puttakka

My husband and I have booked flights for a 12-day trip to Oz and would love some advice regarding our proposed itinerary. We are interested in surfing, animals, and wine country.

Please don't tell us we are trying to do too much - we've heard the same from Fodorites regarding our itineraries to Japan and Scandinavia - which worked out fine!!! Assume that we are seasoned travelers who know how much we can handle (and we are good with jetlag going west!)

We are looking for clean and safe places to stay and "insider" opinions. We'd like to splurge on one hotel. Thanks in advance.

Nov 14: Lv Boston for Melbourne, via Qantas

Nov 16: Arrive Melbourne in the early AM. Spend day wandering around Melbourne. Night in Melbourne (need hotel recommendation around 100-150 us)

Nov 17: Pick up rental car in late morning.early afternoon; head out towards Bells Beach, Anglesea. Night somewhere on the Great Ocean Road (we realize that Melbourne is an amazing city but we live in an amazing city, Boston, and don't need to spend too much time what is essentially Oz's answer to Boston. But feel free to convince us otherwise)

Nov 18: Drive the GOR, poke around, end in Port Campbell. Need budget but special accomodation recommendation.

Nov 19: Drive from Port Campbell to Robe. Stop along the way wherever looks interesting. Night in Robe. Need recs regarding where to stop and where to stay

Nov 20: Robe to Kangaroo Island, explore KI, drive out to Adelaide
Night in Adelaide or KI - need recs on where to stay

Nov 21: Adelaide - need recson where to stay, what to do

Nov 22: Noon flight to Sydney. Take public transport to Blue Mountains area, night in Blue Mountains area

Nov 23: Blue Mountains. Either night in BM area or return to Sydney

Nov 24: If possible, tour a wine region near Sydney, night in Sydney

Nov 25: Sydney - beach/surfing; need hotel rec near a beach that's good for beginners

Nov 26: Sydney - beach/surfing

Nov 27: depart Sydney

marg

Try www.wotif.com and www.needitnow.com.au for last minute accommodation bookings. As I live in Melbourne I usually don't stay in hotels here so can't recommend any. There are a couple of Ibis hotels in the city and their rates are usually reasonable and within your range. Travelodge have a hotel on Southbank - also within your rate, and very convenient for your sightseeing. If you want to splurge, the Langham on Southbank is much more upmarket.
Make sure you have a look at Port Fairy between Port Campbell and Robe - lovely little old fishing port. Good fish and chips place on the river. If you decide to overnight in Port Fairy, there are lots of B&Bs, also look at Seacombe House - some rooms are in the original building and they also have nice large rooms in a modern section.
If you have time to detour, you can usually see koalas at Mt Eccles National Park, a bit north of Port Fairy.
There is a free city circle tram around the CBD - they are clearly marked and are usually vintage trams.
Hope you have a great trip.

peyton18

Bkmk

speckles

You can't do Robe - Kangaroo Island - Adelaide in one day. It will take over 5 hours from Robe to the KI ferry terminal and another 1.5 hours from the ferry terminal to Adelaide. Add 2 ferry trips in between and you'll barely get on the island before you need to leave again.

Most people take 3 days to do the GOR from Melbourne to Adelaide, excluding Kangaroo Island.

Orlando_Vic

A decent, clean and safe hotel in Melbourne in your price range is the Hotel Ibis Melbourne <http://www.accorhotels.com.au/1564/d...fault.aspx>.

It is in a good CBD area with all the basics, even a restaurant and bar downstairs. Within 2-3 blocks, there is an internet cafe, bottle shop, restaurants and even a 7-11.