2017 World Cup Plans : Wed Oct 19, 2016 1:28 pm  

With the first batch of tickets being made available this week, i thought it worth starting a thread for those who are planning on going to discuss their travel plans, games they're going to, share tips etc.

We got quarter final (Melbourne), semi final (Auckland) and Final (Brisbane) tickets yesterday.

The assumption is that that'll be the path England take (to the semi atleast, but be great if they get to the final).

We've not booked flights yet, and plan to find accommodation predominantly from Airbnb over a 3-week trip.

So, who else is going?

Re: 2017 World Cup Plans : Fri Oct 21, 2016 11:39 am  

going with organized trip, had e mails from Dave howes tours, Glory days, and Catalansports tours, have to study them before deciding
2008 went with Dave Howes, very good,
Any input/views will be welcome

Re: 2017 World Cup Plans : Sun Oct 23, 2016 8:59 pm  

Went to the Traveleads Dave Howes roadshows, very impressed, but finally booked with a Glory days-similar package-itinerary slightly different. Also, due to be named as official England RL tour partners soon.

44 nights in total, bring it on.

Re: 2017 World Cup Plans : Sun Oct 23, 2016 9:18 pm  

boomer wrote:

going with organized trip, had e mails from Dave howes tours, Glory days, and Catalansports tours, have to study them before deciding
2008 went with Dave Howes, very good,
Any input/views will be welcome

I'd seen the Catalan Tours trip, "Shrimp on the Barbie". That's basically what we're doing, but arranging ourselves. That was priced at £5k, but we're hoping to do it for £2.5k (flights, hotels, match tickets) for 3 weeks. The tour does include various excursions etc.

Re: 2017 World Cup Plans : Sun Oct 23, 2016 9:19 pm  

Casmania wrote:

Went to the Traveleads Dave Howes roadshows, very impressed, but finally booked with a Glory days-similar package-itinerary slightly different. Also, due to be named as official England RL tour partners soon.

44 nights in total, bring it on.

44 nights, what a trip!

Re: 2017 World Cup Plans : Mon Oct 24, 2016 2:36 am  

I initially thought that if England finished 2nd in their group behind Australia - both their quarter-final and semi-final would be in New Zealand?

I am down under so barring any disasters - I'm going to go to the tournament opener in Melbourne, give England-France in Perth a miss, then take in as many of the Sydney games as possible. Maybe even take a trip down to Canberra too. Then NZ for the QF and SF - then on to the final in Brisbane....But I am completely mistaken about England's path?

It's pretty annoying that the routes to the final can be so different dependent on 1st / 2nd position in the group.

Re: 2017 World Cup Plans : Mon Oct 24, 2016 7:25 am  

Planning on heading over for 6 weeks with a mate (Wales supporter). No idea of plans yet but will probably be planning in earnest in the next few weeks. Pains me to say I'll have to be supporting Wales for the next few weeks as will lose a travel buddy if they don't qualify!

Re: 2017 World Cup Plans : Mon Oct 24, 2016 7:40 am  

richardviking wrote:

I initially thought that if England finished 2nd in their group behind Australia - both their quarter-final and semi-final would be in New Zealand?

I am down under so barring any disasters - I'm going to go to the tournament opener in Melbourne, give England-France in Perth a miss, then take in as many of the Sydney games as possible. Maybe even take a trip down to Canberra too. Then NZ for the QF and SF - then on to the final in Brisbane....But I am completely mistaken about England's path?

It's pretty annoying that the routes to the final can be so different dependent on 1st / 2nd position in the group.

The QF's are as follows:

Darwin - A1 vs B3
Christchurch - B2 vs D1
Wellington - B1 vs A3
Melbourne - A2 vs C1

England will either be in Melbourne or Darwin (if they win the group). The group NZ are in, B, is earmarked for the NZ QF's.

The gamble we're going with is that England will lose in the group game to Aus and finish 2nd in the group. If England do win the group, it looks like they'll avoid Aus/NZ in the Semi's, so we'll get to see them in the final (assuming they win the QF & SF).

Re: 2017 World Cup Plans : Mon Oct 24, 2016 1:55 pm  

Finishing uni in June so off out to Australia for a year with a working visa and to watch a few Ashes tests. Probably go to the England v Australia group game, the World Cup final and the NRL Grand Final too if it's not too hard to get a ticket.

Re: 2017 World Cup Plans : Tue Oct 25, 2016 2:16 am  

Hope to see some of you visit Perth. Great city, lovely beaches and nib stadium is a great compact rugby league stadium. You can even stand on a terrace (shed end). Seats in east stand all give a great view and you get the panaramic city skyline as a backdrop from that stand.

Me I'll be catching opener in Melbourne, back to Perth for my home game, Brisbane for a week to catch semi and final.

For those coming to Perth great things to do:
Rottnest island for a selfie with a quokka (ferry from. City, freo or hillarys)
Caversham wildlife park to feed the kangaroos and cuddle a koala (20min drive)
Little creatures brewery in freo (train or ferry from city, markets on a weekend worth a visit)
Homestead brewery in swan valley and do some wine tasting at vineyards (30min drive)
Cottesloe beach for swim (15min drive)
Clancy fish pub in city beach for a chilled out lunch and beers overlooking Indian Ocean (15min drive)
Sorrento quay, great swimming area and restaurants and beach. 3 sheets for food and breakwater for beers and watch the sunset (30min drive)
If staying a bit longer head down to Margaret river region, great vineyards, breweries and lovely area to stay. Go via Busselton and go on jetty to underwater observatory (3 hour drive)

Cheapest car hire place is Bayswater car hire $25 a day. Perth is easy to drive around and getting a car is a good idea as you can head out to the valley and down south if staying a few days. Public transport is also pretty good though if staying in city and just going to main places like freo.