Nous projetons de partir l'été prochain avec nos deux filles qui seront jeunes ados, pour 3 petites semaines.
Je connais déjà une bonne partie de l'Australie pour y avoir vécu il y a qq années, mais je n'avais alors voyagé qu'entre Sydney/Perth et Sydney/Byron Bay. J'aimerais faire découvrir à ma famille ce chouette pays, et en profiter pour découvrir moi-même ce que je ne connais pas encore.
Particularités de notre voyage : Mon mari surfe et je ne dédaigne pas moi-même une petite vague en body-board de temps à autre 😉 Idem pour les filles, d'où notre choix de passer du temps sur la côte, notamment à Noosa et Byron Bay. Les incontournables de la côte autour desquels j'ai articulé le trip ont été pour moi (comme pour bcp de monde j'imagine !! 😄) la GBR à Cape Tribulation, une croisière+vol aux Whitsundays, ainsi que Fraser Island. Nous nous déplacerons en voiture + hôtel/motel/cabin/bnb pour le logement. … 3 semaines, c'est une durée pitoyable pour voyager en Australie, nous en sommes bien conscients. Les temps de trajets que j'ai indiqué seront augmentés de 30% pour les travaux sur la route, les arrêts etc. Mais avec votre aide, j'espère que ces 3 semaines donneront naissance à une vie entière de souvenirs 😏 Il est maintenant temps de vous soumettre mon itinéraire :
J1 – Landing Sydney
J2 – Sydney - Manly, Opera, the Rocks … les incontournables !
J3 – Sydney - Surry Hills (où j'ai vécu), Victoria Station, ville côtière de Thirroul (idem, avec un joli trajet en train le long de la côte)
J4 – Sydney – Uluru (flight 3h)
J5 – Uluru / Kata Tjutas
J6 – Uluru – Cairns (flight 2h30)
J7 – Cairns – Cape Tribulation (3h – 150 km)
J8 – Cape Tribulation - Daintree Rainforest
J9 – Cape Tribulation - Daintree River - Mission Beach (4h30 -300 km)
J10 – Mission Beach - Airlie Beach (6h – 500 km)
J11 – Withsunday Island
J12 - Withsunday Island
J13 – Withsunday Island - Rockhampton (5h30 – 500 km)
J14 – Rockhampton - Hervey Bay (4h30 – 400 km)
J15 – Fraser Island
J16 - Fraser Island - Noosa Heads (2h30 – 200 km)
J17 – Noosa Heads - Surfer’s Paradise (2h30 – 200 km)
J18 – Surfer’s Paradise - Byron Bay (1h30 – 100 km)
J19 – Byron Bay
J20 – Byron Bay
J21 – Byron Bay - Brisbane Airport. (2h – 180 km)
Cela me parait être de la folie au niveau du rythme, mais je n'arrive pas à faire mieux 😕
D'un autre côté, nos filles sont grandes, nous aimons les road-trips ...
Qu'en pensez-vous ?! D'avance, un grand merci pour vos critiques et suggestions.
effectivement c'est chargé mais je pense que c'est jouable. Il va falloir speeder quelque fois quitte à passer à côté de certains endroits ou points de vue.
2 jours pleins à Sydney, on peut avoir un bel aperçu de la ville sans pour autant se perdre dans les différents quartiers.
L'avantage d’atterrir et de décoller d'Uluru directement permet d'éviter les 5h de route depuis Alice Springs. Vous allez pouvoir faire au moins une des randonnées et assister au lever et coucher de soleil de différents points de vues.
Après je ne connais que la région de Cairns de Mission Beach à Cape Tribulation. On avait pris 5 jours pour tout faire ( 3 nuits à Cape Trib et 1 à Mission Beach ), mais on dormait en camping car donc on pouvait se poser là où on le souhaitait ( pas d'impératif de logement ). Il y a pas mal de ballade, cascades, petites rando à faire tout le long du chemin, il faudra faire des choix.
Merci pour ton retour plutôt positif, c'est un petit soulagement de ne pas se faire démolir son itinéraire d'entrée de jeu !!
Si tu as un peu de temps, ou si tu l'as déjà écrit qq part sur le forum ou sur un blog, j'aimerais bien que tu me détailles tes 5 jours à Cape Trib et Mission ?
Tu avais logé où, par exemple ?
Mon programme idéal à Cape Tribulation serait une sortie snorkling sur la GBR, une sortie sur la Daintree river, ainsi qu'une sortie en forêt. Tu aurais des recommandations ?
C'était merveilleux, la plage à 30m du camp, plage immense presque pour nous seuls.
Du camping, tu peux réserver tout un tas d'activité qui se déroulent à cape trib : sortie sorkellin sur la barrière de corail, ballade à cheval, kayak, il y a aussi des randonnées dans la forêt possible, sortie sur la rivière voir les crocodiles...
