City Breaks - An area where Australia is lacking?

Pisco Sour · 22-04-2012 6:42am #1

When living in Europe you have an endless list of cities which you can visit for the weekend, each one different from the next, in close proximity to where you live, and with very cheap airlines fares. Barcelona, Stockholm, Vienna, Edinburgh, Florence, Bucharest. All places very different to each other in terms of climate, lifestyle, history, culture, architecture, language, people.

In Australia I have found the options available for a city break to be very uninspiring. I've travelled so much of Australia, and it is one of the best countries I have travelled, but it really isn't somewhere that caters very much to the 3 day weekend city break getaway.

You've got Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane, which all have their own charms I guess, but after awhile the resemblences between each, and the lack of differences, becomes a bit boring. I can't get myself interested about going to Brisbane for a weekend when it promises to be just another Minneapolis Down Under type place.

The price of flights down here makes weekend breaks difficult. If I wanted to do the Great Barrier Reef for a weekend, it would consist of about 400-500 dollar return flight from Melbourne, before you even pay for the activites that you have flown that distance to see.

I guess, after doing so much travelling of South America, New Zealand, and extensive travel around Australia, I'm getting itchy feet to see more, but there doesn't seem to be the choice of places available here to help scratch that itch. I'm loving living down here, just a bit frustrated with not being able to do what I did when I lived at home, which was visit a different city every few months.

I'm looking into a weekend in Hobart, which should be interesting as it seems to have a fair bit of history, but I'm running out of places to see fast, and I've only been here 16 months.

What do people think about the choice of places to visit in Australia?

markymark21 · 22-04-2012 7:07am

Wow it seems like you don't stay still for very long. You travelling alone or with someone?

Pisco Sour · 22-04-2012 7:11am

markymark21 wrote: »

Wow it seems like you don't stay still for very long. You travelling alone or with someone?

Travelled alone for 3 months before getting to Oz. Worked in Melbourne for 6 months. Travelled again for 7 weeks, mainly around Western Australia, then did 3 months farm work, and now have been back in Melbourne working for 5 months. I've always loved seeing new and different places, but having seen a lot of Australia (spent a month here in 2009 also) I'm feeling a bit bored looking at the options available to me.

This has nothing to do with living in Australia, something which I am loving, but a big disadvantage of living here I feel is the lack of different weekend getaway options.

catbear · 22-04-2012 7:14am

Just had coffee with a bunch of ozzies and this topic came up. They all save up their time off and go big on foreign holidays. If they do stay local it's generally an activity holiday like fishing, surfing, bush walking etc and they're self contained by camping.

There was a travel supplement from one of the Sunday papers in the coffee house and in nearly every instance it was cheaper to holiday outside Oz. The prices for local breaks was just too much, saving time off is the way to go.

The next time I'm heading back to Ireland I'll be a good month off and hopefully I'll catch a few places on route.

markymark21 · 22-04-2012 7:59am

04072511 wrote: »

Travelled alone for 3 months before getting to Oz. Worked in Melbourne for 6 months. Travelled again for 7 weeks, mainly around Western Australia, then did 3 months farm work, and now have been back in Melbourne working for 5 months. I've always loved seeing new and different places, but having seen a lot of Australia (spent a month here in 2009 also) I'm feeling a bit bored looking at the options available to me.

This has nothing to do with living in Australia, something which I am loving, but a big disadvantage of living here I feel is the lack of different weekend getaway options.

Ah I see, I work in hospitality so there's no such thing as a 'Weekend Getaway'! And to be honest crazy hours make me kinda happy to just chill around the city when off.

Anyways, I take it you've done the Yarra Valley, Grampians and the Mornington Peninsula? Good spots right there. Tasi is fun as well. Hobart is a nice spot. You should check out all the old Gaols and penal colonies, very interesting.

Stay away from Launceston though, absolutely nothing happening there.

The Aussie · 22-04-2012 8:09am

I dont think its something Australia is lacking, its just something Australians dont do, im over here in Cork and the wife has dragged me off on a few weekends away to france, spain and a few other littlle kips. I still wonder Why???

