Please advise?

Question

Would you have tips, advice, recommendation of places to visit and hostels (looking for clean, safe, good location) in Sydney, New Zealand and Fiji? In New Zealand I have heard of the magic bus. What is the best accommodation? And what about Fiji? What travel agency have you booked your flight with and what about travel insurance and budget? How did you manage your finances?

Answer 1

Sorry I can't help.
Sounds as if you're going to be doing a bit of travelling,
Good luck and safe journey

Answer 2

I have used the Lonely Planet guidebooks in Australia and New Zealand, found them helpful and reliable.

In Sydney I stayed in the Wake up hostel and the Railway Square hostel, both very near the railway station, both good. Both have entry security, which might be needed or over the top, but no big hassle, your room key opens all doors which are kept locked.

Magic bus is a system of buses traveling from hostel to hostel, allowing you to travel your own speed but with convenient ease, but you need to like the average traveler who also uses these buses.
There are (were) several different companies doing the same kind of travel, some with just one route, some with several posibilities, and I do not remember which one was which, as I traveled public transport myself.

Google hostels and bus and you are likely to get the lot, otherwise add worths like magic, youth, travel and so on till you get what you are looking for.

If you are young, (20ish,) and like noisy places, those bus tours are the right kind for you.
If you post this question (or a more specific one) in New Zealand, travel you will get more reactions, most likely from people who used the bus.

All hostels I used in Australia and in New Zealand were good, but the cheaper ones in the bigger towns are just that, cheap, so a bit run down is to be expected.

When in New Zealand, about 7 years back, I used my bank card to get my money out of the ATMs, and had my other banking needs arranged with my parents, when in Australia, nearly 2 years back, I did most of my banking by internet, getting the bills I needed to pay by e-mail, or at least the details I needed. I still used my bank card for getting money, but this way I could get money from my savings account when needed.
Internet access in the big towns is easy, internet cafes everywhere, mostly rather cheap too.

I also used credit cards on both trips, mostly for paying hostels and the odd high restaurant bill, but it is easy to overspend with those.

I used a Dutch agency for both travels, different ones, which will only be helpful for you if you are Dutch too.
And insurance is needed, as you will be away from home for quite a while, and if you need medical help, need to be flown home of set fire to a place by accident you will not be able to pay for it yourself.

For budget, it is cheaper than western Europe, at least 1/3 cheaper, maybe only half the price, but the intercontinental flight adds so much that overall I payed the same as I would have for a travel the same length of time near home.

I have not been to Fiji, so I can not help you on that respect.

Answer 3

We booked through "Travel Bag" - the Branch in Cheltenham (Nicola), - who specialise in putting together packages to suit you. Used them twice and found Nicola to be particularly good.
She will discuss different hotels with you, has all up to date info, has done many of the trips and stopovers herself (she has an Aunt in NZ).
First time in Sydney we pushed out the proverbial boat and stayed in an expensive place for a couple of nights, overlooking the harbour. Couldn't afford that last time, so stayed in a "boutique" hotel about 15 minutes from Cockle Bay (breakfast included) - a bit like a Travelodge but with more facilities for self-catering. For eating out, Cockle Bay is better served than Sydney Harbour, I think. You can get a water taxi from one to the other.
Can't remember in Fiji - stayed either in Castaway or Hideaway. If you are going there in Summer, try to get a hut with air con rather than just a ceiling fan and do take the walk to the waterfall to swim in the pool under it (very "Me Tarzan, you Jane", setting)
Don't know how long you have for NZ - we've been 3 times (have old school friends with whom we stay). I think we've "done" most of it with them - touring North and South Islands from top to bottom. (Queenstown is expensive during their summer months especially)
We flew the first time with Pan Am to the States, stopping in LA then 3 days later to NZ with NZ airlines, returned Singpore Airlines and stopped in Singapore.
Second time BA stopped in Sydney, on to Auckland; returned Fiji stopped 3 days, San Francisco stopped a week with friends (all this cheap accommodation!!)
Third time flew Emirates, stopped Sydney. Returned non-stop which was a mistake - husband had a small stroke a few days after which was probably because he was too pig-headed to make a break.
Travel Insurance we had through Lloyds Bank.
Credit cards can be used everywhere - took local currency with us and changed it into the currency of the next port of call at the airports. Budget depends on you but if this is likely to be a once in a lifetime trip try to do and see everything even if it costs.
Read current Customs Regulations very carefully, and stick to them. If you are taking regular medication - declare it and take a copy of your prescription.