Help with Australia Itinerary
 

I'm usually really good at planning vacations, and enjoy it. However, I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with this one. My husband and I are traveling to Australia (flying in and out of Sydney) in August, with a 5 year old and a 10 month old. We have ideas of what we'd like to do/see, but nothing really firm, except our desire to see some of Sydney and also visit the GBR. We want to see the highlights, but not cram too much in as cranky children are no fun on vacation. Any ideas or suggestions for us? We are on a budget, so the cheaper (or free) the better.

Arrive in Sydney 8-August early morning
Planning a day trip to Blue Mountains 10-August
Plans to see: Opera House, walk across the harbor bridge, royal botanical gardens, any indoor activities? We’re not too afraid of the temperatures despite it being winter there. Anything really fun for kids that we are missing?
Fly to Cairns 12-August, staying in Cairns. (this flight is not booked yet, so dates can be adjusted)
Would like to do a day trip out on the GBR, also want to go to the Kuranda Koala Gardens so our 5 yo can hold a koala. Would like to spend 1 full day at one of the beaches between Cairns and PD, which one? We are comfortable renting a car, but if it’s not necessary, that would be great as I'm terrified about driving on the opposite side of the road. Are there buses to get us to the beach?
Fly back to Sydney 16-August, flight home 17-August early.

<< We are on a budget>>

So is everyone.

<<the cheaper (or free) the better>>

Good luck with that - unlike London, Sydney isn't known for free museums. The Taronga Zoo alone will set you back a good bit. (But at least walking across the Harbo(u)r Bridge is far less expensive than climbing it . . .)

And there is ABSOLUTELY NO WAY you're going to get to the GBR for free unless you stow away. Cairns and PD are each 2 hours each way to the GBR - that means you need to hop on a boat trip.

But to help set and work within your expectations, do indicate what your actual budget is. Saying you're "on a budget" when you can drop the monetary equivalent of $3300* on RT tickets to Australia is a bit abstract.

* - I don't care if you're doing this trip on points, that still means you're using ____ points at an opportunity cost of $3300 for other activities for which you could use them, and I'm using $3300 as a round number for three RT tix to Australia for August assuming the baby will just sit in a lap and I'm not counting the $200-250 or so RT from Cairns-Syd.

Hmmm, so as far as a budget goes...I don't have anything set, just trying to get an idea of what activities are worth the cost (since we spent all our money on airfare, ha). Is the Taronga Zoo worth the price? To us, we are willing to pay for the Kuranda Koala gardens because...koalas.

I'm hoping to find a boat trip for the GBR for the family for around $400 USD. I have looked at a few and that seems reasonable.

Some other things I'm not sure about. With a baby, I'm thinking skip the tour of the opera house and just see the exterior, or will we regret not getting the full tour?

I'm okay not trying to rush around and see all the "sights". If there are a few things where it is worth it to pay for a tour or entrance or whatever, then the rest of the time we'd be happy in a park or gardens or hanging out on a beach.

Are there any beaches near Cairns that have facilities, maybe a restaurant or two?

Walking across the Harbour Bridge is free. Climbing the southern pylon is about $20 for adults, less for children.

I like to take a ferry to Kirribilli & walk back across the bridge to the city.
The Opera House, Botanic Gardens & upper Harbour to the east is in full view.

Most art galleries are free. If there is a special exhibition, there will be a charge for that.

Cairns doesn't have beaches - you'll need to go north a bit. Lots of people like Port Douglas, about an hour's drive away.

Have a look at www.booking.com for accommodation. Many families like to use self-catering apartments. Also have a look at Airbnb.

Use the Opal card ( google it) for public transport in Sydney.

Re Cairns, I'd recommend staying at Palm Cove - lovely little town, great beach, lots of places to stay and eat and about 20 minutes from Cairns. It's on the public bus route so you won't need a car.
Cairns doesn't have beaches but there is a great lagoon built on the waterfront - ranges from very shallow for the little ones to real swimming water. Lawns and playgrounds all around.

That good enough for family. I will keep focus on you

Bokhara2 Thanks for the recommendation about the bridge! And I've heard about the Opal card, need to remember to look into it.

marg The Cairns lagoon sounds fun! We definitely want to spend some time there. I'd imagine the surrounding lawns get pretty crowded?

It's a while since we've been but Cairns is a pretty big place so if looking for something smaller, then I agree that Palm Cove is a great choice. We had a week there, half of the time with a car and used the bus some days. The Kuranda railway is fun as is the cable car. The fruit and veg market in Cairns may have some more exotic fruits for you to try (depending on season).

In Sydney, you could take the ferry to Manly, visit the Powerhouse museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art (with drinks/snacks on the rooftop terrace), wander around the Rocks area (last time I was there, there was a food market on where you could buy food from around the world). Next month, I'm going to take the ferry to Parramatta. I've never done it but keen to see what it's like (and it's only $2.50 on Sundays). In fact all transport in Sydney is cheap on Sundays. There are also harbourside walks which are beautiful on a sunny day. Tooronga Zoo is spectacularly located and has a great presentation of animals.

Enjoy your holiday.