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March 11, 2016 12:24 AM

Cheapest place to visit leaving from Gold Coast, Australia as a solo flaneur (including plane fare)? I have a passport. I like nature and history more than resorts or theme parks. I like cold weather, not hot. I'm okay with camping or single rooms in backpackers. I can't drive. Late 40s, female, unfit (but happy to walk max 20k per day), introvert, 1-2 weeks, some time in April to June. [Thinking about Tasmania, Bali, Norfolk Island. I know the east coast of Australia like the back of my hand, same for Queensland outback and northern NSW. I've been to the Alice and Uluru and spent 3 weeks in New Zealand in December so let's rule them out. Oh and i'm off to Korea in August, so not there either.] Estimated budget for suggested trip appreciated.
posted by b33j to Travel & Transportation (8 answers total)

Ubud in Bali. Won't be hot, just comfortable. Lovely place for a single lady of a certain age - many like kind there! Can book a hotel which will include airport pick-up. Then stay or move to a cheaper hotel with comfy room and bathroom for around $20 Aus a night. I had two weeks there in July some years ago and it was just divine.

Tassie will be cold, wet and lonely. Norfolk Island is a great idea! You will know everyone on the island by the time you leave. What about that other island, um, Lord Howe?
posted by Thella at 1:32 AM on March 11, 2016 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: I don't get lonely. I don't want to get to know anybody (especially not people like me) that sounds like hell. Cold and wet is doubly awesome, thanks for the tip.
posted by b33j at 1:41 AM on March 11, 2016 [1 favorite]

Best answer: I found Norfolk Island a little disappointing, honestly. It was full of tour groups made up of retirees, and "discount" tax-free shops that still sold nothing in my price range. The scenery is quite nice, but not breathtaking. I had a good time anyway, because I was there with friends of locals and we got to hang out in the non-touristy parts, but without that, I would have felt really out of place. I would probably recommend Tasmania over that. Or Bali, as long as you go for the less touristy parts. Kuta etc is full of young loud drunk people, beggars, scammers, and people who will harrass you. I've heard better things about Ubud, but haven't been there myself.
posted by lollusc at 2:07 AM on March 11, 2016 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Tassie would be about right then. I'm a soft mainlander, so I'm already wearing a cardi and using the electric blanket, and it's only two weeks into autumn.
posted by kjs4 at 2:16 AM on March 11, 2016 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Here's some stuff to do in and around hobart with no car. http://jetsettingfools.com/hobart-without-a-car-our-5-day-itinerary/
posted by kjs4 at 2:17 AM on March 11, 2016 [1 favorite]

Go wine tasting in the South West. Margaret River, Dunsborough, Yallingup. You can get a flight to Perth mid May right now for $199. Marg's is fantastic in winter, it gets fairly cold at night, enough for a fire. The place is stunningly beautiful, loaded with arts, culture, surfing, restaurants, vineyards and the towns are close enough that you can skip from one to the other with a tour bus. It's my favourite place in the world and a place every person in Australia should visit at least once if they get the chance.
posted by Jubey at 2:41 AM on March 11, 2016 [3 favorites]

Tassy gets way less rain than the Gold Coast so I wouldn't describe it as rainy but yes cold and it's lovely and peaceful. I'd go there.
posted by kitten magic at 3:40 AM on March 11, 2016 [1 favorite]

Kangaroo Island in South Australia. Its smaller than Tassie with lots of tours so you don't have to be able to drive.
posted by wwax at 7:16 AM on March 11, 2016 [2 favorites]