Australia is huge, too. Internal flights will be an added expense

Anonymous wrote:Do a safari instead.

np Maybe that's not what they want to do? Your response seems rude to be honest

The shortest possible way to travel is about 22 hours with a short layover in LAX or SFO (like under 2 hours). That runs $7,500-10k in business class. Or if you fly eastward, it can be under $7k like currently I see $6,700 via Istanbul ans Singapore, but that's 32 hours of travel.

Remember to budget another $2k on your trip for vegemite sandwiches.

What extras/ excursions have been worth it for your kids? Animal encounters?

I’m the PP asking about west coast. Thanks for your pov. When I play around with tickets it’s cheaper to go to LAX on one ticket, stay a night or two and then on to Australia. Normally I wouldn’t consider this but we will be five people so it could save maybe 2K. But feels like a waste of precious itinerary days

Anonymous wrote:Holding Koalas is only allowed in some parts of Australia not others. Check.
Great Barrier Reef increasingly bleached.
Fiji is a nice stopover and parts have great snorkeling if you go to a smaller island.

They are increasingly doing away with koala holding Lone Pine has announced it is stopping.

A flight or boat.
We like Kokomo but it is $$$$
Australian friends love Toberua it's $$, tidal as all islands there but boat snorkeling. Very family oriented people return for decades. You go to Suva first.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can PPs talk more about preferring our summer break for this trip?

Also would flying from west coast cut costs?

As opposed to what? If you live in DC what would you do? Drive to CA?

Idk - that was not the OP. This is the OP and I live in DC area. But it did give me the idea to consider staying in CA for a few days to break up the trip.

To the PP asking about 20 days - I randomly lived in NZ for 6 months when I was 4. My dad had an extended business trip and since my sister and I were only in preschool, we all went. We stopped in Hawaii for a week or two in the way home. Have you been there? I really like Hawaii but I’ve never been to Fiji.

You would need to research where to go in Fiji. Pretty sure it wouldn't be Suva. You may need to take a flight to get to the nicer parts.

NZ is the size of Colorado. There are so many different environments and things to experience.

There are many different environments in Oz, but it's huge. A lot of time/money/energy is spent on traveling within the country.

Anonymous wrote:Holding Koalas is only allowed in some parts of Australia not others. Check.
Great Barrier Reef increasingly bleached.
Fiji is a nice stopover and parts have great snorkeling if you go to a smaller island.

Agree. The trip out to the Great Barrier Reef was incredibly disappointing.

Do not stay on way over. Press on! Use the CA hotel and car money to buy better seats on the 14 hour flights.
Hawaii on the way back works.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can PPs talk more about preferring our summer break for this trip?

Also would flying from west coast cut costs?

As opposed to what? If you live in DC what would you do? Drive to CA?

Idk - that was not the OP. This is the OP and I live in DC area. But it did give me the idea to consider staying in CA for a few days to break up the trip.

To the PP asking about 20 days - I randomly lived in NZ for 6 months when I was 4. My dad had an extended business trip and since my sister and I were only in preschool, we all went. We stopped in Hawaii for a week or two in the way home. Have you been there? I really like Hawaii but I’ve never been to Fiji.

Holding Koalas is only allowed in some parts of Australia not others. Check.
Great Barrier Reef increasingly bleached.
Fiji is a nice stopover and parts have great snorkeling if you go to a smaller island.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What would be a realistic budget for a family 5 to go to Australia - probably for 2 weeks over winter break in December - presumably to see the greatest hits but we are ok with Airbnb fwiw.

Kids would be 18, 16, and 13 at the time of trip. And this would be in 4.5 years! But I need to start saving sooner than later.

Is $30K too low ball of an estimate? That was my best guess. But I have no experience and I am essentially basing that estimate on vibes only

We spent abut $35K for 5 of us to fly to South Africa for a blow out safari. I think 35K is quite expensive - unless you plan to really go luxury. yes, the airfare will cost but thereafter I don't see where the additional $20K will go in 2 weeks. Airbnb could be $4-5K. Rent a car. And the rest if just eating a shopping. Most of what Australia has to offer is the great outdoors, which is free.

Let's say $10K on airfare, $6K on lodging, and another $6K on expenses? That's only $22K.

There are plenty of additional excursions that can add up. Eg reef trip, animal parks, Sydney Harbour bridge climb, Kakadu trip, etc. Few people go all that way and do none of these.

For only 2 weeks, need to include multiple internal flights for 5 people (more $ if coincide with mid-year school break).

Need to budget for car rentals. Airbnb may only be worth it if staying in one place at least a few days. In 4.5 years, don’t be surprised if there are more restrictions on Airbnb (ie current debate over housing pressures and Airbnb rentals reducing long term rentals for locals).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here who has promised DD9 a trip to Australia. Thank you for all this great advice.

Our plan is to go during our summer, choosing specific dates based on airfare cost. Focus will be on wherever she can see/hold/learn about koalas.

If you had 20 days total, would you spend a few in Fiji or Tahiti? Or focus on Australia? We are east coasters who may not make it to Oceania again

I'd do New Zealand and Aus with that much time. But I believe that you can get a free stopover in Tahiti on Air Tahiti when flying to Aus. You may want to check their promotions at the website. Book early to save money.

If you do that spend the greater part of the time in NZ rather than Australia.

Not in their winter though unless just skiing in NZ.

What's wrong with winter in New Zealand?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here who has promised DD9 a trip to Australia. Thank you for all this great advice.

Our plan is to go during our summer, choosing specific dates based on airfare cost. Focus will be on wherever she can see/hold/learn about koalas.

If you had 20 days total, would you spend a few in Fiji or Tahiti? Or focus on Australia? We are east coasters who may not make it to Oceania again

I'd do New Zealand and Aus with that much time. But I believe that you can get a free stopover in Tahiti on Air Tahiti when flying to Aus. You may want to check their promotions at the website. Book early to save money.

If you do that spend the greater part of the time in NZ rather than Australia.

Not in their winter though unless just skiing in NZ.