marie_scotland

hi gang - huge apologies in advance as I know this will be a long post.

Just booked our flights today (HURRAH) for a 3 week trip leaving in mid Jan for my better half's 40th birthday. Cant wait. We fly in to and out of Sydney. We are not into backpacking, hiking, trekking, we love boutique hotels but dont mind roughing it a LITTLE now and again - wouldnt want to stay at less than a 3 star hotel for example unless it was v clean and just for an overnighter. Please dont think we are snobs - just trying to tell you a little about us so its easier to plan etc.

For some background, we had a 4 week stay a couple of years ago and did the following -

Sydney - Toronga/Bondi/Manley/harbour tour/opera house - spent most of the time in the city centre
Gold cost and Surfers Paradise
Brisbane - city centre
Melbourne - city centre
Cairns - GBR - stayed in Cairns 'town'
Fiji
Sydney

We never drove once last time but will definitely do that this time (we drive on the same side of the road so why not!). However, we dont want to do huge drives when we can hop on a plane for most of it and then drive a couple of hours at the other end to get to where we want to be.

We want this trip to be more 'events based' rather than visiting city after city. (Sorry, events based sounds like marketing mumbo jumbo but you know what I mean!)

Things we want to do this time (so far!) -

Maybe bridge walk in Sydney (dunno if I am fit enough or not! no disabilities just a bit of a couch potato)
Blue Mountains?
Karunda?
Definitely the Great Ocean Road drive - maybe 3 days or so?
Ayers Rock
See turtles being born and making their way to the water (night trip I think)
Penguin Island?
Rainforest/Daintree/nature park etc if you go by 4 WD or tour bus etc (ie no 10 hours trek *laughs* )
Balloon ride somewhere very scenic - fancy this for the day of my other halfs 40th birthday

Being scottish I love sunny beaches but dont want to spend tons of time on one - 3 or 4 days somewhere with nice turquoise waters would be great for relaxing (did the Maldives earlier this year). Will look at any of the islands or other beaches.

Any other suggestions for tours etc would be very welcome. I promise I have been doing loads of reading but there is just too much to choose from or conflicting views.

I appreciate that at this stage, any help will be very high level and I completely understand that, I just need a starting point and will check back in regularly for feedback on updated plans etc.

Huge huge huge thanks in advance

Marie
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Orlando_Vic

"Events based' tourism. I like that. Here are a few random thoughts:

Definitely ride the Kuranda Skyrail <http://www.skyrail.com.au/> and check out the Rainforreststation <http://www.rainforest.com.au/>

Ayres Rock/Uluru - be sure to schedule the Sounds of Silence Dinner. Expensive, but very unique and memorable.

Rainforest/Daintree/nature park

Tony's Tropical Tours <http://www.tropicaltours.com.au/> does a very good job.

nevets

Hi Marie

Wow, sounds like a great holiday and an excellent way to celebrate a milestone birthday.

One thing you have to factor in is the difference between a Scottish winter and an Australian summer. That difference will be quite vast and being in and around the rain forest (Kuranda) you'll be feeling the difference (humidity). however, don't let that stop you.

Then when you arrive at Ayers Rock in January you'll be be in the heat of the Aus outback. I'm a Sydney sider so I'm quite used to the summer temps but even I'd be a bit wary of the temps out in central Australia in January

A bridge walk in Sydney is quite easy on the horse power. A British couple were married on the top of the bridge recently.

The great ocean road is an option for a lazy day or two on the beach, or even Sydney.

The beaches in north Queensland are delightful and you can yearn for a dip on a hot summer day but they can be dangerous in summer because the jelly fish are alive and well. There is always the GBR for swimming and snorkelling. I'd wait until you are in the lower states for a swim on the beach.

Philip Island just, south of Melbourne, is were you'll find the Penguins and it's good to get there early and take a seat at the front. Google Earth 38.30.37 145.09.01

If I were planning a balloon trip for the big day I'd go to Canberra. It's our national capital and roughly half way between Sydney and Melbourne. It's a beautiful city and was architecturally designed so a balloon trip would be amazing. Whereas Sydney was partly designed by following a donkey with a leaking bag of sand strung over it's back. There are balloon flights near Sydney and the Hunter Valley (two hours drive north of Sydney).

The view of Canberra would be amazing from a hot air balloon. I've never done it but I've often seen them there and felt envious of their guests. I get to Canberra a few times a year and I stay at Ridges hotels, **** I think, and I've always had a great time.

