B2: Successful Planning Of My Amazing Trip “Down Under”

Editorial credit: Shutterstock

​​​Australia had been on my Bucket List since the 1980s.  Several of my friends had emigrated there from Ireland to find work.  Some stayed and settled down.  Others returned to Ireland for the “Celtic Tiger”.  Their stories were of sun, surfing, beaches, barbies and TimTams (famous Aussie biscuits). This post sets out what I decided to do.   I had to see it for myself.

Besides, I grew up glued to TV episodes of "Skippy the Bush Kangaroo".  Not to mention "The Sullivans", "Neighbours" and "Home and Away".  And who could forget the quintessential Aussie, Mick Dundee in "Crocodile Dundee".  I HAD to see “the land down under”.

The thing with Australia is that it is HUGE.  It can be hard to know where to begin.  Realise that you aren’t going to see everything in a single trip, but you can definitely see many of the highlights.

Charlie (my partner) and I planned to head there for one month in 2011.  The idea was to try to cover as much of the huge continent as possible.  “Must dos” were:

• The Great Barrier Reef
• Sydney Opera House
• Ayers Rock (now Uluru)
• Melbourne (recommended by friends who had lived there)

​We also had family and friends living in Perth and Adelaide so we added those cities to the list. It seemed that an escorted tour was the way to go.  Why?  It would mean minimal time spent with our noses in a guidebook or map.  And seamless transfers between destinations.  What better way to enjoy Australia than to use the knowledge and experience of an expert guide.  Minimal stress is always my number one goal when travel planning! 

Sydney Opera House (Editorial credit: /Shutterstock.com)

​As luck would have it, I chanced on an ad for “The Very Best of Australia Tour”.  This was by a UK travel company called Journeys of Distinction. (Note: JOD was subsequently integrated into Kuoni in 2015.  And though I am not endorsing as I have never used them, I see a similar trip here). Anyway, the JOD tour pretty much covered everything we wanted.  With the added bonus of a stopover in Singapore on the way over and Hong Kong on the way back.  Both places on my Bucket List. 

Then the questions began!!

1. What VISA is needed for Australia? Quickly sorted here. 
2. What to pack for a month in Australia? Not so quickly sorted….especially for a woman who loves to pack the kitchen sink.  Even on short trips! But see here to see what I brought with me!

But soon the preparations were all in hand.  I packed my suitcase and we were on our way to Oz! Hoping to see Skippy or Mick Dundee lookalikes.  Let the fun begin.

See Related Blogs:
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Blog 4: London/Singapore
Blog 5: Perth, Australia
Blog 6: Uluru, Australia
Blog 7: Alice Springs, Australia
Blog 8: Adelaide, Australia
Blog 9: Melbourne, Australia
Blog 10: Cairns/ Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Blog 11: Sydney, Australia
Blog 12: Hong Kong, China