I would much rather go for a days Salmon Fishing in Kerry or an afternoon shoot on the weekends and go somewhere for a week or more for a decent holiday, the whole weekend break thing is a tad overrated, how much can you experience in a day and a half anyway, i think Paul Kelly put it well in the mid 90's song Every F'ing City, "Every F'ing city is just the same"

www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1cqfohztx4

Pisco Sour · 22-04-2012 8:25am

The Aussie wrote: »

I dont think its something Australia is lacking, its just something Australians dont do, im over here in Cork and the wife has dragged me off on a few weekends away to france, spain and a few other littlle kips. I still wonder Why???

I would much rather go for a days Salmon Fishing in Kerry or an afternoon shoot on the weekends and go somewhere for a week or more for a decent holiday, the whole weekend break thing is a tad overrated, how much can you experience in a day and a half anyway, i think Paul Kelly put it well in the mid 90's song Every F'ing City, "Every F'ing city is just the same"

www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1cqfohztx4

Hahaha, Paul Kelly isn't talking about the actual cities in that song but more how he was feeling and all that. It's a funny song though I agree.

European cities are anything but the same as each other. Australian cities on the other hand...

The Aussie · 22-04-2012 8:32am

04072511 wrote: »

European cities are anything but the same as each other. Australian cities on the other hand...

To be honest, European Citys and Australian citys are as interesting as the oddly named Cork City (how this place can be described as a "City" god only knows).

I think its a upbringing thing, why go looking at Citys when you can go Camping or play sports on weekends.

Pisco Sour · 22-04-2012 11:01am

The Aussie wrote: »

I think its a upbringing thing, why go looking at Citys when you can go Camping or play sports on weekends.

You're not too interested in travel. Fair enough. But for those who are, Australia doesn't offer much in the way of city breaks, like the way Europe does.

Batgurl · 22-04-2012 2:02pm

I disagree.

Yes Europe has great cities but Australia has great LOCATIONS.

Margaret River, Whitsundays, Hunter Valley, Great Ocean Road, Alice Springs, Coober Pedy, Kakadu, Blue Mountains, Gold Coast & Hinterland, Central Coast, Cable Beach in Broome, Barossa Valley, Kangaroo Island and Tassie.

If these aren't your style, NZ is a short flight across the Tasman. Slightly further afield is the Pacific Islands and Fiji. To your north west you have Bali, Singapore, KL, Bangkok, Phuket, Honkers and pretty much most of Asia.

I disagree that it's too expensive to get to these places, Jetstar do flights to NZ starting at $99 each way and hello...have you heard of Air Asia?

I'd go so far as to say Australia is miles better in terms of being able to see the world and more cultures etc.

I do miss Ryanair and the cheapo specials they did but with Scoot launching their $88 each way fare and Jetstar Japan about to launch 1 cent fares, I reckon we shouldn't complain about anything other than the inability to get more time off work...

6ix · 22-04-2012 2:24pm

Batgurl wrote: »

I disagree.

Yes Europe has great cities but Australia has great LOCATIONS.

To be fair, the OP has made this thread about city breaks specifically - he's not denying that Australia has some great locations/scenery.

Batgurl wrote: »

If these aren't your style, NZ is a short flight across the Tasman. Slightly further afield is the Pacific Islands and Fiji. To your north west you have Bali, Singapore, KL, Bangkok, Phuket, Honkers and pretty much most of Asia.

I disagree that it's too expensive to get to these places, Jetstar do flights to NZ starting at $99 each way and hello...have you heard of Air Asia?

That's not like with like at all. It is far more hassle and expense to get to Bangkok/Singapore than it would be to go from Dublin to Paris/Berlin or even further afield like Istanbul. Flights are way longer, more of a time difference etc... I mean do people really fly two 9+ hour flights to do a weekend break in Bangkok from the East Coast of Oz?

Batgurl wrote: »

I'd go so far as to say Australia is miles better in terms of being able to see the world and more cultures etc.

Australia is a wonderful place to travel and for one country it contains a remarkable amount of diversity in terms of scenery, wildlife etc... but I really really couldn't disagree more with your statement.

Within a 6 hour flight of Dublin you have all of Europe, some of the Middle East, Northern Africa, and the East Coast of the US/Canada.

