AndrewDavid

Hello to all of you,

After reading entertaining comments and suggestions for the past 2 weeks, I am ready to throw out to you my first pass at our itinerary. Any comments, critiques, suggestions and ribald jokes would be appreciated.( We are planning this early as we hope to fly over on United (if they are still flying) frequent flyer miles and need to book that sooner rather than later.)

Here goes:

April 14: arrive Sydney early AM
In and around Sydney for 4 days

April 18: arrive Hobart early AM( why do so many flights leave at the crack of dawn?)
In Tasmania for 6 days ( suggestions please)

April 24: leave Hobart (at the crack of dawn!) for Airlie Beach; Sail to Whitsundays on Solway Lass for 3 nights.

April 27:return to Airlie Beach in afternoon; pick up rental car and drive 3 or 4 hours up Bruce Highway ( heading toward Daintree). What is Bruce Highway like? Scenic drive; traffic, etc?

April 28: continue up coast to Daintree

Spend 2.5 days exploring the rainforest

May 1: PM fly to Lizard Island ( This is the big "if" so far due to cost. Comments sound overwhelmingly favorable. We hope to win the lottery!

Lizard Island 3 nights

May 4: Back to Cairns; connect to flight to Darwin.

Next 5 days, Litchfield NP: Nitmiluk NP and Kakadu NP

May 10: Another crack of dawn flight. This time to Alice Springs. Drive to Yulara.

May 11&12 Uluru-Kata Tjuta NP

May 13 back to Sydney

May 14 late afternoon catch the big bird home.

So what do you all think. have we timed this OK for weather ( trying to go from Tasmania to Kakadu and N. Queensland on one trip)If this makes sense to folks, I'll come back later w/ specific questions on places. I have a lot of sympathy for europeans trying to see the US, Canada or Australia in one trip.

After running a B&B in Santa Fe NM for 8 years and answering the same questions for 2000 guests, I know this gets old. I appreciate everyones patient input and post trip reporting.

Thanks,

AndrewDavid

Janese

G'day AD.
The flights leave early because there is a curfew and they have to get busy so quick I guess. Anyway it does leave you with the whole day.
If you are not going to get your accommodation through Wotif.com then you could always request if they have 'Industry" rates which are generally very good but I don't know if they extend it to International guests - but if they don't ask then don't tell 'em.
I can't fault your schedule actually except the 3 to 4 hours up to the Daintree from Airlie Beach. That would be more like 9 or 10 hours and although you are going through "some" nice parts I really wonder if it is worth the price of a one way vehicle to do that. I would feel it is better to fly and then rent a car for the time you are not on an island and see all around the far north. Then you won't have to pay drop off fees.
Back to Tassie - Its a lovely place and if you do a search on this site you will get lots of interesting suggestions. I can't remember what time of year you are coming so that effects things a bit.
I am off today for a 3 week holiday so if you are around with questions when I get back I will help you out there. Suffice it to say that Tassie is filled with interesting things to do and see and so is the rest of your chosen path.
Till then happy planning.

Janese

Try out this site AD
http://www.discovertasmania.com.au/home/index.cfm
and you can go from there as ask about things that look interesting for you.

Janese

PPS
because you had a B&B then I would suggest that you check out the "Cottages of the Colony" in Tasmania for your accommodation. I have always found them the best accommodation and worth every penny. These are usually self-contained convict built houses which are decorated in the linen and lace look and are about as comfortable as you could ever want.
Don't expect the mountains to be anything like those near where you live as we don't have any mountains that come close to the grandeur of the Rockies etc but we do have wilderness and that in itself is an attraction and pristine wilderness at that.
Enjoy

AndrewDavid

Dear Janese,

Thanks for your response(s). We just thought we'd do 3-4 hours out of Airlie Beach the first night to get some Kms. under our belt and then take the whole next day driving up during daylight so we can see some of your coastline. The car rental w/ drop seems to be less expensive than airline tix x2 The cottage idea for Tasmania sounds good. Enjoy your trip. Where are you off to? Someplace wonderful I hope. Thanks AndrewDavid

johhj_au

Why Tassie?