Pas d'avis sur une grosse partie de ton trip que je ne connais pas sauf le Red Center où je vois que ton timing reste en dessous le minimum syndical 😕
Aller en avion là-bas a un coût certain, ce serait vraiment dommage de ne pas en profiter, notamment pour aller voir Kings Canyon. Donc 3 nuits sur place serait beaucoup mieux ne serait-ce que pour bénéficier de 3 couchers et levers de soleil à 3 endroits différents.
Notre expérience dans le Red Center si ça t'intéresse : http://jeveuxcamperenaustralie.blogspot.fr/2012/11/le-red-center.html
Je voudrais te remercier en premier lieu pour ton blog, il est d'une telle qualité ! Pour l'anecdote, nous hésitons fortement entre deux destinations : l'Australie, donc, et … l'Ouest américain. Inutile de te dire que je risque de passer du temps à te lire ces prochains jours !
Je suis d'accord avec toi, le temps que j'ai alloué au Centre rouge est minimal … Le souci est que je suis en flux tendu avec la dernière partie du périple, et que je ne vois pas où regagner une journée puisque ces distances énormes, il va bien falloir les ingérer.
Je t'avouerai aussi que je mise sur des vols optimaux, c'est-à-dire une arrivée tôt le matin et un départ tard le soir. Si la réalité me rattrape avec des horaires mal fichus, on peut toujours les décaler de qq heures/une demi-journée.
Enfin, j'ai quand même trouvé sur ton blog un itinéraire de 3 jours où tu mentionnes la possibilité d'un vol le soir 😊 😉
Je te remercie des compliments, ça fait toujours plaisir.
Quand je mentionne un itinéraire avec une possibilité de départ le soir, ce n'est pas une certitude ne sachant pas où l'internaute voyageur a décidé de partir après son passage dans le Red Center.
Donc, vérifie bien suivant ta destination suivante si effectivement il y a un vol à l'heure désirée.
Bonne préparation.
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Hi everyone! I’m planning a long trip of two and a half months and could use some input to fine-tune my itinerary. I already have a good idea of the dates and how the climate will vary depending on where we are in Australia. Feel free to share your thoughts!
**Zone 1: DARWIN – August 17 to 22 (6 days)**
Activities & visits: Crocosaurus Cove, Kakadu Park scenic flight, 3-day excursion to Kakadu, Litchfield, and Katherine National Parks
Flight to Alice Springs on the 23rd
**Zone 2: ALICE SPRINGS – ULURU – August 23 to 30 (8 days)**
Car rental
Activities & visits: Alice Springs (1 day), West MacDonnell Ranges (1 day), Watarrka National Park, Uluru (3 days)
Flight to Cairns on the 31st
**Zone 3: CAIRNS – August 31 to September 9 (10 days)**
Car rental from the 31st to the 6th
Activities & visits: Port Douglas, Daintree Rainforest, Mount Quincan, Herberton Historic Village, Cairns, Great Barrier Reef
Bus to Townsville on the 10th
**Zone 4: TOWNSVILLE – NOOSA – September 10 to 26 (17 days)**
Activities & visits: Magnetic Island
Bus to Airlie Beach on the 13th
Activities & visits: Whitsunday Islands, Great Barrier Reef
Car rental from the 17th to the 20th
Activities & visits: Eungella National Park
Overnight bus from Mackay to Hervey Bay (20th to 21st)
Activities & visits: K’gari (Fraser Island)
Bus to Noosa on the 25th
Activities & visits: Noosa National Park
Bus to Brisbane on the 27th
**Zone 5: BRISBANE – September 27 to October 1 (5 days)**
Car rental from the 29th to the 1st
Activities & visits: Brisbane, Glass House Mountains, Springbrook National Park, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
Bus to Coffs Harbour on the 2nd
**Zone 6: COFFS HARBOUR – October 2 to 4**
Car rental from the 3rd to the 4th
Activities & visits: Dorrigo National Park
Overnight bus to Sydney (4th to 5th)
**Zone 7: SYDNEY – October 5 to 9 (5 days)**
Car rental from the 7th to the 9th
Activities & visits: Sydney, Blue Mountains, Jenolan Caves
Overnight bus to Melbourne (9th to 10th)
**Zone 8: MELBOURNE – October 10 to 16 (7 days)**
Car rental from the 13th to the 16th
Activities & visits: Melbourne, Phillip Island, Great Ocean Road
Flight to Hobart on the 17th
**Zone 9: TASMANIA – October 17 to 23 (6 days)**
Car rental from the 17th to the 23rd
Activities & visits: Hobart, Tasman Peninsula, Freycinet National Park, Natureworld
Flight to Perth on the 23rd
**Zone 10: PERTH – October 24 to 27 (4 days)**
Activities & visits: Rottnest Island, Wave Rock, Perth
Flight to Paris on the 28th
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 ;-)
