We are planning a trip to Australia from mid December 06 to mid January 07.

We definitely want to visit Sydney, Uluru, GBR and Daintree and are in the process of planning these bits.

We are also trying to decide whether to
a) Drive GOR between Melbourne and Adelaide and take a trip to Kangaroo Island
b) Drive just the GOR and circular trip back to Melbourne and take a trip to Tasmania (which will mean leaving out Adelaide)

We love great scenery and want to get close to the native wildlife. Which option for this leg of our tour?

Probably looking at about 7 days for this bit of our trip.

Any thoughts gratefully received.

Annelli

if you do a search for "tasmania" or just scroll down to my trip report called "a month in oz" you'll see what we did: both KI and Tasmania. Both were wonderful. We love wildlife and nature and hiking and scenery, and got a huge dose of all those things. I had originally planned to do the GOR but got talked out of it on this board and was very glad we skipped it - not sure where you're from, but apparently one can see that sort of scenery in the states, whereas Tasmania and KI can be found nowhere else. We don't like groups, so did the whole trip on our own, and saw amazing wildlife. If you have more questions after you read my trip report I'll be glad to help. Bobbie

i haven't been to KI (only to port jervis where the boat leaves from) but have done both GOR (twice) and tassie(twice).

I have heard no bad reports about KI, I'm sure it's great. tassie is very drive friendly and you will be able to see a lot in 7 days. December - January possibly better for tassie, the victorian coast will be very busy at that time.

I really liked the GOR, it's great driving scenery, Otways are recommended and I particularly like after it officially finishes at warnambool (my opinion skip warnambool, go to port fairy instead), there's still some great scenery between there and adelaide (we went to port fairy, portland, cape bridgewater (really nice little spot), glenelg river NP (also lovely - glenelg river very pleasant), mt gambier, coonawarra, robe, kingston SE, coorong NP, fleurieu peninsula, victor harbour, mclaren vale, adelaide - note lots of wine regions included!!)

I don't know what to recommend - both options have their merits ... I think if you wineries tip the scales, do GOR to adelaide and SA. I know Tassie also has a lot of good wines, but you can see a couple of the big well known wine regions if you do the Vic-SA run.

Scenery .... gee, that's tough, again I don't think you'd be disappointed with either. If you like swimming, you might be best GOR/SA, but walking, possibly tassie. Wildlife maybe tassie, although depends, KI good for wildlife too.

Sorry I haven't been a great help - I wouldn't like to be making the decision - too hard!

Something to remember is that you'll be travelling most of the time during school holidays, so some advance bookings may be indicated in popular holiday spots.

1/ Tassie
2/ Tassie
3/ Tassie
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99 K.I and GOR

Thanks for the messages so far.

Bobbie mentioned GOR was compared to US. We have toured California and driven Highway 1 - would it be like that? Trip report useful thanks.

LizF - did you mean that Taz or KI & GOR were better - I am too dumb to understand the abbreviation.

Neil_oz - we hope to book everything in advance - thanks for the tip

Lancefan - wineries are of interest so that could tip the scales.

Overall there are so many fantastic options and we have so little time we are struggling to make decisions !

Hi Annelli

I live in NSW and some years ago I did the trip on the Great Ocean Road. I have also been to Tasmania. Between the two destinations, I would pick the GOR. Both have great scenery but the GOR is very special. Be warned though, bith can be quite cool in Summer, being on Bass Strait and are not the general Aussie summer heat. But they also can have very warm days - it is a case of packing some warm clothes as they may be needed.

I have also been to Kangaroo Island and that is a special place - so much wildlife: seals, sea-lions, kangaroos, koalas ... I would definately choose GOR and Kangaroo Island.

