Places to visit in Australia

[isszy]

Now that you all know a bit more about Australia, a few member have shown interest in coming and visiting our great land. A couple of people have asked me what to come and see.

I thought it would be good to get a few Aussies to let everyone know what they reckon the best things to see are, and maybe some Americans who have been here could chip in as well.

What to see really depends in what you are interested in, but here are a few ideas from my neck of the woods (the state of Victoria):

1. Drive the Great Ocean Road
2. Visit the Fairy Penguin Parade at Phillip Island
3. Melbourne Formula 1 Grand Prix (March)
4. Phillip Island MotoGP (October)
5. Tour the HSV factory in Clayton
6. Surf at Bells Beach
7. Visit the Yarra Valley wine region

There are 6 other states and territories in Australia, and it is about the same size as the US, so there is a lot of ground to cover. Maybe some of the other Australian members can give a list of whats best in their states.

[Holeshot]

Now that you all know a bit more about Australia, a few member have shown interest in coming and visiting our great land. A couple of people have asked me what to come and see.

I thought it would be good to get a few Aussies to let everyone know what they reckon the best things to see are, and maybe some Americans who have been here could chip in as well.

What to see really depends in what you are interested in, but here are a few ideas from my neck of the woods (the state of Victoria):

1. Drive the Great Ocean Road
2. Visit the Fairy Penguin Parade at Phillip Island
3. Melbourne Formula 1 Grand Prix (March)
4. Phillip Island MotoGP (October)
5. Tour the HSV factory in Clayton
6. Surf at Bells Beach

There are 6 other states and territories in Australia, and it is about the same size as the US, so there is a lot of ground to cover. Maybe some of the other Australian members can give a list of whats best in their states. I already told you that Jean and I were going to pay you to be our guide when we we come in 06 for Three weeks

[White Rider]

NEW SOUTH WALES

Yeh, depends what your interested in- nature or nightlife, thats what it boils down to.

A tour of Sydney is worthy of a list in itself with all the harbour cruises and sights to see etc.

Blue mountains- you can take the tourist rout with the wentworth falls and 3 sisters or somthing secluded like peirces pass in Grose Gorge- but careful no railings on THOSE cliffs! The Old Bells Line Of road is a good drive to the west of Sydney.

Bathurst- if your a motor racing enthusiast come during the Bathurst 1000.

Royal National park is a great drive to the south of Sydney- keep driving down to Jervis bay for some of the best Diving spots in NSW- Doesnt compare with Queensland tho...

Likewise the Old Pacific highway to the noth of Sydney is a great drive- used by a lot of enthusiasts. Stop by in Pie in the Sky for the best pie in the world.

Keep driving north to the Hunter Valley if your a wine and cheese freak.

All these places are within 200km radius of Sydney and so its all nearby- NSW is a big state so theres a hellova lot more to see, from the snowy mountains to the south to outback towns in the west to rainforests in the north!

Ive done the tour guide thing a few times for overseas visitor friends and I always end up seeing somthing new:)

[Brains]

Man, one of these years I'm gonna make a trip down under.. Been wanting to visit for YEARS. I'm betting if I ever moved out of the great USA, it'd be to move down there :) I'd have to bring my left-hand-drive cars with me though, just too weird to shift with the left hand.

[White Rider]

Well if your right handed its always a good idea to steer with you dominent hand!

[mmciau]

South Australia - Kangaroo Island with all its marine life, Coonawarra (red) Wine District, the McLaren Vale and Barossa Valley Wine regions, the Flinders Ranges with all their varying colours, Coober Pedy and Andamooka Opal Fields, and Port Lincoln and the Great Australian Bight (Tuna fishing and the Southern Wright Whales sanctuary)
PLUS, the home of Cooper's Sparkling Ale - the drink that puts hair on your chest!!!

Mike

[strife]

Man, one of these years I'm gonna make a trip down under.. Been wanting to visit for YEARS. I'm betting if I ever moved out of the great USA, it'd be to move down there :) I'd have to bring my left-hand-drive cars with me though, just too weird to shift with the left hand.

dont worry it feels like someone else is doing it :sneaky:

[forrestd]

when in Sydney come to the local drag strip http://www.wsid.com.au, schedule of events is posted on the site

[Brains]

Well if your right handed its always a good idea to steer with you dominent hand!
You'd think -- but old habits are hard to break :) Try anything once though!

[pitstop]

I've been in the USA for two years now, ans I MISS AUSTRALIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[isszy]

Just so you can get your bearings, here is a map of Australia :

http://www.ls1gto.com/forums/attachment.php?attach mentid=3664&stc=1

To give you some perspective, imagine that all states including and to the west of Colorado were one state - that is how big Western Australia is. All that space and it has a population of just under 2,000,000.

[BillyGoatGruff]

Everyone has failed to mention Ayres Rock and Tasmania. I would like to also see part of that little thing everyone calls the kiwi island or New Zealand. Just food for thought is all.

[zbaron]

shoot izzsy if i come there to see my sister you better come and meet us or i will let the air out of your tires..........and spill beer on your car lol ...ill think of something more to....then ill sick lilgto on ya ..

oh ya PS
make sure u ditch holeshot in the out back when he comes there LOL

[isszy]

Just don't spill beer IN my car.

Tasmania - great roads, beautiful scenery, 20 years behind the rest of the country...
Also has the claim to fame of it's shape being similar to a feature of the female body - there are tshirt and g-string set available with a map of the rest of Australia on the shirt and Tasmania on the front of the g-string...

