Last minute Australia trip with 3 kids are we crazy?

[EmsAlIsMa]

So DH and I are not normally the impulsive type. However - my closest friend lives in Sydney, we went to uni together. She has two lovely children and very sadly her husband recently passed away. I desperately want to see her but most of our holidays are booked well in advance.
We have 3 daughters, 2, 4 and 6, they go to a private school where DH also teaches so they have a 3 week break over Easter and we are thinking maybe we go to Australia then??

I've been to Australia before a few times but I was younger, no kids in tow and it was always planned months in advance.

They go on holiday on the 22nd of march and go back on April 15th. Am I crazy thinking we could make this work??

What we aren't sure of is airline and flight times to ease the jet lag. I notice emirates have flights that arrive both in the morning Australia time and the evening - which is better? We can stay with friend so no Accomodation needed.

Are we crazy? Can we do it? Anyone have any advice??

I’ve done the flight with my kids similar ages. It’s fine. Go, your friend needs you.

I wouldn't pack a lot of kids' clothes as they can be bought very cheaply at chainstores such as Big W or Kmart.

From Manchester I would fly via Singapore with Singapore Airlines.
They fly directly from Manchester.
My DP's family are in Australia and I've flown many times and this is my preferred route. Changi is the best airport in the world, it's really easy to transit at and there is loads for kids.

Try and get a 2-3 hour layover I'd you can, and/or do a few days in Singapore to break the journey.

We are here now having brought our 5 month old to meet their grandparents.

All the kids on the plane slept really well, Singapore allows you to bring beds for the kids.

I've flown Emirates before and I find their service isn't as good as Singapore and Dubai airport is just not as easy to transit through. Unless things have changed you have to walk what feels like miles and it is so busy.
I looked at Etihad (Doha) this time, but their layovers were really long. I also like to get the big chunk out the way on the first leg.
Qantas also fly via Singapore, but I don't know if they go from Manchester. I wouldn't underestimate the benefit of flying from close to home.

Go for it! It’s just a long flight, I think we make it into more than it is in our minds somehow. I wouldn’t bother with iPads - any of the full service airlines should have good in-flight entertainment options.
If you want premium economy your flight time and airline choice might come down to who has it available at this late stage - it’s popular! I’d check asap - travel agent is the easiest way to compare all the options I find.

While here I’d consider doing some sort of sightseeing outside Syd in the middle week - 3 weeks is a LOT to have someone staying, even with much loved and welcomed guests, without throwing in the complications of kids who don’t know each other and grief. Up/down the NSW coast, Blue Mountains or if money is no object fly to Qld or Uluru?

Fly Singapore if you can, they are amazing with kids. I would also suggest Airbnb, in the nicest possible way three weeks is just too long to stay especially if your kids don’t know each other. I no longer speak to someone I considered one of my best friends after her family came to stay with us in Sydney, my kids remember the visit as “the year the x family ruined Christmas”. Harsh but true. The weather in Sydney looks like staying nice for Autumn and NSW school holidays don’t start until 12 April so it would be a good time to visit. Enjoy.

I’m currently in Australia and I did Qatar Airways over to here. The flight arrival time into Melbourne was 18:35 which was perfect as I went straight to sleep as soon as I got into the hotel. I would recommend an early evening arrival if you can.

Out of interest, have you seen the flight prices to Australia? Very rarely under £1k. Let us know what you do in the end.

Yes we have some inheritance that we put aside for getting away so I guess now is as good as ever!

As long as you have passports, and time to pack bags- absolutely. There's nothing to plan really- you're going to see a friend so there is no itinerary to work out particularly she wants you there, I'd do it.

Just go. Your df needs you, you have 3 weeks, the weather will be cooling down but still nice during the day.

I’d go. Don’t bother with iPads etc. the in flight entertainment on these flights is fabulous. If you invest in anything, I’d say decent headphones.

You have a lucky friend. Go and enjoy, and if you can go somewhere else for a few days whilst you’re there then do it.

Get yourselves good neck pillows. I like Trtl.

Another vote for getting some airbnbs. You’ll want to do a bit of travelling around while there anyway, and 3 weeks is a long time without your own space. You could get one large enough for your friend too, so she gets a weekend break away from home if she wants to join you?

I agree the in flight entertainment should have you covered, but I think it’s worth having one iPad with you as backup as very very occasionally the system for one of the seats goes wrong and doesn’t work and they can’t fix it in flight. At the expense of stating the obvious, make sure you’ve downloaded content the 2 year old in particular likes, as you can’t stream stuff on a plane (or possibly you can by paying for vastly expensive plane wifi - I’ve never tried, but anyway you don’t want to be stuffing around with that in flight)