mrsfletcher

Your trip sounds great and well planned. I'm a big fan of Tasmania - highly recommend Cradle Mountain Lodge (www.cradlemountainlodge.com.au), Strahan (west coast), Freycinet, and of course Hobart itself. When we go to Hobart, we stay at Barton Cottage B&B (www.bartoncottage.com.au). With only 6 days in Tassie I wouldn't try to do all of the above - too much driving time. Don't be fooled by distances; roads are anything but straight and/or direct. Lots to see & do. For Hobart, most of the action is in & around Salamanca Place (markets/harbor/restaurants/historic neighborhoods), day trips to Mt. Wellington, Port Arthur, Cadbury Factory, Cascade Brewery. Fun place.

AussieJo

Hi there, the Bruce Highway from Airlie Beach to Daintree is a very quite stretch of road it is in very good condition & you will be able to travel at the speed limit. It is very very boring most of the time as it doesn't sit on the coast as one would imagine. I would look at staying at Townsville overnight, Jupiters Casino has very good accom & nice water views if you have time maybe a trip to Magnetic Island via the ferry. Enjoy

AndrewDavid

Some quick thank you's to those who have responded to me so far

To johhj_au:

Are you asking me or Janese, " Why Tassie?"

For us what I understand is the chance to see some great temperate climate natural scenery , world class wilderness and some historic sites like Port Arthur.

For Janese, well she'll have to speak for herself.

Are you not a fan of "Tassie". I hear the beer is great.

MrsFletcher: Thanks for the info on Tasmania, Barton's Cottage and deceptive driving distances. We'll try to set reasonable goals as this is a vacation, not a marathon.

AussieJo, Thanks for the info on Bruce Highway. Is it more boring than driving across Kansas?

AndrewDavid

johhj_au

Well A/D....you do seem on top of the issues...perhaps significantly better informed tham some here.

The Bruce Highway between Airlie and the Daintree is the antithesis of driving thru Kansas.However it is NOT an interstate.The drive from Cardwell north is particularly good with a real slice of FNQ being available if you keep ur eyes and ears open and get around.Sugar towns/Tully river/mission beach/hinchinbrook/atherton tablelands/maybe even the lava tubes...you could check them all out on your drive.

Is Tassie overated?
I would think you should compare it to other options for a week ex sydney:
-a loop of the south of the south island of nz
-a drive sydney brisbane
-a drive melbourne-adelaide + KI via great ocean road etc.

I think
port arthur and other places in tassie are among the best places to get a feel for the convict experience.
for glaciated scenery you are MUCH better off in nz
for rainforest you are much better of in the daintree or the world heritage forests near mt warning.
if you are looking for an alternative lifestyle vibe you are better off in the byron hinterland.

As for the beer...nost australian lagers are pretty much the same...but cascade does have good ads.

AndrewDavid

Dear Aussies and aussiephiles,

Well I hate to be a pig and move myself up to the top, but I've been disappointed and hurt ( hey I'm a sensitive guy) by the realtive lack of response to our itinerary. Aside from Janese, AussieJo, Mrs Fletcher and Johhj, I've not heard from the rest of you natives, the choir from NZ or my fellow annoying countrymen and women. What gives? Is everyone on vacation , worn out or just getting ready for the solstice?

We've decided we can't afford Lizard Island so will do a Daintree Air day trip and a 2 night liveaboard for our northern reef snorkelling from May 1-4. The rest of our proposed itineray is as first written until I hear from some more of you, Pretty Please!

AndrewDavid

johhj_au

A/D
Did you get that little hint from the previous poster....
Tassie in May can be a little chilly.

Also some of the smarties from down south say not Kakadu..Kakadon't.

AndrewDavid

To Astrid and Johhj. Thanks for feedback. I sent an enquiry to the Tasmanian Tourist Board website regarding weather in 3rd week of April. I understand its iffy.

Johhj: why Kakadon't ?!?

Also
In reply to your questions about why Tasmania (who is doing all this promotion.)

