Son will be honeymooning in Australia

[NiceAft]

My youngest is getting married in June. He will then be honeymooning in Australia for a few weeks. Does anyone have any advice on what to see that might not be known to the average tourist? He is planning his own itinerary.

Ray

[Boblee]

What are his interests?, it's a pretty big country, personally I like the Northern parts especially in June as it's our winter or dry season up there.

[NiceAft]

His interests! Adventure!

He is a history teacher who likes to travel. He is an Eagle Scout who likes to plan his own trips, instead of the standard packaged travelagent trips. He is also an avid photographer with a keen eye.

Australia is a large country, and he allowing three weeks to see as much as he can.

Ray

[Boblee]

Crikey We've been travelling round for the last eight years and we've missed more than we've seen and don't go near cities, for excellent photography and viewing Cape York, Daintree rainforest, Whitsundays, Tasmania (never been there saving it till old and decrepit), the Kimberlies, Kakadu bit commercial but was good once, Lawn hill, Ayers Rock or uluru but too commercial never been there, Western Kimberlies and gorge country, Gulf country and Rivers, then there's heaps of other desert and fishing country in between.
A warning though to see much of our country you need to be prepared to rough it or pay and even then you will still rough it, my advice is for him to contact travel agents, plenty of them and see what they offer then check back and ask am sure plenty here will have advice.
For only three weeks will need to pick a small area or pay lots for travel etc eg a trip up to Cape York from Cairns is normally ten days but can be shorter, it will be commercial and you won't see real people but will certainly see the country where the tour operators can go and at that time of year it is good just after the wet but dried out so you don't see it at it's best but you can move around and not too hot or humid.
Personally I like the Atherton Tablelands above Cairns and if I could convince the wife would be there.
Best of luck we have a wonderful country (for now) hope he enjoys it.

[NiceAft]

Best of luck we have a wonderful country (for now) hope he enjoys it.

Thanks, he will. He won't be there until June, but he is good at planing ahead.

Ray

[Crikey]

Here's my six bits worth Ray. As an expat Aussie now living and retired in Canada I had seen more of my birth country when we returned for a sick parent sixteen years ago, compared to my original nineteen years and four subsequent trips prior to that. That said, we bought a used van and drove over the 'top end' then down to Perth, in two months. For anyone who's never been there before there are no really 'special places' - it's all special. Also, trying to tick off even a small piece in three weeks is going to be a rushed challenge. Like trying to see even a significant piece of NY state in that length of time. So here's my advice for your eagle scout;

Rent a car for the duration. Camper vans are excellent, but very expensive.
Pick up a tent and some cheap basic gear for those 'special' off the track stops.
Head north for warmth. Winter is cold anywhere - Their June is our December.
Bush and outback (inland) flora and fauna will be well worth a merit badge as well as being incomparable anywhere.
Every campground we experienced was clean and courteous - mostly private run.
Beaches are, well, beaches. Great - but the water can be cold in the south at this time of the year.
Look for town fairs or county shows for a good mix in with the local crowd. Country pubs are special places.
Just drive.... the Aussies will take care of the rest.

Ross

[NiceAft]

I should add that the Eagle Scout is now thirty years old, but once an Eagle, always an Eagle.

Ray

[Boblee]

For anyone who's never been there before there are no really 'special places' - it's all special. Also, trying to tick off even a small piece in three weeks is going to be a rushed challenge.]

Exactly right I mentioned some places earlier but really if you asked me to pick any special place I really couldn't and every year find more special places.
I mentioned the Atherton Tablelands (Mareeba) as a place I could stop but only because it is half an hours drive to Cairns and the reef or an international airport, only 1000k's to Cape York with fishing and pighunting both sides, ten minutes to local pighunting, only 1000k's to the Gulf and hunting or fishing with absolutely limitless opportunities for hunting, fishing and unbelievable natural unspoiled scenery and rainforests in every direction, but thats not for everyone .
Have the second biggest but more relaxed Rodeo in Australia too.

[NiceAft]

Also, trying to tick off even a small piece in three weeks is going to be a rushed challenge

I'm sure, but not going at all means you can't see anything, so, three weeks it is.

Ray

[Mac26Mpaul]

Honeymooning and roughing it mmmm takes a special kind of girl, I hope she knows whats being planned. I think most girls would like to go to the touristy areas with all the comforts of home... June in Australia is the middle of winter. In the southern states its pretty dang cold! The Gold Coast in QLD is kind of the tourist capital of Austalia with nice beaches, plenty of night clubs and tourist parks, and a nice region of national parks behind it in the hills. Lots of honeymooners and overseas visitors go there. Its a pretty place, and very touristy, but even that is cold in June, and they can forget hanging on the beach!

