We are in the early stages of planning a 16-day Australia trip in December. We are a couple in our mid-50's, loyal Fodorites, avid travelers, love natural beauty, culture, and iconic city sights. Not much into beaches. A very preliminary rough-cut itinerary proposal is as below :
Day 1 to 4 : Arrive at Sydney, and explore the city including Blue Mountains
Day 5 to 8 : Cairns, primarily Great Barrier Reef (must-see); also Port Douglas ??
Day 9 to 10 : Uluru (must-see)
Day 11 to 16 : Melbourne, including a couple of days on Great Ocean Road. Fly out of Melbourne.
Plan to use flights for internal travel, and car rental where necessary (e.g. Great Ocean Road).
Please propose changes and comments on this itinerary. We have listed out the things and places we would like to see; not very sure if we are covering it in the right order, or if we are allocating the "right" amount of time at each place. All suggestions are welcome, as nothing is firmed up yet, and everything is open to change.
Please help with 16-day December itinerary
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I'd recommend a few more days at the Red Center - Urulu, the Olgas, maybe Alice Springs with Kings Canyon en route.
Don't know where you'd get the days as I wouldn't suggest you cut days from Sydney or the GBR.
I've never been to Melbourne or on the GOR, so can't comment on that.
It's been years, but if I recall correctly Cairns and Port Douglas are near each other and will offer the same off-shore and out-of-town experiences. Port Douglas is quieter.
Unless you've already bought your tickets, you might reconsider the timing of your trip. December and January combine summer school vacation with Christmas and New Year holidays. It's a tough time for bookings and popular destinations are crowded. Also, it is not the best time for the Outback, which is very hot at that time of year. Better times would be Sept-Nov, or Mar-May. Even the winter months Jun-Aug are good, particularly for the outback and the north (dry and warm, not hot).
With 16 days, I think I'd advise cutting out one sector, or at least keeping your time in one city to the bare minimum. Like NGail, I'd suggest more time in the Red Center. To me it seems a big waste to go there for just one or two nights. North Queensland has much more to offer besides the Barrier Reef - I'd suggest adding a few days there as well.