Vacationing Down Under: How to plan a trip to Australia!

This winter I’m trading in my snow boots and cloudy days for some much needed R&R in the SUN. I’ve decided to fly down under for some good ol’ fashioned tourist time with my bestie! I’ve been reading loads of blogs for inspiration on how to travel such a long distance (YIKES) and what to see and do, and where to stay.

Follow my blog for an in-depth look at this American Girl’s travels to Oz.

So far my travels include:

– Flying into Melbourne. HELLO WINERIES! And a much needed spa day!

– Weekending in Cairns

– Snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef (😻)

– Traipsing the famous bridge in Sydney and seeing the sights of that historic city.

How to plan a trip to Australia:

First step… pick your dates. First question is: WHEN do you want to travel??

If you currently live in the northern hemisphere don’t forget that during your winter… it’s Australia’s summer weather. As I currently live in colder climates I’ve decided to visit during the summer months to avoid the cold weather of my current location.

Second step… determine the right time to purchase tickets.

I chose to use an app called hopper to time the purchase of my flights to when it would be cheapest. This particular app trends the sale of flights to determine if the cost of the tickets on a particular day will increase or decrease with time. This allows you to determine the right window of time to buy your flights. Based on the flights I chose it was pretty accurate for me. It’s also a free app. So if you’re on a budget like me, get it and get started on planning your next vacay.

Third step… determine where to stay while you’re in town, or country.

I’m still working on this part of my trip. I’m using VRBO, AirBNB, and TripAdvisor to narrow down my search to meet my needs. I’ll let you know how this turns out once I make my selections!

Fourth step… determine what to do while down unda!

I have a start to my itinerary by knowing I want to drink some wine, get some time in at a spa, see the sights, and snorkel the reef. There’s still a lot to work out but I have time. In the meantime I scour blogs, Pinterest, and check in with my bestie for inspiration and ideas. We’re going to have an amazing trip. I CAN’T WAIT!

What’s on your Australian bucket list? Leave a comment below on places you plan to visit or things you recommend!