First trip to Australia for Dad & Daughter of 8
 

Hi, <BR> <BR>I am planning our first trip to Australie & NZ in April 2000 - duration 3 weeks. <BR> <BR>I need to spend at least 3 days in Sydney, and a week in New Zealand. <BR> <BR>Please give me some advise on what to do, as well as staying in Condo's / self catering. <BR>What about travelling to train to the Great Barrier Reef? <BR> <BR>Other resorts and things for Kids to do rate highly

Wim, <BR> <BR>To answer one of your questions, The Great Barrier Reef is too far from Sydney to travel by train (approx. 3,000km). Better to fly to Cairns. I'd recommending staying in Port Douglas rather than Cairns - much more compact and pleasant, loads of self-catering apartments and a great beach and marina for trips to the Outer Reef. Its 1 hour north of Cairns by bus. <BR>The last 2 weeks of April are school holidays in NSW and Queensland. Try to avoid travelling at this time if possible.

Wim: Just back from two weeks with a six-year-old - had a blast - will e-mail you directly with some ideas about an apartment hotel in Sydney, etc.

We are going for two weeks with our kids. Could you E-mail Me the Recommendations too.

I know that children have a great time at Surfers Paradise in Queensland, there are also heaps of other attractions for you to consider, here is a URL with details. <BR>http://www.queensland-holidays.com.a...acts/index.htm <BR>Peg <BR> <BR>

I posted a reply yesterday but it isn't here!!! <BR>There are great websites use your search engine for the various topics tow good ones are www.greatbarrierreef.oz and www.queesland-hokidays.com <BR>We are going to Oz in July with 2 teenagers. The best way to get to Cairns from Sydney seems to be using a Boomerang Pass. <BR>For RMW/weaver What apt do you reccommend in Sydney? - I am looking into that type of accommo. <BR>Does anyone have reccommendation of a holiday apt in Port Douglas? <BR>Are there any 'must see must do' things in Melbourne,Sydney? <BR>Any ideas on the best type of transport tickets/passes to use in <BR>Sydney?

Susie, <BR>re: Port Douglas. There are loads of options for apartments. Try www.pddt.com.au <BR>Try and get one near the town centre (at the far north end of the Peninsula, near the beach). <BR>For Sydney transport tickets try www.sydneybuses.nsw.gov.au

Susie, we always stay at Marina Terraces in Port Douglas, it is a very handy location to the town centre and beach. the apartments a pleasant with balconies and good value, the URL is http://www.great-barrier-reef.com/ma...ces/index.html <BR>re Sydney, when we holiday there we try to get accommodation in Manly rather than the city centre, there is a lovely beach, also we like commuting on the ferry across th harbour. we have found the 3 day travel pass the best way to get around. you can travel on buses, trains and ferries. it is so handy you just hop on and off the transport without having to worry about fares etc. <BR>Peg