avidcook

Hi All
This is my first post on a once of a lifetime trip. Thank you for helping me plan it! We are from Florida and traveling to Sydney for a Rotary International Convention in Sydney that starts June 1 2014. We can leave Sydney June 4th or 5th. The only other set in stone arrangement is our flight back to the states on June 18th. I feel like I have a good feel for Sydney but am looking for opinions for the rest of the trip. I know it is winter down under which we be nice since it is hot in Florida that time of year. Interested in GBR and rainforests, and surrounding areas. How long should we stay here before taking off again? We will rent a car in Cairns. My thoughts are to fly to Melbourne (we must do GOR) and from this point are flexible. Wine country is of interest, however we have done Sonoma and Napa Valley in the past. Being winter I was unsure if time away from wine country would be better spent.
I have researched this forum and have received great ideas but these are still questions I need help on!
Thanks.

longhorn55

So, it looks like you have just about 2 weeks to spend in Australia after Sydney. If it were me, I'd spend one week in Port Douglas (rather than Cairns) and one week in Darwin and the Top End of the Northern Territory. One reason to choose these two locations is that it will be warm in both places because they are north (and closer to the equator). Another reason to choose them is that they will give you two diverse sets of scenery. In Port Douglas, in addition to having access to the Great Barrier Reef, you will be close to the rainforest, particularly Daintree National Park. In the Darwin/Top End region, you are in the Outback/desert area of Australia which is equally, if not more, interesting as the rainforest.

But since you want to go to Melbourne too, I'd leave Sydney on June 4th so you can have 14 days for the rest of your trip. I'd allow 4 days for Port Douglas, 6 days for Darwin/Top End and 4 days for Melbourne/GOR.

avidcook

Longhorn55, thank you. Staying in PD is a must. I learned this after much research on this forum. I will do my research on Darwin. I had not considered Darwin. This forum is so helpful. I appreciate all the help.

dutyfree

My adult daughter and I just got back from our trip to Australia. We flew into Sydney and flew to Cairns for ONE night(because it was already a long time flying from Chicago to Sydney) before getting our rental car and going for 5 days in Port Douglas. It is a wonderful town with great daytrips to Mossman Gorge,Daintree Rain Forest and Cape Tribulation(which wasn't worth the effort in my opinion).

Cairns is a place that just doesn't seem to have the magic of Port Douglas where there are wonderful restaurants,shops and daytrips. I highly recommend the Tin Shed restaurant(in PD) which is a local club but you walk in and sign the registry where you are from and you have the best meals overlooking the water for a very reasonable price!)Check them out on Tripadvisor.

After Port Douglas we drove back to Cairns and flew down on Virgin Australia to Melbourne where we picked up a car. We spent 4 nights on the Great Ocean Road before going back to Melbourne for two nights. Loved the ocean road as it was wonderful to stop to see the wild koalas,kangaroos,fresh seafood,etc.Go past the 12 Apostles and you will lose the Chinese tour buses and enjoy the scenery by yourselves and there is an awful lot still to see.
After that we flew back to Sydney where we spent 6 nights.

michelhuebeli

If you do the Great Ocean Road, give it plenty of time - the days will be short, and who knows about the weather? The first hour and a bit is boring, it doesn't get nice until long after you've gotten past Geelong. If the weather is nice and sunny with no fog (except maybe early fog that burns off), an overnight stay would be a good idea. Then another night spent in quaint Port Fairy (end of the line), and on day 3 you return to Melbourne in half a day by the much faster inland route.

dutyfree

We spent our first night in Geelong after flying from Cairns. Then spent nights in Apollo Bay,Port Campbell and Warrnambool.Personally, I thought that Lorne wasn't impressive(it appears to be the last town before people turn around to go back to Melbourne or they only spend the night there) and both my daughter and I didn't "get" Port Fairy. Everyone kept saying how beautiful the Victorian town was and we thought it looked very much like a car city in the Midwest/USA that had seen better days-not alot of Victorian houses which we drove all over to find?
I suggest you make a stop at the Cape Otway light station. It is a beautiful area to walk around(if the weather holds up?) with lots of history and a tearoom AND there are numerous koalas up in the trees on the drive down to the lighthouse-just look up!

