Suggestions needed for Australia itinerary

Old Jun 2nd, 2017, 12:40 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Suggestions needed for Australia itinerary

Hello,

After doing extremely long research and getting many great suggestions from people over this great forum, I've come up with the below itinerary after altering the previous one.

The previous itinerary had Cairns and Queenstown NZ included but I removed them as we don't want to fly too much during our holiday.

We are a family with a young 5 years old kid, we have 32 days to spend in Australia, from July to August.

- Arrive in Melbourne (fixed) and stay for 7 nights, once we settle down from our long flight, we will do many day trips (Phillips Island..etc), ski in the nearby areas and visit the attractions around Melbourne.

- Fly to Sydney and spend 8 nights, explore the area and do day trips from Sydney. (are 8 nights too much for Sydney?)

- Fly to GC - Visit the theme parks, stay for 2 nights in Lamington Park, do day trips, cruise.,etc

- Fly back home from Brisbane (fixed)


As you can see we have around 17 days to spend in the GC area, which I think might be too long, I've looked for options like staying in Whisundays Islands or Fraser Island but I'm not sure if we we will get the experience we are looking for, I read that some resorts over there offer amazing activities and I am looking at them, but do you recommend this as an option?

During my research I found that the South East Queensland area is very large but I'm still struggling with adding places to visit beside the Lamington Park and Australia zoo, especially that I don't want to repeat the same experience over the over (like visiting many zoos, many). We are also not a beach people and I think it will be cold during our visit anyways, we would love to visit local markets, farms and villages, explore new areas and drive around sceneries,

What's fixed for me is the arrival in Melbourne and departure from Brisbane and some nights that I booked in our GC hotel, otherwise I'm flexible and can change my hotel bookings.

Your help is much appreciated as I'm really struggling to finalize the itinerary.

Thanks
Tariqalsada is offline  
Old Jun 2nd, 2017, 12:40 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 631
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
You are over thinking the whole holiday!
Best ask a travel agent for the experiences you want. We have offered many suggestions in your other post.
I don't think a week in Sydney is too long and thousands of people visit the Gold Coast all the time and never get bored. Your expectations maybe on the high side.
tasmangirl is offline  
Old Jun 2nd, 2017, 12:44 PM
  #3  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks Tasmangirl, yes you're right I might be overthinking the holiday, I will stick to my itinerary then.

By the way, I've included all your previous suggestions in our plans so thanks once again for everything.
Tariqalsada is offline  
Old Jun 2nd, 2017, 04:56 PM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 14,942
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 1 Post
I think 17 days is probably too long for the Gold Coast, too. In July, I'd be tempted to include a trip to the Red Centre or Far North Queensland. Perfect weather for Uluru & the Great Barrier Reef & hinterland. It would entail more flights, though.
Bokhara2 is offline  
Old Jun 4th, 2017, 01:24 PM
  #5  
 
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 305
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Sydney and Melbourne might be your problem, in that you have allowed too much time in both.

Melbourne is good for maybe 3 days, then up to the ski fields, but it is not a day drive. You have to stay there, Falls Creek, Mt Buller or wherever will be at least 2 nights and a day of driving each way. It it remote country.

Sydney for 8 days will drive your budget into the ground, plus not particularly friendly for families in fashionable places. Very expensive. Newcastle is a 2hr train ride or 1.5hr drive north, has all the beaches and restaurants and hotels at half the price, plus world rated vineyards. Plus Port Stephens, mostly marine and land national park, a bit like undeveloped Pacific Northwest USA. Also fine accommodation at reasonable rates.

Your Gold Coast time is too long, half a week will do, so either go up to the Sunshine Coast or take a cheap flight to Cairns and the Barrier reef.

People who tell you it is bleached are lying for political green purposes. The reef is fine, we have just come back from there on our way home from PNG and the Solomons,,corals are lovely.

Can give you more info if you wish,

Best regards, maree.
mareeS55 is offline  
Old Jun 4th, 2017, 02:45 PM
  #6  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hello Maree,

Thanks for your reply.

The reason behind why I put 7 days for Melbourne is because we will be arriving from a 16+ hours flight and it might take sometime for us to settle in and get rid of the jet lag, also we intend to visit Lake Mountain or Mount Baw Baw on a day trip, initially I wanted to stay there but I couldn't find good hotels over there that have availability (I would be grateful if you can give me an advice on places to stay near those areas) also we intend to visit farms, Great ocean road and Phillip Island, do you still feel it's a long stay for Melbourne?

As for Sydney, yes I admit that it's expensive as my hotel booking is the most expensive hotel booking in my whole trip (I can cancel or change it) and this is why I'm thinking wether 8 days is too long for Sydney or not.