Annelli, if I had limited time and wanted to see different things then I would be going to Tasmania first before ever dreaming about Kangaroo Island or the GOR. If you come from the USA and have done the Big Sur trip then the GOR will be a big yawn. There are beautiful areas of Tasmania that has spectacular coastal scenery, you just need a flashlight and a drive at night on a country road to see many animals which are nocturnal as well and that will be for free. Also you have some wonderful and different places to see in Tasmania compared to the mainland. It has really lovely convict built villages, the food is unique, the scenery different and the people are the most friendly. In other words it is a contrast to the rest of Australia actually.
I was bored out of my mind on the GOR and can only think that those who like it either have not been around the rest of Australia much or have a bias for it. As for Kangaroo Island, there are many, many places in Australia that have animals to see and in places that are actually beautiful in themselves because there is nothing lovely about Kangaroo Island.

Tasmania has great wine too. The wine regions are in the North, East and South of Tasmania so are easy to visit while driving around the island.
The GOR is very busy during the summer holidays but some people enjoy the towns along the road when they are bustling with holiday makers. Others prefer the quieter time in winter.

Liz F

I think that it might be a good thing if we were all to appreciate that everyone likes different things in this world when they travel - eg, I'm a beach person, my family are mountain people; my idea of great accommodation is a tent on a river with not a soul to see, others prefer 5-star luxury.

I appreciate that you obviously prefer Tasmania over GOR, you've made that very clear. So, having said that, I don't think your comment calling into question both the amount that people have travelled or their bias s very helpful. I have done extensive travel in Australia and wouldn't say I'm overly biased towards the GOR, just that I can appreciate it's merit as a place to visit.

Lancewhatever: I think the question was Kangaroo Island or Tasmania and I answered that question in my own way so I will thank you not to give a critique on how I should or should not answer a question.
I happen to think that the GOR is the most over-rated drive in Australia, that is my opinion and I will stick to it. I also think that people are getting conned into thinking that the only place you can see animals is on Kangaroo Island - again another over-rated destination IN MY OPINION. So whether you like it or not, it is my opinion and I am entitled to it.
I would rather say what I think than have someone spend their hard earned money going to what I believe is NOT an International destination. If they enjoy it then that is fine because they do not have anything on which they can do a comparison perhaps.
So if you would like to keep you opinions of others posts to yourself I will try and not make comments about what I think about your remarks.

Liz F (and it's lancefan, not lancewhatever)

I have absolutely no problem with your opinion on destinations - as I said (and I think you seem to agree) everyone likes different things. My only problem with your post was that you basically said (excuse the paraphrase) that if you like the GOR you must not have travelled much in Australia, and it is this generalisation I felt can easily offend. I have done extensive domestic travel and happen like the GOR, yet your post made me feel I must be an idiot for doing so. As I said before, I have no problems with you or your opinions on which is better - just suggesting you don't infer things about the basis for other's opinions.

annelli: have also driven Great Ocean Road several times and Highway 1, once (LA to SF) and must say I thought the latter more spectacular, particularly the region around Big Sur.

Tasmania is brimming with scenery and wildlife. And wonderful food!! It would certainly be my choice.

Lancefan, usually the people asking questions about where to go are from overseas and have either not been here before or have not seen a lot of this large country.
I really don't think that I have to go as far as say "now this is for people who have been there" or "this is for people who have not been there" when I answer a post.
If you wish to nit pick then try it somewhere else because I will not change my ways because you are offended because I don't happen to like what you like.
Kangaroo Island is a boring island which has some animals and if one is going there in December/January it could even be more hot and desolate than usual. It is expensive to go to if you are only going to South Australia to see it - but is OK if you happen to have to be in S.Aust. I can think of many areas in Australia where you will encounter as many animals if not more animals and where you can see them without paying for an expensive side trip. Annelli is going to the GBR therefore I would suggest that she contact Pat Woolford who can give her the details of that fantastic place in the Daintree which is home to so many wonderful animals ( especially sugar gliders ) and unique and rare birds and that would be a wonderful visit whilst Annelli is in the area.

Thanks for your views. We continue to wrestle with this and other parts of the trip. So much to see ..... so little time !!!!!