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Author Topic: Australia (Besides Melbourne And Sydney) Master Thread  (Read 89503 times)

Offline aussiebochur

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Re: Australia Master Thread
« Reply #100 on: August 24, 2011, 02:26:13 AM »
Buy a GSM phone from AT&T (search DD, there are really cheap ones) or if you have one, have it unlocked and you can buy a sim for $15-$20 that will easily last you your entire stay with plenty of calls, text etc.

Overnight in BKK and 8 hours in Tokyo is sufficient time to get out of the airport if you wish. Depending on what time you arrive/depart there are various things to do.

Haven't stayed at the hotels but for Sydney (and perhaps Melbourne) it may be worth finding someone with Hyatt points and swapping for SPG...

Expensive it will be, especially if the US dollar doesn't pick up...
« Last Edit: August 24, 2011, 02:30:33 AM by aussiebochur »
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Offline Devorah

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Re: Australia Master Thread
« Reply #101 on: August 24, 2011, 03:13:45 AM »
We stayed at the Sheraton Mirage and the resort and grounds were beautiful.  The rooms are a bit outdated, though.  We were there in winter so the weather wasn't the best but in summer it will be gorgeous with all the lagoons etc.
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Offline Dan

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Re: Australia Master Thread
« Reply #102 on: August 24, 2011, 03:21:34 AM »
Gold Coast over Cairns/Port Douglas or Tassie?

+1 on what Aussie said.  Park Hyatt in MEL and SYD are just phenomenal while the SPGs are mediocre.  Try to get some Hyatt or Sapphire points!
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Offline aussiebochur

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Re: Australia Master Thread
« Reply #103 on: August 24, 2011, 08:55:25 AM »
Quote from: Dan on August 24, 2011, 03:21:34 AM
Gold Coast over Cairns/Port Douglas or Tassie?
+1
If its gotta be an SPG property, go with the Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas.
Even if its a bit dated, there's so much to do there's no need to spend endless time there...
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Offline Yehoshua

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Re: Australia Master Thread
« Reply #104 on: August 24, 2011, 11:56:10 AM »
Quote from: aussiebochur on August 24, 2011, 02:26:13 AM
Buy a GSM phone from AT&T (search DD, there are really cheap ones) or if you have one, have it unlocked and you can buy a sim for $15-$20 that will easily last you your entire stay with plenty of calls, text etc. ....

Thanks for the idea of a GSM phone form AT&T, I know which posts you're talking about.  What type fo sim cards are there for $15-$20? Is it just an Australian phone number with local rates or a US number? Where would I get one?
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Offline moish

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Re: Australia Master Thread
« Reply #105 on: September 11, 2011, 04:46:07 PM »
dan, any chance of a trip report or is it dead in the water?

also, i will be in the area (oz, nz) for 3 shabbosim. any recommendations on which city to be for each one?
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Offline moish

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Re: Australia Master Thread
« Reply #106 on: September 12, 2011, 06:25:27 PM »
dan, i noticed you went to hamilton island. first of all, where did you stay, and secondly, why did you choose hi over porrt douglas/cairns?
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Offline Dan

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Re: Australia Master Thread
« Reply #107 on: September 13, 2011, 12:48:34 AM »
At first I was planning on doing one of the famous reef cruises for a couple days but common sense prevailed and I cancelled that and rented a private home for $300/night that included a free electric buggy.

The islands looked beautiful and idyllic in the pictures, but in actuality feels very "70s" and contrived.  Unless you can afford the amazing Qualia resort on Hamilton Island I can't recommend Hamilton Island.  The shame is I almost did book the Qualia with the AMEX 50% off promo and kicked myself 1000 times for not doing so.

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Offline aussiebochur

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Re: Australia Master Thread
« Reply #108 on: September 13, 2011, 12:59:31 AM »
Port Douglas is really nice with tons of activities to do.
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Offline Dan

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Re: Australia Master Thread
« Reply #109 on: September 13, 2011, 01:02:30 AM »
Quote from: aussiebochur on September 13, 2011, 12:59:31 AM
Port Douglas is really nice with tons of activities to do.
Next trip to OZ will prob be PD/Uluru/SYD.
Tasmania was great, but the roads aren't meant for pregnant women.  Nothing too exciting in MEL but the Great Ocean Road and especially the Grampians are awesome.

