Dream Vacation

[jdnd9091]

I'm about 8 months out from retirement and will be 62 in November. My wife and I don't like traveling long distances due to long flights. so this is a rough draft of our plan. Would love to know if anyone has done something similar, or just feedback from your experiences.

• We would fly from Indy to Honolulu and stay over a few nights to enjoy Hawaii and break the trip up.
• Then we would fly to Tahiti for 6-7 days which is the start of the dream trip, but breaking up flights between Hawaii & Australia.
• Then fly to Australia/New Zealand depending on airfare cost to spend 3-4 weeks. We enjoy the mountains so I'm not sure how much time in each Country. We were thinking of breaking it up 10-14 days in New Zealand and 14 days in Australia.
• We would then fly back to Tahiti for another weeks to relax and we think two total weeks in Tahiti/Bora Bora would be adequate.
• Then either back to Honolulu/Maui for a few days before heading home.

All in all about a 6-7 week dream trip. We are open to flying either to Australia or New Zealand from Hawaii first class with lay flat seats or visa versa and just spend a full two weeks in Tahiti/Bora Bora. Some questions for people who have traveled there.

• Being we love the mountains, would you recommend splitting time between Australia & New Zealand?
• We would like to visit Sydney, Brisbane, the Great Barrier Reef and see some of the Outback. I'm not sure this is even realistic. What would you suggest?
• We have never flown more then 9 hours straight. Does the lay flat seats make it a lot easier?
• What are the must sees in New Zealand and Australia as this might be our first and only trip.
• What would you consider the best time to visit these two countries? I don't want to be there during their blazing Summer months. I was thinking Fall or Spring.
• I'm assuming this trip will cost about 50-60k. Seems crazy, but it is a bucket list trip. I've had some close calls recently (Open Heart 15 months ago and Bladder Cancer twice in 3 years) so I'm a big believer you can't take it with you.

I can't wait to hear from some people about their thoughts.

 

[donheff]

We flew to New Zealand Business Class. If you can avoid some stays it's worthwhile. BC on international flights has the lay down pods. We loved NZ. We biked on the South Island and loved the Bay of Isles on the North Island.

 

[OldConch]

Visited New Zealand and Australia this past January and February and thought the weather was just about perfect. Snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef was a must-do and we chose that instead of the Outback. Water temperature was nice and warm and we used stinger suits to protect against stinging jellyfish. The Outback would have been stifling so we skipped it. Over 6 weeks, we visited the north and south islands, Tasmania, Melbourne, Cairns, and Sydney with a couple of days in the Blue Mountains. Absolutely loved the trip. This was a bucket list trip for us as well and probably a one-and-done so 6 weeks was about the minimum for us. We've been to Hawaii a number of times and French Polynesia is still on the list. I personally wouldn't give up time down under for either of those.

We flew AA business LAX AKL and first SYD LAX using points and a couple of hundred dollars. First was very nice but not worth the premium over business class IMO. Lie flat in business makes long haul flights much easier and the 13+ hour flights were no big deal. When the points/miles gravy train is over our across the ocean travel is probably over too. At 62/68, we won't do it in economy.

Milford Sound, Queenstown, the island under down under (Tasmania), the GBR, and the Sydney Bridge climb were highlights of the trip for us. BTW, the exchange rates were very favorable for us on this trip.

 

[sengsational]

I've never been farther west than Hawaii, so far from a well-informed traveller of the region, but it seems to me that if you pay for lay flat seats, you wouldn't need to break-up the flights for the sake of comfort. Sure, stop in Hawaii if you want to tour there, or if logistically that makes sense, but you really can "live" in your pod sitting, standing, laying, a little walking too... it's not like the isles are clogged like cattle class. A few extra hours and you're where you really want to be, with fewer departure and arrival processes to negotiate.

 

[brett]

We have been to Australia a number of times. Both time we flew from Thailand/Malaysia we flew in to Gold Coast Airport-just south of Brisbane. Going home we flew Sydney-HNL on Jetstar (Qantas) Two days in Hawaii, then a direct flight home. Really breaks up the trip.

Keep in mind that Australia is a huge couuntry. Much larger than many people comprehend.

We like Cairns. But have spent time driving from Brisbane to Sydney and stopping in the Gold Coast and Port McQuarie area. You could easily spend four or five days in Sydney. Same for Melbourne area and the Great Ocean Road up the coast. As I recall it took us about 4 hours to fly from Perth to Sydney.

On our last trip we spent a week in Tasmania on a driving tour. Very different. Very enjoyable. You can fly in or out of either Hobart or Launceston.

