At Mina's suggestion, I have reposted my trip report as one thread instead of 3. Here goes:<BR><BR>Hi!<BR>I promised to report back on my month-long semi-solo Australian adventure so here goes:<BR><BR>I started off in Sydney and stayed in w/friends for 6 days. As my friends had to work, I bought an Explorer pass for the bus and ferry. I found it a great way to get acclimated, see the highlights of the city, and it allows you to get on/off at any stop and reboard the next bus. I almost talked myself out of the Bridge Climb but did it and no, it really wasn't scary, just great views and lots of fun! While you're in Sydney, make sure you take the ferry to Watson's Bay and Vaucluse. Manly was fun place to walk around on a Sunday: crafts fair, the beach, fish and chips, etc. I liked Taronga Zoo--even if you're not into caged animals, the view of the city is stunning. I can't remember all the places I ate but loved Sailor's Thai on George St.(thanks Mina!), MG Garage in Surrey Hills...the ANA Building had awesome views from their bar (41st floor??), I recommend you go up there one night...Cruise Bar, next to Doyle's on the harbor, had a fun after work crowd. Great views and try the Caprioskas. I shopped in the beautiful QVB building and the Pitt Street Mall as well as the shops around the Rocks. I enjoyed the Australian Museum and the Sydney Jewish Museum too. My friends took me to Katoomba in the Blue Mtns--very scenic and cold that weekend, nonetheless was glad we went. <BR>

My next stop was Adelaide and stayed at the Grosvenor on North Terrace. It was convenient and clean. Adelaide is a cute little city and very underrated. I liked it. North Adelaide is nice, the Barossa wine tours fun and Kangaroo Island was just a 30min. flight away. I loved KI! Within 5 min. of leaving the airport, our tour guide showed us koalas up in their trees and we saw lots of other animals after that. It's not called Kangaroo Island for nothing! If you like animals and nature and aren't looking for nightlife (except seeing fairy penguins!), you'll totally enjoy yourself. I did a 2day/1night tour w/Adventure Charters and highly recommend them. Try to stay at the Stranraer Homestead, it's a beautiful B&B and the owner is a professionally trained chef!<BR><BR>From Adelaide, I flew to Darwin. Tons of backpackers and cheap accom. My travel agent booked me into the Frontier Hotel. It was adequate(tourist class hotel) but I'd probably stay somewhere closer to the Esplanade next time. My travel agent also booked my day tours of Kakadu and Litchfield w/APT. If I were to do it over again, at minimum, I'd stay overnight in Kakadu and book w/a smaller operator. APT has clean, comfortable coaches and knowledgeable drivers but they can't take you to any sites off the paved road. Their tours seem geared for somewhat older/more sedentary travellers than myself (I'm 36 and active). Kakadu would've been a great place to join a camping tour. <BR><BR>

After Darwin, I spent a week in Pt. Douglas and 2 nights in Cairns. I totally fell in love w/Pt. Douglas but wasn't wowed by Cairns. Port is a great little beach town but w/more to offer than that. It's basically where the reef meets the rainforest. I stayed at the Portsea, a property only about a year old (and has direct beach access). It was a 10min. walk to the heart of town but if you were feeling lazy, there were also shuttle buses. I went on a Daintree/Cape Trib tour. (Sorry Mina, I allowed my travel agent to book that and missed out on David Armbrust's tour. I wish I had listened to you.) I was only able to snorkle once (weather wasn't the greatest that week) and went w/Wavelength. I'd recommend them. I really liked that it was a small group of just snorklers and that they had a marine biologist on board that goes w/you at the 2nd site and explains what you're seeing. (Thanks, Carolyn for the advice). I had yummy dinners at Salsa and Lime (same owners, as it turns out). I found Sassi to be overpriced. I tried Morton Bay Bugs at On the Inlet and loved them. (They look and taste like lobster-yum!) Watching the Cane Toad races at Iron Bar was a hoot. The owner Clancy is Pt. Douglas's answer to Crocodile Dundee. I had a delicious facial at Sanctum and a pedicure there too. (Oh, in Cairns I did the Kuranda/Tjapukai Aboriginal Park skyrail/train combo. Although the Tjapukai is very touristy, I found it to be educational.)<BR><BR>My original plan was to be in Australia for 3 wks but was having too good of a time and stayed 4. That allowed me to stay in Pt. Douglas a bit longer and go to Melbourne for a couple of days. I did one of those tourist bus tours in Melbourne too. I walked through the Victoria Markets (go hungry!) and visited St. Kilda (I bought a really nice painting from a lovely Polish immigrant at the Sunday crafts fair). A friend I met in my travels took me to the upmarket Chinese restaurant in the Casino--very good, gourmet Chinese food w/prices to match.<BR>

I did not use the Boomerang Pass for any of my internal flights. I found it considerably cheaper to book online using Qantas' website (use your hotel or a dummy local address as it won't go through w/a foreign address.) I used a local US travel agent (who's an 'Aussie Specialist') to book hotels and some tours but think I could have done just as good a job, if not better, on my own. In addition, I bought guidebooks and found them to be useful, but I think the single most helpful internet resource was this message board. Thanks to all the posters who helped make my trip an outstanding one!<BR><BR>Debbie<BR><BR>PS If anyone (especially a woman) is contemplating travelling alone in Australia, go for it! I met tons of wonderful people and had tons of fun. And I felt safe! This was not my first solo trip but it was my longest

Mina--<BR>The Daintree tour I did was through The Adventure Company. It wasn't a bad tour, I just got the impression that David Armbrust's is just more special. Adventure Company have 4wd vehicles that hold about 15-16 ppl. which stay only on paved road. On the particular day I went, Adventure Co. had 4-5 identical vehicles on the road, all doing the same tour. I thought I was going w/out w/a small group but it didn't feel like that when 4 Adv. Co. pulled up to the same stops and every group was pretty much running at the same pace. I should add that other companies do a similiar Daintree/Cape Tribulation tour as Adv. Co. as I saw other marked 4wd vehicles in a couple of spots. I don't want to knock Adv. Co., because the driver was nice, knowledgeable and professional and the vehicles adequate. The tour itself was delivered as advertised. I just want people to know that you will likely see another 40+ people doing the exact same thing as you at the same time. (Adv. Co. even has it's own permanently erected lunch tent and all the groups eat togethter.) David Armbrust's tour sounds more unique and allows you to experience spots that other tourists do not. It is for that reason, I would like to experience his tour next time and go off the beaten path...I even asked my hotel conceirges (sp?) about it but neither of them knew of David Armbrust. I guess he doesn't advertise w/all the hotels and relies on word of mouth and the internet to get clients.<BR><BR>Deb

Hey Debbie...<BR><BR>I'm not surprised your hotel didn't know about him. I think Silky Oaks recommmends him because he did a "regular" tour for a local company for years. Either way, at least you got to see the rainforest. Although, from what you said, it does seem far different from the tour I took. But different doesn't always mean worse...I think it would have been fun to meet 40 other people!<BR><BR>Sounds like overall you had a good time. I'm in the process of planning my two month jaunt to Spain and Italy...but when I read posts such as yours, I always think I should make a mad dash back to Australia instead. Hmmm...

You're right, Mina, it was fun mixing w/a bunch of people. I met a lovely family from Sydney and tried speaking to the Germans and Swiss who made up the rest of my group. Let me just tell you, I didn't get very far w/the German language! I'm surprised I didn't say something insulting by accident! Meeting others is half the fun of travelling...by the way, I'm trying to figure out a way to teach a year in Australia on an exchange. Loved it that much!! Have fun planning your Spain and Italy trip! Latin men are something else ;-)