Enjoyed Australia. Of course, it's big and we did have to fly from Sydney to the Great Barrier Reef area. We used points for an upgrade to first class (the kind with individual pods) on the way over, which made it possible to sleep well for 6+ hours. I'm not sure if we'll ever be able to do that again. Never get much sleep on flights to Europe, which are normally economy flights.

Yes

I stopped in Honolulu for 2 nights so it wasn’t so long.
Still, I thought I would love Australia more than I did. I would always be wondering about going so I’m glad that I visited it.
But there are other places I would visit more than once eg Japan (in fact I visited it 2 years in a row) but I’m not pining to return to Australia.

It wasn’t that bad. It’s just far. You kind of shut down and go into a trance. If you can go it’s truly cool.

Anonymous wrote:I'm with all these people - NZ is awesome. Australia was very meh.

Same. I would do the long flight again for NZ, but feel I am one and done with Australia.

Anonymous wrote:You can stop over along the way if that helps (for some it does). I've gone twice, and stopped in Hong Kong or Singapore a few days on the way over.

Have you ever looked at a map?

I'm with all these people - NZ is awesome. Australia was very meh.

NZ is definitely better than Australia, IMO. We spent a month in both places and I would go back to NZ in a heart beat

You can stop over along the way if that helps (for some it does). I've gone twice, and stopped in Hong Kong or Singapore a few days on the way over.

We loved Australia, but I dont see how people do the cram in a week type trips. If you are older, do you have time to take a longer trip?

Yes!

We flew from DC to SF to Sydney.

It was worth it. It’s a beautiful country, lots to do. Great food. Had a lovely time.

Yes but I went with younger children, and they loved all the animals and outdoors

Anonymous wrote:I’m not even sure Hawaii was worth the flight time to me. I’m shocked how often some east coasters go. I don’t know that I will ever make it to Australia or east Asia. I don’t know if I have the determination. I like comfort.

I feel the same. I was just talking to someone about her trip to Australia and New Zealand. She loved NZ, but said that she has no desire to go back to Australia. Said that all of the major things are a long plane ride apart, so you have to take a 5 hour flight to see the next big thing in Australia. She said not worth it.

I’m not even sure Hawaii was worth the flight time to me. I’m shocked how often some east coasters go. I don’t know that I will ever make it to Australia or east Asia. I don’t know if I have the determination. I like comfort.

As I get older it’s a place I do want to check off the bucket list but the lengthy flights are what makes me somewhat ambivalent on if I truly want to go or not.

How tired were you after arriving? Was the trip worth the length of the flights?