The Barossa Valley - What Napa looked like 50 years ago.

Tasmania - California 50 years ago, and Hobart is a jumping off point for a great sea tour adventure.

Of course the normal tourist stuff - Ayers Rock, Sydney Harbor. BUT - Oz is the size of the US, you cannot do or see everything.

this is funny. an Aussie, reacting to a post that someone made about why you should never go to Australia.
Personally i would love to go there.

Just to whet your appetite, here's QF94 arriving from Los Angeles this morning ?

Do you hear that, @amdam87? It's the sound of my seething jealousy.

Have a grand time, ya bastard.

I would recommend The Rocks area of Sydney for your base. Lots of seafood restaurants and bars there and handy for the Bridge and Opera House, as well as the ferries to Bondi etc., as it is right on the harbour. Make the Whitsundays your base to visit the GBR......wish I was coming with you. Lots of happy memories of previous visits. Melbourne is also worth a visit, and the penguin colony at Philip Island but you won’t have enough time in two weeks!

Backpackers can be good as you'll meet fellow travellers, but keep an eye on your belongings, a couple of my mates went for a shower and when they got out their clothes had been pinched!

Hi, I can certainly help with Aussie travel advice.

If you only have two weeks and you are flying into Sydney plus you want to see the Great Barrier Reef then you won't have much time for side trips.

The weather in Sydney in November should be perfect. Allow a few days here to explore. Most of the cool stuff is in and around the harbour and can be reached by ferry. Definitely try and see Tooronga Zoo, Sydney Fish Market, Bondi Beach as well as touring the Opera House and doing the Bridge climb. If you have time to take a trip out to the Blue Mountains then do that too!

You can see the GBR from Cairns, Townsville or Proserpine. There are loads of tours and islands on the reef you can stay on (for a price). Consider basing yourself in Cairns because you can catch a boat out to the reef from there, or hire a car and drive up to Port Douglas and the Daintree rainforest region (spectacular part of the world and a lovely coast road to drive on.) You can also go inland for a more outback experience. Expect the weather up north to be humid and stormy in November - but you should be early enough to avoid cyclone season (but only just).

That's just a quick brain dump - feel free to ask anything!

I have a friend in Perth and friend in New South Wales. If I could afford to go, I would go with you. Enjoy yourself and come back with pictures and stories to share.

Solo cups are always handy.

G'day mate! I did the whole east coast of Australia by train from Cairns to Melbourne by myself (a while ago but the places I saw/stayed are still around mostly)...I have lots of tips if you want to contact me. You need to try and get to New Zealand while you're way over there if you can