Bonjour,
je prépare notre 2ème séjour en Australie, au Sud cette fois. Nous avons "fait" e, juillet 2010 Brisbane et Sydney, et nous avons adoré la traversée Darwin-Uluru en campervan. Nous avons 2 enfants de 12 et 14 ans, et apprécions particulièrement la nature, les animaux, la marche. Nous avons un peu regretté, surtout dans Kakadu et le secteur Kings canyon-Uluru, de ne pouvoir accéder dans plein d'endroits magnifiques, nécessitant le 4x4. Nous ne fréquentons les "vrais" campings que 1 nuit sur 3 ou 4 pour refaire les pleins et les lessives, on préfère les "rest areas", les "bush camp" des parcs nationaux, voire le sauvage.... Ailleurs (Europe, USA), on campe ; en Australie, l'été, les "bébêtes" nous inquiètent un peu...
J'ai du mal à me décider pour la location du véhicule :
après une semaine en ville, départ de Melbourne le 21 décembre - arrivée Alice springs le 12 janvier
Pour le moment, je loue un campervan à Melbourne, je le rends à Alice.
Je l'emmène (j'ai lu les posts) sur Kangaroo Island, où je loue une voiture 4x4 pour balader.
Regretterai-je de ne pas avoir pris un campervan 4WD ? Quels secteurs nécessitent incontournables ne sont accessibles qu'aux 4X4 ?
Est-ce utile d'avoir un campervan entre Melbourne et Adelaide ? (pourra-t-on y trouver des sites free, des campsites basiques, éventuellement du sauvage...?) ou une voiture serait-elle mieux adaptée pour la région Melbourne-Adelaïde ?
Pour le moment, c'est un peu vague ... mais peut-être trouverai-je des conseils judicieux ici ?
Merci
Bonjour, c est amusant, nous avons presque le même itinéraire et les mêmes dates. Départ le 19 de Melbournes et retour le 13 janvier avec comme périple melbournes-kangaroo-adelaide-Alice spring. Nous pensons louer un 4x4 bushcamper mais ayant un enfant de 28 mois on s interroge sur la chaleur bien que étant de Tahiti on supporte plutôt bien le chaud. Voila si quelqu un peu donner son avis sur le parcours et le temps je suis preneur.
Bonjour EKLNR,
alors, on va donc vous suivre sur les routes d'Australie entre Tahitiens ! (et ce ne sera pas la première fois qu'on en rencontre en Australie).
à force de recherches sur tous les sites de loueurs, j'en suis arrivée à une conclusion évidente : il n'y aura pas de bushcamper qui nous permette de voyager confortablement à 4 (2 ados et 2 adultes). Le plus gros, un Toyota landcruiser équipé, nous obligerait à mettre nos bagages dans la 5ème place arrière et sur le toit (en plus de la roue de secours supplémentaire et des réserves d'eau, et à planter la tente tous les soirs. Si nous étions 3, j'aurais pris un bushcamper, c'est sûr ! Il y en a bien un aussi qui a une tente sur le toit, mais pour 4, je ne le sens pas. Il faudrait , comme les Australiens, une de ces grosse caravanes 4X4 tractées par un véhicule 4X4 surpuissant....
Je regrette un peu, car le 4X4 permet non seulement de "couper" certains itinéraires en passant par des coins paumés, mais aussi de faire parfois simplement les 2 km de piste (ou même 500m) qui permettent de trouver "LE" coin de rêve isolé pour bivouaquer.
Quant à la chaleur, bushcamper ou motorhome, c'est pareil, il fera chaud, c'est sûr ! et pour nous, c'est surtout la sécheresse qui est surprenante (on buvait plus de 10 l d'eau par jour en juillet !) la clim ne fonctionne que quand tu roules, ou si tu es connecté au 240v (et dans ce cas, c'est bruyant, tu ne la laisses pas), c'est à dire dans les camping avec électricité. Donc pas souvent.
à Kangaroo island, je pense que nous allons passer le campervan sur le ferry, mais louer sur place un petit 4X4 sur place pour pouvoir accéder partout.
On nous a bien prévenus sur le 25 décembre : tout est fermé, absolument TOUT, en ville, ailleurs, les magasins, les réceptions des motels, les ferries, même les visitors center des parcs, ... (il doit bien y avoir les road stations ouvertes ?) donc être vigilants sur ce jour-là.
