Hi! Thanks to many suggestions (thanks especially to LizF!), we are now tentatively planning the following itinerary for our upcoming trip to Australia. It's our first time, and as we don't know when the next opportunity will be visit, I know we're trying to fit a lot in. Any help or feedback you can give would be much appreciated!

Day 1-2: Sydney (recover from the flight, Opera House, other sightseeing)
Day 3-5: Daydream Island (Whitehaven Beach, reef trips, etc.)
Day 6: Drive up the coast to Cairns (I've read that this is a very beautiful drive and well worth the time - thoughts?)
Day 7-8: Cairns (day trips out to the reef, maybe a day trip up north?)
Day 9: Mostly air/ferry travel from Cairns to Hervey Bay, ending up in Fraser Island for the afternoon
Day 10: Fraser Island (day tour of the island - better than nothing, but enough time?)
Day 11-13: Sydney (more sightseeing, day trip to Blue Mountains)
Day 14: Depart.

I'm not that familiar with everything you can do in Cairns - is it worth it to drive and spend some time up there? And I'm also worried that a day and a half won't do Fraser Island justice?

Also, if anyone has any recommendations for food in any of these places (both cheap good eats as well as for some nicer dinners), I'd appreciate them!

Thanks in advance!

Cairns and surrounds are absolutely worth doing but I would fly and not drive because from Mackay 1/ its a long way on a one lane road (mostly) and 2/ you are not close to the sea all the time and it can get boring - you will have much more to see and do in Cairns.
If you want to know everything there is to do and see and you like B&Bs then may I suggest that you book into Pat's Lilybank B&B and she will point you in the right direction all the time.
See my comments on Cairns from my recent trip ( also a bit about food)as I stayed with Pat and found the best place to eat!
There is 2 weeks worth of things to do in and around Cairns so I fear you are leaving too little time.
For other destinations I will leave the experts from those areas to answer for you except to say that I love eating in the suburb of Newtown ( train goes there) in Sydney because its cheap, there is the greatest variety in a short distance and the food is good!

I agree with LizF, rather fly to Cairns and spend the time up there than driving up from Mackay.
There is a very beautiful and scenic drive from Cairns to Port Douglas with lots and great beaches.
Definitely go to the Reef for one day and then you should go up to the Daintree & Cape Tribulation NP. These two things are a must do while you are up in the Far North.
What trip to the reef depends on what you want to do, snorkelling, diving or just see the reef from the semi-submersible.
To the Daintree I would highly recommend Pete Baxendell's Daintree-Specialised-Tours. He offers great charters to the rainforest and can create an itinerary around your interests.
Cairns is also a great starting point to visit the Outback (Undara and Cobbold Gorge) and the Tablelands.
For more info and links, just visit
www.wonderfulaustralia.com

Thanks for the feedback - given that there is so much to do based in Cairns, do you have any recommendation about Fraser Island? Is it worth the time and cost to get out there? Or do you think we'd be better off adding a few days to Cairns (so the 2 weeks would consist only of Sydney/Daydream/Cairns)?

LizF - I hope you see this message! I can't find the thread you mentioned - any chance you can repost a link to your Cairns thread for me? Thanks!

I will probably be set upon by a number of people by saying this but firstly: Fraser Island is best in summer when you can swim and enjoy the crystal lakes if its winter then thats no good. Fraser is a sand island and is very good for seeing wild dingos, which to me look like a rabbid (sp??) dog. It is also great for fishing from and driving along the beach - it is not good for swimming as there are no patrols and no shark nets. There are some lovely streams, rain forest and flora on Fraser but of course you can see all that up in the far north. Don't get me wrong, I like Fraser Island but for reasons other than I would suggest it as a destination for an International traveller with only a short time - spend your time in the Cairns area, it will be much easier to get to and cheaper too. You will and can get your fill of rain forests, animals, reef, fresh water lakes and everything else and have a far less costly and stress related holiday than trying to get in Fraser Island. To me Fraser Island is a great place to pitch a tent for a week during the school holidays with the kids and go fishing along the beach and swim in the clear lakes - in summer. However too many people in 4 wheel drive cars think the same and fishing from the beach sometimes is like trying to fish off a main street at peak hour.

