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! 😎🙂
So I did a road trip from Sydney to Melbourne last year over 10 days, so I can give you some tips! 🙂
Here’s my itinerary:
- Day 1: Sydney, Kiama, Berry, Kangaroo Valley
- Day 2: Jervis Bay
- Day 3: Pebbly Beach, Merimbula/Pambula
- Day 4: Long drive day to Buchan Caves Reserve
- Day 5: Raymond Island
- Day 6/7: Wilson Promontory
- Day 8: Mornington Peninsula (including the Peninsula Hot Springs at night—it was amazing!)
- Day 9/10: Great Ocean Road to get back to Melbourne (I still think it’s a must-do!)
About the Blue Mountains, I did them because I spent a week in Sydney. But I didn’t find them exceptional compared to *the* Blue Mountains. Everything’s concreted over, there aren’t any great hikes, and I’m not sure it’s really worth losing a day for! 😕
Anyway, my itinerary + van rental was arranged through an agency I recommend. If you need it! For campsites, I booked in advance (because I like comfort even when I’m in a van, haha!).
Don’t hesitate if you have any other questions,
Manon
Pour plus de renseignements sur le PVT Australie, le Service civique Canada et le voyage partout dans le monde : https://goldenturtles.fr/
Good evening Marie-Noëlle,
We took the "trip of a lifetime" last winter with three and a half weeks in New Zealand, 10 days in New Caledonia (where we’d already been in 2017), and a month and a half in Australia.
Like Manon, our route was from Sydney to Melbourne.
We did it in a week.
Your itinerary looks good to me—just the four-plus-hour drive between Lakes Entrance and Narooma seems a bit long.
We broke it up with an overnight stop in Mallacoota, where we were thrilled to see our first koala!
We stayed at Karbeethong Lodge, one of our favorite accommodations in Australia.
I don’t entirely share Manon’s opinion about the Blue Mountains.
We spent a day there, taking the train from Sydney.
Near Katoomba station, you can buy a ticket at the Blue Mountains Explorer Bus shop—it’s a really handy hop-on, hop-off system for visiting all the stunning viewpoints.
If you do a little Googling, you’ll also find some amazing hikes for all levels.
Hi,
Thanks for your replies, but things have changed since then regarding the trip. I’m hoping to take part in the Sydney Marathon, which usually takes place in mid-September. And I just found out that in 2025, it’ll be on August 31st So I’ve revised the trip plan, which will now look like this:
25/8: Arrival in Sydney (sightseeing and maybe the train to the Blue Mountains).
2/9: Option 1: Sydney to Adelaide along the coast by car, then a flight from Adelaide back to Sydney on 16/9.
Or Option 2: Fly from Sydney to Adelaide (on 2/9), then drive from Adelaide back to Sydney. In both options, we now have 15 days for this route, including the Great Ocean Road this time—nice! I’ll use your itineraries for inspiration to fine-tune the trip and find accommodations (free campgrounds or budget-friendly options).
17/9: Flight from Sydney to Ayers Rock.
24/9: Flight from Alice Springs to Denpasar (to wrap up with two weeks in Indonesia).
@Manon: The car rental agency you recommended apparently doesn’t allow one-way rentals—dropping off the vehicle in a different city. So no van for the two of us; it’ll either be a small car or one where we can sleep inside🙂🙂
I can’t wait to be there already🙂🙂
Hi Marieno,
Regarding car rentals, we used Apex Car Rental for two legs (from Sydney to Melbourne and from Melbourne to Adelaide), with a car-free week in Melbourne in between.
The service was great and the prices were lower than with traditional rental companies (Hertz, Avis, etc.).
But it's always best to compare based on dates and routes.
Thanks Laurent for the info about this site. Did you rent a car or a van? If it’s a car, is it better to rent a model where you can sleep inside, or is that not necessary?
I already think the Sydney marathon will be an amazing experience! I only did the half-marathon, and it was great—the setting is really nice. As for the Blue Mountains, I don’t find them *wow* either, but I don’t really get the comment that they’re "concreted over"—it’s still nature, and there are plenty of hiking trails. That said, keep in mind it’ll be winter, and it gets cold in the Blue Mountains. Like, it can snow in July (usually not in August, but just to give you an idea of the temperatures). The same goes for the rest of your route. It’s a beautiful drive to Melbourne and Adelaide, but it’s not the recommended season. Still, it’s doable, and at least you won’t run into many people. Just know it gets dark around 6 PM, and it’ll be pretty chilly in the south. I know the temperatures don’t seem that low compared to France, but it’s humid, houses are poorly insulated, and if you’re planning to sleep in your car, that’s something to consider.
Otherwise, if you stick with this route, my advice would be not to go all the way to Adelaide since 15 days is a bit short. Instead, do the Great Ocean Road, the Grampians, then head back to Melbourne and see if there’s a direct flight to Ayers Rock (from memory, they don’t run every day, but there are some) instead of driving back up to Sydney.
How funny, I’m part of the Sydney Marathon setup ^^
First off, it’ll be winter. It’s not the same cold as in France, but it’s not summer either. The upside is that it’s quieter and prices are more affordable.
You could spend 3-4 days in Sydney to explore the surrounding areas. Instead of heading to the Blue Mountains, you might want to check out the Royal National Park south of Sydney—it’s just as stunning, and I actually prefer it.
The only downside: you’ll need a car. Otherwise, in a day, you can take the train south of Sydney to Cronulla, catch a ferry to Bundeena, then hike 26 km through the park along the coast to Otford station.
For your road trip:
The Sydney-Adelaide route might be long, but I can give you a few ideas :)
From Sydney, stop in Kiama for a few hours, then head to Jervis Bay. Between there and the NSW/VIC border, there are plenty of charming little towns where you can break up the drive. I really like Merimbula and Eden. After crossing the border, Mallacoota and its surroundings are gorgeous. Keep going to Lakes Entrance, then Wilsons Promontory National Park. After that, head toward Melbourne with a stop at Mornington Peninsula.
The Great Ocean Road is about 250 km from Melbourne. From there, you can either loop back to Melbourne or continue to Adelaide, making stops in Mount Gambier, Beachport, Robe, and Kingston before arriving.
This trip takes time, so it’s up to you whether you’d rather do just Sydney-Melbourne or go all the way to Adelaide. In my opinion, it’s doable but a bit long.
Yes, it’s possible to pick it up in one city and drop it off in another. I rented mine in Sydney and dropped it off in Melbourne 🙂
As for the Blue Mountains, that’s just my personal opinion! When I say "concreted," I mean when you arrive at the Three Sisters viewpoint—I was disappointed. I thought you had to hike to get there, but nope. There’s a road leading right to it, and even a bus. That said, you *can* go for walks in the surrounding areas! !
Pour plus de renseignements sur le PVT Australie, le Service civique Canada et le voyage partout dans le monde : https://goldenturtles.fr/
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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 ;-)
