We are travelling to New Zealand/Fiji/Cook Islands in July/August and have 8 days in Australia en route.
We arrive Brisbane and depart Sydney 8 days later. We have researched the forum and are considering the following:
#1 spending 4 days travelling from Brisbane down to Sydney by rental car and then 4 days in Sydney
#2 spending first 4 days in areas surrounding Brisbane and then fly down to Sydney for last 4 days.
We appreciate our time is very short. We are totally open to any alternate suggestions or any suggestions within #1 & 2 above.
By the way thanks to all the regular posters who take so much time with all your advice.

Hi. iecork!

I would usually be the first to say, forget the plane, hire a car and see something of the country... however, I am not sure that I would count the normal Brisbane-Sydney route as seeing much of Australia! There are some pleasant areas, sure -- but there are also miles and miles of ugly freeways, and, unless you make a point of heading off the main road and going towards the ocean, you will scarcely get a glimpse of water for most of the run. Add to that the fact that there are so many air fare specials going on at the moment -- for instance right now, on Virginblue, you can book a one-way from Brisbane to Newcastle for $AUD48 -- and I really think that you might be wise to fly, using your four days to check out the areas around southern Queensland.

Most people come to Australia for the sun and ocean, but if you do decide to drive from Brisbane to Sydney, it might be more interesting to get away from the traffic-heavy tourist route and go by the inland Tenterfield-Glen Innes- Armidale-Tamworth-Scone route. No water, but a lot of country towns that don't usually see tourists, and that's the way to experience the real Australia. Either way, four days is perhaps a bit much.... you will probably feel, when you get to Sydney, that there's so much to do and see that you wished you had arrived a day sooner.

By the way, that crazy fare from Brisbane to Newcastle will be gone in just a couple of hours, so if you do like that idea, I wouldn't hesitate for a moment. Our air fares are so volatile at the moment that who can tell what you willbe asked to pay if you wait until August to make your bookings?

ieCork: I agree with Alan in a lot of ways, though I think you should drive part way down the coast and then fly to Sydney. SE Queensland (avoiding the Gold Coast) and Northern NSW is a part of Australia not to be missed in my opinion, especially some of the inland areas around Mt Warning and Lamington Nat'l Park.

I've done the inland route Alan suggests several times - again, unless you divert a little here and there, there is not much to see. A lot of very typical Australian countryside but that can be enjoyable, especially if you've never been before.

One very interesting possibility would be to spend a day in Brisbane and then head south and then SW along the Mt Lindsay Hwy to Stanthorpe. (The Mt Lindsay Hwy is not a hwy in the sense of being a divided road - in fact it is unsealed for 30 km or so). It is a very scenic drive. Stop at the base of Mt Barney along the way, a short distance off the main road - a great sight. Outside Stanthorpe is Bald Rock and Girraween Nat'l park with their incredible rock formations and wildlife. Bald Rock is kind of a granite version of Ayers Rock, well worth a look-see and a climb. From Stanthorpe, you would then drive south for a short stretch along the main inland road Alan recommended and then at Tenterfield, head to Byron Bay on the norhern NSW coast. Byron is a magnificent spot, though I worry that's now been "discovered" as it were. Do the lovely walk along the cliffs from the lighthouse - panoramic views in all directions.

You could then fly down to Sydney from Ballina, a short way south of Byron.

Thanks Alan & RalphR,
Couldn't get any of the $48 flights to Newcastle but can get one to Sydney for $75. No flights from Ballina Byron until 5 Aug. If we go for the flight option what do you suggest for the 4 days in Brisbane hinterland??
If we go for the drive can we do Byron + your inland route + some of Hunter Valley in the 4 days?? (We can drive from one end of Ireland to the other in one day!!!)

Cork: A lot of ways to skin the cat as they say. You should be able to fit the Hunter Valley in, either en route to Sydney or backtracking from there:

#1 Fly in and out of Brisbane. I would highly recommend a trip inland to Lamington National Park. Perhaps an overnight at the lodge at Binna Burra or O'Reilly's (the immediate view from O'Reilly's is spectacular). Lots of birds and wildlife and some nice walks through rainforest. Maybe another drive south to Byron Bay, coming or going skirt the Gold Coast by heading inland at Nerang and heading south through the Numinbah valley...very beautiful, plus you could see the Natural Arch along the way. If you like to hike, an excellent one is up Mt Warning (near Murwillumbah), though this will take a whole afternoon.

