If you are planning a trip to Australia, you’ve probably already worked out that it’s a long way from anywhere else! It also takes a long time to get here especially if you are travelling from Europe or the US. So, most try to combine a trip to Australia with a few other places just to make the most of being in the southern hemisphere and in this part of the world.
A stop off will only work if you have enough time. You need at least 3 weeks to visit Australia and then you will only be visiting a small proportion of this fantastic country. A 2 night stop off is do-able if you have a 3 week holiday to Australia.
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
A great destination for travel from Australia, as there are a few flight operators which keeps prices low. Once you are there, prices are still reasonable cheap too.
Whilst in Bangkok, here are some suggestive activities:
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) Wat Sai floating market – take a barge tour from outside the Grand Palace (Make sure you bargain) and pick one that takes in the Royal Barges museum too. Here you can see the beautiful boats that were used for the King’s processions
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) The Bangkok nightlife is certainly vibrant and its worth taking a trip into the heart of Bangkok to enjoy some of the action. Take in one of the infamous shows or just watch the world go by over a few drinks.
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.
I’d only recommend Phuket if you are a party animal. It’s a bit like an Asian equivalent of Ibiza. It’s a very big resort with hundreds of clubs and bars and restaurants. If you are after a quieter holiday then I would head to Phi Phi Island. This is a popular day trip from Phuket but a great alternative if you need some quiet time. It is near where they filmed “The Beach.”
Unfortunately there isn’t room in this article to tell you about all the stop off places. i would also consider Hong Kong, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. Fiji is another great destination, particularly if you are travelling from the US. This is a very idyllic set of islands, the perfect relaxing getaway.
If you do intend to spend a couple of months in Australia then I’d consider including a trip to New Zealand or even Bali to your plan. Both are only a few hours onward flight from Australia.
Jennifer Schellington has nearly 5 years 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, australia travel, Bangkok, thailand, travel, travel destinations, travel from Australia, travel tips
