Australian visit

[Tom Martin]

My wife and I are taking a trip to Australia this coming winter, Feb17 to March 17, landing and departing from Melbourne. This is our first visit to the country and we are looking for suggestions about things to see and do. Of course my interests are aviation and agricultural and items from those themes would be most welcome.
It would be a real bonus if a flight in a RV or rocket could be arranged it is always nice to see things from the air. Also I have quite a bit of experience building these machines and I would gladly trade a bit of riveting, inspection, etc for a room for a night or two. Our basic plan is to explore the regions between Melbourne and Sydney by car but regional airline flights are also a possibility.
All suggestions welcome!

[rv8bldr]

Hey Tom

Can't help you with local flights, but my wife and I spent September in Oz last year (we're from just outside Ottawa). I had a week of work to do in Melbourne, then a week off, then a week in Brisbane. We rented a car and spent the middle week driving from Melbourne to Brisbane on the coastal highway. It was phenomenal.

We stayed at small hotels/B&Bs on the way plus three days at a small hotel in Sydney (in The Rocks). Didn't get to any aviation related areas unfortunately. However, we REALLY enjoyed it all as I'm sure you and your wife will.

If you enjoy Malaysian food, go to the Coconut House on Elizabeth St in Melbourne (up near Queen Victoria Market). It is a small place, extremely busy, but the food is awesome and cheap.

Cheers

[bruceh]

I was in Sydney back in March 2008 for a week of work. I extended my stay for a few days and did a quick side trip up to Cairns (via Virgin Blue) and did a 3 day scuba dive trip on the Great Barrier Reef. Not to be missed! Got to check off one of my bucket list items.

[Bob Redman]

G'day Tom,

We live on the coast about 160km north of Sydney, 2.5 hours by train, 1.25 hours by car once clear of the city traffic.

Currently we are relatively free between 17 Feb & 17 March, and we should be able to plan around the unexpected - four adult children & their families.

You are welcome to stay with us, and we could arrange a get together with the local Chapter of the Sport Aircraft Association at the Royal Newcastle Aero Club airfield at Maitland in the Hunter Valley.

As already advised, I suggest drive from Melbourne to Sydney via the longer coastal route, and then drive back the faster inland route if you are short of time.

Contact us by pm for more information.

Regards,

[Tom Martin]

Thanks for all the advice and suggestions. Please feel free to use my email address
fairlea@xplornet.ca

[Shimoda]

..on the Mornington peninsula

...has some RVs (..& many other interesting a/c)

My RV4 was born there ! (... & if you get over to NZ, you can have a ride, as thanks for the many happy hours I spent in your 'Raven' RV4, when I co-owned it in the UK)

[Ignition]

Originally Posted by Tom Martin

My wife and I are taking a trip to Australia this coming winter, Feb17 to March 17

Pack for Summer, it will be hot in February & March

[Warbo]

G'day Tom,

You're welcome to stay with us in Canberra, the nation's capital, which is between Melbourne and Sydney.

At home we have:
guest bedroom
RV-7A under construction (very early stage)
genuine Aussie hospitality
cold beer!

In our city and surrounds we have:
some outstanding tourist attractions
the best restaurants in the country
lots of good wineries producing the country's best cool climate wines

Cheers

[RV7ator]

I had the pleasure of living in Adelaide while resurrecting a 421. So I'm an expert!

But visited other cities. Each varies somewhat from being just another Big City, but between Melbourne and Sydney it's much the same though pretty. I'd return to Adelaide in a heartbeat and skip the others except as ports of entry. Never made it as far as Cairns, but the two represent extremes (well, there's Darwin and Perth) and South Australia is much more diverse and to me more interesting than the SE coast. It's Oz's wine region, there's 'Roo Island and the south coast, the Flinders, desert north and west, and a delightful city.

A year or so ago an RV driver posted a video from Parafield (Adelaide) to Murray Bridge (IIRC).

John Siebold

[rjtjrt]

Tom
I have some info that may help.
I typed out a long reply and then somehow I did something and it disappeared before I could post it!
I will type it again, but before I do can you tell me what sort of farming you are interested in? Crops, cattle, dairy, ??sheep?
I can then add a bit to take into account your farming interests.
John
Melbourne