Quant à l'itinéraire, je ne l'ai pas encore finalisé, mais juste repéré les "highlights" à ne pas manquer (grampians, great ocean road, Kangaroo island, flinders ranges, cober pedy....) je veux bien poursuivre cette conversation dès que ça avance.
Bonjour ELKNR,
finalement, nous avons opté pour le motorhome, et donc pas très maniable. Nous irons jusqu'à Marree, et ensuite, ce sera suivant les conditions : retour sur Woomera ou tracé direct par l'Oodnatta jusqu'à William creek et Coober pedy. J'ai réservé un campground à Kangarro island et c'est tout.
Quel est le reste de votre itinéraire ? où en etes-vous ?
Bonjour,
Serait-il possible d'avoir un feed back de votre voyage de 3 semaines entre Melbourne et Alice (avec escale à KI) ? Je souhaiterai faire la même en février 2013.
Si vous pouvez me détailler l'itinéraire emprunté pour me rendre compte des distances.
Et si vous avez fait un budget total, notamment sur la location du campervan, l'essence, le camping....nous serions 2 dans ce voyage.
Merci
Bonjour,
je n'ai pas fini de traiter mes photos, et donc de faire mon journal de voyage, mais j'avais prévu de faire le récapitulatif. je t'enverrai cela dès que possible. En attendant, tu peux aller voir quelques photos sur mon blog : http://blogablob.over-blog.com/
En résumé, nous avons préféré le 1er voyage : au Nord, de Darwin à Alice Springs, qui offre des paysage grandioses plus concentrés que dans le Sud, mais ça se fait en saison sèche, (pour nous : juillet). En février, vous serez mieux sur ce secteur en effet. Et ne t'inquiète pas pour les réservations : pas besoin d'anticiper (sauf le campervan).
Bons préparatifs !
21 Déc
J6
Melbourne – Torquay(198 km)
Récupération du campervan
Foreshore camp (30$)
22 Déc
J7
Torquay – Princetown (223 km)
Plage Torquay – Torquay suf city - Bell beach – Oatway NP – oatway lighthouse (koalas sur la route)
Apostles camp (40$)
Falls -
Oatways lighthouse view
Wetland de Princetown
23 Déc
J8
Princetown – Grampians NP (292 km)
Great ocean road - Ravitaillement à Warrnambol
Jimmy creek campground (0$)
Gibbon steps
Twelve apostles
Lord arch
24 Déc
J9
Grampians NP (98 km)
Nambruk cultural center
Grampians NP Sud
Jimmy creek campground (0$)
Grand canyon & the pinnacle (5,5km – 2h)
The balconies (2 km – 20’)
Mc Kenzie falls lookout (1,6 km – 15’)
25 déc
J10
Grampians NP – Mt Arapiles SP (220 km)
Nambruk cultural centre
Grampians NP nord
Greenlake recréation area
Mt Arapiles campground (4$)
Fyons creek trail (20’)
Abo shelter
Mt Arapiles Lookout trail (1h30)
26 Déc
J11
Mt Arapiles SP – Edenhope (225 km)
Horsham – Dimbola - Little Desert NP
Edenhope Caravan Edenhope lakeside tourist park (25$)
Nature trail
27 Déc
J12
Edenhope – Robe (317 km)
Naracoorte (grottes et fossiles de dinausores) - Bool lagoon (marais : ornithologie) – vignobles du Coonawarra - Dip conservation area
Wrights bay Camping area (6$)
28 Déc
J13
Robe – Adelaïde (411 km)
Coorong NP – Marion shopping center
Adelaïde West beach caravan park (Big4) (57$)
29 Déc
J14
Adelaïde – Kangaroo Island (159 km)
American river campground (10$)
30 Déc
J15
Kangaroo Island (235 km)
American river quay – Kingston - Emu beach – Remarkable rocks – Admiral’s arch
Rocky river campground (25$)
31 Déc
J16
Kangaroo Island (134 km)
Flinders chase NP –
Vivionne bay - Little Sahara
Rocky river campground (25$)
Platypus Waterholes walk
Snake lagoon
Koalas walk
1er Jan
J17
Kangaroo Island – Cape Jervis (184 km)
Seal bay – Browns beach
Caravan park cape Jervis (25$)
Platypus waterholes walk
2 jan
J18
Cape Jervis – Port Augusta (412 km)
Port Augusta caravan park Big4 (50,95$)
