the best two and a half months ever.
I live in Sydney and have to brag that the Royal National Park is just spectacular - especially if you want to see a diverse range of habitat in one location, within an hour or two of Sydney's CBD. The Royal has rainforest in the south, wet and dry sclerophyl forests in the north, heath along the north eastern coast, moors a little inland, swamps in the west and a myriad of creeks and rivers. Along with such diverse habitats come dozens, if not hundreds of bird species, a variety of mammals, lizards, snakes, frogs and fish.
The park has dozens of walking tracks with all grades of difficulty, from short walks to day walks and overnight walks. To anyone visiting Australia, especially for the first time, be aware that the outdoors environment can be harsh - be very sure you know what you're doing if you plan on any serious walking, and be aware that surf conditions along the park demand that you only swim if you are very experienced with surf. But don't let me frighten you away - the…
When you're in Adelaide, do visit the Adelaide Hills -- really nice scenery and free wine tasting.
Biloela was a great party town, small but good. Grew up there.
Coles Bay is a very small town on the edge of water and next to a nature reserve. This is for the nature and ocean lover, and not a party and happening place like a big city. The Freycinet National Park has lots of hikes and nature and beaches to explore. Don't miss the hike to Wine Glass Bay, and even though the climb to the look out is uphill all the way and has lots of tourists, it is still worthwhile. But do ask for a list and map of other hikes in the area.
Bowen is one of my favourite spots in Oz. My tip is to mingle with the locals and they will show you the best time ever coz they are the friendliest bunch of Ozzies I ever met.
I am from Mount Gambier and think it's one of the most beautiful places I've lived. It's humble and a place to relax and take in all the amazing scenery. So close to the sea, the vineyards, and the marvels of the volcanoes.
Maroochydore is a great place to do fruit picking as it is so close to the beach, has lovely weather, plenty of charity shops, and great drinking holes!
I think Airlie Beach is a wonderful place to relax and it has the most beautiful scenery.
Sorrento was the prettiest little town. Great restaurants and shops! The guys and locals were pretty all right too!
Batemans Bay is very far from the beach and attractions -- too far if you do not have transport.
The two bakeries in town both claim to be "The Original Lancelin Bakery." My money goes to the one near the park as it has a shadehouse eatery which is nice to sit in and look at your maps while chowing down. Here's my big tip: buy a big round wholemeal roll (better for you) and stick your pie in it :-) with sauce. This goes further, tastes better and no hot dripping split pie oozing drama.
Nimbin is disgusting. Don't even bother coming here. There are far better places to visit in the region.
I had a brilliant time in Townsville. It's a place where you can go to get a real feel of Ozy life as there isn't a huge backpacker appeal. It's just a really nice town and I look forward to going back. Another bonus is that it is a base for the Oz army so there were plenty of fit young men around. This was way back in 2000 so hope not too much has changed!
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