workhorse Loc: Nashville, TN

I have always wanted to visit Australia and now that I am retired and have a little money saved I want to make the trip before arthritis makes that impossible. I am not a world traveler, I made my living as a carpenter. So what I want to know from anyone, but especially friends who live in Australia is, what is the best time of year and what should I see. Nature and animals are my thing but with limited walking because of the Arthritis. I don't have to use a cane yet and can still carry my own camera. Thanks for any information.

thegrover Loc: Yorba Linda, CA

My wife has family in AU, we have been there about ten times. I absolutely love it. Keep in mind it is a large rugged country. Being in the Southern hemisphere the seasons are opposite ours. If you want nature and animals go to the out back. http://www.outback-australia-travel-secrets.com/
Also since you have not been there I recommend you talk to Quantas travel. http://www.qantasvacations.com/about-qantas-vacations.asp.
Another place that is easy reach from Sydney are the Blue Mountains, very beautiful and lots of photographic sites.
You must read this book before you go, The Fatal Shore. The epic of Australia's founding, by Robert Hughes.
If you go to Melbourne be sure and visit Puffing Billy, great for pictures. If you go Adelaide,check this out: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g255093-Activities-Adelaide_South_Australia.html. The Adelaide Hills has unique attractions. Visit Hahndorf, Cleland or Gorge
Wildlife Park, the National Motor Museum and Mount Lofty Summit.
One time I took the Indian Pacific from Sydney to Adelaide with a stop in Broken Hills. Awesome trip. A day trip by Bus from Adelaide to Melbourne is also great. Whatever you do you will enjoy it. The Australian people are kind, friendly and helpful. Just a little hard to understand.

tassie boy Loc: tasmania

Hello Workhorse I would say august through to march .It can be very hot in some parts . Lots of open country,great rain forests , beautiful beaches open clean Cites . U will be amazed . And to top it off,we are all friendly {Don't say I should have . Say I did } Great tour's through national parks. Wild life a plenty. Come enjoy .

tlbuljac Loc: Oklahoma

I've yet to travel there myself but have friends that where there in early December 2009. They liked the "Steve Irvin Crocodile zoo and park". Not sure where it is located but a few UHH's that have been there should be able to tell you where it's at.....have fun and bring back loads of pics

Tradscot Loc: Cairns, Australia

Hi, before you contemplate a visit "Down Under", and you may have already done some, but bear in mind the size of our country,It's an island but it is almost the the same mass as mainland USA, ie drive from LAX - NYC its almost the same as Perth to Sydney. LOOOOng way! Gas here is $1.52 Quarter gallon. Sure there are plenty Golden arches, KFC and other fast food, restrauants are more expensive than USA as ar most attractions, we lack population so things are more expensive, but we make up for it in our attractions and our friendly people.
Time of year depends on your more specific interests. Wildflower season is at its peak July to November, but is an all year display. We have more snow than Switzerland, but only in winter! We cater for people with mobility problems as good as any where else, certainly the USA! Wildlife is where you find it, and that generally means looking for it, it's a big country. Barrier reef, rainforrest North Queensland, June-Oct. Tasmania, Summertime
beautiful landscape/seascape country. You will Not cover it all in one vacation. If I can help you can contact me on
billnjune@comcen.com.au Tradscot

workhorse Loc: Nashville, TN

Grover, thanks for the links and personal information. I would always rather talk to some person rather than trust an advertisement or company to give me information about something I am going to spend money on. I appreciate being pointed in the right direction.

workhorse Loc: Nashville, TN

tassie boy, thanks a bunch. I like it warm, some call it hot, arthritis does better in the heat rather than the cold. It doesn't take much to make me happy, grand land scapes and a few animals is all I require. Friendly is good, I am old enough to know that every day above ground is a good day.

