Australia

[lead chucker]

Who here is from Astralia? The wife and I are thinking of making a trip. I always wanted to go there and don't have a clue where to go. We want to go fishing and see some sights. Not real interested in the real turesty places. Any info would be great and also what time of year is best.

[Norbrat]

Not sure where Astralia is, but I live in Australia.

We live in a very touristy town, a place where lots of folks come to enjoy a sub tropical holiday.

https://www.tourismwhitsundays.com.a...s/airlie-beach

And the fishing is good if you know the right people to take you.

It's a big country, so best time of year would depend on where you want to go and what you want to do.

On the whole, though, I would suggest between March and October.

Our seasons are opposite to yours, so our summer is December to February.

It can be brutally hot in most parts of Australia over summer.

By all means ask away.

[lead chucker]

My Bad. I was trying to make this thread while my wife was out of the room. I don't want her catching on to what I'm up to, plus I cant spell.

[lead chucker]

It rains a lot here in Alaska so the non rainy season would be good. I have been reading about guys fishing on the reefs for all sorts of fish. We don't like big crowds so a renting a small skiff would be nice. Charters look real expensive. The wife and I do a lot of fishing for salmon and halibut. It would be fun to fish for some thing different. It would be fun to dump a couple kangaroo's.

[jonp]

"Not sure where Astralia is"

It's a far piece west and south of Aulaska

[lead chucker]

Ha Ha Yep. Australia. Its on my bucket list. Maybe I could meet Mic Dundee. Just joking.

[lead chucker]

I don't want one of those tourist packages where every thing is planed out for you. We don't want to sit on a beach I can do that here. Well if there is a fishing pole involved then maybe. Would like to see come crocks and kangaroos.

[JeffinNZ]

I believe it is pronounced "Straya".

[Norbrat]

Mick Dundee, aka Paul Hogan, now lives in LA.

If you are talking avoiding the "wet season", that is the summer in the northern coastal parts of Australia.

In the south, weather is more Mediterranean; cool, wet winters, dry hot summers.

Outback (inland) it's rarely wet, just hot and dry in winter and stinkin' hot and dry in summer.

Here in Airlie Beach we are a bit inside the Barrier Reef, but there are some reefs around the islands with good fishing. Bloke I've gone with a couple of times charges AUD$210 (US$150) - AUD$250 (US$180) per person per day and you might be lucky and get a billfish.

http://www.barra2billfish.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Barra2Billf...9224482477398/

There's a tourist croc farm nearby with plenty of crocs, as well as a number of wild ones living in the rivers and ocean. Heard a rumour that a 5 metre (16 ft) one has been spotted in one of our favourite snorkelling spots.

Up here, we are a fair hike north of Brisbane, capital city of the state of Queensland.

Anyway, if you want to PM me, I'm happy to chat about all this.

And.................... a Merry Christmas to all.

[jonp]

$150/day for offshore fishing sounds like a steal to me. That would be one thing on my list of "to do's" while I'm there besides diving the Reef and running up towards the center and stopping at random roadstops for a beer. I'd like to go water buff hunting up north while I was at it.

[Hickory]

Lot to see in Queensland, in the North is Cairns from there is the rainforest. Off the coast is the Great Barrier Reef and Green Island. Brisbane is where my son lives. Lot to see there.
South in Victoria you can travel the Great Ocean Road to the 12 Apostles, flying and renting a car doesn't use up days driving, and remember, the drive on the left side of the road down there.
What ever you think it cost for a trip down there, you are off by 2 1/2 times.

P.S. I was here last December,
https://www.viator.com/Gold-Coast-at...10621?pref=204

https://www.audleytravel.com/us/aust...eat-ocean-road

I spent the whole month of December in Australia last year, if it's your first time there, I'd spend no less than 3 weeks.

[runfiverun]

I drive down the middle no matter where I am, so probably close enough.

[Hogtamer]

I hear the Great whites love tourists in skiffs!

