thx for the update vin!
should put them all down on a big big map or something.

anyway more places we should be noting down so far are:

Caravan parks (City centre hard to find parking)
Factory Outlet (SHOPPPPPPINGGGGGGG)
Wineries
other places of interest

So from adelaide all the way to brisbane can find as many as possible. Also since we will be on the road for such a long time, can also find something to do while cramped in the caravan? The gas stove can only use when it's stationary, microwave and behind aircon needs to be plugged into power at caravan park to use. oh haha it's so friggin cold so not aircon i mean heater.

hl for the activities it might be a bit cold but i think you'll be pumped up and warm from all the swimming and paddling already lah. shouldnt be a problem other than renting wetsuits and having warm drinks on standby at the beach. or ice cold BEER... mmm...

Adelaide to Melbourne

31 May(sunday) - Perth fly to adelaide (evening (domestic) flight? yet tbc...)
Tentative flight details:
Virgin Blue DJ722 ($115)
Perth 5.45pm - Adel 22.10pm

1 June (monday)
6hrs drive (if non-stop)
McLaren Vale – 50 wineries (wine tasting), Almond Train Walk (stroll along old railway line)
Victor Harbor – Fairy penguins, Whale Centre $8/pax (whale watching tour $$) Tel: 08 8552 5644/ 08 8551 0750
http://www.whatsonwhen.com/sisp/index.htm?fx=event&event_id=219494
Goolwa – sandstone cottages, Cockle Train (steam train but need $$)
- If got time, free 5mins ferry to Hindmarsh Island
Coorong – Cultural centre -> National Park (Free)
Robe – seaside village, EAT lobster legs!!! (but winter duno have or not)

2 June (tues)
Penola -> Coonawarra -> Penola – more wine!!
“The best landmark is inevitably a pub, so we picked the Prince of Wales for the rendezvous and cold beers on a warm day. We then checked into the only caravan park in town for 2 nights so we could take in some of the cellar doors.”
PENOLA CARAVAN PARK (powered site $25, unpowered $20 per night, $15/extra pax)
http://www.penolacaravanpark.com.au/
Phone: 08 8737 2381 (International Code +61887372381)

3 June (wed)
Go this way?
Mt Gambier -> Port McDon – (EAT fresh crayfish & abalone) -> Hamilton -> Grampians Ntl Park
OR:
Naracoorte -> Edenhope -> Grampians Ntl Park

4 June (thurs)
Reach Melbourne


Damn good travel blog! Check it out…
http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/froggies/london_july_06/1178343000/tpod.html

Grampians National Park (on the way to Melbourne)

The Web's Original Travel Blog.

trip costing

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=pnZ4RkJUq_1ohnYK5R04ACQ&hl=en

Also, friend tells me VirginBlue's flight booking has a HAPPY HOUR booking time from 10-11am singapore time... which is like aust 12-1pm (EST +10 hrs). lets double check on that and book early also yah.

Driving from Adelaide

Tentative: 1st - 3rd June



Plan A

"the drive from Adelaide to the famous vineyards of Coonawarra provides spectacular scenery and vibrant contrast"

Highlights:
- 30 wineries in Coonawarra region
- Aboriginal heritage (free cultural museum)
- sandstone cottages
- Koalas & Kangaroos
- Whale watching




Plan B

"this is a drive for anyone willing to travel 400km north of Adelaide to get a rugged taste of the South Australian outback"

Highlights:
- rock formation
- swimming waterholes
- bushwalks to wildlife
- 4WD tour
- steam train

PLAN A seems to be more appealing (unless u guys want a more outback kind, den we can decide to spend a bit longer in Adel) and is on the way for our planned road towards Melbourne .. will come out with details soon.. FYI it's abt 500-600km.. so say abt 6hrs drive? including all the stopovers.. prob we can safely say we'll spend 2-3days in Adelaide (including the drive on the way to Melb). the end pt is quite close to Melbourne alr..
meanwhile... Chun>> can u plan the Perth part?? since u got fren there..
After the Adelaide leg.. i'll look into the Melbourne leg when i've got the time...

