Giles,
On Australian passport, no visa was required for Jordan.
I have read very mixed things about Syrian visas - most say the visa is not available at the border if there is a consulate in your home country, although I have heard about a number of exceptions at the Turkish border crossing. I tried to get the visa going the other way in Cairo and was denied by the consul on the basis that there was an embassy in my home country (despite the fact I hadn't been there for several years) and he could only issue visas for Egyptians. So I took a punt and turned up at the border and was granted a visa within thirty minutes.
I have heard some stories about people being turned back from the Syrian border without a visa, so best to get it in advance.
If you do try at the border, apparently the Turkish border or the Syrian consulate in Ankora are the easiest places.
cheers
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