Where to take a visitor in Feb 2010???

I vote for the reef for a first time visitor, you could go to the lower end, Heron Island for example or Lady Elliot Island, and it would be turtle season still. I've been in late January a few times and there is light rain each day (for a very short period) but otherwise excellent weather. Also the prices drop then--post-school holidays.

Good choice with Narooma. There used to be a really nice restaurant on stilts over the inlet. It's near to the many shacks selling oysters fresh from the lease.

You probably already know to do this, but just in case you don't, get free hiking/walking maps for the area from the National Parks and Wildlife centre, there's one in the shopping centre in Narooma.

Just few suggestions;-

Ask him what he wants to do, there are so many things in Oz that are worth travelling to see. If you plan on staying in Oz, I'd try visit one of these places:-

GBR and beaches,
WA* (pinnacles, wave rock, monkey mia),
Great Ocean Road in combination with Melbourne,
Kangaroo Island and Adelaide
Ayers Rock (difficult to do given the time of year)

* I am aware that PER is a 5 hour flight from SYD.

You mention Queenstown, NZ, before I finished reading your post I was going to suggest this.


What about Fiji? You'll get a combination of the reef (albeit, the reef isn't as great as the GBR) and adventure activites too. The adventure activites in Fiji cost a little less than in Queenstown. Alot of these activites were operated by Australian or New Zealand companies. If you haven't been to Fiji, then you and your husband will have the chance to visit a new place too.

Yes Tasmania can certainly be for an adventurous 26yr old. There are some of the biggest surfing waves in the World just south of Hobart or perhaps take a kayak trip along the east coast to the Bay of Fires. Get onto the Tassie information site and see what is available and stay in Australia - isn't that why he is going to be here other than the fact that you are?

I wouldn't even think about leaving the country. Plenty of hiking and adventure activities in Tasmania. But really, you could keep him occupied just in NSW for 2 1/2 weeks easy but I think if you mixed it up between NSW and the GBR/Daintree he'd be a pretty happy camper.

There's another thread about a NSW coastal holiday - some great ideas there. There are just so many beautiful pockets in this great country - we were recently down near Oran Park raceway near Sydney and stayed at Camden - even some of the areas around there were just so pretty. The drive in from the Blue Mountains and Bathurst etc was just lovely.

What about some nice hiking/bushwalking through the Blue Mountains, the Jenolan Caves etc.

He could spend time on some of our fantastic beaches as well.

Whoopsie - I've just read the end of your post and see that you would already know about the other thread I've mentioned. Doh! Doh! Doh! Sorry about that Devona - I've just finished a boxing session and am a little lightheaded!!

Well, seeing as how you will have done the south coast what about heading up to Queensland's Gold Coast (though I love it) - it doesn't appeal to everyone but if you and your DH haven't been it could be an adventure. I love the bottom end of the coast - Burleigh Heads, Coolangatta etc. And northern NSW has some really lovely spots as well - I'm talking around Murwillumbah and surrounds etc.

Around February you should be able to find some fantastic accommodation bargains on the coast as well.

In Feb, I'd go for Tasmania, though northern NSW/southeast Qld wouldn't be a bad choice either as stormbird suggests. It's a very beautiful area, particularly the Gold Coast hinterland and the less developed towns up and down the coast.

Yes Stormbird I would second the Gold Coast. They could get a houseboat either from Sanctuary Cove or on the Tweed River if junior likes fishing and lazing about etc. Or they could just get a nice apartment somewhere there with all the facilities. There are so many lovely areas around there that they could spend the entire time enjoying themselves and Mr 26 could hit the night spots if that was his thing.

Thanks so much for all the thoughtful responses. I do have one thing decided...we are going to stay in Australia. Ivenotbeeneverywhere and Stormbird, you're right, that's what he's coming here to see ...Australia!

I'm still really torn though...I know Tassie would be gorgeous that time of year but I'm still leaning towards the Great Barrier reef.

North coast of NSW or the gold coast would be nice, but he'll have a good bit of time to hang out on the Northern Beaches here in Sydney and is actually planning on spending a couple of days learning to surf. Would the experience on the Gold coast or North coast be all that different from the Northern beaches?

I think it would be a crime for my Nephew to visit and NOT be able to see the reef. Growing up he had a large salt water aquarium and knows a good bit about tropical fish. I think he'd really enjoy it.

I'm thinking about the Daintree Air day trip to Lizard Island. If I make arrangements for the 1st day after we arrive, that would give us another 4 days as alternates if the weather is crummy. How likely is it that there would be 4-5 bad days in a row? I know, the weather can't be predicted, but does rainy season means a little rain every day, or lots of days of solid heavy rain? or could it be either?

Susan7, Lady Elliot and Heron Islands sound good. One thing I was wondering...Can you snorkel over the reef off the beaches there? I know that you can at Lizard Island, but overnighting there is not an option....too much $$$$$ Does anyone know of any islands where there is quality reef snorkeling from the beach?

Thanks again for the help so far.....I'm getting it narrowed down

Heron Island you can snorkel straight from the beach, the reef edge is closest near the jetty area where the coral is fabulous. There are also small boats that take you out further into the channel and to adjoining reefs (it only takes 5 to 10 minutes).

The turtles will still be coming in to lay their eggs at night in February, plus the hatchlings will be hatching, it's absolutely magical:

http://www.heronisland.com/biological-calendar/

I haven't been to Elliot but I think it's very similar to Heron in terms of coral. There are only a few islands directly on the reef that you can stay on (Heron, Lady Eliot, Green, Lizard, Wilson). I think there's one or two more.

Certainly the Gold Coast would be a lot different from the Northern Beaches because of the hinterland, the waterways and all the other things to do on the Gold Coast - it is the Australian playground and perhaps a 26 yr old would love that. Having said that though if this is going to be his one and only trip then I would head for the GBR but not as low down geographically as Elliot or Heron because of the cost and difficulty in getting to them and the fact there is nothing else to do when one is on them, because they are small. You can rent yachts in the Whitsundays or little cats which you can live on and visit all the islands around or you can decide to fly to Cairns and perhaps stay on Green Island which is a lot cheaper than Lizard but because it has day visitors it does get a bit busy. The weather for boating on the reef at that time of year is probably the best in terms of winds and if there is not rain it is delightful. Yes there will be humidity but then there is the Atherton Tablelands for relief if it gets too much - or a pool. It is not a busy time in Cairns at that time of year so it would certainly be a buyers market in terms of tours, trips and accommodation.