My family including my 88 yr. old Mom are going to Australia for 3wks in July. My daughter is already there studying in Adelaide so that is where we will be starting and ending in Sydney. My son is 16 and the outdoors type. My Mom walks very slowly and gets out of breath easily. We would like to rent a car at some points but don't know which and think we really want to see Ayers Rock and the Great Barrier Reef--my son is scuba qualified--any suggestions. Also how long a drive from Adelaide to Melboure?

I would say the drive Adelaide to Melbourne would take about 11 hours but I just checked on the Map Maker section on www.travelmate.com.au and it says 8 hours. I suppose it depends on how fast you go and how often you stop. If you have the time, you might enjoy the last section of road towards Melbourne, called the Great Ocean Road. Views are lovely and there are some nice places to stay.
Another place between Adelaide and Melbourne is the Grampians National Park. The small town is Halls Gap and they have lots of accommodation. Your son would enjoy the hiking there, the walk to the Pinnacle takes about 2 hours and has great views over the valley. It's also a good spot to see native Australian birds and animals in the wild.
For your Mum, you can hire collapsible wheelchairs or walking frames here if that would help her.
If you only have 3 weeks, it will be hard to fit in all the places you mention. You could fly to Ayers Rock from Adelaide and back, then drive to Melbourne then fly to Cairns to visit the GBR then back to Sydney to go home but it's an awful rush.
Kay

The drive Adl to Mel is definitely not less than 8 hours unless you want to speed all the way. Trust me, if you do, you will get a speeding fine. The time taken often depends upon the road work being done which can go on for miles with slow speeds posted (which again the police love to nab people driving over the posted slow speed).
A go with the previous post and say it is more like a 10hr drive.
Plus if you do the GOR it is a different and longer route.

Don't miss the Great Ocean Road: way East of Adelaide, and a little West of Melbourne - something for every one, especially if you stop for Light houses, and Koala families in the trees. Feel free to contact me @ [email protected] for more info. Please put Australia in subject. Debbie

Personally I would fly as you would be doing the Adelaide - Melbourne trip in the middle of winter and it is not nice then. You have only a limited time and icy winds, perhaps rain and bleak skies would not be the greatest of memories.
Spend the time in the north on the Great Barrier Reef or around Ayers Rock. However the latter would not be my choice for someone who is 88 as there would be nothing for her to do.

Starting in Adelaide, take the train to Alice Springs (in July it departs twice a week and reserve a sleeper,the train is called The Ghan)The train departs Adelaide at 5pm and arrives in Alice Springs at lunch time the following day. With a 'gold class sleeper your meals are included' and it's a relaxing way to travel and meet other people. From Alice Springs you can do a tour taking you to Ayers Rock and other scenic slights. At Ayers Rock your son will be able to do some of the more active walks and your mother would be able to do bus trips. From Alice Springs fly to Cairns (probably via Sydney or Brisbane) Cairns is where you can do a boat trip to the Barrier Reef, son can snorkle or scuba dive, Mum can still see the reef in a glass bottom boat. Finally fly from Cairns to Sydney to depart. Unless you desperately want to see Melbourne it can be left off your itinerary, in July it will be miserably cold and Adelaide is much prettier and smaller with old buildings like Melbourne.

Good thinking 99 - that sounds nice Ruby and I have to agree with you that Adelaide is a lovely city and especially with access to the Barossa Valley etc. That would make more sense than to drive I would think.