Australia is a long way from any other continent and so getting here can feel a bit like running a marathon. A good option is to break up the flight and include a stop off on your way to or from Australia. Another good idea is to stay a little longer and visit another country in the southern hemisphere whilst you are here.
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.
Many travellers choose to do a stop over for a few days on the way there or way back from Australia. This also has the added benefit of breaking up the long flight and the jet lag. Asia is usually a classic choice for this and see below for more recommendations for stop overs:
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.
For Bangkok I'd look to do the following:
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) 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) For the best shopping go to the Chatuchak Weekend Market It's very large so its easy to get lost here. There is everything you could possibly think of here and it's also a good place to eat as there are plenty of restaurants. My advice is to get there early as the heat and crowds get worse as the day goes on. It is open from 7am.
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 a beach holiday is more your thing then head to Phuket in Thailand. Jet Star flies directly to Phuket from Australia and you can usually find cheap flights if you wait for a sale or book well in advance.
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.
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.
Many travellers choose to do a stop over for a few days on the way there or way back from Australia. This also has the added benefit of breaking up the long flight and the jet lag. Asia is usually a classic choice for this and see below for more recommendations for stop overs:
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.
For Bangkok I'd look to do the following:
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) 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) For the best shopping go to the Chatuchak Weekend Market It's very large so its easy to get lost here. There is everything you could possibly think of here and it's also a good place to eat as there are plenty of restaurants. My advice is to get there early as the heat and crowds get worse as the day goes on. It is open from 7am.
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 a beach holiday is more your thing then head to Phuket in Thailand. Jet Star flies directly to Phuket from Australia and you can usually find cheap flights if you wait for a sale or book well in advance.
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.
About the Author:
Jennifer Schellington has nearly 5 years of experience in travelling Australia and has recently had a baby. Her website, www.realaustraliatravel.com offers practical 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
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