Where to go when visiting australia?

Im Al from Canada here...been looking at pictures on google earth for a few days now. It looks so nice there. Plus you guys have some awsome cars!
Anyways i want to take a trip there some time, so im calling on you guys to point me in the right direction. After all, i find its best to ask a bunch of fellow ford enthusiasts!
Fraser Island looks really nice, that looks like it would be a definate. I would love to cruise that big dune.

Heres a list of my fords, from present to past
'04 focus
'89 F350 4door
'87 Bronco
'91 explorer
'96 F350 7.3L 4door/shortbox
'78 F150
'87 mustang project
'86 mustang 351w
'80 bronco 351w
'77 F150 shortbox
'73 F150 longbox

all but the cars were 4x4 and I wish I could get a turbo diesel ranger here in canada!

[Trevor 57]

Where do we start pud, this is one big country, and heaps of good stuff to see. Do you want population or remote locations, Northern Australia, Eastern, Western or Southern Australia.

I have travelled most of it, but I wouldn't know where to start.

[Josh_XC]

The best and only place to visit in Australia is the pubs!

[Yellow_Festiva]

Whatever you do Pud, don't come out here thinking it could be all done in 2 weeks like many tourists do.

If you had the time, and the funds, and perhaps a nice lady friend for company, come out here for a 6 month stint, buy a camper and away you go....

It's a big place, there are hundreds, if not thousands of 'things to see' so just make the time to come out and see as much as you can in that time.

[reece1]

[sydney a must, port douglas in far north queensland, south coast of n.s.w huskisson,sussex inlet,narooma just to mention a few, darwin in the northern territory.just to mention a few. aussie is great but so big takes along time to drive. also if you like fraser look at stradbroke island its great

[sgt_doofey]

Here in Adelaide (capital city of South Australia) there isn't to much to do in the city itself. It is only 1 square mile in size for the CBD. Plenty of surrounding suburbs though. You could probably see the sights in the city in a day.
As for outside the city, we have some very nice drives that you could do. We have some great wine regions in the Barossa Valley (where I live), the McLaren Vale, the Coonawarra, and the Adelaide Hills wineries. If you aren't much of a drinker, then even just driving around these regions and having a relaxing few days will be great.
Even just driving through the Adelaide Hills is very nice and relaxing.

Other things you could do:
Depending on the time of year, go to the MCG in Melbourne and watch a Aussie Rules football match. Or if during summer, watch a one day cricket match.
In Sydney, see the Harbor bridge, the Opera house, the Rocks area in the CDB, circular quay, Taronga Park zoo, Manly and ride the ferries on the harbor.

I can't really comment on the other cities as I haven't really been there, so I'll leave that to others.

[NAK302]

depends on your likes and dislikes. if you're into sight seeing then there is plenty to see. ayers rock, kings canyon, katoomba, the reef, kakadu/litchfield park, bathurst island, hunter region to name a few. i've been in Australia for 42 years and haven't seen everything yet so you will need plenty of time just to see a small amount of it.
what ever you decide, i'm sure you'll be impressed.

[DBourne]

what are your intentions? a driving holiday? if so be warned, this is a HUGE country.

few quick touristy places you really do need to see are:

-Ularu(spelling?) Ayres rock to normal folk. and the surrounding areas
-Sydney harbour bridge+opera house
-Goldcoast (that is in queensland)

[Daymoe]

Flemington Race Course is a fun place to be if you like Horse Racing and getting insanely ****ed over the cup week. First stop, Ford Dealer

I suggest you don't drive around here since you probably don't know our road rules, some people won't like that too much.

[Laminge]

Originally Posted by 90sFTW

Flemington Race Course is a fun place to be if you like Horse Racing and getting insanely ****ed over the cup week. First stop, Ford Dealer

I suggest you don't drive around here since you probably don't know our road rules, some people won't like that too much.

From a 16yo with no license and no driving experience! Awesome advice!
:

[Daymoe]

Originally Posted by Laminge

From a 16yo with no license and no driving experience! Awesome advice!
:

Ls and 13 hours, thank you very much :

[VIBEBA]

Originally Posted by 90sFTW

Ls and 13 hours, thank you very much :

Sorry mate but L's are not a licence 13hrs you just keep going buddy youl crack the hundred mark sooner or later..

[Daymoe]

Originally Posted by FC-351

LOL So you think yours L's means you have a licence, 13hrs you just keep going buddy youl crack the hundred mark sooner or later..

IIRC, he said "No" which would mean 0.

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by 90sFTW

I suggest you don't drive around here since you probably don't know our road rules, some people won't like that too much.

Dont worry about this, 50% of Melb drivers dont know the rules. The other 50% choose to ignore them

[CADSKY]

Originally Posted by GasOLane

Dont worry about this, 50% of Melb drivers dont know the rules. The other 50% choose to ignore them

people from NSW can talk :thebirds:

anyways so are you coming over here to work?
well then you will have plenty of time to chec out the sights. if your into machinery then i suggest you chec out the mines in W.A and QLD lots of work avaliable and really good pay too

[TUF_302]

Come to tasmania! Everyone loves it here!, well they seem to!

