Get on Wotif to give you an idea of hotel prices. Top end you can get for around $180 a night, decent around $140 and el cheapo but still ok around $90 a night. Most cities are more expensive on a weekend and cheaper in teh wekk except Perth which is the other way around!

Flights are anywhere between $200-600 one way depending on where you are going. Unlike UK the later you leave it to book an internal flight the more expensive the flight gets so don't leave it till last minute thinking you'll get a bargain! Main airlines are Qantas, Virgin and Jetstar.

I'd wait till it is confirmed as you know how they change their minds re Int RL schedules!

As far as a car goes instead of buying one test out the hire rates.
I hired one in 1999 for the Tri Nations to go between Surfers and Brisbane.
Admit not far by Aussie distances but a good car and you'd be ok. Petrol is, or was, cheap.

The exchange rate is cr@p at the moment, it's good if your'e going from Australia to England.

got about $2.10-20 to the quid last year i think..

Poms get about 2 for 1 coming here!