A couple of additions to my post above. The academic year in OZ starts in January so are they not going to college for a full year?
If they are thinking of doing any travelling they might consider staying south of about BNE from Dec to April/May to avoid the wet season.
One method not mentioned above, which we have used twice, is to fly on a BA special offer to TYO, and get your Japan-OZ-Japan tickets as a special offer from a Japanese travel agent. This can be done through English speaking travel agents in Tokyo via e-mail. They will post the tickets to the UK. You lose out on the exchange rate as you have to pay in Yen but at certain times of the year we have found this cheaper. (This gets round the crazy rule that, say, JAL aren't allowed to sell you a ticket in the uk that doesn't originate here.)
edited for spelling! (0/10 see me.)
Last edited by Hobo; 12th February 2003 at 07:42.