Australia:- info required

jibi
jibi Posts: 857
edited August 2007 in Tour & expedition
Recovery from my operations has finished and I wish to get out of the UK before winter sets in.
I have looked at the Rhine and Danube down to Istanbul and other routes, in Africa, but have decided on Australia.

Go out to see long lost relatives( £10 poms) and tour up the East coast at the same time, even got an invite to stay somehwere for Xmas already.

So, has anyone flown there with a bike, which airline, how much, if anything, for the bike etc etc.

Anywhere recommended that I shouldn't miss.

Actually any first hand, up to date info is welcome.

I am reading the relevant blogs on crazyguy and trento.

Thanks
George

https://picasaweb.google.com/georgeidf50

Comments

  • swear
    swear Posts: 22
    international editor of BikeRadar Jon Stevenson is your man. He lives in oz, and pops back and forth to BikeRadar HQ...
    Simon
  • John Stevenson
    John Stevenson Posts: 962
    That's me nominated I think.

    Within Australia, Virgin Blue is the way to go because they count your bike as just 5kg of your luggage allowance.

    It's years since I last flew intercontinental with a bike, but it's been really noticeable in the last couple years how keen all the airlines are getting on charging for excess baggage. Qantas in particular has developed a reputation for being absolute swines for this, even pulling stunts like charging on the return leg of a journey when they'd said they would count the bike as part of the standard allowance.

    Discussing the situation with the airline in advance seems to help, and - if you have time - you can save a heap by sending stuff separately as excess baggage. Of course that's no use if you want to arrive and get underway immediately.

    As for places to visit, one word: Tasmania. Tassie has gorgeous countryside, generally quiet roads, good food and beer, friendly people and sane distances between settlements. The mainland can present some challenging expanses of sod all, even if you refrain from doing something silly like riding across the Nullarbor (a very bad idea in summer anyway). Tassie also has the advantage of perfect weather in January, where the mainland can be a bit warm.

    Lonely Planet's Cycling Australia guidebook is worth having, though it's getting a little out of date.
    John Stevenson
  • jibi
    jibi Posts: 857
    Cheers John


    I love great big expanses of sod all ( Patagonia is full of them)

    Oh yes and challenges so....

    The Nullabor.....here I come

    cheers

    george

    https://picasaweb.google.com/georgeidf50
  • John Stevenson
    John Stevenson Posts: 962
    You're mad :)

    Drop me a line if you're going to be in Sydney: john@bikeradar.com
    John Stevenson
  • jibi
    jibi Posts: 857
    john_stevenson wrote:
    You're mad :)

    so many people say that to me, I'm beginning to believe it :shock:
    Drop me a line if you're going to be in Sydney: john@bikeradar.com

    Will do. I may land in Sydney, but am still looking at flights.

    cheers

    george

    https://picasaweb.google.com/georgeidf50
  • JOHNO 3
    JOHNO 3 Posts: 32
    Try having a look at British Airways. Seems from their website you can take a bike for free.

    http://www.britishairways.com/travel/ba ... blic/en_gb

    Its classed as Sport Equipment. It doesn't say if long haul flights are included. Sounds too good to be true if that's the case. Worth a look. BTW you may need to get a move on to book for around Xmas, busy time.
  • Brian NZ
    Brian NZ Posts: 59
    We have friends who travel al around the world with their tandem and they swear by Air Emirites. They fly into Aus as well.
    Cheers Brian & Sue

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