thanks for all the helpful info. As it stands right now I think the beginning of our trip might look something like this: fly into Syd-stay for 1-2 days; go up to Cairns area-do Great Barrier Reef-1 day; one of the rainforests or safari -2nd day; fly into Uluru area-Ayers Rock area for 1-2 days; then onto Kangaroo Island; then fly into OZ and do South Island for remainder of trip. Any thoughts or ideas of what to do or what not to waste our time doing?

would we be duplicating ourselves if we did the Tablelands to see wildlife and Kangaroo Island?

Re Tablelands and Kangaroo Island, they are very different places very far apart - obviously there will be differences in wildlife. Haven't been to KI, but know it is a good place for koalas, which are not common in North Queensland. Kangaroos are everywhere.

Apart from seeing koalas in the wild (which, by the way, are generally hard to view high up in trees), I think its nuts to forego a few more days in North Queensland to fly all the the way across the country to go to KI, presumably for just another day or two. Not that KI wouldnt be a great place to go, I just don't think it's worth a day of your precious time getting there when you have only just barely scratched the surface of NQ with all its beauty and natural attractions. Also, weather could still be quite cool on KI in Sept.

Again, I suggest a drive out to Undara and spending a night or two there...a great place for wildlife and tasting the Outback. It's only another 1-2 hours drive past the tablelands.

What I meant by "kangaroos are everywhere": you see them pretty much over all the continent - I wasnt referring only to KI

<b>"Any thoughts or ideas of what to do or what not to waste our time doing?"</b>

I don't think it would be a waste of time to see Kangaroo Island, not just a good use of your <u>very</u> limited time. I hate to repeat what others have said. But, I think if you would cut something (e.g. kangaroo Island) you would put a little more quality back into the rest of your trip (at the expense of quantity).

Ok I understand thanks so much

Hi Flgajaja,

Lots of good advice from Orlando Vic, RalphR & Saluarius & Toucan2; one thing to consider about K.I. that should be mentioned, in order to really see animals in the wild you'd pretty much need a guide/touring company, who have access to private land you would't be able to get onto (in fact, if you were self-driving you'd probably just drive on by without knowing - unless you're looking for sea lions!)

Daintree vs. Kuranda -- is basically honest to goodness rainforest experience vs. a theme park.

Phillip Island for penguins - you'd be with hoardes of tourists pulling up in 50 passenger motorcoaches and sitting on concrete bleacher seats. There's a much better option for this if you decide to go to NZ instead of Australia, but it sounds like you're leaning more towards spending your 3 weeks in Australia...but maybe I'm making the wrong assumption! :)

Hope this is helpful!

Melodie
Certified Aussie & Kiwi Specialist

If Echidna or Koala in the wild is your top priority the KI; if Platypus then Atherton Tablelands. Varoius kangaroos at each place. At either place one is much better off with a guide or tour and doing a nocturnal tour will give you many more species.

If deleting the KI trip would you have enough time to add Undara to the Atherton Tablelands. It is best to overnight in each of these spots for the reasons above about nocturnal and crepuscula animals.

At Undara (1994), we did the EXCELLENT full day tour of the lava tubes - this, not only included commentary about the "caves", but also about the surrounding terrain, birds, plants and animals. It was fascinating. Undara also offers a trail system of sorts, and we really enjoyed getting out into the Gulf Savannah on our own for more wildlife encounters. Kangaroos abound at Undarra - we saw many of them grazing in the grounds of the complex each of the 3 days we were there. Not sure if this still the case, but in 1994, the dining area was open on all sides, so while eating dinner, we were most amused by the little kangaroos (bettongs, I believe) scooting around between the tables looking for food.

walzmilitilda-we are going to NZ-so if you know of a better place to see wildlife please I'm all ears??? And yes we are planning on using a personal guide for KI-all to be arranged thru a travel agent-any personal favs? Actually I thought we might change the order of where we go when to save time and actually make more sense-how's this-fly into Syd, KI, Ayers Rock, Cairns area then into OZ-South Island??