I agree with Tony, Brisbane QLD is the place to visit but I'm biased because I live there (here).

As Tony said Cleavers is a big store...not much milsurp though. Queensland Gun Exchange is another big store (without milsurps too). Rebel Gun Works is a small store but they do have some mixed milsurp - good (expensive) and not so good. Milsurps are drying up over here too. Cheap bulk ex-mil ammo is virtually all gone. Lawrence ordnance (in Sydney) is the biggest handler of milsurp on the east coast. It's a small shop but he has some interesting developmental 303 carbines hanging on his shop wall (not for sale). He's largely run out of bulk rifle stock too but does have a couple of ex-mil handguns.

Brisbane has a shooting complex that is situated about 7 1/2 miles from the city centre!!! I'll bet there's not many citys in the world that could claim that. The complex has 5 rifle ranges (including a public range), 3 pistol ranges and 2 shotgun ranges (4 if you include the 2 at the public range). I live about 15minutes away so am there every Sunday.

Amongst other things, I shoot combined services which is milsurp (bolt action, but only because that's all most of us have). This match is held the second Sunday of every month (sometimes cancelled if a major match is on).

Gotta go now, if you want more info I can fill you in later. Could catch up when you make it over here too if you like.

Yes they do! No milsups though, they did have a 303 but it was slightly sporterised. You could use one of mine (Israeli, Turk, Portuguese or Columbian Carbine) if timing works out. You could even experience my CZ 375H&H if you like (firing it looks much worse than what it actually is - my fillings haven't fallen out yet).

We have ski fields near Canberra (in NSW - different state but can get to from Brisbane in a combined day flight/drive) or in Victoria. I'm not a skier so can't say how good they are, and they only get snow in winter (your summer - your planned travel time?)

I can provide GoogleEarth placemarks if you like - to help with your planning. Only too willing to help out a fellow Parallaxer. I could even show you my October 2007 Knob Creek and Las Vegas Gun Store video if you start to get homesick. There is another guy that I shoot with who posts here (I forget his 'handle') that has relatives in New Zealand (different country but a short flight from Australia, if you didn't already know). Semi-autos are legal in New Zealand and maybe some arrangements could be made. He owns a Norinco M14 copy and I think he knows people with a Garand and SLR (Mind you I haven't contacted him about this issue so shouldn't be getting your hopes up).

Beware of our petrol prices - they are about $1 to $1.20 per liter at the moment (Google the unit and dollar conversions).

One other thing, there is a factory at Lithgow with a museum. Lithgow used to make many of the SMLEs and SLRs. It's a couple of hours drive from Sydney (through the Blue Mountains) and well worth the trip - why, I was even there once.

Obviously time and budget will dictate where you plan to go. You've picked a good time since our dollar is low cf the US dollar.