[paul_r_d]

Originally Posted by GasOLane

Dont worry about this, 50% of Melb drivers dont know the rules. The other 50% choose to ignore them

I have to say it.... 50% melb drivers dont know the rules, the other 50% are women :P :P LOL

[scoupedy]

Originally Posted by GasOLane

Dont worry about this, 50% of Melb drivers dont know the rules. The other 50% choose to ignore them

spot on.... i like to say that the road rules in Victoria are a suggestion only

Places to go hmm.....All of NSW coast line, Barrier reef of coarse, the big rock, Tassie, three sisters, twelve apostles/great ocean road, SW WA, Broome, Canberra war museam, North stradbroke, Fraser, sydney harbour cruise and bridge climb, Rottnest Is WA, Devils marbles, Kakado, Cains, Wilsons prom, arh maybe best just to move here for a while

[EviLkarL]

How about you start your trip at the Christmas Island Refugee and detention centre. After a short 6 year stay you can turn around and go back to where you came from. lol

[CADSKY]

Originally Posted by EviLkarL

How about you start your trip at the Christmas Island Refugee and detention centre. After a short 6 year stay you can turn around and go back to where you came from. lol

totaly unnessassary EviLkarL, opinions like that are best kept to yourself!!

[Daymoe]

Originally Posted by EviLkarL

How about you start your trip at the Christmas Island Refugee and detention centre. After a short 6 year stay you can turn around and go back to where you came from. lol

THAT WAS FUNNYEST THING I HAVE EVER READ! LOL!

[[Tonko]]

Originally Posted by EviLkarL

How about you start your trip at the Christmas Island Refugee and detention centre. After a short 6 year stay you can turn around and go back to where you came from. lol

Fool. :

Anyways, If you are going to Sydney, The bridge climb is a must! Sydney harbour at sunrise is incredible...

Great Barrier Reef

I was mostly unimpressed by Ayres rock, It took forever to get there and back.

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by EviLkarL

How about you start your trip at the Christmas Island Refugee and detention centre. After a short 6 year stay you can turn around and go back to where you came from. lol

Your an idiot

[Daymoe]

Originally Posted by TE50 056

Your an idiot

How Ironic.

[Blue Oval Mopar Man]

The middle of the simspon forrest is an amazing place ! Its a must do for tourists!

[CADSKY]

you have to do some barra fishing in the Northern Teritorry if thats your thing. but dont go swimming lol to many crocs and sharks.
if you wanna go smimming then i suggest you chec out some of the beaches on the east coast. gold coast has some great beaches and so does bondi beach in sydney but ALOT of people, if you want some quieter beaches then chec out some of the beaches on the mornington peninsula in S/E Melbourne, its not as cold there as you would think and they have some great beaches too that are far less populated
also i would suggest checking out Ayres rock in central Aus and really see what a wide range of conditions there are in Aus.
lots of national parks in Aus too, i think Tasmania is good for that sort of stuff but i have never been there.

[Yellow_Festiva]

And another thing Pud,

Join the YHA and if your not going to drive it yourself, stay in Hostels. Not only will it be cheaper for you, but you will also get 'back packer' prices for most things touristy, such as bus trips (hop on hop off deals) etc.

And it doesn't mean you need to be in a dorm either, you can get your own room for less than half the price of the next cheapest hotel... thats for sure.

Use www.tripadvisor.com as well, a great travel resource with a forum much like this where you can asl for local advice etc.

great, lots of replies already.
I like to be secluded, and peacefull. That said, when it comes time to go partying the more people the better!
Swimming is a definate necessity as well.

what about work, I do construction (mostly framing). I also run equipment (bulldozer, excavator). What kind of industries are there for equipment operators, and where are the best places to go with the most work.

[woodsy109]

Originally Posted by pud

great, lots of replies already.
I like to be secluded, and peacefull. That said, when it comes time to go partying the more people the better!
Swimming is a definate necessity as well.

what about work, I do construction (mostly framing). I also run equipment (bulldozer, excavator). What kind of industries are there for equipment operators, and where are the best places to go with the most work.

Australia has a serious shortage of skilled workers including construction and earthmoving. Just about anywhere in Queensland you will find work in building or earthmoving as the mining industry has attracted most of these workers inland with big salaries. This leaves the coastal towns and cities with plenty of jobs that still pay good, plus there is heaps more to see on the coast. My father works for an earthmoving company in Mackay (central coast of qld) and they are constantly looking out for excavator operators.

There is also lots of mines over in Perth, Western Australia. I would assume they would have the same problem as over here with all the workers moving out of town for bigger salaries and leaving plenty of jobs in the city.

With your skills mate, they will ask you to stay for good.

[GSfalcon500]

Originally Posted by pud

great, lots of replies already.
I like to be secluded, and peacefull. That said, when it comes time to go partying the more people the better!
Swimming is a definate necessity as well.

what about work, I do construction (mostly framing). I also run equipment (bulldozer, excavator). What kind of industries are there for equipment operators, and where are the best places to go with the most work.

Hey pud ,come to Queensland around brisbane / gold coast area.The climate is good for swimming pretty much for 10 months of the year altho some folks find it humid but its nothing like florida humidity.There are lots of nice spots aroud south east queensland to see like frasier island, stradbroke island,gold coast hinterland,sunshine coast hinterland
and it is closer to the parts of australia you will want to see like tropical north queensland great barrier reef the witsunday islands and northern territory.

Brisbane gold coast area has alot of work for framers and excavator operators,bulldozers not so much as australians dont tend to use them as much as you do in Canada .Like it is quite rare to see a dozer smaller than a D6 working on projects.dozers here are mainly used for bulk earthworks and pushing scrapers.

You could see sydeney in a day. the harbor is nice but other than that its just a big city ,the canadian equivelent would be Toronto,people that live there think it is so great and the rest off the country hate it.

Melbourne is nice, Canadian equivelent would be Montreal lots of cultural stuff and it looks nice,all the Canadians that i know prefer melbourne over sydney.

Queenslands equivelent would be british columbia. its got all the natural beauty and the stuff you want too see like crocidiles, rainforest, outback ,the reef for diving /swimming.

As for the rest of the country its worth a look but base yourself in queensland and fly to where you want to go.