Champa

Qantas is offering some good fares to australia/nz and we would like
to take advantage of it and book our tickets for mid March.
unfortunately we have only 2 weeks vacation and I know very little
about the area except these: sydney is beautiful and new zealand is
breathtaking. I also am not sure what the seasons are like at that
time and if that is a good time ot travel. we don't want to be cold.

We'll be flying out of Boston and there are no flights into NZ, but
there is from LA with additional fare. I think we might like to fly
into Sydney and then travel to NZ. Obviously there is not enough time
to do either country justice but this may be once in a lifetime visit.
I have to book by Tuesday! Any and all suggestions will be most
appreciated.
Here is the site for details.
http://www.qantasusa.com/webDeals/236

Thank you very much.
Champa

Freda

If you only have two weeks, Fly into Sydney, spend a week there buy a Sydney
pass and do the lot.
and then fly to Cairns and spend a week in that area for Great Barrier ref
Raiforest area etc.
www.sydneypass.com.au
Cairns area has skyrail over rainforest and train to and from Kuranda
try www.google.com.au and enter "Cairns" and/or "Cairns skyrail" etc.
New Zealand is rahter spread out and if you wan to do that then come back
some other time for Australia.
Freda
--
Please reply to the list as my email address is a fake
"champa" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected] om...
    > Qantas is offering some good fares to australia/nz and we would like
    > to take advantage of it and book our tickets for mid March.
    > unfortunately we have only 2 weeks vacation and I know very little
    > about the area except these: sydney is beautiful and new zealand is
    > breathtaking. I also am not sure what the seasons are like at that
    > time and if that is a good time ot travel. we don't want to be cold.
    > We'll be flying out of Boston and there are no flights into NZ, but
    > there is from LA with additional fare. I think we might like to fly
    > into Sydney and then travel to NZ. Obviously there is not enough time
    > to do either country justice but this may be once in a lifetime visit.
    > I have to book by Tuesday! Any and all suggestions will be most
    > appreciated.
    > Here is the site for details.
    > http://www.qantasusa.com/webDeals/236
    > Thank you very much.
    > Champa

Alan

On 14 Nov 2004 15:21:29 -0800, [email protected] (champa) wrote:

    >Qantas is offering some good fares to australia/nz and we would like
    >to take advantage of it and book our tickets for mid March.
    >unfortunately we have only 2 weeks vacation and I know very little
    >about the area except these: sydney is beautiful and new zealand is
    >breathtaking. I also am not sure what the seasons are like at that
    >time and if that is a good time ot travel. we don't want to be cold.
    >We'll be flying out of Boston and there are no flights into NZ, but
    >there is from LA with additional fare. I think we might like to fly
    >into Sydney and then travel to NZ. Obviously there is not enough time
    >to do either country justice but this may be once in a lifetime visit.
    >I have to book by Tuesday! Any and all suggestions will be most
    >appreciated.
    >Here is the site for details.
    >http://www.qantasusa.com/webDeals/236
    >Thank you very much.
    >Champa

Hi champa

With only two weeks, I'd pick one country and enjoy it to the full. I'm
biassed, as an Aussie, but whichever you pick you'll have a good time.

If you choose Oz, you're not going to want to spend much more time in
airports after the long haul out, so I'd pick one city, such as Sydney,
and base it all from there. Your first day or two should be relaxed,
just to get over the jet-lag, so I'd plan nothing for those days apart
from a casual wander around the Sydney CBD, the harbour (use the
ferries), Opera House etc. Incidentally, set your watch to Sydney time
when you get on the plane. I found that helped me.

For day trips, check out tour companies to the Blue Mountains,
Hawkesbury River/Broken Bay etc. For an interesting couple of nights
elsewhere, take the train to Newcastle (also an interesting city a
couple of hours North by Train through interesting scenery) and day
trips to the Hunter Valley wineries or Port Stephens.

Lots more than you can fit into two weeks. But pick one country - you
just don't have time for two without wasting at least an extra day of
your trip in airports.

If accommodation isn't in the package, check out www.wotif.com.au, or
http://www.au.lastminute.com/lmn/pso...html?CATID=783,
or http://www.needitnow.com.au/needitnow/needitnow.asp or bid on
www.priceline.com. When comparing, our dollar is presently around
US$0.75.