workhorse Loc: Nashville, TN

Thanks tlbuljac, I am sure that pics will be taken by the thousands but I haven not been able to post anyon here because I am not smart enough to figure out the instructions on how to do it. My last trip to AK I spent 12 days and generated 15 hundred pics.

workhorse Loc: Nashville, TN

Tradscot, thank you, I will surely come during your summer. My first indication that your country is big was when I saw flying from one place to another as an offered form of transportation. "Wildlife is where you find it" is so true, in Anchorage, Alaska I have seen bear and moose in the city but in Nashville, Tennessee you have to go to the country because the city only has song birds, a few hawks and racoons but nothing large, no wolves or bison. You have to travel nearly a thousand miles for those. I will keep your email address and shout at you later. Thanks again.

Denisedancer Loc: Sydney Australia

I know you like the warmth but I suggest you visit in our Spring ie September to November. Otherwise you need to choose your destinations first to find the best time of year to visit.

Northern parts of Australia like Cairns in Queensland and Darwin in Northern Territory are tropical, that means very hot and humid and wet, and are definitely best for a winter visit. Tasmania is just beautiful, a lot of stunning wilderness, but much colder so would be good to visit in our summer.

I haven't been to Steve Urwin's park but it's in Queensland somewhere, I'm sure you can find it with an internet search.

Of course you must come to Sydney (I'm biased) but as well as our iconic sights and beaches, just 2 hours west we have the magnificent Blue Mountains, and on the southern outskirts our National Park with beautiful coastal scenery.

Depends how much time you have but a good over view would be Sydney, Uluru (outback), Darwin, and Cairns, maybe the hinterland behind the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast in Qld. As someone else said distances are great so best to fly between cities. If you can also include Melbourne then you can do the Great Ocean Road drive (towards Adelaide) to see the remaining 12 Apostles. Also Phillip Island for the penguins. Also a nice trip is to drive around the coastline from Sydney to Melbourne but it is a long drive and would be best taken over a few days.

Then again there is Perth and the Kimberleys. Mullumby who puts up "photos from Aus' on UHH could tell you about there but it's way on the other side of the country. 5 hour flight Sydney to Perth.

Not to leave out Adelaide and the hills, and Tasmania. Love Tassie, hubby and I did a great trip out of Hobart to Bruny Island where you can go on a jet boat ride to see the seals and albatross. It was great.

You see I could go on forever there is just so much to see.Probably the person who said you need several visits is right.

Good luck with your plans. I'm visiting your way next May and had a very difficult time choosing how much we could fit into 3 weeks. Can't wait. Settled on LA, San Fran, Coach from Denver to Las Vegas via lots of NPs, then Disneyland and San Diego.

Snecko Loc: Perth Australia

Western Australia is the largest state, and Perth is its fast growing capital.

If you love wildflowers, W.A is the place to visit in the spring. We have the most prolific variety and quantity of unique flora.

If you like to go to the beach and enjoy hot weather, come in December thro to March. Travel to Margaret River and enjoy the wineries or Pemberton to see giant karri trees. Swim in the cold Southern Ocean on the South coast on a hot day.

If you like pristine wilderness, ancient cave paintings, then visit the Kimberley's in NW WA or The Northern Territory.

Visit Uluru in Central Oz in the winter and climb the largest monolith in the world .

Visit the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland in the cooler months.

And of course the bustling vibrant cities of Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne and Adelaide all have there own attractions.

Tasmania is just plain beautiful, best experienced (in my opinion) in the spring and summer.

My husband and I have travelled around the country and up through the Red Centre in our caravan. Nowadays we travel in WA only but would love to head off again some day if health and finances permit.

Hope this helps. I can add more info if required.

Snecko Loc: Perth Australia

I've also got plenty of photos!