#2 O'Reilly's Guesthouse (near Canunga)is sort of on the way to the Mt Lindsay Hwy. Therefore, you could fly into Brisbane, o'night at O'Reilly's, continue on to Stanthorpe via the Mt Lindsay Hwy, cut back to Byron, then back track to Coolangatta and fly to Sydney from there. Alternatively back track all the way to Brisbane on the main hwy. BTW, I have friends that operate a very nice B&B in Stanthorpe - Google "Beverlea Vineyard Stanthorpe" and check it out. Also BTW...if you want to avoid unsealed roads, you can get to Stanthorpe via Warwick on the New England Hwy - some beautiful country as you go through Cunningham's Gap, but otherwise not as pretty.

#3 Go to O'Reilly's o'night there, then Stanthorpe on Mt Lindsay Hwy. See Bald Rock and/or Girraween and continue south on the New England Hwy (the inland route). This will bring you though/near the Hunter Valley en route to Sydney.

#4 See Lamington, then go Numinbah/Byron cut inland to Tenterfield, see Bald Rock Rock, head south on New England Hwy to Hunter Valley and Sydney.

#5 Ignore all that.

Number #4 looks the most attractive to me, though there is added driving..you might want to borrow a day from Sydney for the Hunter Valley, instead of counting it against Brisbane and environs.

Hope this all makes sense and you have access to a map to know what the hell I've been talking about!

Given that you are travelling in July/August - our winter and traditionally when the cold westerly winds blow, realize that Brisbane and the Sunshine/Gold coasts, and Byron Bay may be cool to warm - about 22 degrees C if it's sunny. The Lamington national park, Tenterfield and south to Sydney will be FREEZING!!! Just warning you so you'll know to pack summer things for Fiji and Cook Islands, but very warm jumpers and jackets for the southern places.

You will be seeing beaches in Fiji and Cook, but smaller than the stretches in Australia and with different vegetation. Do you want sea-sights or inland country?

Recommend a day on the beautiful Sunshine Coast 1 1/4 hours north of Brisbane, where you can drive around the beaches from Mooloolaba to Noosa, then loop back through the hinterland via Montville and Maleny and back to Bris easily in a day. Then a day in Brisbane - do a city tour, walk over Goodwill bridge to Southbank and walk around there. Drive to O'Reilly's for freezing but beautiful guided walks in rainforest, birds etc. (Really highly recommend O'Reilly's). Stay at least 1 night there, then either on to Stanthorpe and back to either Coolangatta or Bris for flight to Sydney. You could stay 1 night at Burleigh on the Gold Coast, and have dinner at Oscar's restaurant looking right up the loooong beach to Surfer's Paradise.

Personally, I think the inland drive is a bit boring - very long and the towns are just small country towns with not a great deal for the tourist, especially one from Ireland - the country may look familiar, but not so green!

It takes 2 days to drive from Bris to Sydney - only 12-14 hours really, but that's solid driving. We drove the coast road once and stayed at Angourie near the beach, had dinner at Yamba (The big Oyster),then stayed at Tea Gardens just north of Sydney (many places to stay along the beach from here to Sydney). The highway follows the Clarence river south of Gold Coast with many sugar cane fields for miles south to Ballina and you can detour off the main road to see the beaches eg at Byron Bay, Yamba etc on the way to Sydney, and you can then stay in the Hunter valley for the wineries. Don't take the coast road if you are in a hurry - be prepared to amble along.

While in Sydney spend a day in the Blue Mountains.

I've been to Lamington many times in the winter. Days are typically lovely, a little cool high up. I'd be very surprised if it ever freezes there but it does get somewhat cold further south. We stayed o'night at Glen Innes a couple of years ago. It was freezing at night, but the days weren't bad at all.

We stayed at Binna Burra two years ago in August and are staying there again at the end of July. It will be cool - downright cold at night - but Lamington Nat'l Park & the Hinterland is (IMHO) a magical area not to be missed.