Australia trip

[Summersoul]

We are planning to do Australia next summer. We have never been long haul before mainly just Europe so its a big trip, once in a lifetime kind of thing. Does anyone have any advice on where to go? It will be next July for 3 weeks and we need to factor in Sydney to see family in the Blue Mountains. Which airlines are best? Is a few days in Singapore on the way out a good idea? Where to stop on the way back? Il have my MIL DH and my girls 17 and 15 any guidance very welcome

Australian here...

I'd stay 5 days in Sydney, Melbourne other 5 days (many day trips to go specially the Great Ocean Road). Gold Coast 3-4 days, Brisbane is one hour from Gold Coast 1 day if ever, a bit boring though. Gold Coast has several theme parks (Universal, Sea World, etc).

July in Melbourne is winter, so it gets dark by 6:30 pm, coldest it gets on metro area would be 6 degrees. Other places are still warm.

Singapore is quiet close to Australia, small place so 3 days tops.

I'm in Brisbane - kids are going back to school tomorrow after 2 weeks off so keep that in mind. Queensland is lovely at this time of the year - we call it winter but it's sunny and I'm not wearing a cardigan. I'd recommend the Sunshine Coast which is a 1 hour drive from Brisbane airport.

Sydney is freezing and wet at this time of year - you might be lucky but I wouldn't bank on it being nice. Blue Mountains ditto.

One thing to keep in mind - you'll need a lot of different clothes if you're planning on Sydney and then Queensland. Or plan on buying what you need when you're here.

I live here at the moment. It is winter and snow in the mountains down victoria way. Can you come around Christmas time? Summer is more fun. If you do come in July head to Queensland cairns to try and thaw out a little. Also Emirates or Singapore airlines all the way.

I'm a Sydneysider , and highly recommend the Blue Mountains, Hunter Valley southern coast of NSW etc but it would be a shame to come all the way here and not see Victoria - it will be chilly but Melbourne is a great city, and the Great Ocean Road is a fab road trip. Then come to Sydney ( see the rellies) and then head to QLD for some Aussie sun. Noosa, the Gold coast hinterlands , Port Douglas and the Barrier reef. Try to stay on an island for a night or 2. Enjoy!

So you went to one part of a huge contingent that has a coral reef, rainforest, mountains, desert, deserted beaches, incredible wildlife. You didn’t bother with any of that, went to one area that is pretty crappy and over developed, decided you don’t like the entire country and recommend instead lying around a pool in Bintan? Okay then, good to know.

I'm a QLD'er. We have everything from reef to dessert to unique quirky places so decide what experience you want first.

In July it's changeable and not too cold, but still too cold to swim here in Southern QLD. If you want touristy & brochure beaches Gold/Sunshine Coasts are the places as is Brisbane. Personally not a fan of the Gold Coast. It's very overrated.

If you want country experience go west to the Darling Downs and Granite belt. Or further to outback QLD.

If you want warmth and the great barrier reef, in July you can't beat tropical Cairns and far north QLD. You'll need a car, but there's the Daintree, Mossman Gorge, great barrier reef (do the speedboat snorkelling from Port Douglas rather than the pontoon boats - 1000% better reef & experience). Also Paronella Park, tablelands...

It depends on what your experience wishlist & budget are. There's a beautiful coastal drive from Sydney to QLD, full of quirky and pretty towns and coastal scenery. There's outback beauty and places like Uluru, Kakadu and countless gorges in NT.

I'm an Australian from Perth and now live in Melbourne and would agree with this.

Melbourne is an amazing place and so much to do, I would recommend a footy match whilst you are here and then hit the road with so many amazing spots to see. July is cold and wet, average temps low teens and it is dark by about 5.30...but Melbourne has a wonderful night life suitable also for a family.

Onto Sydney and your relatives then head straight up to Cairns the Barrier Reef and the Daintree are just incredible.

totally understand the Gold Coast not representing the whole of Australia,

The Gold Coast doesn't even represent the Sunshine Coast and they're only a couple of hours apart. Not a fan at all of the Gold Coast! Northside the whole way here.

