Posted: 2005-07-03 21:52:00  
I can navigate my way around the U.S. pretty well and find good deals on travel, but I would like some assistance on the cheapest way to travel to Australia then to New Zealand and then back home to Washington D.C.
I have contacted a travel agent, but so far he has been little help. I plan to visit Cairns first, then onto Darwin and Ayers Rock and finally Sydney. Our stay will be for 16 days in Australia d 9 days in New Zealand.
Posted: 2005-07-08 09:32:00  
Hi Rick,
Not sure re US to OZ but here in Oz look at cheap airfares as you have such a limited amount of time to cover a big area so bus travel is out. Best deals for airfares try www.webjet.com.au as they list all airlines. Between Australia and NZ Freedom Air is the low budget Tasman carrier but sometimes you can get a cheap deal with Air NZ on their Sydney>Auckland leg as a "filler" before they continue to the US. In NZ I would recommend car hire or camperan hire as the best option to get around.
When you book your Int. ticket check that they don't offer a "free" ticket in conjuction with your International ticket.
Hope this is of some help.
Cheers,
Kerrie
Posted: 2005-07-08 15:36:00  
[quote]
On 2005-07-08 09:32:00, downundergal wrote:
Hi Rick,
Not sure re US to OZ but here in Oz look at cheap airfares as you have such a limited amount of time to cover a big area so bus travel is out. Best deals for airfares try http://www.webjet.com.au as they list all airlines. Between Australia and NZ Freedom Air is the low budget Tasman carrier but sometimes you can get a cheap deal with Air NZ on their Sydney>Auckland leg as a "filler" before they continue to the US. In NZ I would recommend car hire or camperan hire as the best option to get around.
When you book your Int. ticket check that they don't offer a "free" ticket in conjuction with your International ticket.
Hope this is of some help.
Cheers,
Kerrie
[/quote]
Thanks for the reply. I have a few friends here who are also looking for fares from here to OZ, but was not sure about inside travel. We had planned to rent a car in OZ and New Zealand as well. Will more than likely take flights between cities in OZ, but may rent a car in Cairns, depending on when travel plans become clearer.