Choosing a Stop Off Destination For Travel From Australia
A trip to Australia needs careful planning as it is a long way from any other continent. Travel times are usually very long (22 hours from Europe and 14 hours from the US.) A great option is to include a stop off on the way or way back from Australia. Alternatively you could stay longer and visit another country in the southern hemisphere.
Unless you are coming here for more than 3 weeks, I’d limit your onward travel and not try to do too much. Australia is huge and you need at least 3 weeks to do it justice. In fact, you’ll only be able to see a small part of this amazing country with 3 weeks.
So a stop off is a good idea and many choose to take a few days in Asia. It’s a good option as most of the flights from Europe stop to refuel in Asia so there is generally a very limited cost to including a stop off to your flight. It is also a great way to get you over the jet lag and break up the flight. See below for my stop off recommendations:
Bangkok and Thailand
Many Australians choose this destination for a holiday or a stop off on their way to Europe. There are a few operators flying to Thailand which keeps the prices reasonable. Plus, Thailand is still relatively inexpensive when you arrive.
For Bangkok I’d look to do the following:
1) A must visit is the Grand Palace. Whilst you can’t actually go into the Palace the buildings are beautiful and can be admired from the outside. This is the official residence of the King but is now only used for special occasions.
2) The Wat Sai Floating Market is a good one to visit and you can get on a barge outside the Grand Palace. It’s also good to combine a visit to the Royal Barges Museum. They have some fabulous boats on display that have been used by the King.
3) If shopping is your thing then head to Chatuchak Weekend Market . It’s easy to get lost here as the place is so large. It’s also a great place to eat as there are lots of restaurants. The market opens at 7am and I suggest you get there early to avoid the crowds and the heat.
4) If you would like to see more of Bangkok, then take a Segway Tour. This is a tour with a difference as you will be on a 2 wheeled electronic device. They are easy to use and they give you a real sense of freedom as you cruise the streets of Bangkok.
5) Enjoy the nightlife. A night in Bangkok is usually good value and we’ve all heard of the lady boy shows etc. Bars are a plentiful and generally offer a good night out.
If you would rather head to the beaches of Thailand then consider the area around Phuket. Jet Star fly directly to and from Phuket from Sydney and at certain times of the year there are special reduced fares.
Phuket is not for everyone though. This place is like Ibiza but in Asia. It’s big, very touristy and full of pubs, bars and restaurants. If you’d rather have a quieter experience then the areas around Phuket are lovely. Phi Phi Island is a popular day trip from Phuket but you can stay here instead. It is close to where they filmed the movie “The Beach.”
There isn’t room in this article to explore all the stop off alternatives. Other stop over options include Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong and Singapore. If you are travelling from the US then Fiji is a good stop off to break up the flight and see another beautiful island getaway.
If you have more time and are planning a longer trip to Australia (months rather than weeks) then I’d recommend combining your trip with New Zealand or even Bali. Flight times from Australia are only a few hours.
Jennifer Schellington has nearly half a decade of experience in travelling Australia and has recently had a baby. Her website, www.realaustraliatravel.com offers practical information for planning your trip to Australia as well as what to do and where to go. Click here for more information on Stop off destinations and travel from Australia
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