It's a little brisk in Qld at the moment, but overall this winter has been really mild. It's only been under 5 degrees out at the horse for a week or so. The further north you go in Qld, the more tropical it is.

The east coast is pretty good. To save time getting from Sydney to Brisbane, I'd recommend flying - it's an 8+hr drive.

Giving a week in Sydney and Blue Mountains, you could go to Brisbane for 5 days. Day trip to Lamington National park, nice bush walk through Springbrook, Mt Tambourine.

You could go up to Glass House mountains and climb one, over to Bribie Island, Stradbroke island, Noosa, Rainbow beach. Australia Zoo (Steve Irwin) is up that way and you can spend a nice day there.

Fly north from Brisbane to Cairns (it's about 20hrs to drive). You've got the Daintree, Port Douglas, the great barrier reef.

Or you could fly from Brisbane to Alice Springs (32hr drive) and see Uluru, the Olga's and Kings Canyon.

I'd pick a place as a base for a week and do day trips. Where you go depends on what your family enjoy doing.

Forget the Gold Coast, unless you are a family of theme park enthusiasts.

I agree with the advice to pick two places + Blue Mountains. Since you're going to the Blue Mountains it's inevitable that you'll go through Sydney, so really, pick one place to see aside from that. Maybe two.

I wouldn't bother with a stopover since it's a fairly short trip anyway.

If you're not constrained by going for the cheapest price, then I would recommend Singapore Airlines, Emirates or Qatar. They are all very good. Qantas used to be excellent, but has not been great the last few years. There's a new CEO coming in, so maybe they will improve. I would only consider Qantas to do the direct flight to Perth. Avoid BA.

Noosa over to Fraser Island would also be nice.

If possible, book after the term holidays ( usually the first two of July roughly) , flight tickets will be cheaper, way cheaper. Emirates, Etihad, Singapore are great. Seats are smaller on the Japanese airlines. Purchase the first row of a section so you have more room for legs, it makes a massive difference.
Sydney is amazing , you will love it. It is chilly when it is dark, so a heavier jacket for night especially if walking near water is a must. You need a house with heating ( usually air con) or you will be miserable.

Don’t waste days in a stopover unless it is a place you have always wanted to visit. The trip is sooooooo long. You just want to get there. Pack a book because one year, my DD’s tv wasn’t working ( and it was the BA12) so one plane all the way to London, and I swapped place with her and luckily I had a book. Or download shows on phone/ iPad.

Man is a nice place to stay. Iconic to what one associates Australia with. Quick to get to the city with the ferry.

Sunshine coast is nice, you have a lot of the big animal parks if you want to see and pet kangaroos and wallabies.

Byron bay and Noosa are nice. Don’t go to Brisbane, nothing really to see .anything up north will be warmer, but sea water will be freezing in Sydney. We have whales, seals and penguins. Not exactly warm water creatures !!!

The Jervis Bay Area is also really nice but by going 3 hours south of Sydney , it will be colder.

Adding some far North Queensland would be mind blowing but it will be hard and expensive and watch out for crocs!!!

Remember it will be their winter then.
We flew to Perth (meh), then drove to Margaret River (loved it), then flew over to Cairns (loved it), then down to Sydney (loved it) over to Berry to stay with friends (nice), then back to Sydney. We went in January it got to 40 degrees a few days. Spent a month there it was fabulous.

Definitely recommend getting there quickly and not losing time with stop overs.
Would previously have recommended going direct to Aus with Qantas: London-Perth (17hrs) then across to Sydney to see your family; however we have found Qantas quite unreliable in the last couple of years with on the day cancellations of the long haul Aus/London flights which has been annoying. Singapore, Emirates and Qatar all excellent - we flew Qatar recently and very impressed.

