What to pack for two weeks in Australia?
Dec 14th, 2008, 04:46 PM
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What to pack for two weeks in Australia?
We're leaving Friday and will spend time in Sydney, Port Douglas, Cairns, and Melbourne. I'm curious as to how casual these places are for either touring during the day or for dinners out at night. We'll have our children with us (ages 21 and 18). Suggestions??
Dec 14th, 2008, 05:15 PM
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Here's our itinerary, which would help in your recommendations:
- Sydney: Harbor cruise, one beach day (Manly or Bondi??), day tripe to Blue Mountains, including Leura, Katoomba, Jamieson Valley), walking tour of The Rocks
- Port Douglas: Kuranda and sky-rail
- Cairns: GBR, Hartley's crocodile adventure, whitewater rafting on the Tully River
- Melbourne: Yarra Valley/eucalypt forests/winery; Healesville Sanctuary; Great Ocean Road coach tour
- Sydney: Harbor cruise, one beach day (Manly or Bondi??), day tripe to Blue Mountains, including Leura, Katoomba, Jamieson Valley), walking tour of The Rocks
- Port Douglas: Kuranda and sky-rail
- Cairns: GBR, Hartley's crocodile adventure, whitewater rafting on the Tully River
- Melbourne: Yarra Valley/eucalypt forests/winery; Healesville Sanctuary; Great Ocean Road coach tour
Dec 14th, 2008, 05:20 PM
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Ultra casual is the word in Australia, especially this time of year when it's going to be warm just about anywhere without too many exceptions.
You'll find it sultry in Sydney to hot humud/muggy like up north so ver light loose breezy cottons is the go with mainly shorts if you're shorts kind of folks.
But do also have some loose cool long leggers/sleeves for evenings ust in case there're mossies about [ or there will be mossies about!] and that can be your slightly dressier gear for dining out.
You can get cool changes blow through in Sydney and Melbourne but nothing really chilly, maybe a drop in temps from something in high twenties or low thirties [ centigrade] down to twentyish or a tad below in evening so one light jacket type garment could come in handy.
You'll find it sultry in Sydney to hot humud/muggy like up north so ver light loose breezy cottons is the go with mainly shorts if you're shorts kind of folks.
But do also have some loose cool long leggers/sleeves for evenings ust in case there're mossies about [ or there will be mossies about!] and that can be your slightly dressier gear for dining out.
You can get cool changes blow through in Sydney and Melbourne but nothing really chilly, maybe a drop in temps from something in high twenties or low thirties [ centigrade] down to twentyish or a tad below in evening so one light jacket type garment could come in handy.
Dec 14th, 2008, 05:55 PM
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Unless there's a radical change shortly you won't need to wear anything at all in Cairns or Port Douglas. Well, the bare minimum, the lighter the better, and casual is the norm here. If you're taking the Kuranda train, be aware that its not airconditioned, so this time of year the morning trip up to Kuranda and Skyrail back is the more comfortable option.
Tour buses all airconditioned, which is just as well as its quite a distance from Cairns to Tully River.
Not sure about Sydney and Melbourne, but can tell you I was in Sydney recently and it was cold for late November, 14C max one day, definite jacket weather. Am sure a local here will bring you up to date.
Have a great trip!
Tour buses all airconditioned, which is just as well as its quite a distance from Cairns to Tully River.
Not sure about Sydney and Melbourne, but can tell you I was in Sydney recently and it was cold for late November, 14C max one day, definite jacket weather. Am sure a local here will bring you up to date.
Have a great trip!
Dec 14th, 2008, 05:59 PM
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Just on your itinerary,
You can do your Sydney walkabout/ferry etc. pretty easy by yourself, ie.
http://www.131500.info/realtime/default.asp is the Sydney Transport site and you can get a day ticket to cover buses/trains and ferries, my recommendation is always Manly over Bondi
Bondi - a shortish [1 km.] beach between two headlands and a closer urban backdrop.
Manly - much longer stretch of beach with no where the same hemmed in feel and a much better esplanade with more trees etc., more relaxing and a great ferry ride across the harbour and then walk down the Corso to the ocean beach, and another smaller one[forget name] around the corner.
You'll have plenty of time with daylight saving and so I'd also consider getting the ferry back and then jumping on a bus out to south head or another ferry to Watsons Bay - great headland walk for views up the harbour and across to South Head/Manly/Middle Head, have a seafood tea at Doyles at Watsons Bay and a ferry back to the Quay - you'll need to check timetable and if need be pay a bit more for a water taxi.
http://www.therocks.com/sydney-Educa...s_Pub_Tour.htm might be useful in planning your own walkabout but just off George Street down in Rocks area opposite the ferry terminal and up Cargyle Steps street and on your right is Sydney Visitor Info centre and they have maps and info, actually about six different historical theme maps - asl at counter for they were not on display when I was last there.
Re Kuranda, you're better to do that when staying in Cairns if you can, no car even needed.
