Hi there, I'm trying to map out a doable itinerary for my friend and I. There is just soo much to see and do that I worry I may be cramming too much or I should skip things in favor of others. Planning on going approx. 6/1-7/8 in 2012 (37 days) but it could get chopped down to 4 weeks if the bosses don't approve of the time off. But until then i'm planning for 5

Definite must dos are the live aboard for 3D3N as we love to scuba, the tag along at Fraser Island ( i want to drive on the wrong side of the sand haha), and Sydney.

Melbourne seems like a good idea for culture and the Great Ocean Road. I figure I should get to the Red Centre but dont want to go overboard w/ it. What is the minimum amount of time someone should commit to this? And the Kakadu looked kinda different from the rest of it so i thought that would give a nice mix. I thought about the Whitsundays but considering we are already live aboarding the GBR, figured that might be over kill on the water as I do get seasick.


Idea 1: (34 days)
Sydney - 7 days
fly to Melbourne - 5 days
fly to Red Centre (Uluru and Alice Springs) - 3 days
fly to Darwin - 4 days including 3D2N trip to Kakadu
fly to Cairns - 5 days including 3D3N live aboard to GBR
drive to Sydney 10 days including 3D2N tag along fraser island

Idea 2: (34 days)
Melbourne - 5 days
fly to Sydney - 7 days
Fly to Brisbane - 7 days including 3D2N tag along fraser island
Fly to Cairns - 6 days including 3D2N live aboard to GBR
fly to Darwin - 4 days including 3D2N trip to Kakadu
Fly to Red Centre - 4 days
Fly to Melbourne - 1 day

I'm also trying to figure out the Qantas aussie walkaround pass and havent really figured that out yet. Whenever I put in dates I get some amount like 4000 for all the stops. I was under the impression it was whatever the international rate is + 89 within sectors or 160 between them.

Ideally I'm hoping to find a combination of flights for $2000 since the site says an international sale fare is $1,178. Any idea when flights go on sale for next June?

Thanks for any and all help!

I think either plan will give you a great introduction to Australia.

Qantas Link flies from Brisbane to Hervey Bay daily which might be your easiest way to get to Fraser Island. So really it depends on what you would like to do around Brisbane and there is a lot. If you want help with that and your time in other places give us a bit more info on what are your interests and how you like to meet those wants.

Please be aware that in Australia the dates are given with the day before the month before the year, i.e. 01/06/12 is 1st July next year whereas 6/1 is sixth of January.

If you ask me you'll be spending way too much time in the big cities, unless of course you intend to get well outside them, say by spending 2-3 days on the Great Ocean Rd. That being said, I would nix Melbourne at that time of year and give yourselves more time in the places where the weather will likely be much nicer, say Cairns, the Red Center or the Top End (Kakadu, etc). For example, in the Red Center you could add on a visit to Kings Canyon or Litchfield Nat'l Park in the Top End. Or Undara in North Queensland. These are the sorts of places that make Australia special and different.

Another thing: I dont think driving Cairns-Sydney is the best use of your limited time. Keep in mind Fraser Island is quite a long ways north of Brisbane, maybe 5 hrs and may require an overnight at Hervey Bay the day before or night after.

A possible itinerary:

Sydney 5 days
Fly to Brisbane - 7 days, including Fraser Island (2-3 nights), Lamington NP another must see.
Fly to Cairns - 7 days, including GBR, Daintree, Cape Trib, Undara, Atherton Tablelands
Fly to Darwin - 7 days, including Kakadu, Litchfield, Katherine
Fly to Alice - 7 days, including Uluru, Olgas, Kings Canyon, West MacDonnell Ranges
Fly to Sydney for the remainder of your time

I like Ralph's itinerary very much. Remember that in June/July, the weather is going to be better the further north you are. (Melbourne can be rather dreary in the winter.) Also, as Ralph says, what makes Australia special is mostly outside of the big cities.

Melbourne may be cooler in winter but Melbourne is never, ever dreary. As Australia's sporting / dining / shopping / culture capital, it's well worth a visit at any time of year.

