I have never been to oz (partner is australian but has only lived in sydney). we are planning on going for 3 weeks within the next few months but realistically how many places could we visit in that time. would have to set aside some time for a bit of a holiday!

i was intially hoping to see all the major cities but i am thinking that is too much of a tall order!

we want to look into the usual stuff:

area's
rental places that will take cats
job opportunites etc

could we do sydney, melborne and brisbane? i was hoping to add adelaide and perth but realised i was living on another planet with this plan but are the 3 do-able?

[QUOTE=vicki t;6728381]I have never been to oz (partner is australian but has only lived in sydney). we are planning on going for 3 weeks within the next few months but realistically how many places could we visit in that time. would have to set aside some time for a bit of a holiday!

i was intially hoping to see all the major cities but i am thinking that is too much of a tall order!

we want to look into the usual stuff:

area's
rental places that will take cats
job opportunites etc

could we do sydney, melborne and brisbane? i was hoping to add adelaide and perth but realised i was living on another planet with this plan but are the 3 do-able?

I would say a week in each city would be fine - I would not try to take on the grand tour you proposed of all five.

3 Weeks should give you enough time to get a good feel for each place and the popular suburbs. I would plan ahead and get rental cars, places to stay etc sorted so you can concentrate on just having a look around.

Enjoy your first trip to Australia. I will never forget mine..Amazing

Although each will have its differences they are all more similar to each other than a comparison to the UK.

If you go back to your decision making in a move too Downunder is it more wise to choose one city and spend "quality" time on that city with a view of comparing a move from UK to Australia?

Rather than shotgun perhaps you might consider sniper?

We've known people on reccies absolutely discounting one state while loving another soon after arriving - and they aren't always the ones they were expecting to love or hate.

Stick with two or three that are your most likely options eg. although we loved everywhere we ever went in Aus, we couldn't have lived somewhere too hot continuously so discounted Queensland, WA, needed access to the coast so out went Canberra, and didn't want somewhere too busy so there went NSW. Which for us left places under serious consideration as SA and Vic and less so Tassie.

What I'm trying to say in my usual too many words way is I'd maybe choose two or three places that you can seriously expect to live and if you have time and they're not in this group fit another area in for a restful, action filled holiday - it's all great!

Have fun planning.

We did Brisbane, Hervey Bay and Perth in about 10 days but remember that you lose days travelling. It was a bit quick but long enough to show us what we wanted. Decide where in those places you want to visit, how you're going to travel and make a plan and then I think you could get an idea of those places in 3 weeks. There will always be somewhere you wished you'd seen later, but you will have an idea. make sure you do something fun too.

hi do your home work before you come, for brisbane check out www.ourbrisbane.com then you will have a good idea of were you want to go & see. we spent 4 weeks looking at se qld/ brisbane from nsw boarder upto caboolture. Book accommodation & car hire from uk. Iam sure there are web sites for gold coast, melbourne, sydney ect GARY

Hi Vicky, we did 3 weeks, and did perth , adelaide,drove great ocean road to melbourne, port douglas and 5 days in rain forest, so its do-able, but was tiring and not long enough in each city really, it only took about 24 hours to make up our minds tho to go! Good luck and pm me if you want any advice