I am often asked what would I do if I went on holiday with my family (2 kids aged 13 and 10) to Australia. It is a difficult one to answer as we all have different desires and dreams when visiting what New Zealanders warmly describe as the West Island!
Without doubt the big marketing bucks are behind New South Wales and Queensland with the obligatory Red Centre thrown in for good measure. The classic starter pack is what we affectionately call Sydney, Rock and Reef. True enough, you get to see glimpses of Australian greatness. Sydney is a must visit place and it is definately one of my favourite cities in the world. You would have to be bonkers to fly all that way and not witness the spendour and cultural history of Uluru (Ayers Rock) and a visit to Australia without going to a Reef seems barmy too. So this is not a bad trip at all.
BUT………boy oh boy are you missing out some chunks of beauty.
For starters please please please take extra holiday and head out here for 3 weeks. Sure start in Sydney but stay here for 4 nights, visiting Manley, The Blue Mountains and the Hunter Valley. Climb the Bridge, Surf the waves and sail the harbour. Eat fresh seafood at a harbour restaurant and take a morning cycle tour of the city. Hold off on Uluru for 10 days and drive from Sydney south to Melbourne, the beaches are heavenly, the accommodation welcoming and the food fantastic. Continue through from Melbourne on the simply awesome coastla route, The Great Ocean Road, slipping off in to the Grampians Mountain Ranges and ending up on Kangaroo Island. There is no better place in Australia to be at one with the native wildlife. I love Adelaide so it deserves a mention and the wine regions that cloak this small but perfectly formed city are well worth a visit or even better an overnight.
From here get to Uluru, but fly to Alice Spings, pick up a car and drive the Mereeenie Loop, a rough 4 wheel drive road that takes in Kings Canyon and delivers you to Uluru from the side millions never see. It is true outback. Dont just visit Uluru, you’ve come this far so keep your car and vist Kata Tjuta (the Olgas) too.
Fly form Uluru to Cairns, stay in Port Douglas (much nicer beaches) and chill out with reef, sand and beers.
21 Days.
Now that is an Australian holiday that will be worth talking about. It is worth every penny to spend that little bit more as you will get back 300 times what you put in.
Give us a ring and help us create your real Aussie Holiday.
G’day.