On any accommodation sites, always double check whether the booking is
per room or per person, and which currency it is in.


Cheers, Alan
--

Ken Pisichko

As a Canadian who has lived in/travelled in both wonderful countries, I
WILL concur with Alan.

In 2 weeks you will only scratch the surface of either country - IF that.
You WILL get an infection to visit again... I personally have been to OZ
twice and spent 6 weeks hitch hiking NZ back in 1971-72. Now it is time to
return to OZ with my sons and see that country by bicycle - less time will
be spent on travel, and more will be spent on "seeing".

No matter what you do, the experience will last a lifetime, and you will be
"afflicted" with a whole bunch of "shuddas" and you MAY return for more.

Ken
Winnipeg, Canada

Alan wrote:

    > With only two weeks, I'd pick one country and enjoy it to the full. I'm
    > biassed, as an Aussie, but whichever you pick you'll have a good time.

... followed by a bunch of good advice (OMHO) :-)

corella

2 weeks is not enough, we just returned from the States and spent 13
days in Luisiana alone.
By the time you adjust your body's clock and get used to different
surroundings its time to go. Like the others said, bick ONE country
and one only. Cheers
Herb

Windsor

champa wrote:

    > Qantas is offering some good fares to australia/nz and we would like
    > to take advantage of it and book our tickets for mid March.
    > unfortunately we have only 2 weeks vacation and I know very little
    > about the area except these: sydney is beautiful and new zealand is
    > breathtaking. I also am not sure what the seasons are like at that
    > time and if that is a good time ot travel. we don't want to be cold.

Let's get one thing clear... new zealand is a hole. How many Aussies
migrate to NZ? Hardly any. How many NZ'er migrate to Australia? MANY.

Craig Welch

On Mon, 15 Nov 2004 19:32:10 +1000, windsor <[email protected]>
wrote:

    >Let's get one thing clear... new zealand is a hole. How many Aussies
    >migrate to NZ? Hardly any. How many NZ'er migrate to Australia? MANY.

I know several Australians who have decided to move to NZ. Clean
air, rural life, cheaper housing and infrastructure ...

--
Craig

Alan

On Mon, 15 Nov 2004 19:32:10 +1000, windsor <[email protected]> wrote:

    >champa wrote:
    >> Qantas is offering some good fares to australia/nz and we would like
    >> to take advantage of it and book our tickets for mid March.
    >> unfortunately we have only 2 weeks vacation and I know very little
    >> about the area except these: sydney is beautiful and new zealand is
    >> breathtaking. I also am not sure what the seasons are like at that
    >> time and if that is a good time ot travel. we don't want to be cold.
    >Let's get one thing clear... new zealand is a hole. How many Aussies
    >migrate to NZ? Hardly any. How many NZ'er migrate to Australia? MANY.

Mate, did you go to the Les Patterson college for Australian diplomatic
training?


Cheers, Alan
--

Peter Webb

"Craig Welch" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > On Mon, 15 Nov 2004 19:32:10 +1000, windsor <[email protected]>
    > wrote:
    >>Let's get one thing clear... new zealand is a hole. How many Aussies
    >>migrate to NZ? Hardly any. How many NZ'er migrate to Australia? MANY.
    > I know several Australians who have decided to move to NZ. Clean
    > air, rural life, cheaper housing and infrastructure ...
    > --
    > Craig

And the quiet ...

Peter Webb

"champa" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected] om...
    > Qantas is offering some good fares to australia/nz and we would like
    > to take advantage of it and book our tickets for mid March.
    > unfortunately we have only 2 weeks vacation and I know very little
    > about the area except these: sydney is beautiful and new zealand is
    > breathtaking. I also am not sure what the seasons are like at that
    > time and if that is a good time ot travel. we don't want to be cold.
    > We'll be flying out of Boston and there are no flights into NZ, but
    > there is from LA with additional fare. I think we might like to fly
    > into Sydney and then travel to NZ. Obviously there is not enough time
    > to do either country justice but this may be once in a lifetime visit.
    > I have to book by Tuesday! Any and all suggestions will be most
    > appreciated.
    > Here is the site for details.
    > http://www.qantasusa.com/webDeals/236
    > Thank you very much.
    > Champa

As others have pointed out, its a bit like one of use saying "I have only 2
weeks to visit North America, but don't know whether to see USA or Canada or
both".

