LeeP

We will have about 12 days in Australia in March as part of a 3-week trip - most likely our only trip to this part of the world, so we want to see as much as possible. We are planning to include Melbourne(3 nights), Cairns or Port Douglas (3 nights)and Sydney(3 nights). Should we add Adelaide, Kangaroo Island and the Barossa wineries, or should we go to Alice Springs and Ayers Rock? I'd love to include it all, but must make some hard choices. I have read some of the other postings about the Red Center, Alice Springs, etc. and know it is unlike anything we have ever seen before. However, it will be very hot, and the animals of Kangaroo Island and the Barossa valley wine area sounds great too! The flight schedules are not very easy or convenient, making it even harder to decide.
Would it be better to add a day to Cairns and Sydney instead? I look forward to hearing all your ideas.
Thanks!!!
Lee P

dotty

Hi LeeP,
Oh what a decision for you. We enjoyed our time in Adelaide, with a day trip to each of Kangaroo Island and the Barossa Valley. While we saw a few animals on KI they were animals you could see anywhere else in Aussie. The Barossa was interesting but because we are not huge wine drinkers we joined a tour that visited only five vineyards and was more inclined towards sight-seeing. Most of the area is similar to other wine-growing areas that I have visited in other parts of the world.
On that basis I would suggest spending the time in Alice Springs and Ayers Rock after including an extra day in Cairns (oh how envious I am you are going there - I have already spent two weeks there and still haven't seen enough of the area!)if flights allow you the time. There are areas in the places you are visiting that have the native animals. Perhaps you could visit a winery or two in New Zealand.
Good luck with your decision.

longhorn55

Any chance of dropping Melbourne from your itinerary? While it's a nice city, you're already going to a big city in Australia (Sydney). I think you'd get more from your Australian vacation by visiting either KI or Uluru.

Mitch04

I'm from Adelaide, so I am biased. And I have never been to Uluru. But I think Alice Springs is a dump, having been there several times. It lost heaps of tourist traffic some years ago when it ceased to be the gateway to Uluru when a proper airstrip was put in at the Rock.

Adelaide is great if you like good restaurants, and love wine (the Barossa Valley is a 60 minute drive north, and the Southern vales is a 45 minute drive south, giving you access to about 100+ wineries).

The Adelaide Hills are picturesque, and includes Cleland Wifelife Park and the Monarto Open Range Zoo.

Kangaroo Island is quiet but has wonderful coastal scenery, Seal Bay, Flinders Chase and Remarkable Rocks.

prue

We have just returned from a 3 night/2 day visit to Kangaroo Island and could not have enjoyed it more - this was part of a tour that also included the Barossa and Flinders Ranges - all most enjoyable.
We enjoyed the scenery, the people and the animals of the island. The highlight being on the beach at Seal Bay with the sea lions - absolute magic.

Lizzy101

You are right, the interior will be very hot at that time of year. Adelaide will be warm, too! We take our overseas friends to K.I. and they enjoy it for the wildlife (Seal Bay is a must),the beaches and now there are cottage industries specialising in food and wine production.

There is a fantastic wine production area on the way to the ferry to K.I. at Cape Jervis - McLaren Vale - which has many super wineries to visit and is near the coast. This coast south of Adelaide has some fine beaches and I can certainly recommend lunch at the Star of Greece cafe overlooking the beach at Port Willunga.

It certainly is a contrast to the scenic and cultural nature of a trip to Uluru - depends on what you are interested in and what will balance your experience in Australia.

Good luck with your planning.

chimani

You have twelve days. And you want to add Adelaide, Barossa and KI.

I don't think so.

What is it that you want? To tick off the boxes or really get the best out of those absurd 12 days?

Skip Melbourne - it is just a city.

The Barossa - hey, you can see wineries all over the world. KI is overated and Adelaide is a place to go on a second or third visit.

It won't be THAT HOT in the centre, and if you are coming all this way, why not see what is unique instead of the wine bars of Melbourne.

As for the "animals" - is seeing "them" your top priority.

Does the sight of a penguin for a minute (if you are lucky) outweigh the glorious experience of being in the middle of nowhere (assuming you take the opportunity to experience it) that you would get by taking a trip to Alice and Uluru?

Your choice, but I know what I would go for. No contest.

All the best,