Bokhara2

Ssshhhh Northie
Next time I want a late dinner at Ottoman, I won't be able to get in!

northie

Bokhara2- I first started going there when it was in the original building . Sorrrrrrrrrrry .

Bokhara2

suchda

Hello bokhara2 and northie

Thank you All !

After reading about Canberra and all it's multicultural cuisines that it can offer, can't avoid to go there. Don't know, how can I put my Great Barrier Reef trip on the schedule. Flying 23-25 hours from JFK, NY, I want to visit as many places as possible within this 12 days trip. Need to rethink about my itinerary.
- Sydney - 4 N
- Canberra - 2 N
- Melbourne - 3 N
- Cairns - 2 N ( not enough, )

What is your opinion about this ?

Bokhara2

It's a common first timers' problem, Suchda.

Australia & the times it takes to travel within it doesn't shrink to fit visitors' desire to "see it all" in a fortnight.

Really look at each of the places on its merits for your group - get the kids involved too & be brutal about what you all want to do & see. And be aware that you will be moving a lot.

I think I you might be able to pull this off, though.
But, you will need to look at the airline schedules & probably re-organise your Itinerary to maximise those 12 days.

See if this would work:

Day 1: Arrive in Sydney AM & take a connecting flight to Cairns.

Yes, it's an extra 3+ hours flying, but you're saving more than if you make it a separate trip. Plus, you'll arrive in gorgeous FNQ, no better place to decompress from that little puddle jumper from JFK-SYD.

Days 1-4 Cairns/Port Douglas.(3 nights )
Get a transfer to Port Douglas OR stay in Cairns. ( more about this later)
Evening Day 4 - Cairns - Melbourne (3 nights )
Day 5 -7 Melbourne

Day 8 - early AM fly Melbourne to Canberra. Rent a car at Canberra airport. (2 nights)

Day 10: Drive Canberra - Sydney (4 Nights) (go through Southern Highland towns - allow 4-5 hours with lunch break etc.,).

Day 11 -13 Sydney
Day 14 - SYD-JFK

If you wanted to do a day trip to the Blue Mountains - take the train.
OR - you could drive Canberra to Blue Mountains. Overnight there on Day 10. Then
Day 11 Blue Mountains. Drive back to Sydney pm.
Days 12 & 13 - Sydney

As I said, this is just an idea - and will depend on airline schedules and your group' stamina.

You will not need or want a car in Sydney or Melbourne. You will need one in Cairns BUT NOT on the day you arrive. You need a good night's sleep before getting behind the wheel in a strange country. If your Melbourne days includes a Great Ocean Road trip, I think you'd be best to do a (long) day tour. You don't have time to see Melbourne and so a safe & pleasant 2-3 day self drive trip.

Use Webjet or Skyscanner to check routes & schedules
Or the airline websites
Qantas - full service
Virgin - full service
Jetstar ( low cost Qantas subsidiary - watch out for add-on costs)

I'm not sure of /can't remember your dates - but be aware that we have school holidays in July.

Bokhara2

Sorry - wasn't crystal clear about Canberra, Blue Mountains.

Days 8 &9 Canberra

What I should have said was that you could drive from Canberra to the Blue Mountains if you had BM on your Itinerary. If you go via the expressway, it's about 30 mins longer than Canberra - Sydney.
So about 4 hours. Google is too optimistic in its timings IME.

Otherwise, you could do a day trip via train from Sydney. You can't get a direct train from Canberra to the Blue Mountains.

See my notes about school holiday dates, because if your dates coincide with the last days of the holidays, traffic coming back into Sydney can be very heavy.

Bokhara2

School holidays here

http://www.australia.gov.au/about-au...ool-term-dates

If you give us your dates, we may be able to help with more suggestions

suchda

Thanks bokhara2 for such a great idea. I think it will fit my present plan as you mentioned. By doing this, I will have enough time to visit those sites in one trip..although from Sydney-Cairns after 15 hours flight, a little bit too long. But, on the other hand, we will save some time doing this. I really appreciate all your help.
After talking to kids and changing some time with my travel agent, we finalized our arrival date at Sydney on August 6, 2018 at 7 am and return from Sydney on August 18 at 2:30 pm.
Please suggest....

suchda

Dear bokhara2

I've going over the finalizing my trip to Australia in next summer. Arrive at Sydney at 9 am. Rent a car at the airport..
Driving to Blue Mountains - spend 1N
Driving from BM to Canberra - spend 2N
Driving from CAN to Gipsy Point - spend 1N
From GP driving to Philip Island - spend 1N
From Philip Island driving to Melbourne - spend 3N
Take a flight from Melbourne to Sydney - spend 4N before our departure.