American Idol on MRT!!!!!

so u think u can sing? Indian guy headhunted for American Idol!!!

MOST entertaining train ride of my life man!!!

Latest Update (as of 18th Feb)

our trip duration:
28th May - 22nd Jun

JETSTAR JQ110
28 May
SIN - 18:45 PM
PER - 0:10 AM
$96.91

JETSTAR JQ109
22 Jun
PER - 1:15 AM
SIN - 6:50 AM
$121.67



UPDATED ITINERARY

since we are leaving on 28 may instead of 26th.. some minor changes to the 1st leg (perth n adelaide).... the rest remains the same


28 May (thursday) – JETSTAR JQ110 6.45pm flight
29 May(friday) - Arrive perth 0010Hrs
Go Easy Perth or Old Swan Barracks backpackers hostel @ francis st
Perth meet sam goh (Pinky's aussie fren.. NOT the ntu civil Sam ahh... )
30 May(saturday) - Perth
31 May(sunday) - Perth fly to adelaide (evening (domestic) flight? yet tbc...)
Tentative flight details:
Virgin Blue DJ722 ($115)
Perth 5.45pm - Adel 22.10pm
1 June (monday) - Adelaide meet roy
2 June (tuesday) - adelaide to mount gambier or portland or heywood 6hrs
3 June (wednesday) to melbourne 6hrs
4 June (thursday) melbourne meet andy
5 June (friday) – melbourne Meet Charmian
6 June (saturday) – Melbourne pick up Kenneth, anyone else
7 June (sunday) – Melbourne Meet Elizabeth
8 June (monday) – Melbourne - Bairnsdale (312km, 4.5hrs)
9 June(tuesday) –Bairnsdale - Eden (273km, 2.5hrs)
- Eden - Batemans Bay (200km, 2hrs)
10 June(wednesday) - Batemans Bay - Nowra (118km, 1.5hrs)
Nowra - Sydney (162km, 1.5hrs)
11 June(thursday)– Sydney pick up mel
12 June(friday) – Sydney Skydive
13 June (saturday) Sydney Surf
14 June(sunday) Sydney Bungee
15 June(monday) Sydney to Newcastle – 2hrs
Newcastle to Port Macquarie – 3hrs 30 mins
16 June(tuesday) Port Macquarie to Coffs Harbour – 2hours
Coffs Harbour to Byron Bay – 2hours
17 June(wednesday)Byron Bay to Gold Coast – 2 hours.
18 June(thursday) Gold Coast
19 June(friday) Gold Coast
20 June(saturday) Gold Coast – Brisbane – 1 hour
21 June (sunday)– domestic flight Brisbane - Perth (morn? yet tbc...)
have to reach Perth by afternoon 2pm latest! midnight flight to S'pore
Tentative flight details:
Virgin Blue DJ464 ($184)
Bris 9.15am - Perth 12.50pm
22 June (monday) - Perth: JETSTAR JQ109 01:15AM flight


DISCLAIMER: All the dates in the itinerary is just a ROUGH guide.. it'll be subjected to changes due to unforeseen circumstances or at any pt of time when we decide to stay in a place shorter/longer.

Perth - Adelaide

Virgin Blue (domestic flight)
DJ 722 (31st May)
17:45 pm Perth
22:10 pm Adelaide
$115

same price for +/- 1 day...
so flexible...
can discuss the dates again...

Flight Prices (UPDATED!)

http://book.jetstar.com/Select.aspx

http://bookings.virginblue.com.au/skylights/cgi-bin/skylights.cgi

JETSTAR JQ110
28 May
SIN - 18:45 PM
PER - 0:10 AM
$96.91

VIRGIN BLUE DJ464 (Domestic Flight)
22Jun
BRIS 09:15AM
PER 12:50PM
$169

JETSTAR
23 Jun JQ109
PER - 1:15 AM
SIN - 6:50 AM
$121.67


TOTAL: $218.58 + $169 = $388

JETSTAR round trip onli $218!!

