18 Apr 2012 - 11 May 2012 \ I went on the Aussie Explorer in April/May and had the time of my life! Everything was so organized, the coach was so comfortable, the tour guides and drivers were great and of course of people on the tour with me. Friends for life! It was a good mix of culture, sightings, free time, optionals. Don't worry about too much freetime, contiki will still organize optional trips to a bar/restaurant. We lived in the best hotels (in the outback there are often only two-three hotels in the small town, but still, you'll stay in the best of those two-three. ;) ) I wouldn't mind staying in hostels and pay less. If you're unlike me, don't worry, this is the luxury way to travel, there'll be huge breakfasts and comfortable beds every night. (Not the swag in Kings Creek Station, it's not comfortable at all! But you'll never get to see the sky so beautiful and with so many stars, again. So enjoy, I survived. ) East Coast is more party-party and you can join those days you wan't to and stay in the nights you don't want to party. You do have to get up at between 5 and 8 AM everyday, so you gotta be tough if you want to party everyday. The drives are long! In the NT it was more spread out, between 2-4/5 hours everyday. That's not too bad, they'll put on a movie. East coast you have 3 or 4 days with 7-8 hours of driving. It dosen't feel too bad though, just put on some music and look at the beauuutiful scenery. It's amazing out there. The optionals can be quite expensive. I skydived, river rafted, went seakayaking (remember a seasickness-pill), but the best thing was definitely the river rafting. A whole day of rafting down the Tully River and with lunch. On Daydream island we payed $26 dollars for BBQfood (there wasn't enough food) and a lousy slush ice drink. Not worth the money! Just say you'll order off the menu and you can go along with the rest of the group and share a pizza with someone and pay $9 instead. Surfcamp and farmstay was amazing and so much fun! A tip: In Noosa you can wash your clothes for free, but we were not told this untill we got there, so don't spend the $10 I did, washing your clothes the day before. The worst thing about the trip is saying goodbye, to the guides, drivers, fellow travelers. Thank god for facebook, after seeing all the pictures people put up, it's like going on the trip all over again.

I went on the Aussie Explorer in April/May and had the time of my life! Everything was so organized, the coach was so comfortable, the tour guides... read more