You will not feasibly be able to see much of Australia unless you devote at least a month.If you have the cash to spend there are a number of different forms of travel you can use to see the continent.What you need to decide is how you would prefer to travel an option i dont recomend is Man made, ie planes and "hotel hopping" why because you will miss to much some will use an RV but seeing as i did it in a number of different types of car this is what i will use for my lens

Your first step in planning a trip of this calibre is to list out the places you would want to see on your excursion for instance i spent at least a month planning mine .

Then road trips unfourtunately are not for you,if you hate being in the car longer than 5 or 6 hours then a cross country trip is simply out of the question

Another option is to plan a select number of small road trips ie flying to a location and renting a car for instance try flying to New South Wales ,everything in relative terms is in close proximity and the great thing is you will still be able to see everything by car as well as being able to fly at your convinience.

Wether you like it or not a roadtrip of this kind requires extensive research and this means reading ,you name it web sites, travel guides
If you already have a good overview of the country then what you should do is research a particular area and or state and find out what you would like to see . Below are some well worth reading guides for Australia and should provide a synopsis on what this beautiful country has to offer

A good idea of where to start your planning is do some reading up on the country.If you already know where you would like to visit list out the places you would like to see then work on mapping how to get there and how many days you can allocate to each place.

A lot can be learnt from a hotel resturant,local business by reading online reviews.
Read up before you leave or if you have your laptop away with you try logging on before you leave for your next destination.


Trip Advisor
Trip advisor is a travel information website, covering more than 212,000 hotels and 74,000 attractions in over 30,000 locations worldwide.
With more than 15 ,million reviews and opinions and nearly 30 million unique visitors a month Trip advisor is also the largest travel community on the web.

Lonely Planet
Australian Travel information,advice,hotels,reviews,maps,itineraries.


Citysearch
Looking for that romantic lunch with your partner,hotel room with that sought after view that everyone wants citysearch has a huge collection of reviews written by actual people.

Well the answer is a couple of weeks worth of clothes and all your essentials you normally use toothpaste,soap,shaving cream deoderant and snacks .Due to the amount of time you will be away you can stock up on powdered detergent and pack it away.You could also wash garments using the hotels facilities usually situated in the complex itself

Whatever you do dont forget the first aid kit hopefully and chances are you wont need it ,if you do though its better to be safe than sorry these are relatively inexpensive and can even be made up and once you have 1 it can be taken on other trips.

Also the hustle and bustle of the office is the reason but a mobile comms device is a must
they are quite simply a necessity for a road trip.
Like it or not the cellphone is a way of life and if you need one you will be glad of it and it goes without saying call someone txt or even leave a voicemail just so people know where you are.

Learning how to pack quickly and effectively is a must for a fun roadtrip,if you can figure out a tried and tested way which works each time great!use luggage cases for your clothing.
if you have 2 of these you should be able to fit them in the boot no problem.
Then of course you can have space at the back behind the seats for food a drinks cooler which in some parts of Australia you will be very glad you have it and of course you can pop anything you may need in a hurry on the back seat.

How to pack effectively

One important fact to consider a roadtrip is a very different affair to air travel as i expect like me you will need to be in and out of your luggage quite often.
Place items you know you will need the most ie deoderant toothbrush etc in an easily accesible place utilize the side pockets.
For toiletries it is a good idea to purchase a wash bag as this will be a prevention of your clothes getting ruined trust me i know .

You should also have a little room left in your case use this wisely perfect for flip flops which can take up less space if you tuck one down each side of the bag .Very important bring jump leads you may be glad of them .

So your boss said take a vacation that means leave the office in the office,not anymore you may be expecting important emails from clients or want to check whats going on in the markets.
Laptops are a good tool for roadtrips however,also it is said that a lot of hotels feature wifi spots thesedays that said wifi does bring with it its own problems secure connection for one.

Theft is also a problem always make sure the laptop is covered keep it hidden under the seat is a perfect hideaway or in the boot .
Also if you are visiting a particuarly warm area keep the laptop with you,leaving it in a car with searing temperatures will damage it. You will also need a sturdy case to protect it.

Wifi access has become increasingly free in hotels across Australia , Watch out however for high access prices though some hotels have been known to charge up to $10 per hour
Parralel to that across the world in England one cambridge hotel has been known to charge £20 per hour .Instead of paying through the nose check out the link below featuring locations that offer free Wifi in Australia

Wififreespot.com

Its important that you keep your laptop in a sturdy and robust case as a prevention of accidental damage.Also depending on which part of the country you are going to it can also be used to prevent heat damage.

