AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC

(Notes for talk given by Graham Elsom, Managing Director, Concorde Travel, 2001.)

Overview

The vast size of Australia needs to be understood in order to envisage how much time and cost will be required to tour Australia once you get there.

Cruises

We commence with a review of cruising opportunities in order to get a better understanding of the distances involved and where destinations are located.

There are occasional cruising opportunities for travel to and from Australia by cruiseship. The duration of the voyage, however, is usually from ten to fourteen days, depending on the number of ports of call in South East Asia.

There are regular cargo-passenger ship (freighter) opportunities for travel between Hong Kong and New Zealand but NOT Australia.

A good way to enjoy a relaxing holiday and at the same time see some of the beautiful Australian coastline is to locate an interesting coastal cruise. There is no better way to see Sydney and its spectacular Harbour

than to arrive by sea. These cruises are somewhat infrequent but if you plan in advance you should be able to find something very good.

Week-end overnight cruises are available on Sydney Harbour with interesting shore excursions.

There are very interesting cruises out of both Australian and New Zealand ports which circumnavigate both islands of New Zealand and include visits to the superb fjords of the South Island.

You can also cruise through the islands of the South Pacific with travel between French Polynesia (Tahiti) and Sydney.

There are a number of attractive short cruising opportunities in Australia. These include a Great Barrier Reef Cruise which can be of 3-6 days duration. In addition there are Great Barrier Reef cruises which are devoted to diving.

Yacht Charters are available in the waters of the Whitsunday Islands with wonderful opportunities for sailing, snorkeling and diving.

For those seeking something utterly pristine and off the beaten track, there are cruising opportunities along the ruggedly spectacular coastline of The Kimberley region of far north Western Australia.

There is no better way to explore the very beautiful Fijian Islands than on a cruise of approximately six days duration.

The same statement applies to the islands of Tahiti and these cruises are usually for about one week. There is also the opportunity to join a working cargo ship as it cruises to the isolated nearby islands of the Marquesas, final resting place of the famous French painter Paul Gaughin.

AUSTRALIA

Highlights

Sydney, New South Wales

Sydney and its world famous Harbour Bridge and Opera House is Australia’s most spectacular city destination. A minimum of three full days is required to do it justice and a stay of one week will afford plentiful sightseeing opportunities and interesting forays into the countryside .

There are several options regarding where to stay, to some extent depending on the duration of stay and because of cost. For a short stay there is nowhere better than the Rocks area. This historic location is immediately beneath the Sydney Harbour Bridge and is ideally located for walking tours and it is only a short walk to the Opera House. It is more expensive to stay in this area but there are hotels of varying standards, including historic inns, and you will save on taxi fares. Most of the city sightseeing tours depart from this area.

Another option for Sydney accommodation which is especially attractive for families, is a seaside apartment at Manly Beach. This beautiful location provides the opportunity for ocean bathing in either the surf or the placid waters of the Harbour. Bear in mind that this location is extremely popular with Australia’s farming community and many families pre-book well in advance, especially over holiday periods.

We would highly recommend that you make one of several tours which are available out of Sydney. These trips afford the opportunity to experience rural Australia and even the Outback. You can have these experiences without the high cost of additional air fares to more distant locations. The excursions we recommend are self-drive to the Hunter Valley and the Blue Mountains, a Millamolong Farm Stay (especially attractive for families), or an Outback Broken Hill trip.

Great Barrier Reef

It is very important that you understand the Outer Reef (the one you want to see), is located approximately two hours off-shore by high-speed boat. This means that most people who visit the Great Barrier Reef from the most popular places like Cairns and Port Douglas, visit the Reef only once. If you are keen snorkelers or divers and want to spend more time on the Reef, then you should definitely stay at one of the three islands which are actually located on the Reef.

Cairns and Port Douglas which are the most popular bases for a so-called Barrier Reef holiday are wonderful locations but if you want more time on the Reef you will have to make several excursions and this can become expensive. The other attractions in this area are the beautiful rainforest regions of the Atherton Tableland, the Daintree and Cape Tribulation. Be sure to avoid the monsoon season.

Central Australia

Uluru (Ayers Rock), the Olgas and King’s Canyon offer a truly spectacular few days sightseeing. Roads are excellent and self- drive is highly recommended. The towering cliffs of King’s Canyon were featured in the movie Priscilla.

Those with more time will definitely want to include a visit to Alice Springs and the scenic locations outside of the township.

Northern Territory

This is Crocodile Dundee country and one usually accesses the regions of interest from Darwin. This is a paradise for lovers of wildlife and for birdwatchers. It is also a region of great aboriginal interest. Kakadu National Park is the focal point.

Secondary Highlights

Gold Coast

This is family fun - highrise apartment towers and hotels overlooking the vast streches of golden beach, gambling and theme parks. There is also plenty of excitement at night with fine restaurants and shows.

