Hi,
My husband and I are traveling to Australia in late October/early November of this year. We have 12 days on the ground (not including the travel time from the US and back).
The current plan is spend time in Sydney and the Great Barrier Reef area (preferably Whitsundays). I would like to add a third destination, but my husband thinks it would be too much travel. We are relatively relaxed travelers in that we don't like to be go go go, but I don't want to come so far and not see a lot.
So, questions:
1. Do we have time to add a 3rd destination and if so, where? I am interested in Kangaroo Island for the animal experiences or perhaps Flinders Rock to get a taste of the outback. Uluru was on the list, but it doesn't seem there is much to do there other than the scenery to be worth the time and expense of getting there. Melbourne could be okay, but we'd like more than another city. Perhaps the wine regions around Melbourne would be nice. Husband suggested New Zealand, but that seems ambitious for such a short amount of time.
2. For the Great Barrier Reef, should we spend time around Carins or the Whitsundays? I am interested in traveling to the different islands in the Whitsundays, but Cairns seems easier to fly into. We are snorkelers not divers and would like to snorkel around the GBR.
3. If we only do Sydney and GBR area, how would you divide the time? More time in Sydney or GBR? We would do side trips from Sydney if we had more time (Blue Mountains, etc).
Thanks in advance!
Suggestions for October/November 2012 Trip to Australia
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I agree with your husband that adding another destination to your 12-day trip to Australia is too much travel, especially since you state that you don't like to "go, go, go". Every flight that you take subtracts at least 1/2 day from your trip due to time to get to the airport, time waiting at the airport, time in flight and time to get from the airport to your next hotel. If you go to Kangaroo Island, that subtracts even more time because it involves an extra flight (or ferry) from the mainland. New Zealand would definitely not be a good choice for a 3rd destination with your limited time. You should be able to devote a week on each of the islands, at an absolute minimum, and you don't have that time.
With 12 days for Sydney and Cairns (or Whitsundays), I would split your time evenly between the two--6 days each.
At that time of year wind should not be a problem so you can book you reef days with certainty. In this instance I say the Whitsundays would be a good choice but at any other time of year would recommend Cairns as it gives you the chance to go inland for a few days if the weather is not the best.
You don't have time to add another country.
If you split your time evenly between Sydney & Cairns, you can take day ( or overnight) trips to the Daintree/ Atherton Tablelands in FNQ (Far Nth Qld) and Blue Mountains, Hunter Valley, South Coast - Southern Highlands from Sydney.
i think you could do the great barrier reef in six days...ten would be nicer but thats always the case with gorgeous places like this
when in sydney try to get down to kiama...it's pretty and a bit different from sydney beaches with the hills rolling down to the coast
We had 14 days on the ground on our recent trip and spent 2 nights at Uluru in addition to Sydney and Cairns. I had received mixed reviews on Uluru before going, but it ended up being a great 2 night stop. Spent most of one day taking the free guided tour at Uluru and then hiking at Uluru and Kata Tjuta. Also did the small museum/info center at the park, sunset viewing of Uluru, skywatching and Sounds of Silence dinner. Direct flights from Cairns and Sydney.
We split the rest of the time in SYD (6 nts) and Cairns (6 nts) and was more than enough time in each. One the benefits of staying on the mainland vs an island at the GBR is it let us do some other activities like Kuranda and Atherton Tablelands in addition to snorkeling and beaches (and was also less expensive). If you stay on the mainland in Cairns, I would recommend staying at one of the northern beaches rather than the city proper.