Hi,

Looking for advice for a 5 day stay in FNQ...
should we base ourselves out of the Peninsula Hotel to see the GBR and rainforest? Should we stay ON an island and the mainland--if so which island? I don't want to feel as if we're "missing out" if we don't stay on an island...what are your thoughts?

Thanks for any advice, Karen

Hi,
We spent four nights at the Peninsula in May 03. I thought we had died and went to heaven. It is so wonderful. there are very few rooms so everyone is treated as if they were a private guest at someones house. You really don't have to spend time on an island to enjoy the reef.One thing we did do that was well worth it was take a plane ride to Lizard Island and spend the day on Lizard Island. We went with a company called Daintree air. The pilot Greg flew us to the island about a one hour plane ride over the rain forest and the reef islands. We had a picnic lunch and a private tour with greg taking us at to the reef and giving us the best tour possible. It was the highlight of our two week trip to australia. There is one restaurant in Port Douglas that you must try. It is called the Nautilus. It great. If you have any questions email me at [email protected]

Thank you so much for your response...any one else have an opinion? -Karen

Hello Karen, We had the same dilemma about Islands, so after much exhaustive research and reading many varying reports we have decided to visit several Islands.

We will be staying on some of the islands themselves and some times staying on the mainland and then visiting the Islands.
The best of both worlds we hope.

The prohibitive cost for family’s on a couple of the Islands along with information we have gathered indicating children are not encouraged on the (apparent better Islands ) was the deciding factor for us. There is no way we are going to travel all that way and miss out on the best, just because we have kids.

We have planned 3 days in Sydney at the Harbour Rocks Hotel www.harbourrocks.com.au as well as 2 days at the Blue Mountains www.cloudlands.com.au and two days in the Hunter Valley www.thebarringtons.com.au

We hope to do most of the things we have been reading about here on Fodor’s including the Bridge Climb www.bridgeclimb.com.au Sydney Aquarium www.sydneyaquarium.com.au and an evening on the harbour with www.captaincook.com.au We will be visiting Jenolan Caves from Katoomba on a day tour.

We then fly out to Brisbane to begin our Island Adventure.
We depart Brisbane for Hervery Bay to stay at www.rivieraresort.com.au
We use Hervey Bay as a base to explore Fraser Island and conduct whale watching.

After two days at Hervey Bay we fly to the Whitsunday Islands where we are booked into Hamilton Island for two days. One of those days will be spent on a yacht visiting Whitehaven beach and several Islands, the other day will be spent soaking up the sun by the pool. (Eternal optimist)

From Hamilton Island we fly to Dunk Island for two more days of Island life. Activities include a day on the great barrier reef and horse riding for the kids.

We had planned a couple of days at Bedarra however as Dunk is next door to Bedarra and is also child friendly we chose Dunk.

From Dunk we fly direct to Lizard Island to spend the day.
We have heard great things about Lizard and did not want to miss it.
From Lizard Island we fly to Cooktown on the mainland.
The next day we drive in a 4 w d from Cooktown through the rainforest to Cape Tribulation where we spend two days in the rainforest.

We have night walks planned through the forest as well as a half day tour spotting salt water crocodiles. From the rainforest we fly to Cairns to catch a flight to Sydney where we over night before our flight to Auckland.

We are flying the Brisbane to Cairns section with www.daintreeair.com.au

Any comments suggesting changes to the above would be appreciated.

Chris.

Chris, sounds like a wonderful trip that you have planned! I saw your message after posting one myself for help on Dunk and Hamilton Islands. I liked your idea of a sailing day trip from one of your resorts. Do you think that these types of "day trips" are available out of most of the islands? We have two older teenagers that would enjoy something like that with us. Our primary focus on looking for a 3 day stay on one of these islands is snorkeling, kayaking, sailing, and beaches. Advice?
Randy

Well Vanessen, I was happy with our itinerary until I read yours.
Now I’m back to the drawing board again.

And thanks for the sites.
The lodge in Katoomba looks amazing.
Jenny.

Hi Pizpuffin, We chose the Whitsunday Islands for the excellent sailing on offer. Water sports such as kayaking, skiing, tube riding etc are available at Dunk Island and then a full days snorkeling at Lizard Island as well as our day on the reef out of Dunk Island.

We will be caving from Katoomba, climbing the bridge in Sydney, then enjoying activities such as archery and horse riding while at the hunter valley. ( kids only ) Wine tours for us. All of this along with the four wheel driving through the rainforest in North Queensland and again on the beach at Fraser Island should be enough to keep any teenagers wide awake.

Chris

Hi Karen ,

We stayed at villa san michele in Port Douglas and enjoyed it.

We enjoy restaurants,and night life, although Port is not the most happenning place at night the restaurants are very good and lots of fun. Port Douglas is very casual.

We also spent five days on a skippered yacht off Hamilton Island. I think we had the best of both worlds with out actually staying on an Island. While on the boat we did visit several Islands in the Whitsundays.

We also spent 2 nights in Cairns on the waterfront at the Cairns Hilton which was very nice. We thought Cairns was a little more active than Port.

Port would be our choice in future for time out and Cairns for a little more excitement. The tropical fruit markets in Cairns are to die for. Im not sure what days they are on but I'm sure some one else will offer advice on that.

Enjoy !!

hi blakes444 - that's Rusty's market where I'm just about to head off to - mangos are so cheap at the moment they're almost free! Its open all day Friday, most of Saturday, and Sunday mornings. Best day is Friday, the earlier the better.

Blakes444,
Could you elaborate on the crewed yacht you stayed on? Quality, price, where?, web-site? Thanks.

Hi scanr, We sailed with Whitsunday Rent A Yacht. We paid around $850.00 US per day for five of us, which included the Captain provided by them.
We provided the food.
You can choose to anchor off shore and stay in the cabin of your yacht or you can overnight in the Hamilton Island Marina which we did one night.
I cannot remember exactly how many islands we visited but there is some thing like 60 uninhabited Islands as well as the resort Islands.
The boat was not insured to go out as far as the actual barrier however the snorkelling around the fringing reefs of the Islands was very satisfying.
The boat was in very good condition and the Captian was great company.
You can contact them through their web site www.rentayacht.com.au