avidcook

Dutyfree and Micheal, thank you for the advice. DF, was 5 days enough time for the GBR and surrounding area? Thank you for the restaurant tip. I love TA and have planned a lot of travel with it. Did you have hotels lined up in advance of the GOR or did you wing it?
Micheal, so it seems the weather could be iffy this time of year? I guess I am second guessing myself if we should stay at the top end of the northern territory as Longhorn suggested. This is an area I have not done as much research on but I think I will explore it. Thank you everyone for the helpful advice. Keep it coming. This is my first post on a travel forum and I was a little nervous!

dutyfree

Avidcook-5 days was perfect in Port Douglas for us. I would highly recommend the first day you get there to check in with the snorkel/dive operators as to the weather for the upcoming days and get a reservation for the trip.Trips cancel periodically due to the weather so you don't want to be disappointed.
Personally,we chose Wavelength as it only takes out 30 people on its boats and it seems to truly be more involved with marine science,eco consciousness,etc. (My daughter is an oceanographer so we researched alot before we went.) As it turned out, we arrived on a Saturday afternoon in Port Douglas and were able to secure reservations for the Sunday trip. The next few days were either booked or the trips were cancelled due to bad winds/weather which is prevalent in the GBR.There is a massive tour operator there called Quick Silver which has a floating dock with a restaurant and viewing windows( so you don't have to snorkel) that appears to cater to HUNDREDS of folks on its boat (think mini cruise ship) and lots of Asian tour groups.

Since I changed our schedule around at the last minute for the Great Ocean Road( instead of going to Melbourne first), I booked our hotels online the night before after figuring out how much we wanted to see and travel that day.

albert_f

Why do people advise Port Douglas and the reef.
Unless you have stacks of cash the Reef from Port Douglas is a waste of money and Avery poor example of the Reef.
I have done 70 dives, 90% up on reef 9 or Steve's and Ruby reef. Norman,Hastings & Adgincourt are US.
Unless you love Golf or want to risk a nice salt water Croc l would not swimm from the beach? You will see plenty of signs warning you??? We always stay in Cairns hire a bike hop on a local bus or hire a car.The RSL put a nice meal, the market has wonder full fruit. Swim in the safe free pool. We love Cairns XXX

dutyfree

The posters are going in June which isn't the best beach season, I believe? I think that and living in Florida makes not swimming off the beach a must for them?

My daughter and I stayed at an apartment that was a half block from the main drag in PD and a half block from 4 mile beach. We found that there was quite a bit of things to do and see while walking around PD along with using our rental car to see things.4 mile beach was wonderful for beach combing and walking at nights as it was still chilly for swimming when we were there.We found the prices were cheaper on most things in PD than in the main tourist area of Cairns-wine,groceries,etc.

My daughter and I are both divers but chose to just do snorkeling because of work restrictions.I had read numerous reviews and most people that I contacted recommended for" our needs "that Port Douglas would be a good fit" which it was.We did everything from going on a steamer boat,the Lady Douglas to the mangroves behind Port Douglas to see salt water crocs to appreciating the beauty of Mossman Gorge and Daintree rain forest.

IMHO-I think that if you are going to the GBR strictly to dive versus someone who is snorkeling and wanting to sight see for the first time that Port Douglas fits the bill.

