Ongoing discussions · Oceania

Hi everyone who knows New Zealand well, I’ve got two weeks to plan in New Zealand this coming December. Arriving and departing from Auckland. I’m struggling a bit because I can’t decide between the North Island and the South Island. I’ll be renting a car and I’d love to find a nice road trip with beautiful landscapes, hikes, and places that aren’t too touristy. If I choose the South Island, I was thinking of taking a flight from Auckland to Christchurch and renting a car from CHC. I know I’m asking a lot, but to those of you who know New Zealand well, I’d really appreciate your help in making this long-time dream come true. Thanks in advance. JP

Hello,

Our daughter has gone to Sydney, and we’d love to spend the end-of-year holidays with her. The plan is to leave from Paris or Brussels and break up the trip with a 3- or 4-day layover to "split" the journey in two. Then head back to Sydney, explore the East Coast in a van, celebrate Christmas and New Year’s in Sydney, and finally return to France with another layover.

My questions: Which city should we choose for the layover (we’ve already visited Kuala Lumpur and Singapore and would like to see a different city)? Both on the way there and back? Which agency should we rent a van from? What sites should we visit on the East Coast?

If you’ve done this kind of trip before and have any tips or advice, I’d love to hear them.

Thanks

Hi, I’m a bit confused about whether you *have* to go through local tour operators for visits to Uluru (especially Sunrise and Sunset) or if it’s possible to do individual visits (with the shuttle buses). Thanks if you can shed some light on this!

Hi everyone. Because that’s also what sparks the desire in every traveler (well, at least for me) to set foot on Australian soil: discovering a new continent.

Right now, I’ve got some time on my hands—those who follow me know that. A nasty muscle tear (which really doesn’t want to heal) is keeping me grounded for another week, so I’ve decided to open a new travel journal, recounting my recent trip from December 14, 2024, to January 12, 2025, in Australia.

The origins of this trip started last May in Crete, an island I chose for a 10-day break. It’s really lovely, by the way, but that’s not the point… It’s around this time every year that we decide on our next winter destination, and Argentina was at the top of the list—Sydney wasn’t even on the radar… I’d been looking at flights to Buenos Aires for a while, and the prices were shocking… But by the pool one lazy afternoon, scrolling on my iPhone, a promo from Geneva to Sydney caught my eye. The deal ticked two boxes on my traveler’s bucket list: a flight to Australia and a flight with Singapore Airlines, often ranked as the world’s best airline. A quick chat with the missus (well, of course!) and the decision was made: off to the land of kangaroos! Now, once you add luggage and Economy Plus, it still comes to 1600 € per person, but that’s a reasonable price. Either way, we already know what we’re in for—Australia is a budget commitment!



Thanks to 123rf for the image loan 😛

Hi everyone, I have to leave for Perth, Australia in a week, for 7 days, and I couldn’t get my international driver’s permit due to processing and delivery delays.

The information I’ve found about whether an international permit is required is contradictory. Some sources say you need one, others say you don’t.

Could anyone let me know if an international driver’s permit is necessary to rent a car in Australia (Perth), or if a French license is enough for a 7-day rental?

Thanks in advance for your advice

Hi there, I’m explaining our situation—my daughter and her young family have just moved to Polynesia, specifically to the island of Raiatea. That’s great, of course, and my wife and I are planning to visit them. However, flights that go through the United States are causing us a problem because we’ve been to Cuba. I think we’ll need a visa because of that. Has anyone else dealt with this situation before? Any advice on flights and visas would be really helpful. Thanks in advance for your feedback.

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 there, We’re planning a trip to Polynesia and would love to hear your thoughts on this destination—especially spots that are charming but not too touristy, with access to paradise-like beaches... If we could avoid falling into the usual tourist traps for once, that’d be great! I can’t wait to read your replies... Just one last thing—Tahiti is a dream for me. I want to see the Tiare flower with my own eyes, visit pearl farms, and maybe even check out vanilla plantations... This will be the trip of a lifetime, and I already know it’ll be unforgettable. If you help me out, that’d be amazing! Thanks so much!