As for GC yes 17 days seems to be too long, although we will spend 3 nights in Byron Bay, 2 nights in Lamington Park, I think it's still too long.

We will be flying twice inside Australia and we have a lot of luggage so any additional flight will be costly for me because of the luggage weight, this is why Cairns is not an option for me, also it may get us more tired as it's around 3 hours flight and we have a kid with us.

I'm open for suggestions, especially for our time in Sydney and on what we can do in the region around GC, I can always drive around or take short flights/train trips.

I appreciate your time and advice and looking forward to hearing from you.
Tariqalsada is offline  
Old Jun 4th, 2017, 11:07 PM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Australia is a huge country and getting your travel plans right can make all the difference to your tailor-made holiday. The great distances involved often make it finest to combine air and ground travel to ensure you see the highlights as well as providing a range of lesser-known experiences and attractions. Our itinerary ideas provide a flavour of what is possible and are based on extensive travel across the country. Each trip follows a route that we’ve loved and offers a novel way to discover this popular destination.
gemmapurcell is offline  
Old Jun 5th, 2017, 04:04 PM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 14,942
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 1 Post
If there are only 3 of you, you shouldn't need all that much luggage.

My general rule is to pack for a week at the most, add a coat/wind cheater if, as you are, travelling to differing climate zones.

If you stay in self catering apartments, you can use the laundry facilities in the apartment. Even if not, there is plenty of laundromats.
Bokhara2 is offline  
Old Jun 5th, 2017, 04:43 PM
  #9  
 
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 631
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Seems to me the real problem is you have allowed TOO MUCH time for the holiday. Can you cut it back to say 21 days and then it's about a week in each place?
Bokhara has a very sensible suggestion - why do you need lots of luggage? Take less and do some washing. Australia in the winter is not that cold (well maybe in Hobart) so a coat/warm jacket will be fine.
I would love 8 days in Sydney and I would not be bored! Look for the pylon climb on the Harbour Bridge. Visit the beautiful beach of Home and Away (TV series) Avoca Beach I think. Museums, libraries and art galleries are there as well.
tasmangirl is offline  
Old Jun 7th, 2017, 11:08 PM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 4,354
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Lake Mountain is a day trip from Melbourne and you certainly won't be able to ski there - at its best you might get some snow .its the place we take our children to see snow . You could stay in Healesville.

Mt BawBaw - certainly has ski areas . If you can't get accommodation at BawBaw you could stay at any of the towns along the Princes Highway eg Moe. Not exactly tourist towns .

Are you going to ski , view snow or what ?

Luggage- if you are flying internally in Australia with Virgin or Qantas your baggage allowance is included in your fare .
northie is offline  
Old Jun 9th, 2017, 01:57 AM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,744
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Hi, there is plenty to see and do around the Gold Coast area, either along the beach strip or in the hinterland. If you are happy to do some driving, you could drive up to the Sunshine Coast and spend time there as well. It has a different feel from the Gold Coast, it's not as built up, greener, quieter with no theme parks but beautiful scenery and still lots to do.

It's roughly 1.5 hours drive from the Gold Coast to Brisbane and then another 2 hours to the Sunshine Coast. Traffic can be a problem, avoid Friday afternoons and peak hour if you can. From your interests you would probably enjoy Maleny and Montville, two small towns in the hinterland of the Sunshine Coast. Maleny is our favourite, Montville is nice but more touristy. I've heard good things about a visit to Maleny Dairies but haven't been myself.

In Brisbane you can catch the free CityHopper ferry one way and then the other to see the sights from the river. It's beautiful seeing all the lights in the evening when you head from Southbank back towards Eagle Street Pier. You can walk along the Story Bridge for great views or pay to do the bridge climb which goes up much higher.

Southbank has lots to offer - free swimming area, lovely arbour, loads of places to eat (cheap and expensive), walking path along the river, free music at certain times.

For great views, do the walk at Burleigh Heads National Park (southern part of the Gold Coast). Head up from the beach area and back the same way once you reach the gorgeous views.

Another option if you want to drive further is to stay in Hervey Bay which has lots of accommodation and do an organised day trip by bus and barge to Fraser Island. It's a great day out.

Why do you have so much luggage? If it's just for the trip, try and halve what you are bringing, it will just be a pain to cart around.

Kay
KayF is online now  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Rachit1983
Australia & the Pacific
5
Jul 23rd, 2017 04:09 PM
nomnommonster
Australia & the Pacific
6
Jun 30th, 2017 03:49 PM
asimm
Australia & the Pacific
5
Feb 5th, 2017 12:38 PM
Salil_Khurana
Australia & the Pacific
7
Apr 21st, 2014 03:11 PM
ReddTyde
Australia & the Pacific
14
Jan 3rd, 2011 09:11 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -