HI jacqui,
I also live in Australia, and I walked the
Camino Frances last Sept and Oct, so I can answer many of your questions.
Firstly, are you aware of the many people who live in Australia who meet on a regular basis, consisting of those who have walked many of the Caminos, and those who wish to walk. So go to
http://www.csj.org.uk, and click on 'Other English Language Associations'. This will take you to the details of our meetings in Adelaide, Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney. In Sydney we meet every month to exchange information and ideas.
When I walked the Camino last year I flew to London by Malaysian Airlines, arriving about 6.30am at Heathrow. This will give you enough time to get to Stanstead Airport on the other side of London for the flight departing about 12.30 by Ryanair for Biarritz, arriving there about 3pm local time. From there I shared a taxi to St Jean with one other pilgrim - total for both of us $60 for 1 hour ride. If not a taxi, take the airport bus to Bayonne and the railway station there. There should be a train to get you to St Jean about 7.30. (Train timetable for Oct is not available yet, but try
http://www.raileurope.com.au). I stayed at a private refugio L'Esprit de Chemin in St Jean for 2 nights for 31 euros per night including dinner, bed and breakfast. You have to book in advance and they speak English and are very friendly (
http://www.espritduchemin.org or email info@espritdu chemin.org). I also broke the walk over the Pyrenees by staying at Orisson (8 steep kms from St Jean and 17 kms from Roncevalles (
refuge.orisson@wanadoo.fr). It is essential to make bookings for these two places. This year I am flying to Paris, but I know there are TGV express trains from Paris CDG airport to Bayonne.
I did not make any accomodation bookings after Orisson and had no problems. Mainly I stayed in albergues, but about once a week and also at Santiago I stayed in pensions, again no bookings and no problems.
In October the weather started to become cold, especially at night and at altitude (Rabanal and O'Cebriero). I took a lightweight sleeping bag which was plenty warm enough. I left Finisterre on 30 Oct.
I hope this answers some of your questions.
For me, the Camino was such an amazing experience that I am returning in September this year.
Buen Camino.
David