I've been given a great opportunity to work in Sydney for a week in August. I then have up to 2 weeks holiday out there. I am a female in my late twenties and this will be my first trip to Oz.

I'd love to see the beaches and thought heading north would be good for a better chance of some sunshine. Whitsundays, Airlie Beach?

Can anyone reccommed an itinerary? I'd be happy to stay in hostels (to make some friends as I'm travelling solo!)

Just to add to my confusion, I also have a friend in Wellington I'd like to visit. Do you think this could be combined somehow?

All and any suggestions welcome, thanks!

All things are possible! It just depends on money and how much time you like in airports.

It is about a three hour flight to Wellington so it is doable for sure.

We spent two weeks in QLD last year and got a good mix of things.
We flew into Brisbane then took a week to drive up to 1770 where we did a day trip to Lady Musgrave Island - the southern most of the great barrier reef islands.
On the way we went did the Glass House Mountains, Fraser Island, fed dolphins at Tin Can Bay and did some walks and beaches. We then spent a week in Bargara near Bundaberg.
So that is one option - a mix of tings.

You don't have to go that far north there are other options.

Option Two
Drive north along the coast visiting the beach towns and some of the hinterland ending in Brisbane

Option Three
Fly to Cairns and do all it has to offer.

Option Four
Spend a few days north of Sydney and loop back inland before flying to Wellington.

HOSTELS - Join YHA to get discounts, but do your maths first. Dorm rooms are cheapest and start around $20. Double rooms are about $80-100 a night depending on whether they have an en suite.

Cabins in caravan parks are about the same $80-100

Pubs likewise.

Some backpackers/hostels/hotels have great deals for bed and breakfast/dinner/drinks.

Thanks PeterSale!

As I can't drive (at least not very well) I will have to rely on planes and buses. I've spoken to some friends who have suggested some itineraries. After my week in Sydney I will have up to 10 days to fill. Options are:

1. Fly Sydney > Hervey Bay bus> Noosa bus> Brisbane bus> Bryon Bay fly > Sydney

2. Fly Sydney > Cairns bus> Fraser Island bus> Townsville(for Magnetic Island) bus> Airlie Beach > fly to Sydney

From what I've read I think option 2. might suit the time of year better (August) ? Option 1. might offer more direct flights to/from Sydney, but are the beaches and water as amazing as Cairns/Airlie beach?

I'd love to hear what people think!

Many thanks

2. Fly Sydney > Cairns bus> Fraser Island bus> Townsville(for Magnetic Island) bus> Airlie Beach > fly to Sydney

You have your order wrong - look at a map!

Cairns > Townsville > Airlie > Fraser will stop you going back and forward.

The distances are long but you seem to like meeting people. You should have no trouble on the bus.

It is a bit more expensive than the bus trips but we like the hummer tour of Fraser Island. But we really hate travelling in a tour group.
http://www.fraserexperience.com/guid...ay-hummer-tour

Cairns and Airlie Beach don't have beaches - both places have man-made lagoons on the waterfront. If you want a nice beach near Cairns, stay at Palm Cove - a really nice small place about 20 minutes north of Cairns.

You'll get good beaches if you stay on one of the islands out of Airlie Beach.

In Townsville you could take the ferry to Magnetic Island - about 30 minutes - either for the day or a few nights.

Thanks Marg. How easy is it to get to Palm Cove or Port Douglas from Cairns (I don't drive)?

After working in Sydney, hire a car, take an easy drive north on the F3 to Port Stephens/Myall Lakes. Very similar to the Whitsundays, part of a pristine national park, but less than 3hrs drive from Sydney rather than a mad scramble through Sydney airport.

"How easy is it to get to Palm Cove or Port Douglas from Cairns (I don't drive)?"

All the hotels/resorts in Palm Cove and Port Douglas can arrange transportation for you from the airport (for a fee).

You can also arrange it yourself. See for example -
http://www.sunpalmtransport.com.au
Airport to Palm Cove is $20. Check to see if where you're staying can arrange it for less.

A taxi to Palm Cove will be about $65, to Port Douglas about three times that....

We've always taken the hotel-arranged (shuttle bus) transportation to Palm Cove, generally works fine. If you do any trips to the reef (many of which leave from Cairns) they can pick you up/drop you off in Palm Cove.

We've stayed in Palm Cove a number of times but have only rented a car once. The only reason to do so would be if you wanted to drive up to Port Douglas or the Atherton Tablelands etc. Palm Cove is small enough that you can walk everywhere so, once you're there, no need for transport.

You can also get a regular bus from Palm Cove to Cairns -
http://www.sunbus.com.au/sit_timetable_cairns.htm