Come out, come out of Lurk-dom!

Zosha no haven't been back to Orchard Suites give an updated point of view. I need to go back to DL - we haven't seen Carsland yet as it wasn't open in 2011 when we were there!! (Still given I have managed to drop in to all the other parks in the world since, I really can't complain - can I! Lol!)
 
Welcome back Fi!

Wendy, our first trip to DL was in 2011. We've been back 3 times since lol! Haven't been to WDW or TDL though so you're ahead of us there.
 
Zosha said:
I have just been combing through the Aust trip reports for inspiration on what to do when in LA...and it struck me...@PrincessinOZ - aren't you due to go back soon?! It's been awhile since you've produced a US trip report :P
Click to expand...

Yes, it's been a while. :p

We thought of going to Spain this year but I haven't put enough savings behind me.
We then thought of Alaska; and the possibility of getting to DLR before the 60th celebrations finished....and then we talked about doing an Australian vacay.
Anyhoo.....I think we're heading to Uluru and Dawin/Kakadu this year instead.
 
FireflyFi said:
I can't even say I've been lurking, I haven't loaded this site in so long, it's sad :( I miss my Disney peeps hehe

My two US trips of 2015 are behind me now, time to start looking forward. Back to Japan! Started to think about it the other day and its been a couple of years since I was last there, but yet... I don't think there's anything new. Not that a lack of new things would stop me! Just seems odd.
Click to expand...

Welcome back. We need to kick start the Melbourne DisMeets again.
 


We did Alice Springs and Uluru in 2003 -though the Uluru bit we roughed it in a camping tour as it was so dear - had a ball and became good friends with a young "gap year" English couple who we have remained friends with. So getting a bit out of date now but happy to give any advice based on our experiences. The Alice Springs wildlife park was excellent focusing on local fauna and flora. The School of the air interesting. The scenic drives with stops at the canyons and creeks (eg Macdonnell ranges day drive) were very scenic (maybe not quite at the Page standards but one or two were very good). Kings Canyon was amazing - and you have to walk it and see sunrise up top. We also walked the base of Uluru at sunrise - very special and Kata Tjuka was also interesting to walk through by day and see lit up at sunset-so you need at least 2 nights in Kakadu, to see KJ one night and Uluru the other and a separate day or night for Kings Canyon.

DH and I have also visited Kakadu and Darwin as SIL lived up there - first trip was 1991 and that trip we camped in Kakadu. The scenery and rock art is amazing and I would recommend staying rather than trying to visit as a long day trip. Katherine Gorge is also well worth seeing. We have been back to Darwin a couple of times since then. Again the NT Wildlife Park is very good. Mindil Beach Markets have a great atmosphere. Amazing sunsets from the beach - you will get some spectacular pics. The museum is interesting especially the info on the bombing in WWII and a simulation of being in the 1974 cyclone which I think is still in the museum. Plenty of other places to visit. Litchfield National Park of course is a must day trip. Different scenery to Kakadu, especially in the dry, with its waterfalls and rock pools and giant termite mounds. Do go in the winter though - the heat and humidity is awful the rest of the time. My SIL moved back to Brissie late last year but I have a niece who is in the army just stationed up there so if you need any local up to date info just ask.
 


Aussie Wendy said:
We did Alice Springs and Uluru in 2003 -though the Uluru bit we roughed it in a camping tour as it was so dear - had a ball and became good friends with a young "gap year" English couple who we have remained friends with. So getting a bit out of date now but happy to give any advice based on our experiences. The Alice Springs wildlife park was excellent focusing on local fauna and flora. The School of the air interesting. The scenic drives with stops at the canyons and creeks (eg Macdonnell ranges day drive) were very scenic (maybe not quite at the Page standards but one or two were very good). Kings Canyon was amazing - and you have to walk it and see sunrise up top. We also walked the base of Uluru at sunrise - very special and Kata Tjuka was also interesting to walk through by day and see lit up at sunset-so you need at least 2 nights in Kakadu, to see KJ one night and Uluru the other and a separate day or night for Kings Canyon.

DH and I have also visited Kakadu and Darwin as SIL lived up there - first trip was 1991 and that trip we camped in Kakadu. The scenery and rock art is amazing and I would recommend staying rather than trying to visit as a long day trip. Katherine Gorge is also well worth seeing. We have been back to Darwin a couple of times since then. Again the NT Wildlife Park is very good. Mindil Beach Markets have a great atmosphere. Amazing sunsets from the beach - you will get some spectacular pics. The museum is interesting especially the info on the bombing in WWII and a simulation of being in the 1974 cyclone which I think is still in the museum. Plenty of other places to visit. Litchfield National Park of course is a must day trip. Different scenery to Kakadu, especially in the dry, with its waterfalls and rock pools and giant termite mounds. Do go in the winter though - the heat and humidity is awful the rest of the time. My SIL moved back to Brissie late last year but I have a niece who is in the army just stationed up there so if you need any local up to date info just ask.
Click to expand...


Excellent!

DH and I have been to Uluru before; about 16 years ago. We did the Kings Canyon tour and loved it; plus walked through Kata Tjuta early morning before the tourists arrived. I don't think we'll be stopping in Alice at all this trip; so it might be 4 nights in the Uluru resort area.

