Family itinerary for Dec - please critique
 

My family and I (2 adults, 3 children - 16, 14, 11) will be vacationing in Australia for Christmas. Here is our itinerary - we appreciate any and all feedback. By the way - I have read many postings about the heat and the flies at Uluru - for what it's worth - my husband and I grew up in the U.S. in south Georgia where the heat, humidity, and the gnats are horrendous in the summer!! Also - our return flight out of Melbourne cannot be changed to Sydney - no more available seats out of Sydney.

Dec 21 - arrive in Sydney
Dec 22 - fly to Cairns
Dec 22 - 25, day trip to the reef, Daintree National Park, free time on the beach
Dec 26 - fly to Ayers Rock, walk around Uluru, Sounds of Silence dinner, overnight in Ayers Rock
Dec 27 - sunrise at Uluru, Kata Tjuta, rent 4WD and drive to Kings Canyon (or is there a tour for this?)
Dec 28 - drive from Kings Canyon to Alice Springs
Dec 29 - Alice Springs Desert Park, sunset camel ride and dinner at the camel farm
Dec 30 - fly to Sydney
Dec 31 - Sydney Opera House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Taronga Zoo, see fireworks display in Sydney
Jan 1 - depends on what is open
Jan 2 - day trip to the Blue Mountains - maybe Featherdale animal park
Jan 3 - Darling Harbour, Sydney Aquarium
Jan 4 - fly to Melbourne for return flight

whatley5,
You can do a tour to Kings Canyon from Uluru.
When in Cairns, consider the Atherton Taablelands if you want to see wildlife in the wild. Best done early morning, late afternoon and in the evening.

Looks like an interesting itinerary! Only addition I could make is when you go to the Sydney Aquarium, go later in the day/early evening (check first for open times at that time of year). It is very crowded in the daytime, but at 5ish, we only had a light crowd and no waiting to get to the viewing tunnels (which are way-cool IMHO) The part with the huge fish tank and classical music playing was awesome. You'll love Australia!
Sally in Seattle

Can you be wait-listed for a flight out of Sydney? A lot can change in terms of availability in the interval until your return flight. Check with your airline.

Clark Griswald would be proud of you.