 

[anethum]

I suggest you buy or check out of your library guidebooks for NZ, Australia, and French Polynesia and read them before you decide where to go and how much time to spend in each country & region. The NZ and Oz are very different in terms of size, geology, climate, flora, & fauna. You wrote that you love mountains. NZ is much more mountainous and much more compact than Oz. The mountains of the North and South Islands of NZ are very different from one another, as well. Tasmania is more mountainous than mainland Oz. It has some of the nicest scenery in Oz, IMO. I also saw more animals in the wild in Tasmania than on mainland Oz.

I have found deserts in the US & Mexico to be much more impressive in terms of landscape & flora than the bits of Outback I saw in Western Australia. I also found the California coast to be more impressive than the Great Ocean Road in Victoria (I didn't continue on the Road to South Australia.). I haven't been to Queenland at all, nor French Polynesia. I have been to Fiji, however, and enjoyed it.

 

[CaffeineMe]

Our best trip ever was to New Zealand, while still working. We spent 3 weeks there, mostly on the South Island, and feel like we just scratched the surface. Incredible natural beauty! Spend as much time there as you can.

 

[cathy63]

I would suggest skipping Hawaii in at least one direction. I just did a quick search on Google flights for HNL to PPT, and as I suspected, there aren't many flights on that route. Right now, there seems to be only one non-stop per week on Hawaiian Airlines. All the one-stop flights change planes at LAX or SFO, so you might as well just stay in California for a few days and fly to Tahiti from there rather than going back and forth to Hawaii.

I have done the flight from LAX to PPT in both directions and it's only just over 8 hrs. Get on a plane that leaves at 11 PM and you arrive in the early morning. In business class on Air France, this would be an easy trip (we were in steerage when we did it, and it wasn't bad at all). Tahiti is in the same time zone as Hawaii, so if you're already accustomed to PST, it's only a 2-hour jet lag.

 

[MuirWannabe]

I’ll add a 3rd thumbs up for Tasmania. We loved it

 

[jdnd9091]

Visited New Zealand and Australia this past January and February and thought the weather was just about perfect. Snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef was a must-do and we chose that instead of the Outback. Water temperature was nice and warm and we used stinger suits to protect against stinging jellyfish. The Outback would have been stifling so we skipped it. Over 6 weeks, we visited the north and south islands, Tasmania, Melbourne, Cairns, and Sydney with a couple of days in the Blue Mountains. Absolutely loved the trip. This was a bucket list trip for us as well and probably a one-and-done so 6 weeks was about the minimum for us. We've been to Hawaii a number of times and French Polynesia is still on the list. I personally wouldn't give up time down under for either of those.

We flew AA business LAX AKL and first SYD LAX using points and a couple of hundred dollars. First was very nice but not worth the premium over business class IMO. Lie flat in business makes long haul flights much easier and the 13+ hour flights were no big deal. When the points/miles gravy train is over our across the ocean travel is probably over too. At 62/68, we won't do it in economy.

Milford Sound, Queenstown, the island under down under (Tasmania), the GBR, and the Sydney Bridge climb were highlights of the trip for us. BTW, the exchange rates were very favorable for us on this trip.

Wow great info. I really appreciate the feedback. Sounds like it was worth it.

 

[jdnd9091]

I've never been farther west than Hawaii, so far from a well-informed traveller of the region, but it seems to me that if you pay for lay flat seats, you wouldn't need to break-up the flights for the sake of comfort. Sure, stop in Hawaii if you want to tour there, or if logistically that makes sense, but you really can "live" in your pod sitting, standing, laying, a little walking too... it's not like the isles are clogged like cattle class. A few extra hours and you're where you really want to be, with fewer departure and arrival processes to negotiate.

Great point. Thanks

 

[jdnd9091]

I suggest you buy or check out of your library guidebooks for NZ, Australia, and French Polynesia and read them before you decide where to go and how much time to spend in each country & region. The NZ and Oz are very different in terms of size, geology, climate, flora, & fauna. You wrote that you love mountains. NZ is much more mountainous and much more compact than Oz. The mountains of the North and South Islands of NZ are very different from one another, as well. Tasmania is more mountainous than mainland Oz. It has some of the nicest scenery in Oz, IMO. I also saw more animals in the wild in Tasmania than on mainland Oz.

I have found deserts in the US & Mexico to be much more impressive in terms of landscape & flora than the bits of Outback I saw in Western Australia. I also found the California coast to be more impressive than the Great Ocean Road in Victoria (I didn't continue on the Road to South Australia.). I haven't been to Queenland at all, nor French Polynesia. I have been to Fiji, however, and enjoyed it.

Great information. It sounds like we may need 4-5 weeks to do the two countries.

 

[jdnd9091]

We have been to Australia a number of times. Both time we flew from Thailand/Malaysia we flew in to Gold Coast Airport-just south of Brisbane. Going home we flew Sydney-HNL on Jetstar (Qantas) Two days in Hawaii, then a direct flight home. Really breaks up the trip.