Departure Total$96.91

Adult		$58.00
AU Int Passenger SC		$10.91
Passenger SC		$28.00
Airfare per Adult		$96.91
1 Adult	Subtotal	$96.91

28 May 09
SIN - 18:45 PM
PER - 0:10 AM

Return Total$121.67

Adult		$58.00
Passenger Movement		$46.31
Safety and Security		$6.45
AU Int Passenger SC		$10.91
Airfare per Adult		$121.67
1 Adult	Subtotal	$121.67

22 Jun 09

PER - 1:15 AM
SIN - 6:50 AM

Total PriceSGD$218.58

to and fro perth so cheaaap now!!

homework

change! We fly from perth to adelaide and rent car from there, more time for us in melbourne and stuff.. Updated plan in previous post.

go google find out what things can be done at the little towns we're passing by.
what cheap accommodation can be found at the little towns we're passing by.

confirm when we buying air tickets

had a chat with mel's cousin Andy who's australian.
says anywhere before melbourne the water's freezing cold. only sydney onwards it's warm water. can just wear normal shorts go swim. If wanna surf, need full wetsuit which you can rent or buy urself. boardshorts going at about $30 each zomg.

recommends not buying a car and selling it in case car is fucked up and we get trapped in the desert, instead spend more on a reputable car rental company for something reliable.
shall we get saloon car or mpv or CARAVAN?
max speed is 100kmh btw. lots of cops around to catch.

another plan

Since might have fucked up snow in mountain i think no point driving up, may i suggest we SKIP the mountain and spend more time in sydney and gold coast and all the little coastal towns?
then mel has less leave so coming on 11 june. Edited itinerary is below, pls comment...

for the leg from Perth to Adelaide currently only Alvin, Alex, Chun. little space left after barang barang but i think at most Sam squeeze in max liao. anymore means need another car, means that anymore need to be in a group of 3-4.


--updated--
26 May (tuesday) – Tiger air TR716 1550hrs flight 100SGD, with tax 195SGD
Arrive perth 2105hrs
Go Easy Perth or Old Swan Barracks backpackers hostel @ francis st
27 May (wednesday) – Perth meet sam goh
28 May(thursday) – Perth fly to adelaide
29 May(friday) Adelaide meet roy
30 May(saturday) adelaide
31 May(sunday) adelaide
1 June (monday) - adelaide to mount gambier or portland or heywood 6hrs
2 June (tuesday) - to melbourne 6hrs
3 June (wednesday) melbourne
4 June (thursday) melbourne meet andy
5 June (friday) – melbourne Meet Charmian
6 June (saturday) – Melbourne pick up Kenneth, anyone else
7 June (sunday) – Melbourne Meet Elizabeth
8 June (monday) – Melbourne - Bairnsdale (312km, 4.5hrs)
9 June(tuesday) –Bairnsdale - Eden (273km, 2.5hrs)
- Eden - Batemans Bay (200km, 2hrs)
10 June(wednesday) - Batemans Bay - Nowra (118km, 1.5hrs)
Nowra - Sydney (162km, 1.5hrs)
11 June(thursday)– Sydney pick up mel
12 June(friday) – Sydney Skydive
13 June (saturday) Sydney Surf
14 June(sunday) Sydney Bungee
15 June(monday) Sydney to Newcastle – 2hrs
Newcastle to Port Macquarie – 3hrs 30 mins
16 June(tuesday) Port Macquarie to Coffs Harbour – 2hours
Coffs Harbour to Byron Bay – 2hours
17 June(wednesday)Byron Bay to Gold Coast – 2 hours.
18 June(thursday) Gold Coast
19 June(friday) Gold Coast
20 June(saturday) Gold Coast – Brisbane – 1 hour
21 June (sunday)– Brisbane GO HOME? or find a job and stay here FOREVERRRRRRRR

Grad Trip Schedule

Plan 1 - Drive across
Plan 2 - Fly across
Anything you wanna add/edit/change just go ahead n blog a new post or just comment or tag.

