Hi everyone,

Just found your great forum this morning and hoped that you wouldnt mind commenting on our plans - any suggestions for improvement more than welcome!

should probably say my boyfriend and I are in our 30's - no kids.

leave Edinburgh go via Manchester, Singapore and Sydney .

arrive Sydney 31 Oct and stay for 4 nights
fly to Melbourne and stay 2 nights
fly to Cairns and stay 3 nights
fly to Brisbane and stay 4 nights
fly to Fiji and stay 5 nights
fly to Sydney and stay 2 nights
head home 20 Nov (but dont want to think of that.)

all flights booked with Virginblue

Hotels booked so far -

Sydney Harbour Marriott (start and the end)
Brisbane Marroitt (city centre)

still to book hotels for Melb, Cairns, Fiji.

Havent started researching activities in each place yet but we want to see as much as we can. Might hire cars as we drive on the same side of the road which must make life easier!

Thoughts so far anyone?

HUGE thanks in advance for any input.

M
x

Hi, marie_scotland!

Your itinerary sounds just great so far... I don't think I could come up with anything to improve on it. I mainly replied, not to offer help, but just to say that I visited your home town this time last year, and I think it's just the most wonderful place! I guess we may have been lucky getting there in festival time (a fluke! we didn't plan that), but I reckon Edinburgh is as good as any city in Europe I have ever visited.

Well, that doesn't help much with your itinerary... so what can I add? The Harbour Marriott is one of the best-located hotels in Sydney, especially if you get a harbour view.... you are only two minutes' walk from the Circular Quay ferries, which are absolutely the best way to see Sydney. Plan a full day exploring the harbour with these ferries. Also try to visit the Blue Mountains, which can be done comfortably in a single day by train, if you leave reasonably early (say, by the 8:03 a.m. train).

You have given a lot of time to Brisbane -- probably more than it warrants -- but it's such a pleasant, sunny city that you will probably just lie back and enjoy its slower pace. You will have time to visit the Gold Coast, which is only a few kilonmtres south of Brisbane, and is very popular.... but before you go there, make inquiries as to whether Schoolies Week (really, it runs for about a month)has begun. If your visit will coincide with this annual event, which sees the place overrun by school leavers just finishing their final exams, then my advice to you is to head in the other direction (no, that's no good... they head for the northern beaches, too; head INLAND. For more information on this pleasant part of the Brisbane surrounds, I'm sure LizF will be along any time now). You MAY just be a couple of days too early for Schoolies Week, but I'm really not sure. It might be wise to check this website just before you leave Cairns: http://accommodation.schoolies.org.a...olies-week.htm.

For the other cities, I will let more-knowledgeable minds give their advice... but, honestly, I think you are in for the holiday of a lifetime. What a great time of year you have picked!

Alan, thanks for your post. Glad you enjoyed Edinburgh - hope you got to see a lot more of Scotland. Festival time is here again and Edinburgh is busier than ever. Hope your weather last year was better than it is just now - tail end of Hurricane Charley wont leave us alone!

Thanks for the link re schoolies week - I will watch it like a hawk - sounds like a nightmare for us! We will be leaving Brisbane on the 13th Nov so hopefully we will miss them all. I am sure they are all little angels really!

Agree that we may have a couple of nights too many in Brisbane but it was a nightmare trying to get all the flights to tie in together - very restricted by the flights to Fiji.

We are meeting up with a guy I was at school with about 16 yrs ago and now lives in Sydney so I will see if I can persuade him to take us to the Blue Mountains. He has offered to show us things off the tourist track so this might be ideal!

Thanks again Alan - really appreciate you taking the time to reply!

Marie.

Hi Marie

As far as Fiji is concerned, I would recommend Navini Island just off the coast of Nadi. They have 24/7 transfers so no time is wasted in hanging around for transfers.

Very friendly island with great staff. An excellent snorkling reef surrounds the island so you can see great tropical fish underwater only 30 feet from your bure's front door. It is a small place only 10 bures but it does not have the "exclusive" pricetag.