Thanks - any luck finding that old Cairns post? I think I'm going to be burning the midnight oil tonight to try and finalize this itinerary and vacation!

Here you go:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...lizF&fid=3

good luck!

Thanks Liz - the link seems to bring up all your posts (and wow, do you help a lot of people out!) - do you remember the name of your Cairns thread?

I think we're going to forgo Fraser Island this time. Just an excuse to have to come back when we have more time!

Airfare this late in the game is rather expensive from Airlie Beach up to Cairns, so I think we're going to drive up, breaking it up into 2 days so we can stop off in Townsville.

Any recommendations for a good car rental company for the 1 way drive?

Here you go and I am going to check out the airlines first though!
Author: lizF
Date: 06/28/2005, 04:36 am
Thought that I would just give you an Aussie's view of my trip to North Qld to date and my stay at the famous Lilybank Bed and Breakfast with two of its stars, namely Pat and Mike, although I hasten to add that there are many stars at Pat's place, not least of which is the bra loving, querky poodle. The latter brings me to ask every Fodorian's help, if you intend to stay at Lilybank ( and why wouldn't you) then do try and find an old bra to save Pat from getting Cooper's droop in the near future!
Lilybank B&B was built in about 1890 and is an old Queenslander - which means that it is something rather special in its own right. The rooms are large and spacious, the breakfast are fantastic and nothing seems to faze our Pat. Mike on the other hand does a rather good job of tending to the garden and the breakfast fiddlies and is the epitome of the genial host.
The poodles as I mentioned before are what you would expect from poodles brought up in North Queensland - gone crazy in the tropics!
Then of course there is Chook the Galah and the whole household is now set!
I must admit that I was more than interested in inspecting the famous Boris S........ honeymoon suite and was not disappointed. I stand by my comments about Boris at the time as the suite was cosy, spacious and very clean.
If you are wanting an Australian experience, in a special Queensland home then this is for you. If on the other hand you want the trimmings of the Hilton then go to the Hilton as you are not going to get that at Pat and Mike's place. If you need to relax, unwind with two characters then Lilybank is for you and if you want the absolute best in information about what is available around then Pat is the one with the information.
I had the pleasure of spending last night with Mike and Pat eating the best fish and chips/ fisherman's basket and salad that I have ever had topped off with the absolute best in a hamburger. We went to Dinale's (spelling??? ) at Freshwater who made the most wonderful dinner which we washed down with some southern wine. The dinner and the company could not be bettered!
Had a fantastic day on the reef with Ectasea ( again the spelling ) which is a sailing yacht that takes people to really quiet spots on the reef where the snorkling and diving is fantastic. The crew were fantastic and it was just the most wonderful day. When going to the GBR don't just go for the big boats with heaps and heaps of people on them, get on one of these smaller more personal boats for the time of your life. The big ones get the backing of the big hotels and the resorts and the little guys do it better but have to struggle against the big operators. The trip out to the reef was really special and I got to try and overturn the boat myself! - I am joking!
However for the price it cannot be beaten and for the price and location neither can the B&B and the dinner from the fish and chip shop - if you go do try the super big LOT as that stands about 10 inches high and is a challange in itself.
May I take the opportunity to thank Mike and Pat for their wonderful hospitality and for my great stay. You will take out the prize each and every time Pat 'n Mike. Love to all and the whole family there
Liz and Jake ( Jake is my Grandson who no knows what a great breakfast is)






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Author: lizF
Date: 06/28/2005, 04:37 am
P.S. please pardon the spelling mistakes.
Liz



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Author: ElendilPickle
Date: 06/28/2005, 05:45 pm
Well, you've convinced me, Liz! Now all I have to do is figure out how to get there...

Lee Ann



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Author: lizF
Date: 06/29/2005, 07:40 pm
Further to my trip up north here I have had a lovely day on Hinchinbrook Island - still is the pick of all the islands as far as I am concerned and one day there is only to touch the surface of the place. Probably the best way to get there is to drive down - via Mission Beach - to Cardwell and get the launch over from there. Hinchinbrook is a large island as far as the islands go and is a National Park. You can find your own little area of paradise and never see another person all day or you can join in the many activities on offer.
I went over to Magnetic Island to see if that is worth a visit but in my opinion it is not. It is too much like a mainland place for my liking with all the trappings and is only really nice in comparison to Townsville which is still a boring city in my opinion. There were few people in the mall and some shops had closed so that gave it a run down feel about it. Not vibrant or alive and being in a dry belt - not tropical either.
I am heading back to Cairns today via the Atherton Tablelands and am looking forward to that. The weather is beautiful and the people friendly and warm.
to be continued.



