Ooo this is such an exciting trip you have coming up! Love that you're taking a full 10 weeks - what a way to celebrate your retirement. Can't wait to follow along!
Coordinating tourist activities with friend visits is proving a challenge. I don't want to overstay my welcome, but I want to ensure I see the attractions in that area.
You make planning for a big trip seem easy. I like how you broke down key sections into smaller chunks. Google Sheets has come in handy for me whenever I plan trips! Thanks for sharing.
I'm working on researching, analyzing and booking the accommodation now so that will likely be the next one, with the tours and attractions in the last segment.
What an itinerary Laura! Have you considered trains at all? A friend took the long ride cross country! Of course it took forever. He said it was at times boring, but also incredible.
Understood! He was my former h.s. Science teacher and just a really neat eccentric guy. We correspondended years after I’d graduated, he knew our family, and he gave me a running correspondence on his trip to Oz including the train which was stopped a few times due to ‘Roos on the tracks. His daughter had migrated there, Gold Coast, where she was a mail carrier. Aussies have a cute funny word for that which I forget now. Oh, postie !
I had never really considered traveling to Australia, but after reading this comprehensive (draft!) itinerary, I am excited to add it to my list of places to visit. You've done all the legwork for me! Quick question -- what kind of budget should I be thinking? Thanks.
As for budget, I'm staying in a combination of hotels, hostels, (with and without private rooms) and friends houses. During each week, I am budgeting for 2-3 organized tours. Those costs should be lower if friends are chauffeurs. For the ten weeks I will go, I'm expecting $10,000 to $12,000 including the international flights. I will be happy if it is lower but I am prepared if it is more. It's a long way to go to cheap out on an excursion. This trip has been in the works for 2.5 years and I have squirreled away funds to cover it. When I went with my husband in 2019, we were there for 3 weeks and it was about $8500 for both of us.
HI, as a Sydney-based travel writer, that 10-week budget, if I'm reading it correctly, might need revisiting. This country is a lot more expensive these days, particularly with transport and accommodation costs.
And happy to answer any pre-trip questions. Safe travels.
Hi Grant, thanks for your input. As mentioned, I have friends scattered throughout Queensland who will be hosting me for part of the time. Domestic transportation between cities is already accounted for at $700. Approximately 25 of the 70 days I will be staying with friends. International flights $2500. I still think my original budget of $10,000-$12,000 will be fine.
Ooo this is such an exciting trip you have coming up! Love that you're taking a full 10 weeks - what a way to celebrate your retirement. Can't wait to follow along!
Thank you so much.
I just can't wait.
Coordinating tourist activities with friend visits is proving a challenge. I don't want to overstay my welcome, but I want to ensure I see the attractions in that area.
You make planning for a big trip seem easy. I like how you broke down key sections into smaller chunks. Google Sheets has come in handy for me whenever I plan trips! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you. I'm glad I can help.
Yes, long trip planning does not have to be stressful.
For my trip, the next step, accommodation, will be a little challenging in some parts as I will be coordinating with friends in some cities.
Breaking it down in sections makes it manageable.
Absolutely. I'm excited to read the next steps of your journey!
Thank you kindly for the mention <3
Sounds like an super exiciting trip coming up for you. We're both invested in the story and cannot wait for the upcoming updates!
Thank you so much.
I'm working on researching, analyzing and booking the accommodation now so that will likely be the next one, with the tours and attractions in the last segment.
Accommodations is always a great part of the puzzle haha! But i think you got the hardest part out of the way already, the itinerary itself :)
Looking forward to the upcoming updates !
What an itinerary Laura! Have you considered trains at all? A friend took the long ride cross country! Of course it took forever. He said it was at times boring, but also incredible.
Thank you so much.
I will be taking the train from Melbourne to Sydney.
The long distance train you are referring to is Waaay too expensive and too time consuming to consider.
Understood! He was my former h.s. Science teacher and just a really neat eccentric guy. We correspondended years after I’d graduated, he knew our family, and he gave me a running correspondence on his trip to Oz including the train which was stopped a few times due to ‘Roos on the tracks. His daughter had migrated there, Gold Coast, where she was a mail carrier. Aussies have a cute funny word for that which I forget now. Oh, postie !
I had never really considered traveling to Australia, but after reading this comprehensive (draft!) itinerary, I am excited to add it to my list of places to visit. You've done all the legwork for me! Quick question -- what kind of budget should I be thinking? Thanks.
I'm glad I can help.
As for budget, I'm staying in a combination of hotels, hostels, (with and without private rooms) and friends houses. During each week, I am budgeting for 2-3 organized tours. Those costs should be lower if friends are chauffeurs. For the ten weeks I will go, I'm expecting $10,000 to $12,000 including the international flights. I will be happy if it is lower but I am prepared if it is more. It's a long way to go to cheap out on an excursion. This trip has been in the works for 2.5 years and I have squirreled away funds to cover it. When I went with my husband in 2019, we were there for 3 weeks and it was about $8500 for both of us.
HI, as a Sydney-based travel writer, that 10-week budget, if I'm reading it correctly, might need revisiting. This country is a lot more expensive these days, particularly with transport and accommodation costs.
And happy to answer any pre-trip questions. Safe travels.
Hi Grant, thanks for your input. As mentioned, I have friends scattered throughout Queensland who will be hosting me for part of the time. Domestic transportation between cities is already accounted for at $700. Approximately 25 of the 70 days I will be staying with friends. International flights $2500. I still think my original budget of $10,000-$12,000 will be fine.