ozzieeagle

Simple question really. Place I felt was overrated for me was Bondi Beach.... Just another Beach. I was expecting a hell of a lot more of a retail and restaurant selection I guess. All of the Beach centers along the Great Ocean Rd had more going for them I felt... Even Cowes at Philip Island.

Nice enough beach though.... Along with the 1,000's of others we have here. I've got my hopes up about Byron Bay now... hope that doesnt disappoint.

rich.mason

I know what you mean about Bondi....although it being a rainy day prob didnt help!! Although Byron I loved it there....not to hype it up anymore

Suppose it always comes down to one persons paradise is another persons hell!!

brissybee

Agree... Bondi didn't live up to the hype for me either.

Also agree about the paradise/hell theory. Australia is probably the most overrated place in Australia.

cresta57

For me Noosa, Bondi, Mooloolaba are all over rated, there are far nicer beaches, I personally prefer the quiet of Double Island Point mid week.
St Kilda was also a big disappointment, I'd expected way different from reading the forum, if asked to describe it I could only say that the masses of overhead power-lines made it look like I was back in a Bangkok suburb.
Sydney I enjoyed, Melbourne as well, same old same old but nothing unpleasant just cities really.

Turban Explorer

Monkey Mia in WA. I thought it was sad the two or three lazy dolphins that showed up were bribed by food as thirty or forty people fought for a glimpse.

Other than that? Maybe the Great Barrier Reef? It's good but you need to go to the Outer Reef for clear diving/snorkeling. Tour companies taking people closer in and around islands generally don't advertise the fact it won't be any great shakes close to land.

Jan4kids

When I saw the title of this thread I immediately thought of Bondi Beach...........the area was very run down and dirty, felt 'dodgy' too.

No more serious answers except for 'Puzzle Park' in Murray Bridge South Australia ..........avoid at all costs

After 7 years here I find most EVENTS are overrated.......If I expect rubbish then (sometimes ) I am pleasantly surprised!

Jan

soapy©

Surfers Paradise!

bcworld

The beach itself is pretty spectacular...it's the town behind it that lets the place down.

Byron is way too busy and overrun a lot of the time. The romantic notion of Byron is more about the people that live there...but a lot of them have buggered off to other parts of the Byronshire where the chilled out lifestyle actually still exists...and they can actually afford to live!

I'd agree with Cresta...St Kilda as a tourist destination. Acland St...meh...Fitzroy St...don't even go there!

Broad Shoulders

Yep, fully agree with that. There are much better reefs all around the world. The only reason it is famous is because it is the biggest, not because it is the best

ukecadet

The Pinnacles .Absolute waste of a day.Tromping from one rock to the next in the futile hope that it's more interesting than the last.The highlight of the day was catching a guy taking a piss behind one.That's as good as it got.

moneypenny20

Depends on what you're expecting. I was disappointed the first time, now we just pop down for a few hours for a mooch and something to eat and complain about parking and traffic. Nothing to write home about though.

Broad Shoulders

Undarra Lava Tubes. I know it is hardly "rated" that much, but the brochures make it out to be a must see. You drive for 4 hours to get there as it is in the middle of nowhere and it really is quite crap.

ukecadet

I wasn't disappointed on my visit.Though we weren't on the beach for very long.No soon as we stepped on the sand a very attractive woman pranced passed us with a wave and a smile.She was wearing a muslin blouse that nearly covered ample bush.She ran into the sea up to her knees,slowly immersed herself,stood up,turned around and you could see the lot.She beckoned us in "come on it's so beautiful" For a microsecond I completely forgot I had a wife and 2 kids with me and was about to rush into the waves when I was forcibly removed and frogmarched to the car.
It's always brought up when Byron is mentioned.

Broad Shoulders

what was her problem?

Turban Explorer

They're all like that in Byron - hippy types. I remember a trip round Coles was a bit shocking - hairy armpitted ladies in tie dye with no bras. Bush escaping from bikinis everywhere - footwear didn't get a look in