The draft itineraries look fine, except I would forget the "drive to Sydney" bit. Cairns to Sydney is probably 1,700+ miles on not very fast roads. Fly to Brisbane and then to Hervey Bay. Alternatively, fly to Brisbane, then drive to Noosa (about 2 hours) for a day or two and then on to Fraser Island. Fly back.

thanks for the quick responses already! and i'll be sure to watch the switching of the dates and months when writing them.

regarding Brisbane, i was thinking of that as kinda a hub to go to different beaches as well as to get to Fraser Island. Also, i want to hug a koala and was told there was a sanctuary near Brisbane where I could do that. I'm not interested in theme parks as I live near a ton of them anyways. So i was thinking that would be like the beach/surfing part of the trip.

the draw for me on melbourne was the great ocean road, watching penguins and then i guess museums for my friend. personally, i'm not very big on museums but she wants to do cultural stuff. what counts as drear and could I get sufficient cultural stuff from the other areas on the itinerary?

I get the idea of taking out Melbourne because of the weather but I worry I would be missing out on a lot. Like I would come home and people would say, 'what, you missed Melbourne?!' Granted no one I know has visited Australia but since it is the 2nd biggest city, it is the one people know after Sydney

And it looks like the consensus is to fly to/from the Brisbane area rather than drive. that's good to know, I'll nix that idea.

So in general, I'm looking for a trip with a ton of various outdoor things (surf, dive, hike, 4wd), some cultural visits and learning experiences such as museums and maybe tours, hugging a koala is a must, and encompassing as much Australia as I can in that time I have.

No shortage of museums in Sydney. I like Melbourne but it's not like it's the only place in Australia for "culture". Save it for the next trip.

In terms of better (warmer)winter weather I also like Ralph's suggestion.

Just to let you know, there are also koala hugging opportunities very near Cairns, the closest would be at Palm Cove, a northern beach suburb of Cairns - Cairns Tropical Zoo - and another at Kuranda which you may want to visit anyway, via Scenic Train and Skyrail.

I like Ralph's itinerary, but I'd suggest a couple of small changes. June can be chilly nights and warm days down south; right now it will be 8C tonight and 20C tomorrow and I'm only two hours south of Brisbane here in Pottsville Beach. So, even though I love Melbourne I would not go further South than Sydney. Also, check out whether fares are cheaper with a return to Sydney rather than open jaw.

Here is a slighlty modified version of Ralph's suggestion:

Sydney 4 days. Allow the first two to veg out wandering around on ferries doing nothing much to get over jet-lag. But even that can be spectacular on the harbour.

Fly to Coolangatta 8 days and rent a car to practice on the wrong side of the road in a more relaxed region. Just don't hit me please. Wander down to Byron Bay (see the Tweed Coast on the way), Lamington NP and the Gold Coast then up to Fraser Island and back again to the airport to return the car. Hug Koalas (if you must, be careful, they aren't potty trained ) and see Lorikeets and other birds at Currumbin sanctuary.

Fly to Cairns - 7 days, including GBR, Daintree, Cape Trib, Undara, Atherton Tablelands

Fly to Darwin - 7 days, including Kakadu, Litchfield, Katherine

Fly to Alice - 7 days, including Uluru, Olgas, Kings Canyon, West MacDonnell Ranges. I don't have a lot of knowledge of the area, only been there twice and only to Alice, but 7 days seems a bit long.

Fly to Sydney for the remainder of your time to see what you missed the first time. Day trip suggestions include the Blue Mountains to the west or Broken Bay to the north.

I'll follow this with some suggestions on flights.

Cheers, Alan, Australia
http://loraltravel.blogspot.com/

Some ideas on flights.

Your use of backwards dates implies you're from the US of A Please correct me if I'm wrong.

I like to drop in on Hawaii when I'm coming from your place to mine. It has several advantages, apart from the obvious ones. It breaks up that very long flight into two not-quite-so-long flights; the day or two between flights helps with jet-lag; and Jetstar and even Qantas occasionally have really cheap specials for the flight HNL-SYD. You can also get pretty good prices if you search from the mainland US to Honolulu. The total may actually be cheaper than the direct flights to Sydney. But a lot depends on timing and specials.

