We will be spending three weeks in Australia at the middle of December to beginning of January. WE will be in Sydney for the 1st 5-6 days because my husband has work there. I will be with my three kids (ages 6,11,14). I will have a lot of time during the first 5 days in Syndey with them w/out my husband. We then have a little over two weeks and we want to end in Melbourne (have a friend there). I have heard that Queensland is great for kids but I can't go that far north in December. We heard Noosa was very nice in December. Should we be thinking about Tazmania instead because of the weather? I would love any help in planning this itinerary - suggestions where to go. We have less than a month to plan it and it feels like an enormous task.

Hi Sandy,<BR>Your kids would probably love the Gold Coast (fly into Brisbane or Gold Coast airport). Why can't you go - is it because of the weather? It is the wet season in Dec but you could still have a good time. There are theme parks on the Gold Coast, Seaworld, Movieworld, Dreamworld, WetnWild, the beaches are great, lots of shops and restaurants. There are loads of hotels and apartments right on the beach, in a long stretch from Coolangatta (Gold Coast airport) to north of Surfers Paradise. You need to book now though as it will be busy with Australian families on school holidays. Try www.jasons.com.au for accommodation or www.travelmate.com.au .<BR>Tasmania could be nice weather but not as much for kids to do. Noosa is also very popular - more up-market and quieter than Gold Coast.<BR>Hope this helps a bit.<BR>Kay

I agree with the previous writer about the Gold Coast for you and the children. It should be terrific there/here at that time of year. Make sure you get somewhere near the beach so that you get the benefit of sea breezes and are able to have walks and swim there when ever. <BR>Noosa is not for children really and there is nothing much for them to do other than sit on the beach. <BR>If you do decide on the Gold Coast then let us know and we may be able to help with accommodation ideas. Possibly the best would be an apartment.<BR><BR>

Only 5-6 days in Sydney with the kids? I'd suggest including a visit to Wonderland, even without working hubby. With only 3 weeks I'd stay in Sydney, meet him for dinner each night, then all travel on down to Melbourne afterwards. From mid December all our kids are on holidays too, so watch out! Why not stay in Sydney to start, do day trips/outings then continue on as a family for your last week in Melbourne. With only 3 weeks there isn't enough time to see Sydney, Melbourne & Qld. Leave out Qld and make it your next trip.<BR><BR>Sandy email me. I can find out what special holiday kids attractions are on in Sydney when you're here.

Sorry to disagree with the last writer but there is no way that I would spend any length of time in Sydney with 3 children - after Wonderland and the zoo there is little else for kids interests and thats why I suggested the Gold Coast. With Seaworld, Dreamworld, Movieworld, Waterworld, Currumbin Bird Sanctuary, Fleay's Fauna Park, Tropical Fruit World and all the fantastic beaches and and mountain waterholes and waterfalls to swim in it would be Bye Bye Sydney and Melbourne would hardly get a look in either.

I am so confused!!! What is the weather like in the gold coast at this time of the year (DEC - beginning Jan). We are not really into theme parks and really want to experience the country (coming from California). We are definitely going to be in Sydney because my husband is working there for a week. We are also going to Melbourne to visit someone I haven't seen in 15 years (but plan on doing a lot of side trips). So the question is where do we go in between these two places or the last five days of the trip. Also, would it be worthwhile driving to Melbourne from Sydney taking 2 days and 1 night (would this be a worthwhile use of our precious time!!). We are definitely looking into Tasmania but understand that we may not be able to get reservations in Cradle Mountain because they are all booked. Has anyone been to Tasmania? Any recommendations for accomodations? Thanks. sandy