Within a 6 hour flight of Sydney you don't have nearly the amount of diversity/countries/cultures. It's not even close.

Sundy · 22-04-2012 2:24pm

I have some more things that Australia lags behind in that I think should be discussed in this thread also.

Does australia lack in Alpine Mountains and there lack in culturally different places to go skiing and snow boarding?

Is Australia lacking in other countries that can be visited by car? One of the few major countries in the world where you can't easily drive your car to another country.

I could go on but I'll leave it to 04072511..

Pisco Sour · 22-04-2012 3:05pm

Batgurl wrote: »

I'd go so far as to say Australia is miles better in terms of being able to see the world and more cultures etc.

That has to be the most inaccurate statement of all time.

The Aussie · 22-04-2012 3:17pm

Sundy wrote: »

Is Australia lacking in other countries that can be visited by car? One of the few major countries in the world where you can't easily drive your car to another country.

You do know Australia is an Island dont you, i mean if you want to drive to another country while your there can you tell me so i can try and be there with a camera, It has been tried before though.

"Three Japanese tourists came unstuck on their planned Australian holiday on Thursday when they abandoned their hire car in Moreton Bay after they tried to "drive" to North Stradbroke Island."

www.brisbanetimes.com.au/travel/travel-news/taking-the-most-direct-route-to-straddie-20120315-1v85m.html

Batgurl · 22-04-2012 3:18pm

Hardly...

You say you've done so much travelling around South America and New Zealand and you've got itchy feet to see more...

And yet when someone presents the option of taking a red eye to Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan or anywhere in South East Asia to you, you feel the need to belittle them?

If you want a European city break, go to Europe. All I'm saying is that the abundance of cheap airfares to destinations throughout Asia and the South Pacific from Australia should sate your appetite for travel and if they don't, you may want to broaden your imagination.

Sundy · 22-04-2012 3:26pm

The Aussie wrote: »

You do know Australia is an Island dont you, i mean if you want to drive to another country while your there can you tell me so i can try and be there with a camera, It has been tried before though.

"Three Japanese tourists came unstuck on their planned Australian holiday on Thursday when they abandoned their hire car in Moreton Bay after they tried to "drive" to North Stradbroke Island."

www.brisbanetimes.com.au/travel/travel-news/taking-the-most-direct-route-to-straddie-20120315-1v85m.html

There may have been an element of irony in my post.

Pisco Sour · 22-04-2012 3:33pm

Batgurl wrote: »

Hardly...

You say you've done so much travelling around South America and New Zealand and you've got itchy feet to see more...

And yet when someone presents the option of taking a red eye to Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan or anywhere in South East Asia to you, you feel the need to belittle them?

If you want a European city break, go to Europe. All I'm saying is that the abundance of cheap airfares to destinations throughout Asia and the South Pacific from Australia should sate your appetite for travel and if they don't, you may want to broaden your imagination.

Your opinions are baffling. To go to those places requires a lot of money for flights (around 750 return to get to pacific islands, around the same for South East Asia). It also requires a fair bit of time off work. You can't visit any of those places for a weekend, which is what the thread is about.

CatFromHue · 22-04-2012 5:01pm

04072511 wrote: »

You're not too interested in travel. Fair enough. But for those who are, Australia doesn't offer much in the way of city breaks, like the way Europe does.

I think you might be forgetting that there just aren't that many cities in or around OZ that there are in and around Ireland.

They just aren't there physically to go to!

The Aussie · 22-04-2012 5:16pm

Sundy wrote: »

There may have been an element of irony in my post.

I dont know at times, i keep on getting asked if Perth is anywhere near Brisbane:D

Batgurl · 22-04-2012 10:44pm

YOUR opinions are baffling!!!

Its a 4 hour flight from Sydney to Nadi (Fiji) and you can get Jetstar return for $225 if you do your homework (same as if you do your homework with Ryanair you can get E50 return flights to Paris).

Japan is 9 hours 15 mins (bit longer I'll admit but not much moreso than your US or UAE arguments) but if you catch a red eye flight on a Thursday night, you'll be there for Friday morning with 3 whole days to explore Tokyo and then a red eye back Sunday night. As mentioned, Jetstar Japan will be launching shortly so no complaints from me with 1c flights.