Hope this helps

Steve

Hi, marie,
I think I am pretty safe in saying that Schoolies Week starts last week in November, first week in December. My sister lives in Surfers, and says the local residents hate this time. A strong reason for NOT visiting Surfers at this time.
For accommodation in Cairns why not try Lilybank B&B? We have not stayed there but many people on this forum site recommend it, and we are looking at it for next year as it looks and sounds great.
If you prefer a hotel my husband and I can recommend the Country Comfort Outrigger hotel located on the edge of the CBD - 5-10 minutes walk into the centre of town but quiet.
You might consider dropping one day in Brisbane and adding it to Cairns as there is so much to explore in Cairns and most require a day to do so. Some suggestions are Cape Tribulation, Atherton Tablelands, the Great Barrier Reef, Undara Lava Tubes, Kuranda to name but a few. I would recommend the half-day familiarisation tour of Cairns - you visit some great places of interest that are made more interesting by local guides and their knowledge. We are shortly visiting Cairns for the second year in a row, and are already planning next year's trip!
Whatever you do enjoy your time in Australia - we do.

Hi, Marie,
forgot to include a couple of websites I use when planning our time in Brisbane and Cairns.
www.tropicalaustralia.com.au is the site for the Visitors Information Centre in Cairns who have been so helpful. They organise bookings, supply information via email or post, and take a lot of the pressure off holiday preparation.
www.ourbrisbane.com/visitors/
www.queenslandholidays.com.au are both sites I have found really useful info on.
Hope they help you.

Thanks for your replies - just off to visit the different sites just now and will report back when I get further things organised.

Thanks again - I really appreciate your help!

Marie

Hello Marie,

I would recommend a minimum of 3 full days (not counting travel time) in which to see Sydney. If you could spare an extra day to do a day trip to the Blue Mountains, that would be nice. So that means at least 5 nights in Sydney, which you fortunately have allocated.

I love Melbourne, but in my opininon it takes 3 - 4 full days to do Melbourne and its surroundings justice. You need 1 day to see the city centre, you need another day to visit the Dandenong Ranges and Yarra Valley to the east of Melbourne, and you need at least one day (but more ideally 2 days) to drive the Great Ocean Road. With 2 nights in Melbourne, you'll have only 1 full day. I don't think it's worth taking the flight to Melbourne for that. You would be much better off allocating the 2 Melbourne nights to Cairns, which brings me to my next point.....

As Dotty said, there is heaps to do in the Cairns area. Three nights is grossly inadequate. Three nights gives you only 2 full days there. It takes pretty much a whole day to go out to the Great Barrier Reef. But the weather conditions may make the sea too choppy for boats on your preferred day. You need to be able to switch to a land based activity, such as a tropical rainforest tour (another all-day activity), if you cannot get out to sea. So you need a couple of back up days to allow you to postpone the GBR to another day.

If the weather cooperates, this is how you might consider spending your time in Far North Queensland (FNQ):

Day 1 - GBR

Day 2 - Tour of rainforest between Daintree River and Cape Tribulation (a guide will make the rainforest and mangrove ecosystems more fascinating than a self-drive experience)

Day 3 - Trip to Kuranda on the edge of the Atherton Tableland (recommend Sky Rail in one direction and regular train in the other direction)

Day 4 - Some other cultural / wildlife / fun activity, from which there is an almost unlimited selection to choose. Also could be used for pure relaxation. Also could serve as a back up day for GBR.

I consider 5 nights the minimum that one should spend in Cairns. You could get the 5 nights if you axed Melbourne. If you deducted 1 night from Brisbane and added it to FNQ, you could spend Days 4 and 5 in FNQ on an overnight trip to the Undara Lava Tubes.

Four nights in Brisbane would be fine but, as Alan intimated, you could get by with less. If you're pinched for time, you could consider 3 nights (2 full days) in Brisbane.

