I have the chance to go to Australia in Dec/Jan. This is the high season as you know, but I don't NOT want to go because of this! Two weeks...hot and crowded but okay by me. <BR> <BR>I am thinking of flying into Sydney, then immediately flying off to Adelaide for a look at some wineries, Chateau Yaldara and Bungaree sheep stations... then driving north up Stuart Highway through Coober Pedy to Alice Springs/Ayers Rock for three days of camping/hiking. <BR> <BR>Flying out of Alice Springs to Cairns, driving to and around Port Douglas and Daintree and Myall Beach before flying back to Sydney home. <BR> <BR>Has anyone done this and/or can make suggestions about certain points along the way? <BR> <BR>Is the Cairns area really impassable in an SUV because of the wet season and I shouldn't plan on it, or should I go further south to see the area and GBReef? <BR> <BR>Thank you in advance! <BR> <BR>

Dec/Jan is not the "high" season in central and northern parts. Its the low season in the centre (ie Alice/Ayers) because of the intense heat and in the north (Cairns area) because of the heat humidity and rainfall. <BR>Sydney is great in january - warm weather, balmy evenings, festival season and great beach weather. <BR>You seem to be trying to achieve a lot in just 2 weeks, the distance are huge. Maybe you should stick to southern parts and leave the centre and north for another time.

Thank you Matt!~ <BR> <BR>That is what I was afraid of... I can't get over HOW big the continent is...I even cut down what I thought I could do, being a road warrior. <BR> <BR>What I want to see is it varied, dry desert to camp in, lush rainforests to hike and wine regions to sample wine from old vines and ocean drives to whale watch? <BR> <BR>In short I'm no worse than any other first timer, I want to see it all in two weeks which might as well be thirty seconds, considering how big it is. <BR> <BR>If money were not an issue but time were(2 weeks), and I could fly between points and rent a SUV for a few days in each stopping off place in January, what would you suggest as the best way to do this? <BR> <BR>I wish I could take two trips, but my next year is devoted to North Africa and France for business and goodness knows if I'll ever get back! <BR> <BR>Wendy

Wendy - w/ just 2 weeks to spare I would maybe skip the Cairns/Pt. Douglas portion - if you are intent on seeing Coober Pedy then driving might be your best option (??)on the way to Ayers Rock. Both are going to be scorchingly hot during the day. If you want to see more of the country, then don't drive. The spaces are huge and swallow hours of time - which you don't have to spare. Keep in mind that Ayers Rock is about a 5 hr drive from Alice Springs. I would skip Alice and fly directly to the resort. Cairns & the Daintree will have a good chance of being wet, but I don't think it will be impassable. Most people visit the GBR from either Cairns/Pt. Douglas - but as mentioned above, this could be a bust due to bad weather. Hard to predict. W/ 2 weeks during that time of year (and using the cities you mentioned as a guide), I would spend 3 days each in Sydney, Adelaide & surrounds (maybe a day or 2 in the wineries and a day at Kangaroo Island??), & Ayers Rock. That allows for some travel time between. Have fun.

Hi Wendy, <BR>Would have to agree that Dec/Jan is not the best time for Far Nth Qld. Spend a few days in Sydney - stay somewhere central (eg Darling Harbour or the Rocks). Three/four days will give you a nice taste of the city and take advantage of its beautiful harbour. <BR>Adelaide is a great choice for wineries - why not stay somewhere like the Adelaide Hills or perhaps McLaren Vale - there are some lovely old B&Bs - and great old wineries. These areas offer more "boutique" wineries to the more touristy Barossa region. <BR>You can find red desert dust about an hour out of Adelaide - and Coober Pedy is another world away, but if you want the most bizarre "frontier" experience that is a great way to get it. It is a fair drive from Adelaide though. <BR>If you arent wanting to waste too much time travelling, have you thought of staying closer to Adelaide - eg. The Flinders Ranges or perhaps Kangaroo Island? <BR>There are camping/hiking options available in these areas and you should be able to find info from somewhere like the South Australian Tourism organisation. <BR>

WOW! Thank you for taking time to give me the much needed valuable insight! Back to the maps to re think this...with all of your suggestions in tow! <BR> <BR>Wendy

Dear Wendy, <BR>If you want to see wine areas, the Hunter Valley is only a two hour drive from Sydney, but you would need a hire car or go on a tour. <BR>I think you would get more out of the trip by cutting down the miles - stay longer in Sydney, and have a trip to the Blue Mountains or the Vineyards of the Hunter Valley. Forget Adelaide this time.The Blue Mountains has an enormous variation in plants, and there's a great walk down 1000 steps, across the valley and up the steepest rack railway in the world. <BR> <BR>I've done a bus camping trip to Alice Springs, Ayers Rock, Coober Pedy etc in Jan. and it was mighty hot - 110degrees sometimes. But there is no humidity and it was not unpleasant. The Red Centre is not crowded. <BR> <BR>You can email me at [email protected] if you like. I live in Newcastle, on the coast, two hours from Sydney. <BR>

Unless you really want to see Coober Pedy, you could probably fit the other 3 places in your itinerary by flying between Adelaide and Alice. (as far as desert and red dirt goes, Coober Pedy doesn't look that unlike the area around Ayers Rock - but if you're after bizarre bush towns with plenty of characters, it might be a good choice). And when you consider the distances and price of petrol, you'll come close to saving money by flying.