I think that because none of these places have the culture or feel of the rest of Europe that people dismiss them but I challenge you to try these places before you go shooting them down

hussey · 22-04-2012 10:51pm

I'm kinda a bit baffled by the OP question here, of course Australia is lacking city breaks I mean there are only 6 city's (at a stretch) and Perth and Darwin are a fair bit away from the others.

But what others have pointed out is that there are plenty of other weekend away options.

It's a bit unfair to compare Australia to Europe in this regard.

battle_hardend · 22-04-2012 11:03pm

Batgurl wrote: »

YOUR opinions are baffling!!!

Its a 4 hour flight from Sydney to Nadi (Fiji) and you can get Jetstar return for $225 if you do your homework (same as if you do your homework with Ryanair you can get E50 return flights to Paris).

Japan is 9 hours 15 mins (bit longer I'll admit but not much moreso than your US or UAE arguments) but if you catch a red eye flight on a Thursday night, you'll be there for Friday morning with 3 whole days to explore Tokyo and then a red eye back Sunday night. As mentioned, Jetstar Japan will be launching shortly so no complaints from me with 1c flights.

I think that because none of these places have the culture or feel of the rest of Europe that people dismiss them but I challenge you to try these places before you go shooting them down

nine hours from dublin can almost bring you to las vegas and can bring you anywhere east of it in the usa , have you ever heard of anyone going to florida , chicago or atlanta for a weekend

, a week would be considered almost too short , new zealand would be too far away for a weekend break from australia as its not the kind of place which has one city worth visting alone , a weekend is too short if your visting the kiwi countryside

Pisco Sour · 23-04-2012 12:07am

Batgurl wrote: »

I think that because none of these places have the culture or feel of the rest of Europe that people dismiss them but I challenge you to try these places before you go shooting them down

Spent 17 days in Japan 4 years ago. Spent 2 weeks in South Korea last August. Oh and it took me longer to get to Seoul from Melbourne than it did to get to Tokyo from Dublin, and it cost about $1000 return! You are living in fairyland!

Xavi6 · 23-04-2012 12:17am

Comparing Australia to Europe is just stupid given the amount of diversity a whole continent has in comparison to ONE country.

seachto7 · 23-04-2012 12:19am

Batgurl wrote: »

I disagree.

Yes Europe has great cities but Australia has great LOCATIONS.

Margaret River........

I'd go so far as to say Australia is miles better in terms of being able to see the world and more cultures etc.

Again, Margaret River is grand, for WA!

I have seen places in Italy and France that would be similar to Marg River. Still a lovely place though, but feckall of a town!

I don't get your second point? How can you see more cultures in Aus than in Europe?

The OP is the main problem I have with Aus. Within 1-2 hours in Europe, you have so many different places to choose from, from a linguistic point of view to a cultural point of view, even though I also agree that essentially most big cities are the same. (headf**k places to live!!)

I suppose you can go to Asia from Aus, but the flight is so damn far from Aus, but you will get a different cultural experience I guess. It could be worse, you could be in NZ and far from everywhere!!
But, NZ and Aus have stunning scenery and wide open, which Europe doesn't have. Europe is probably over populated..

What about the USA? Plenty of people living there, plenty of cities, but is not a case that a city break in the US is same old same old?

I think Aus downfall is that there are just not enough cities, and they are kind of all the same. The whole "citybreak" thing is a load of w*nk. I just can't get the image out of my head of the "girlzzzzzzzz" with their pink suitcases and heels and bottles of baileys minis going on a city break for the "shopeeeeeeeeeeng"

CiaranC · 23-04-2012 12:25am

Batgurl wrote: »

I think that because none of these places have the culture or feel of the rest of Europe that people dismiss them but I challenge you to try these places before you go shooting them down

What is it with people who move to Australia who feel they need to make nonsensical claims about the place? Why do you feel the need to make stuff up to "justify" how brilliant Australia is?

I'd go so far as to say Australia is miles better in terms of being able to see the world and more cultures etc.

lol

hussey · 23-04-2012 12:51am

CiaranC wrote: »

What is it with people who move to Australia who feel they need to make nonsensical claims about the place? Why do you feel the need to make stuff up to "justify" how brilliant Australia is?