Sydney & Blue mountains clearly a priority for you, then you could fly up north and explore Port Douglas / Great Barrier reef, which would be a wonderful and properly Australian beach experience (avoid Brisbane as not much there, the Gold Coast is just awful as pp have said!)
Victoria is lovely but can be cold and wet at that time of year. Melbourne is brilliant, and Great Ocean Road is wonderful to take a few days and drive along and enjoy staying by the beach on the way - however much better to do in warmer weather.
If you do fly via Perth, then take a couple of days to enjoy lovely WA beaches, wineries, and a trip to Rottnest Island.
Best wishes and enjoy your trip!

Not sure if anyone has mentioned this as just glanced over a few replies. Depending on your dates there are school holidays for a couple of weeks in July to bear in mind too. Costs of domestic flights and hotels go up.

We did the direct flight to perth at Xmas. It was fab! We did 11 days there and then flew across to Sydney for 11 daysand flew back via Singapore with an hour stop. It was a much harder flight!

It depends what you're looking for but agree two places is enough. The jet lag can be tough! We went in summer so much more
Options. If you want good weather, head north.

Singapore is great for a few days. I've been a few times as DB lived there and my kids always ask to go back!

Brisbane isn't bad guys! There's a lot you can see using Brisbane as a base. Climbing one of the Glasshouse mountains is amazing. It's a quick drive up to Noosa and over to Fraser Island. The Gold Coast hinterland eg O'Reilly's at Lamington National park is lovely. Lots of native wild life and things like the glow worm caves. A great hike through Springbrook National park. It all depends what you like to do.

The Great Ocean road is a lovely trip but I'd think the winds in winter would be freezing.

If you're over in Perth there's heaps there too. Rottnest Island with the quokkas. If you don't know what a quokka is, google them - super cute. Margaret River cruises. You could go north to Monkey Mia. There's also a western coast reef.

If you really wanted to splurge, you could do the Indian Pacific train - that goes from Perth to Sydney.

No one’s saying Brisbane is bad, just that on a first trip to Australia, with a limited time it wouldn’t be a priority.

Or plan on buying what you need when you're here

I used to do that. Zip around Target for clothes and then DM would send them back. Kept my suitcase light, as well.

avoid Brisbane as not much there

Really? granted I'm partial as family live nearby and I have visited often but that's both dismissive and untrue

https://www.queensland.com/gb/en/places-to-see/destinations/brisbane/30-of-the-best-things-to-do-in-and-around-brisbane

Actually with clothes if you get a decent hoodie and a wind/waterproof coat you're sorted. Layer up.

We went were away for august and this served us well in the blue mountains. We didn't need to buy anything just washed things where we stayed

Except a fab free pool on the front and a great artisan market to name but two . . .

I'm sure the OP can track down a nice pool and market without travelling halfway across the world for it.

She said it's a once in a lifetime trip so it makes sense to focus on the most iconic and special things about Australia which she can't experience anywhere else. Nobody needs to be offended if the (perfectly lovely) place they live in or went to isn't on that list.

July? Definitely go to Queensland. You might get some sun in Sydney - the weekend just fine was sunny but cold. But Melbourne and Adelaide were wet and cold, not worth it for a summer holiday.

Just do Sydney! Some time in the Blue Mountains, some time in the city seeing the Bridge and Opera House, Bondi Beach (stay at the beach not in Bondi Junction) That should pretty much take up your 3 weeks! I'm Australian and whenever I travel I like to have a good 5 days in each trip at least, gives you time to settle in, see the sights you want to and head back without being in a rush so you have time to take it all in. No way could you fit Western Aus, South Aus, or the Territory in. You could squeeze in Melbourne or Queensland or Tasmania as they're shorter flights from Sydney

I think it would be crazy to go all the way to Australia and just do Sydney. To me Queensland is a must. We are a family of five and do a big road trip every year and love to keep moving. Last trip to Australia in 3 weeks we did Melbourne, Sydney, the Outback (flying) then drove all the way to Port Douglas and flew back from Cairns - very manageable and super fun!