Australia + New Zealand +Fiji

[JoTravel]

How far apart are Australia, New Zealand and Fiji?
It seems from the map they are all somewhat near one another.
Is it unrealistic to try and visit all three in one trip?
If that is do-able, how long would you recommend?
Three weeks? One month?

thank you.

[davidicus]

NOT in a day Jo !

[luckystrike]

I took 6 weeks this summer and did the following:

Hong Kong - 5 nights
Singapore - 3 nights
Bintan, Indonesia - 4 nights
Melbourne - 5 nights
Sydney - 5 nights
Christchurch / Kaikoura / Wellington / Rotorua / Auckland - 8 nights
Fiji - 7 nights
San Francisco - 4 nights

I felt that I had enough time in Australia and NZ to get an introduction to them, and we did squeeze a lot in. However, they are huge places and to do them justice you would need months.

A week was spent in Fiji relaxing and was plenty of time, as there's nothing to do.

Some unsolicited advice - stay on one of Fiji's islands rather than the mainland. We stayed on the Coral Coast on the mainland, and whilst it was very nice, it could have been a resort anywhere.

Enjoy!

[luckystrike]

Oh, and as to how far apart they are on a plane:

Sydney - Christchurch = 3 hours + 2 hours time difference

Auckland - Nadi, Fiji = 3 hours + 0 hours time difference

[Buenchico]

In the sort of time scale you're talking about (3 or 4 weeks) you can't really do justice to Australia, yet alone the other countries!

Imagine trying to visit all 25 countries of the European Union in that time. That's everywhere from Spain, Italy, Greece and Cyprus in the south, through countries like German, Hungary, Poland and Slovenia in the middle, up to Sweden and Finland in the north (plus the 15 other countries I've not even mentioned). The total area of all 25 countries is 3.9 million square kilometres. The area of Australia is 7.7 million square kilometres. i.e. Australia is twice as big as the entire European Union!

Australia might look close to New Zealand but the shortest coast-to-coast distance is roughly the same as from London to Casablanca.

Stick to just visiting Australia. I'd recommend Perth as 'unmissable'.

Chris

[warhol]

Brisbane - Auckland = 3 Hours.

Did North & South Island in NZ in 18 days.

Along way to go for very little. Europe has it all, and better!

[Gef]

I'm not disagreeing with Chris but my own preference would be for NZ. Spent 5 weeks there this year and am going back for another 5 next year - still lots to see and do.

If you have three months then fine, do all three but if not then pick either Australia or NZ and spend a few nights in Fiji as well.

[JoTravel]

Thank you for all the info. Yes, Perth is actually where we want to go in Australia. Of course I realize you could spend years explring these areas, however, in trying to be realistic, i am trying to estimate how much time would be a good space to try and visit all three. I am leaning towards 6 weeks to 2 months.

[jno]

well, Perth is a lot further from NZ and Fiji than Sydney is. There's quite a bit to see in the bottom left hand corner of the country - drive down to Albany or up the coast a way, visit Margaret river for the wines, swim with dolphins - but probably not 3 weeks' worth. I guess if I had to squeeze as much as possible into 3 weeks, it'd be Perth, Sydney, maybe Melbourne, Ayers Rock or the Barrier reef as side trips according to taste, Auckland, Rotorua thermal area, maybe Kaikoura for the whales and Queenstown for the bungee jumping and other adrenalin stuff, then a few days on a Fijian island to relax before going home... that suggests going east all the way on a round-the-world ticket but you could reverse the itinerary. This is realistic, but rushed.

[Vixi]

I have spent 2 months in Australia and only did the east coast - and even then not all of it - but this was at a very relaxed pace. If you prioritise what you really want to see you can do it all in a short period but if it is a holiday do try to plan some rest days. You may be better off looking at a planned itinerary from someone like Kuoni or Virgin for all or parts of the trip, you can either do self drive or scorted - where you will literally be taken from place to place without having to put in much effort. For an independant (and cheaper alternative, try Oz, Kiwi and Fiji Experience (www.ozexperience.com etc). Get lots of different brochures and see what tour options are offered - even if they don't have the right one for you, you will be able to get an idea of what is achievable.

[Memore]

The whole of Europe fits into Australia so there is a clue to its size I took six weeks just doing east coast of Oz and 4.5 months in New Zealand - Auckland about 4 hours or so flight fromCairns in Queensland - I didnt go Figi but went to Cook Islands which were about another 4 from Auckland so Figi would be more than that. In one month you are pushing it you would have to do
Sydney - Ayers Rock and go up to Queensland and then fly to Auckland and maybe just do North Island so Rotorua bay of Islands and Coramandel and then Figi for one week but I think its too rushed You would need at least 2 or 3 days to get over jet lag when you arrive at Oz or NZ