Quote Originally Posted by TipperaryBaggie View Post
Blimey, that takes me back a bit with the mention of Lydd Airport Mick. Don't know whether you are aware but it's claim to fame was that he it flew planes carrying cars in bygone years. It was operated by a company called called Silver City. The planes's nosecone used to open up and the cars were driven onboard for the short flight to Le Touquet. I think that it ceased trading in the early sixties but the memory of seeing cars driving onto a plane still lingers.

I'm with you on Australia. Had a superb trip there in 2012 and would love to go back. It started when I looked at a trip by Kuoni but thought that it was expensive. I did a lot of research and decided that I could book all the places that the Kuoni tour went to myself. I managed to save myself nearly £4k doing it this way. Managed to take in the likes of Perth, Darwin, Cairns, Hamilton Island, Sydney and Melbourne. I still would like to go to New Zealand but fear that my long haul trips could be beyond my ageing years now. I can still dream though.

We went to Sydney then Brisbane and then up to Hamilton Island and finished off in Perth Tip.

The least enjoyable was probably Hamilton Island due to the tropical heat and the fact our hotel wasn’t as good as in the city stops.

Last time we changed flight at Dubai and I absolutely hate Dubai airport, we almost missed our connecting flight home so I’m not doing that again.

Next time we’ll fly direct to Perth first, then after a few days there we’ll probably do Adelaide and Melbourne, a couple of days in Sydney and then 5 days in Byron Bay which is a stunning place I gather.

Then up to Brisbane which I really liked and then finish off back in Perth or nearby Cottisloe for a few days before flying back direct from Perth to Heathrow.

I’ll use Kuoni again though myself because although a bit expensive, their planning of the trip and the limo ( posh taxi in reality ) organisation between each hotel and airport was flawless and I like a stress free holiday.

Like yourself, we also fancy NZ it the reality is that you really need to allow yourself the time and budget to be away for 6 weeks.