So she asks to try it before slagging it off and this is 'nonsensical'

CiaranC · 23-04-2012 1:05am

hussey wrote: »

So she asks to try it before slagging it off and this is 'nonsensical'

Everyone who comes to Australia to travel on a WHV has looked at the travel options... They in no way compare to living on a continent such as Europe, nor would anyone expect them to, saying so is absurd.

Sundy · 23-04-2012 2:35am

hussey wrote: »

I'm kinda a bit baffled by the OP question here, of course Australia is lacking city breaks I mean there are only 6 city's (at a stretch) and Perth and Darwin are a fair bit away from the others.

But what others have pointed out is that there are plenty of other weekend away options.

It's a bit unfair to compare Australia to Europe in this regard.

The point of the thread baffles me too.

I challenge anyone to find a positive thread on Australia started by 04072511.

CiaranC · 23-04-2012 2:37am

Sundy wrote: »

I challenge anyone to find a positive thread on Australia started by 04072511.

I didnt realise positivity was a prerequiste for posting here?

Sundy · 23-04-2012 2:59am

CiaranC wrote: »

I didnt realise positivity was a prerequiste for posting here?

No but some logic goes along way.

I really think 04072511 must really hate oz at this stage.

<SNIP> mod I think it is very unfair to post a lot of those links, due to lack of context </snip>

I'm just a bit concerned that he doesn't really give a balanced representation of Australia to people who read his posts.

Pisco Sour · 23-04-2012 3:05am

Sundy wrote: »

No but some logic goes along way.

I really think 04072511 must really hate oz at this stage.

<snip>

I'm just a bit concerned that he doesn't really give a balanced representation of Australia to people who read his posts.

How utterly pathetic! You must have a lot of time on your hands (shouldn't you be working by the way?)

Nice going to cherry pick the things I dislike about Australia. There's things to be disliked about any country. I've mentioned many times about how great a place Australia is to travel and that the scenery, wilderness and the wildlife is among the best in the world. In fact I even mentioned it on this thread.

Pisco Sour · 23-04-2012 3:09am

hussey wrote: »

It's a bit unfair to compare Australia to Europe in this regard.

It's not unfair. It is a negative aspect of LIVING in Australia over LIVING in Europe, not having much of a diverse selection of destinations on your doorstep. There's plenty of positive aspects to living in Australia over Europe, but this certainly isn't one of them.

CiaranC · 23-04-2012 3:10am

Sundy wrote: »

I'm just a bit concerned that he doesn't really give a balanced representation of Australia to people who read his posts.

Huh? Hes not working for a newspaper, hes posting opinion on an internet forum. This forum is brimming with twenty somethings who have moved to Australia straight from working in their local Spar or from doing Commerce in Tralee IT and living with their Mammy and think its some kind of utopia. A little balance is actually nice.

Sundy · 23-04-2012 3:19am

04072511 wrote: »

How utterly pathetic! You must have a lot of time on your hands (shouldn't you be working by the way?)

Nice going to cherry pick the things I dislike about Australia. There's things to be disliked about any country. I've mentioned many times about how great a place Australia is to travel and that the scenery, wilderness and the wildlife is among the best in the world. In fact I even mentioned it on this thread.

Lots of time. Work is pretty quiet this morning.

So what's your opinion of the lack of culturally diverse places to go skiing/snow boarding in Australia?

Sundy · 23-04-2012 3:23am

CiaranC wrote: »

Huh? Hes not working for a newspaper, hes posting opinion on an internet forum. This forum is brimming with twenty somethings who have moved to Australia straight from working in their local Spar or from doing Commerce in Tralee IT and living with their Mammy and think its some kind of utopia. A little balance is actually nice.

His opinion on places in Australia isn't balanced. He even admits himself he judges places as a tourist. Which would be fine only most people on here looking for info are considering moving to oz to live, work and make lots of money.

CiaranC · 23-04-2012 3:47am

Sundy wrote: »

His opinion on places in Australia isn't balanced.

Whats this 'balance' crap, this is not the BBC, one opinion is as valid as the next.

