We are going over 16-30 June and face the same dilemmas as others in Qld, S.A. & NZ. Our recent advice from Nicki (Nicno)is to just sit tight to see if Garuda re-introduce ex-BNE flights.
Just to cover our bases we are booking seats ex-Sydney just in case (as these don't have to be paid for until 45 days before departure we will simply cancel our SYD bookings and re-book BNE if it comes back online) whereas if we book with Jetstink on their cheapie specials we are locked in and would be kicking ourselves if GA brings BNE back online.
There is of course the option of Brisbane - Singapore - Bali with Singapore Air, it works out at around $1100 (its a red eye night flight that leaves BNE around midnight and gets into Bali about lunchtime next day after a 2-3 hr Singapore stopover), at least there is no terminal hopping in Sydney and of course the added expense of domestic flights to SYD and possible overnight accom in Sydney. As the SYD-Bali flight leaves at 9am and the earliest domestic BNE-SYD arrives SYD at 6-45am it's probably cutting it too fine to allow arrival SYD then the hop with bags from Domestic to International Terminal and check-in at Garuda, so for us it would mean a flight the night before to SYD plus o'nite accom (and with our group of 8 ex-BNE this is now starting to get very expensive let alone a pain in the bum). Surely someone in Garuda will have enough common sense to look at the massive hole they have left here (Brissy, Adelaide and NZ) and re-plug these gaps...fingers crossed.
Last year we were lucky enough to catch the 2 for 1 deals but won't hold our breath for anything like that this year. Many are waiting for Garuda Orient Holidays to release the 2007 Bali On Any Budget in the expectation that the 2 for 1's will be put up again but I really don't think this will happen this year.
Many Aussies have this false belief that Bali is doing it so tough at the moment and fantastic deals can be negotiated for accom, but truth is this is not the case, it's only Aussie and Japan travellers that are hanging back from going to Bali, the rest of the world is back to almost pre-bomb and in some cases better than pre-bomb arrivals in Bali. I read the arrival figures up to the end of December 06 and Bali is only down aabout 9% on average arrival figures. All it will take is Australia and Japan to kick back into gear and Bali is back to better than pre-bomb arrival figures, so those who are waiting for any huge specials might want to think again, I personally don't believe they will happen this year.
There are many 4-5 star hotels who have already told wholesalers that they will not be discounting at all this year... We have a group of 8 ex-BNE, 4 ex-SYD, 5 ex-Melb and with 17 people and 11 rooms that we are booking for 14 nights (so nothing to sneeze at) I have tried direct for better prices from many of the 3-5 star Sanur hotels and am lucky to get maybe 5% off their rack rate), as I said why would they heavily discount or give a "stay & pay" offer when the books are filling up already.
Come on Garuda take a close look at what is happening here and put back the BNE, ADE and NZ flights.