Try some of these products for your Roadtrip.



Case Logic Messenger Bag w/Laptop Storage - SN CHARCOAL

Padded Compartment holds up to 15.4 laptops
Quick Adjust Shoulder Strap
Fabric Canvas

Price $49.95



Targus Deluxe Notebook Backpack - CDB1


Price $69.99

was $99.99



XpressCheck 17 Leather Rolling Office


Keeps your Laptop Safely Contained
enough room for an overnight stay + toiletries
Fits all business essentials
Meets meets most airline requirements.

Price $169

Sydney Population 4,336,374
Melbourne Population 3,806,092
Brisbane Population 1,857,594
Perth Population 1,554,769
Adelaide Population 1,158,259

The cost to fill up your car these days is rapidly heading skywards.However dont fret as there are things that you can do to cut the cost follow these tips to make your car go further between fuel stops

1. Close Windows even though a lot of the places in australia you may visit are going to be quite hot use the air conditioning instead.
For instance did you know an open window can create air drag of up to 10%

2.Dont burn gas unnecessarily turn off the engine at every opportunity an idle engine wastes fuel.

3.Although in certain parts of the country it will be hard to adhere to this one avoid bumpy roads these should be avoided as much as possible Dirt,Bumps ,rough roads and gravel can cause 30 % increase in your fuel consumption .

If you are planning on buying a car for your road trip hold that thought ,it may be cheaper and more economical to rent .
Wether it be a crusier Sedan or a big mean off roader obviously whatever you rent you may need to make a few decisions before hand. Like what terrain will i be travelling on. Though it may seem expensive it is actually cost effective to hire multiple cars again if you flight hop state to state though this will entirely depend on wether you are going across the country in 1 car if you so choose this option i suggest a robust off roader you never know when you might need it.

One thing to be aware of a number of Hotels offer membership schemes so if the hotel you stay at as part of your stay is part of a chain they may offer a rewards scheme where you can obtain points reducing the price of your next stay in another city.

Rental Car?.... For Definate

Hotel stays? That's debatable. You may find yourself not liking the place that you booked yourself for a 4 day stay and jumping for an early getaway to your next stop. If this is the case, talk to the front desk of your hotel immediately and see if they will charge your card for the days regardless if you are there or not.

Things to remember for your stay

Know the peak seasons of the places you will be visiting,if peak season is in july and you plan your excursion to that place that interests you you will need to book well in advance.

Weekends are busy times and naturally more expensive if you book ahead you may save time and money on your booking.

Cities are much more expensive than small towns. If you are not staying in the city to experience the city, consider staying outside of the city. It will cost much less money. Try staying on the outbound side of the city so you'll miss the traffic when you leave in the morning.

Learn the fine art of "creative photography." Many hotel sites will take some very creative shots of their grounds to persuade you to stay with them. What may look amazing in the pictures may be a huge bomb when you arrive. Look for hotels that have virtual tours online, many, many pictures, and online reviews. Online reviews can be your best friend when vacationing, don't underestimate them!

Make sure you'll be there by the check-in time. Some hotels do not have staff present all night. If you're arriving late, let them know so they can plan ahead for you. This works the same for late checkout. If you want to leave late for any reason, check with the front desk the day before or morning of and see if they'll allow you to stay an extra hour or two. They will often let you stay a little later without charging you.

One question you have to ask yourself is what do you enjoy about your vacation is it the rest and relaxation. Do you crave a cocktail whilst resting by a hotel pool? (i dont recomend flying around the world to do something that can be done in your back garden though).Are you a sociable person ?,do you crave the sounds and lights of the big cosmopolitan cities like brisbane. Do you prefer to marvel at natural wonders such as Ayres rock. Take these elements into consideration and think maybe if i plan it this way i will be able to regain a few days in an area which i thoroughly enjoy.

Australia is one of the largest countries on the planet, my visit was awe inspiring.I can definately tell why the Australians feel like they never need to leave there country.For example all the states have different wether systems, anyway enough from me
Here is a rundown of the most popular places in The O.Z.;)

Queensland is a state of Australia that occupies the North Eastern corner of the mainland bordered to the west by the Northern Territory,South Australia to the south west ,and New South Wales to the south.You will find many things to do here.

