Please critique this Sydney - Cairns itinerary
 

All,

Here is our tentative itinerary. I feel that if we do stay 1 night in Blue Mountains (which is what most people are recommending we should do) then we would need 1 more day in Sydney else it might be a bit rushed?

11-Oct Travel to Sydney (will get there by noon)
12-Oct Taronga Zoo
13-Oct Aquarium, Sky Tower
14-Oct Manly/Bondi beach
15-Oct Blue Mountains, stay night
16-Oct Travel back to Sydney and stay 1 night
17-Oct Fly to Cairns, stay in Port Douglas
18-Oct GBR weather permitting
19-Oct Kuranda
20-Oct morning flight to Brisbane and take connecting flight to Singapore

Hi there, what you have looks good, except I probably wouldn't try to do both Manly and Bondi on the same day given the distances between the two and just settle on one or the other. Make sure you leave some time to take it easy in and around the harbor in Sydney in order to get a good appreciation for the city and landscape.

I agree about either Manly or Bondi. I would also suggest taking a Hop On Hop Off bus tour around the city the afternoon you arrive, and then perhaps on 14 Oct take the Bondi HOHO bus so you can stop in Bondi for some time before catching the bus back to the city. I have taken those tours 3 or 4 times and each time see something I hadn't noticed before. I usually go right around first making note of places I want to explore then hop off at these spots.
What about taking a bus tour to Blue Mountains, returning the same day? That would give you an extra day in the Cairns area. Lots to see and do there.

I think your itinerary looks about right - there is enough of the Blue Mountains to keep you there a night, particularly if you venture as far as Jenolan Caves. Plus it is nice waking up in the Mountains. Agree with dottyp about the Bondi HOHO bus - Christison Park, a bit further to the north than Bondi, has a very good view of the harbour, the Bridge and Opera House and further on a view all the way to the Mountains.

Lavandula

Ok thanks for the inputs...changing the itinerary as follows
11-Oct Travel to Sydney (will get there by noon)
12-Oct Taronga Zoo
13-Oct Aquarium, Sky Tower
14-Oct Manly beach
15-Oct Blue Mountains, stay night
16-Oct Travel back to Sydney and stay 1 night
17-Oct In and around Sydney
18-Oct Fly to Cairns, stay in Port Douglas
19-Oct GBR weather permitting
20-Oct Kuranda
21-Oct morning flight to Brisbane and take connecting flight to Singapore

Question - how long is the drive from Port Douglas to Cairns airport? Wondering if it is feasible to drive, take a morning flight to Brisbane and make it to the 2 pm flight to Singapore.