Traveling to Australia

[connorkimbro]

Hey all, I'm planning on a vacation to australia in a few months, somewhere dec-feb timeframe. Mainly because I've always wanted to visit australia, and dec-feb is our winter and australian summer and I thought it would be neat to take a winter vacation to the summer

anyway, I'm looking for some information. more general information, what is there to do in australia besides the one thing I already know I want to do? (beach, maybe bondai beach?) If certain things sound particularly enticing/interesting, it will possibly change *where* exactly I plan on going. Right now I'm planning on going to Sydney and checking out the beaches. Any kind of touristy spots are fine, I don't mind being a little touristy. Things that a young guy like me (28) might be interested in.

More specifically, in the Sydney area, what kinds of things should I know before coming? What are the bad parts of town, where should I try to stay? I don't think I'll be driving while there, I'll be relying on public transportation most likely (how is sydneys public transportation system, by the way) so a location that is somewhat cheap, good part of town, nearby to beaches/nightlife/shopping would be great, and then if theres any interesting touristy stuff that I also want to see, that could be farther away. Thanks in advance for the help

[Dauphin]

Go to the Coogee Bay Hotel for a couple of beers.

[Bkeela]

One shouldn't come to Australia for the cities - Europe is the obvious choice for that. Nature is the reason to see Australia - probably the deserts, beaches and reefs are the main attraction.

[connorkimbro]

Originally posted by Bkeela
One shouldn't come to Australia for the cities - Europe is the obvious choice for that. Nature is the reason to see Australia - probably the deserts, beaches and reefs are the main attraction.

Meh but I've been to Europe. Hell, I *lived* in Europe for several years.

I havn't been to Australia. I'm going to Australia

[Dauphin]

Beware of killer koalas.

[Kinjiru]

Tickle the crocs under the chin, they like it. And they especially love getting their bellies rubbed, so when they turn over, get in real close...

[Addled Platypus]

Dingoes...watch the dingoes


guard you youngsters carefully

[Kinjiru]

"Maybe the dingoes ate your baby"

Anyone, anyone?

[Skanky Burns]

Originally posted by Jamski
You have to bear in mind that this is a land packed to the top with spiders, snakes, crocodiles, possums, platypuses, bugs, moths, jellyfish, lizards and abos that are all venomous. The world's 11 most poisonous snakes are australian. The male of the local garden spider (Sydney Funnelweb) injects enough venom with one bite to kill 140 adult humans. They even have lichen that kills you! They have a kind of GRASS that kills people! The tips of each blade of grass break off under the skin, AND THEN WORK THEIR WAY INTO MAJOR ARTERIES!

Australia wants you dead.

[Egbert]

If you want beachs why not go to the Gold Coast or the Sunshine Coast instead? Both are in Queensland. Sydney beachs are no big deal.

If you are looking for a cheap holiday then Coogee is a good spot to stay in Sydney. Nice suburb about 30 minutes bus trip from the city centre. Nice beach just down the road. Couple of popular pubs (Coogee Bay Hotel and the Palace) down the road (plenty of girls around your age bracket). Buses galore just around the corner so it is easy to get into town.

Kings Cross is tacky and tawdry although often touted as a tourist destination (umh, drug addicts, tawdry whores and the grubbiest sort of strip joints).

Can't help you much because I have no idea why a tourist would come to Sydney. They come here in droves though.