Itinerary Planning

Old Aug 7th, 2014, 12:38 PM
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Itinerary Planning

My sister and I are spending 16 days (almost 3 weeks of travel including flight times from the US) in Australia in January. We have family in Melbourne so will be spending a significant amount of time in the South but would love to see other parts. I was wondering if people can offer suggestions on 1) what to do in the South during that time of year (cool places to visit, must-see attractions, etc. and 2) suggestions on other places to visit in Austuralia. We were thinking about the GBR and Sydney as our other 2 desitinations, but are flexible. We are both in our 20s, active, love to snorkel/scuba, hike, see wildlife. I do not know anything about Australia and this forum seems to offer some great suggestions. Any cool itinerary suggestions are very welcome!
Thanks!!
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Old Aug 7th, 2014, 03:13 PM
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I'm not saying you shouldn't go to the GBR, but you should be aware that it's not the best time of year for a trip there. The weather is hot and humid; there can be cyclones; and it's stinger season.

Since you are in Melbourne, it would be easy to go to Tasmania. It's a great place for hiking and other outdoor activities--and, of course, the home of the Tasmanian devil. Look at spending a week there.
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Old Aug 8th, 2014, 12:21 PM
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Thanks for your reply! Would you recommend Tasmania over Kangaroo Island? If we spent 5 days on Tasmania, would that be enough?

Is it a great loss if we do not make it to the GBR and/or the outback for this trip? This will hopefully not be our only time in Australia, but you never know!
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Old Aug 8th, 2014, 01:51 PM
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Tasmania and Kangaroo Island are two different experiences. I wouldn't recommend one over the other as it really depends on what you are looking to see and do. I will say that 3 days should be sufficient to "do" Kangaroo Island while you definitely need longer for a trip to Tasmania. We were only able to spend 5 days in Tasmania and we were able to see and do a lot; however, we did not have time to go to Cradle Mountain National Park and I'm sorry we missed it. I think you could plan a good 5-day trip to Tasmania, but more time is always better.

I can't say whether it will be a "loss" for you to skip the GBR and the outback on this trip. I can only say that it's not the best time of year to visit either place. And FWIW, I did not visit the GBR on my first trip to Australia, but I've been to the GBR 5 times since then. Since you are only in your 20's now, the odds are fairly good that you will have an opportunity to travel to Australia again and, if you have flexibility with your travel plans, you could go in the Australian winter which is an excellent time to visit the GBR and Uluru.
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Old Aug 8th, 2014, 07:23 PM
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I agree that Tassie and KI are different. Both are very worthwhile and great for wildlife viewing. On our first trip to Australia we spent 3 nights on KI and felt it was a good amount of time whereas we spent 5 nights on Tassie and that felt short. If you only have 5 days and decide on Tassie, I would try to concentrate on one area.
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Old Aug 11th, 2014, 02:53 AM
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By all means, leave Uluru and GBR to another time. We've been to Oz 5 times (we also have family there) and have yet to see either one. There is just so much to explore and enjoy elsewhere better you should do a proper job of it in a small area and leave the rest to another time. Tasmania makes sense because it is easy to get to from melbourne. Add in Sydney and the Blue Mountains and you'll have more than enough to fill your time.
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Old Aug 11th, 2014, 06:53 AM
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Thanks so much for all of your great/informative replies!! I think we will focus on Melbourne, Sydney and Tasmania for this trip! Thanks again!!
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Old Sep 9th, 2014, 06:00 PM
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In Victoria, your family probably has loads of suggestions already.

But just to list a few, known and maybe not as well known outlying areas:

Queenscliff & Fort Nepean/Sorrento (and the ferry between these two.) Both beautiful old Victorian sea side towns with stunning back beaches on the Mornington Peninsula side.

Daylesford and Trentham. Spa and gourmet food center, also set in well preserved town.

Yarra Valley- a pretty, commercially active wine region just outside Melb's eastern suburbs. There's an excellent, all native "zoo" called Healesville Sanctuary set in bushland in the region.

