Refined Itinerary
 

Thanks so much to all of you who have helped me plan out my biggest and most adventuous trip to date. Our itinerary has been refined, but we have still not booked any lodging or guides, so sugguestions are welcome. Also, if there is still anything that seems out of whack, your feedback is very much appreciated.

5/18 We arrive in Sydney from LA at 6:30am. We will merely stretch our legs in the airport and then board a Qantus flight to Cairns. Upon arriving, we will probalby just find our lodging and crash. I'm assuming that a car will not be needed based on what we plan to do. This will also give us time to gauge the whole right-side driving thing.

5/19 Snorkle the Outer Reef (guide to be determined but we'll probably go with one of the bigger catamarans).

5/20 Take the gondola to Kuranda (I have a slight feeling that this may be too touristy but most of what I read say it's worth it).

5/21 Take a boat to Green Island and/or a backwater fishing charter

5/22 We have a direct flight to Adelaide via Jetstar. We arrive in Adelaide at 3:10 and we'll probably pick up a car. We're interested in doing a nocturnal tour that night at the Warrawong Sanctuary.

5/23 Spend a good portion of the day exploring Adelaide, and then drive to a B&B in McLaren Vale that evening.

5/24 McClaren Vale Winery Tours and whatever else is there to see or do

5/25 Take morning ferry over to Kangaroo Island.

5/26 Kangaroo Island Activities

5/27 Drop off car in KI and take Regional Express one way back to Adelaide. We then switch to a Qantas plane back to Sydney.

5/28 - 5/29 Explore Sydney

5/30 - Rent car and drive to Blue Mountains. Spend the day hiking and checking out the scenery

5/31 - All day horseback riding trip through Blue Mountains. I'm assuming the horse trails will not be too redundant with what we see hiking on the previous day.

6/1 - Drive back to Sydney and catch 1:30pm flight back to the states.

Thanks again for all of your help. You guys are awesome.

Ken

I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on the nocturnal tour at Warrawong (are you planning to spend the night there too?) and Kangaroo Island when you get back. Are you planning to self drive on Kangaroo Island or organize a tour? Have a great trip!

Hey Patty. We probably will not stay at Warrawong. I think the nocturnal is like 90 minutes long. It sounded like something we'd enjoy. As far as KI goes, we will be taking the car over there. We haven't planned any tours, but we havent' ruled any out either. We definitely want to do the beach walk with the sea lions.

I'd be happy to post a report when we return.

ken13-

Do you really want to rent a car and drive to the Blue Mountains for just one day?

Simply go to the CountryLink window at Circular Quay and buy a CityRail Blue Mountains ExplorerLink ticket. This ticket provides return train transportation from Central Station to Katoomba and an all day 'get-on-get-off’
Explorer Bus tour to 30 locations through the mountains. Stops include the Three Sisters at Echo Point, Leura village, the Scenic Railway plus many others.

You can leave when you want, see what you want, stay as long as you want and then return when it is convenient for you. Trust me, it is not complicated and very easy to do.

Thanks and looking forward to your report!

Thanks Vic. I actually looked at the Explorer Link Ticket. We're actually going to be in the Blue Mountains for one night and two full days. Do you still feel this is our best option assuming the explorer bus doesn't take us to our lodging?

I suspect that the explorer bus will not take you to your lodging. It has a certain number of predetermined stops and probably don't have that kind of flexibility. Do any Aussies know otherwise?

ken, have you checked with the car rental company that you can take the car to KI and that you can leave it there?

I haven't been to KI but have read posts on here which suggest that you might not be allowed to take hire cars there. But don't take my word for it, check with the company itself.

ken13 thought that I should reassure you that the Kuranda tour is worthwhile.I am critical of thse things and always wary of them but found it excellent .The gondola ride was marvellous and informative .As for the Barron Falls at the end - simply spectacular .

I am just back after 2 weeks in Adelaide and last weekend went to the Clare Valley and Adelaide Hills . I highly recommend lunch at D'Arenberg Winery in the Clare .

We also went to the Willunga produce market on Saturday morning to buy provisions for a lunch .Beautiful local organic produce - bread , cakes , honey fruit, sausage and cured meats , freshly shucked coffin bay oysters . Really lovely .

I find Adelaide retailers and shopstaff very polite and helpful and intend to do a short trip report as soon as I have an hour . Put Wine Underground and Auge restaurants in the city on your list to eat at .

I stayed for the third time at The Medina Grand Treasury apartments in the middle of the city which are spacious , beautifully fitted out and , quiet ( suite 66 )

Ken-

Here are a couple of links to expand upon what JohnFitz has just said. The Kuranda Skyrail was great.

Skyrail
http://www.skyrail.com.au/

Rainforreststation
http://www.rainforest.com.au/

Thanks for the tip, Speckles. I had no idea such restrictions existed with driving to KI. Is this because of a higher probability of hitting an animal and doing damage to the car, or does it have something to do with the ferry?

John,

Thanks for the feedback. I think we will definitely include the Kuranda trip. We looked at the Clare Valley, and while we'd love to check it out, the logistics just don't work out too well.

You indeed cannot drive a rental car to Kangaroo Island, especially if you are planning to rent it in Adelaide and drop it off at Kingscote. This definitely throws a wrench into our itinerary since the ferry doesnt' leave early enough for us to make our scheduled fligth back to Sydney. We might just bag the ferry all together and fly in an out of KI. This may be cheaper considering rental and ferry fees, but we'll lose the flexibility once on the island.

You could pick up a rental car at Kingscote airport.

I apologise .D'Arenberg is in McLaren Vale as is Willunga .It was late at night and clearly I was addled .

D'Arenberg are nice wines. The winery is up a short dirt track and has a restaurant and cellar door tasting area.

Wirra Wirra is also nice, but I think they lost a heap of wine recently in an accident - tragic!

Also try Shottesbrook.

Willunga is next to McLaren Vale. They are neighbouring areas. It has a nice pub for lunch or dinner.