Travel Forum / Destinations / Australia and NZ / January 2006

Planning to take 81 year old father (fit and well and active!) to NZ south
Island for about 10 days. Any recommendations. Will be arriving and
departing from Christchurch. Will have  car and using motels. Have thought
of the Whale watching, going to Wellington, Arthur's pass and ...

Is there any where I could hire a portable air conditioning Unit?  For god's
sake, who in their right mind would build a house without proper insulation
and no air con in the house in the middle of the central west!  Apparently I
just found a rental which does!

On my trip from Europe to South East Australia (Victoria, NSW) and New
Zealand I have decided to take my laptop, though rather heavy, with me. Like
I did on my other trips, just to download my digital photos (I use to take a
lot of pictures), instead of card reader or several ...

I understand it is possible to speak to some one in another country
through a computer. I am not very good with the technology. Is there any
one that does this between Australia and the United States? I have a
very good friend in Brisbane who uses iprimus as his web provider, I am

Going to Melbourne with family for the 1st time next month.
3 skinny people with much luggage ---What options so we have to travel
from Airport to CBD near Melbourne U? Approximately how much?
ABC

IIRC the seasons in Australia are pretty much a mirror image of the USA
which is one reason I am coming there. With all of us snowbirds heading
down there how much flu is there in Jan. and Feb. in Australia?

I am a UK citizen and interested in travelling to Australia. One thing
I would like to do is travel on the Indian Pacific rail journey from
Sydney to Perth.
Has anybody travelled this journey? What do you have to say about it?

My husband and I are planning a trip to Australia next fall and want to
explore Western Australia.  A grilfriend whose brother lives in
Melbourne has told her that it's not very safe to travel as a single or
as a couple in Western Australia.  Is this true?  Is there something we

I am looking travel from Sydney to Perth (stopping for durations at
Melbourne, Adelaide and Kalgoorlie) but from Perth onwards, I dont
really know where to go. I would like to work my way to Darwin and them
from there make it to Alice Springs.

There seem to be so many phone card plans - what are the best as far as
voice quality - reasonable cost, mostly from public phone in NZ, with
occasional calls to/from mobiles - from NZ to AU?
TIA

I have never done diving before but have been recommeded doing it when
Im in Oz. Where are the best diving spots? How much does it generally
cost per session(s)?
Also, do I need a diving certificate? Is it wise to do this before I

Hi from Ukraine, I need contact with travel agents in AU+NZ for a
possible cooperation and partnership.
Thank you,
Russlana, tourguide in Ukraine,

I have heard that you require some kind of certificate to work in a bar
in Australia. What exactly  is this? I have heard that you need to take
a course. Do many cities have places where this can be taken? How much
is it?

I will go for 1 month to Australia, near Melbourne, but wanted this time to
take a trip to Tasmania. I have never been there and would like advice where
to go and stay.
My wife and I are seniors and a 1 week total package from Melbourne would be

I'm going honeymoon in end Feb/early March. Anyone knows of inexpensive
accommodation in South Island with private jacuzzi or hot spring?