Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Australia & New Zealand in Feb and Mar 08

My wife and I are planning to spend 2 months of our wretched winter "down under". We have to see some sights of course but we don't want to move around constantly. We like the beach and outdoors generally. Maybe rent a furnished house in a beachy location and travel around from there, moving our base a couple of times over the months.

We're wide open for ideas at this point - budget is about C$15000 (Aus$17,000 nz$20,000) to cover nice accommodations and internal travel for 2 months. (If that sounds like a lot to you, it does to me too! so if it's too much, great!) I guess if people can chime in with locations to stay or things not to miss or itineraries or...

Oh, one obvious point... Claire doesn't ride so I might rent an MC for a week but she won't be with me.

If you get to Brisbane make sure you check out the Ratbags website and forum.

Tip number one - stay away from Sydney. It's just another big city with a bridge and a pointy building, and it's the most expensive place in the entire country.

Tip number two - stay away from the Gold Coast for similar reasons (without the bridge or pointy building).

Try the Sunshine Coast. It's about an hour north of Brisbane (capital city of Queensland), has some of the world's best beaches, nice scenery, great weather etc. Plenty to do round there, and there's several small cities in the area to choose from. Noosa is the "tourist centre" of the Sunshine Coast, but Caloundra and Maroochydore offer just as much, quick travel to Noosa if you want to do the restaurant strip along Hastings St etc, and much more reasonable prices.

Bill -
I don't know whats available over there, but do some internet searching for sublet type rentals in the areas you are thinking about.
We did that in NYC after we left Ottawa this summer!! Worked out great! And much cheaper than hotels.

My folks spent a month in NZ a few years back, but they traveled around as they were on a rental bike - they loved it, and I don't remember if there was anyplace in particular that they liked. They rented the bike from Thunderbike's touring company - apparently really great people! Might want to check that out, I think they are in Nelson but not sure.

Have a great time!! I'm jealous!!!!
Becky

Depends what you like... In Feb and March I'd stay away from anything North of Sydney. Queensland is 30degC plus with 98% humidity. Basically like Florida in July. Also, as Queenslanders haven't figured out how to change their clocks they do not have daylight savings time and it gets dark early... May to September is OK in Queensland and thats about it. Just my opinion.

I would spend three or four days in Sydney. It is crowded but the rocks and the harbour are outstanding. If you are going to rent a bike, Melbourne and Adelaide have some great Mountain and Coastal Rides. It does get warm but very dry so its a bit more comfortable. Adelaide has a lot of wineries in the hills and the beaches are also pretty good.

You can rent most bikes including Triumphs see http://www.garnersmotorcycles.com.au/gm_rates.html

You may want to consider a trip to Ayers Rock and Alice Springs. It will be very hot 38C, dry and tons of flies BUT this is the real Australian Bush. Wouldn't spend more than four days there but I think its worth it.

New Zealand:
Would stick to the South Island. Blenheim, Nelson, Christchurch, Queenstown/Wanaka and Milford Sound. That time of year would be ideal for a bike. Campervan rentals are very popular and a good way to tour the South Island. My folks come out from the States and did a South Island Trip in two weeks with a Campervan and it was rushed but they loved it.

New Zealand first cause Feb. nearly always gives us th best weather for visiting/touring there...South Islands great, but there are areas like th Coromandel in th North Isl. that is choice also.
"Midlife" is correct that it can get hot here jus north of th Sunshine coast as with everywhere in QLD that time of year, so maybe time your Northern NSW/QLD touring toward th end of your holiday, as you may wing some cooler weather near th end of March...other than that, spend th most of your time in th southern states for more favourable weather.

Bill, Byron Bay is a must. Great beaches & a beautiful place. If you come down to Melbourne you must ride the Great Ocean Road & also the Reefton Spur. Let me know if you want a ride partner to show you around. You'll have a ball..

Bill,
I suppose the others have a point. The Sunshine Coast is great but expensive. The Gold Coast is just an expensive tourist trap. Byron Bay is a nightmare in the holidays. Great beaches but so busy you can't move. That would be the same for all coastal towns during holidays. Oz has a 6 weeks summer break over Christmas. You could head for Lake Macquarie/Newcastle just north of Sydney it has a wealth of beaches and the lake is great. There are also a lot of lake front small cottages around there. You just have to find them. If you want something special try Norah Head lighthouse for a couple of nights. http://www.lighthouse.net.au/Lights/Holiday/Accommodation.asp#NorahHead
Though it is booked out pretty solid.Yes Queensland is hot and wet in our summer. Up my way anyway. It is actually the norths off season and tourism is pretty light north of about Mackay. But if you do wander up this way drop in for a beer and a swim. Oh and yes we do NOT have daylight savings. Daylight savings in the tropics is a waste of time!!!

