I am going to Sydney in March 2008 for a wedding. I have already been to Oz on 4 other occasions and have visited the entire east coast. I will be in Sydney for about a week and then my friend and I would like to take a 3-4 day trip (he is from Australia). My friend and I were discussing going to Uluru/Ayers Rock, but after checking flight prices I think it will be too expensive. Here are some other ideas about which I would love opinions from those who have done these trips. I think we will have from Saturday to Tuesday evening (work time constraints)-we are in our 30s, fun, in good shape, don't want a "cheap" hostel trip but certainly not the Ayers Rock expense, like to explore. As I said, I have already seen the entire east coast so places like Noosa, Fraser Island, Byron Bay have been covered. This is for March - or autumn weather I guess.

1. Tasmania

2. Melbourne (I've been but have not gone to Yarra Valley or Great Ocean Road)

3. Port Douglas (have been to Cairns/Kuranda/Whitsundays)

If you have hotel suggestions (or ideas for other trips) as well that would be great. I really would appeciate not getting lectured about lack of time, etc. for a trip, seeing as this is my trip and what I'm asking for is if you have taken any of these long weekends and what you thought. I've read too many postings and if you have nothing nice to say then please don't say it! Thank you and happy holidays!

Given the month, I'd go to Tasmania, or possibly Victoria, rather than FNQ (#3).

I would definately go to Tassie. Hire a car and head down the east coast. In March the temperature will still be pretty cold, but beautiful clear days. You could hire really thick wetsuits and boards and surf in the cleanest water on the coast of Oz!!! go to Scamander. Then eat one of the tastiest seafood pies in St Helens YUM and then head to Hobart where you could stay in the Henry Jones (check out the website) it is a little expensive.. but if you have a bit of cash to splurge it is amazing. Then you could chill out at the Salamanca Markets!!! can I do this trip with you??

Thanks for the suggestions! What if we flew into Launceton, went to some wineries, and then drove over to Cradle Mountain one day? I would hate to miss Hobart but if we are on a time constraint I would rather see some wineries and then hike around CM. Thoughts? Any hotel recommendations? Can we stay in Launceton the entire time and just do leisurely drives? It doesn't look like it's very far from Launceton to Devonport area.

I'm a little puzzled by Freebirdy's comment on March still being cold. This is the Southern Hemisphere and it's more a matter of March still being hot. However, I'm a Sydneysider, and the only time I visited Tasmania was in December and there was snow on the mountain above Hobart. I imagine March and April would be glorious there. We tried to get there once at that time of year on frequent flyer points but it was way too popular, and we had to settle for a lovely but wet trip to Far North Queensland.