Any feedback for NZ/Australia Trip?

Hi all,

I'm planning a trip hopefully starting by the end of the month. The length is about 1-2 months. I'd like to see both Australia and New Zealand realizing that I won't be able to see both fully in that amount of time. I was also interested in stopping in South East Asia as well, maybe Thailand.

The consensus from the forum seems to be that one should spent more time in NZ relative to Oz. My friend visited NZ a few years ago and loved it. So preliminary I'm thinking maybe 2-3 weeks in Australia, 3-4 weeks in NZ and 1-2 weeks in Thailand.

Unfortunately, since I have to take the trip now I have to exchange North American Summer for NZ/Oz winter, but from what I understand winters are mild. Anyway, can anyone recommend any places to definitely see or specific itineraries for my timeline? Should I do NZ first => Australia => Thailand or the reverse? I'd appreciate any feedback but I'm trying to not plan things too much.

Everyone's tastes differ but personally I found the west coast is being sold short. If I had it to do over I would travel up the coast from Perth then Alice Springs & Brisbane but that's just me---won't be in NZ next week so can't help there---Thailand, start in Bangkok & play it by ear as 1-2 weeks just gives you a taste.

If you plan on doing any hiking in NZ, make that your first stop. But, it is past season, so some of the tramps may be impassible.

It's the dry in Northern Australia, which means that Cairns won't be too humid, Alice Springs might be pleasant, and the national parks on the north end (Kakadu, Catherine) will be hike-able as well. I hear Perth is pleasant all year round-and I do have to second Busman's comment about WA.

You're not going to want to leave either of these countries so soon, I promise. Could you do Thailand in another trip? Or is that part of your flight plan?

Thanks for the input!

Yes, I could do Thailand in another trip. I guess it is too ambitious for the amount of time I have. I just don't what to cut anything out and make the best use of the time I do have considering I haven't done much overseas traveling.

Where do you intend to go inside Australia? East Coast / West Coast, Queensland, New South Wales, Melbourne?

In my opinion being an Aussie myself, i would advise spending a few weeks on the coast up in Queensland, Sydney is nothing special and the trying to spread time over a large Area would require more then 3 weeks in OZ.

if your into the more adventurous sports, hiking, bungee ect spend it in New Zealand. take an extra few weeks and do the whole south / north island tour, your money will also go a lot further in NZ then OZ.

I recently spent 4 weeks doing the NZ experience and totally loved it. Skiing, Bungee, hiking, waterpsorts ect wished i never had to leave, cant say there is anywhere in Australia i could enjoy myself as much as i did in NZ tho. Could be a bit biased as i am from Oz but then again ain't we all about our own countries.

Thanks, for the response.

Yeah, I was thinking Northern Australia. Trying to take advantage of the warmer weather so I think your suggestion is good. Do you think Western Australia is worth it with only a few weeks?

Just got off The Spirit of Tasmania from a way too short 1 day trip & would recommend a visit to Tassie!

Honestly, I am going to say as well that I strongly recommend holding off traveling to Thailand for a later date. It will be a very expensive detour and Thailand looks deceptively closer to Oz/NZ than it is in actuality- Singapore is 8 hours from Sydney and Bangkok is 2 hours further than that! Plus Oz is so big (think: size of USA) that it's not like there will be a lack of amazing things to see- when I spent 3 weeks there I really only had time to scratch the surface (seeing only Melbourne, Sydney, and Cairns and busy each day).

If you're really set on seeing South East Asia for a week or two though, why not consider Bali or Indonesia in general? (ie are you really invested in seeing Thailand?) Not far, lots of cheap flights from Oz, and will definitely give you a taste.

I spent about a month each in NZ and Australia. In Australia I just traveled from Sydney - Cairns. Aside from spending over a week in Sydney, I had to move really fast through the country to do it in a month (or maybe it was 5 weeks... forgot). Australia is HUGE and it takes a lot of time to get around (if you are traveling by bus).

Conversely, distances in NZ are short and you can get around really quickly, esp if you rent a car. In a month in NZ I felt we were able to see a good amount of the south island and touched upon the north.

I agree that fitting Thailand in might be tough.

It depends if you want to see a LOT of things.... or spend more time in fewer places... everyone is different.