Sandy, if you're coming here from California, you will probably feel right at home. Australia in December and January is, frankly, pretty hot -- it is our mid-summer -- and a hat to protect against sunburn is a "must"; however, as long as you stay near the coast, you shouldn't find it extreme. The Gold Coast will always have a cooling breeze, though if you're not into theme parks, I think I would stay away. What's wrong with spending the five or six days just around Sydney, as there is really plenty for kids to do here: you could spend a day walking in the Blue Mountains (around Katoomba), take another day to visit Jenolan Caves (an overnight stop at Caves House would probably be advisable, as it's a three-hour drive from Sydney), and definitely spend one day on the signposted walk from the Spit Bridge to Manly. If you still have any time left, a trip to Canberra would use up a couple of days very usefully, and if the kids aren't enthused by historic buildings and art galleries, they will surely love Questacon. You could do Canberra on the way to Melbourne and save on back-tracking.<BR> As for your question about Tasmania" yes, it will be cooler than Sydney or Melbourne, but I don't think you will have any real difficulties with Australia's weather unless you're planning to visit the "outback"! Just remember that, as in California, the closer you get to the sea, the less variation there is in the weather. But do take a bottle of sunscreen wherever you go! Have a great time!

C'mon Alan admit that you really did want to hog the site.<BR>I live in the hills behind the Gold Coast and in summer it will be an average of about 28 deg with some variation up and down. Melbourne can be very much hotter than in Queensland and Tasmania has its moments too. Everywhere near the coast ( with the exception of Melbourne because it gets winds off the desert) will have a cooling element and so you won't have any trouble at all. Nowhere on the eastern seaboard in Australia has humidity like you get on the eastern seaboard of the USA but the outback does get very hot. With regard to driving to Melbourne from Sydney - I would only suggest that if you go the coastal route a/ because of the heat inland and b/ because in summer the grasses of southern inland Australia are brown and not very interesting. <BR>Finally there is heaps to see other than theme parks on and around the Gold Coast

Hi Sandy!<BR>You'll have a great adventure no matter what. <BR>QUEENSLAND IS GREAT FOR KIDS. <BR>If you are able to fly, then you certainly have plenty of time to see some of Queensland. Remember in Australia, the further north you go, the hotter it gets. I have been up to the Great Barrier Reef in December and it was awesome. If you base yourself in Cairns there is so much to do. The most incredible reef snorkelling tours in the world (yes, kids can do this safely), scuba diving, water sports, rainforest tours, scenic railway, gorgeous beaches. I would thoroughly recommend it if you have the time.<BR>Noosa is good for couples, but if you have kids and really, truly can't go as far north as Cairns, then the Gold Coast would have more to offer. <BR>While you're in Sydney I'd recommend a trip to the Blue Mountains (gorgeous) and taking a tour of the Jenolan Caves. <BR>I wouldn't put Canberra on my itinerary. It has little to offer for holidaymakers and is pretty dull.<BR>Tasmania, I believe, is more expensive to get to than the other places.<BR>Anyway, good luck planning your trip and if you get confused about the weather, just remember Australia's weather is opposite to USA in every way. North is hot, and December is hot.<BR>have fun!<BR>

The Gold Coast will be warm and very humid during Dec/Jan. It will also be busy as it is the main school holiday period and anywhere you go, you should consider booking accommodation in advance. Why not drive down the coast from Sydney to Melbourne, taking your time as much as possible. There are some beautiful beaches and nice towns along the way. I can recommend Narooma, Bateman's Bay, Merimbula as nice places to visit with lots of accommodation and places to eat. You could sidetrack along the way to visit Wilsons Prom in Victoria which is quite spectacular. The motel chains (Budget, Flag, Best Western) will book ahead for you. Incidentally while you are in Victoria, try to drive along the Great Ocean Road - rivals Big Sur for scenery. Make it a two or three day drive, visit Port Fairy (little old fishing port), Tower Hill (extinct volcano and nature reserve), the Maritime Museum in Warrnambool and beautiful beaches at lots of places along the way. When you are in Melbourne, you could take the family on the ferry along the river to Williamstown. We have a new museum which is very child-oriented. <BR>If you want to drive into Cradle Mountain NP, check that your car is insured if you have an accident on unmade roads (the bitumen ends at the entrance gate).<BR>Whatever you do, I hope you have a great time here.

thanks. We are going to drive from Sydney taking 2 nights and 3 days. Thanks for all your recommendations. Sandy