Here's my plan for my Australian trip in February 2007. I arrive in Syndey, take a day tour to blue mountain. I am taking a bus tour down to Melbourne and another bus tour to Adelaide. From Adelaide I am taking a tour to KI. Then I was planning to fly back to Syndey.

My question, since I am going to be there for three weeks, I have a few extra days to explore somewhere else. Should I fly to Holbert, Tasmania (and surroundings) for three days (from Melbourne). Should I spend the extra three days somewhere in the outback? I am not really interested in cities or museums, but I am really interested in animals and the environment.

How many days are you currently spending in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and KI?

Lucky you to find EXTRA days instead of being short days on your trip. If you are in Adelaide at the end, you could go on to Wilpena Pound and surrounds (we wanted to do this--it sounds extraordinary!) However, since you are there in the summer, it might be extraordinarily hot, so do some research. You could go back to Sydney and go up to the Blue Mountains farther to Jenolan Caves. Excellent lodge and caves and remote hike up at Kanangra Wall. We did this and it was awesome. You'd need a car, though, to do the Kanangra Wall, but could do Jenolan Caves via public transport. Oberon near there has the "big trout" which is one of the peculiarly Australian big things. They have trout fishing around there if that is an interest. Also south of Sydney are some great-sounding towns and national parks that have animals including penguins, whales (in season) and kangaroos on the beach. There was a recent discussion about places to see here. You can do a search above. Happy planning!
Sally in Seattle

I'm going to have to chime in with a Crocodile Dundee-esque 'that's not a trout, THIS is a trout' with this: http://www.totaltravel.com.au/travel...tos/adaminaby2

I'd never heard of the one in oberon!

outback is going to be hot hot hot wherever you go in Feb. you might like to look at a recent post on someone going to Broken Hill in Feb. you could fly adelaide - broken hill, do a tour there, then fly back to sydney.

tim and liz asked how long you have in Syd, mel, adl, KI - that's a good question.

lancefan, here is a link to the big trout in Oberon. We have a very similar picture of my husband with it!
http://www.abc.net.au/backyard/stories/s1025755.htm

Another place in Oz that might be of interest (but HOT) is Cober Pedy where you mine for opals and stay underground. Someone was wanting to go there from Adelaide, too. But I might want to stay in the Blue Mtns or on the southern coast of Sydney myself and poke around where it isnt' so hot.
Sally in Seattle

Sydney = 3 days at first (including blue mtn day trip)
Melbourne is only a day (but that's ok - like I said, not a city person)
Adelaide = 2 days
KI = 2 days
back to sydney = 3 days.
I am leaning towards spending 3 days in Tasmania, doing a couple of parks near Hobert. But I am going to look into Wilpena Pound.

thanks!

p.s. in case you are wondering, my travelling time is around 7 days with the tour bus and flying (which I did not include in above).

Wilpena Pound looks interesting, but a little bit expensive (at least the Wilpena Pound resort). I was also looking at taking a bus to Port Augusta and doing a camel tour. That could be interesting.

seriously, for something very different to what you will have seen doing Syd BM to Melb then to Adl, I'd consider outback, if you can handle the heat. It will be such a contrast from the coastal areas you will have seen. Not that tassie is not worth a look, but honestly I don't think 3 days does it justice. Sure to spark some debate if liz f sees this though!