Cairns seemed more like a Key West in the US especially on the esplanade area with all of the backpackers,surfers,etc.Palm Cove which was halfway between Cairns and Port Douglas seemed very small and more yuppy with families but a beautiful beach.
No matter which city one chooses, the Great Barrier Reef should be seen before its gone!

albert_f

We will be in Cairns 13 Oct.For our annual hols.
Unless you just want to see a pile of broken Coral you will have to go to Lizard Isle. Quicksilver have a pontoon which they replenish the Corral,on Agincourt.
You are all a bit late to see the reef.
If you want to see fish Exmouth Pier WA is the place,30 deg c at 20 meters,
Please take my word for crocs, I lost a lovely fiend to a tiger shark on reef 9.I have seen 3 mete crocs at the pier in Cairns. No second chance with a croc.

avidcook

Albert, thank you for your warning on crocs. Beach swimming is something we can do at home. We live on the coast of Florida and have gators in our back yard. So sorry about your friend.
Duty Free, do you mind saying which apartment you and DD stayed in? That sounds nice after coming from a Sydney hotel for six nights.

dutyfree

I got our apartment (2 bedroom) through booking.com. It was called SEASCAPE HOLIDAYS-DRIFTWOOD located on 65 Macrossan Street. It was very nice with a full kitchen,great TV with satelite,jacuzzi tub and pool and grill on property. It had onsite parking and was right in the middle of everything!I know that they offer one bedroom spots too.
As I said before,the beach was a half block away where we ate one night at the "yacht club" which was a walk up seafood place.
The TIN SHED was our favorite place in PD after eating at several places in town-specials nightly were fabulous and the prices were decent along with the wine prices. (We met several people there that literally invited us to visit them when we were in Melbourne-so incredibly friendly!)

albert_f

We have stayed in a few over the years,Matson,Aquarius,Hilton,Hotels.Our big problem was food? unless you love food mart slop.We finally found FNQ. Harbour Lights.Bang on next to Casino and Hilton. Next to Marlin Warf. So if you want to venture out to the reef. Much better to go down to the Yacht Club and get a day crewing? 5 min to Woolworths, Fruit Market. Bus terminal. If you wish to visit Kuranda its best to hop on Johns Bus.$12 return. Against $50 on a tour. Or $100 plus for the sky rail. $5 bus to Palm Cove, or Crock Farm? It is worth a trip down on the Sky Rail,if you love tree tops?

albert_f

Just a note,if you go out on the reef wear a long sleeved shirt or as we do full lycra body cover. Use Cancer Council Repel 30 plus. I go out in the bush most week ends, Aussi sand flies and mossies don't like Repel. You will find plenty of insects that like you. I remember a few locals who had Dengi. The local tribes people always stay 12 ft away from dark water.
We usually buy two new Kmart bikes $80 each. Then sell them before we leave.Costs less good to get up to the Botanical Gardens. Good tucker in a great setting.

michelhuebeli

For those who are wondering? Tucker to Aussies is what Chow is to Yanks.

You have plenty of beaches and such in Florida. Have you considered something you don't get there - cool and cold weather, clean air, winter hikes and such?

Consider hiking in Tasmania - see http://www.australia.com/explore/sta...r-secrets.aspx, or doing winter sports in the Australian Alps - http://www.australia.com/campaigns/n...ralianAlps.htm

albert_f

Have you ever done the West Coaster? Or taken a yacht into Curry King Isle at 2 am? Or taken a yacht to Deal or Flinder's Isle? Then down the Tamar to Launceston I have. If you really want buzz try meeting a 100 ft blue whale of the West Coast.
Its quite something. Tassi has some wonder full areas.

avidcook

Albert, I am off to google some of those mentioned above. Has anyone done Daintree Air? I would like to stay at an island on the reef or on a boat if budget will allow.

albert_f

I know Lizard is a good place to stay if you have the dosh? I think maybe going up to Lizard by air and back to PD by boat would be best? We did on Nimrod 3 times. I think Mike Bull runs a boat out of one of the ports.Townsville? Staying on one of the resort islands would drive me nuts.We bought two Southern Star bikes from Kmart $99.It looks we have sold them both when we depart.Our apartment overlooks Marlin Jetty.