Sydney - Gold Coast - Brisbane- Tangalooma - Cairns
 

We are traveling to Australia with a large group in August. Much of the itinerary has been set however we will have some free time for activities and meals. Looking for restaurant recommendations (Italian preferred) and suggestions for lesser known activities and sites for the destinations noted in the title. We are an active family of four with two teenagers. Thank you in advance.

Itinerary outline - Australia - New South Wales & Queensland
 

Here are some details about the itinerary.

Sydney (4 Nights) - Planned - The Rocks Markets, Opera House (no tour yet), Circular Quay, Harbour Bridge, Harbour Cruise, Manly Beach, Bondi Beach & Taronga Zoo. We have two open dinners to plan in Sydney. Open to suggestions for evening activities.

Gold Coast (4 Nights) - Planed - Dreamworld, Tamborine Mountain and GoKart Racing. We have 3 open dinners and some time in the evenings.

Brisbane/Tangalooma (4 Nights) - Lone Pine/Tangalooma. No time for anything else. Dinners planned at The Norman & Tattersall's

Cairns (4 Nights) - Kuranda Rain Forest - Reef Trip - Port Douglas. We have a couple of open dinners.

Sydney
 

In Sydney, I would drop the Harbour Cruise in favour of simply taking the Manly ferry from Circular Quay, like the locals.

Once in Manly,take the walk along the beach to Shelly Beach. It’s a charming little sheltered beach, with a couple of nice cafes along the way & the Boathouse restaurant at the end. Nice spot for a meal, coffee, drink. Notice the little silver marine sculptures set into the retaining wall on the land side of the footpath.

if you have some time, you might like to take a bus or walk up to North Head - some nice walks,the old Quarantine Station. And Eco-Hopper ferry to Watson’s Bay& Darling Harbour.

Dinners: no shortage of good restaurants in Sydney.
For a less touristy venue, you might like Lucio’s, a traditional, gracious Italian restaurant in Paddington loved by locals & visitors in the know.

More contemporary, a stroll down Macleay street, Potts Point to Fratelli Paradiso.

Bondi: a Tavola- or ($$$) Icebergs Dining Room & Bar.

Tip: same great views as Icebergs restaurant at a fraction of the cost, the Bondi Icebergs Club, right next door. Take picture ID.

This is a great spot to stop after the Coogee ( or Bronte) to Bondi Beach Walk. Highly recommended activity.

Sydney evening activity :

Art after hours at the Art Gallery of NSW or Museum of Contemporary Art.

See a play, ballet, contemporary dance, classical music or opera.

Sydney Theatre Company; Belvoir, Brandenburg Orchestra; Opera Australia; Ballet Australia; Bangarra Dance Company

You will need to book for the group above - and the restaurants I mentioned. No booking needed for Art After Hours.

Thank you Bokhara2 - I appreciate your suggestions.