If you are looking at staying with visual, why not an 8" dob? The come as either solid tube or collapsible (bit more compact). If the collapsible option opens transport option, then there's larger dob aperture options that can fit in your budget.
If going manual scares you a bit, you could also add digital setting circles to it, like the
Nexus II from Astro Devices (Aussie made too!), and point the scope with the help of an app on your phone, such as Sky Safari. You select the object you want to look at, and move the scope while looking at your phone to follow the little marker (your scope) until it sits over the selected object. The Nexus II uses wifi to communicate with your phone, tablet or computer. Goto is not the only computer aided scope pointing option out there.
GEM's are complicated to use, and time consuming to set up and pack. An alt az mount is much easier, and a dob is the easiest of all.
Alex.