3 jan
J19
Port Augusta – Wilpena pound (178 km)
Flinders range NP
Wilpena resort campground(39,58$)
Wangorra lookout hike (3H-7,2 km) – Mt Ojlssen Bagge hike (2h – 6,4 km)
4 jan
J20
Wilpena pound (0 km)
Flinders range NP
Wilpena resort campground(39,58$)
5 jan
J21
Wilpena pound - Glendambo (446 km)
Glendambo roadhouse (40$)
6 jan
J22
Glendambo - Coober Pedy (285 km)
Coober pedy : old timers mine – golf -
Coober pedy caravan park (50,50$)
7 jan
J23
Coober Pedy - Yulara (722 km)
Uluru sunrise carpark – Mount Kata Tjuta – Uluru sunset carpark – Uluru sunset buspark – Dune view
Yulara resort campground (50,50$)
Valley of the winds (3h – 7,4km) – Walpa gorge (40’ – 2,2km)
8 jan
J24
Yulara (165 km)
Uluru & Kata Tjuta NP
Yulara resort campground (50,50$)
Kuniya waterhole walk
9 jan
J25
Yulara –Alice Springs (506 km)
Alice Reptiles center – old telegraph station – Simpson’s gap
Flinders range holidays park - Big4 (51,30$)
10 Jan
J26
Alice Springs (90 km)
Alice’s hospital
Flinders range holidays park - Big4 (51,30$)
Nous voyagerons en famille (2 enfants de 2 et 6 ans) du 16 décembre au 6 janvier sur la côte Ouest de l'Australie. Nous atterissons à Perth et repartons de…
Nous partons à trois adultes (Nous plus ma fille 21 ans qui sera notre interprète...) pour trois semaines en Aout 2018 en Australie. J' aimerai savoir avec les…
Je vais donc commencer ce message par une rapide présentation. Nous avons, exceptionnellement, avec ma femme l'occasion de partir plus de 3 semaines (25 jours)…
Ca y est, je rentre dans le dernier mois de préparatifs avant d'arriver avec mon copain pour 3 semaines de découverte de l'australie. Nous arriverons le 15…
Ma fille va aller passer 5 mois en stage à Adelaide. Donc nous aussi on est tenté de casser la tirelire pour aller la voir. Cela explique le choix du début…
I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the scattered info out there and I'm struggling to organize my solo trip to French Polynesia. I'm all about snorkeling—no hiking for me—so it's all about the water, water, water... I'd love to meet whales (what's the best season?), stay with locals or in budget guesthouses (I'm pretty low-key, no worries about comfort), and most importantly, be as close to the coral reefs as possible (all day long...).
I'm retired, so I've got plenty of time...
If you can help, it would mean the world to me.
Thanks everyone! !
Hi,
I'm planning a trip to this region in November. My initial plan was Adelaide-Darwin by van, but I'm worried about those critters. I'm now considering staying in hotels instead, but for the Red Centre, camping is more practical... if we overlook those pests.
What do you think? Thanks.
Hi there,
I’m reaching out because I’m finally living my dream later this year, and I could really use your advice!
On December 26th, I’m flying to Tahiti, then Moorea, and finally Bora-Bora.
Since I’ll be staying in Bora-Bora for several days, I’d love to take a day trip to another island: either Maupiti or Tahaa-Raiatea (my top picks...).
My issue is that the schedules for getting to Tahaa and then to Raiatea don’t quite work for me. Here are the two options I’ve looked into:
**Option 1: Day trip to Tahaa-Raiatea**
- Morning departure at 7:00 AM to Tahaa from Vaitape (I’ll be staying on a motu, so I need to check if there’s a shuttle connecting the motu to Vaitape early enough).
- Arrival at 8:15 AM in Poutoru, Tahaa. Tour of the island, visit to a vanilla plantation.
- Hire a "private" boat to Raiatea around 12:00–1:00 PM.
- Tour of Raiatea.
- Departure at 4:00 PM from Uturoa (Raiatea) back to Bora-Bora.
