Ask MetaFilter

My mother is terrified of flying - there's no way I'll ever get her on an airplane. I'm a big time traveler though, and I now live in Australia (NSW). My mother is in New York. How do I find a cruise that'll get her here (and back)? [more inside]
posted by jacquilinala around Australia at 4:04 PM - 19 answers

We have an outrageous dream and are completely unsure if it's feasible. We want to spend two months in New York. Is a house swap the best idea ? [more inside]
posted by taff around The Rocks, Australia at 2:46 AM - 6 answers

I am traveling alone for 11 days from US East Coast to Sydney in early February The first five days will be a very stressful visit with a family member. I will then have four days to decompress before the long flight home. Can you suggest what I should do that would be relatively stress free and provide a taste of Australia? [more inside]
posted by gingerjules around Sydney, Australia at 6:31 PM - 16 answers

My wife's company is sending her to Melbourne to close a deal, and she negotiated airfare and lodging for me to tag along. Right now the plan is to arrive in Melbourne 10/17 (from Southern California), spend several days there on business, then tack on a week to 10 days of vacation before departing for home 10/31. What should we definitely see/visit/try? What's the weather going to be like? [more inside]
posted by notyou around Australia at 8:36 AM - 9 answers

Western Australian locals and travellers: how would you spend 8 days south of Perth in a small camper van? [more inside]
posted by Thella around South West, Australia at 3:53 AM - 4 answers

It's my mum's birthday son and I'd like to get her a Sydney Guidebook so she can get ideas for what she wants to do when she visits me. I've recently moved here and while there are no current trips booked I'm sure there'll be at least one this year. [more inside]
posted by poxandplague around Sydney, Australia at 12:30 PM - 3 answers

We're planning to spend 5 days around Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef in August. What should we do? (followup to this question) [more inside]
posted by ShooBoo around Australia at 9:39 PM - 8 answers

Food writer and spouse visiting Melbourne and Sydney over the next three weeks. What, where, and how should we eat? [more inside]
posted by yellowcandy around Australia at 9:46 AM - 16 answers

My family (two adults, one 13-year-old boy) are planning a vacation to Australia the last two weeks of August in 2018. It's a big country with a lot of possibilities, but at the moment we're thinking of doing a Sydney-Uluru-Darwin-Cairns-Sydney loop. Any thoughts and suggestions welcome. [more inside]
posted by ShooBoo around Australia at 1:48 PM - 21 answers

Visiting Melbourne for the first time in 10 years after living there for 6. A lot to catch up on and a lot I don't want to miss - advice appreciated. [more inside]
posted by turbid dahlia around Melbourne, Australia at 8:31 PM - 8 answers

I've never been to Australia before (ie. I'm grossly ignorant about the country). Friends of mine have invited me to Melbourne but I'm on the other side of the world in Ottawa, Canada. It would take me more than 20 hrs of traveling to get there. So is Melbourne similar to say, Toronto? If it is, then I would likely pass. What is there that is compelling/exciting about Melbourne? What would I see or experience that I would not in other parts of the world?
posted by storybored around Melbourne, Australia at 1:38 PM - 25 answers

How do we store our luggage when we transit through SYD? [more inside]
posted by Wet Hen around Sydney, Australia at 7:06 AM - 1 answer

As part of a trip to Australia, we're planning to spend five nights on Kangaroo Island, SA. But I'm not sure what part of the island we should stay at. [more inside]
posted by kestrel251 around Australia at 8:50 AM - 3 answers

A few times recently in Sydney and Melbourne, at the end of a trip the taxi driver has turned off the meter, then said I need to pay that value plus say $4 in tolls. Is this usual? [more inside]
posted by chmmr around Sydney, Australia at 2:18 AM - 7 answers

Ex Sydney resident. Back for a week. What's new? [more inside]
posted by superfish around Sydney, Australia at 7:23 PM - 7 answers

A friend is heading to Brisbane for a conference next week. Does anyone have any suggestions for good local restaurants or experiences that she shouldn't miss? [more inside]
posted by LOLAttorney2009 around Brisbane, Australia at 10:42 AM - 2 answers

We're going to Australia this summer (late July-early August) and would prefer not to book rooms in advance, but will that be a disaster? [more inside]
posted by goodbyewaffles around Australia at 9:21 AM - 7 answers

I'm an American who has been living in Melbourne for several years and my mom is coming to visit. We are hoping to get out of town for a couple of days to somewhere driving distance (ideally within 3 hours from Melbourne). We've already done the Great Ocean Road, Mornington Peninsula, and Philip Island so hoping for something new. [more inside]
posted by emd3737 around Australia at 3:07 PM - 10 answers

Asking for a friend who is staying in Melbourne, Australia for the summer - he is a student arriving end of April and leaving end of August. Any help finding a place, or pointing me towards resources that would be useful for this, would be greatly appreciated! [more inside]
posted by mossicle around Melbourne, Australia at 10:48 PM - 7 answers

I have only ever been to Canberra for fly-in meetings and decided it was time to see the capital properly. I will visit for the ANZAC Day long weekend, arriving on the Friday night and flying out late afternoon Monday. What are your favourites at the museums and galleries? Pleasant walks or other recommended outdoor activities? Eating options that suit the solo traveller? Best places to see autumn leaves? Things that will overturn the generally-held views of Canberra by Australians who live elsewhere? [more inside]
posted by AnnaRat around Canberra, Australia at 3:55 PM - 5 answers