Great Australia Trip! Thank you all!
Jun 23rd, 2003, 02:19 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Great Australia Trip! Thank you all!
Wanted to thank everyone here who was kind enough to answer our questions before we went on vacation to Australia. All your help was greatly appreciated by my wife and myself and thanks to Fodor's for providing a great forum such as this.
For those of you considering Australia vacations, do it at once, it is a great place to visit!
We stayed in Cairns/Port Douglass area our first week and it was faboulous. All the activities there , snorkeling, rafting, boating, and everything else was superb. Almost everyone to a man was very kind and very informative on our trips. Also, we LOVED Rainforest Station and the Kurunda Area as well. And yes, as you guys mentioned, we loved feeding the kangaroo's and koaola's!
Our second week was in Sydney and this was exciting as well. Although we are from a city we thought Sydney would be just like any other city but were surpised that it was not. People were very nice there, again, avaliablity to sightsee and do the activities (bridgeclimb,etc..) were great. Thanks to all of you for the tips on the hotels as well. We stayed at a 5 star hotel , the four points Sheraton at Darling harbour but paid a 3 star price. Great location as well since it was a walk to circular quay and other interesting areas.
But the best thing I loved about Australia...it's easy going way of life. I have heard people say Australia is like 'pre world war 2' America and I totally agree. Australia has this somewhat refreshing innocence to it which we use to have here in the USA. It's really hard to describe unless you actually visit the place. People were also very freindly, looked out for each other for the most part, and didn't take themselves too seriously like we Americans do much of the time. I hope to that Australia never loses this easy going innocent feeling like we have here in the STates.
Again, thank you all for your help and NO WORRIES!
For those of you considering Australia vacations, do it at once, it is a great place to visit!
We stayed in Cairns/Port Douglass area our first week and it was faboulous. All the activities there , snorkeling, rafting, boating, and everything else was superb. Almost everyone to a man was very kind and very informative on our trips. Also, we LOVED Rainforest Station and the Kurunda Area as well. And yes, as you guys mentioned, we loved feeding the kangaroo's and koaola's!
Our second week was in Sydney and this was exciting as well. Although we are from a city we thought Sydney would be just like any other city but were surpised that it was not. People were very nice there, again, avaliablity to sightsee and do the activities (bridgeclimb,etc..) were great. Thanks to all of you for the tips on the hotels as well. We stayed at a 5 star hotel , the four points Sheraton at Darling harbour but paid a 3 star price. Great location as well since it was a walk to circular quay and other interesting areas.
But the best thing I loved about Australia...it's easy going way of life. I have heard people say Australia is like 'pre world war 2' America and I totally agree. Australia has this somewhat refreshing innocence to it which we use to have here in the USA. It's really hard to describe unless you actually visit the place. People were also very freindly, looked out for each other for the most part, and didn't take themselves too seriously like we Americans do much of the time. I hope to that Australia never loses this easy going innocent feeling like we have here in the STates.
Again, thank you all for your help and NO WORRIES!
Jun 25th, 2003, 05:47 AM
#3
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 945
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Nack,
I'm glad you enjoyed Australia. I have been three times in the past 5 years, and hope to go again next year. I,too, greatly enjoy the friendliness of the people and the lifestyle. Sounds like you had a wonderful trip!
I'm glad you enjoyed Australia. I have been three times in the past 5 years, and hope to go again next year. I,too, greatly enjoy the friendliness of the people and the lifestyle. Sounds like you had a wonderful trip!
Jun 25th, 2003, 01:02 PM
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sure, will try to keep it summarized and start with Cairns.
