Trip down under!!! - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!



Go Back   TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards! > Backpacker College Student Travel Message Boards > Where ya going? & Specific country info! > Australia/NZ/S Pac.

Australia/NZ/S Pac. Backpack´n Kangaroo jack´n down-under...What is Vegemite?

Raileurope.com: See Europe by train
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 11-26-2003, 06:55 AM   #1
Members
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 57
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Thumbs up

hi...

i will be going to australia in january and i have 16 days to spend.. i am planning of staying in sydney for more or less a week and then head to melbourne afterwards...
i am also contemplating on going to tasmania... considering that i am not staying long will it be worth it?? or there are better options.. i would really appreciate any input!! :D

well, i have not really gone into details on my "itinerary" so if any of you guys have a suggestion on how should i spend my precious 16 days... it would be great!! this is my first time travelling solo.. and my first to go on a non-package trip... i guess, i have always been a geeky tourist...

thanks!!!
__________________
Ang taong tanga ay matalino!

www.pbase.com/tapsilog
TapSiLog is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-26-2003, 11:34 AM   #2
TPunk Emeritus
 
Canadian Dude's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Canada
Posts: 2,709
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

Melbourne

Melbourne is a bit more hectic I would say, It reminds me of Toronto, The Melbourne Tram System is huge, but it gets you pretty much anywhere you wanna go.

Sights, I am a fan of large buildings and structures, so I did not pass up the chance to see the city scape from the Rialto Tower

There is a Public Library in the city center where you can sit on the lawn and watch the buskers on the sidewalk, I spent 3 hours there one day watching this guys comedy act, I don't think I have laughed so hard in my life, and it only cost me a $5 note as a tip to him!!

The bars and clubs are great in Melboure, I spent many nights out on the town, normally I became very drunk, so I do not remember any of their names... Needless to say I had a great time!!!

Melbourne has many great markets through out the city on the weekend, you can just go for a walk, and you will find one!!

I hope that helps ya some!!!

Oh Ya... To the Boards!!!!
__________________
"The father who does not teach his son his duties is equally guilty with the son who neglects them." Confucius
Support Travelpunk.com by Booking Your Hostel Here

Canadian Dude is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-26-2003, 11:37 AM   #3
TUI
Members
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Reno
Posts: 799
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Send a message via MSN to TUI Send a message via Yahoo to TUI
Default

yeah what he said
__________________
"Live, Learn, and Love"
TUI is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-26-2003, 08:45 PM   #4
Members
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 57
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

hey CD... thanks for the info.. it's good stuff... i visited the site of the observation deck (i am also a big fan of notable architecture).. man.. the view looks awesome.. can't wait!!


any inout on the great ocean drive?? (12 apostles etc..)


thanks again guys!
__________________
Ang taong tanga ay matalino!

www.pbase.com/tapsilog
TapSiLog is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-27-2003, 12:53 AM   #5
TPunk Recognized
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Newcastle, Australia
Posts: 235
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Send a message via ICQ to cliffo Send a message via Yahoo to cliffo
Default

Hey there TapSiLog,

re the Great Ocean Road, check this site for info and highlights along the way:

Great Ocean Road

Plenty of info there on what to see, where to stop off at, etc.....

Hope this helps ya
cliffo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-27-2003, 05:23 AM   #6
Members
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 57
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

thanks for the link cliffo!! :D

damn... m so psyched up on leaving!!! can't wait to get out ...this workplace is killin me!
__________________
Ang taong tanga ay matalino!

www.pbase.com/tapsilog
TapSiLog is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-30-2003, 03:56 PM   #7
Members
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: California
Posts: 78
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

Taps, I am SOOO jealous! You're heading to Oz right in the smack of summer! I left right as it was getting super warm ... I am already having serious Oz withdrawals!