I THINK snow for 10 june period not so good, expect only beginner slope to be open. Wont be too crowded cuz nobody snowboards so early in the winter haha.

[update]: Dear Chun,

Thank you for your email. The ski season does open that weekend, however we are unable to guarantee there will be quality snow for skiing or snowboarding so early in the season as the weather can be very unpredictable. Last year there was not any snow until later in the season. The best time to travel would probably be July/August if you are wanting to snowboard.

If you have any further questions, please let us know.

Kind regards
Susan Gee
Australian Travel Wholesalers


TIMELINE for DRIVING

26 May (tuesday) – Tiger air TR716 1550hrs flight 100SGD, with tax 195SGD
Arrive perth 2105hrs
Go Easy Perth or Old Swan Barracks backpackers hostel @ francis st
27 May (wednesday) – Perth meet sam
28 May(thursday) – Perth - Bunbury: 177km/2 hours
Bunbury - Albany (via Margaret River): 412km/4 hours
29 May(friday) Albany -Esperance: 479km/4 hours 30 minutes
Esperance - Norseman: 206km/2 hours
30 May(saturday) Norseman - Eucla: 713km/7 hours 30 minutes
31 May(sunday) Eucla - Ceduna: 500km/5 hours
1 June (monday) - Ceduna - Port Lincoln: 400km/4 hours
2 June (tuesday) - Port Lincoln - Whyalla: 266km/2 hours 30 minutes
Whyalla - Adelaide: 384km/3 hours 40 minutes
3 June (wednesday) Adelaide meet Roy
4 June (thursday) – Adelaide to Mount Gambier or Portland or Heywood (450km 6hrs)
5 June (friday) – Mount Gambier to melbourne. (450km 6hrs)
6 June (saturday) – Melbourne pick up Kenneth, Melissa, anyone else
7 June (sunday) – Melbourne Meet Charmian
8 June (monday) – Melbourne drive 7 hours to Thredbo (500km)
9 June(tuesday) – Thredbo snowboard
10 June(wednesday) - Thredbo
11 June(thursday) - Thredbo
12 June(friday) – Thredbo – Canberra (3hrs)
13 June (saturday) – Canberra – Sydney (3hrs)
14 June(sunday) Sydney Skydive
15 June(monday) Sydney Bungee
16 June(tuesday) Sydney Rafting?
17 June(wednesday) Sydney to Newcastle – 2hrs
Newcastle to Port Macquarie – 3hrs 30 mins
18 June(thursday) Port Macquarie to Coffs Harbour – 2hours
Coffs Harbour to Byron Bay – 2hours
Byron Bay to Gold Coast – 2 hours.
19 June(friday) Gold Coast
20 June(saturday) Gold Coast – Brisbane – 1 hour
21 June (sunday)– Brisbane GO HOME?


TIMELINE for Flying across Perth

27 May (wednesday) – Tiger air TR716 1550hrs flight 100SGD, with tax 195SGD
Arrive perth 2105hrs
Go Easy Perth or Old Swan Barracks backpackers hostel @ francis st
28 May(thursday) – Perth meet sam
29 May(friday) – Perth
30 May(saturday) Perth fly to Adelaide (A$159 0630 or 1745hrs flight 5+hrs)
31 May(sunday) Adelaide meet roy
1 June (monday) - Adelaide
2 June (tuesday) - Adelaide
3 June (wednesday) Adelaide to Mount Gambier or Portland or Heywood (450km 6hrs)
4 June (thursday) – Mount Gambier to melbourne. (450km 6hrs)
5 June (friday) – Melbourne
.
.
blablabla

wine tasting this thursday and friday 10am-6pm

nanyang audi
5 wine tastings for $1.

lets get drunk on these two days lol