**Option 2: Day trip to Maupiti**
- Morning departure from Bora-Bora at 8:30 AM.
- Arrival in Maupiti at 10:05 AM. Visit the island and the motus.
- Return in the evening at 4:00 PM.
My questions:
- Will I have enough time to explore Tahaa-Raiatea from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM?
- Car rental? Bike rental? For all three islands...
- Time lost during rentals?
- Distance between rental shops and the ports where I arrive?
- For Tahaa and Raiatea, should I hire a guide? Would that be better organized, meaning no car rental needed, to save time or explore the island on my own?
- Finally, what do you think of these three islands and their points of interest? Which would you choose between Maupiti and Tahaa-Raiatea?
If you can shed some light on this, I’d be so grateful!!!!!!!
I can’t wait to hear your thoughts, comments, suggestions, and advice!
Hello! We’re heading to the Marquesas in July-August and I’d love to know if it’s possible, for a fee, to do a leg of the journey on the Aranui—like from Hiva Oa to Fatu Hiva, or Nuku Hiva to Ua Pou, or even Ua Pou to Ua Huka? Sure, there are shuttles twice a week with Codim connecting these islands, but the schedules won’t be known until two months in advance, and I need to book flights and hotels much earlier than that. So, what’s the best way to handle this?
Looking forward to your replies—thanks in advance!
Elisabeth Marcel
babeth.marcel@yahoo.fr
Hi there,
I’d like to go to French Polynesia.
I found round-trip flights for 650 € with Air Caraïbes.
That seems really cheap—anyone here who can tell me about this airline if you’ve flown with them before?
Thanks in advance for your help!
Hi everyone. I’ve got a round-trip ticket to Perth for 4 weeks. Is it better to stay on the west coast the whole time?
Or should I grab a round-trip to the east coast?
Or even head over to NZ as well?
Thanks for your tips.
We’re crossing New Zealand next April and we’re wondering which to choose between exploring Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound.
The first is more well-known, famous, and popular, a UNESCO natural heritage site, while the second can be just as spectacular—bigger, harder to access, and less touristy.
Thanks for your thoughts!
I’ve blocked out 3 weeks at the end of March/beginning of April, arriving in Sydney and departing from Adelaide while following the coast.
Kangaroo Island is a bit of a question mark for me. If I go, I can dedicate 2.5 days to it. Is it worth the time and the cost? I’ve read plenty of travel journals highlighting the landscapes and wildlife, but I’m sure I’ll see plenty of that along my route anyway. I’m not factoring in the financial side (which isn’t negligible for KI), but I’d rather not be disappointed. What are the real added values of KI, especially since the island has been affected by fires? I’ve also come across people online calling it a tourist trap. For example, I ruled out Phillip Island because it felt too organized and structured. Sorry if I’m opening Pandora’s box here!
Hi! I just spent a month in New Caledonia (backpacking/tent) and I know some of you were looking for info on accommodations and itineraries, so feel free to reach out if you want me to share my little experience. Just to say—New Caledonia is AMAZING!!!
Hi there,
I just got back from two weeks in Fiji, and I noticed the forum discussions here are a bit outdated (the most recent ones are from 2017).
So feel free to ask if you'd like an update!
Hi,
I’m heading to Viti Levu, the main island, for a few days’ vacation.
I usually rent a two-wheeler to keep some independence.
On several forums, people advised against it—first because it’s not really the local culture, and also because of the road conditions and local driving habits.
But I’m a bit wary of English-language forums where the typical vacation is just airport-resort-airport with a taxi in between.
Can you confirm if it’s really that risky compared to, say, Southeast Asia? What are the alternatives? Buses, taxis?
Thanks!
I’m planning and budgeting a trip to Australia for August 2026, lasting 40 days.
Here’s the current itinerary:
Arrival at Port Macquarie Airport in New South Wales and return from Cairns Airport in Queensland.
- South West Rock
- Cap Ridge Park
- Springbrook Park
- Stradbroke Island
- Maleny
- Noosa
- Rainbow Beach
- K’Gari
- Gladstone
- Heron Island
- Airlie Beach
- Townsville
- Magnetic Island
- Cairns
- Cape Tribulation
My main issue is transport to cover all of this.
