I am having a bit of a brain freeze when it comes to last minute holidays and I hope you might have some insights from what you have done.
Based in Victoria, some sun would be nice. Flying is no obstacle and naturally I am looking for a bargain, but if it is value for money I wouldn't mind spending it. I looked at Fiji, Bali, Cruise, and a few more. When I cycled back to Fiji I knew I need help. We are a couple, no kids.
Any ideas?
Or finish all the Steam and Epic libraries.
It’s 10 days, not 10 years
you can visit any country you like using google cardboard VR
If Fiji and its a great time to go there, DO NOT STAY IN DENARAU.
Its just landfill full of resorts on top of each other with no island atmosphere.
No beaches. no snorkelling.
The Coral Coast is rather un-inspiring too.
Go to the Mamanuca Isalnds and the Yasawa islands which you reach by ferry from Nadi (Denarau harbour)
The great thing about these islands is that they are relatively close together and you can "island Hop" very easily staying 2-3 days on each island. And so avoiding bordom or overstaying in a place you dont like.
My recommendations:
Mamanuca Isalnds - Mana Island and Treasure island if you like being spolit, Serenity island Resort for a true coral island experience, and Beachcomber if you like a party atmosphere.
See here:
https://myfiji.com/destinations/mamanuca-islands/
Yasawa islands - My top pick in the Yasawa islands is Mantaray Island resort.
As the name implies its the place to see huge, aeroplane like mantarays. Amazing experience!
The snorkelling is great right off the beach or the beach opposite, just across the narrow channel which you reach in 3 minutes by canoe. The food is great too as are the views.
Then you can take the ferry up to the amazing Blue Lagoon resort
If you want something cheap and cheerful with great food and a friendly atmosphere, stop in at CoralView Island resort for a couple of days.
They run boat trips over to Blue Lagoon beach and other resorts in the bay so you can stay on the cheap and still visit the luxury resorts.
See here for more info on Yasawa Islands:
https://www.hideawayholidays.com.au/fiji-yasawa-islands/
See here for Yasawa ferry stops and timetable:
https://www.fiji-bookings.com/ferry/yasawa-flyer
Being a couple with no kids STAY WELL AWAY from any resort that advertises "kids stay and eat free"
Ningaloo Reef, WA.
Booked out months ago, always is every year. Might get lucky and jag a cancellation.
Cairns is a good option too that time of year.
There are some GREAT Jetstar Holiday Specials to QLD right now.
See here and be quick:
https://www.jetstar.com/au/en/holidays/deals/queensland-sale…
Cheaper to go to Europe for a month
plenty of vids on youtube show how boring the Ghan really is.
Dang
I liked the Ghan and it's probably even better now that it's all inclusive.
@Jimothy Wongingtons: I've enjoyed the few overnight trains i've done. I wouldn't mind doing the Ghan.
Though, I do think about an old manager who was about sixty doing it and saying they were the youngest person there.
@ihfree: Yeah cant find the video I saw last night now - but the guy basically walked through the different classess of fares on the Ghan - but in the video yeah I'm sure that guy was the youngest person on board that wasnt a staff member of the Ghan, by maybe a good 40+ years…
@Jimothy Wongingtons: I went on the Ghan for my 50th. I would not have been surprised if they offered me pencils and a colouring in book.
Been to Uluru or Broome? You can never get bargains on the ground in these places but at least this is the right time of year to visit either.
Alice Springs does not seem like a good place to go right now.
Uluru visitors mostly fly to AYQ
Broome may not sweep you off your feet.
Port Douglas…
and then to Hartley's Crocodile Adventures
Gumbuya park
Bora Bora. My jet is free over that period if you're interested.
Northern queensland maybe, some of the islands. New Zealand.
tokyo!
Perfect time for Northern Australia - Darwin, the Kimberley (Kununurra/Broome), or Uluru/Kings Canyon
How about Oct/Nov. I'm in a similar situation to OP but I have 4 weeks leave starting mid October.
If you decide to visit Broome, aim for 16-17 Nov for full moon, Staircase to the Moon Markets and low tide to see the dinosaur footprints
Probably getting a bit more warmer and humid towards the end of those months, getting into the wet season. If you don't mind humidity l then it's fine.
cruise to bali then a flight back on jetstar. bogans dream
No check in luggage either as you'll purchase a bintang muscle T on arrival. Clothing sorted.
you'll purchase a bintang muscle T on arrival
Just the one?
That's all you need for 10 days. 5 days the correct way and 5 days inside out.
i had a similar thought process yesterday and then got sidetracked on google flights for a bit. ended up looking at the cheapest legs from Aus to Asia and then the cheapest legs from there that seemed interesting.
Ended up with Syd->Ho Chi Minh-> New Delhi->Leh->Srinagar->Amritsar->Singapore->Sydney for ~$1000.
Thought it'd be a cool Himalayas trip (ND would just be a stop over and I have no plans to see the city) and could spend a day getting drunk on cheap viet booze and food
Food for thought
that seems really cheap, who is it with?
vietjet->air india->indigo (x3)->Scoot (x2)
Japan, you could comfortably do 4 days in Tokyo and 6 days in Osaka/Kyoto. The AUD to YEN is at an all time low so now is an excellent time to go, the rumour is that the Japanese currency will be going for a recovery so it might not be as cheap in the future. You've picked a period outside the school holidays which is excellent as flights become 3x as expensive during the school holidays.