Keep in mind that Australia is a huge couuntry. Much larger than many people comprehend.

We like Cairns. But have spent time driving from Brisbane to Sydney and stopping in the Gold Coast and Port McQuarie area. You could easily spend four or five days in Sydney. Same for Melbourne area and the Great Ocean Road up the coast. As I recall it took us about 4 hours to fly from Perth to Sydney.

On our last trip we spent a week in Tasmania on a driving tour. Very different. Very enjoyable. You can fly in or out of either Hobart or Launceston.

What seasons have you visited, and which season did you like the best? Neither of us like it extremely hot.

 

[jdnd9091]

I would suggest skipping Hawaii in at least one direction. I just did a quick search on Google flights for HNL to PPT, and as I suspected, there aren't many flights on that route. Right now, there seems to be only one non-stop per week on Hawaiian Airlines. All the one-stop flights change planes at LAX or SFO, so you might as well just stay in California for a few days and fly to Tahiti from there rather than going back and forth to Hawaii.

I have done the flight from LAX to PPT in both directions and it's only just over 8 hrs. Get on a plane that leaves at 11 PM and you arrive in the early morning. In business class on Air France, this would be an easy trip (we were in steerage when we did it, and it wasn't bad at all). Tahiti is in the same time zone as Hawaii, so if you're already accustomed to PST, it's only a 2-hour jet lag.

Great info, thank you. What is steerage?

 

[cathy63]

Great info, thank you. What is steerage?

I just meant the back of the plane. It was actually coach class.

 

[HarveyS]

You can fly LAX to Papeete, Tahiti direct on AirFrance, and skip Hawaii as a lay-over. My suggestion, don't waste any time on the main island Tahiti itself. Fly to BoraBora and other outer islands. Manihi, Rangiroa, etc. Skip Moorea (over hyped, IMO). Not too many mountains in Tahiti, so be thinking snorkel and scuba, beach time. oh, and French wine.
Of course lie-flat seats change the entire experience. You may find them in business class on some airlines as well. It's probably just as far Indy to mid pacific, so if you go that route, why not treat yourself to lie flat the whole way.
You should at least price an "around the world" ticket. May be significantly lower cost. Have your relax time on the return in Zanzibar, or Mediterranean.
No experience as a tourist in Aus/NZ.

 

[SecondAttempt]

I would suggest skipping Hawaii in at least one direction. I just did a quick search on Google flights for HNL to PPT, and as I suspected, there aren't many flights on that route. Right now, there seems to be only one non-stop per week on Hawaiian Airlines. All the one-stop flights change planes at LAX or SFO, so you might as well just stay in California for a few days and fly to Tahiti from there rather than going back and forth to Hawaii.

I have done the flight from LAX to PPT in both directions and it's only just over 8 hrs. Get on a plane that leaves at 11 PM and you arrive in the early morning. In business class on Air France, this would be an easy trip (we were in steerage when we did it, and it wasn't bad at all). Tahiti is in the same time zone as Hawaii, so if you're already accustomed to PST, it's only a 2-hour jet lag.

I second this. While I live in Hawaii, it is MUCH cheaper to Tahiti from the mainland on Air Tahiti Nui. They don't always show up in searches.

I have never been to New Zealand (but will soon) but I've been to Australia and Tahiti each several times. What are your interests besides just going there? For example, I have been to Bora Bora but really can't figure out why anyone goes there beyond their travel agent booking them. But I love Moorea and Raiatea (where no one goes)!

In Australia I've mostly been to NSW and ACT but also to the coast in Queensland and an island on the GBR. I recommend doing some research on east cost Australia! There is plenty to see depending on your interests, Sydney is barely a start!

 

[DrRoy]

Sounds like a fine trip to me. If you like mountains, (and I do as well) then you want to spend more time in New Zealand than Australia.

 

[jdnd9091]

You can fly LAX to Papeete, Tahiti direct on AirFrance, and skip Hawaii as a lay-over. My suggestion, don't waste any time on the main island Tahiti itself. Fly to BoraBora and other outer islands. Manihi, Rangiroa, etc. Skip Moorea (over hyped, IMO). Not too many mountains in Tahiti, so be thinking snorkel and scuba, beach time. oh, and French wine.
Of course lie-flat seats change the entire experience. You may find them in business class on some airlines as well. It's probably just as far Indy to mid pacific, so if you go that route, why not treat yourself to lie flat the whole way.
You should at least price an "around the world" ticket. May be significantly lower cost. Have your relax time on the return in Zanzibar, or Mediterranean.
No experience as a tourist in Aus/NZ.

Thanks for the feedback. I never thought about it, but there could be non stop to Tahiti from Chicago. We will probably spend the time in Bora Bora, but my understanding is everything goes through Tahiti.