The fact is there are a handful of cities in Australia, two of which are worth visiting. There are some amazing regions to visit, but these are really far apart. Points of interest are few and far between given the size of the landmass and the cost and effort needed to get to them. I went to plan a three month roadtrip from Melbourne to Brisbane and ended up stuggling to fill six weeks because there simply isnt that much to see, just some nice scenery surrounded by enormous, boring gaps full of nothing.

Sundy · 23-04-2012 3:54am

CiaranC wrote: »

Whats this 'balance' crap, this is not the BBC, one opinion is as valid as the next.

.

CiaranC wrote: »

Huh? Hes not working for a newspaper, hes posting opinion on an internet forum. This forum is brimming with twenty somethings who have moved to Australia straight from working in their local Spar or from doing Commerce in Tralee IT and living with their Mammy and think its some kind of utopia. A little balance is actually nice.

Thats where this 'balance' crap came from.

hussey · 23-04-2012 4:16am

Mod Guys be nice, no need to accuse the OP of hating Australia, and no need to bite back either - report post if problem.

BE CIVIL.

Doc · 23-04-2012 4:22am

It is an advantage Europe has over all other continents though not just over Australia. Cheap air travel and huge variations in culture within a relatively small areas. Europe is pretty much the only place you get this. It is one of the things you sacrifice to live here but there's not much that can be done about that.

hussey · 23-04-2012 4:28am

04072511 wrote: »

It's not unfair. It is a negative aspect of LIVING in Australia over LIVING in Europe, not having much of a diverse selection of destinations on your doorstep. There's plenty of positive aspects to living in Australia over Europe, but this certainly isn't one of them.

Of course it is unfair, Australia has a population of 22million, europe has 730million. Of course there is going to be lack of 'city breaks' due to the lack of cities 22million people need.

Exactly what do you want to discuss here?
You ask in the original post
"What do people think about the choice of places to visit in Australia?"
There are plenty of places to visit in Australia, obviously not as much as Europe, and it should be clear as day that there is a lack of 'city breaks' I mean there are only 5 major cities - Sydney (4.6m), Melbourne (4.1), Brisbane(2), Perth (1.74), Adelaide(1.2) .. and not sure about classing Canberra (350k), Hobart(214k) or Darwin (127k) as a city.

So just to be clear are you talking about City or places? As your title is different to the question

hussey · 23-04-2012 4:39am

CiaranC wrote: »

I didnt realise positivity was a prerequiste for posting here?

Mod It's not at all, you can post what you like as long it stays within the charter i.e. be civil and no trolling.

If someone comes on an constantly attacks Australia it's going to rub people up the wrong way.

People here want a balanced view of life in Australia, we know it's not for everyone, but a lot of us have made Australia home, and have a right to defend it. I mean if you don't like Cork and head into the Cork forum and post how crap you think it is, what do you think the reaction will be

Note - This was not a post attacking or accusing CiaranC at all, I was just clarifying everyone can post as long as they are civil and not trolling.

Sundy · 23-04-2012 4:50am

04072511 wrote: »

I'm loving living down here, just a bit frustrated with not being able to do what I did when I lived at home, which was visit a different city every few months.

Its definitely something you don't appreciate fully when you live at home. Ive met a few Australians who don't seem to know how travel is easy in Europe.

I guess its just different a different way of thinking I guess, sure I'd still love to be able to do city breaks but being a person who likes the outdoors, Perth offers so much more with a couple of hours drive.

I think the isolation of Australia is something you need to consider before making it home. Probably not the place for you if you have itchy feet.

CiaranC · 23-04-2012 5:17am

hussey wrote: »

People here want a balanced view of life in Australia, we know it's not for everyone, but a lot of us have made Australia home, and have a right to defend it. I mean if you don't like Cork and head into the Cork forum and post how crap you think it is, what do you think the reaction will be

At one point this was a travel forum. People are entitled to give their opinion on travelling Australia (on a WHV or holiday visa), good or bad, without having to worry about upsetting a load of Oz-mad ex-pats. Maybe a reorganisation is in order.

hussey · 23-04-2012 5:33am

CiaranC wrote: »

At one point this was a travel forum. People are entitled to give their opinion on travelling Australia (on a WHV or holiday visa), good or bad, without having to worry about upsetting a load of Oz-mad ex-pats. Maybe a reorganisation is in order.