Ballarat. Much bigger town, gold mining made it very wealthy in its day and it shows. While out there, there's a private animal park (depending on how you feel about that), where opportunities provide for up close views of native animals. My wife was asked to hold a joey kangaroo.

Phillip Island. See little penguins come ashore at dusk. This is expensive and pretty touristy, but the penguins themselves don't know that. Churchhill Island

Great Ocean Road - Spectacular sea side drive, similar to California Hwy 1 with opportunities to see blowholes and descend into Loch Ard Gorge beach, etc. Lighthouses along the way and there are a lot of waterfalls to hike to in the Cape Otway section. We've also seen koalas around the same area.

Further out are the Grampian Ranges to the west or the Victorian Alpine areas and the Snowy Mountains to the east. We've seen everything from echidnas to wombats to kangaroos on these drives, though mostly in later evening. Definitely a bit of the "real Australia" once you get outside the standard 3 point list.
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Old Sep 10th, 2014, 01:55 AM
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Some great suggestions above. If you plan on visiting Healesville Sanctuary, the feeding times for koalas etc is on their website.

If you get to the Yarra Valley/Healesville area, try the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie which is close to Yarra Glen. Great place for lunch or morning/afternoon tea. Particularly good on a sunny day, you can sit on the verandah.
http://www.yvci.com.au/

Also Queen Victoria Market, in the city, is great. It's big and they sell just about everything, we go mainly for fresh food but they have clothes, shoes, souvenirs, etc etc. There is a big food court inside, next to the meat area, and lots of cafes in the area.

Kay
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Old Sep 12th, 2014, 04:37 AM
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Thanks for the great tips. We plan to rent a car from the Melbourne airport, spend a couple days driving the GOR loop ending up in Ballarat for Sovereign Hill and the nightime show; go to the Yarra Valley for a day or two; then go to Phillip Island. After that, I think we'll just turn in the car and use public transportation for our few days in Melbourne's CBD. I'd love feed back and suggestions on that itinerary.

I also have a few questions on Tasmania. We will be there 6 days. I'm planning on a couple of days in Hobart (Salamanca Markets, MONA, and Louisa's walk); Port Arthur; Bongorong/Mt Wellington day tour; and Bruny Island day trip. I don't have Cradle Mountain in there, primarily because of time and because we live in the Colorado mountains. In your opinion, is this a mistake? Is Cradle mountain mostly 'just' gorgeous mountains, or is there something significantly different than we'd likely find in Colorado?

Also, any tips on how to get to Port Arthur? Apparently the ferry no longer goes there.

Thanks!
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Old Sep 12th, 2014, 05:49 PM
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I think the Victoria part sounds pretty good. I wouldn't personally spend more than a full day out in the Yarra Valley, unless you're really, really into tastings of Pinot Noir. It's nice out there (I live 20 mins away) but other than Healesville Sanctuary (about 2-3 hours to do, tops) it's not chock full of other things to do but eat and try wine.

The route through the Dandenongs Ranges (via Olinda and Belgrave) to points south is a pleasant way to go. Green, cooler... things to see up there like the National Rhododendron Gardens, William Ricketts (sculpture in a native bushland walk by a man who lived on the grounds) and generally a different view - tall paperbark trees and tree-sized ferns ala 'Jurassic Park'). Plenty of old fashioned tea parlours and pie shops and boutique-y sort of shops up there. Not dramatic views but nice. The Puffing Billy, an old steam train, is at the Belgrave end.


Definitely right about turning in the car. Melbourne CBD is very expensive for car parking, especially during the day, if you can find any.
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Old Sep 21st, 2014, 02:11 AM
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Thank you for the help. I've kindof looked at the Danderongs, but had a hard time getting suggestions other than Puffing Billy. I really appreciate it!
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Old Sep 23rd, 2014, 09:59 AM
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I don't think it's absolutely necessary to go to Cradle Mountain given your limited time. We did Cradle/northern Tasmania as a separate trip from southern Tasmania. Aside from the mountains/scenery, Cradle is excellent for wildlife viewing but you'll have other opportunities for that as well.
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