Hi everyone!

I am 22 and from Connecticut, near New York City. In exactly one month I will be touching down in Sydney, Australia. I have 2 months in Australia and then 1 month in New Zealand for an "adventure trip." I'm not that daring (no diving or bungy jumping for me!) but want to appreciate the Oz/NZ great outdoors in a friendly group!

I am not shy but not too outgoing, and I want to do things where I can meet people and not be alone the entire time!!

Here is what I am thinking:

4 nights Sydney
Oz Experience bus up the East Coast to Cairns (1 month)- inc. Fraser safari/Great B. Reef snorkeling and Whitsunday sailing
Flight to Alice Springs
12-day Groovy Grape tour of the Outback, Barossa Valley, Kangaroo Island, and finally Great ocean Road to Melbourne
7 nights in Melbourne

I have a flight to Auckland... then
5 nights Auckland
28-day Flying Kiwi ultimate explorer camping trip

Then fly back to New York!!

Does anyone have advice on these tours' reputations or any other suggestions?

Thanks a ton!!

organized tours certainly are a way for you to not be alone the entire time. they do have their good and bad points though. when you are not on a tour, stay at hostels which oz and nz are full of, you should be able to meet people without too much difficulty. We did an outback tour with another company but along the way i saw the groovy grape buses/vans. Apparently (according to our tour guide), Groovy Grape has a reputation of attracting a young and party crowd. You are definitely young - not sure if you like to party but if you do Groovy Grape will be perfect. You are going to have an absolute blast. I hope your NZ trip takes you to Queenstown which is so beautiful and don't miss the opportunity to do some hiking in the mountains. We hiked in the Milford Sound which as so amazing and a highlight of our trip. Enjoy your tip!

Looks good to me - you'll have a blast - these are party buses! In any case both Oz and NZ are teaming with backpacker hostels - if you stay in these you will have no problem meeting fellow travellers - you may not meet too many locals though!
Just be careful to check the schedules - sometimes there are only 4 buses a week - depending on where you are and these can get booked up so you may not get on one, book ahead I think.

You can however use the Greyhound buses to easily get from A to B if the partying gets too much - this is a cheaper option - dont forget you will still meet people at the hostels. - I would probably cut the Oz experience in favour of greyhound, but keep the other tours you mentioned, as they are more out of the way places. East coast is easy to travel by yourself.
Also, Oz exp keeps stopping so it can end up taking 2 or 3 days to do what Greyhound does as one overnight journey but on the plus side you get to see/do things/activities that Greyhound dont include. Your call really.

In NZ take warm clothes and rain gear - its still sometimes cold in Nov esp at night and esp as you are camping. Especially for the south island. I was still wearing a jumper in Queenstown during the odd day at Xmas time.

One last thing - 7 nights in Melbourne is way tooooo much, and 4 nights in Sydney way toooo little - swap them around if you can - spend longer in Sydney - its totally FAB!
Or you could cut days from Auckland (in favour of Sydney) - its nice, but there really isnt a lot to do and its a very small city - as cities go!!

Zuleika, oz experience and groovy grape are party buses... you don't mean flying kiwi I'm assuming? I'm not sure if I want to camp 28 days in NZ but I've heard great reviews for Flying Kiwi and imagine camping would be a more unique experience than simply staying in hostels.

I have to stay in Auckland 5 nights because of my flight.. but I will try to stay in Sydney longer if I can!! And not worry about staying in Melbourne as long.

The only thing I'm worried about with Greyhound is how I get from the bus station to my hostel. My bag will be extremely heavy, I won't know where I'm going, and I'm worried about safety. Do you know how people get to their hostels from the Greyhound stops?

LAS, thanks for the encouragement! Groovy Grape sounds great and now I will definently do it! The Flying Kiwi Trip does stop in Queenstown and there are daily opportunities to hike on this trip.

Ilana Levine wrote:Zuleika, oz experience and groovy grape are party buses... you don't mean flying kiwi I'm assuming? I'm not sure if I want to camp 28 days in NZ but I've heard great reviews for Flying Kiwi and imagine camping would be a more unique experience than simply staying in hostels.

yes - sorry I wasnt refering to the Flying Kiwi. I didnt camp in NZ but i imagine it will be awesome, it is such a beautiful place. I think it sounds perfect.

One note - try and cut down your luggage weight ( you mention will be extremely heavy) if you can at all - too heavy/overloaded very quickly becomes a real pain esp when its hot - can you hire the camping gear when you get to NZ maybe?
12 or 13kg should be ideal - is for me anyway - i cant physically carry any more comfortably!!! Or maybe get some wheels.
(I lay all my things on my bed that i WANT to take - then put half - yes half - back in the wardrobe!)

When i did Greyhound I was mostly able to walk from the bus station to a hostel, the bus stations tend to be in town and that is where I wanted to stay, in town. Or you can share a cab with others in the same boat. Its only an alternative suggestion - if your more comforatable going Oz Experience then by all means do.

Five nights in Auckland is a very long time. Why five nights? Two is sufficient, Auckland isn't all that great - it's dull, grey, drab and boring.

