jebb

Would like to visit Syndey, Brisbane, Cairns and Tasmania - too much? what is a must first time visitors? have heard bus tours are a good way?

Susan7

Jebb, as you suspected that's too much for two days. Bus tours are not ideal for the distances involved. I'd choose 3 locations tops, bear in mind also that you will lose at least half a day travelling between locations.

What guide book are you looking at now? It might help to get something like an Eyewitness guide to start you off, if you are totally unfamiliar with Australia and then Lonely Planet for more detailed information when you are here.

Susan7

Whoops that should be "ten" days!

Orlando_Vic

Yes, I'm afraid it is too much for only 10 days. If you factor in an easy day for jet lag recovery and another 1/2 day for inter-city travel, you will probably have enough time to visit two of the four choices you have listed. Of those, I'd personally pick Sydney and Cairns/GBR/Cape Tribulation.

Bus tours can maximize available your available sightseeing time, but only intra-city. You will still have to fly between them. Keep in mind that the tradeoff for efficiency is a degree of regimentation. APT has short land tours in these areas and AAT Kings prpbably does as well.

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Vic's travels: http://my.flightmemory.com/vogilvie

MaryD2

Sydney and surrounds and Cairns and surrounds would be ideal. If you are not sure about going to the tropics in the summer then you could do Tasmania as it would be cooler and less likely to rain. Tasmania is worth 10 days in itself and Sydney about 4.

jebb

Thanks for the info - I checked the Cairns/GBR/Cape Tribulation tour on "Cairns Tours" website, it looked ideal. I am guessing that would be a flight from Sydney to Cairns?
So 3 days in Sydney(add on 1 1/2 days re jetlag) plus the 3day tour with Cairns tours..that would give me 2 extra days perhaps? any other suggestions for those 2 days?
You are all so helpful

Peteralan

Yes there are frequent flights between Sydney and Cairns. There is a huge distance between the two. You don't say where you are coming from, maybe you can fly into Cairns first?

MaryD2

Peteralan, that was exactly what I was thinking but I have an idea that some of the flights have been taken off that route if you are thinking of those from the US, perhaps not, but anyway someone up that way could perhaps enlighten us.
If you could fly into Cairns first Jeb that would be ideal and there are 100s of tours and trips from Cairns and areas around there to choose from. I am not altogether sure that I would make any bookings before you arrive though unless it is something special like a trip with Daintree Air but again the on site experts can help with that.
If you were flying from Sydney to Cairns you could stop in Brisbane and visit either the Gold Coast ( south) or Sunshine Coast (north) for a couple of days then fly from Brisbane to Cairns. Both of those areas offer some interesting places to see.

longhorn55

I'd just add those 2 extra days onto the Cairns portion of your trip. Three days isn't really enough time to see and do everything there, especially if you have to work around the weather. (You don't say when you plan to go, but weather, especially wind, can be a factor when planning a trip out to the Outer Reef.) With 5 days in Cairns, you can arrange a trip out to the Reef for the best day weather-wise or even do a live-aboard for a couple of nights. You will also have time to visit more sights in the area, e.g. Daintree N.P., Mossman Gorge, Port Douglas, Kuranda, etc.