I havn't been to Cairns or Darwin in a coupla decades so cant give advice on them other than, they will be nice and warm in June. Cairns was more backpacker touristy town last time I was up that way but doesnt really compare with the Gold Coast..

If I were coming from overseas at that time of year. I would go North Queensland, probably the Whitsunday islands which are very popular with US and other tourists. The Great barrier reef is pretty special, and I'm sure there is plenty of scope for adventure for them in that area...

[Boblee]

Yes Mackay to Bowen has some great attractions and definitely softer than going inland but think Cairns and Port Douglas with a trip to Cooktown and maybe the tip could keep someone amused but you wouldn't really see much of Aust round the Gold coast which on the few times I have visited the main priority was to get out as quickly as possible like Cairns but then I don't like Razz or commercial tourism? just me.
Anywhere below Rockhamton (tropic of Capricorn) especially near the coast will be wintry if not cold weather, Darwin I didn't mention as except for Kakadu it is not what most? people come here for but I love Darwin with 32 deg days all year and June humidity is down, great fishing and really some very interesting places nearby but like chalk and cheese comparing with eg Gold Coast/Port Douglas.
This is great thinking about these places brings back lots of memories, note went to Rocky (Yepoon) this year for 6 weeks and weather was not nice.

[Berber Boy]

My two bits worth would certainly be North Queensland. Check out arriving into or departing fom Cairns to the US via Honolulu to maximise their time When my family and I lived in Africa we had R&R every 3 yrs and spent one month on Magnetic Island (Horseshoe Bay) nr Townsville and two months in the area up to Cooktown. You you have plenty of access point to the Barrier Reef in North Queensland and great fishing.

Cheers

David

[Crikey]

Berm, I was going to top you off with Rottnest WA. - which is not a good subject at the present moment .

However I will say back to my north american compatriot: An aussie winter is not so cold as a US winter, but that still remains relative to the individual's individual's level of stamina. You can do south in the winter (we did!) but the warm far north ( at that time of the year) is pretty sparse, which only (I say) a die hard type, can truly appreciate. With all due appreciation to the blushing bride - don't jam a survivalist holiday down her throat if she's not up to it! The important thing is to make the occasion truly memorable and if it requires a small delay after the big day, for the honeymoon, then hang back a bit and everything gets magical. The south is warm, the north is wet, and the beer is Australian!

Hoo Rah!

[NiceAft]

I will relay (forward) all of these thoughts.

Ray

[Boblee]

Crikey you need to come back more often, the South below the Tropic of Capricorn has temperate seasons as such eg Summer/Winter etc the North has the Wet/Dry of Tropics and it rarely rains except along the coasts or during the buildup, it's great weather in June.
Yes the interior is sparse but beautiful if you appreciate it, it depends entirely on what the young uns (yes thirty is young ) want to do and what they enjoy.
Our cities and our coastal tourist traps are very multicultural but depending on where you might as well be anywhere in the world if you only visit comfortable traps.
If I went to the US, cities would be the last place on my agenda and so would tourist traps, personally would like to see the real America and the people who make it as opposed to those depicted on TV, have no intentions as can't see enough of this country.
I suppose it depends on whether you want to see the real Aust or the one thats promoted?
There are hundreds/thousands of very nice quite and comfortable spots with good scenery where both parties can relax and for that you just keep coming back to North QLD and the Reef but Cooktown WAS definitely worth a look as is the country between there and Cairns.
Unfortunately my contact with WA was not a memorable experience with the weather turning bad round Carnavon in August and it just got worse both inland and coastal over six weeks but even above there up to Broome/Derby the coast was not pleasant but inland was magic with the gorge country of the Kimbrley's and Karajini.
I really don't envy them trying to get a snapshot of Aust in 3 weeks but really feel north QLD with a bit of time checking out some inland tours?
We had some Canadians (Newfies) who our daughter stayed with as an exchange student for six months come here for a month and they saw Melb and Sydney for a couple of days, flew to Alice and then went down to Adelaide on the Ghan but hated that bit and really didn't want to go anywhere else despite offers being there, but think they enjoyed it as they want to come back someday.
When they arrived they seemed to think they would easily see Aust in that time, it is a big and very varied country and sadly many aussies don't see or appreciate a fraction of it, I guess the US would be the same.
Bob