bmsl

We're going to be in Australia end of Aug and need some suggestions for our trip. Below is our itinerary..

Depart LAX 08/23 Arrive Cairns 08/25
4 nights in Cairns - hotel booked but can be changed - Not a swimmer but will do the snorkelling. We're open to ideas/tour groups for the reef tours, Kuranda, Daintree, Port Douglas, Mossman. Will we have time for all these in 4 days.

Staying one night in Ayers Rock on the 29. Hotel and car booked.

Dep. Ayers on 08/30 for Melbourne via Syd. Not sure if we should spend the day in Melb or rent a car and head straight for the Mornington Spa and GOR on the 31st as we have to be back in Melb on the 2nd.

Dep. Melb for Hobart on Sept3. We'll be in Tasmania from 3rd morning and leaving 6 in the afternoon- 3 nights then back to Melb. (Flights booked) We'll be driving around in Tassie so suggestions welcome for places to visit and stay.

Sept 7 Melb - Perth for a wedding and staying with family till the 17th. We will also be driving around Perth area after the wedding.
Sept 17 - Dep for Sydney for 2 nights. Will do the Blue Mountain for the 1 day.

Sept 19 - Dept Syd for LAX.

Looking forward to your ideas and suggestions for any or all our destinations

Jango

My suggestion is just for the Melbourne bit - you spend all day travelling on the 30th so how about just relaxing and exploring Melbourne for the 31st and the 1st?

You'll know by then if you want to make a trip on the GOR.

If the weather is forecast to be raining and freezing cold (quite likely since it's mid-winter here) that road is really not a nice place to be. I've done it way too many times in that weather. The lovely little lanes and arcades of Melbourne city would be much cosier.

DownUnder

Jango is probably right to a point, but if you haven't seen the GOR don't be put off by the fact that it is winter. It becomes a more dramatic drive and still as spectacular. If you are going via the Mornigton Peninsula ( a good way to go) the ferry leaves hourly from Sorrento to Queenscliff, then continue onto the GOR. Lorne or Apollo Bay would be ideal overnight stops and after the 12 Apostles, return to Melbourne via Colac.

Betsy

Jango! Great to see you here! It's about time!

bmsl

Good point about taking it easy for a day Jango. Our friends in Melbourne did offer to show us around the city for the day and we might take up their offer. We have not check the map yet on the route you suggested Downunder. Will 2 days be too much of a rush to do the Mornington Peninsula and GOR route? We're Canadians and are used to driving in sub zero temperatures so driving in the winter will not be an issue for us. Our agent tried to talk us out of going to Tasmania as well because of the winter. What's the hotel situation like in early Sept along the GOR? Do we have to book ahead of time? On our driving trip, we usually like to take our time and just check into whatever hotels we come to at the end of the day. We're hoping that we can do the same along our routes at GOR and in Tasmania.

DownUnder

Definitely think only two days would be too much of a rush. The MP is not a huge area, but the wineries etc.are worth a look. 3 days including GOR would be more comfortable. B & B's are the popular form of accomodation on the GOR and I would suggest you check the www.visitvictoria.com or www.greatoceanroad.org sites. We always book and we are locals (Melbourne) as it is a very popular area. Winters are nothing like yours and the roads are safe to drive. I have never known it to snow on the GOR and Tasmania has snow, but you couldn't call it a hazard. Personally I love these places during winter because the GOR is crowded in Summer and sometimes it is too hot to be on the roads. It is a sunny day in Melbourne today with a top of 13 celsius and the GOR would be wonderful!

DownUnder

For last minute bookings www.wotif.com is a good site.

bmsl

Thanks for the info. We'll check out the website.