[Norbrat]

What ever you think it cost for a trip down there, you are off by 2 1/2 times.

Are you saying it costs about 2½ times MORE than you expect, or 2½ times LESS?

The AUD$ is a bit weak compared to the US$, and is expected to drop more, but I agree things can be expensive here.

A small population of only 23 million, with half in just 3 cities, in such a large country makes it difficult to support infrastructure without high costs and high taxation.

I spent the whole month of December in Australia last year, if it's your first time there, I'd spend no less than 3 weeks.you

Just like in the US, you could spend a lifetime here and not see it all!

[lead chucker]

we get people from all over come here to sport fish for salmon and halibut and see the sights. Its expensive to charter a boat. I have a couple boats so its easy for me but outsiders with no resources very expensive. I'm sure Australia is no different. I always wanted to meet some one who came here from Australia, take them out fishing and see the sights. and then have the favor returned when I go there. Pretty slim odds of that happening.

[Mytmousemalibu]

Australia & New Zealand has been on my Number 1 must go see corner of the globe before I die. I have had an infatuation with going for decades, really, really want to go!

[Hickory]

The AUD$ is a bit weak compared to the US$, and is expected to drop more, but I agree things can be expensive here.

I was in Cairns at a restaurant where eggs benidect cost me $28.00au. If I made this at my home I'd probably not have $3.00 in it.
No matter if the US dollar is weak or not, everything cost more there.
One night stay on Green Island is $750.00. I bet I could get a room in Trump Tower for half that. A bowl of oatmeal with toast $8-10au. I guess socialism not cheap, someone's got to pay for it.

[robg]

Friend of mine rode to Australia on a gs800 BMW years ago when he came back he said the Aussies were very level headed they've got a chip on both shoulders !

[starmac]

That had to be one unique bmw.

[Norbrat]

I was in Cairns at a restaurant where eggs benidect cost me $28.00au. If I made this at my home I'd probably not have $3.00 in it.
No matter if the US dollar is weak or not, everything cost more there.
One night stay on Green Island is $750.00. I bet I could get a room in Trump Tower for half that. A bowl of oatmeal with toast $8-10au. I guess socialism not cheap, someone's got to pay for it.

Well, if you want to pay resort prices, that's your choice.

AUD$10 for a big breakfast is pretty common, but you are not required to tip.

If you are not too fussy, you can get a double room in Sydney, our most expensive city generally, for under AUD$100 per night.

I reckon you could budget around that to stay anywhere in Australia, but if you are in a camper van/RV, there are plenty of places you can stop for free.

Of course if you insist on going 5 star ....................

Friend of mine rode to Australia on a gs800 BMW years ago when he came back he said the Aussies were very level headed they've got a chip on both shoulders !

I was going to make some derogatory comment about Aussies not taking too well to folks with superiority complexes and that as some Yanks sure have this attitude, they would rub some Aussies up the wrong way; but then I noticed you are a POM.

There is reason that the term "whinging POM" is part of the Aussie vernacular!

Australia & New Zealand has been on my Number 1 must go see corner of the globe before I die. I have had an infatuation with going for decades, really, really want to go!

Chris, just do it!!

SWMBO and I recently had a chat with our financial advisor and she said to make sure we spend our money while we still can!

She says it is sad to see some of her clients who have left it too long and are now no longer physically able to do the things on their bucket lists.

Leaving the money to ungrateful beneficiaries is not in our plans. We plan to spend our last cent as we die and leave the funeral bill for others to worry about.

So we have just booked a 7 week long trip from Beijing to Moscow on the Mongolian/Trans Siberian railway, then a river cruise to St Petersburg, then some time in Germany with family, then a 3 day stopover in Hong Kong on the way home.

And 2018 is planned for Canada/Alaska and maybe some of the USA if I can convince SWMBO that it is worth doing.

From http://travelgoalgetter.com/famous-travel-quotes.html

"Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer."