2 Weeks in Queensland -- too much??
 

Hi everyone, <BR> <BR>My family and I are planning a two-week trip to Australia this July and are considering spending our time in the northern part of Queensland (Port Douglas, Cairns, etc.). I am interested to know if you all think that two weeks just in Queensland might be too much. What would you recommend that we do with this amount of time? We'd love to spend time in the Outback, but our two-year old daughter wouldn't enjoy spending hours on end in a car for too many days. As an alternative, would it be worthwhile to reduce the amount of time in Queensland to, say, 10 days and then visit Ayer's Rock for a few days? <BR> <BR>Thanks - <BR>Jason

Personally, yeah I think that two weeks in Northern QLD is a wee bit long (unless you enjoy sunbaking and relaxing by the pool ?)... <BR> <BR>Why don't you come into Sydney for a couple of days (4-5 days) fly to Ayers Rock and spend (2 days there) from there go to Port Douglas and spend the remainder of your trip there (7 days). <BR> <BR>I'm not sure what your into but, this is a suggestion anyway.... <BR> <BR>Happy travels

Dee, <BR> <BR>Thanks for your reply. <BR> <BR>In fact, we actually have a bit more than 2 weeks and will be spending 3 days in Sydney -- it is the remaining two weeks that I am having trouble planning (we spent a week in Sydney last year; otherwise we'd spend more than just 3 days there). <BR> <BR>In Queensland, I was thinking of spending some time in Port Douglas. From there we could do some walks in the Daintree, go out to the Reef, and head up to Cape Trib. In addition, we might rent a car for a few days to explore the Atherton Tableland spending a night or two somewhere along the way. All of this doesn't really fill up two weeks and we aren't overly interested in spending endless days by the pool (we are active people, but do have a 2 year old to consider). <BR> <BR>So the idea of Ayers Rock for a couple of days is sounding better and better. Is it also worth going to Alice Springs? <BR> <BR>Thanks for your thoughts... <BR>Jason

Alice Springs is worthwhile - not so much the town itself but the MacDonnel ranges nearby.

Ahhh, Jason - glad to see that you are visiting my fair city (Sydney)again! <BR> <BR>I would definitely go to Alice Springs –don’t expect to be knocked out by the place – but there some interesting places you can go to from there (ie; as Matt said – the McDonald Ranges)…lots of tour's operate from there so you wont have trouble finding out places to go ! <BR> <BR>It’s probably a good time of year to be going to Northern QLD as any other time is SO hot and after doing a hike for a day – you feel exhausted for the remainder of your trip. There are some lovely places you can go up there. <BR> <BR>Are you coming in from the US ? Because – you can do the Survivor II tour around Cairns area. I’m going to be doing that myself this year (looks so lovely that area)… <BR> <BR>Get out to GBR if you can ! <BR> <BR>Even if you wanted to spend a couple of days in Darwin (you would need to fly there) to visit Kakadu National Park could also be a good idea ….. I’m not sure of your budget and/or tastes but it wouldn’t be a long trip from say Alice Springs or Cairns….. <BR> <BR>Keep us posted on what you decide. <BR> <BR>Happy travels :)

Did I say McDonald -- I meant McDonnell ! Must be that Big Mac I had for lunch :)

Dee - <BR> <BR>Based upon your comments and those from Matt, we am thinking of spending about 8 days in the Uluru/Olgas/Kings Canyon and Alice Springs/MacDonell Rage areas. I suppose we will need to rent a car for that portion of the trip. Correct? <BR> <BR>Following the 8 days in the NT, we'd go to Port Douglas (fly to Cairns) for the next 7 days. Plans would include the GRB, Daintree, Atherton Tableland (maybe even spend a night near Lake Tinaroo), and Mossman Gorge. <BR> <BR>From Queensland it is on to Sydney for a couple of days. Dee - what a wonderful city it is! <BR> <BR>I'd like to include Darwin in the NT piece of the trip, but feel that doing so would be a bit too much. <BR> <BR>What do you think of the above??? Any adjustments needed? Recommendations for places to stay or eat? One more question ...do you think that it is best to fly into Uluru and out of Alice Springs (or vice versa), as opposed to in and out of the same place? <BR> <BR>Cheers - <BR>jason <BR> <BR>

Hi Jason, <BR> <BR>Your itinery sounds fine ! I'm sure that you and your family will have a great time ! <BR> <BR>Heres a website which may help you out with the NT part of the trip ... <BR>http://www.nttc.com.au/. It has links for accomodation, day tours, weather info and other things to do ... Make sure you do the Sounds of Silence tour at Ayers Rock. It isn't "cheap" but the whole experience was so unreal when I did it ! <BR> <BR>As far as QLD visit http://www.qttc.com.au/ this site is quite helpful also .. <BR> <BR>As far as flying in and out of the same place - it would probably be easier to fly in one place (say Ayers Rock) and fly out of Alice -- it would save you doing a big circle to get back to Ayers.... <BR> <BR>Happy travels .... and welcome back to Australia :) <BR>

<BR>Jason -- <BR> <BR>Queensland is a very big place. I would say 2 weeks would be too much time in northern Queensland, but if you're planning on doing the Sunshine & Gold coasts to the south, it sounds like the perfect ammount of time. <BR> <BR>Let me know if you want suggestions for these places, <BR> <BR>Steve