Questions concerning travelling to Australia

Hi there!! I am planning to visit Australia this summer, My idea is to be there for 45 days (month and a half), we are buying flight tickets this weekend. I´ve got a couple of doubts and I need your help, please:

• Is it worth renting an RV or is it enough with a regular car? are RVs cheap in Australia? I don´t think so...one of this friends I am travelling with spent the whole last summer in Alaska with an RV and he was soooooooo glad that he want to repeat the experience...so I need an advice!!
• Plan is Sydney, Blue mountains, Melbourne, Adelaide, then heading north to Ayers Rock and Uluru, Bungle Bungles, Kakadu NP, Cairns and the great barrier reef and heading south back to Sydney...in case we have some free time we might jump up to Tasmania island?? worth it for some days?
• Animals!! I guess Kangaroos and Koalas are easy to spot but what about Platypus, snakes, echidnas a...

Travel Insurance and claiming lost/stolen goods

Just wondering how many of you have made claims over the years for lost/stolen goods on your travel insurance.
I have our travel insurance connected to my credit card, I am happy to abide by their rules of having to pay for flights and ground content on the credit card. Went to make a claim for the items I lost/where stolen and for this claim it just isn't worth the exercise.
Have to provide receipts, okay yes I do agree proof of ownership. Searched and found them. Happy (well sort of) with paying an excess BUT then lose 1.75% of purchase price for each month of ownership up to 60%.
My lost items amount to approx $1000, what I would get back is $300. Then there are the items I can't prove I had, the items I purchased within the airport and the receipt was with them. One lesson learnt, always keep the receipt separate.
I guess what I am really asking is, if I had another policy... more »

Auckland in August

Hi All,

I am heading to Auckland in August from London. I don't really have anything planned once i get out there.

Its getting closer and nerves and settling in.

I was just wondering if anyone else is going out around August time and if anyone has any tips or advice for me?

Hope to hear from you soon.

Thanks
JAde

Traveling to NZ in Late June/Early July

Hello, I plan on traveling to Auckland, NZ from California in mid-summer. I am hoping to hear from someone who lives there or has been there about what I might expect this time of year in terms of weather, events, nightlife, etc. This is my first time travelling outside of the country other than a brief trip to Canada. I expect to stay in NZ for one week. Any information or tips you can provide would be very helpful. :)

What is it like to live in Bendigo?

Hi, I've received an offer for a permanent job in Bendigo. I've never been there, and as it will potentially be my first permanent job after 2 years of contracting, I'm just a little anxious about whether it's a good place to stay for at least a minimum of 2 years. So far the only things I've gathered from a friend is that a) it's central to almost everywhere else in VIC, and b) it's got really extreme temperatures.

I'm an outdoor girl (specifically bushwalking) so I'm wondering what the rain is like, if any. The Parks Victoria website is running really slow for me and I need to be out the door for work in 5 mins, so can I also ask what the bushwalking opportunities are like?

I can get my cultural fix in Melbourne I'm sure, so not too worried if Bendigo itself isn't too cultural. Anything else I should know?

Thanks for your time!

Gap Year Australia October 2013

Hi all!

I am thinking about a gap year (or 6 months), with a mate to firstly do a month in Thailand and then move on to Oz after that. It would mean giving up my job, which I enjoy but is never going to pay a mortgage (although its kinda related to my degree), Im currently 21 and living at home with parents after finishing Uni so savings pretty easy at the moment (saving approx £400 per month).

I've spoken to people about travelling and the response is always the same, 'Go! Its a once in a lifetime opportunity', or 'I wish I could do that, I wish I'd gone travelling'........I was basically wondering what people thought about the whole travelling situation and is it worth giving my job up for as I have seen a fair few negative comments about Oz (mainly the struggle to get work) however, I would obviously not be travelling to Oz to work but more to have 'the time of my life' and b... more »

Cairns backpacker accomodation and snorkelling tours

Hey.

I am heading to cairns in 10 days time for a 4 day trip. I am looking for a cheap but decent hostel and seen a few on line but just wanting some recommendations.

Also I am thinking of doing a couple of day trips out to the reef. I am just wanting to snorkel as I don't have a diving license but the ones I have seen online are coming up around $200.

I am pretty broke but don't want to miss out so any help people could offer would be great!

Thanks

Josh