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Original poster

Am I mad to consider going to Australia for a week?

93 replies

GearBots · 25/07/2022 09:50

I've been invited to an old friends wedding in Brisbane. I'm keen to go. I'd like to try to see a couple of friends in Perth and Sydney as well.

Is this a mad idea? Flying to Perth for 2 /3 days then to Sydney for 2/3 days and then to Brisbane for 4 days. I'm half wondering about driving up the coast from Sydney to Brisbane. I think I'd need to fly home from Sydney.

I want to try to fit in as much as possible and catch up with some very dear friends. I've never been to Australia and I'm unlikely to be able to go again for many years.

I feel incredibly guilty going and leaving husband and kids at home. Husband 100% on board and actively encouraging me to go. But it's such a lot of money out of the family pot so I want to make sure I have a good time and making best use of my limited time!

OP posts:

WhatTheWhoTheWhatThe · 25/07/2022 09:54

Australia for a week is fine but fitting in 3 cities so far apart in a week is madness IMO and you would be bonkers to drive from Sydney to Brisbane on that time schedule!

Weenurse · 25/07/2022 09:55

Sydney to Brisbane is a 10 hour drive. With your limited time, you should fly.
Perth to Sydney flights are 4 1/2 hours and you need to be at the airport 2 hours early so that is another day gone.
Be aware of the distance between cities.

Imstillabitpissedoff · 25/07/2022 09:57

I once did it for a funeral. The memories were worth it to me but I was exhausted (can't sleep in a plane). So if you can handle being tired very well then go for it.

chatw0o0 · 25/07/2022 09:58

I wouldn't for a week. But if I did, I would only do the Perth part (fly direct there and back) or I would do the Sydney & Brisbane part. The flight between Perth and Syd is five hours + whichever time of year time difference. You should also consider flying between Syd and Bris - it's not exactly a quick drive up the motorway!!

Tougherpolicies · 25/07/2022 09:59

I wouldn't dream of just going for a week, takes that long just to get over the jetlag! Can't you stretch to a fortnight? Such a long way to go, would be a def no from me

HorseInTheHouse · 25/07/2022 09:59

The time difference is so extreme you are likely to feel awful for a day or two of that. I wouldn't bother going all the way to Australia for less than 2 weeks, ideally longer. Personally I think it would be a waste of all the time, money and energy it takes to get to the other side of the planet.

Fraaahnces · 25/07/2022 09:59

There is literally nothing to see on the road between Sydney and Brisbane. You have to get off the highway to go into towns and even further to see the sea. You’d also be mortified at the cost of hiring a car and purchasing petrol along the way. Flying is usually cheaper. I would do Perth OR Brisbane and Sydney. I live in Brisbane and it’s okay, but not really interesting from a tourist point of view. It’s not near the sea, it’s not near the mountains, it’s mostly very suburban.

midgetastic · 25/07/2022 09:59

Ask the friend you want to catch up with to meet you in Perth ?

FlorianImogen · 25/07/2022 09:59

2/3 days plus 2/3 days plus 4 = 10 days surely?

LovelaceBiggWither · 25/07/2022 10:00

You'd be bonkers to try and fit all three cities into a week. Sydney/Brisbane might work. It's a hell of a drive between the two cities though.

HorseInTheHouse · 25/07/2022 10:02

I can't actually remember how long it took me to get over the jet lag when I went, it was quite a long time ago. But I do know I felt like I'd been hit by a truck to start with. I went for 3 weeks.

MaggieFS · 25/07/2022 10:03

A week for one or two places but not all three.

Don't waste your time driving between Sydney and Brisbane.

You should be able to fly back from Brisbane e.g. via Singapore.

sausage767 · 25/07/2022 10:05

Forget Perth and fly between Brisbane and Sydney, it’s just over an hour flight. Don’t drive, petrol prices here are record highs.

polka6 · 25/07/2022 10:07

Yes bonkers and not physically possible in 7 days. Why not get them to meet you in one city?

AllAboutMargot · 25/07/2022 10:08

I went to Sydney for a week to visit my son and it was fine. But I wouldn't even consider the amount of travelling around you're planning, it would be far too stressful rushing about like that.

WaltzingWaters · 25/07/2022 10:09

It’s such a long journey, I really wouldn’t, and I absolutely love travelling and have no issues with long distance flights. I guess you can’t go for longer because of being away from your kids? If you do go, I’d stick to one city, two at most, and try to visit some beautiful areas surrounding the cities.

Peridot1 · 25/07/2022 10:10

I have done nine days before. Sydney and Melbourne. It’s definitely doable.

As others have said I wouldn’t drive to Brisbane. Much quicker to fly.

I think adding Perth in makes it much harder. It’s a day travel essentially.

But you could maybe fly into Perth. Two days there.

Then early morning flight to Brisbane for wedding. Few days there.

then fly down to Sydney for 2/3 days again aiming to fly in the morning.

fly home from Sydney.

Butteryflakycrust83 · 25/07/2022 10:11

Hell to the no. Takes me a week to recover from jetlag - I am an absolute write off by late afternoon each day.
Def done drive - seeing as you are travelling all that way, would friends consider flying to you?

TheFlis12345 · 25/07/2022 10:13

I have done it and it was fine, though I did a weekend in Sydney, then flew to Brisbane for 4 days for see friends, back to Sydney for one night then home. I think 3 places would be too much and you would be mad to drive given how quick and cheap internal flights are

Cadot · 25/07/2022 10:13

That is a mad idea. It takes a week to get over the jet lag, never mind driving or flying to 3 different cities. Your plan is completely unrealistic and would be absolutely miserable.

If you absolutely cannot go for longer than a week then consider just staying in one place for the whole time.

The jet lag on the way back to the UK is not as bad.

StartupRepair · 25/07/2022 10:15

I would just go to Sydney for 3 days then fly to Brisbane for 3 days and leave from there. It will take you most of a day to get to Perth. Airports are quite congested here in Australia at the moment with lots of flight delays and lost luggage.

rookiemere · 25/07/2022 10:16

Ah I remember an almost identical pre-covid thread.
Anyone been on to rant about the environmental impact yet ?

I'd say doable. I hardly had any jetlag when I arrived in NZ even though I simply cannot sleep on the plane, because I used Boots Sleepeze on the first couple of nights there.

I'd get the most direct flights possible and possibly do an internal flight to avoid the 11 hr drive, but for a special occasion that you really want to be at, go for it and just accept you'll be a little bit jaded whilst there and knackered for a week or so when you get back.

TheSandgroper · 25/07/2022 10:19

You don’t say when this wedding is. NSW has daylight saving and Queensland doesn’t. Start in Brisbane, fly to Sydney (possibly gaining an hour in your day) and then Perth (gaining time as you fly). Flying your suggested route will lose a whole day per-syd
This will maximise your hours in the ground. Then it’s nonstop Per-LHR.

I wouldn’t like to do it myself but I don’t drink coffee so can’t help myself much.

babbi · 25/07/2022 10:20

I’d do it ( and have done ) but only one or 2 places and fly between … don’t drive .
enjoy your trip 😊

TheSandgroper · 25/07/2022 10:21

Have a play on here. www.flightradar24.com/-33.29,148.96/6

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