My family and I (3 of us) will be going to Australia in early August. We will be flying into Sydney and leaving from Melbourne (this way we won't have to double back). Our stay will be a week to 10 days. I need advice and help in planning an itinerary. Our tickets haven't been issued yet, so we can still change out arrive/depart cities by reversing them. We have never been to Australia. We need all the help we can get. Also, would it be easier/better to join a land tour? Thanks.

Hi Isabel, <BR> as a Melbourne resident, I only feel qualified to give you a few thoughts for this neighborhood. <BR>I guess in Sydney though, you can see the Harbour, take a ferry accross to Manly, visit Bondi Beach, check out the Opera House and the historic Rocks area. It might also be worth a day drip out to the Blue Mountains. I'm sure a local will see this and post a few other suggestions. <BR>Regarding Melbourne, I'd suggest the Southbank Arts and Shopping precincts, Carlton for Italian food or maybe St Kilda by the bay. <BR>You simply must take a day trip to the Great Ocean Road which I found more exhillarating than the Fairy Penguins on Phillip Island. I'd also suggest a visit to Sovereign Hill at Ballarat which is a re-created gold mining town of the 1850s. <BR> <BR>If you've got any particular likes, e-mail me and I'll see what I can come up with. <BR>regards <BR>Steve <BR>

Isabel: <BR> <BR>Above recommendations are excellent. <BR>While in Sydney take a day tour by motorcoach to Canberra. <BR> <BR>John

I take it that you are planning on limiting yourself to the Melbourne/Sydney area. August is mid-winter in Oz, so Sydney will be cool, but sunny and Melbourne will be cold and perhaps rainy and windy. August is best for Far North Qld/Reef, The Outback and the Top End/Darwin.

Thank you all for your replies. I have begun researching for the trip and will take all your suggestions into consideration. Matt, I know it's winter down under in August, but that's the only time we can go, what with summer holidays and all. We live in the north (way, way north), so even with a little rain and wind, it may seem mild to us. If anyone has further suggestions to add, I would be most appreciative. Thanks.

Isabel, <BR>I have stayed the last August in Australia, visiting Sydney, Melbourne, and Hayman Islands. <BR>I,for direct experience recommend you of prefer Sydney to Melbourne. <BR>Melbourne will also be a beautiful city but I ensure you that the weather to August is indeed inclement. <BR>We have found 4 days of rain,cold and wind. <BR>Therefore many wonderful excursions(parks,beaches,Great Ocean Road)became almost impossible. <BR>To Sydney instead, for me the most beautiful city of the world, the sun reigns almost always, also if the night comes soon and the cool is made to feel to the morning and to the evening. <BR>Then if you have a visit to the North in program, I recommend you of choose the zone of Cairns. <BR>I have stayed to Hayman Island , zone of Brisbane, and the weather has stayed indeed very bad : 4 days of wind and cold. Not certain the holiday Sun and Baths that I wait. <BR>I assure you that the Australia is a wonderful country and a only visit is indeed too little. <BR>The second visit program it in summer, I will do as. <BR>Good holiday !!!

Do you intend to fly to Melbourne from Sydney? If you do it will give you more time for your itinerary. What age brackets are your family, because this could determine what you might like the best. I currently live in Sydney and visit Melbourne quite regularly. Personally Canberra is not too bad, but if I was on restricted time I'd give it a miss. These are the things I'd do in SYDNEY: Harbour, Opera House, Darling Harbour, The Rocks Region, Centrepoint Tower, I-Max at Darling Harbour, Bondi Beach and the Blue Mountains. Everything except for the Blue Mountains is very accessible to the city and is only within minutes of each other. Blue Mountains are about 1 and a half hours from the city. MELBOURNE: Definately the Great Ocean Drive to the 12 Appostles, the Crown Casino, Melbourne Zoo, Restaurants in Lygon St. Tram ride to St.kilda. and there are some good shopping areas as well. If you need any other help you can e mail me!!

I belive that Canberra is one of the most boring places that I've ever been to, however a friend of mine said this was one of the highlights of her trip! In any situation like this, I recommened you get a good guide and read up about the place yourself! A week to 10 days is really a amazing short amount of time to spend here, so you will need to pack as much as you can in. Short on time I did an excellent helicopter trip from Sydney to the Blue Mountains. <BR>I think it was booked at a place near or at Captain Cook tours in Circular Quay (any good hotel should have this info) The trip cost about $180.00 and we were picked up from a hotel and taken to Sydney Helipad. We had a 45 - 1 hour Helicopter ride over the harbour, opera house and harbour bridge, up the Parramatta River, over the olympic site and up over a national Park to the Blue Mountains. We then landed at a lovely homestead ( fed the possums) had lunch (steak, salad, wine, beer etc...) then took a 4Wheel drive trip through the Blue Mountains (stopped at the famous three sisters and other sites) and then were driven back to Sydney. A full day but worth every dollar. Much better than spending your hard earned dosh in the very over priced area of The Rocks. The Rocks is a lovely area to look round but as I dislike shopping it does not hold any interest for me, lets face it you can shop anywhere in the world.