The first leg is already tricky—I haven’t found a way to rent a car in Port Macquarie and drop it off in South West Rock.
And if we keep the vehicle until Cleveland (8 days) before taking the ferry to Stradbroke Island, it’s already around 1000 €.
- Are there any systems where we could buy a vehicle in Port Macquarie and be sure it’s bought back at the end of the trip in Cairns?
- Do you know of any Australian online car rental sites?
As for trains, they’re not really an option for our stay in New South Wales.
In Queensland, I found the Queensland Rail Travel website with a Brisbane–Cairns line, but trains don’t run every day.
- Do you know of any other train companies in Queensland that connect coastal cities from Brisbane to Cairns?
For flights, I checked Queensland with Qantas, and most routes require a stopover in Brisbane, which wastes a lot of time, and the prices are still high.
Do you know of any low-cost airlines for domestic flights in Australia?
2025 is shaping up to be amazing, as I’m lucky enough to be planning a 6-week trip to Polynesia.
I wanted to buy the *Guide du Routard* (my favorite), but I discovered there isn’t one for this destination. And the *Lonely Planet* is from 2022, which I feel is already a bit outdated.
So I’m looking for other resources: in your opinion, what’s the best paper guide, and most importantly, what online resources have you used to prepare a trip to Polynesia?
My wife, our 3-year-old son, and I are planning a trip along Australia’s East Coast, leaving in early October and returning in mid-November. The plan is to do a 4-week road trip in a campervan, then settle down for about ten days.
The question I’m asking myself is: which way should we go? From Sydney to Cairns or the other way around? Despite all the documentation I’ve read, I’m still struggling to decide the best direction based on the climate at that time and swimming conditions.
Up north, the weather will be warmer, and the water too, unlike the south. However, in the north, there are swimming restrictions, especially because of jellyfish, whereas in the south, there seems to be less danger (apart from sharks, maybe). Are there many protected beaches in the north where we can swim safely?
Also, I should consider that in the south, the Great Barrier Reef no longer protects the beaches, so I imagine there are fewer calm spots for swimming?
I’d love any tips or advice you can share, and thanks in advance!
Hi there,
for a 6-month trip to Australia and NZ starting in NOVEMBER, I’d like to visit PNG and the Solomon Islands. Has anyone already explored these two countries?
How can you travel solo there—transport, accommodation, banking, safety—and what’s the best way to get there from AUS?
Thanks for any tips! Are there any French-language sites about these destinations?
Cheers,
jps
Hi there,
I’m leaving on March 4th for Australia from Réunion Island, landing in Perth, then a road trip down to Melbourne before flying out to Vietnam on April 15th.
I’d like to visit Perth and the surrounding area, then head southwest to Margaret River, Albany, Esperance, and back to Perth to catch a flight to Adelaide. From there, I’ll make my way to Melbourne.
1/ What do you think of this itinerary?
2/ For flights, are there any domestic airlines worth prioritizing for good prices?
3/ I’m planning to rent a car after exploring Perth and the area—I’m traveling solo. Any rental companies you’d recommend, as well as nice hotels, B&Bs, or hostels?
4/ Any tips, good deals, or info are welcome—don’t hesitate to share!
Thanks in advance.
I’m planning a solo trip from April 16th to June 2nd!
I have to work for 3 weeks in Papeete when I arrive in French Polynesia, so I can only explore on the weekends (3-day weekends). For my first weekend, I’ll visit Tahiti; my second weekend will be dedicated to Moorea, and the last weekend to Huahine.
After my work period, I’ll continue with my vacation and keep exploring:
Maupiti - 4 nights
Raiatea - 3 nights (including a day trip to Tahaa)
Bora Bora - 3 nights
Rangiroa - 4 nights (could do 3)
Tikehau - 2 nights (could do 3)
Fakarava - 3 nights
For activities, I’m mostly interested in discovering the islands, hiking, and observing wildlife.
I’m not a diver, but I plan to do a beginner’s dive once I’m there. I love snorkeling, though, and I’m wondering if I’m spending too much time in the Tuamotus, which are famous for diving from what I’ve seen.
For travel between the islands, I’ve already looked into the Bora Tuamotu Max pass, which seems like the best option, but I’d love advice on replacing it with one or more ferries.
