Aussie Advice
 

I need some advice regarding my November trip to Australia.

I used my miles to fly out to Australia with a bunch of friends. My trip is scheduled for 3 weeks. We are planning on spending a week in Sydney, Cairns, and Melbourne.

However, I need to fly back early b/c I have to attend a wedding, so I'll have to cut out Melbourne out of my trip.

The original plan was to fly roundtrip to Cairns from Syndey and then drive to Melbourne.

Since my flight need to be rearranged, I would need to come back a few extra days from Melbourne.

So my question is, should I spend 1 or 2 days in Melbourne, or should I fly to some other location and then fly back from Sydney? We would get back to Syndey from Cairns on Nov. 21st and then drive to Melbourne. And I'm scheduled to leave on the 27th from Melbourne. However, the only flight I can get back from Sydney is on the 23rd.

Does this make any sense? If anybody has any suggestions, please let me know.

Thanks

no - I've lost you.

Are you planning to drive to Melbourne from Cairns? WHY?? Do you have any idea how far that is?

Sorry!

I'm planning on flying into Sydney on Nov. 8th. I plan on spending the whole week there. Then the following Sunday (Nov 14th) I'll be flying into Cairns and spending a week there and flying back to Sydney. Then we plan on renting a car and driving to Melbourne (from Sydney) and I plan on flying back to the States on November 27th.

Now I need to come back before the 27th. I was thinking possibly the Sunday before, but I checked with United and the earliest I can fly back is on Nov. 23rd back to the States.

I guess my question is, should I fly to Melbourne directly from Cairns and spend a few days there, or go someplace else along the east coast (possibly to Brisbane).

Since I'll be spending 1 week in Sydney, I don't really think I want to spend a few extra days there. I would rather go someplace I haven't hit already...before I fly back. So with 2 or 3 days before I fly back to the States, where would you recommend I spend some time?

Now, I hope this makes sense!

Something you might want to consider is flying from Cairns to Sydney as planned, then driving with your friends from Sydney to Canberra (3.5 hours). Your friends could drop you off in Canberra, maybe even look around Canberra with you for a bit, and then proceed on their way to Melbourne. You could stay behind in Canberra, do some more sight seeing on your own, and then return to Sydney for your flight home.

The drive from Sydney to Melbourne (without going through Canberra) is 10 hours, not counting stops. The detour via Canberra would add only one hour to your friends' driving time from Sydney to Melbourne (except that they may want to spend some time seeing Canberra, which could turn the detour into a somewhat longer exercise).

If you don't feel like renting a car and driving on your own from Canberra to Sydney, you could catch a bus or train.

Lots of choices, so little time!

Maybe from Cairns you could get the train to the Whitsunday and have a day or two at Airlie Beach then fly from Prosperine to Sydney for your flight home?

Hi, shahnm77!

I would leave Melbourne out altogether. Judy_in_Calgary has hit the nail right on the head with her suggestion of Canberra as a viable alternative, with less than half a day's driving; also, it's small enough for you to see virtually all the attractions -- and they are worth seeing! -- in the time alotted to you. And Sydney-Cairns-Canberra is a nice trilogy for your first visit to Australia.

Have a great time!