Now, I need to decide whether I should spend 2N while driving from Canberra to Melbourne on the scenic oceanic route or take a flight from Canberra to Melbourne and spend these 2N on Great Ocean road trip.

Thanks !

Bokhara2

As per the advice on TA - please DON'T walk off your long international flight & into a rental car.

Strange country, driving on the left, new road rules, unaccustomed car & driving position + jet lag = Very Bad Idea.

Either take a train to the Blue Mountains or spend the day & night in Sydney.

I would fly Canberra to Melbourne. If you get a flight to Avalon airport instead of Tullamarine, you're an hour along the road to the Great Ocean Road.

suchda

Dear Dear All (Bokhara2, Melnq8, gemmapurcell and others )

I've few questions for you :

1. Found that Greyhound Australia services directly from SYDNEY airport to Canberra. Will be a good idea to take this bus for my family to go to Canberra after arrival at SYD at 9 am. or should I go to Sydney city and spend a night over there before take the train/bus to Canberra ?

2. As we're visiting in the Australian winter time, should we skip Melbourne and visit the warmer northern Cairns (GBR) instead of GOR in the South ?

3. If we take the Great Ocean Road trip for 2N3D from Melbourne - where we should make our 2 nights stay on the way of GOR trip ?

4. If we include the Philip island visit, is it possible a day trip or need to stay at Cowes for a night to see the Penguins Parade ?

Any other suggestions for this 11N12days trip for our family to Australia in the summer of 2018 ?

Thank you All.

Nnlsbin

I would personally skip Melbourne and spend more time in the North but I hate cold weather and just got back from an awesome week in Port Douglas so may be somewhat biased.

I would go with the plan Bokhara2 put above

Day 1: Arrive in Sydney AM & take a connecting flight to Cairns.

Days 1-4 Cairns/Port Douglas.(3 nights )
Evening Day 4 - Cairns - Melbourne (3 nights )
Day 5 -7 Melbourne

Day 8 - early AM fly Melbourne to Canberra. Rent a car at Canberra airport. (2 nights)

Day 10: Drive Canberra - Sydney (4 Nights)

Day 11 -13 Sydney
Day 14 - SYD-JFK

But maybe drive to Sydney via the Blue mountains.

This trip allows you to see a lot of the East Coast of Australia and isn't too rushed.

northie

Re penguins - they come in at dusk so depending on time of year. We were there in March , penguins came in about 7 and it rained so heavily we were soaked . It's 2 hour drive - you can drive yourself or go in a tour bus - either way it's 4 hour travel.

suchda

Thank you all for your great suggestions and comments.
I really appreciate your help.

elbegewa

If you're still working on your budget, my wife and I spent 30 days in Australia and New Zealand during very early Australian spring (cheaper than other times).

We're mid 70's, frugal when we can be, but not sometimes, for us food is body fuel rather than something special so food & drink is less than for many). We just did the post-mortem accounting for our trip

For 30 nights in hotels, (3 star, not looking for luxury but not scrimping) ave. AU$ $198/nt = US$ 150/nt

For all other expenses NOT incl. airfare, (incl. food - all in restaurants - many hotels & B&B had breakfast included in with the room, some tours & excursions, souvenirs, local transportation, etc. ave. AU$ 273/day = US $207/day

We could have gotten by for less, especially if we hadn't taken $2,000 worth of tours (GBR, Milford Sound, bike in Sydney, guide in Tasmania, bike in Queenstown) which are included in the above averages

I'm posting a trip report (gradually) Here are the first 3 of 8 parts:
1. Overview: http://leebruch.blogspot.com/2017/10...-overview.html

2. Sydney: http://leebruch.blogspot.com/2017/11...-2-sydney.html

3. Uluru: http://leebruch.blogspot.com/2017/11...t-3-uluru.html