I've never been to Fiji, so cannot comment on that portion of your trip. However, I am a bit mystified as to why you're planning to return via Sydney. It's not as if a stop in Sydney would adequately break up your long flight back to Scotland. Sydney is still a long way from home for you. I'm wondering why you don't break the return journey in a place that more closely represents a half way point for you. But maybe you will have another stop en route to Scotland that you haven't mentioned to us. Anyway, if it was my trip, I think I would lump all the Sydney nights together at the beginning of the trip.

Hope this helps.

Hi dotty - just noticed your mention of the half-day City Sights Plus...Cairns trip - did you go with Andrew? That has to be the best-value trip and ideal for newcomers to familiarise themselves with area. Andrew and his sidekick, David are walking encyclopedias on the local flora, fauna and history of the place. Fantastic value at AUD$56 for about 6 hours - they don't have a website, its Cairns Discovery Tours - brochure available at any tour desk - has a pink heliconia flower (known as Sexy Pink) on the front with a sunbird perched on it. Every guest I've booked on this trip has been delighted.

Hi Marie,

You might want to take a look at this post regarding Brisbane:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...p;tid=34523805

Sounds like you have a wonderful trip planned!

John in Miami

wow!

fantastic replies - just wish I had found this site before booking all my flights.

I will definitely squash in as many of the trips mentioned as possible - we always try and get a city tour everywhere we go and they are definitely worth whatever money they cost - always easier once you get your bearings. Will see if I can maybe shorten the Brisbane stay by a day or so - but from Mr Miami's thread there still seems like plenty to do in Brisbane.

Our flight to Scotland returns from Sydney and I thought it would be wise to say cheerio to an old school friend who lives in Sydney before returning home (via Singapore, Frankfurt then Edinburgh).

I think the main message I am taking from all of the postings is that there is loads to do in all parts of Oz which is just excellent! This will definitely be my first trip to Oz but hopefully wont be my last...... and I know where I will be coming for advice BEFORE I make ANY travel plans.

You are great people - really appreciate you taking the time to post etc - just hope that I can do the same if you ever plan a trip 'over here'.

Marie
x

Hi, Pat,
Yes we did go with Cairns Discovery Tours, with David as our guide, and it was awesome. Would strongly recommend this crowd to anyone. I need to go on the tour again because I can't remember the names of the little green birds we saw in the cemetery, or the hill we drove up (which has a wonderful selection of Madagascar palms at the start) to find a wonderful view out across Cairns and the sea, and these photos feel neglected!

Hello Marie,

If you are confined to 2 nights in Melbourne, and it sounds as if you are, you'll need to make a decision about how to spend your time there. As I see it, you have a few options, from which you'll have to choose, depending on your taste:

(1) Melbourne's central business district (CBD) and Southbank, just across the Yarra River from the CBD.

(2) The Great Ocean Road

(3) The Dandenong Ranges and Yarra Valley east of Melbourne

First of all, I strongly recommend you stay in a hotel in the CBD or Southbank. With only one full day in Melbourne, it'll be more efficient to be centrally located.

Inspite of having lived in Melbourne for 2-1/2 years, I've never stayed in a hotel in Melbourne. I see you've booked at Marriotts in Sydney and Brisbane. If you like the Marriott chain, the Marriott property in Melbourne is at the corner of Lonsdale and Exhibition Streets, which is a convenient spot (central location, conveniently located with respect to the main sights and also to restaurants). But if you want to do more research on hotels, do a word search here at Fodors and, if necessary, ask a specific question about that.

OPTION #1

If you opt for seeing the centre of the city, take the free City Circle Tram that does a circuit of the CBD. There is a pre-recorded commentary that explains what you're seeing.

Then visit the Queen Victoria Market (this is better done earlier in the day rather than later). The Vic Market is closed Mondays and Wednesdays, but if I understand correctly you'll be in Melbourne on a Sunday, when the market will be open. The City Circle Tram is a useful way of getting to the Vic Market.

Then use the City Circle Tram to get to Flinders Street Station. Cross the Swanston Street Bridge to the south bank of the Yarra River. At that point Swanston Street changes its name to St. Kilda Road.