Denisedancer Loc: Sydney Australia

Although you can still climb Uluru, the Aboriginal owners of the rock don't like people climbing it. It's good to respect their wishes, but you can still walk around the rock.

tassie boy Loc: tasmania

G 'day Workhorse how ya goin . If you end up in tassie. Come late December to to early march . Weather bit more predictable . You will enjoy. Hour flight from Melbourne. If I can help in any way, let me know .

cdhakl Loc: Townsville, Queensland - Australia

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I am an ex-patriate Yank & have lived / worked here in Oz over 32+ years. I am now retired and have osteo arthritis in both knees /hips. Will have x2 knees done this year. If you acturally go bush / outback, I assume you will be on guided tour(s) with meals, accomodation etc. laid on. If not, on your own with arthritis driving a rented vehicle will perhaps take a bit of the shine off your trip. There are plenty of zoos, animal parks, sanctuaries etc. all over the country. You will get better photos / interaction in these places than trying to locate & get close to a lot of the wildlife in the outback (YMMV). As stated before, the place is huge and from north (tropics) to south (snow/skiing ) and anything really in between. Try to define what area you want to visit first, is like Aussies going to USA & asking what to see? If you come to the tropics where I live ( Townsville, Queensland on the Great Barrier Reef), probably want to come in our winter (exact oposite of northern hemisphere). We get thousands of southerners (we call them Mexicans) coming north to enjoy our winter months. Steve Irvins Croc Park is on the coast just out of Brisbane. Since Steve was killed, his father Bob has parted company with the zoo, but widow Terri & kids Bindi & Bob are still there. Townsville is closer to Papua New Guinea than to our state capitol city (Brisbane). Distance is the killer here as the place is really big & spread out. My wife is from Perth, W.A. and you can spend your entire time there until your visa runs out & you won't see 1/4 of W.A.

Queensland, Northern Territory & top end of W.A. are the hottest areas temp. wise so check where you want to explore then adjust for the temps. you want to explore it in. I never want to be cold again & only feel for the frozen food in our freezer and never actually look into it! If I ever see frost / snow again, will be too soon. If you get to Cairns you must take SkyRail over the rain forest to Karanda & then take the scenic railway on back to Cairns. Or otherway around. Both scenic great rides and must do "adventures". Reef trips off Cairns, Port Douglas, Cooktown etc. and most have glass bottom boats / mini -subs for coral / sea viewing if you can't scuba dive or snorkle. Townsvile has about the same + the Strand beach here is world class development. The outback starts at Charters Towers just west of here and is olde gold mining town with cattle stations etc.
Be sure to browse the photos here on FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/SeeAustralia

Spend at least a month looking over all the Chamber of Commerce / Tourist web sites before deciding, unless you already have your area picked out.

Bring extra memory cards for you camera. Things are more expensive here than USA. Our dollar caught up & passed the US dollar but you will still find most things here more expensive. Don't come unless you can afford travel insurance! I am a retired Qld. scenes of crime officer (CSI) and can tell you crime is here & growing all the time. Don't be complacent and guard your valuables. A money belt / under shirt stash for pass port & currency is wise and never leave any thing in your motel / hotel room while you are out of sight. Just like USA, crime is everywhere, just be aware and you will get on fine.

If you get up north to Townsville, let me know (email) & I can give you further info / advice if you wish. You will see all the "deadly creatures" on our tourist sites etc., but I have lived here over 30+ years and have never been bitten, stung, eaten or had any near misses. Obey all the "warning signs / notices" they are posted for your benefit. The salt water crocodiles we have here in the north are not the same as USA alligators and since becoming protected in the early 70's are in almost all our rivers, creeks and waterways now, and are becoming a very big problem now in some areas. If the signs or the locals tell you not to swim in a billabong / river / creek etc. then don't. The tourist sites won't most likely tell you how many Yanks have been eaten by crocs here (they also find Europeans & Asians quite tasty also).

Can't wait to welcome you to the land down under and bring plenty of greenbacks with you...........
some of my snaps of our native wildlife: http://www.flickr.com/photos/el_condor_loco/sets/72157601726024973/
Curt H. Townsville, Queensland