A Week In Australia

[MelainesLaugh]

I’ve always wanted to go to Australia, and I’ve recently been looking at British Airways Flights and Holidays. They do direct flights to Sydney now and it got me wondering whether a weeks holiday would be feasible.

With 23 hours on the plane and no change I could easily use that to sleep. Which would, hopefully, then have me refreshed to spend the days in Sydney before doing the same on the way back.

AIBU to consider this or is it an absolutely ridiculous idea.

On environmental grounds it's ludicrous to use all that carbon for a week. Wait until you have time to go properly. Fewer flights for longer holidays is more sustainable than multiple short trips.

Also OP there is no such thing as a UK to Sydney flight that is non stop. Sorry.

Qantas do one direct to Perth but it's an 6 hour flight from Perth.

I've been to Australia 3 times and wouldn't consider less than 2 weeks. It's very tiring getting there but coming back is 10 times worse. Do you have to go straight back to work on your return? What sort of job do you do? Kits long way and a very big country.

Qantas / BA does a 17hr direct flight to Perth Australia - I prefer this to a stop over because you eat and then have a proper night but I only recommend it for a week if you can afford business class. My family (including parents in mid-70s) do this flight in economy.

I’ve made frequents trips to Australia and unless it was for a specific event i.e. a weeding a week just isn’t enough. As others have said the only non stop flight is to Perth, Sydney is a stop over when you have to get off the plane - nightmare !

Every time I have gone to Australia I have had to write the first 24 /36 hours off due to jet lag / fatigue.

Once you get to Australia everything is a large distance apart - so if you want to go outside the Sydney area it can take a day to get anywhere ( think having to get a flight , drive 100’s miles ). So a week will feel like you haven’t even scratched the surface and then the trip back home will mess up your body clock again.

A week to Australia would effectively mean 2 days travel, day one jet lag - so that’s 3 days gone of your week already !

@MelainesLaugh If you want to do it, do it. It will be hard and or horrible but them’s the breaks.

However, Australia starts in Perth. It’s closer and it’s only the one flight.

The weather is certainly better and we have plenty of things you can do here for a week. https://visitwa.com.au/

Guess it depends entirely on you! How do you cope with jet lag? How would you fare if for some reason you didn't get the rest on the plane that you're banking on etc.

I did it in 2016. Flew into Melbourne, drove the great ocean road to Adelaide then flew back from there a week later. It was amazing and I recovered quickly. I'd have loved more time but that was all I had and I made the most of it. I remember getting off the plane and feeling oddly seasick!! Not quite sure what that was about. But I was in my 20's. I think I'd struggle more now.

I took an overnight flight to Japan (17h) and I was feeling like death for at least 5 days. Flying back was much easier as it often is. But no, I would aim for at least two weeks to get the most of it.

Go for it.
Can definitely be done. People fly this route as their job!
Obviously there are pros and cons to it, but if it's something you want to do and this is your best chance, don't put it off.
My aunt often visited from Aus for a week, sometimes less!
I find hydration is key on long haul!

I did it last year for a week, went to speak at a conference. Would definitely not do it in economy though. I flew business on the way out and still felt like I'd died when I landed in Perth.

I was fine the next morning and was up and out at the wildlife park by 10am, had to be early to get a slot to hold a koala!

Coming home the jetlag was hard, but a couple of days sorted it.

Sydney is pretty much like any other city so I wouldn't fly for a full day to go and visit it when you could do a 3 hour flight and visit a city much closer.
You won't 'see' Australia by visiting 1 city.

Spent 4 weeks in Australia in August, 23 hours via Singapore, took me 5 days to recover and that was with 2 complete rest days at friends house before even I'd starting sightseeing. I'm 58 so maybe it's worse being older. I'd never consider going to Oz for a week. My friend who emigrated to Sydney 25 years ago and has done the flight several times has only done a 2 weeker once to the UK and it was awful.

I have to admit I found Sydney exciting. But I like cities generally. We saw Sydney, Brisbane and parts of Queensland and Melbourne (staying with friends for the last two) and Tasmania.

With 23 hours on the plane and no change I could easily use that to sleep. Which would, hopefully, then have me refreshed
Have you ever been on a long haul flight? Most people don't come off the plane refreshed.

I once went to Australia for a week. I cope very well with tiredness and have been on a lot of long-haul and demanding destinations, but I was absolutely knocked out by early evening for the entire time I was there. I could not keep by eyes open past 8-9pm and would sleep a full night.

That being said, I had a fabulous time during the day and would do it again.

You wont even be able to take it in properly with the jet lag. it would be pointless, i also wouldnt even say 2 weeks.. you need 3 at the least

Do you realise how huge Australia is? You'd get to see the city you arrive in and that's about it unless the countryside ("bush") is interesting. Lots of it's not. Lots of the cities are not really worth visiting either IMO.

Not the same but this story always amazed me. A old client of mine married an Australian man who had kids back in Oz but they married and lived in London.

She used long weekend every other weekend and fly to Sydney every other weekend!

She said after the first few times she nailed the jet lag. Knew exactly what time to eat / sleep and said it worked great for her.

Anyway separate to your situation.. I think it depends on the situation. If you are someone for whom sleep is really essential then maybe not. I'm not one of those people so would probably do it in your situation- 10 days even better but get the flight times right and you could have a great week.

It’s not about whether you sleep on the plane, it’s about being unable to sleep properly at night the whole time you’re there. You’ll be waking up before the sun and nodding off early in the evening, it takes about a week to adjust to the time zone. But if you don’t plan to be out late all week it might be ok for you!

Crikey - one week is not a practical option. Flown to Oz several times - a week wouldn't be enough to make the journey worthwhile.

We enjoyed Perth much more than Sydney, we had about a week in each, then two weeks in New Zealand which was great.

I'd only do it if I was visiting someone specific in Sydney. If it's to see Australia then it's too far to for such a short period of time. My view might be slightly clouded but I spent 3 weeks in Australia and Sydney was my least favourite part!

Did 8 weeks, wish it had been 6 months. Fantastic country for a road trip 😀

I mean, it's doable, but think of it in terms of a Sydney city break rather than a trip to Australia if that makes sense.

I’m a Kiwi and have done NZ-UK/Europe multiple times and NZ-NYC twice in the last year for 7 days on the ground (which is 17 hours direct flight).

7 days on the ground is perfectly possible, 10 would be better. I find it takes about 3 to shake off the jet lag. I’ve taken small kids to Europe for 2 weeks and it’s been fine. Ideally come in summer so you get more time in the sun to acclimatise and be realistic with your plans - e.g. in NYC i generally take it easy in the morning as NZ is 4 hours behind (actually 18 hours ahead the next day 😂)

with UK/Europe I actually find it easier to acclimatise as days and nights are totally reversed so you just have to adapt.

If I was doing a week in Sydney I’d do a few days out at Bondi to stay by the beach and chill, great beach and nice restaurants & cafes , then a few days more centrally.