Save the cheap/close destinations like Fiji/Thailand for later when you have kids, you definitely won't want to go to Europe with them as it will double your cost and you won't have any fun pushing around screaming toddlers who punch each other and chuck tantrums.
This is a great idea. Japan is awesome and can be as cheap as you want, or as expensive as you want.
jpy already recovered ~10% so glory time is done
Bit out of left field and probably not a bargain at all, but we went to Yellowstone and Grand Tetons a few years ago in early to mid-September and it ended up being a pretty great time of the year to go.
Saw loads of wildlife - huge amounts of bison, elk, moose, deer, bighorns, pikas, even some bears which hadn't yet hibernated - and had a bit of variety in the weather, where most of the days were sunny shorts hiking weather with a couple of beautiful snowy days.
Not too sure on your situation, and this is not a cheap destination by any means, but have you considered French Polynesia? It is a bit of a hike to get there as you first fly to Auckland and then on to Tahiti.
Spend a day or so near Tahiti, and then ferry across to Moorea. There are lovely resorts there - rent a car so you can drive the island. Hotels usually include breakfast, get supermarket food for lunch and eat somewhere local for dinner.
Then, if budget allows, fly over to Bora Bora and stay in an overwater bungalow. They are seriously the next level of luxury and relaxation, you and your partner will have the most relaxing time (French Polynesia is very LGBTQIA+ friendly if that is a consideration for you). You can swim directly from your bungalow, otherwise resorts all have pools, private beaches and lots of activities. You won't really find families with loud kids (on account of the cost- who wants to bring kids to Bora Bora? - but also most resorts won't allow under 15s to stay in the overwater bungalows on account of safety). Most resorts run boats to the main island of Bora Bora where you can explore the island and enjoy one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, Matira Beach.
Return back to Melbourne tanned and relaxed and start saving up for your next holiday :)
Fraser Island, great sun,sand and fishing
is within the next month a good time? im thinking it will be pretty empty and not flooded with back packers?
K'gari (Fraser Island) also gets my vote. Late August/September and you can also see the baby humpback whales in Hervey Bay.
I'd charge up the camera, clean my lenses, and go find some waterfalls.
Smaller, self-contained areas that you can explore entirely within the 10 days
Tasmania
South Island New Zealand
Sri Lanka
Sarawak
Vietnam, Japan or Western Australia would be my picks
For japanese dollars at new low; it is really worths to go Japan visit at the moment~ or just get on a cruise and eat buffet everyday.
Japan or singapore
I'm going to Japan on 31 Aug, same time will be mid to high 20's. Lots of flight deals happenening, good exchange rate, lots going on if you don't mind the lack of beach. Escaping this particularly cold winter.
If you want to spend an hour or so you can watch an hour or so watching the Ghan on demand on SBS. it's as boring as bat poo and three hours long.
https://www.sbs.com.au/whats-on/article/slow-tv-comes-to-sbs…
Just got back from 8 nights in the Cook Islands. Rarotonga is amazing - we're already talking about going back. Highly recommended! 🙂
Bonnie Doon
Another vote for the cook islands. Also trades in nzd.. good bang for buck.
Los Angeles. The summer heat is mostly gone and it's beautiful weather to go out into the valleys.
Just don't venture Downtown / Skid Row / West Adams.
Tax Accountant.
Thailand is good value and beautiful resorts
You could have a look at doing a multi city trip with scoot airlines , you could spend 2 or 3 days in different places around Asia , they have some very cheap fares . Bali , KL , Singapore etc etc
What about Darwin or north west WA?
A north Queensland destination.
Why not try somewhere other than Fiji or Bali like absolutely every one else.
If you've heard of it dont go there is another option.
Australians seem to be like sheep these days and follow other Australians on holidays.
We went on a 10-day cruise in May 2024 with P&O to Vanuatu; it was great and economical as transport, food, and entertainment were all included.
I am looking at another for 2026
The ber months (Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec) are good months to visit Philippines. Lots of great diving spots, marine parks and shipwrecks if you're into that.
Cabin at Wilson’s Prom. $125 night
It will sunny one day, raining and blowing a gale the next , but always spectacular
Anywhere in Japan. Cost of flights have come down and exchange rate is VERY favorable at the moment. If you don't have kids now and plan to in the future - travel now whilst it's still enjoyable and cheaper. Go overseas. Australia is expensive boring, expensive and vast. Too much time spent traveling to experience the same culture, same food, same people, different IGA shop.
Not really long enough for a good trip as you lose to much time with flights and airports going places like the US or Japan. Perhaps a trip to NZ, Queenstown is awesome that time of year. Airlie beach or Hamilton island is nice that time of year also.
Croatia.
Gold Coast
Vietnam or Thailand
Thailand. Cheap , great food and lots of variety of accommodation
Philippine Islands. Cambodia if into ancient temples. Laos is highly rated as a very different place to visit. Vietnam has heaps of options.
Cheap Jetstar sale to Asia….exception Japan because the country is overrun with tourists.
@Geizhals where did you end up going to?
FNQ - Palm Cove. Found a nice resort, cheap flights - and a lot closer than many of the other suggestions. I felt.like I didn't have enough time to plan some of the destinations. However, I did form a bucket list of many of the ideas.
Stay home and sleep in, do day trips