We are planning to visit Australia and Fiji for 5 days each, what cities would you suggest for our first visit. We love to snorkel and thought of the great barrier reef. but am not sure what city to go to.

5 days! You don't say when you are going - you don't consider or say where you would be arriving into so its impossible to answer your question but if I had to I would definately suggest going to Nimbin cause its certainly different.

Cairns would be a good start. Has an International airport and is close to the Barrier Reef.

Does the 5 days include Arrival & Departure days?
If so, and you effectively have 3 days, suggest you try to open jaw into Sydney and out of Cairns or vice versa to allow a visit to the Great Barrier Reef. If you have 5 clear days, spend 2 in Sydney.

Thanks, it will be five full days in Australia and five days in Figi. We will be traveling around the 1st two weeks in June 2010. And we are trying to decide what city to fly into. It sounds like Cairns may be a good choice.

Sounds like a fun Trip! My husband and i come from Sydney and went to Cairns Dec/Jan 08/09 and had a great time snorkeling and diving off the barrier reef. There are also really nice places to see like the Mosman Gorge (45mins out of Cairns) White water rafting and posh shopping and dining in Port Douglas. June will be a good month as it won't be too hot and you will be able to go swimming without having to worry about stingers in the water.
You could spend 3-4 days doing this and then fly down to Sydney and do a day of sightseeing around the harbour and northern beaches. Happy Planning!