Ok thanks for the advice

I have to spend 5 nights in Auckland because I can't change my flight. By the way, my traveling partner backed out 2 weeks ago (we'd been planning the trip for 7 months) because at 21 she is getting married and wanted to come with her husband instead of me....

I'll try to keep the weight down but 3 months worth of contact lense solution, hiking boots, sneakers, flip flops etc.... it's too so heavy and probably too much to carry in one backpack!!

Also Greyhound stops: Are there always taxis available? Are the towns in Australia (Brisbane, Byron, Magnetic Island, Airlie Beach, Mission Beach, Cairns) so small that I could easily walk to my hostel?

Ilana Levine wrote:
Also Greyhound stops: Are there always taxis available? Are the towns in Australia (Brisbane, Byron, Magnetic Island, Airlie Beach, Mission Beach, Cairns) so small that I could easily walk to my hostel?

Yes they are all small - apart from Brisbane of course. They drop off/pick up in several places in Brisbane.
Magnetic island you have to get a boat too of course - you would have to check if greyhound will drop you off near the ferry terminal.
Check out their website - they have lots of deals on. Quite often better if you buy before your reach Australia too.
If you know which hostels you are wanting to stay in - often if you call them in advance they will pick you up - always worth a try.

GOOD for you still going by yourself - you will have such a good time dont worry at all about that. You friend will be very very jealous she didnt go with you, when you regale her with all the stories and photos of your fabulous time. I reckon shes nuts to bail out!

PS - you can buy contact lens solutions in Australia as you go along!

I studied abroad in Auckland and rather enjoyed the city, so I don't think 5 nights is too much. You can always do daytrips if you're getting bored- take the ferry to Davenport or climb Rangitoto or to Waihiki Island. And dunno where your tour will go, but make an effort to go to Bay of Islands or Waitomo Caves on a daytrip if you're not going there!

And fyi I liked Melbourne a lot more than I liked Sydney- spent more time there too- but different strokes for different folks I guess.

Hey Ilana.

As someone who is also beholden to the contact lens gods, PLEASE do not lug 3 mo worth of solution!!! They have it there! One of the easiest ways to cut weight out of your pack is to buy toiletries as you need them instead of carrying around a huge bottle of conditioner that will last you 3 months. I bought solution all over Asia and OZ and NZ with no probs.

I agree with whoever asked about hiring camping gear when you get there- that's another great idea and I've done that in OZ too. Take whatever you think you want to bring and cut it in half. I'm serious. You will be much happier for it.

PhotoChick

Thanks for all the great advice... I will look up those Auckland suggestions as I do seem to have an overload of time there.

Also I will plan on bringing just small toiletries.. I guess Australia isn't exactly a third world country after all

I just bought a YHA membership, and they have all these great travel deals on their website. For example, 5 nights in the Cairns YHA combined with a gazillion different tours in Cairns for 700 AUD.... I was thinking I could just do these tours all up the coast??

They seem to be a great bargain!!! On the other hand, are YHA somewhat anti social?

Why would you think YHA are "somewhat anti-social?"

YHA hostels are not party hostels. If you're looking forthat in Cairns, you won't find it at Cairns Central. The YHA's have certain standards and are for the most part a cut above the rest, however, they are not party hostels. I found they can be a bit on the quiet side.

And for $700 - what apart from accommodation do you get?

I have read posts that indicate YHAs are more for families or couples than people traveling alone. Here is the YHA "Raging Cairns" package (there are similar deals for whitsunday islands, fraser, etc.)


4 nights multi-share accommodation at Cairns Central YHA
Full day white water rafting on Tully River including lunch
Full day Great Barrier Reef Cruise including buffet lunch and use of snorkelling gear
Morning hot air balloon ride over Atherton Tablelands with champagne breakfast
Return transfers to Cape Tribulation area including drive through Port Douglas, stop at Mossman Gorge and Daintree River Crocodile Cruise
1 night accommodation Crocodylus YHA, Cape Tribulation
Commences Cairns daily

$699 AUD

Ilana, I've stayed in many YHA's around Australia and NZ, and only twice did I ever strike a family. Both times were in NZ - one in Christchurch, the other in Taupo. From my experience, most people staying in the hostels weren't couples either.

Re your package tour, I can't be bothered to go checking out each trip individually, sorry, but with the Cape Trib one, check how far north they actually go. Some only go part of the way (even though they say Cape Trib) which is a pity because the best is actually up near the Bloomfiled Track.

Also, be aware that the Cape Trib YHA is not actually at Cape Tribulation - it's in Cow Bay.
Anyway, it's a beautiful area up there - you'll love it. And the Atherton Tablelands are amazing.
When do you arrive in Melbourne? If you'd like any information I'd be glad to help. If you click on the link at the bottom of my posts - Melbourne Daily Photo - you'll find stuff about Melbs there. The other link has pics of Cape Trib/Cairns etc.

Have fun and enjoy your time here.
Cheers.

PS. The YHA packages are usualy pretty good and good value for money. I'm doing their Blue Mountains one. For the cost of a Jenolan Caves tour with a tour company, the YHA have the tour plus 1 night's accommodation, plus a day on the Explorer bus.

I'll arrive in Melbourne in mid November and have over a week to explore. Can you recommend any hostels?... I am split between staying in the CBD and St. Kilda.