Need some help. Very new with Australian geography. Trying to plan for this trip.
As usual I am overloading my itinerary for a 9 day trip. Please give me your input. also if you can give us some ideas about the main attractions for each city, would appreciate.

We are a family who loves to walk in downtown/city n park, visit archtectural work, try new ethnic food, learn about history n local culture and do window shopping. We would like to cover Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane and Cairns if possible.

Here is my first cut:

Sydney 2 days (Blue Mountain, sightseeing etc)

Goldcoast - Tangalooma - Brisbane - Cairns (Barrier Reef) - 2.5 days

Melbourne 2 days (Great Ocean Road, Penguin parade etc)

Sydney 1 day -
Back to USA

Is this the most cost effctive way to cover the cities? I have to arrive at Sydney and leave from Sydney. Looking at the map, I see that Sydney is in the middle.

What is the most affordable internal shuttle airline for all these hops? My 19 yr old son who is now studying in Univ of Sydney may come with us to few places. Is he eligible for student discount?
Please advise. Thanks

Hi Sumplanner,

You are never going to do Gold Coast/Tangers/Brisbane/Cairns in 2.5 days. You could do ONE of those destinations in Queensland but not all.

Personally, I think you would have to cut out either Queensland or Victoria - just do one plus Sydney. Otherwise, you'll be wasting a lot of time in the air.

Absolutely agree with Stormbird but as you have not said WHEN this is to be it is hard to help.

You will not grab a breath with that itinerary. Personally I would head north to Queensland's Gold Coast if after February or south to Melbourne and Victoria. I'm sure your son will agree.

Now that I Started reading the map and got the flight duration and distances between the cities, I see that it is impossible to cover all the cities.

Is there an airline that sells multicity tickets for an economy price? Looking at Virgin Blue.

Sydney 2 days (Blue Mountain, sightseeing etc)

Cairns (Barrier Reef) - 2.5 days

Melbourne/Victoria - 2 days (Great Ocean Road, Penguin parade etc)

Sydney -
Back to USA

Do you think this is doable if we work hard? My son will be with me in Cairns so I want to spend little more time there.

Pls advise

I am traveling end of February and 1st week of March. Thanks for keeping me on track

I'd drop one of the two cities and divide your time between seeing one city, Sydney or Melbourne (3-4 days), and then Cairns and environs (4-5 days). If you visit three cities you will lose a lot of time checking in/checking out, getting to and from the airport and in the air.

I would just go for Sydney and then Cairns - you need more time in Cairns and surrounds because there is a lot to do and see and its very diverse. While in Sydney go to Taronga Park Zoo because its in a fantastic location for one thing and for another you can see some of Australia's nocturnal animals.

You COULD do it, but you'd have a pretty tight schedule, heavily dependent upon great weather, traffic and airlines running on time.

For the Melb/ Victoria leg, perhaps something like: Melbourne airport to Phillip Island, then Sorento ferry to Queenscliff, down the Great Ocean Road with an overnight stop somewhere, back to Melbourne via Geelong.

Just to clarify - where you say 2 days, do you mean 1 or 2 nights?

Thank you guys. I know this would be tight. We will try. After spending so much money, we want to see soem of Australia. Dont think we will have another opportunity to go back there.

I am exicited about the Taronga Park Zoo and te Melbourne Phillip island.
Thanks a lot.

My advice. Assuming you fly into Sydney (you can actually fly into Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne or Cairns from the USA), I'd spend two nights in Sydney. City Tour, Opera House and Taronga Park Zoo.

Then direct to Cairns for 4 days (Virgin Blue or Qantas). In Cairns - Atherton Tableland - by Heritage train - back via the cable car. Green Island (Barrier Reef). Daintree World Heritage Area, via Mossman - for rainforest, aboriginal culture, sugar farming, beaches.

Back to Sydney for Museums, shopping, Architecture - just getting the feel of a very lively, very Australian city!

Home!

Have fun whatever you decide.

Sumplanner, I am planning a similar trip. Are you using a web-style travel service to get the most out of the trip or "winging it"?

Ustadrum I am getting quotes from onetravel.com for individual flight fare. This sees to be the most cost-effective.
Three of us will be flying domectic. It's approx $350/person for all the hops. Will buy the tickets soon. I have used onetraverl for my Spain trip. Its okay. If you find something better pls post. good luck

Many thanks!

sumplanner do try and leave sometime to see somthings in Melbourne itself which given your interests suits the bill - architecture , ethnic food ,parks . You can put together a lovely day in the city .

Yes John, Thanks. I got a weblink for a tour pkg in Melbourne. We will also take the trolley, hop on and hop off one day. . Looking forward to it.

I can give you suggestions on things to do in sydney harbour. Includes dinner cruise with sydney showboats because they are offering buffet dinner+live cabaret shows+magic show,opera house tour,sydney aquarium,bondi beach,china town.

shopping can be done in Bondi beach and darling harbour,paddy market is famous for that..

Refer: http://www.sydneyshowboats.com.au/