I (26/male) am leaving Los Angeles in January for at least one year of backpacking solo around Australia, NZ, SE Asia, and possibly some other places! Other than enjoying my remaining time before I leave (going to favorite restaurants, hanging with friends, etc.), what pre-trip activities should I be thinking about, and what preparations should I be making (especially while I have good insurance)? What do you wish someone had told you before you left for a trip of this length and scope? [more inside]
posted by adamk on Oct 7, 2009 - 11 answers

I’m travelling to Australia in October. My first stop is Sydney and from there I’m going on a trip to Adelaide, Alice Springs, and Uluru with friends. After that, we head back to Sydney and I’ve got an 11 day gap with absolutely no plans. [more inside]
posted by emd3737 on Sep 18, 2009 - 5 answers

Where in Australia should I go next? [more inside]
posted by Flying Squirrel on Sep 17, 2009 - 9 answers

Keep us busy in Melbourne. What to do for a few days in Victoria's Capital? [more inside]
posted by sycophant on Sep 13, 2009 - 22 answers

Sydney and Melbourne with a 10-month-old in September. Any suggestions? [more inside]
posted by k8t on Aug 5, 2009 - 20 answers

I'm going to be flying one way from Melbourne, Australia to Los Angeles with V Australia. It's cheaper to book a return ticket than a one way ticket. Can I cancel the return flight and get a refund? [more inside]
posted by Eastgate on Jul 28, 2009 - 5 answers

TravelFilter: Will the current cheap flights between Australia and New York remain into 2010? And what times of the year are considered off-peak travel to NYC? [more inside]
posted by crossoverman on Apr 28, 2009 - 3 answers

When it is time to pack up and go home? I am at a standstill trying to decide on whether it's time to go home to visit and refuel, or to keep living the Australasian dream. Family is important to me and I'm worried about my grandma. [more inside]
posted by Flying Squirrel on Apr 22, 2009 - 26 answers

I'm visiting Australia for 10 days / 9 nights, flying in and out of Sydney. How would you divide your time amongst the various cities? 3 nights each in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane?
posted by smackfu on Apr 3, 2009 - 15 answers

Will I have trouble with customs bringing homemade Indian food spice mixes (made in Australia) into Japan? [more inside]
posted by teem on Mar 8, 2009 - 7 answers

What is the best way to book a cheap flight to Australia from Calgary? [more inside]
posted by burhan on Nov 3, 2008 - 7 answers

What are the must-have objects for a year-long trip in the World's south-east (India, Asia, Australia). [more inside]
posted by XiBe on Sep 18, 2008 - 26 answers

What to do in Adelaide for two evenings by myself? [more inside]
posted by tomble on Aug 17, 2008 - 7 answers

Can anyone recommend a good travel agent in Toronto specializing in travel to Australia? (Someone with access to cheap flights is particularly valuable.) [more inside]
posted by Dasein on Jul 21, 2008 - 6 answers

What to see in Australia in three weeks while on a student's budget?? [more inside]
posted by WhaleRider on May 8, 2008 - 13 answers

Best way to get reasonably priced flights from Sydney to Scotland and back with a stop off in Bali on the way back? [more inside]
posted by singingfish on Apr 30, 2008 - 2 answers

Help me to figure out a budget for some fairly extravagant backpacking travel. [more inside]
posted by Planet F on Apr 6, 2008 - 8 answers

Planning a 3 month backpacking trip for Australia (hopefully including New Zealand/Fiji) during September - November. Any suggestions/recommendations for locations and durations? [more inside]
posted by SRMorris on Mar 30, 2008 - 18 answers

Sydney questions: Which Sydney hostel should i stay at for international orientation week at University of Sydney? [more inside]
posted by Black_Umbrella on Jan 25, 2008 - 4 answers

I'm going to Western Australia and am trying to decide whether to find a hotel in Perth, or in nearby Fremantle. I want to be close to the best restaurants and sightseeing spots and am looking for an area with some charm and character. Which is the better place to stay? Any tips on cool places to see, eat, etc.?
posted by soulbarn on Jan 22, 2008 - 14 answers

My family and I will be in Australia from March 14th, 2008 to the 26th. We'll be staying in Sydney for most of the trip (friends' apartment) but we also want to take a leisurely road trip to Melbourne. Do you have any recommendations what to do in Sydney, Melbourne and during the roadtrip? [more inside]
posted by Kattullus on Dec 29, 2007 - 18 answers

Help me plan 5 weeks in Australia. [more inside]
posted by kanuck on Jul 17, 2007 - 21 answers

Looking for an Elderhostel-like service in Australia. [more inside]
posted by bac on Jun 4, 2007 - 1 answer

Help me not miss anything on my "once in a lifetime" trip through southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand! [more inside]
posted by antifuse on Mar 28, 2007 - 25 answers

Get me off this hemisphere! Help me find cheap(er) flights out of Australia to Europe. Price are reasonable until taxes come into play (+25%). Is there a way around this? Help me beat the taxes and get a better deal! [more inside]
posted by mule on Oct 18, 2006 - 11 answers

What should I know to plan a move from US to Australia? What should I take and what should I leave behind? What else should I know about moving to Australia? Where can I get more information? [more inside]
posted by wanderlust_babe on Oct 7, 2006 - 16 answers

I'm moving to Brisbane, Australia soon for university. What should I know? [more inside]
posted by divabat on May 4, 2006 - 12 answers

What is the Great Australian Novel? [more inside]
posted by Nelson on Jan 18, 2006 - 49 answers

Advice needed for a December trip to Australia from the US. [more inside]
posted by hokie409 on Aug 24, 2005 - 10 answers

International travel for dummies. [more inside]
posted by Jimbob on Jul 25, 2005 - 14 answers

I'm off to spend the wintery month of August in Australia and New Zealand. Im visiting Sydney, Melbourne, Cairns, and Uluru in Austalia, then flying over to New Zealand where I'll work my way down from Auckland to Christchurch. I'm looking for recommendations on where to stay, where and what to eat & drink, and what to see and do, as well as answers to a few specific questions. [more inside]
posted by jewishbuddha on Jul 15, 2005 - 32 answers

AustraliaFilter: I am heading down under to Melbourne for 6 weeks (including Xmas and New Year's). Any suggestions for places to go, things to do? (slightly more inside). [more inside]
posted by costas on Nov 11, 2004 - 10 answers

Is there any inexpensive way to get to Australia [Sydney/Adelaide] by plane from the US [Vermont/Boston]? I've been invited to speak at a conference in December but was surprised by high ticket prices. Any advice beyond the standard "Use Travelocity/Orbitz/Hotwire/Priceline" would be appreciated.
posted by jessamyn on Sep 16, 2004 - 10 answers

I'm headed to Sydney all next week for business, and I'm bringing my 5-months-pregnant wife with me... The problem: we don't know anything about Australia. We're staying at a very nice hotel in the Rocks and won't have a car. With that in mind, can you recommend some things to do? Also, are there any decent online equivalents to the U.S. alt-weekly papers, with current concert, event, and dining recommendations?
posted by waxpancake on Jan 28, 2004 - 25 answers