A more filled in Itinerary... still need suggestions
 

Hello folks,
Thanks so much for the feedback given before. Here's a more updated itinerary, any thoughts about the "doableness" of this? There are still a few blank days, particularly in the Sydney area... any thoughts for those?

Recap on my situation: Going to Australia for 3 weeks with my amazing mom in December/January. We love coastal, outdoorsy things, I think camping would be great, mom doesn't think she can do the camping thing with a tender back (so maybe I do camping, any suggestions for her while I do that?). We plan on getting a car, driving down the coast then flying from Bundaburg to Sydney on New Year's eve to spend the new year in the beautiful city there. Some day trip suggestions from Sydney would be great, or things to do in or around Sydney.

Friends have a house in Agnes Waters that we can stay at for a few days, so that's why the choice there. We'll do our GBR trip from there.

Thanks for all the help so far!

12/16/11 - Leave SFO or SJC
12/17/11 – Travel
12/18/11 – Arrive Cairns
Stay in: Some Cairns hotel for 2 nights
12/19/11 – Go to Kuranda from Cairns, stay in Cairns
Do the Train up to Kuranda and Skyrail back
http://www.ksr.com.au/TourOptions/Pa...ainforest.aspx
12/20/11 – Drive to Daintree Rainforest
Stay in: Cape Trib Exotic Fruit Farm for $180 per night http://www.capetrib.com.au/index.htm
12/21/11 – Stay in Cape Trib Fruit Farm
12/22/11 – Drive South to Yungaburra (about 2 ½ hours)
Stay at Kookaburra Lodge for $90 per night
Or Stay at On The Wallaby (Hostel) for about $55 per night
If at On The Wallaby, take the night canoe tour $30
12/23/11 – Atherton Tablelands
12/24/11 – Drive South to Townsville (about 4 ½ hours)
Magnetic Island Daytrip?
12/25/11 – Drive South to Whitsunday (about 3 ½ hours)
Get out to the campsite (Nari’s beach?)
www.whitsundaybookings.com.au
camping for Steph, mom something else?
12/26/11 – Camp on Whitsundays
12/27/11 – Camp on Whitsundays
12/28/11 – Leave Whitsundays and drive to Agnes Waters
12/29/11 – Stay in Agnes Waters – Do the great barrier reef trip from here
12/30/11 – Stay in Agnes Waters
12/31/11 – Fly to Sydney
Check into a hotel and see the city
New Year’s Eve in Sydney
1/1/12 – Sleep in then Sydney sight seeing
1/2/12
1/3/12 – Hunter Valley Vineyards (Steph)
http://www.activitytours.com.au/hunt...ley_tours.html
1/4/12
1/5/12
1/6/12 – Fly home to SFO/SJC

The Canoe Night Tour from the Wallaby is great. They are seeing Tree-Kangaroos quite often.

Suggest that you take the coast drive to Cape Trib and the inland one to Yungaburra. Stop off at the Mareeba Golf Club to look at the Grey Kangaroos and Granite Gorge for the Mareeba Rock Wallabies. With a little patience you should see Platypus in the creek in Yungaburra.

You may be interested in camping on Sydney Harbour

http://www.cockatooisland.gov.au/camping/index.html

After the Hunter Valley, you could make Newcastle your base - wonderful beaches, ex mining, now university town, not touristy and still a bit back in the fifties, though that's rapidly changing. It is a city where the main shopping street ends at the beach, and as well as hotels close to the beach, there is also a great Youth Hostel.

http://www.yha.com.au/hostels/nsw/hu...beach/?print=1
http://www.visitnewcastle.com.au/

Looks doable, but it's a lot of driving in the hottest time of year. Perhaps add a day in Townsville to give yourself plenty of time for Magnetic Island. Don't miss the detour to Wallaman Falls at Ingham - Australia's highest waterfall and quite spectacular.

Thinking it wouldn't be such a bad idea to concentrate more on the area between Townsville, Cairns and Cape Trib. Cuts downs on the distances and gives you more time to see all there is to see in what is an amazing region. I'm sure there are camping alternatives to the Whitsundays. Then perhaps fly Cairns or Townsville to Bundaberg?

Also thinking it would be best to see the Reef while you are in the Far North - it's a lot closer to shore up there. And although I'm a big fan of places like Heron Island on the southern end of the GBR, nothing beats the reefs off of Cape Trib and the Daintree from my experience.

I would second Ralph's suggestion and camp somewhere north of Townsville, that includes Magnetic Island.

You could plan an adventure with this mob http://www.tablelandadventureguides.com.au/ while mother goes off exploring the sights of the Atherton Tablelands.

I am not sure if you are looking for Sydney ideas but seeing as you have nothing penciled in those days I would suggest
A good walk - Either Spit Bridge to Manly or Bondi to Coogee. I have a page with lots of the best walks and link to free maps etc.
http://www.squidoo.com/top-10-sydney

Also if you have not booked your Sydney accommodation it would be best to do so ASAP as things are already booking up.

If you are not sure where to view the fireworks from you can choose from joining the masses at the Harbour's edge - lots of fun - or paying $250+ for a boat or restaurant. I have put together a list here cause I get asked this all the time at work http://www.squidoo.com/new-years-eve-in-sydney

If you have the budget a harbour cruise or restaurant is great but if you don't just taking a picnic and heading to Mrs Macquarie's point nice and early is a pretty good way to spend the night.

Also as you have 6 days in Sydney consider a weekly transport ticket. It will save you $$ and hassles making sure you have a ticket for the bus before you board - which is compulsory now in the city area. Buy a My Multi 1 for unlimited bus, light rail and ferry travel and most trains that a visitor would need for A$41 more information here http://www.131500.com.au/tickets/fares/myzone

Hope that helps