We booked our vacation through australia.com. Stayed first week in Cairns, at Heritage Cairns. Nothing fancy, but pretty nice, and 2 blocks away from the markets/downtown area. As for tours and such, we booked them right there at teh hotel, and the availabilities were very open. Guides and hotel people told us because of SARS, lot of people from Asia not coming this year, but that was good for us since every trip we booked, it was a small group of about 10-15 people and the activities seemed more personalized than the tour guy having to manage hundreds of people for us. As for the must things to do at Cairns : 1.Scuba/Snorkel great barrier reef. Had lot of tours, we picked the Quicksilver boat company, and they did a good job. 2.SKYRAIL/RAINFOREST STATION/KURUNDA TRAIN : wow this was faboulous. The trip up we took by train, went to the rainforest where you feed kangaroo's and koaola's, and an aborigine show. Then took Skyrail back down which was very awesome since you get to see great views. 3.Kuranda : maybe if you have a filler day, just spend it in Kuranda. hang out at the Bird Park and their mini zoo, and butterfly scanturay, it's great. 4.Cape Tribulation/Daintree : this is great if your really into evironment. They also take you to some bird place I forgot the name, but the guide was great and you get to learn about the fuana and birds. 5.Rafting : Raft the Tully River. Was very fun. 6.Try to go take a trip to one of the islands. We are very much into water stuff so we got to go to Dunk Island and Franklin islands. Not many people and the environment there was very peaceful.
There are other thigns we managed to fit in, but the thraed would take too long for this forum I think. As for sdyney, do teh bridge climb, skytower, zoo's, and the usual city stuff. Go with Sdyney seafood, a great place we ate was NICKS' at Darling Harbor.
Hope this helps.
We booked our vacation through australia.com. Stayed first week in Cairns, at Heritage Cairns. Nothing fancy, but pretty nice, and 2 blocks away from the markets/downtown area. As for tours and such, we booked them right there at teh hotel, and the availabilities were very open. Guides and hotel people told us because of SARS, lot of people from Asia not coming this year, but that was good for us since every trip we booked, it was a small group of about 10-15 people and the activities seemed more personalized than the tour guy having to manage hundreds of people for us. As for the must things to do at Cairns : 1.Scuba/Snorkel great barrier reef. Had lot of tours, we picked the Quicksilver boat company, and they did a good job. 2.SKYRAIL/RAINFOREST STATION/KURUNDA TRAIN : wow this was faboulous. The trip up we took by train, went to the rainforest where you feed kangaroo's and koaola's, and an aborigine show. Then took Skyrail back down which was very awesome since you get to see great views. 3.Kuranda : maybe if you have a filler day, just spend it in Kuranda. hang out at the Bird Park and their mini zoo, and butterfly scanturay, it's great. 4.Cape Tribulation/Daintree : this is great if your really into evironment. They also take you to some bird place I forgot the name, but the guide was great and you get to learn about the fuana and birds. 5.Rafting : Raft the Tully River. Was very fun. 6.Try to go take a trip to one of the islands. We are very much into water stuff so we got to go to Dunk Island and Franklin islands. Not many people and the environment there was very peaceful.
There are other thigns we managed to fit in, but the thraed would take too long for this forum I think. As for sdyney, do teh bridge climb, skytower, zoo's, and the usual city stuff. Go with Sdyney seafood, a great place we ate was NICKS' at Darling Harbor.
Hope this helps.
Jun 25th, 2003, 01:04 PM
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
oh yeah, i forgot we stayed at the 4 points Sheraton at Darling Harbor. Usually this is a 5 star hotel but we got it at a 3 star price thanks to australia.com. They also seem to be suffering from the SARS thing so better for you on the price. The hotel was located right on the harbor by cocke bay plus was a quick walk to everywhere. They also give you champaigne in your hotel room when you get in, sort of fancy yes, but nice.
Jul 1st, 2003, 11:50 AM
#7
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,085
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi Nack,
Got to totally agree with you OZ is awesome, can't wait to get back there in December.
I remember you had some concerns over the e-visa. I guess it panned out ok in the end but what did you do to find the details?
Muck
Got to totally agree with you OZ is awesome, can't wait to get back there in December.
I remember you had some concerns over the e-visa. I guess it panned out ok in the end but what did you do to find the details?
Muck
Jul 2nd, 2003, 03:53 PM
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
E-visa was pretty easy. If you plan your trip thought a travel agency, then they will do it for you. Only thing I would recommend is to call the airlines after you get the e-visa to make sure they got the correct first/last/middle names on the evisa matched up w/ your passport. As long as you verify with the airlines , you are set to go.
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
grouchywoman
Australia & the Pacific
5
May 2nd, 2008 10:03 AM
maxi
Australia & the Pacific
14
Jun 5th, 2006 09:51 PM