I had about 16 days there as well and stayed in Sydney and Melbourne, had the time of my life in both cities!
Both cities have excellent public transportation systems and I had no trouble navigating myself around. Buy a green Travelpass in Sydney for a week's worth of unlimited rides on the trains and ferries. So worth it!!!
I only stayed in the heart of Sydney for about two days at the Wake Up Sydney hostel, located right next to the train station. That was good, but I got bored with the city fairly quickly and moved on to Manly Beach, this awesome little beach town that's just 20 minutes away from the city, by ferry. You can catch the Manly Ferry at Circular Quay. I stayed at the Manly Beachside Backpackers on Raglan St, just a block from the beach and it was FANTASTIC, really laid back! I can't say enough good things about Manly, I JUST LOVED IT THERE!!! The people there are sooo cool. Don't let the stark walls fool ya, it's a clean place and the TV room has a huge screen TV. They have two kitchens and an outdoor bench area where everyone hangs out and gets to know each other...I paid about $15 US a night! It's $22 Aus.
Manly Beach was by far MY fave Sydney highlight. I walked to the nearby Cole's for groceries and there were two internet cafes right across from the hostel and fun bars about a minute or so away! (Bondi Beach, the famous Sydney beach, had more tourists but it was a lot smaller than Manly.)
Other cool Sydney highlights: Take a daytrip to the Blue Mountains, which is about an hour from Sydney. Book a one day tour that includes a visit to pet kangaroos and koalas ( cheesy but how could you be in Oz and not see those critters?) also make sure you book the cheapest tour, around $60-70. I paid $115 for my tour, thinking it would be the best, but I wound up with a bunch of GEEZERS (the only ones who would pay that high $$$)
I also had fun in Darling Harbour, lots of cool bars and restaurants there.

In Melbourne, you are going to love navigating your way through a labyrinth of these seemingly mundane streets and then all of a sudden you stumble upon this tucked away alley bustling with cafes and shops, it's fantastic! I stayed at Greenhouse Backpackers on Flinders St and found it to be extremely clean and efficient. They even have a travel office in the hostel lobby where they have all the info on what to see and do in Melbourne and you can book your daytrips/tours from there as well! Really dug it there, free breakfast every morning, fun pub-crawls, etc. The coffee in Melbourne was the BEST I have ever had. My fave coffeeshop was Groundshot, on Flinders. Great bagel sandwiches and grab one of the Portuguese custard tarts too, yummy!!!

There is a casino nearby in Melbourne where I won $200 playing roulette, aw yeah! The casino clubs there were ok, not really worth the $15-20 cover. I'd stick to the pubs, like Pugg Malone's. AND DEFINITELY DO THE GREAT OCEAN ROAD tour while you are in Melbourne. By far my FAVORITE part of the trip, in terms of sightseeing. Book with Autopia, they do awesome tours. I did a two-day tour and got more time checking out the sights that way. A one-day is too rushed and hurried. If you have the $$ add a third day to see the Grampians!

If you want to grab souvenirs, go to the Queen Victoria Market, it's this HUGE swapmeet kind of thing with all kinds of inexpensive goods. Don't forget to haggle.

Sigh. My 16 days flew by too fast. My only regret was not being able to check out the white sand beaches and lakes of Frazer Island and Whitsundays, up north... Definitely see Tasmania if you have the time!

Don't mind my rambling, I'm still reeling from all the fun I had in Oz... You are going to have such an awesome time, I know it!!!!
__________________
I made it through the wilderness
Somehow I made it through
Didn't know how lost I was
Until I found youuuuu

I was beat. Incomplete
I'd been had, I was sad and blue
But you made me feel
Yeah, you maaaade me feel
Shiny and neeeeew
katdawg is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-30-2003, 09:19 PM   #8
Members
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 57
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

hey kat!!!

reading your post makes me wanna leave now!!! ... oh man.,. your energy and enthusiasm are contagious!!! looks like you really had the time of your life.... i hope i get to meet a lot of KATDAWG when i'm there.. :D
i have never really done any backpacking so i don't really know what to expect... but one thing is for sure.. i wanted to meet a lot of people... cool and nice people!!!

i will surely check-out manly beach, now that you've mentioned it!!!
i'm a beach bum!!! i'm also into scuba diving so maybe i can do some dives there...

the 12 apostles is amazing!!! and i have only seen the pics... can't wait to see the real thing!!!