Going back is different. You just want to get there. As well as your US carriers and Qantas, check out the prices on VAustralia to your local area. They vary; sometimes cheap, others not.

However, sometimes it's just cheaper to go return direct to Sydney or Brisbane.

On flights within Australia get on the email alerts lists for Jetstar, Qantas and Virgin. Jetstar has "Friday Specials" with very cheap prices for some routes, varying each week, that are only sold between 4pm-8pm Sydney time Fridays. Virgin also have email specials, but the system is a little different.

Careful use of those email specials may be a lot cheaper than one of the pass type fares and also allow more flexibility.

Some web addresses.

Qantas http://www.qantas.com.au
Jetstar http://www.jetstar.com
Virgin http://www.virginaustralia.com/
VAustralia (Virgin's International section) http://www.vaustralia.com.au/
Webjet (compares them) http://www.webjet.com.au/

I haven't looked at it lately, but it may also be worth looking at OneWorld's various Circle Pacific and linked Aussie options http://www.oneworld.com/

Finally, one different option may be to take the train from Sydney to Brisbane. It takes about 18 hours through some pretty spectacular scenery anf you can break the journey en-route at places like Newcastle or Cessnock (winery district), Coffs Harbour and similar places. www.countrylink.info

You like beaches? This is all within 25 km of my home: http://loraltraveloz.blogspot.com/se.../North%20Coast

Cheers, Alan

I like Trav_Eller's suggestion re flying to Coolangatta instead of Brisbane. Byron Bay is a wonderful spot.

Re 7 days in the Red Center: 2-3 nights at Uluru and the Olgas, 1-2 nights at Kings Canyon, and 3 nights in or around Alice. Great places east and west of the town, like Trephina Gorge, Ormiston Gorge (awesome!) and Palm Valley. Plus you need to allow time to get from Uluru, etc to Alice, no short distance!

Hi RalphR - Ormiston Gorge is my DHs favourite too!

Ralph has presented you with a good itinerary.

I, personally, wouldn't spend as long in the Red Centre, but, then again, I used to live in the American Southwest and spent loads of time exploring our own country's red rock country. Also, when I visited Uluru, I was besieged by flies. I will never forget the beauty of Uluru at sunset, or of my walk through the Olgas, but I also won't be forgetting those flies! They are only there at certain times of the year. It was also terribly hot when we were there.

I wanted to put in a good word for visiting Australia's cities, as your traveling companion is interested in museums and culture. You needn't look upon your visit to the cities with dread.

I think a country's cities reveal a lot about its culture in general. Australia's cities house the vast majority of its population. Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Darwin are so cosmopolitan, so diverse. The cities house the universities, with some of the country's brightest people; and the art collections and concert halls, where the creations of the nation's most imaginative people are showcased. Some of the country's greatest innovators are in the cities, contributing to the business environment, research and governmental institutions. Cities are also fun, with restaurants, bars, cafes, parks, beaches, stores, streetlife, distinct neighborhoods, lots of interesting people, and so much more.

Cities can also be scenic. Sydney is undeniably one of the world's most beautiful cities. Walk to its Opera House, take a ride on one of its ferries, stroll through its Botanical Gardens or along The Rocks, visit its Tauranga Zoo, or climb its Harbor Bridge. The Sydney Aquarium (at Darling Harbor) offers an overview of the nation's marine environment and conveys how important the rivers and oceans are to this country. This is, afterall, a country with a large coastal population: of many beach-goers, swimmers, scuba-diver, boaters, whale-watchers, and of fishermen.

The aboriginal art collection of Sydney's Art Gallery of New South Wales is excellent. It is a revolving exhibition (meaning it changes periodically). This exhibition will complement your visits to the Top End and Red Center, as it represents how aboriginal artists see their relationship to the land and how they express this visually.
http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/

Also in the Art Gallery of New South Wales, you will find a gallery of artworks by the first European settlers in Australia. When I walk through this gallery and look at the landscapes, I can sense their awe and wonderment at the great wide open spaces of their adopted country, that were so different from the lands they left behind. They also painted classical scenes that addressed their nostalgia for the Old World, as if they couldn't quite let it go, as if they wanted to bring its beauty to their New World.