Hope you have a great time.
Nevets

LizzyF

Firstly, in January Ayers Rock will be ABSOLUTELY STINKING HOT and not condusive to walking in and around it for that reason as well as the wretched flies that will drive you insane so perhaps if you want some aboriginal adventures think of somewhere different i.e. North Queensland.
Also I am not sure about balloon rides in mid-summer either because I think they need cool air to take off.
I also note that you have not been and do not mention Tasmania ( where I live now) which has got so much to offer and although it can be dry and brownish in summer, has the best temps in summer in the whole of Australia and some very, very nice drives, beaches and destinations. At the risk of upsetting the Victorians - driving the East Coast of Tasmania has much more to offer than the Great Ocean Road also there is a lot more to see in Tasmania too, less hot, fewer people as well.
Most Pubs in country Australia are extremely clean and offer great accommodation. Of late a lot of places have stopped getting star ratings because you have to pay for that and in many ways it is a very unfair system. So even if you don't see something that is 3 star rated that will not mean that it is not. You also can check out the accommodation in pubs first before getting a room to see if you would like it.
Although I grew up where turtles nested I cannot remember what time of year that is but it did coincide with the school holidays, because I used to go and watch this event, so you might be lucky. The best place for that is Mon Repos beach just outside Bundaberg where there is a turtle rookery ( I thinks its a rookery). Otherwise somewhere on the GBR for that and the place I would suggest then would be Hinchinbrook Island.
January 26th is Australia day so if you are in Sydney there will be celebrations and plenty of things going on at that time.
You didn't say what time of year you were here the last time.

Peteralan

Well I don't know about beaches in Tasmania but, as suggested above, Tasmania will be lovely at that time of year and much more comfortable than Ayres Rock! We went to Ayres Rock in March and , although we loved it, the flies were horrendous!

marie_scotland

Thanks to you all for your help so far - I am still laughing at Nevets donkey!!!

I promise to research all of these places and links tonight. Must admit I hadnt thought of Tasmania but will do now.

Re Austrailia day, believe it or not, thats the same day as my other half's 40th birthday! Wait until I tell him!! However, does this mean that most places will be closed so the staff can celebrate? (Australia Day not my other halfs birthday tee hee).

Last time we were in Oz it was in Jan as well. Coped well with the heat apart from the fact my hands and legs swelled up - ahhh if only us Scots were used to the heat!

Now v worried about the heat (and flies!) at Ayres Rock. May need to reconsider....

Canberra could certainly be done - we had thought of flying to Melbourne to start the Great Ocean Drive.

Ahhh I am getting so excited - just counted and we go 30 weeks on Saturday - time to start the big countdown I think!!!

M
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Bokhara2

Hi Marie,
I'd give Uluru (Ayers Rock) a miss in January - and I'm a local, well used to that sort of heat. Honestly, I think it would just be too hot, with too many of those pesky little flies then.

Do consider Victoria and/or Tasmania as an addition to Sydney if you can make the time.

anita63

(1)I would give Sounds of Silence Dinner a pass in Ayers Rock.

(2)As well, since you like nice hotels, unless you plan on staying at Longitude,you will be disappointed in the accomodations.

(3) Listen to Lizzie...she's an expert!

LizzyF

Thanks to Anita, I am very flattered.
Here is a web-site for Tasmania which is rather comprehensive and is region based
http://www.discovertasmania.com/
I live in the Huon Valley area and have just checked it out actually for accuracy and it is v good. Of course there are places to stay that are better than others throughout Tasmania so if you decide to come down here let us know and we can put you on to some rather lovely accommodation places and sites to see etc. which will only leave you wanting to come back for a much longer time next time. Tasmania is sometimes overlooked by Australians and yet it has some of the most beautiful countryside in the Australia and some of the best Heritage listed areas in the World which are easy to get to. It is a far more relaxed environment and a very friendly place to be. Hobart is the second oldest city in Australia after Sydney and is about on the same line as Lisbon, Portugal. A lot of the accommodation in Tasmania has been convict build or at least built around the time of the convicts and is really lovely. Tynwald at New Norfolk is one that comes to mind and furthermore one of the owners is Scottish and a chef to boot. http://www.tynwaldtasmania.com/
although the website does not do it justice but then neither does my website anyway.
Have fun looking and I think you will be surprised to find that there is a part of Australia that is quite different from the mainland.

nevets

Hi Marie

January 26 in 2009 is a Monday and will be a public holiday but you can count on everthing tourism being open because of the tourism dollar.

In Sydney the places typically not open are service businesses like car repairs architects and building sites etc.

I assume it's the same in other areas of Australia.

In Sydney it's a big party for the harbour with boats of all sizes on the water.

In previous years when I was single I'd join a few mates (friends) and spend the day at a place called Mrs Macquaries chair. Takes it's name from the wife of an early New South Wales governor (1810). She'd like to sit on the rocks there and watch the world go by. Was nt much to see then.

Governor Macquarie was Scottish also. He was an Ulbhachian from Ulva. He was born in Ulva Inner Hebrides in 1761.

We have commuter ferry races around the harbour and the Australian Navy put on mock sea rescues to entertain the crowds.

A mock sea rescue is fascinating to watch. A huge helicopter drops a man in the water and flies away to leave him there a few minutes then comes back and drops another down to whinch him up.

