[renew]

Anyone done any travelling on the way to NZ?
Seems to be the perfect oportunity for us as we want to go without jobs so can take our time.
Only problem too many places we want to see. India, Nepal, Trans Siberian railway, Thailand, Malasia, Ayers Rock, and then spend some time travelling around NZ. Not sure that we can afford to do everything but its a starting point of a plan. Part of me would be interested in the Oz BUS overland thing but 1 twelve weeks can be a long time with the same group and 2 there are rumours of mutiny on the first bus which is currently broken down.

Anyone done much travelling on the way? Any must see places or places you thought over rated?

cheers

Ian & Nicola

Knee deep in Lonely Planet books and maps

[Debbie P.]

If I was doing it, I'd go by train across Europe to Moscow to take the Trans-Mongolian train route, travel slowly down through SE Asia to Thailand, get a flight to Darwin, travel through Australia, then another short flight from Sydney. Trip of a lifetime! But that would mean missing out India and Nepal.

In the Observer (UK newspaper - are you from UK?), they have a queries page in the Escape section that is answered by Tom Hall from Lonely Planet, and I'm sure he had a query along those lines only recently. I can't remember exactly when, but you could try this site: http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/newspaper/escape.

[KerryS]

If I was doing it, I'd go by train across Europe to Moscow to take the Trans-Mongolian train route, travel slowly down through SE Asia to Thailand, get a flight to Darwin, travel through Australia, then another short flight from Sydney. Trip of a lifetime! But that would mean missing out India and Nepal.

In the Observer (UK newspaper - are you from UK?), they have a queries page in the Escape section that is answered by Tom Hall from Lonely Planet, and I'm sure he had a query along those lines only recently. I can't remember exactly when, but you could try this site: http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/newspaper/escape.

That's almost the exact route I took. I was travelling for almost 2 years before I got to NZ, where I decided to stay.
Initially went to visit some friends in Sweden, caught the ferry to Finland and then travelled into Russia. Did the Trans-Siberian express, and I loved it. I travelled all the way to Vladisvostock, and then travelled down into China. Then Hong Kong, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia (not in that order though). Sorting visas was a bit of a pain, but well worth it. I spent a week chilling on the beach in Bali and then flew to Perth to meet my brother. Then I spent almost 18 months in Oz (12 working though unfortunately) before coming over to NZ.

It was possibly the best trip I've ever done. Beat my gap year in Oz, and travelling as a student around Europe and the US. My next plan is to do South America - but I'm not sure when I'm ever going to get the time...

I'd also like to take a long trip back to the UK, in a reverse of Peter Moore's trip from London to Sydney.

[renew]

found some more companies for the overland route to Oz.

http://www.eoe.org.uk/index.php
London to Sydney in proper 6x6 truck 32 weeks (£3995 +£995 kitty) dep April
08 (155 a week)

http://www.oz-bus.com/

London to Sydney in coach 20 weeks (£3750) dep various
(187.50 a week)

http://www.odysseyoverland.co.uk/

London to Darwin in 6x6 truck 26 weeks (£3140+£1540 kitty)
dep April 08 (180 a week)

[Debbie P.]

It seems that the Oz bus mutiny is more about them having to cancel various sections rather than just the fact that they keep breaking down, e.g. they won't be able to visit Everest after all. There have been quite a few cancellations, and I feel a bit sorry for the group - all that money and various highlights cut out. They might as well have bought a RTW ticket for half the amount and stopped off for highlights on the way.

[gibbo100]

Hi Renew,
I went through East and Southern Africa on my way to down under with a company called Absolute Africa, had possibly one of the most memorable experiences of my life - and was on an overland truck full of Kiwis that i still keep in contact with now! The only problem is getting flights from south Africa to India, doesn't seem to be that popular. We've looked into getting a RTW flight as it seems to be the cheapest way to do things if you want to travel before getting to NZ.