It’s not all glitz. The coastal scenery is magnificent and the hinterland even more so. There is a wonderful retreat for walking and bird-watching and there are some delightful farm-stays which children always enjoy.

Sunshine Coast

This is Australia’s premier domestic holiday destination.

The Sunshine Coast offers a more sophisticated resort area with superb coastal scenery, beautiful golf courses and wonderful, often deserted, beaches. The leading hotel chains are represented and fine dining and up-market shopping is focused on famous Hastings Street in Noosa Heads.

There are many recreational and sightseeing opportunities and even the possibility of a visit to one of the three Great Barrier Reef islands offering accommodation, Lady Elliott Island.

The hinterland of the Sunshine Coast is especially beautiful with magnificent rural scenery and some superb and atmospheric B & B’s (Bed and Breakfasts). The Sunshine Coast is ideal for self-drive touring.

Great Ocean Road

A wonderful self-drive journey is available between Melbourne and Adelaide along the scenic Great Ocean Road. Beautiful coastal scenery and the opportunity to experience something of Australia’s rural life. The highlight of the drive, two or three days, is the amazing coastal rock formation, the “Twelve Apostles”.

Kangaroo Island and Barossa Valley

Accessed from Adelaide in South Australia, Kangaroo Island is a haven of Australian wildlife and affords a wonderful opportunity to see these creatures in their natural environment and at close range. The Barossa Valley needs no introduction and is Australia’s foremost wine producing region. There are wonderful B & B’s and it is also an excellent self-drive region.

Tasmania

The island state of Tasmania is closely associated with Australia’s convict past and the old buildings and stone churches are reminiscent of Old England. Tasmania is the most popular self-drive holiday destination for the domestic market because of the peace and quiet, the fine roads and the beautiful scenery. Cradle Mountain, in the centre of the island, is especially beautiful and there is excellent accommodation available. This is also a popular region for trekking. There are numerous adventure tour operators in Tasmania.

Rail Journeys

The Great South Pacific Express

This magnificent antique train, similar to the “Orient Express” operates between Sydney and Cairns. There are a number of sector packages available in addition to the full journey.

The Queenslander

This excellent train offers a more affordable alternative to The Great South Pacific Express for travel between Cairns and Brisbane. The are packages which enable one to tour the coast of Queensland, stopping off at the places of interest en route.

Indian Pacific

This famous train journey, which includes the longest stretch of straight line in the world, traverses the continent from Sydney on the Pacific Ocean, to Perth on the Indian Ocean. The three night journey enables one to appreciate the vastness of this, the world’s oldest continent, and to watch the scene change from lush farmland to the most arid of deserts.

The Ghan

This famous old rail route offers a wonderful alternative to air travel for the journey into Central Australia. One can depart for Alice Springs from either Sydney, Melbourne or Adelaide and it is a rewarding experience to see the vast desert expanse of Central Australia.

An arrangement can also be made to visit the desolate opal mining community at Coober Pedy and to stay overnight at the unique “underground” hotel.

NEW ZEALAND

Highlights

Queenstown and South Island

If you are pressed for time, a stay of approximately eight days in the South Island is going to show you the most spectacular of the scenery New Zealand has to offer. Travel is best by self-drive car or motor-home and you must include a visit to magnificent Milford Sound, either by air from Queenstown or by road. The scenic flight to Milford Sound from Queenstown is one of the best in the world and should not be missed.

Those with more time should spend several days in the Fjordland region because the other fjord in the area, Doubtful Sound, is considered by many to be even more beautiful.

The overnight cruise on Milford Sound is highly recommended.

There are numerous walking trails in this region including the famous Milford Track.

Secondary Highlights

North Island

The North Island of New Zealand is also of great interest and scenic beauty but it generally considered that the South Island is more spectacular and unique. We would recommend a self-drive arrangement which should include the Gloworm Grotto at Waitomo, the thermal region of Rotorua, which also has considerable Maori interest as well, and Lake Taupo which not only an area of scenic beauty but also a great place for boating and fishing.

FIJI

Although probably off-limits for most people at the present time, Fiji will almost certainly regain its popularity as a tourist destination very soon.

We consider that the most enjoyable thing for most visitors is a cruise through the Yasawa Islands group.

The cruise is approximately six days, is a very casual affair which includes visits to several island villages and lots of snorkeling and diving (if pre-arranged).

For an island resort holiday, we would recommend The Fijian, about ninety minutes drive from Nadi International Airport.

COOK ISLANDS

Be sure to visit Aitutaki when in the Cook Islands. This coral atoll is pristine in its seaside beauty.

FRENCH POLYNESIA (TAHITI)

The island of Bora Bora is considered by many to be the most spectacular n the world. It is especially striking when viewed from the high decks of a ship or from the air. The surrounding multi-coloured waters are magnificent.

Moorea is also a very beautiful island.

Tahiti is an expensive destination but it really is so scenically spectacular that a once in a lifetime should definitely be made if you are anywhere nearby.

The best way to see these islands is on a cruiseship.