Reading these boards have been a wonderful wealth of knowledge. We are planning on going in August for two weeks with our two older teens. 3-4 days in Sydney and than 6 days at Port Douglas. that gives a couple of extra days. What would you recommend?<BR>Thinking of the outback because of the weather. Would it be worth it to go to Ayers Rock? Looks like Alice Springs is a four hour bus ride. Would prefer not to do that. Should we go to Ayers Rock, Alice Springs or some where else? Would love to go to Kangaroo Island but no one wants freezing weather? Open to suggestions.

Hi Helene,<BR><BR>If you are only talking 2 days then fly straight to Ayres Rock from Sydney then Ayres Rock to Cairns. <BR><BR>August is the perfect time to visit the Rock, blue skies and not overly hot temps around the mid 20's and no flies.<BR><BR>Forget Alice Springs as you don't have the time to do it.<BR><BR>Cheers<BR><BR>Paul S

I would stay for longer in Sydney and surrounding areas as you only have 3 - 4 days there and there is plenty to see and do in that area. It is very costly to go to Ayers Rock and very expensive once you are there and and it takes one day to get there, one day to see the rock and one day to get out. However check the flight times from Sydney to Ayers Rock and AR to Cairns on www.qantas.com.au If you want to see *some* outback then take a trip to the lava tubes near Cairns or perhaps the Gulflander train if it is still going and if that is viable

Helene , QF 726 departs Syd for ayr at 11. 20 am. It arrives Ayr at 14.15 .<BR>The following day QF 688 Depts Ayr at 13.30 and arrives in Cairns at 16.30.<BR>That gives you lots of time to visit one of the Great Australian Icons now referred to as Ullaroo although most of us still call it Ayres Rock. You can over night in the Out Back Pioneer Hotel, Lodge. Their Ph Number is as follows. 61 08 895 77888. The hotel is friendly, clean, well run, ideally positioned and the food is great. The hotel is situated 9 mins from where the other great Australian Icon QANTAS will land you. The Rock is situated 23 mins from the hotel by small bus. You can book a private small bus to take you out there for the sunset and the next day again for the sun rise, coffee and cakes while watching the sun come up over the Rock is awesome, just awesome.I am lucky enough to go out to the Rock several times a year, its Great. <BR>So day 1 you fly to the rock , then day 2 you fly to Cairns from the rock. Arrival in Cairns is 16.30. You will be out through the gates at 17.05 Cairns City is a 6 min drive by cab and around 10 Aussie dollars perhaps 12. If you stay in Cairns over night you will be well rested for the trip of a life time on day 3 to Lizard Island to see the best reef in the world, both from the plane during the low level flight up there and while you are snorkeling in the clam garden or trawler beach or where ever your guide takes you while you are on the Island. The plane arrives back in Cairns at 16.30 after a low level flight down over the rainforests of Cape York. Your private bus will be waiting for you at their terminal to drive you directly to Port Douglas. This will take 45 mins. You will be abel to leave your luggage in the charter companys terminal while at Lizard for the day. You will be in your Douglas Hotel by 17.30 hrs. You will have seen and experienced some of Australias greatest ICONS, <BR>THE ROCK, QANTAS , LIZARD ISLAND , and about 350 kms of the rainforests of CAPE YORK and an other 350 of the GREAT BARRIER REEF. It just does not get any better. if you go to www.daintreeair.com.au they just might do a deal for a family of 4 to Lizard Island. The Gulflander train which was mentioned earlier actually goes out from a place called Normanton which is several hundred miles west from Cairns. There is an other train called the SAVANNAHLANDER which goes out from Cairns to Undarra , however this train will probably stop running as of mid june. The reason for this is that the track were damaged during recent rains and the State Government does not have the fundung to rebuild the tracks.Or so they say. You never know though, some white knight may come marching in with the funds and it will start again. Unfortunately this is not likely. Pete.

Pete, are you suggesting that these people go to Ayers Rock for one night ( only a few hours at the cost of about $1,000AU for 4 people, that is flight and accommodation????? Icon or not it will hardly give them time to climb Ayers Rock or do much else for that matter and what if the weather is not good. What a waste of money to see something that is just a rock!!!!!<BR>If you are going to beat up everything then you will certainly give people the wrong impression. You would need at least ONE WHOLE DAY there and to take it off either Sydney when they are not there for very long or PD is absolutely idiotic. It is like being in Miami and flying to Denver for a night to see the ski fields and then flying off to New York.

Well Marty, the nicest time to see the rock is sun up and sun down. To you perhaps its just a rock, to me and millions of other people who visit the place , its a little more than that.<BR>Is the Grand Canyon just a hole in the ground. Is the eiffel tower just a tower, is Lenin's tomb just a tomb.<BR>Is umorrduck just a place to see an other aboriginal art gallery 20 thousand years old. Is the harbour bridge just an other bridge. Thousands of people view that bridge from their hotel rooms and are very happy with that. You don't have to climb all over every thing you see Marty. The atmosphere poeple can experience at the rock during sun set and sun rise is just beautiful. And as far a the 1 thousand dollars is concerned Marty, its not a lot of money. Dont forget its only around $550.00 US. Not bad for a family of 4. Yes Marty its just a rock, but my God!!!! What a rock it is. Pete

Hi All~ I found the Tablelands to be stunningly beautiful and so close. It was what I always expect Ireland to be with the very gren rolling farm land, so green it hurts your eyes. We stayed at a fantastic B and B there in Atherton and had a gourmet meal in town. The water falls and rain forest walks all around were lovely. Anyway, my two cents. Cheers, Kelly