 

[jdnd9091]

I second this. While I live in Hawaii, it is MUCH cheaper to Tahiti from the mainland on Air Tahiti Nui. They don't always show up in searches.

I have never been to New Zealand (but will soon) but I've been to Australia and Tahiti each several times. What are your interests besides just going there? For example, I have been to Bora Bora but really can't figure out why anyone goes there beyond their travel agent booking them. But I love Moorea and Raiatea (where no one goes)!

In Australia I've mostly been to NSW and ACT but also to the coast in Queensland and an island on the GBR. I recommend doing some research on east cost Australia! There is plenty to see depending on your interests, Sydney is barely a start!

Thanks for your input. The three family members who have visited Bora Bora said it was their favorite vacation. I will definitely look at the other two Islands also as we would probably spend 10-14 days there.

 

[sengsational]

Thanks for your input. The three family members who have visited Bora Bora said it was their favorite vacation. I will definitely look at the other two Islands also as we would probably spend 10-14 days there.

I heard Bora Bora was twice as good as Bora.

 

[cathy63]

One thing you might consider during your time in Tahiti is spending a week cruising on the Paul Gauguin. It's a small ship and most of the crew are local islanders. It's a nice way to visit several islands without having to switch hotels.

 

[brett]

What seasons have you visited, and which season did you like the best? Neither of us like it extremely hot.

We typically go in Feb/March when we have been snowbirding in Thailand/Malaysia etc.
It is one reason we fly into Coolangata (OOL) on the Gold Coast. A number of low cost airlines operate from those countries to OOL...Scoot, Jetstar. OOL is about 55 miles south of Brisbane.

Weather is fine. Not hot. But..we have not been inland. We are usually very close to the coast. Have you ever used this web site for weather:

Holiday Weather, Forecasts and Averages

At Holiday Weather we are devoted to providing as much information as possible about the weather in your holiday resorts as possible. From live weather, forecasts, weather averages and overviews of the weather in the top holiday destinations we strive to make our information as comprehensive and...

www.holiday-weather.com

One year we did a picked up a very last minue 21 day Australia/NZ cruise when we arrived in OZ. We bought it from RCI's Australian call center. It was considerably less (about 30percent) than the best price we could get from our US on line discount cruise agent.

If you are planning any domestic air in Australia sign up for Jetstar's sale. Friends of our gave us a heads up on Jetstar flights Tasmania. We booked great sale prices from Brisbane and then back a week later to Sydney.

 

[anethum]

What seasons have you visited, and which season did you like the best? Neither of us like it extremely hot.

NZ overall has much more temperate weather than Australia. NZ is relatively small and is surrounded by ocean which strongly influences its climate. Much of the country, particularly the gorgeous west coast of the South Island, gets a lot of rain. That's why NZ is so green. My first trip there was mid-November to mid-December. My 2nd trip was in January, mid-summer there and peak tourist season. On my first trip, I had a fair bit of rain, particularly on the west coast of the South Island. High temperatures were generally in the 60s. My 2nd trip in NZ's summer had highs mainly in the 70s, and almost no rain except for a cyclone while I was on the North Island. It blew through in 24 hours.

I was briefly in Sydney and environs in late December following my 1st trip to NZ. I had perfect weather. My 6 week trip to Australia began around February 1. I had very hot weather much of the time. It was often extraordinarily hot (around 100 F) in NSW and occasionally near that in Victoria, too. However, humidity was low compared to the eastern USA. Comfortable in Canberra which is nearly 2,000 ft / 600 m high. The temperature jumped around a lot in Victoria and Tasmania. Sometimes near 100 F in Victoria, and 95 when I arrive by air in Hobart, Tasmania. 2 days later, it snowed in Tasmania (it was early March by that time). I've never experienced such a massive change in temperature in such a short time. The snow rapidly melted the next day and it was comfortable again. It was hot and dry in and around Perth, Western Australia, which is normal there. Meanwhile, I dropped any plans of going up to Queensland because they were having floods. December to March is the height of the rainy season in Brisbane, also the worst time for box jellyfish in the ocean off Queensland.

The reason I suggested reading some guidebooks is that the sights and attractions are quite varied and you know best what your interests are. My trips were by bicycle, but I was also hiking in NZ's gorgeous national parks and walking tracks, as well as visiting specific sights which interested me. For example, I saw the wonderful art deco architecture in Napier (North I.), an albatross colony and yellow-eyed penguins on the Otago peninsula (South I.), I went whitewater rafting on the Shotover river (South I.), visited a fantastic garden in a restored quarry in Auckland, saw the glow worm caves in Rotorua (North I.), and went on an excellent brewery tour in Dunedin (South I.)

 

[anothercog]

If you dread flying, have you considered a repositioning cruise? You can pick up cruises from the west coast with stops in Hawaii, Tahiti and New Zealand before finally arriving in Australia.