From the hustle and bustle of queenslands largest cities, brisbane to driving out of the city to an unspoiled natural place a National park .where you are able to spend the night in a rainforest retreat known as the "platypus bush camp i have to tell you ideal for destressing from modern life.Take a trip north and there can be found one of the most beautiful places in my opinion in the country if not on the planet.It will require quite a drive but to the north lies Cape Tribulation (see below) a paradise where the rainforest meets the ocean and you feel truly at peace with yourself.Head south from here and you will encounter the coastal reigon of Arlie Beach a great destination here you can see the reef now my personal recomendation is to hop on a sea plane.
I will advise it does cost a bit but is well worth it.

As soon as i arrived in this part of Australia i saw a beetle the size of a bat briefly i stopped and marveled at it before i was inturupted by a local saying welcome to the territory.
This is a truly diverse place occupying much of the mainland continent as well the central northern region sharing borders with Western Australia to the west Southern Australia to the south with Queensland to the east.The first thing you will notice about this reigon is the heat. I wont lie it is hot if you however look past the fact you may have to drink 10 ,2 litre bottles of water a day too stay with it. you will experience awe inspiring landscapes and culture.Beautiful and serene national parks can be found 1 called the kakadu where if you can persuade yourself to wake up early enough you can go on a dawn cruise along the river where wildlife is in abundance.Another place you may find interesting is the jumping crocodiles farm dont let the name farm put you off though or jumping i'll let you do your own research into that one ;)i will say it is spectacular though these crocs have 100 mile or so of river to swim in,and of course no visit to the Northen Territory would be complete without seeing the astounding Ayres Rock.Now while your there you may want to experience something called the sounds of silence .Whats that i hear you ask well you receive a talk about the stars under the night sky in the outback so peaceful and serene i thoroughly recommend it before sitting down to a silver service meal in the middle of the outback with a choice of Australian delicacies for your pallate to enjoy .

Victoria a state located in the south eastern corner of Australia. Smallest mainland state in that area but densley populated and urbanised.
Melbourne is a wonderful cultural place to visit some very fine restaurants to enjoy and shopping can take place here .A place well worth a look if you are a Motorbike fan and can be bothered with the drive out of melbourne is the infamous phillip island where you are able to have a guided tour round the circuit and stand on the winners podium , .Also for the non petrolheads there is the adorable spectecle of watching the fairy penguins venture out of the water in the evenings but leave the cameras behind as no photography is allowed.

New South Wales Abbriviated as NSW is Australias most populated state located in the south east of the country north of Victoria and south of Queensland. In this state the main attraction is the opera house heard of it but be warned book this one in advance it is very popular and can cost a bit too.If you want to catch some waves there is bondi beach hang out down there and you will be saying rad in no time north of sydney is the blue mountains with caves, scenery and this area will if you are lucky play host to some spectacular storms .

Work Clearence

Make sure you are given the go ahead from your boss because if you cant get time off work .A Road trip can take place for many different reasons some may want to go away as a gap between starting a new job or for some it may be the ideal honeymoon and some people just pick up and leave .

what do you want to see?

Before you leave decide what you want to see and places to visit .plan your time wisely this will be very useful.

Time and Money

Both of these are important factors in a roadtrip,how much time is available to you what is your cash flow like like it or not this is something to think about.

Prioritize Your Destination Realistically

Austrailia is a big place and you probably will not be able to spend as much time as you want in each location.
Make a list of destinations that you really want to see then go down the list choosing which you would prefer to see out of all of them,also check a map you never know what may be in close proximity to you .

Its on the map

Get a map of Austrailia calculate distances (Kilometres) for instance to drive Cairns to Sydney in a day is not possible so dont even bother to try besides there are going to be a lot of places with no fuel and the last thing you want is to be stranded in the middle of nowhere

Research Hotel Rates

Find Hotels you know that you will be able to relax in dont go blowing a whole load of cash on a room put it within your financial scope check comparison websites as well you never know you could get a bargin

Pay Bills Before setting off

Pay your bills before you leave also think that if your trip is long enough you may be subject to several bill cycles before you leave.
If you have purchased or already own a laptop then online banking is an option.consider that you may also want to alert your bank to the fact that you will be on the road and thus using more money this may flag up with your bank and they may suspend or shut off your account or cards.

Neighbourhood Watch

If you are away on vacation it is a good idea to have someone check on your home especially if your home is not visable from the road which provides a perfct opportunity for theives,have someone reguarly check on your home also as they can dispose of the mountain of mail you may get through your door.
It may also be worth investing a light timer switch to give the impression there is someone at the property at all times.Consider asking a friend if they have 2 cars would it be possible if they could leave one on the drive,again making it appear the property is occupied.

Pack It In

Do a test pack ,check everything fits!

Now

Go and Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!