BIG TANGO, kat!! those info will surely help me out...
__________________
Ang taong tanga ay matalino!

www.pbase.com/tapsilog
TapSiLog is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-01-2003, 01:59 AM   #9
Members
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: California
Posts: 78
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

As the Aussies say, no worries mate! I'm super excited for you! You're going to meet some awesome people. Oz is full of super-friendly people, great vibes! And actually, maybe this is too premature of me to say, but I think backpackers are generally very cool people! I got inspired listening to everyone else's backpacking adventures!

Can't wait for you to check out the 12 Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge, site of a famous tragic shipwreck.

If you're going to scuba dive, you've got to do the Great Barrier Reef. But I know with 16 days it will be hard to squeeze in everything!

I finally uploaded all my pics onto my online album! If you're interested, here's the link: http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4288576375

you just have to sign up as a member first, bit of a pain, but it's free and it might get you all the more jazzed to go! hee hee!

cheers!
__________________
I made it through the wilderness
Somehow I made it through
Didn't know how lost I was
Until I found youuuuu

I was beat. Incomplete
I'd been had, I was sad and blue
But you made me feel
Yeah, you maaaade me feel
Shiny and neeeeew
katdawg is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-02-2003, 04:13 AM   #10
Members
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 57
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

great pics kat!!! and nice smile too!!!

now, you have me really jazzed up for the trip!!! and i still have more than a month to go!!! it's not a good feeling..
but it's a comfort knowing that i'll be meeting a lot of great people soooooonnn...


thanks again kat!! :D
__________________
Ang taong tanga ay matalino!

www.pbase.com/tapsilog
TapSiLog is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-02-2003, 04:59 AM   #11
TPunk Emeritus
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Québec
Posts: 1,139
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

Woooooow!!!!!
That's beautiful!!! Nice website too!
__________________
All that is gold does not glitter; not all those that wander are lost. (J. R. R. Tolkien)
Mocassin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-04-2003, 02:13 AM   #12
Members
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: sydney, australia
Posts: 11
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Send a message via MSN to brent!
Default

gday kids haha

it's funny you mention Big Johns Pizza!!! haha i live sorta near there, and yes they do have some big servings and nice food!!!mmmm

i live in sydney, and well i find it kind of boring with the exception of a few areas...these being:
newtown - inner west, lots of live bands, alternative, lots of nice food, pubs. check out caledos for the best & most reasonabley priced cocktails in sydney (happy hour 6-7:30pm!!!!!). and goto green gourmet! mmm best food out, and burgerlicous for the best burgers in town
darlinghurst - inner east. lots of cafes, nightclubs, gay capital of sydney. borders the infamous kings cross (red light district and very seedy). find harry pies!!! haha
surry hills - next to darlinghurst, more alternative, nice cafes and restaurants
cronulla - south of sydney, nice beaches, layed back
manly - north of sydney, more nice beaches, bigger than cronulla
bondi - it's already been metioned, also check out coogi, there will be lots of tourists around, especially in summer

hope this was of some help....it's hard to describe the place where you live i think.

but definately goto melbourne, i would probably avoid tasmania, it's kind of boring...if you are thinking of heading north, goto byron bay and surfers paradise 3
brent! is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply






Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
next trip jaboba46 U.S.A. 5 09-29-2006 08:52 AM
65 day trip bziller Europe: Eastern 2 01-10-2006 08:20 AM
my first trip EVER!! scorpricorn Introductions and Announcements 10 12-23-2005 08:25 PM
Trip Help Jaimie7777 General Travel Tips and Advice 1 02-27-2005 08:33 AM
2 week trip, weekend trip, 13 day trip RootBrewskies General Travel Tips and Advice 2 11-17-2003 07:32 AM


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 11:09 PM.



 

Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO 3.2.0 (Unregistered)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121