Good point. I guess it's gotten better in recent posts, since I've narrowed things down somewhat. I could tell you what I'd do in 2 weeks in the States, but it may or may not match up with what your interests might be. Nonetheless, I understand your point.

So we start in Cairns, and play a while, then go to Sydney and play some more, then fly home. See, I didn't know a thing about Austrailia other than "kangaroos and goofy-speaking people", but now I've got a much better idea of where to go to do the things we want to do, and how to do them.

Are we even going to have time for NZ? I've been told that it is a fabulous place, but I think my two weeks is going to be completely full. Maybe on another trip.

I'll do some looking myself now, and get back to all of you with our preliminary plan. Then, get some feedback from each of you, and refine the plan to make more sense.

 

Forget about NZ. That's another couple of months (weeks minimum) there.

Awesome place - some of the most spectacular country in the world. NZ is a trip in itself. Give yourself plenty of time there.

Think of this as a 3-5 year project. Do it a bit at a time, you'll appreciate it much more.

How often do you guys get ot travel? REALLY, it's not that big of a deal to come back. And by US standards, relatively inexpensive.

I do at least one or two round the world trips a year via America. (Have family in Houston and Baton Rouge). I've been livin' in Oz for 13 years - naturalized 7 yrs. Probably done the trip 15 or so times. I know it sounds like a once in a lifetime trip but it's so easy to get back here. It seems difficult at first but it's no different than doin a flight to somewhere in the US with a changeover. The main difference is that you need a passport and you have to sit a couple of hours longer. Took me a few trip to get over the idea of travellin across the world. Now it's no biggie. Usually book a flight a couple of days before, pick a few cities to visit and off I go. Find accomodation and info about the place when I get there.

This is your honeymoon z33fan so you want to be organised so you can relax. Just don't try to do too much all at once. Sydney and Cairns (Port Douglas is just an hour or so drive up - and you'll want to see the Daintree) will give you loads of variety and MORE than enough to do and see.

Start there and you'll find that you're gonna have trouble fittin just that in.

Enjoy!!!

LK

 

Z33FAN, forget about travelling all around Australia in 2 weeks. I spent 18 days last Christmas / new year period just driving around Tasmania (our small island state below the mainland). If spending just 2 weeks onn a honeymoon, stick to visiting just one state and experiencing what it has to offer. I'd start with Queensland and spend time cruising the Great Barrier Reef. Then head south and play the golf course along the coast. There are many championship courses that will range in price between AUD50 - 100. My advice is to do a google search using the words Queensland Tourism and you will get a list of sites detailing the best Queensland has to offer. Then simply select things you like doing and plan a lose trip.

 

Z33FAN, I just finished an 8 day driving holiday. I live in Sydney and have never done any long distance driving holidays. So, I hired a car (freedom to dump it and fly back from wherever) and threw the girlfriend in the car and started driving north. Drove for 6 hours and stopped overnight at Coffs Harbour (bananas, Russell Crove fighting in the local clubs etc). Next day another 3-4 hour drive to Byron Bay (quite famous and popular holiday dest.) Couple of nights there and onto Surfers Paradise (theme parks, beaches, tourist hotpsot, Indy Car race held there). After 3 nights there, started driving back to Sydney and stayed the night at Port Macquarie (dolphins, pelicans, 4-5 hours from Sydney.

I did 2500kms in 8 days and was buggered when I got back. I needed another holiday to rest.

My point is, like everyone else has said, Australia is a huge place and two weeks is not long enough.

Sydney is the best, Melbourne and Perth come in as second for me.

It all depends on what you want to do. You won't want to go back though.