Ok then... let the Aussies speak and then....

I can see what they are saying, Sydney is a big tourist trap, I just have the bonus of free accomodation there!!!
There's a bike hire place in Sydney - Bikescape - and they have a Speedmaster.... I've not seen another place that hires one out... there's BikeRoundOz who act as introducers to bike hire (that's who I booked through, but it introduced me to Bikescape). They also deal with someone in Brisbane, Perth, Cairns, Melbourne, Aidelaide, and Launceston. They all offer the hire of kit, but it will cost. If you can wear your jacket on the plane do it. You'll be hot when you get off the plane, but it'll save you money. Helmet - if you are hiring a bike for more than 5 days, it may be worth looking at buying a cheap one. I brought mine back.

On my journey from Sydney to Brisbane, I stopped at Port Macquarie and Byron Bay. PM was stunning, quiet, and very uncommercial. BB was also stunning, but very busy. Worth the stop, but don't just turn up, I did and struggled to find somewhere to stay.
On the way back I took the inland road, and stopped at Armidale. Small town not touristy at all.
I've stopping Coolangatta with my sis in the past, then it was small, going through it earlier this year, it's a bit bigger, but still not commerical.
There are some really good riding roads around Coolangatta, and they don't have a speed limit! OK you can't go fast on them, but they are some of the last ones apparenently.
It is VERY hot in March the further north you go, Sydney was really warm. February will be hotter still. If you don't mind it, go ahead.... Oh and suncream suncream suncream. But buy it when you get there.
And yeah what they said about the Gold Coast (Surfer's Paradise at al) is true...

Perth, Western Australia.

February: Too dam hot during the day; 35-40+ degrees C. If your coming to Perth Bill try March. The ride/drive down to Margaret River is fun, the food and the drink is excellent-lots of wineries to visit and the prices aren't too outrageous. Most off the south west is worth a look. Just remember to book. Maybe fly or drive up to Broome and see the dolphins or spend a few days at Rottnest Island just off the coast off Perth. Have a picnic in Kings Park. The people are friendly and there's always room for another Triumph rider. West Oz Tourism site

Spent 14 yrs in Broome til recently...they'd be mad to go anywhere near th joint at that time of year if not used to heat..Feb/March is th most hottest & humid there...locals dont call it "tropo season" for nothin!...
Agreed,S/west WA is choice at that time tho...

Same as Far North Queensland that time of year - 38C + heat and 80% humidity for months on end, I lived in Ingham for bout 40 yrs. Late August - early Sept is the best time to visit anywhere in Nthn.Australia. Great Country up there but can be bloody uncomfortable & very unpredictable that time of year.

Visit Tasmania.....good food....good wine...good beer...good people....good riding....just came back from Port Arthur today...superb.
Feb and March will be as good.
Give me a call!

Ok, I'm going to post heresy here...<G> go to http://forums.delphiforums.com/hawgryder/start
Dr Studgum, and Down Under Pete are two guys from Oz that I can think of, but there are a few more... a few of the guys form Hawg's forum,including Hawg and his wife, went there last summer and had a ball.
You can always email them thru their profiles or just make a post... you will get some good answers.... oh yeah, it's Delphi, so you do have to sign up..... It is a Harley forum, but very cool bunch of peeps there....
Enjoy your trip!
Mary aka Krashdragon

Hi Bill

If ya get to NZ the Sth Island is more panaramic IMHO. I'm in Nelson, top of the Sth, home of Thunderbike and their touring bike rentals, Great riding down here and wide open spaces... Gonna be in Melbourne myself early Feb and hiring a camper van.... If i'm around look me up when ya get here...

Come to sunny Queensland, ride all year. Don't bother going to NZ, even the Kiwi's don't want to live there, as they all want to move here, and half of them already have!!!

Victoria then Tassie , best riding states in Australia

..and so it begins,


If it weren't for the Bros we'd never get any scaffolds erected. Seriously, NZ is a beautiful country to visit