Mrs Macquaries chair is a ring side seat. G E 33,51,33. 151,13,19

n -)

marie_scotland

Thanks for the additional postings - sounds like we have to work our way back to Sydney for the 26th Jan to join in all the celebrations!

Lizzy - you have sold us on Tasmania (get yourself a job with the tourist board tee hee) - we are definitely going to spend some time there. It has a lot of the things we want to do so why not do them in Tasmania!!

The Huon Valley where you live sounds good. As prev we are in Oz for 3 weeks in total how much would you say to spend in Tas? I dont suppose that is an easy one to answer until we suss what other places we want to do - Sydney is a definite.

Also, is there a good location to stay in Tasmania, Lizzy, that will be most central for all that Tas has to offer? You have said the weather will be 'better' ie I assume its cooler but it wont be too cool will it? Remember, I am scottish and my fiance is irish so we need to get our annual allocation of sun on this trip! (we do use factor 50 etc and are v careful in the sun).

Sorry to fire all these questions at you but thats the downside of being an expert *laughs*.

Following everyones good advice, we have decided we would be best to give Ayres Rock a miss this time because of the heat and flies. Quite gutted about this but no point in being silly about it!

M
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Peteralan

Everything will be open on Australia Day but restaurants will apply a surcharge for a public holiday. Maybe you don't need to tell your husband re Australia Day celebrations and you could just tell him you have arranged them for his birthday! LOL!

marie_scotland

I am sure he would fall for it Peteralan - no expense spared eh? Its his birthday party and all of Australia will be attending! Thank heavens I dont need to do the sarnies for everyone!

LOL

M
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LizzyF

Tasmania is a relatively small island but has a lot packed into it.
I always think that a trip to Port Arthur and surrounds is a MUST, a Saturday in Hobart for the Salamanca Markets is a MUST, if you want to see penguins then there are many places around Tassie you can do that from Bicheno in the east to the town of Penguin in the North West. The Huon Valley and Channel area is a MUST I think because there are many nice wineries around, The Antarctic Headquarters with a lot of exhibits, old wooden Boat Building place for Hubby which most men seem to enjoy, wood turners, weaving studios, beautiful bays, inlets, caves, beaches, should be the crayfish season and they are available fresh from a kiosk at Port Huon, the Tahune airwalk over the temperate rain forest area, Sheep Cheesery, Bruny Island Adventure tour by boat which is a day outing and which everyone loves - usually see a lot of marine wild life. Then up the midlands are the convict built villages which are worth seeing, in the north there are more wineries in the Tamar Valley to the North West are some lovely beaches i.e. 2 Sisters Beach with crystal clear tropical like waters. You can eat your way around this area too from the fantastic Raspberry Farm with things made from Raspberries that you would not think of, to the Ashgrove Cheese Farm and the Chocolate Factory. Further on is the World Heritage area which includes Cradle Mountain but perhaps not your cup of tea because it is a walkers/hikers place although the nocturnal tours and local wildlife is worth a visit for. On the West is Strahan and another Heritage Listed area of the Gordon/Franklin Rivers which you take a boat ride down. The little steam train from Queenstown to Strahan is lovely and Queenstown should be seen by all as being a monument to what you should not do to the environment - still is interesting.
If you pick some areas from the web-site that I sent you then we can hone in on that and give you ideas for the best of those areas. Tasmania is the best of the best foodies destination - particularly sea-food, refreshingly different food and usually prepared in delightful ways. A must is to try a Tasmanian scallop pie for instance.
It will not be cold, the average temps should be around 25deg with the odd hotish day perhaps and the nights are always pleasant and not hot. It can be anything of course in the higher altitudes like Cradle Mountain or where the big trout lakes are but in the main it should be temperate and unfortunately it probably will be dry - we are in need of some rain in parts of Tasmania.
ANYONE could only be better than the odd bods that we have in the Government Tourist Commission as they do not have a clue - if were in it the first thing I would do would be to make Tasmania a duty free state - secondly upgrade the rail system to include a tourist train and heaps of other things. When thinking of where to go and stay - you will probably need about 3 moves and centre yourself in those areas for 2 - 3 days each. Do not rush you time in Tasmania because you will then just have to come back again. Minimum would be 7 days - so over to you.

JohnInMiami

Marie - listen to Liz, she knows her stuff! We spent a week with her last year and every single one of her recommendations were spot on.

Peteralan

We went to a fabulous lavender farm but I have forgotten the name of the place( Lizzy will probably know ). I am pretty sure you will be there when the lavender is in bloom and it is quite spectacular.

LizzyF

Peak season at the lavender farm is mid December - mid January and the name is probably Bridestowe Lavender Farm and its north east ( sort of) from Launceston

Peteralan

Yes, that's the one. Thanks Liz.

scottl

Been to Australia last week. Thought Oz has expensive hotels but i found this website where it offers online booking and instant confirmation.. this may help http://www.sovereigninnsydney.com