Are your travel plans realistic? Can you travel the distance you want in a day? Australia is a big country, just how big, find out here.
I remember years ago I was holidaying in California. And being from Australia you get many questions and everyone is always intrigued by your accent.
Anyway, I started a conversation with this twenty something lady and she was telling me she was going to visit Australia next year.
Her plan was to fly to Sydney, stay for two weeks and take day trips from there. Which sounds like a fabulous plan.
There are heaps of things to see and do around Sydney for day trips. Sydney has a fantastic zoo and aquarium. The Blue Mountains with walks and scenic look outs is a day trip. In the other direction is the Southern Highlands with more scenic points.
Visit famous Bondi Beach and other beaches near Sydney, take in a few National Parks. Oh and I nearly forgot, visit the Opera House and climb the harbor bridge. Well the list goes on and there are more than enough things to see in and around Sydney to keep you busy for more than a fortnight.
But no. Her plan was to stay in Sydney and take day trips to Uluru and the Great Barrier Reef.
I looked at her and asked her again “what are your plans?”. And Yes sure enough she planned to stay in Sydney and drive to The Great Barrier Reef and Uluru for day trips.
But that is impossible I said, and informed her that Australia is almost the same size as the United States. No matter what I said, she would not believe me – If you don’t believe me then go and look at this map http://www.ga.gov.au/education/facts/dimensions/compare.htm.
Australia is the sixth largest country and the largest island in the world.
From Sydney to Uluru is 2,795km that is 1,735 miles and from Sydney to Mackay (middle area of the Reef) it is 1,715km about 1065 miles.
At least one thousand miles – one way. There is no physical way this trip can be done.
Even flying from Sydney to The Great Barrier Reef is at a minimum 4 hours one way flying time. And the Great Barrier Reef itself takes up an area half the size of Texas.
Now, I have not told you this to put you off coming to visit Australia. Far from it. But just come informed. Enjoy your trip, visit the Great Barrier Reef and Uluru and Sydney they are all interesting and worthy of your time.
And when you visit, we’ll say G’day Mate.
Happy Traveling
Lisa Paterson
Tag-Archive for » National Parks «
Well you won’t be traveling to Monaco and staying at a five star resort on a budget, will you? Maybe so! Mostly, traveling on a budget means finding the cheapest price for the experience you want.
When traveling on a budget it’s best to keep in mind the following points:
1. Travel in the off-peak seasons. You can save up to as much as fifty per cent off air flights and accommodation costs if you plan to travel in low season times.
2. Stay away from popular tourist spots (unless they are on your ‘must-see’ list). If you can go off the beaten track with your destinations, things can be cheaper to see and do and your cultural experiences will be richer.
3. Try camping. Not only is it the cheapest form of accommodation it’s a great way to get up close and personal to nature. It’s the best way to see National Parks and Heritage listed areas.
4. Look for special travel offers (or packages). But make sure you check everything that they include – and don’t include.
5. Invest in a travel pass where you are able. Most developed countries have a rail or bus transport system where you can obtain day, week or monthly passes that will get you around cheaply.
6. Get a work permit if you aim to gain employment while traveling overseas. Working can help subsidize places that aren’t so cheap, such as Europe and Australia.
7. Look for good exchange rates on the dollar. This may help you decide which country to travel to.
8. Think about shortening your visit to destinations that are expensive and increasing your length of stay in cheaper places.
9. Where possible use your credit card. The exchange rate is better.
10. When staying in a hotel, avoid paying for ‘extras’. Don’t touch anything from the honor bar. Don’t watch the in-house movies and don’t use the hotel phone. And try not to use room service too much!
On the world scene there are some great places to travel on a budget for under thirty dollars a day. In Asia you can try India, Laos, China, Cambodia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Thailand, Sumatra and Burma. In Central and South America you can visit El Salvador, Bolivia and Ecuador. If you are after a budget experience in the Pacific, try Fiji or New Zealand. Over in Africa there are some great budget destinations such as Kenya, Egypt, Morocco, Malawi, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Ghana. Don’t forget the Middle East where places like Iran, Syria and Turkey provide excellent value for money and wonderful experiences for the budget traveler.
There is no ‘best place’ to travel on a budget. Just be prepared to look around, avoid the pitfalls of unwanted costs in package deals or hotel bookings. If you want to travel and your budget doesn’t meet your expectations, be flexible and see if there is somewhere cheaper you might like to experience. You could be pleasantly surprised with your stay in India or Iran, when you thought you wanted to go to Tahiti.
This article was provided by:
Stuart S. Travel / Your All World Travel Guru
http://www.stuartstravel.com