Walk through the Alexandra Gardens, Queen Victoria Gardens and King's Domain, on the east side of St. Kilda Road, to the Royal Botanic Gardens.

There are a couple of pleasant restaurants in which to eat in the Royal Botanic Gardens. I like the one that overlooks the little lake with the swans.

Carry on walking south through the gardens so that you emerge in the vicinity of the Shrine of Remembrance (war memorial), and have a look at it.

Catch the tram down St. Kilda Road to the seaside neighbourhood of St. Kilda, where there is a market on the esplanade on Sunday afternoons.

OPTION #2

In the perception of many tourists, the Great Ocean Road is the Holy Grail of the state of Victoria. It is a beautiful drive, but unfortunately you cannot do it full justice in a day. With only one day at your disposal, you'll be able to drive as far as Lorne (or Apollo Bay at most). The best part of the GOR is west of that.

However, even if you have only a day, it still is a delightful drive. Lorne is a nice place to have lunch. Erskine Falls, in the temperate rainforest behind Lorne, is a charming spot. Walk down the steps to the bottom of the falls, and walk along the banks of the Erskine River for a little way.

OPTION #3

There are a number of popular things to do in the Dandenong Ranges and the Yarra Valley. You can cover the most popular bases by doing a day tour that includes a ride on the charming steam train, Puffing Billy, a lunch at a Yarra Valley winery, and a visit to Healesville Nature Sanctuary, where there are Australian native animals.

OPTION #4 - WAY OUT IN LEFT FIELD - NONE OF THE ABOVE

Everything I've described to you so far is wonderful. You would have a great day if you followed any of those suggestions.

My own, very subjective, most special way to spend a day in the Melbourne area is to visit the William Ricketts Sanctuary and the National Rhododendron Gardens near Olinda in the Dandenong Ranges. I think you would be best off renting a car and driving there.

The sculptures of the late Bill Ricketts, which were inspired by his contact with Aboriginal people, are set amongst the trees and ferns of the temperate rainforest. Crimson rosellas fly amongst the tree tops as one walks through the forest. For me it's nothing short of a spiritual experience.

There are a number of places to have lunch in or near the small towns of Olinda and Sassafras. It's also good to stop at Mount Dandenong Lookout to look out over Melbourne.

The Rhododendron Gardens are lovely at any time of year, but they REALLY come into their own in October and early November, when the rhododendrons and azaleas bloom. The juxtaposition of introduced, cultivated species and native species (gum trees, etc.) make the gardens all the more interesting.

Oh, what do you know, I've just found a tour company that combines a few of my favourite things in one day -- Puffing Billy, William Ricketts Sanctuary and Healesville Nature Sanctuary. You can check it out here:

http://www.melbournetours.com.au/healesville.html

RAINY DAY ALTERNATIVE

If it's raining you might consider visiting the National Art Gallery of Victoria on St. Kilda Road. It's very interesting to take a 1-1/2 hour tour with a guide, which doesn't cost anything over and above the admission to the gallery. The guide gives a fascinating explanation of the progression of art since the arrival of Europeans in Australia. The art gallery has a pleasant restaurant overlooking a pretty garden and also a less expensive cafeteria.

Another activity that could be done on a rainy day is a visit to Old Melbourne Gaol.

Postscript.

Marie, if you get to Melbourne on the Saturday afternoon, you'd be able to do a quick tour of the CBD then. At least do the ride on the City Circle Tram. Remember, it provides a commentary on what you're seeing, and is free.

Then you would be able to do one of the out of town options on the Sunday, but you still would have seen an overview of the CBD.

Judy - superb info! will definitely do the tour on the day we arrive and then fit in one of the other options. Was at a BBQ at the weekend (trial run for Oz *laughs* )and our friends did the drive along Great Ocean Road and loved it.

I really need to stop reading these posts whilst at work - I get completely hyper for the rest of the day!!!

Thanks SOOOOOO much Judy - you are a star!

M