Lyricb

Hi! We are considering going to Australia for two to three weeks, but we have
no idea how expensive it might be. We are particularly interested in seeing
animals and places of natural beauty and we enjoy hiking a lot, but not
necessarily camping out as opposed to hotels. Any suggestions as to what part
of the country we should go to and how much money we should figure on spending?
We're not into major cities that much, but would stay in one if necess. and go
on day trips out to the parks from there.

Thanks!
Lyric

loralspam

On 12 Aug 2003 11:05:01 GMT, [email protected] (LyricB) wrote:

    >Hi! We are considering going to Australia for two to three weeks, but we have
    >no idea how expensive it might be. We are particularly interested in seeing
    >animals and places of natural beauty and we enjoy hiking a lot, but not
    >necessarily camping out as opposed to hotels. Any suggestions as to what part
    >of the country we should go to and how much money we should figure on spending?
    > We're not into major cities that much, but would stay in one if necess. and go
    >on day trips out to the parks from there.
    >Thanks!
    >Lyric

I'm afraid your question falls into the "how long is a piece of
string?" category without a little more information. For example -
define expensive. However, I'll try a little on that aspect.
On the presumption that you are from the US, you will find us
incredibly inexpensive (once you have paid the airfare to get here)
provided you don't want to stay in multi-star hotels and eat in their
restaurants.
I was in California and the South in March and April. In general
terms, work out a budget as though you were going on a holiday in the
US in your dollars and that's about what it will cost you in our
dollars - but remember that the current exchange rate is about US$1.00
to AU$1.50.
How expensive your trip is will depend on your choices of transport
(it's a BIG country), accommodation and sights.

Cheers - Alan

Ian McGillivray

Hello
I suggest Victoria with Melbourne to base yourself.
You can go to halls gap in the grampian mountains with nice hostels &
great walks.
Also the great ocean road is great to see.
Phillip Island is close by with plenty of animals - koalas & penguins
for example.
There are many companies with trips to those places and you can also
hire a car assuming you know where to go.
Tasmainia is a short flight away with many nice places to see & nice
walks if you hire & car or go on a tour.

Not sure what the costs are - but if you use hostels it will not break
the bank.


Hope I helped
bye



On 12 Aug 2003 11:05:01 GMT, [email protected] (LyricB) wrote:

    >Hi! We are considering going to Australia for two to three weeks, but we have
    >no idea how expensive it might be. We are particularly interested in seeing
    >animals and places of natural beauty and we enjoy hiking a lot, but not
    >necessarily camping out as opposed to hotels. Any suggestions as to what part
    >of the country we should go to and how much money we should figure on spending?
    > We're not into major cities that much, but would stay in one if necess. and go
    >on day trips out to the parks from there.
    >Thanks!
    >Lyric

Ncurtis

[email protected] wrote in message news:<[email protected]>. ..
    > On 12 Aug 2003 11:05:01 GMT, [email protected] (LyricB) wrote:
    >
    > >Hi! We are considering going to Australia for two to three weeks, but we have
    > >no idea how expensive it might be. We are particularly interested in seeing
    > >animals and places of natural beauty and we enjoy hiking a lot, but not
    > >necessarily camping out as opposed to hotels. Any suggestions as to what part
    > >of the country we should go to and how much money we should figure on spending?
    > > We're not into major cities that much, but would stay in one if necess. and go
    > >on day trips out to the parks from there.
    > >
    > >Thanks!
    > >Lyric
    >
    > I'm afraid your question falls into the "how long is a piece of
    > string?" category without a little more information.

Ditto for the nature bit. You could hit 3 or 4 different ecosystems in
your timeframe or just focus on 1 for the whole time. Some
considerations for narrowing down your options:
What kind of animals do you most want to see--birds, marine life,
well-known Aussie icons like kangaroos and koalas, less publicized
critters like numbats and quolls?
What time of year do you plan to go, and what are your
preferences/tolerances/dislikes for weather?
What are your preferences for natural beauty--seashore, forests
(temperate or tropical?), deserts, mountains?
Do you like challenging hikes (long and/or "strenuous"-rated), short
easy ones, something in between?
How much effort do you want to put into getting to where the wildlife
is--do you want something within an hour of a major city or would you
want to spend a full day or 2 of travel to get to a place good for
spotting Species X?
Do you want a guide, an organized tour to see wildlife, or are you
do-ti-yourselfers?

For some ideas about wildlife-watching, flip through a copy of "Lonely
Planet Watching Wildlife: Australia." There are commercial tour blurbs
that can give you an idea of the range of possibilities, too. (I'm
*not* saying you *have* to go on a tour, just that they're good
starting points for inspiration and for planning your own trip.)

For "if it's Tuesday we must be in the rainforest" itinerary
suggestions, have a look at
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/ng...trip_1101.html
http://smithsonianjourneys.org/Inter...3australia.asp
http://www.marksmithnaturetours.com/aust_itin.html

For a few samples of "pick one area and do it to death" itineraries
take a look at
http://www.coates.iinet.net.au/tours.htm
http://www.birdingtours.com.au/ (click on "Tours")
http://www.inalabruny.com.au/tours.html
http://www.naturetrek.co.uk/dossiers/Australia's%20Whales.doc

Happy planning!
Nancy

Freda

Two possibilitioes that would give you lots of variations.
(1)Melbourne...Healesville Sanctuary, Grampians for hiking and Philip Island
Bendigo and Ballarat for OLd fgoldmining areas with lots to see.
(2)Cairns-Port Douglas. Barrier Reef...Rainforests Hinter lanmds
They have lots of Australian Fauna and the Scenic Railray and skyway
7-8Km cable car to Kuanda over the rain forest.
You didnt say what dates and times
Cairns area is OK between April and August after august gets very
humid and into "the wet" over december. Melbourne area ok most times
except our winter June /July /August as it gets very wet for hiking.
Freda

"LyricB" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Hi! We are considering going to Australia for two to three weeks, but we
have
    > no idea how expensive it might be. We are particularly interested in
seeing
    > animals and places of natural beauty and we enjoy hiking a lot, but not
    > necessarily camping out as opposed to hotels. Any suggestions as to what
part
    > of the country we should go to and how much money we should figure on
spending?
    > We're not into major cities that much, but would stay in one if necess.
and go
    > on day trips out to the parks from there.
    > Thanks!
    > Lyric