Oz July / August

Drama-queen

Hi all,

I'm in my late 20's and travelling to OZ in July / August on my own as most of my mates are settled or nearly wed! Not too sure if I should go directly to Oz or stop along the way (if so where would be safe as a lone traveller?) and where to start out from once in Oz? Any advice at all would be appreciated.......thanks a mil:)

Xavi6

The weather in July/August is going to be as bad it will get. My mates came over for three weeks in August last year and got rained on every day pretty much. It'll only be about 20 degrees as well. Just so ya know!

Most people stop in either Singapore, Dubai or Hong Kong as that's the route flights usually take. Not too sure about doing it on your own to be honest so maybe just come straight here. You may meet a travel buddy to do it on the way home with.

For Oz itself, it depends what you're looking for. If you're after a wild time then start in Perth as it probably has the quietest nightlife so you may find it an anti-climax if you do it last. If you're after a relaxing, chilled out time then do the east coast first and Perth last. Enjoy the fast pace lifestyle first then chill out here at the end in what is such a relaxed city.

Just my 2 cents worth but hope it gives you a rough idea!

KilOit

hit thailand first if i was you it's a cracking place start down arround krabi and phucket and work your way over the on the east coast, ko sumai, ko phan kgan, and ko tao if you fancy learning to dive, thailand is full of travelers on there own its great place to meet people, and the beaches are amazing if you seen the film the beach it's just like that i even went to that beach, it's areally cheap place and beats the hell out of oz for fun factor,
as for oz i started in sydney beaches are crammed full of show off nobs bondi and coogee it's like some cheap resort and the pubs are full of drunks just like at home don't get me wrong it's a great place if a little expensive but for likes of bondi junction it's quite a rough area the tea gardens being the main spot doesn't see a night go by without a fight,
brisbane is much better place, you havn't mentioned if your gonna work or not but there's a few jobs anywhere you look in oz, brisbane is a hella alot less rough and you more likely to meet a nicer crowd here.

alot of backbackers just skip the whole asia thing if your on your own it's the best place you can go it's a real adventure, oz is just ireland with hot weather

Spud83

Xavi6 wrote: »

For Oz itself, it depends what you're looking for. If you're after a wild time then start in Perth as it probably has the quietest nightlife so you may find it an anti-climax if you do it last. If you're after a relaxing, chilled out time then do the east coast first and Perth last. Enjoy the fast pace lifestyle first then chill out here at the end in what is such a relaxed city.

Perth has the quiest nightlife?? I found it one of the most active while I was over there. Nearly something decent happening every night. Especially around where I was staying (nightsbridge?).

By the way i realise the irony considering I was joking with you about Perth being crap a while back.

Beerlao

Brisbane is boring as hell... worst city i was in in Oz (and that includes Darwin!). don't waste your time there.

as for Perth's nightlife... quiet?!?! you must be joking! it's right up there with Melbourne and Sydney for that.

Bear in mind you're going in winter (which is still better than our summmer) so if you want it to be hot maybe go up north like Darwin or Cairns, where it is dry season (no such thing as winter and summer there), and probably the best time to visit.

Darwin's a bit of a one horse town but there's amazing national parks nearby like Kakadu and Litchfield. Then there's the red centre with Uluru and Kata-Tjuta, which is a long journey to the middle, but again depending on your budget there are group tours that go there for 3-4 days that sound good.

Or you could go to Cairns and do the well-worn route down the east coast that most people do if they've only got 2 months, taking in Cape Tribulation, Great Barrier Reef, Magnetic Island, Whitsunday Islands, Fraser Island, Byron Bay (don't miss Nimbin), before you get to Sydney.

The east coast is totally different than the north, west or south, as it's much more populated than the rest of this vast, empty country, with towns dotted all along the coast. The east coast is totally geared for tourists, and prices reflect that, along with the general feeling that you're not getting that 'authentic' an experience, but if a pi$$-up experience is what you're after, you can't beat it.

The west coast is much more remote, and there's a lot to see and do but without feeling like you're in Faliraki. round the south west you've got Esperance, with amazing deserted beaches you might spot some roos feeding on in the morning. You've got Margaret River, with amazing surfing and wine tours, Perth and Rottnest Island, The Pinnacles Desert, Monkey Mia, Exmouth, Karijini National Park (outstanding), and then Broome with probably the best beach in Australia (quite a feat)

Sydney and Melbourne don't need much of a mention, but you should definitely not miss either. Two real different cities but both amazing in their own ways, with brilliant day trips away as well such as the Blue Mountains (Sydney) or the Great Ocean Road (Melbourne)

Check out www.peterpans.org as they organise trips that may suit you and they probably have the best deals.

Xavi6

alanmurphy83 wrote: »

Perth has the quiest nightlife?? I found it one of the most active while I was over there. Nearly something decent happening every night. Especially around where I was staying (nightsbridge?).

By the way i realise the irony considering I was joking with you about Perth being crap a while back.

Northbridge. Seriously having lived here a year it pales in comparison to the night life I saw in of Surfer's Paradise. Nightlife in Dublin is a million times better for me.

Beerlao wrote: »

as for Perth's nightlife... quiet?!?! you must be joking! it's right up there with Melbourne and Sydney for that.

Only Friday and Saturday night are really pumping tbh, pubs close at 10 on a Sunday and during the week my locals usually shut up shop between 9 and 10. The Leederville Hotel does a student night on a Wednesday, Freo is good for live music (but again it closes early during the week) and the casino at Burswood is hopping on a Fri/Sat when the Ruby Room club is open.

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday it's pretty much ghost town. I've tried to go out on a number of Sunday's and it's dead, although most people are usually passed out from the Sunday Sesh's in the likes of Cottesloe.