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.
Asia is generally the preferred stop off destination. This is particularly true if you are coming from Europe as most flights stop to refuel here. It means there is usually a very small cost for including a stop over to your flight. Here are some of the best stop off destinations:
Bangkok and Thailand
This is a popular holiday destination for the Australians as there are a few flight operators keeping flights competitive, and it’s still reasonably cheap when you get there.
Whilst in Bangkok, here are some suggestive activities:
1) Grand Palace. is high up on most tourists agendas. It is where the King of Thailand used to live but now it is just used for special occasions. Whilst you can’t actually go inside the buildings, the outside is beautiful enough to admire.
2) Visit The Wat Sai Floating Market by barge. You can pick one up outside the Grand Palace and try and get one that will take you to the Royal Barges Museum too. The boats here are beautiful and have been used for 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’d like to see the hidden gems of Bangkok and want to be a bit different then take a Segway Tours These are a two wheeled electronic device and are easy to use. A great way to see this city.
5) No trip to Thailand is complete without experiencing the Bangkok nightlife. Head to the city and take in a lady boy show or just enjoy a few drinks and watch the world go by.
The great thing about Thailand is that you can enjoy city or beach. If you’d rather rest on a beach for a few days then head to Phuket. Qantas’ no frills airline, Jet Star, flies directly to Phuket from Australia and if you book well in advance or catch a sale, you can pick up some cheap flights.
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 are plenty of other stop over destinations that can’t be explored in this article. Other recommendations include Singapore, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur. If you are heading to or from the US, then consider the beautiful islands of Fiji as an alternative to Asia.
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 become a new Mum. Her website, www.realaustraliatravel.com offers useful information for planning your visit 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
Tags: asia, australia travel, Bangkok, thailand, travel destinations, travel from Australia, travel tips
