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Three week vacation

I am planning a three week trip for next Feb/March. I am will spend a week in Sydney and then will have one week to spend somewhere else before flying for the final week to Aukland. I would like to spend about 5 days in a quite, upscale beach resort that must be accessible by bus or train as I will not be driving. Any suggestions?

Hi, Frank! Maybe you'd enjoy Coff's Harbour, which is a seaside town about mid-way between Sydney and Brisbane, which somehow missed the dire over-development of Surfers' Paradise and the Gold Coast, which, I fear, will never agin be able to boast that they're "quiet". Here are some websites on Coff's Harbour resorts and attractions for you to inspect: www.coffsharbourtourism.com/resorts.htm www.visitcoffsharbour.com/accommodation www.webvertorials.com.au/accommodation/ http://future.coffs.com.au/ If Coffs doesn't appeal, there are several other interesting locations on http://reefrainforest.com/ausi.htm. On this site hit "Lodges and Homestays" and then "New South Wales". Hope this is of some help!

For shame Alan, have you eaten your easter eggs already? The guy said accessible, and I was thinking along the lines of Palm Beach/Avalon area. Even that is over an hour out of Sydney and a cut lunch. Perhaps Al is right and I am wrong in that thinking. Perhaps Coffs would be OK but isn't it more like a retirement village?

Thanks for the tip, Tentitive... maybe I misunderstood Frank; I assumed he wanted to get away from Sydney to a quiet spot which would be something of a contrast to the metropolis ambience. Has Coffs really turned into a retirement-village atmosphere? Serves me right for mentioning a place I haven't visited in nearly a decade! Sorry about that, Frank... but at least my suggested website of www.reefrainforest.com/ausi.htm will offer alternatives of which Tentitive might approve!

Just tongue in cheek Frank & Al :^) Coffs Harbour would be a lovely, nice quiet spot for a bit of lawn bowling - the past-time of a lot of Australians who wish to have some friendly companionship along with a nice beach atmosphere - is accessible to Sydney by bus albeit 4 hours or so but a nice drive. Is small enough to be able to get around without a car if you are near the water and you could get some really nice tours from there up " the waterfall highway". AND I must say that I really do approve of the web site that Alan has suggested about reef and rainforest. If you wanted though, you could fly to somewhere like the Whitsundays and stay at any number of coastal resorts and do day trips to the reef and islands, which, for my money would be a wonderful way to go, just in case you are not into as much lawn bowls as I am. Check the Qantas web site and click into holiday specials from Sydney which will give you the cost of the holidays including airfare. You can add any number of extra days that you need. Perhaps too you may like an island holiday with some activities, you will find them there as well, and if you see one you like then do a search of that particular island.

Frank, here are the list of places on Qantas holidays for you, from Sydney. As said previously, you can add days if you want and the Whitsundays would be fantastic. The Whitsundays include the following Islands: Brampton, Hamilton, Hayman, Daydream, Long Island and South Mole and then of course there are the resorts on the coastal side. I realize that these are not accessible from Sydney by bus but they are 2 hours by plane ........................................ Qa ntas Holidays Domestic Special Offers Departing Sydney: Destination Special Number of nights Package Price From Adelaide GETAWAY DEALS 2 $422.60* Alice Springs GETAWAY DEALS 3 $736* Ayers Rock AYERS ROCK RESORT - AN ADVENTURE HOLIDAY THAT'S JUST OUTBACK 3 $652* Ayers Rock UP NORTH & OUT BACK NORTHERN TERRITORY DEALS 3 $653.80* Ayers Rock GETAWAY DEALS 2 $928* Brampton Island UNWIND IN THE WHITSUNDAYS 3 $1062.70* Brampton Island GETAWAY DEALS 3 $1219* Brampton Island THE WONDER OF THE WHITSUNDAYS 3 $977.70* Brisbane GETAWAY DEALS 2 $296* Brisbane MAMMA MIA! 2 $448.60* Broome ZOOM INTO BROOME 3 $926.40* Cairns GETAWAY DEALS 3 $689* Canberra GETAWAY DEALS 2 $287.60* Darwin UP NORTH & OUT BACK NORTHERN TERRITORY DEALS 3 $649* Darwin GETAWAY DEALS 3 $987.90* Daydream Island GETAWAY DEALS 3 $1084* Gold Coast GETAWAY DEALS 3 $295.90* Hamilton Island THE WONDER OF THE WHITSUNDAYS 3 $797.00* Hamilton Island UNWIND IN THE WHITSUNDAYS 3 $929* Hamilton Island GETAWAY DEALS 3 $929* Hayman Island GETAWAY DEALS 3 $1272.20* Hobart GETAWAY DEALS 2 $484.60* Launceston GETAWAY DEALS 2 $478.40* Long Island GETAWAY DEALS 3 $1094.50* Long Island UNWIND IN THE WHITSUNDAYS 3 $1096* Long Island THE WONDER OF THE WHITSUNDAYS 3 $693.10* Melbourne GETAWAY DEALS 2 $306.60* Melbourne MAMMA MIA! 2 $458* Norfolk Island NORFOLK ISLAND HOLIDAY PACKAGES 2002/2003 7 $895* Perth GETAWAY DEALS 3 $802.90* South Molle Island THE WONDER OF THE WHITSUNDAYS 3 $778.00* Sunshine Coast GETAWAY DEALS 3 $402.80* Whitsunday Coast GETAWAY DEALS 3 $719* * Prices are per person twin share based on low season travel, unless otherwise stated. Seasonal surcharges may apply depending on departure date. Where applicable, prices are inclusive of Australian GST. Taxes and airport related charges may apply. Prices are quoted in Australian dollars and are correct at time of publishing and subject to limited availability. For more information on these conditions and to check prices please ask your travel consultant.

Another area to consider is the Port Stephens region. Nice beaches, good choice of accommodation (budget to expensive) at several little towns in the area. You can take boat trips to see the dolphins, or visit the Hunter Valley for wine tasting.

Thanks for the information. Can anyone give me information on Noosa?