Australia Travel thread for Guru. Forbidden to mention any other places.

I did a wine tasting thing in Adelaide and ended up driving the wrong way up the dual carriage way. It wasn't big or clever but it was funny.

The funny thing was, it wasn't even your car

I'm pretty easily entertained, so I like most of NZ's West Island. It really depends what you like and how much time you have. For example, there's an east/west train called the Indian Pacific if you like a luxurious trip from Melbourne (which is aces and less racist) to Perth (which is fine, even if there are both UK and SA racists, but Rottnest Island, Margaret River, Monkey Mia, And Exmouth are more interesting for various activities). And there's a north/south train called the Ghan if you want to go to the North for some reason. They take a loooong time, of course.

Sydney is lovely and brash, Brisbane is ok, but Gold Coast more lively and Sunshine Coast more retirement paced. I even liked Adelaide. And the wineries are more easily accessed than Margaret River.

Melbourne would generally be my first choice though. It's got something of everything.

Barossa Valley looks close to Adelaide with lots of wineries. Home to Jacobs Creek it seems but guess that can be avoided.

Exmouth was mentioned on West Coast to swim with whale sharks. Though not sure that's my thing (the swimming more than the whale shark).

Hope to go for maybe 6 weeks so should have time to spend in many of the good bits.

I like this, I will remember and use it.

Exmouth has got the Ningaloo Reef which is simply stunning. The town is a hillbilly dirt hole and the water has to be trucked in every day.

But you drive to the beach, put your snorkel on and wade out. Stick your head in the water and float on the gentle current just looking down at the most amazing coral and fish. Then you swim back to shore, walk back up the beach and do it again a bit further out.

Absolutely idyllic, but a very long way away.

My only thought is add that right at the end then fly home from Perth so it seems a bit less out of the way.

If I had budget I'd be all over the trains recommended above. Seeing some of the nothing and isolation is part of the country, might as well do it with a cold beer and decent grub.

It's still a 2 hour flight from Perth, so you know. Or a 2 day drive.

I'm reminded of my friend who was going to Vancouver saying he'd hop on a domestic flight to come see me for a couple of days. I reminded him that it while it might be domestic it would be longer than flying from London to Moscow, and would he consider that a quick hit trip?

Do NZ, seems every 14 yo school kid was driving around in a 3.5L death car.

I've only been to Sydney & Melbourne sp nothing to add, both were nice cities and not as large as I expected. Decent food to be found, Beer sizes are baffling.

Whats the Lions ticket situation like do you need ot be a member or are they pretty freely available?

NZ driver's licence at 15 and no requirement for insurance. Yeah. It can get a bit Mad Maxy.

Tricky. I missed signing up for the priority sale (don't think it's happened yet), but you have to buy their travel packages which is quite restrictive.

Various other travel agents have some tickets as sub agents and I'm dealing with one of them so can plan your own trip.

No idea on availability of tickets locally, they won't sell to Europeans (even hospitality which I'd signed up for). Noodle could get some I guess!

Yeah it'd be fine, just logistically hard to get your hands on them.

That certainly explains the cars we found available for rental.