Help with family trip to Australia!
 

Hello, I'm requesting some opinions from my fellow fodorite's for our upcoming trip to Queensland in December 2006. We're flying into Brisbane and want to stay there for 2 days just to adjust to time change. After that, we're renting a car and heading up the coast to Townsville where we'll visit family on Magnetic Island. What I need is opinions on places to stay(prefer self contained house or condo) along the way. We want to stay on Fraser Island and visit Australia Zoo. Any opinions on accomadations for those two areas? Thanks! Any helpful info will be greatly appreciated. We are a mom, a dad, and two sons, ages 17 and 10. Our budget is mid to high for accomadations. Thanks again!

Not sure if i can be of much help. But i do live in Brisbane so any help I can give I would be glad to. Where are you staying in Brisbane? If you want to visit Australia Zoo http://www.australiazoo.com.au/australia_zoo/, then any number of places on the Sunshine Coast would be a good base. Also on Fraser I guess if you not camping and you wouldn't bother renting a house, how 'bout KingFisher Bay Resort? http://www.kingfisherbay.com/indexthree.html Let me know if i can get anymore specific info for you.

ps Dec. will be hot and the further North you the hotter and stickier it will be. But you probably know that.

I hope you like hot humid weather.

also try http://www.ozhorizons.com.au/qld/sc/sc.htm for apartments (condos). Also keep your eyes out for Breakfree apartments. They have huge selection. Hope you wont be on the Coast for Schoolies!!! (just like what I hear your 'Spring Break' is)

Thanks for the replies. I've been talking to a travel agent and she is recommending travelling in February. The flights would be half the cost and accomadations would be easier to book.(everything I look into is either booked or a mininum of 5 to 7 night stay) What are your opinions on changing my travel to February? I was thinking the Hoilday Inn to stay in Brisbane, as it has great reviews on Tripadviser. What would the weather be like compared to December? What are your thoughts? Thanks again.

Sorry, still hot. Here we are mid April and we are still getting up to 30deg, although mostly without the humidity.

The Holiday Inn would be fine. As December and most of January is high season here, as school is out for the year, you will have trouble booking anything less than a week at a time.

Bring on the heat. We love it. I'm just wondering if Feb. would be better for bookings, and less crowded. We're travelling from Calgary, Alberta, and flights in December are double what we could fly for in Feb. Are kids still on break there? Thanks again!!

School is usually out, mid December through to the end of January. I have just checked dates for Summer holidays this year. 16 December start, school resumes 28 January.
hope it helps.

Thanks Aussiedreamer! We have booked for December. My oldest son can't miss school, so we decided to go for it! I have booked with an agent that only books Australian Vacations. She has a great itinerary for us. I'm really looking forward to our vacation downunder! Thanks again!

Good for you traveljunkie28, we never let the weather stop us either. WE had so much negative advice about our trip last Dec. to East Coast USA and Europe. But we went for it. yep it was cold and we loved it. Looking forward to hearing about your trip. Let me know if I can help in anyway.
AD

Fraser Island is wonderful! It is an amzing place and well worth going there. The swimming lakes are just so lovely, for wont of a better word. We went there in Summer and it was fine. You will need a 4WD to get around though, but it is a magical place.

Here's our itinerary:
-Novotel in Brisbane upon arrival
-Two nights at the Tangalooma Wild Dolphin Resort.(dolphin feeding, sand tobogganing, quad tour)
-Self drive up the Sunshine Coast
Stay at Noosa Heads at the Ocean Breeze Resort. (Visit Australia Zoo, Underwater world)
-Drive to Fraser Island
Stay at the Kingfisher Island Resort for two nights.
-Drive to Rockhampton
Stay at a Australian Farm
-Drive to the Whitsunday's
Stay 3 nights at the Coral Sea Resort(any thoughts on this?) Schedule two cruises(what do you recommend? We like to snorkel)
-Drive to Townsville
Stay at the Seagulls Resort for 4 nights(have family to visit on Magnetic Island)
-Drive to Cairns
Stay at the Palm Cove for 4 nights(rainforest tour, snorkel tour) Any advice on activities here?
-Jan. 3, fly home from Cairns!
Thoughts anyone? What do you think Aussiedreamer? I know it's very touristy, but we are travelling with two boys! Thanks!