We are on a 10 day Holiday flying into Sydney on Juve 8th from USA. We are interested in enjoying the sites in Sydney, then going north to warmer places. Thw Whisunday Islands look beautiful and kayaking around an island sounds fun. We also think we would like Port Douglas.Is Blue Dive a good dive operator? We want to dive and snorkel the GBR and maybe 4 wheel drive past Cooktown to Cape Tribulation. Sounds like alot for 10 days? Would you please give me advice on how to split my days? How can you get from Airlie Beach( Proserpine Airport) to Cairns airport? I can not find flights? Unfortunately we have to fly out of Sydney on June 18, so only 10 days in this beautiful huge country. Help!

"maybe 4 wheel drive past Cooktown to Cape Tribulation"

Do you mean by this, that you would go up the inland way and back down the coast. One day travel each way and at least one day in Cooktown gives you 7 days left! Skip it this time.

You could easily spend the 10 days in any of these spots so I would recommend that you split it two ways rather than three.

You can fly from Hamilton Island to Cairns with Qantas - it's a bit exxy, though.

Probably cheaper to fly to Hamilton Island for the Whitsundays rather than Proserpine. You can fly direct with either Jetstar or Virgin. If you need to go to Airlie Beach you can transfer from there by boat.

You could see some sights in Sydney then fly to Cairns. There are day trips from there to Cape Trib/Daintree rainforest etc. Can recommend electric boat trip up the Daintree river. Then hire car in Cairns and drive north to Port Douglas - abt 40 mins from memory. Lots of day trips to the reef from there. Weather should be lovely. Enjoy!

Re Bushgirl's post - that's really doubling up over the same area. I'd suggest hiring a car in Cairns and from there it's about an hour north to Port Douglas, then a further half hour to both Daintree Village (Electric Boat leaves from here) and to the Daintree River ferry, from the ferry it's about another forty minutes on to Cape Tribulation. I'd suggest overnighting in or near Daintree Village - or perhaps Cape Trib or even Port Douglas - all good bases for exploring our beautiful region. Good info and maps on www.daintreetourism.com.au and www.daintreecoast.com

Yes, sorry Sunbird: I should've written "OR hire a car in Cairns and drive north..", instead of "THEN hire a car.." I'll make sure I'm properly awake before I do the next post!

Thanks for your advice. we decided to just go to 2 cities in our 10 days. So, we will be in Sydney for 4 days and in Port douglas area for 5 days.
Any smore suggestions on thins to do out of Port Douglas. We want to dive and snorkel the GBR, thining about Blue Dive. Would like tot see Daintree rainforest and maybe do a 4 wheel drive tour. What would be a good 4 whelle drive tour.
Thanks for your help. I'm listening!
Patty

What makes a really good 4WD tour for you? Do you want to drive or be driven. Do you want to see lots of wildlife or just tear around the countryside ripping up creek banks and sand dunes? There are possibilities in between I know but without knowing you it would be hard to recommend something.

The city of Sydney is situated on one of the most beautiful harbours in the world. There are lot many amazing places to go for and for that it would be better for you to hire a 4WD campervan and make your journey comfortable and enjoyable.

Sydney suggestions: (from an animal lover, of course!)
1. Always a hit: Tallship cruise with lunch, Must to see the harbor.
http://www.viator.com/tours/Sydney/S...YDBBQCRUISE/TR

2. Manly Ferry: Coasts through Sydney Harbor, and drops you at Manly wharf where you can walk along the Corso, beach, and have a bite to eat. Great for seeing alot and inexpensive trip.

3. Personally--I think Bondi beach is overrated. it's my least favorite area of Sydney. BUT...
The open top Sydney bus drops off and picks up regularly throughout Sydney and offers a "Bondi" trip. It's well worth the money and it gives you the highlights of Sydney, so you can plan your next move or figure out what you can miss.

4. Sydney Botanical Gardens are Beautiful, take a walk through (i also like the train tour there)...and make sure to LOOK UP, the giant fruit bats live there.

**Bat watching and fab sight: At dusk, go to the Sydney Wharf (by the opera house and the bridge)...Look up. Thousands of giant bats take off from the botanical garden and fly inland for hunting. It's fantastic to see!

5. Daytrip: to the BlueMountains. You can rent a car, or take a day trip. I've done both. I prefer the car trip, but i lived there...so the bus was good--just too many young kids with hangovers were no fun.

6.stop at the QVB, Queen Victoria Building--it's just really ornate inside. Great at christmas with a 3 story tree. Also, an insider note: On the lowest level of the QVB (opposite end as the train station--i think it's near Esprit kids--there is a restaurant in the far end, a couple steps down--and it has the BEST LAKSA. I am craving it now just thinking about it! Coconut based soup, bit spicey, you can order with chicken/beef/tofu/veg. I get the beef, it's amazing. And packed for lunch! It's a hole in the wall--but we all know they are best!