The Art Gallery of New South Wales is also interesting architecturally as you can see how the old neo-classical building had a modern wing attached to it (that makes great use of the million-dollar Sydney views).
http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/

The Art Gallery is next to the Royal Botanical Gardens & Domain, which tells you how much Sydneysiders appreciate their parks and greenery, by having created such an serene oasis in their bustling city.
http://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/welcome...botanic_garden

Sydney's Australian Museum is extremely informative with respect to the country's natural environment. I learned a lot here.
http://australianmuseum.net.au/

I also find Darwin very attractive. Visit its Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territories to learn about Cyclone Tracy, which devastated the city in 1974; to learn about the region's unique fauna and flora; to admire the outstanding aboriginal art gallery; and to gaze out of the gorgeous views of the Arafura Sea. Stroll along Darwin's Espanade, visit the Waterfront. The city is also home to many night markets, nature reserves, and a botanical garden.
http://www.jasons.com.au/northern-te...n/things-to-do

Melbourne and Brisbane are also wonderful. Melbourne's Federation Square is a must-see. Its vintage trams give it an Old World charm.

The Brisbane River runs through Brisbane, and the excellent Queensland Art Gallery sits on the South Bank. Lots of activity by the river.

Diamantina - Flies shouldn't be much of a problem during the cooler time that Alecto plans to be in the Red Centre. (Day highs in the 70's F, cold if not frosty at night).

I love the Art Gallery of NSW in Sydney and the beautiful botanical gardens next door. What a city!

thanks so much for the itineraries and various lists of activities/museums. so much to look into, saved me quite a lot of internet searches.

Practicing driving in a smaller town is a good idea, though I will probably just copy the car in front of me and hope they are not going home. do you have a left turn on red policy where you can turn left at a red light if there is no one coming? I think turning will be the trickiest part getting back to the correct side of the road.

regarding the red centre, can you see all of those places you mentioned by regular car or is 4wd needed? i looked at a map and I think there are main routes into those parks but there seemed to be a 4wd route available. or could you drive a regular car and then walk to those different gorges? or is this another one of those places where 4wd should be used and I should just shallow the cost for the experience? on that note, would the offroad drive be easy/safe as we don't have experience offroading

Palm Valley would be the only place I mentioned you would need 4WD for access, though having a 4WD vehicle would allow you to take the shortcut (Mereeenie Loop Rd) from Alice and the West MacDonnell Ranges to Kings Canyon and beyond to Uluru.

We don't have left turn on red in my district; I suggest you presume that all over for safety.

When I drive in the USA or Europe the hardest part on turns is making sure I am on the correct side of the road after turning left. The equivalent for you here would be turning right. It's too easy to slip into "your" side of the road and suddenly notice everyone else is is heading straight at you.

The other problem to watch for is lane position. Your brain is used to positioning your body in the driver's seat a little to the left of the centre of a lane. Or, in my case, to the rght. Your passenger is likely, like mine, to discover that their side of the care is much too close to passing traffic signs and light poles. Try to correct that one before you wipe out a mirror or a passing pedestrian.

Cheers, Alan, Australia
http://loraltravel.blogspot.com/

PS We have LOTS of roundabouts. Not quite the same as a "rotary".

Every USAian I have met who has driven over here is confused by them. Dunno why; we find them pretty simple

This may help: http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/rulesregul...undabouts.html

Cheers, Alan, Australia
http://loraltravel.blogspot.com/

I'll put in a word for the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne. Fabulous, I had to make time for it even on our very short trip to Australia.

At a guess, I think you are way too early for flight sales for next June. Try experimenting with other dates - not because you want to travel on those dates, but because it will give a rough ballpark as to when airlines load their prices for a given season.

Don't turn left on red in Australia or NZ. My husband has been working in NZ for a year and a half and for the first three months he was there, he didn't realize that this was not allowed, and he kept wondering why other drivers would become so irate when he would turn left at a red stop signal. He finally got the message.

This is a good site:
http://wikitravel.org/en/Driving_in_Australia#b