What do you think? I’m struggling to finalize my itinerary.
We’ll be in Adelaide from February 24th to March 4th and we’d like to spend 3 days and 2 nights on Kangaroo Island.
Any recommendations?
We always travel with simple accommodations
Hi everyone, we're heading to Australia next month. We have 7 days to go from Adelaide to Melbourne via the Great Ocean Road. Should we visit Kangaroo Island or not? We can't decide! Thanks for your advice.
We really want to see kangaroos and koalas in their natural habitat.
Hi everyone,
I’m heading to NZ at the end of January.
It’s peak season—do you think it’s necessary to book activities in advance (like a cruise to Milford Sound), or is it not essential?
Thanks
We’ll be in New Zealand starting March 15th. We’re considering renting a car from Christchurch to Auckland. We’ve read that a lot of ferries have been canceled—is that true? Would it be better to rent one car in the South Island and another in the North Island? Thanks, and happy New Year!
Hi,
When I hear our French friends talk about them, they’re the most beautiful islands in the world.
For those of you who’ve traveled extensively, is that really the case?
Are the prices for accommodation, even basic ones, justified? Isn’t a room in a family-run guesthouse at 150/200 € a bit much?
Are there other islands in Polynesia (non-French) that are just as "paradise-like" but more affordable?
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Hi everyone,
A quick introduction. I'm 27, I live in Picardy, and I'm getting married in 2017. We'd like to spend our honeymoon in French Polynesia for 3 weeks.
I'm open to all kinds of advice!!!
I think we'll use a travel agency because our work schedules don't leave us much time to organize the trip... Unless I change my mind! ;-)
But we don’t want our trip to turn into tourist clichés—we really don’t like that. That said, we *do* want to see those postcard-perfect beaches and landscapes!
We don’t dive, but I think we’ll try a beginner’s dive, and maybe even get our Level 1 certification, depending on how it goes (I read some comments about it on this forum).
Anyway, I’m looking for any information and internet links to make this trip a success.
This is THE trip of a lifetime, and it has to be perfect!
Thanks for your help!
I’m also checking out the different threads about Polynesia on this forum ;-)
Hi everyone,
What great news to read that Voyage Forum is back up and running—I’m so happy! 🙂 I need some advice for a trip we’re planning in 2025: New Caledonia and Australia.
We’ll arrive in Australia on September 1, 2025, and the plan is to spend 2 nights in Melbourne to explore the city, then rent a car to drive from Melbourne to Sydney, where we’ll arrive on September 12. Unfortunately, we won’t have time for the Great Ocean Road
I’ve checked several blogs for this route and here’s the itinerary I’ve put together:
9/4: Melbourne to Philip Island (140 km) – 1 night
9/5: Philip Island to Wilsons Promontory National Park – 2 nights
9/7: Raymond Island (free ferry to cross a 200 m sea channel) – Lakes Entrance – 1 night
9/8: Drive to Narooma (stop at Quarry Beach) – 1 night at "Bodalla Park Forest Rest Area"
9/9: Batemans Bay – Pebbly Beach – Dolphin Point – Jervis Bay – 1 night (to be found)
9/10: Jervis Bay and surroundings – 1 night at Bendeela Picnic Area
9/11: Blue Mountains National Park (1 hour from Sydney) – 1 night (to be found)
9/12: Arrival in Sydney
I know we won’t be able to see everything, and this 9-day route is just a starting point. The goal is to avoid rushing—if we see a place we like, we’ll stop, even if it means seeing less. A vacation where we don’t watch the clock too much! 🙂
Does this route (a mix of several blogs where not all stops are noted) seem realistic or too ambitious? Are there certain spots that are more worth prioritizing over the ones I’ve listed? For example, in one of the blogs I read, travelers skipped Blue Mountains National Park because they chose another site (which I’ve forgotten 😎).
For accommodation, we’ll likely be camping (free or paid), so if you have any suggestions, I’d love to hear them! 😎
Our arrival in Sydney on September 12 depends on my hope to participate in the marathon on September 15, 2025. After that, we’ll leave Sydney on September 17 for Ayers Rock.
Thanks in advance for your tips and ideas—it’s always tricky to plan a route from a distance when time is limited.
And long live this site, which I’ve missed so much since 2020! 😎🙂