[isszy]

Everyone has failed to mention Ayres Rock and Tasmania. I would like to also see part of that little thing everyone calls the kiwi island or New Zealand. Just food for thought is all.

New Zealand is spectacular. Douglas Adams, who wrote hitchhikers guide to the galaxy, said something along the lines of 'the scenery makes you want to burst into spontaneous applause' .

[White Rider]

yeh ive heard people dont even lock their cars or houses in Tasmania- sounds like the last decent place on earth.

[Lumina ss]

youve all forgotten the northern territory "no" open road speed limits, you rent a v8 and you could sit on 140mph for as long as your adrenalin lasts. Theres nothing quite like overtaking a cop thats cruising on 100mph, and waving. mmmmmmmmmm

[TriShield]

I enjoyed my stay in Sydney a month ago, but I would also like to visit New Zealand on my next trip down, and there WILL be another trip down. I even met many lovely young ladies on my nights out. http://forums.offtopic.com/images/smilies/naughty. gif

[TimsHSV]

What is all this crap!! All this chatter about visiting australia and no one mentions the beaches!! the beautiful white sandy beaches of the greatest state of all... QUEENSLAND!!! not just the beaches, lets not forget the barrier reef, the big pineapple, the big cow, the giant drop, the bundy rum distillery, cane toads, all that sugar, the tropical rainforest and of cause.....steve urwin

[GMH GTO]

Everyone has failed to mention Ayres Rock and Tasmania. I would like to also see part of that little thing everyone calls the kiwi island or New Zealand. Just food for thought is all.

Tassie is one of my favorites, just visit there in the summer. If your planning a trip go there when the boats are in for the Sydney to Hobart yacht race. Lots of festivities on at that time.

[2IMPULSIV]

Hey don't froget the west.

Here in Kalgoorlie is the heart of the western goldfields.

We have skimppy bar maids in just about all of the 40 odd pubs. And a street (Hay Street) where you can go to get a load off so to speak.. Hahaha..

Only about 35.000 people here so it's all good...

:)

[bugeyedbandit]

Before the 200 OLympics in Sydney, there were some questions posed on the Olympic site. One of these was from an American asking

'During the olympics, i may wish to drive from Sydney to Perth for afternoon tea. In which direction should I drive so as to not get the sun in my eyeys?'

Un fortunalty for this poor soul, sticking to the spped limit the whoile way there, it woul take you 2 to 3 days.

[EdHenderson]

Visited Sydney for two weeks back in Dec '00 and had a ball; thanks for making a Yank feel welcome :)

The Sydney Harbor Bridge climb (http://www.bridgeclimb.com/) was a tourist-y thing to do, but the view from the top of the bridge was breathtaking. The Blue Mountains, Three Sisters, and Jenolan Caves were all low-key activities but worth seeing if you're inclined to a bit of hiking.

Guzzling enough VB to float a frigate wasn't such a bad thing, either :thumbs:

.

[GMH GTO]

Before the 200 OLympics in Sydney, there were some questions posed on the Olympic site. One of these was from an American asking

'During the olympics, i may wish to drive from Sydney to Perth for afternoon tea. In which direction should I drive so as to not get the sun in my eyeys?'

Un fortunalty for this poor soul, sticking to the spped limit the whoile way there, it woul take you 2 to 3 days.

OMG, sydney to perth requires a little more then picnic basket and road map.

You have to pick the right season, 4WD is best option, must be able to carry provisions ie few extra spare tires, extra fuel, and camping equipment etc.

[mmciau]

And at this time of the year it is starting to warm up - 40C on the Nullabor wouldn't be uncommon.

Mike

[GMH GTO]

Now a trip to Warrnambool or Adelaide you have perfict roads the whole way.

Me and my dad went on aussie road trip, before we left aus. Had a VX Calais supercharged V6 with HBD body kit, total cool. Drove over to south australia watched a couple sprint car races went through the winerys. Good times.

I'd say the road trip to summer nats 2000 was best, just a bunch of us yobs showing up to the nats already pissed:)

[DWS]

ahhhh, Oz!......I had the good fortune to have work assignments there in '96 & '97......absolutely the best times of my life working in Sydney :cool:

only problem was having to leave in a full leg cast......fell 30 feet off a ledge in the Outback :rolleyes:

[moltenash]

CANBERRA - for the uneducated it is the capital of Australia. no sydney is not the capital.

First weekend of january - SUMMERNATS. the biggest car festival in australia and quite possible one of the largest and best street machine festivals in the world.
just think 4 days of beer burnouts babes and the best damn cars in aus all in one place. take the plunge and camp at the event as you wont want to leave. its got autocross driving events, go to whoa's, burnout dyno and sound off comps, as well as elite show cars, show and shines and trade exhibitions. whatching five cars fight it out for horsepower heroes at over 1000 RWHP was my highlight for last year.

while your here checking out the national gallery, war memorial and parliment houses are definately worth while.

ELSEWHERE IN OZ
tassie - go for Targa Tasmania and stay for the week after to drive the same roads that you've just whatched the road rally racing on.
Bathurst NSW - the bathurst 1000 v8supercar event is possibly the most fun you can have at a race track
Gold Coast - come for INDY and stay for the great parties and beautiful beaches and girls.
Melbourne VIC - try the V8RACE Experience - a bit like the PETTY NASCAR Experience but with V8Supercars. go to www.v8race.com for info.

also try to tour some of the v8supercar teams workshops, there definately getting very professional and are up there with some of nascars best.