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

[GearBots]

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!

If you want to do it then go for it, it'll be a whirlwind but if you don't do it then it sounds like you'll always regret it. Let the excitement and adrenaline get you through! Take advantage of any time differences to give you a few extra hours and stretch it to 3/3/4 days if you can rather than just seven. It's amazing how much you can do in just a couple of days I find whenever I travel - just have everything very carefully planned beforehand.

I'd do it if I could. I know somebody who went for a weekend to Sydney for a stag do. That was madness 😳. If it's a once in a lifetime opportunity I'd grab it with both hands. You'll recover eventually!

Qantas direct London to Perth (assuming you are in London)
Perth to Sydney
Sydney to Brisbane
Brisbane via Singapore home

Yep agree. I can ask my friend to come to Sydney or Brisbane but it's a big ask.

Seeing the Perth friend and going to the wedding are my priorities, so think I'll drop Sydney from itinerary.

I’m from Australia. I’ve done the road trip from Sydney to Brisbane and because of road works and delays, it took a lot longer than 10 hrs. I had to stop over in Ballina.

We’ve had a lot of flooding along the east coast and recent flooding in NSW. There will be damaged roads and road works.

It would probably be cheaper to fly from Sydney to Brisbane.

One week to fit in Perth, Sydney and Brisbane would be exhausting especially with the jet lag from Uk to Au.

Is it possible to extend to two weeks?

Can you book a flight from Brisbane to Perth that has a stop over in Sydney? If the stop over is long enough (I had a 5 hr stopover in Sydney once) your friend could catch up for a coffee or a meal. There is a train from the airport into the city.

I was home for a week this year, 10 days total and I was jet lagged but just tried to ride it out. Do anything you can to minimise it, could you go business?
Be aware our airports are chaos at the moment and most flights are delayed so that could push out your timeline and daylight savings is a bugger.

What I'd do then OP is the the nonstop Qantas flight from London to Perth. You have to get off there anyway so you could spend a couple of nights with the friend there. Then get an internal flight to Brisbane for the wedding. Get the Sydney friend to come to Brisbane. Return flight from Brisbane to Perth and then nonstop back to London.

That way, you get to do the two cities without any additional flights.

@TheFormidableMrsC my thoughts exactly. I'm unlikely to be able to do this again. And I'm so excited to see my friend get married.

The OP doesn't sound like they're taking on board any of the concerns others are posting here. So, I'd just say, go for it, feel knackered and come back saying you're glad you did it.

I have a friend who travelled from Aus to Ireland for a wedding- arrived on Friday- wedding on Saturday. Flew home on Sunday night. Back to work on Weds. It can be done.

I’d say follow Cadot’s itinerary, but backwards. Go to Brissy first, enjoy the wedding then go to Perth for a couple of days and have the shorter non-stop flight home.

This. I've done something very similar for work - have done Aus for a week several times, in economy - and it's OK, as your adrenaline at being away and being busy just seems to keep you going! (and my jetlag is rarely bad). Direct to Perth, couple of days there, move on to Brisbane, home from there.

The direct flight is great, though you do feel like never getting on a plane again after it ;-)

You itinerary sounds more 8-10 days. I would ditch either Sydney or Brisbane, not do both

I’ve done sydney and nz a few times. I wouldn’t consider anything less that 10 days, jet lag will hit you late afternoon early evening for a at least 3 days, so your. early evenings will be written off.

Er, Australia is bigger than you think :-) That itinerary won't fit in a week.

Given the expense, long flight to Aus and jetlag, and what a wonderful country it is, I would really really really recommend you try to spend longer there (take unpaid leave if necessary).

I did three cities in 2 weeks, but it was my third trip. I was told off when leaving for not staying longer.

Do be aware they can close the boarders between states due to covid.

If you test positive you could be stuck for a week in isolation.

If you fly via Singapore the airport is fantastic and has a pool so pack your bathers.

I agree with others the trip overall is fine, but you're trying to fit too much in.

My boss went to Aus a few years ago for the cricket - I think he spent more time on the plane than actually on land!

I wouldn't worry about border closures, all the state governments and the federal government have been very clear that borders will not be closed again. There's no longer any point to it as covid is rampant in every state now.

We are still required to do iso for 7 days if you test positive but that's the risk you take.

Why can you only take a week? I know you have to be back in London by a specific date, but can't you set off earlier?
I think it sounds exhausting, even if you just do Perth and the wedding. Jetlag on such a long trip is not to be underestimated IMO, even for a practised traveller.
If you must only take a week, is it worth sounding out Perth friend to see if they could come to Brisbane? I know it's a long trip, but you never know.

I think every flight I've had from London to Brisbane has stopped in Perth. I'd drop Sydney completely.

Look you can do whatever you like.

My sister went to Australia for a week for a wedding. She just stayed in one place though and mate came to her.

The 3 cities sound mad in all honesty, particularly Perth. I would probably try to stick to the east coast and try to get some friends to come to to you

Thanks for all your messages, advice and ideas. I'm reading through and taking on board.

I think if my friend can't come to Sydney (from Perth), I'll drop Sydney.

I'm looking at flights to go in/out from Perth. For the internal flights is it better to book separately or together with the international flights?

I think it sounds so much fun! Can I come too?

I would drop 1 of the cities. If you can get to Perth on the way there or back, Sydney might be the easier city to drop.

Also less of a schlep for Sydney mates to come to Brisbane than Perth mates travelling.

Could you meet Sydney mates half way between Brisbane & Sydney? Sounds like this trip is more about reconnecting with mates rather than seeing sights etc

I have to do the three cities - that's where the friends are. Sydney friends could possibly meet me in Brisbane but seems a shame to not go to Sydney. But Perth friend not able to travel so I'd need to go to them

Go back in a few years with the kids and visit Perth and Sydney then. Is there a reason why you think you can never go to Australia again?