October trip to OZ
 

Greetings to Fodorites

Would very much appreciate comments on my proposed itinerary. We want more of a nature-based, OZ-unique flora and fauna trip rather than a cities-based experience. The trip would be Oct 20 to Nov 13. Any comments re weather in Kakadu at the end of Oct (wet) versus cold in Tasmania in early November. To try to visit 2 different climates in the same time period is a challenge.

Day1+2 leave Canada
Day3 arrive Brisbane, see the sights
Day4 drive to Lamington park-stay BinnaBurra
Day5 Lamington
Day6 Lamington
Day7 fly to Darwin arrive 1230pm – Thursday-night market
Day8 see Darwin, drive to Fogg Dam
Day9 Fogg dam, Croc cruise drive to Jabiru- stay Kakadu Lakeview park (is it a total 2.5hrs drive Darwin to Jabiru?)
Day10 Kakadu Jabiru- Ubir, etc hikes
Day11 Kakadu - Nourlagie, Yellow waters cruise
Day12 Pine Creek , explore area (is it a 2.5-3hrs drive Yellow waters area to Pine Creek?)
Day13 drive Pine Creek to Litchfield park (is it a 4hrs drive?)
Day14 Litchfield and then drive to Darwin (is it a 3.5hrs drive?)
Day15 fly Darwin to Adelaide arrive 430pm explore parks
Day16 drive to Barossa (1hr drive?)
Day17 Barossa and McLaren Vale – fly to Hobart 5pm arrive 9pm
Day18 explore Hobart, Mt Wellington
Day19 Hobart to Bruny Island
Day20 Bruny Island
Day21 Bruny to Eaglehawk cruise,then Port Arthur
Day22 drive to Maria Island 930am ferry (is it a 1hr drive?)
Day23 Feycinet park (is it a 1-1/4hrs drive?) stay Bicheno
Day 24 – Sunday- drive Bicheno/Freycinet to Launceston (2hrs?), fly to Sydney (can only return to Canada via Melbourne on Saturdays)-one flight per day only(?) at 8pm arrive 930pm- stay at airport hotels or Coogee beach , etc(recommendations?)
Day 25 –Monday- Sydney fly home –flight departure at 10 or 11am

Any recommendations/comments are much appreciated. We had a fantastic trip (Sydney, Cairns, Uluru, Melbourne, GOR, Canberra, Kiama) last year in Australia and loved the country and people. We based the trip on the excellent advice received here.

I think the drive from Port Arthur to where you would go to Maria Island would be more than one hour. I have not done it myself and I stand to be corrected by someone who has but I don't think it would be that quick.
Glad to see someone going to Fog Dam in the NT, I trust that you are going to be there at dawn when the birds start getting restless - it is the best and only time to see it I think. It should be pretty dry at that time of year and there will not be too much water in the falls either but at least that means that your trip will not be spoilt by rain. However it will be HOT even at that time of year so make sure you have packed cool clothes - you need the least possible clothes in that climate. As for times between places I am afraid that I cannot remember myself but perhaps others can help you there but at least I think that Bichino to Launceston is about 2 hours. If you are going to fly out immediately you may like to know that the airport is on the southern side of Launceston so you won't have to go around or through it.

Hi Rickrick,
Just a tiny thing -I think the Mindil night markets in Darwin might be closed when you're there ( 1st October (Sundays) & 26th Oct (Thurs)I think). I was there in early October & as LizF says, it's pretty hot, but a wonderful experience. :)

Bokhara, when I lived in Darwin the Mindil night markets were always open in the dry season and closed in the wet so unless things have changed October/ Nov should still see them open. If they are take some champers and a couple of glasses and drink while you taste the wonderful and different foods of the Asiatic region and watch that sun go down over the Arafura Sea - 'tis a great time. The locals take tables, chairs, neighbours, friends etc and make a real social event out of it.

Thanks Liz,
I just saw those dates on a website - maybe misread it. You're right - it's a highlight for locals & visitors. Really something special - we took some of the food from the vendors & a cold bottle, sat on the sand & watched the sunset & listened to a band playing behind at the market.

Great variety of goods too. Aaahhh ... wish I were there instead of shivering in Sydney today :)

Day 16/17 Barossa.
I think it's about 90 mins for Adelaide - Barossa (but maybe we were being tourists!). I think you'll find you will be pushed to do Barossa and McLaren Vale in one day then back into adelaide to fly out at 5pm. If you want to do 2 regions, I'd advise going back to Adelaide via the Adelaide hills instead, however if you only have 1 day, just do barossa - there's so many wineries. If you click my name, I had a post on barossa wineries that I visited back in March, with help from fodorites.

If you fly into syd at 8.30-9pm, and fly out 10-11am, I'd be pretty tempted to stay at the airport hotels (holiday inn, stamford plaza are close) rather than going to coogee.

Thanks for your replies.

I found a website for the Mindil market.
http://www.mindil.com.au/
Looks like we will be there for the last market of the season (last Thursday of October).

I'm relieved by comments that the weather will be hot but not too rainy in Darwin. (It was around 40C last October when we were at Ayers Rock, but with only 20% humidity).

For Tasmania, would 18 degrees celsius be likely? This will seem cool after Darwin but its around 10C in my area in Canada at that time.

Are Bruny and Maria Island too similar to do both? any thoughts re should I try to cram in Cradle Mountain rather than keeping to the east coast?

Any suggestions for interesting places/towns/activities between Freycinet park area and Launceston?