dmh

Hello! I am planning for a 3 week visit to Australia in August. I'm overwhelmed with the vast amount of choices and need help putting together an itinerary. Is it too late to be planning for Australia? We're afraid most places will be booked. We know we want to go to Sydney and spend at least a week in the GBR area, but other than that, we're open to suggestions. We want this trip to be fairly relaxing and like to stay in one spot for at least 3 nights. As for GBR island, we'd prefer something quiet and not so touristy. We tend to stay in 2 star hotels and don't care about a view so long as we're by the beach. Any suggestions will be so much appreciated!!!

PRLCH

I don't think it is too late to be planning for Australia for August, and don't worry about it being booked out. August is winter and not school holidays - so basically low season. Not a fantastic time to be in Sydney (too cold for beaches etc), but I gather a great time for GBR (and probably the red centre too if that takes your fancy). Happy planning - I am sure the experts will soon give you some great advice.

Bushranger

Ditto PRLCH though Sydney may seem cold for Sydneysiders and those further north having had blood thinned by warmer weather but if its warmth, beach, GBR, yep head inland and NQ way.

Will not be too many 2 star near beach hotels about but quite a few backpacking type resorts are available and many have quite good facilities and locations - let www.yha.com.au , www.bugaustralia.com and www.google.com.au become your friends.

Check out places like Port Stephens, Coffs Harbour, Byron Bay, Gold and Sunshine Coasts is very touristy, Fraser Island , http://www.1770southerncross.com/ , http://www.gkiholidayvillage.com.au/ , Whitsundays www.hookislandresort.com , Magnetic Island , Mission Beach and www.fitzroyisland.com.au [ will redirect to resort site] but still a council camping reserve to be upgraded as is former backpacker style accommodation.

They are just a few more prominent but not overly touristy areas other than as stated and then there are two or three times that number of smaller village/town locations, most that'll have ocean front or near ocean front caravan parks that have basic cabin accommodations that'll about fit the ** requirement.

dmh

Hi, thanks for responding. Is there anywhere else to go that's fairly warm? Our budget for hotels is $150 a night so after doing some more online searching it looks like we can afford a 3 star. Should we spend a few days on a couple of different islands or is there a good central base for exploring several?

Saltuarius

After seeing the GBR,presumably from near Cairns, why not head up to the Atherton Tablelands for another three nights. At that price you could have yourself a cabin in the rainforest see www.yungaburra.com On the drive up call into Kuranda, a coffee plantation and a winery. Spend one day driving around the southern Tablelands seeing the waterfalls and visiting the information centres at Ravenshoe and Herberton which have great displays. The Herberton Histroical Village will be reopened by then too. On the second day see the lakes and visit Granite Gorge for the Mareeba Rock Wallabies. Return to Cairns via Innisfail, Paronella Park and some of the coastal water holes.

Bushranger

It's really north queensland, inland north[and nights can be coolish]Northern Territory or NW wa for warmer weather, the further north you go towards the equator, generally the warmer it gets but then your travel costs need to be considered as well.

If it's US$150/n you're considering for a couple that'll cover quite a few places, islands included; http://www.queenslandislands.com/ giving you a fairly comprehensive list with links so you can check out what rates fit your budget.
Some may have some recovery to get over as there's a cyclone just finishing its meander down the Queensland Coast - http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDQ65002.shtml , already passed on seaward side of most islands but still strong winds and seas and damage unknown at this stage.

Of course there's also no end of mainland accomodation that'll easily fit into your budget, there being a few smaller coastal locations north of Cairns, what is called Northern Beaches, Half Moon Bay, Trinity, Yorkeys Knob, and Ellis Beach before Palm Cove and Port Douglas and then quite a bit of accommodation in Daintree and Cape Tribulation area, and Cooktown, furtherest north accessible by sealed road now.

http://www.thetourspecialists.com/tours-reef.html will give you some idea of tours and accommodation but there're so many sites you'll find googling up the various place names.

www.capetribbeach.com.au has cabins right in the cape tribulation rainforest, great setting but also many more available such as the http://www.capetrib.com.au/ and though warm enough you'll be light on for beaches.

Salty likes his tablelands [where he lives] but I think he'll agree it can get a little cooler than down on the coast.

Webboe

Dorrie, you can't help your self can you?
At this point in time DMH none of the island resorts along the Qld. coast have reported any significant structural damage from TC Hamish.
Don't let the previous comments about the recovery of these resorts concern you because at this moment these opinions are fictional.

longhorn55

Another great destination that will be warm in August is the Top End of the Northern Territory (Darwin and the environs). There's lots to see and do there and you should be able to find accomodations to fit your budget.

Bushranger

In relation to Webboe, the perennial stalking critic
What is true is that it is too early to have expected any meaningful reports on damage, be it structural, beach or island environment.

It is commonsense for anyone wishing to visit islands that a high strength cyclone has been in close vicinity of to make some enquiries some time after when information is available.

The Ducky one on reading his other posts would have you believe that is scaremongering but that is his stupid view, not mine.

airlian

No damage at all to any of the resorts in The Whitsundays. wind was arounf 40 knotts which is certainly not unusual but nowhere near enough to cause damage.
Dorrie just likes to make themselves sound important, you'd do well to scrap 90% of what bushranger says and the rest is drivel. Good word that.

Now for dmh, try an overnight cruise in The Whitsundays, more beaches and bays than you can throw a stick at and excellent snorkeling and diving and if you choose correctly your cruise will include the GBR. Pristine islands and peace and quiet. back to you Dorrie cheers airlian

gwm

August is a good time to visit the centre. Mild, sunny days, excellent for walking, and crisp nights. There are a few resorts there all run by the same mob with quite expensive prices but one (The Outback Pioneer, I think it's called) has cheaper motel-style rooms containing a double bed and a double bunk bed without ensuite at reasonable rates. Kakadu and the Bungle Bungles are accessible in the "dry", and the lower humidity and lack of mosquitoes is a bonus, but you won't find as much water in waterfalls. Still some lovely swimming holes though. Try Litchfield National Park just south of Dawrin for some idyllic spots.

Pula

Broome is superb in August . . .

dmh

Thanks for the responses!