July 15, 2007

I’m going to use this blog mainly as a record of our “odyssey” to Australia in April and May of 2008.

We’ve been “saving” our timeshare time (for the last 3 years) so that we can maximize the days spent in the timeshares while in Australia. The plans have worked out quite well – we’ve managed to book 27 days in 6 different locations. The remaining days will be spent in hotels (or hostels) and in a campervan.

The air travel hasn’t been finalized yet but we’re tentatively leaving Vancouver on April 12, 2008 and arriving in Sydney on April 14, 2008. We’ll flying out of Sydney on May 29 or 30 and are hoping to stopover in Hawaii for a few days of heat before heading home.

Our itinerary (as of July 15, 2007):

  • April 12 – Leave Vancouver
  • April 14 – Arrive Sydney
  • April 14, 15, 16 & 17 – Worldmark, Sydney studio suite
  • April 18 – Car rental until April 28 – Drive to Lakes Entrance via Canberra
  • April 18, 19, 20 & 21 – Worldmark, Lakes Entrance 1 bedroom suite
  • April 22 – Phillip Island (to see the little penguins)
  • April 23, 24 – stay in Melbourne
  • April 25, 26, 27 & 28 – Worldmark, Ballarat 1 bedroom suite
  • April 29 – fly from Melbourne to Adelaide
  • April 29, 30, May 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 – Campervan rental and travel from Adelaide to Alice Springs
  • May 6 – fly from Alice Springs to Cairns
  • May 6, 7, 8, 9 & 10 – stay in Cairns
  • May 11 – fly from Cairns to Brisbane
  • May 11, 12, 13 & 14 – Worldmark, Golden Beach 2 bedroom suite (room for visitors to stay overnight)
  • May 15, 16 & 17 – stay in Brisbane
  • May 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 & 24 – Worldmark, Kirra Beach 2 bedroom suite (room for visitors to stay overnight)
  • May 25 – travel (train, bus, rental car?) to Pokolbin Hill
  • May 25, 26, 27 & 28 – Worldmark, Pokolbin Hill 1 bedroom suite
  • May 29 – travel (rental car?) to Sydney International Airport
  • May 29 – Leave Sydney for Honolulu or Vancouver

More to come on what attractions we’re interested in seeing in various locations – this is still in the “talking” stages but I really like the Lonely Planet Australia travel guide for some suggestions of things to see when you’re only in the area for a short period of time.