With 2 weeks, you will run out of time in either country before you have
seen a fraction of what you want. Another country is another day or two of
stuffing about, another complication, more aggro ... Personally, I would
pick Sydney and one other place in Australia - the outback? Great Barrier
Reef? Some other city? - depending upon what you are looking for and enjoy
doing.

While I am from Sydney, I lived in Boston for several years. I can remember
coming home to Sydney one year in late February, from the depths of a Boston
winter to a brilliant Sydney summer. The colours, smells, sounds of Sydney
summer ... absolutely intoxicating ... excuse me if I think that Sydney is
the most beautiful city on earth (I may be biased), but March is great time
to visit. To come this way and not see Sydney is inexcusable; you haven't
got time for NZ as well, so think about where you want to spend your other
week in Australia.

Hedwig

"Peter Webb" <[email protected]> schreef in bericht
news:[email protected] ...
... excuse me if I think that Sydney is
    > the most beautiful city on earth (I may be biased),

you are not biased at all.
It's the truth.

hedwig
Europe

Ken Pisichko

Alan, he graduated sigma cum laude ;-)

Alan wrote:

    > On Mon, 15 Nov 2004 19:32:10 +1000, windsor <[email protected]> wrote:
    > >champa wrote:
    > >
    > >Let's get one thing clear... new zealand is a hole. How many Aussies
    > >migrate to NZ? Hardly any. How many NZ'er migrate to Australia? MANY.
    > Mate, did you go to the Les Patterson college for Australian diplomatic
    > training?

Ncurtis

[email protected] (champa) wrote in message news:<[email protected]. com>...
    > Qantas is offering some good fares to australia/nz and we would like
    > to take advantage of it and book our tickets for mid March.
    > unfortunately we have only 2 weeks vacation and I know very little
    > about the area except these: sydney is beautiful and new zealand is
    > breathtaking.
You could just as easily describe parts of Sydney as breathtaking and
much of NZ as beautiful ;-) . Are you seeking scenery or something
else? And what type of scenery, if that's what piques your interest?

I also am not sure what the seasons are like at that
    > time and if that is a good time ot travel. we don't want to be cold.

Beginning of autumn in NZ and southern Oz. Doesn't conflict with
school holidays in either country, so lodging should be easy to find.
I assume from your travel plans that you're somewhat from my neck of
the woods (my neck of the woods being near Bangor, ME). If that's
true, you wouldn't be cold anywhere, except perhaps on the very top of
the Southern Alps. You might, in fact, find that huge stretches of
Australia are still so warm/humid that you feel like a sick dog.

    > We'll be flying out of Boston and there are no flights into NZ, but
    > there is from LA with additional fare. I think we might like to fly
    > into Sydney and then travel to NZ. Obviously there is not enough time
    > to do either country justice but this may be once in a lifetime visit.
    > I have to book by Tuesday! Any and all suggestions will be most
    > appreciated.
    > Here is the site for details.
    > http://www.qantasusa.com/webDeals/236

I *would* suggest a 2-base trip, 1 in Oz and 1 in NZ. But, assuming
you fly RT to Sydney instead of open jaws amongst the US, NZ, and Oz,
the flights between Oz and NZ and then back again mean you lose the
better part of 2 days. Not worth it for such a limited time frame.

Possible helpful hints:
NZ: warm to cool and green, easy access to native (Maori) culture,
easy to escape both cities and fellow tourists
Oz: hot to warm and gray-green to brown, easy access to bizarre
animals, easy to find urban delights and fellow tourists.

Good luck with the decision. Honestly, it's hard to go wrong unless
you spend the entire trip in transit.
Nancy

Alan

On Mon, 15 Nov 2004 07:56:38 -0600, Ken Pisichko <[email protected]> wrote:

    >Alan, he graduated sigma cum laude ;-)

sigma cum louder?

Cheers, Alan
--