It's more Darwin/Kakadu. I'd like to spend about 10 days in the area and everyone seems to be saying the same thing - go out and stay in Kakadu. I was thinking 3 or 4 nights? and doing the rounds with the various accommodation locations in Kakadu.
Litchfield is also on my hit list; but I haven't researched any more. I'll put all your recommendations on your list.

Do you have any recommendations for where to stay and/or eat?

We're planning for June.
 
I'll ask SIL! as we didn't have to worry as we stayed with them in Darwin and they are big on camping each time it came to national parks. I had good friends visit last year too but for the tennis so they stayed where they could walk to the venue and not in a convenient/good area for sightseeing. Niece's husband is a gluten and dairy free boy, though not vegetarian, so by now they may have checked out some useful places to eat so will ask her too.
 
We also have a mini-trip in the works - invited to a family wedding and 60th wedding anniversary in Auckland in mid March. Mum is not well enough to go and really wants us to "represent the family" and take lots of pics/videos for her. We scored some good flight prices at short notice with Air NZ so have tacked a few extra days on as luckily DH had already (and coincidentally) booked that week off work; I can get time off a little easier so that was all good. As we have visited several times but never headed north of Auckand we are heading that way, on the first trip day exploring the kauri forests on the east coast (Waipoua Forest) with a night in Opononi and then a couple of nights in the Bay of Islands with Waitangi, Kerikeri, Rainbow Falls, and Russell highlighted in my notes. Subject to weather will do a half day or full day boat trip. Debating about also adding the cost of a twilight or night kayak trip upriver to Hururu Falls as well. Then home via Kawiti Caves and Whangarei. No time for the Poor Knights Marine park - another trip! Also not going up to Cape Reinga - decided rather spend the time poking about the Bay of Islands than a long bumpy 4WD up the beach and sand duning etc - we can do that locally on Frazer and Moreton Islands. Its only a short trip with family gatherings to be included but something that has been fun to spend some hours researching and planning. Now have to buy an outfit for the wedding!
 
Aussie Wendy said:
I'll ask SIL! as we didn't have to worry as we stayed with them in Darwin and they are big on camping each time it came to national parks. I had good friends visit last year too but for the tennis so they stayed where they could walk to the venue and not in a convenient/good area for sightseeing. Niece's husband is a gluten and dairy free boy, though not vegetarian, so by now they may have checked out some useful places to eat so will ask her too.
Click to expand...

Thanks. Hope to get some low-down if possible.

I'm only planning on booking flights, accommodation and car hire for this trip. Don't really want to do a heap of research.
 
Aussie Wendy said:
We also have a mini-trip in the works - invited to a family wedding and 60th wedding anniversary in Auckland in mid March. Mum is not well enough to go and really wants us to "represent the family" and take lots of pics/videos for her. We scored some good flight prices at short notice with Air NZ so have tacked a few extra days on as luckily DH had already (and coincidentally) booked that week off work; I can get time off a little easier so that was all good. As we have visited several times but never headed north of Auckand we are heading that way, on the first trip day exploring the kauri forests on the east coast (Waipoua Forest) with a night in Opononi and then a couple of nights in the Bay of Islands with Waitangi, Kerikeri, Rainbow Falls, and Russell highlighted in my notes. Subject to weather will do a half day or full day boat trip. Debating about also adding the cost of a twilight or night kayak trip upriver to Hururu Falls as well. Then home via Kawiti Caves and Whangarei. No time for the Poor Knights Marine park - another trip! Also not going up to Cape Reinga - decided rather spend the time poking about the Bay of Islands than a long bumpy 4WD up the beach and sand duning etc - we can do that locally on Frazer and Moreton Islands. Its only a short trip with family gatherings to be included but something that has been fun to spend some hours researching and planning. Now have to buy an outfit for the wedding!
Click to expand...

Sounds wonderful!
 
I'm booked! Jetstar and their sneaky Japan sales, got flights for me and BF Melbourne to Tokyo return DIRECT (wasn't expecting that and let's hope they don't change closer to the date) for $1350 including all meals, seats, 20kg luggage each there, 40kg luggage each back. So happy :D depart 12 November at 1am return 9 December.
 
Yay! So exciting!

I looked at that Jetstar sale for my China flights, but by the time I paid for flights from Singapore to Shanghai it didn't work out any cheaper than just going with Qantas lol!
 
Thanks Zanzibar :)

You've gotta have a keen eye when it comes to these sales. Qantas was only slightly more, but luggage is not upgradable, so just 23kgs each wasn't an option lol
 
Ah yes. I'm going to have to make do with 23kg on the way back from Shanghai... not quite sure how lol! Only going to be there for 3 nights though, in the height of summer, so it's not like I'll need to take much with me ;)
 
So exciting Fi! I did check those Japan airfares and was happy they didn't cover our dates (already booked and paid about $1000 each as they're during school holidays)
We've only got the 20kg each, but there are 4 of us. But that also means 3 of us will be shopping (hubby probably won't buy anything. Leaves more room for the kids and me :))
 
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