Preparing for an Australia trip

My husband, Ray, and I took the “Ultimate Australia” tour with Overseas Adventure Travel (Cambridge, MA; 800/493-6824, www.oattravel.com). In selecting this tour, we had been interested only in small-group itineraries that would take us to, at a minimum, Melbourne, Kangaroo Island, Uluru (Ayers Rock), the Great Barrier Reef and Sydney.

Our OAT tour took place Oct. 18-Nov. 4, 2007, and the experience was superb. (In 2009, this 17-day tour starts at $4,295 with air from Los Angeles.) Our travel group was congenial and the guide was articulate and knowledgeable.

Prior to booking the trip, we contacted Karolyn Wrightson of Essential DownUnder (Weaverville, NC; 877/977-4505, www.essentialdownunder.com), an ITN advertiser who specializes in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific. Karolyn compared the OAT itinerary with her independent “Essential Australia” tour and sent a preliminary written analysis for us to consider prior to our engaging her services.

The US Tour Operators Association was once quoted as stating that packaged travel can save 10%-40% over going solo. Karolyn’s analysis of a similar itinerary, done independently, demonstrated this fact.

Consequently, we decided to travel with OAT for the cost savings, group social interaction and time efficiency. Of course, in exchange for this decision, we gave up flexibility of itinerary and pace. Had we opted to travel independently, we would have worked with Karolyn, since her candor, knowledge and attention to detail were impressive.

We chose October as the best time to visit, in terms of weather. The northern half of the country is in the tropical zone, with its dry season between May and October. The southern half is temperate, with seasons directly opposite to those in the US. The Outback is extremely hot during summer. We were correctly advised to take clothing for hot and cold as well as rainy and dry weather.

In preparing for the trip, I found that the historical novel “The Secret River” by Kate Grenville (2006, Canongate. ISBN 1841957976 — 352 pp., $24) helped me better understand the Australian pride in having a convict as an ancestor and the relationship between settlers and Aborigines.

The movie “The Rabbit Proof Fence” (2002, Miramax; DVD for $15 on Amazon.com), starring Everlyn Sampi, Kenneth Branagh and David Gulpilil, dramatized the Aborigine Stolen Generation.

Two websites that could be useful in planning are www.australia.com and www.tourism.gov.au.

Warning for entering Australia — anything edible must be declared. There are very strict import rules and the fines are stiff. It’s better to declare your gum and granola bar than risk a fine!

A tip once you get there — anyone over age 60 with identification might be granted the reduced entrance fees available to Australian and New Zealand pensioners (seniors). It’s worth inquiring.

(Wanda’s account of her trip continues next month.)

WANDA BAHDE

Summerfield, FL