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Author: margo_oz
Date: 06/30/2005, 04:16 am
Lee Ann
How to get there....
wellllll.....
you fly into Cairns, and ask any taxi driver!



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Author: ElendilPickle
Date: 06/30/2005, 06:23 pm
LOL - true, Margo - it's coming up with the money for airline tickets, etc. that's the challenge at the moment!

Lee Ann



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Author: lizF
Date: 07/02/2005, 04:19 am
Before I go on - it is Davini's in Freshwater, that is Davini's Fish and Chip shop and Hamburger Heaven. I know this as I had yet another memorable hamburger last night there.
The trip up the Tablelands was really nice, weather was wonderful and the scenery was lovely as it always is. I enjoyed Milla Milla falls, Tinnaroo Dam and surrounds the little towns and the lovely crater lakes. Had the best ever coffee at the Mareeba coffee place which sells its own coffee and a lot of other ones as well and bought some to bring home with me.
Yesterday I drove from Cairns to Port Douglas and called into Palm Cove for a look-see. I can truthfully say that the trip from Cairns to Port is the best sea-view trip in Australia with the beautiful waters of the GBR at every bend, the islands off shore and the green land meeting the sea. For me it tops the GOR by a long shot and what is even better is that you get to come back that way as well! If you want a trip along water which you can surf in then the road south from Bryon Bay is beautiful especially if you go up the lighthouse first to see the view, followed by a trip down the east coast of Tasmania overlooking Coles Bay and Wineglass Bay. They are the three top drives in my book, not that I have been everywhere but you have to go a long way to go past Cairns to Port and back on a nice day. Port Douglas is a nice place to stay and so is Palm Cove if you want to veg out for a while but you know I love Cairns, where in the World do you have a clean, safe city ( al beit small city) which has all the facilities for tourists yet retains its own flavour which is mainly that of a small country town which lives off the earnings of tourism and sugar-cane? Some say its "touristy" but what is that? Sure it has big hotels, back-packer accommodation, restaurants, Hotel/Casino, bars, nightclubs etc but so has every other tourist destination in the world. It is more central for seeing the whole of the area than anywhere else. I would love to know if anyone has stayed at the Cairns Hotel which looks a bit like a small "Raffles" and that really appealed to me. I had the misfortune of staying at the 3 1/2 star Club Crocodile on Lake Street the last night - would have stayed at Pat's but she was 1/ booked out and 2/ I had to get up for my flight home at 4AM ....urgh! How CC gets 3.5 stars is beyond me as its little more than a back-packers place and just as noisy. I would rate it at 2 stars even if it is only $65 Au for double.
I could have quite happily stayed another week as I seem to be able to find 2 weeks of things to see and do even if I have been there about 15 times. I still havn't explored some of the hinterland that I would love to see and some of the areas around the Lava tubes as well. But there is always a next time thank heaven.
If you are going to the GBR then do what the locals do and go "troppo", relax and take things easy, don't rush around as its better to leave seeing things than to see everything and need a holiday afterwards.



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I just checked the Qantas site and the cost from Hamilton Island to Cairns is $149AU which is pretty good.
Our petrol has just gone up and gone through the roof and its about 500 miles from Whitsundays to Cairns so by the time you pay a one way drop off - petrol and the cost of the car I would still suggest flying.
Check our other flight sites out and also look at these departure places - Hamilton Island - Mackay - Proserpine. Also don't forget that there is a train from Proserpine to Cairns. look at www.virginblue.com.au www.qantas.com.au and www.jetstar.com.au

Thanks so much, Liz! And I did do a lot of researching into the airfare, but for whatever reason, the flight and fares disappeared for the day in question (of course, just to spite me, the day before and the day after are both avail, but both screw up the schedule and budget a fair amount to have made driving seem a much better option).

Ok then driving it is. Keep to the left, drive at 100 klms and if a big truck comes your way just shut your eyes - I think that is what everyone else does on our roads.