NZ is higher on the priority list than Australia so it will probably be quite a while till I return though.
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Offline aussiebochur

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Re: Australia Master Thread
« Reply #110 on: September 13, 2011, 01:19:39 AM »
Dan, did you at least make it to Whitehaven Beach?
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Offline Dan

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Re: Australia Master Thread
« Reply #111 on: September 13, 2011, 01:23:31 AM »
Quote from: aussiebochur on September 13, 2011, 01:19:39 AM
Dan, did you at least make it to Whitehaven Beach?
Nope :(
Didn't seem worth paying $$$ to go with a large group to a beach, no matter how good the reputation.  Probably was a mistake though.  Couldn't find any private skippers, but I'm sure even if we did it would've been a fortune as everything else was there.

Rented our own boat instead to try to find our own private beach but it did not end up well...boat got stuck in the reef and we spent much of the time getting the boat unstuck so we wouldn't have to pay $$$$ to get rescued.  You are also not allowed to boat yourself to Whitehaven.
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Offline aussiebochur

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Re: Australia Master Thread
« Reply #112 on: September 13, 2011, 01:25:59 AM »
Quote from: Dan on September 13, 2011, 01:23:31 AM
Nope :(
Didn't seem worth paying $$$ to go with a large group to a beach, no matter how good the reputation.  Probably was a mistake though.  Couldn't find any private skippers, but I'm sure even if we did it would've been a fortune as everything else was there.

Rented our own boat instead to try to find our own private beach but it did not end up well.  You are also not allowed to boat yourself to Whitehaven.
Shame.
It's beautiful!
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Offline Dan

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Re: Australia Master Thread
« Reply #113 on: September 13, 2011, 01:27:42 AM »
Quote from: aussiebochur on September 13, 2011, 01:25:59 AM
Shame.
It's beautiful!
Yup, but we figured that we had been to beautiful beaches before that were deserted.  So why pay a couple hundred bucks to go a beach with a large group tour?

Hamilton Island wasn't my finest hour of planning, but planning a month-long, 20 flight itinerary ain't easy!
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Offline aussiebochur

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Re: Australia Master Thread
« Reply #114 on: September 13, 2011, 01:32:09 AM »
Quote from: Dan on September 13, 2011, 01:27:42 AM
Yup, but we figured that we had been to beautiful beaches before that were deserted.  So why pay a couple hundred bucks to go a beach with a large group tour?

Hamilton Island wasn't my finest hour of planning, but planning a month-long, 20 flight itinerary ain't easy.
Don't remember the season but my parents went with a private boat and said they had miles of beach to themselves.
Pics are stunning!
The only thing is, with the Aussie sun, if you're there all day you get burnt to a crisp no matter how much sun tan lotion you put on...
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Offline Dan

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Re: Australia Master Thread
« Reply #115 on: September 13, 2011, 01:35:17 AM »
Quote from: aussiebochur on September 13, 2011, 01:32:09 AM
Don't remember the season but my parents went with a private boat and said they had miles of beach to themselves.
Pics are stunning!
The only thing is, with the Aussie sun, if you're there all day you get burnt to a crisp no matter how much sun tan lotion you put on...
Dunno how, they specifically told us if we try taking a boat to Whitehaven they'll have us arrested...
Would've loved to though.
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Offline moish

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Re: Australia Master Thread
« Reply #116 on: September 13, 2011, 02:52:10 AM »
a friend of mine told me he stayed at lizard island which looks amazing but pretty expensive. decisions, decisions.....
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Offline aussiebochur

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Re: Australia Master Thread
« Reply #117 on: September 13, 2011, 02:57:04 AM »
Quote from: moish on September 13, 2011, 02:52:10 AM
a friend of mine told me he stayed at lizard island which looks amazing but pretty expensive. decisions, decisions.....
True on both counts.
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Offline Dan

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Re: Australia Master Thread
« Reply #118 on: September 13, 2011, 02:57:48 AM »
Quote from: moish on September 13, 2011, 02:52:10 AM
a friend of mine told me he stayed at lizard island which looks amazing but pretty expensive. decisions, decisions.....
$1,750 per night is a decision you need to think about?
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Offline moish

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Re: Australia Master Thread
« Reply #119 on: September 13, 2011, 03:12:00 AM »
i guess not....  but it is a milestone birthday.....
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