With Melbourne, a lot of people do do the GOR by tour in one day, a long long day and I'd suggest if you can squeeze an extra day in for Melbourne to hire a car a few days.
Drive out to Healsville and do your stuff there and then you can cut across through Yarra Junction [ I'd send you on a beautiful Latrobe River Valley drive if you had time] but make tracks for Pakenham and Koo Wee Rup, the South Gippsland and Bass Highways to Phillip Island for Penguins at Dusk and stay the night in Cowes.
Early departure next morning [6 am] for Sorrento on Mornington Peninsula, about a two hour drive and then Ferry across to Queenscliff for a breke there before heading through Barwon Heads and Ocean Grove to get to GOR.
If you have that extra day, think of staying down along the coast somewhere, Port Fairy being lovely, or if time presses head back towards Melbourne and stop at http://www.sovereignhill.com.au/, better as a third night stop and book in for "Blood Under The Southern Cross" and stay at the hill if you can get in.
Jusy chuck the above place names into www.travelmate.com.au and you can get directions and an online map, but get a good real one too.
Melbourne has Maroon coloured older style free city circle trams to get about on and fully make use - do a circuit first and then you'll have an idea of what's where and what you want to see.
Other Melbourne treats - http://www.bluedandenongs.com.au/homepage.html between Healesville and the City
and feel like a row?
http://www.fairfieldboathouse.com/?_page=2
Have Fun
You can do your Sydney walkabout/ferry etc. pretty easy by yourself, ie.
http://www.131500.info/realtime/default.asp is the Sydney Transport site and you can get a day ticket to cover buses/trains and ferries, my recommendation is always Manly over Bondi
Bondi - a shortish [1 km.] beach between two headlands and a closer urban backdrop.
Manly - much longer stretch of beach with no where the same hemmed in feel and a much better esplanade with more trees etc., more relaxing and a great ferry ride across the harbour and then walk down the Corso to the ocean beach, and another smaller one[forget name] around the corner.
You'll have plenty of time with daylight saving and so I'd also consider getting the ferry back and then jumping on a bus out to south head or another ferry to Watsons Bay - great headland walk for views up the harbour and across to South Head/Manly/Middle Head, have a seafood tea at Doyles at Watsons Bay and a ferry back to the Quay - you'll need to check timetable and if need be pay a bit more for a water taxi.
http://www.therocks.com/sydney-Educa...s_Pub_Tour.htm might be useful in planning your own walkabout but just off George Street down in Rocks area opposite the ferry terminal and up Cargyle Steps street and on your right is Sydney Visitor Info centre and they have maps and info, actually about six different historical theme maps - asl at counter for they were not on display when I was last there.
Re Kuranda, you're better to do that when staying in Cairns if you can, no car even needed.
With Melbourne, a lot of people do do the GOR by tour in one day, a long long day and I'd suggest if you can squeeze an extra day in for Melbourne to hire a car a few days.
Drive out to Healsville and do your stuff there and then you can cut across through Yarra Junction [ I'd send you on a beautiful Latrobe River Valley drive if you had time] but make tracks for Pakenham and Koo Wee Rup, the South Gippsland and Bass Highways to Phillip Island for Penguins at Dusk and stay the night in Cowes.
Early departure next morning [6 am] for Sorrento on Mornington Peninsula, about a two hour drive and then Ferry across to Queenscliff for a breke there before heading through Barwon Heads and Ocean Grove to get to GOR.
If you have that extra day, think of staying down along the coast somewhere, Port Fairy being lovely, or if time presses head back towards Melbourne and stop at http://www.sovereignhill.com.au/, better as a third night stop and book in for "Blood Under The Southern Cross" and stay at the hill if you can get in.
Jusy chuck the above place names into www.travelmate.com.au and you can get directions and an online map, but get a good real one too.
Melbourne has Maroon coloured older style free city circle trams to get about on and fully make use - do a circuit first and then you'll have an idea of what's where and what you want to see.
Other Melbourne treats - http://www.bluedandenongs.com.au/homepage.html between Healesville and the City
and feel like a row?
http://www.fairfieldboathouse.com/?_page=2
Have Fun
Dec 14th, 2008, 06:03 PM
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Author: pat_woolford
Date: 12/14/2008, 09:55 pm
Unless there's a radical change shortly you won't need to wear anything at all in Cairns or Port Douglas
Well well!! Pat will have an entirely new meaning could it and you would not have to hire bouncers!
Date: 12/14/2008, 09:55 pm
Unless there's a radical change shortly you won't need to wear anything at all in Cairns or Port Douglas
Well well!! Pat will have an entirely new meaning could it and you would not have to hire bouncers!
Dec 14th, 2008, 06:30 PM
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Hi DP,
Sydney's temperatures last couple of days have been around 23/24C - which I was surprised to see - it seemed a bit cooler than I would have thought for that time of year.
