What to do on an Australian East Coast Holiday?

[RickS (Rick)]

Originally Posted by Octane

I've been here five years and love it. Wouldn't live anywhere else. Except New Zealand.

H

My son has been down there for four years and seems to like the place, but he's kinda weird. He's a mathematician

[Octane (Humayun)]

Rick,

It's very easy for some people to say that this place is a hole. It isn't. It's a wonderful place to bring up a family.

Nice wide open roads, clean, no traffic, no pollution, blue skies during the day and when La Nina isn't calling, dark skies at night.

H

[RickS (Rick)]

H,

I was being a bit tongue-in-cheek, but I have spent a fair amount of time on business in Canberra in the past and have rellies and friends that live there. Apart from the cold/heat/flies it's a nice place and certainly interesting to visit...

Cheers,
Rick.

[Octane (Humayun)]

Oh, I wasn't referring to you. : )

H

[GrahamL]

I dont travel much , but picking up around (grafton )the north coast where I've been having a little look for many years . a couple of days or so around these parts

As Al mentions yurrigar national park around Wooli
is a very pretty and unspoilt part of our coast
dingos,coastal emus
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/na....aspx?id=N0040

diverting inland from grafton the granite country is very pretty gibralter and washpool side by side present a very stark contrast to each other... the standing stones at Glenn Innes are worth a look.. north to tenterfield.. The museum has One of Peter Allens marracas encased in
glass.
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/na....aspx?id=N0012

Bald rock near tenterfield is stunning
http://www.halenet.com.au/~jvbryant/natpark.html

Back towards to the coast and ballina
Yes the one and only big prawn is very popular for photos
best taken from the easternside as kids have graffitied the other with a
less than photofriendly representation.
(its getty flattened shortly so It will soon be no more)

Ballina to byron bay very picturesque coastal drive.
Byron bay is a pretty big tourist destination
Best to travel from ballina at xmass ..the exit from the motorway at ewingsdale banks traffic for miles .

byron north, mount Warnings a great view . not sure I'd ever drag young kids up there again

Onwards to the gold coast , dreamworld , movieworld , waterslides etc


hope they have a great time

[Jen]

oh a holiday would be lovely right now with the way this weather has been tell them to bring an umbrella and a rubber dingy

[GeoffW1 (Geoff)]

Hi

Back on topic Not like I'd ever stray

If they have a day or two to spare for the Blue Mountains, a drive along the Great Western Highway is good, to Katoomba etc, where they can see the well known sights like the Three Sisters, Govett's Leap etc, then to the Darling Causeway, Mt York lookout, and on to Bell's Line Rd.

From here you can find one of the best kept secrets in the Blue Mountains, the Walls Lookdown on Grose Valley. Take the dirt road turnoff to the Pierces Pass carpark, the lower carpark, not the first one. Right behind the small toilet block is a very clear but unmarked track. The grade is flat to easy, but sometimes rough and stoney. Take that for about 15 - 20 min to the lookdown, where you can see stunning views of the Grose Valley far below, and the far side around Anvil Rock and Perry's Lookdown. There are no paved areas or railings at the edge, so keep control of children. The immediate area is a favourite with abseilers, and you may see them on the walls, like little coloured geckos.

A good break can be had at Mt Tomah Botanical Gardens if they like that sort of thing.

Cheers

[space oddity]

I would think the itinerary would depend on what sort of things they like and how much time they have. If they like the astro stuff, Parkes ,Siding springs and Narrabri are all in a row and on the "short cut" via the Newell Highway with Mt Kaputar as a side trip. Mount Warning and Lamington for those who like nature. I would have thought a detour to the swollen New England waterfalls would be nearly mandatory. A detour via the Great Ocean Road first although a there and back would give good value. One zoo with Australian animals needs to be on the menu. Glenrowan may or may not appeal to overseas visitors-trust us Aussies to idolize a bushranger. Wilson's Promontary if time. How about Phillip Island before heading north? The countryside around Tumbarrumba is only a small detour if going along the Hume Highway. Of course, the coastline is great, but they should see more than just the coastal areas.
I am getting jealous. This is something that I reckon could only be done at retirement if only I can live long enough to be able to retire with any health still intact the way things are going.
To see everything worth exploring on this route would take 2 months and use a lot of petrol. To see all of Australia would take a full year- grey nomad stuff.

[duncan]

AH Dammit go the extra 100KLMS and see the ETTAMOGAH PUB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As well as NOOSA and everything else there.
Just my thoughts.

[Davros (Lauren)]

Love Timbertown, I was down there last month. Nothing like working steam engines / sawmill and collections of Massey Fergusson tractors.

[M110 (Andrew)]

They should stop 1st big thing in Coffs, the big banana. Being going right through Coffs on the way to the gold coast.
Definitely the 3 sisters, they are stunning.