I've decided that i want to go on a trip of Aus beginning with the contiki T & O tour this feb (in reverse) moving on to brisbane, sydney and then melbourne. Just wanted to know what the general ages are of people doing this tour aswell as how much money i should take and which additional extras are worth doing such as hot air balooning etc!
Also what should i take with me on this tour clotheswise (being a 19year old girl i need to learn the concept of streamline packing...taking into consideration i'd need clothes which could also cover me on the gold coast and in syd and melb!Help would b very much appreciated!
Thankssss!!
S x

I did the T&O (Darwin-Alice Springs)in February last year. I did most of the options, (not the hot air balloon ride, it was at the end of the tour and I had seen enough of the desert. Not the "fixed wing" flight in Kakadu either, I would have liked to but they said it wasn't a good idea if you get motion sickness easily)

Clothes... I'll warn you now, it will be HOT! In Alice Springs it was high 30's to mid 40's (Celcius). The day were did the Kings Canyon hike it was 46 degrees (C). Coming from Canada I didn't think such temperatures exsisted! So take shorts, loose fiting cotton tops, trainers, flipflops/thongs...

One more thing, I don't know if they were just particularly bad last year but, OMG the fly's. They don't bite, they just suck the moisture off your skin. Bug repellent didn't seem to work, you might want to get a fly net that covers your face ($5-10 in Alice Springs)

I had the best time on this trip!

Thanks for that! im not going to be used to the heat either!!!will i need to buy propert hiking shoes or will trainers do?!
how much roughly were the excursions!?!?

Trainers will do, make sure they're old.
The prices vary, they are listed on this website.

I just did the Territory and Outback in NOV 06. Pack several swimsuits, some days we went swimming two or three times. As for the optionals, the Hot Air Ballooning was amazing and the included champagne breakfast is alot of fun too. I also did the camel ride which was alot of fun, the helicopter ride over Ayers Rock and the Olgas was great too. The Bushtucker tour is really good because you learn alot about the Aboriginal culture - and you get the chance to eat really gross things. Be sure to pack your sunscreen and a hat.