3/4 pants for ladies are quite popular here and I find they are pretty versatile for a nice lunch or even a nice dinner in a little byo. You can dress an outfit like that up or down pretty easily IMHO. It seems they are just a little dressier than shorts and not as full on as slacks.
Shorts for the days up north, most definitely. I only like to wear natural fibres so cotton, I think would be a good option for you.
Oooh sorry I haven't worn a dress for years and years but of course a cool strappy dress would also be perfect!
I do hope you have a wonderful holiday here and that the weather is kind to you.
Sydney's temperatures last couple of days have been around 23/24C - which I was surprised to see - it seemed a bit cooler than I would have thought for that time of year.
3/4 pants for ladies are quite popular here and I find they are pretty versatile for a nice lunch or even a nice dinner in a little byo. You can dress an outfit like that up or down pretty easily IMHO. It seems they are just a little dressier than shorts and not as full on as slacks.
Shorts for the days up north, most definitely. I only like to wear natural fibres so cotton, I think would be a good option for you.
Oooh sorry I haven't worn a dress for years and years but of course a cool strappy dress would also be perfect!
I do hope you have a wonderful holiday here and that the weather is kind to you.
Dec 14th, 2008, 06:59 PM
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I just got back from a trip to Port Douglas and Sydney. In Sydney in the evenings there were lots of young women dressed in short skirts, little tops and high heel shoes looking like they were going to a club.
In Port Douglas women seemed to dress up a bit to go out to dinner. I saw lots of little spaghetti strap dresses.
In Port Douglas women seemed to dress up a bit to go out to dinner. I saw lots of little spaghetti strap dresses.
Dec 14th, 2008, 10:11 PM
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Don't underestimate Melbourne's notoriously changeable weather. It may well be very warm, but quite possibly chilly at night. Australians' definitions of "chilly" may be a little different to most North Americans', but it's best to play safe.
It's been decades since I darkened the doors of a restaurant that required me to wear a coat and tie. I'm not sure that any still exist. That doesn't mean that Australians (yours truly excepted) are slobs, but it does mean that anything you'd wear in California, say, would be more than acceptable.
It's been decades since I darkened the doors of a restaurant that required me to wear a coat and tie. I'm not sure that any still exist. That doesn't mean that Australians (yours truly excepted) are slobs, but it does mean that anything you'd wear in California, say, would be more than acceptable.
Dec 14th, 2008, 10:48 PM
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Snozza is talking of the old Sydney Joke about Melbourne DP.
"If you do not like the weather, just wait a few minutes!"
A bit of an exaggeration but I can recall December days in lower teens[C] and changes can blow in off the southern ocean but it's more the thing that occurs when a sweltering 40C has your blood boiling and a beauriful change comes in to drop the temp down to somewhere near 20C in a matter of hours - more the exception than the rule but this summer is predicted to be a sizzler and hotter weather does sometimes initiate savage storms.
"If you do not like the weather, just wait a few minutes!"
A bit of an exaggeration but I can recall December days in lower teens[C] and changes can blow in off the southern ocean but it's more the thing that occurs when a sweltering 40C has your blood boiling and a beauriful change comes in to drop the temp down to somewhere near 20C in a matter of hours - more the exception than the rule but this summer is predicted to be a sizzler and hotter weather does sometimes initiate savage storms.
Dec 16th, 2008, 01:26 PM
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Thanks to all. You answered my questions. Our itinerary was put together for us based on input from an Australian friend, and some of it is already pre-arranged, some is not. We will be renting a car twice, each time just for the day: Cairns - so we can drive to Hartley's Crocodile Adventure; Melbourne - to drive to Healesville Sanctuary.
I appreciate all your input, and I have a better idea of what to pack (and what the kids should pack!)
Thanks again!!
I appreciate all your input, and I have a better idea of what to pack (and what the kids should pack!)
Thanks again!!
Dec 16th, 2008, 04:10 PM
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Since you are driving to Healesville - you may want to stop for a coffee in Healesville before going to the sanctuary. Can I recommend the Beechworth Bakery which is well known for mouth-watering cakes and pastries - if you are a cake lover, you will not be able to resist.
Incidentally they are called the Beechworth Bakery because their first shop was in Beechworth.
Incidentally they are called the Beechworth Bakery because their first shop was in Beechworth.
Dec 17th, 2008, 09:47 PM
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A last bit on Melbourne .
What you chose to wear will depend on where you are going to dine etc ." Smart casual" is what I think will cover you most places you visit . Have a light jacket and sweater , folding umbrella ( needed up North / Sydney etc more than Melbourne this time of year) and wear anything black and you will look like a local . lol ! Do not forget sunscreen and a hat . Enjoy your trip .
What you chose to wear will depend on where you are going to dine etc ." Smart casual" is what I think will cover you most places you visit . Have a light jacket and sweater , folding umbrella ( needed up North / Sydney etc more than Melbourne this time of year) and wear anything black and you will look like a local . lol ! Do not forget sunscreen and a hat . Enjoy your trip .
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