Sydney/GBR Itinerary Help (1st time in Australia)
 

Hello,

Will be in Australia for the first time for 9 nights (10 days) in mid-March. I'd GREATLY appreciate it if you could give me advice on the following itinerary:

LAX-SYD arrive early morning on 3/11
Spend 3 nights at Westin Sydney

Fly to Hayman Island on 3/14
Spend 2 nights at Hayman Island Resort

Fly or Drive (what do you recommend) to Port Douglas
Spend 4 nights at Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas

Should I also see Melbourne or Ayers Rock? Should I include in the Great Ocean Road?

Thanks!

Oh, we're both young and very active.

Sounds like your schedule is already pretty firm, so you would not have time to add on any of the destinations you mention.

Unless you cut PD down to 1-2 days, you really won't have time to do much else.

This is my opinion here, without knowing where you're from: if you're planning on just vegging out in Port Douglas at the Sheraton, I would skip that and do something more active (as you say you're young and active).

After Hayman Island, you could fly to Melbourne for a couple days, and then drive the GOR. Or even fly to Adelaide (although I don't think there are any Cairns-Adelaide non-stops), and hit Kangaroo Island or the wine region.

At the end of the day, 9 nights is not much, so you'll end up missing some stuff.

Live in Los Angeles--I'll consider Melbourne. Would you choose Hayman over Lizard in March?

In March, Jetstar flies nonstop from Cairns to Adelaide on Tuesday, Thusday, Saturday and Sunday, departing Cairns at 16:00 and arriving Adelaide at 19:45. I am also planning a trip (for August) and from what I can tell, Kangaroo Island will be a tough squeeze for a 9 night vacation. You would have to use 3 nights to do KI (2 nights if you did a day trip) and that is a lot in a 9 night itinerary where you are not planning on being in that area anyway.

For the OP, I think you need to determine what your priorities are:
- beaches
- reef diving/snorkeling
- city sightseeing
- wine
- wildlife
- natural landmarks
- other

That may help fine tune the itinerary...

I really appreciate your advice..looking for beaches/snorkeling and some citylife

Jason-

If beaches/snorkeling, and some citylife are your preferences, then your original itinerary may work.

One potential option, if the flights would work, would be to immediately head up north (Hayman or P.D.) upon arrival in Sydney. Since you're probably leaving from Sydney anyway, you could do that last. That way, you could get rid of your jetlag while you're just vegging out on a beach, as opposed to trying to see Sydney.

jason, I'd stick to just Sydney and North Queensland for the sake of quality over quantity. There's plenty to do in each location and you don't want to spend too much of your scarce time jetting about the country. Remember that Australia is about the same size as the lower 48 states - if you mentally overlay a map of one over the other the distances will become more meaningful.

OK--I certainly don't want to spend too much time on planes. Is it worth it to include Hayman for 2 nights? Is it as beautiful as it looks on the website?

Will the weather be ok in Hayman in mid-march?

Weather should be just about perfect mid March as long as something untoward does not happen. Hayman is lovely and it should be a great time then.

Considering spending my last 2 nights in Noosa (Sheraton), GOld Coast (Palazzo Versace) or Byron Bay. What do you recommend?