7. Expensive, but well worth it for adreneline junkies: Bridge Climb. PS. The Opera house cafe open air outside is a good place to watch for bridge climbers.

8. Sydney tower walk/climb: sydneytower.myfun.com.au

PS. The laksa place is not far from the Sydney Tower walk!

Note: You cannot hold a Koala in New South Wales. You can pet them at a zoo, but that's it.

Zoo's:
1. Koala Sanctuary (they run tours). It's small, is Aussie animal centric, and they give you tons of individual attention.

2. Featherdale Wildlife Park: this is like the Koala Sanctuary, but bigger--and catches all the "Blue Mountain" tour groups--it's on the way. Great park, great displays..they also have Tasmanian Devils and a huge area for petting/feeding kangaroos, wallabies, and emus.

3. Sydney Wildlife Park/Aquarium- Darling harbor. This place is great. You have only a few hours in Sydney, you're at the hrabor for food/site-seeing...now pay alot of money for a small animal park geared to get you in and out to see what you came to see--it's thoughtfully efficient! I do like this place...it's just expensive. But well worth it if you aren't apt to go to the larger regional areas. Best attraction to me: the butterfly room. (they have koala's and wallabies too)

4. Taronga Zoo-my least favorite, it's too big for a short trip, and is more like your zoo at home. However, it has one of the best views of the Bridge/opera house in the city. (unless you are on a boat, then you have the same view!)

Ok Cairns Suggestions!
*Warning* it's HOT up here in the Aussie summer. WAY TOO HOT!

My trip was in 2008, here's what we did--hope it's helpful.
Flew into Cairns, rental car--drove to Port Douglas and stayed for 5 nights.
From Port Douglas: Chose our GBR adventure in town-they offer a pontoon 'base' on the outer reef, vs. the inner reef. There's some difference, you'll have to ask them (a well placed phone call or two will set you straight!)

We drove to Daintree--stopped off for the Daintree River Cruise, we saw 1 3' croc. Across the ferry, and as we drove my 3 friends to their "Zipline" adventure--I noticed a fancy hotel with a spa. So I drove back for a spa adventure--fantastic! *yes, scared of heights*

There is NO SHORTAGE of adventures to plan in and around the Daintree. It's beautiful. Stop for local made exotic ice cream along the way..it's worth it.
Use the internet, pick your poisen for adventures and book them--they do fill up.

**Check when the RAINY season is** you may not want to waste time when the rainy season is upon them. (I'm not sure when it is)

In Port Douglas, our hotel had bikes for borrowing--couple of us went for a bike ride. Then it downpoured. I do highly recomend the mexican restaurant in town. There is only 1 main street in town, and 1 mexican restaurant.. The Indian restaurant just around the corner from the Mexican place is good too.

So after you've done the daintree, and the GBR, it's time for something new.

Check out: Karranda Plateau
This was a fantastic day--start EARLY:
3 phase tickets available --hotel will have the place to call, or online search for the following:
Tjupukai
Kuranda Sky Rail
Kuranda Scenic Railway
http://www.downundertours.com/krst.html

Spend the am at the Tjapukai park--they teach you about native story time, dances, face painting (for adults & kids), speer throwing, boomerang tossing...and best yet- how to capture an ant and lick it's butt for a shot of vitamin C. Yes I did this, and yes I lived.

Then take the SkyRail--it's a 7 mile long gondola/sky car that takes you above the jungle canopy and up the plateau with 3 stops for jungle walks and bathroom breaks if you need them. It's really nice. Better if it's cooler, rahter than noon!
You land at Kuranda Plateau. It's alot touristy. Have some lunch. Enjoy the kitsch...and go to the Koala Sanctuary and HOLD A KOALA..they also have some wallabies to feed along the way. Then buzz back to take the train to the parking lot:

Kuranda Rail takes you back along an old train ride to relax and get your car.

On our way back to Cairns for the flight out, we also stopped at Hartley's Croc Farm--quite fun. Take the little boat--watch them feed crocs. They are HUGE and just scary. There are other parts of the farm/zoo to see--all Croc related. Makes you want to look for steve irwin!

Not hot in June in far North Queensland and certaibly not rainy season though can rain anytime.

I think the trip to Cooktown would be cool if you can find transport, there are few that do it. Way better than Port Douglas as far as experience goes.

There are two bus services from Cairns to Cooktown.

This (KrisTiki's post) is what I mean about the advantages of doing your own research! The weather, the length of the cable-way and the number of intermediate stops are all out but there is some good advice there about fun things to do.