At the moment there isn't enough traffic to have two different forums, it's a good idea and has been mentioned in the past.

The dynamic of people to Australia has changed since the inception of the forum. Before hand people would come to Australia because they wanted to, either because of travel or to settle.

Now a lot of people come to Australia because they don't have any work otherwise.

Zambia · 23-04-2012 6:25am

Yes Australia is crap at short weekend city breaks.

The truth is out, we fess up.

Everyone can stop coming over now

Pisco Sour · 23-04-2012 6:27am

Feel like I should clear my name here. I love Australia. I don't hate it. I've always wanted to come here to travel and work, long before the recession, and indeed I gave up a job back home to come here. After Peru, It's probably the best country I have travelled out of 26 countries I have been to.

However it's not all a bed of roses. I find that once you have travelled the country extensively, you are then stuck with not a lot of new places to see for weekends here and there, like you would have in Europe. It's expensive to get to anywhere outside of Oz, and anybody who thinks otherwise must be earning top dollar!

kdevitt · 23-04-2012 6:42am

Anyone coming to Australia thinking it'll be a good spot to take some city breaks from is going to be disappointed I'd imagine, but have never heard of anyone doing that personally.

Anyone suggesting a destination for a 'weekend break' that requires 18 hours flight time to get there and back is delusional though, it is in no way a good place to use as a base for seeing other cities. I'm just back from Tokyo and was shattered on arrival and on return - and I was in the pointy end of the plane.

Think its a case of enjoying it for what is is - and promising myself I'll take more city breaks when I move back home. (which will probably not happen!)

The Aussie · 23-04-2012 6:49am

hussey wrote: »

Exactly what do you want to discuss here?

So just to be clear are you talking about City or places? As your title is different to the question

I think it is places he is on about with strict rules about Accessibility, Price, Different Culture, Different Languages and Architecture, which just is not Australia, Australia might be bigger than Europe but it is still the same county, so this whole thread a bit of a whinging exercise unless you want to talk about all the Pacific Nations in the same context as Europe, which then breaks said strict rules which in turn neatly takes us back to the original odd question

seachto7 wrote: »

The whole "citybreak" thing is a load of w*nk.

The whole "Citybreak" thing is a boring story in the making for Family, Colleagues, Friends (If Any), Random Strangers. I in my time have been privileged to many of these contrived anecdotal stories, First reaction normally is glazing over of the eyes then make up an excuse to get out of there."City Breaks" really sound like the thing you do when you dont have a decent Hobby, Interest or Friends that in the course of events will take you to different interesting places just through doing them.

Brndn · 23-04-2012 6:59am

I used to be annoyed at the lack of city break options but if you are up for a "country break" it's great here.
I just came back from a long weekend in the southwest of WA, Dunsborough to Margaret River to Augusta. I loved it. Small towns but nice people, great places to eat and great scenery. A good alternative if you can enjoy a break without the high street shopping etc.

Traq · 23-04-2012 7:00am

The whole "Citybreak" thing is a boring story in the making for Family, Colleagues, Friends (If Any), Random Strangers. I in my time have been privileged to many of these contrived anecdotal stories, First reaction normally is glazing over of the eyes then make up an excuse to get out of there."City Breaks" really sound like the thing you do when you dont have a decent Hobby, Interest or Friends that in the course of events will take you to different interesting places just through doing them.

To be honest, I think that's a load of nonsense. Fair enough, a city break may not be to everyone's liking but the whole reason for going on such a holiday isn't to simply entertain people with stories of places you've been on your return, and the fact that people like going on city breaks is in no way an indication that you've no other hobbies or interests or the like in your life.

I personally used to love picking a random city in Europe and going for three or four days over a bank holiday weekend at home, purely for the thrill of seeing somewhere new and being immersed in a different culture, all within an hour or two of flying from Ireland.
It's true with what the OP says and this option simply isn't available in Australia, given the relative geographical isolation of the country coupled with its sheer size. Consequently for long weekends here I love packing up the car and away somewhere to go camping/hiking/surfing for the few days.

It's just a matter of horses for courses really.

City Breaks - An area where Australia is lacking?

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