Our reason's for going
1. It's my partners first choice and we have to do somethig he wants

2. We live in the high desert currently experiencing drought so green and damp sounds good ( although personally I hope we don't have to do too much hiking about in the rain)

3. A general impression that many americans bring back about Tasmania is that its like California was in the 60's and 70's before so much overdevelopment took place there. Being former Californians that sounds a good dose of nostalgia for us. Thanks for your thoughtful feedback

johhj_au

well A/D at the rate your going I reckon when you hop on that plane in albequerque you will know more about your destinations than 80% of aussies.

Kakadon't....I hate to sound negative but someone has to take an alternative view on occasions...a poster called LizF often does this role but she hasn't been around for a while.

There is a view that Kakadu owes its profile to the Crocodile Dundee movies.
Some say harshly that it is "clapped out" savannah contry.
Why burn a day or to getting up and out of the top end when you can see aboriginal hand paintings,crocodiles and tropical widlife elsewhere in more convenient locations.

Tassie reasons
1. Can't argue with that..

2.if you are taking a punt on weather I suppose its a good excuse to buy a dri az a bone.

3. Tassie like Cal.....that would have to be northern california...if you want something like the good old days in the best part of Cal. (central and southern) then you better be headed elsewhere e.g. Byron Bay.

AndrewDavid

Johhj

Another translation request:

What is a "dri az a bone"?

You guesssed right we're from N. CA: Berkeley and Carmel Valley

Thanks for feedback

AndrewDavid

PS do you know where LizF has gone? I miss her comments

Pumblechook

A/D, A drizabone is an oilskin overcoat, originally worn by cattlemen but now worn pretty widely. If you can think back to the opening of the Sydney Olympics (if you saw it) there were lots of guys riding horses. They were wearing drizabones.

Carrabella

This is a comment from a fellow United Mileage Plus passenger, but one who is going from Australia to Alaska, New Mexico and the Southwest for six weeks later on this year - if they are still flying!
We lived in Tasie for six years,and travelled from Sydney to Cairns , to Alice Springs, Ayers Rock (Uluru)to Darwin in the sixties, when the road was a two lane, isolated track in a VW Beetle with "lay-back" seats - a wonderful trip. Lately, we've done lots of road trips in the USA and Canada, and have left trips in Australia again for when we are really old!
My comment is, Tasmania in May could be miserable, and it is such a lot of travel on what you already will have done, I think you would be better off to save it for another time, and spend the extra days in the Blue Mountains out of Sydney,(like a smaller version of the Grand Canyon, but lots of wonderful flora as well) or add extra time somewhere else. The beaches around Sydney are amongst the best in the world, and even if it is too cold to swim, there are fabulous walks.

Check out www.ninemsn.com.au and the "Getaway" site there.

Jet Lag is bad coming from LA to Sydney, not so bad going back. United doesn't fly via Auckland any more, I think, which is a shame, because New Zealand and Tasi are similar (Except for NZ's glaciers and mountain peaks.)I though parts of NZ were back in the fifties a few years ago, when we were there, and I loved it too..

johhj_au

P Cook has covered the drizabone...if you see an R M Williams shop go in..and have a look at the aussie squatter outfit
boots
moleskin trousers
check shirt
wool tie
akubra hat
drizabone

an akubra often makes a good souvenir..along with your stubbie cooler,didgeridoo and aboriginal art etc

well i thought carmel etc were still central cal. Tassie is more like genuine northern cal or pacific northwest.In my opinion a more apt comparison is nova scotia (cape breton).

I reckon you should scrap kakadu,fly hobart -brissy,pick up a car and drive brissy-cairns via byron,noosa,fraser,airlie etc

then fly cairns-alice.I would try and get into the McDonnell ranges near alice on your way to the rock.

johhj_au

try some posts on the australia section of the thorn tree message board at
www.lonelyplanet.com

Janese

LizF can't come back because she can't work out how to re-register so I am here in her place.
I have looked through some of the comments and one that I have to counter is the one that said that the weather could be "iffy" in Tasmania. Sure it won't be summer and sure it may be a tad cold but I have been there twice in May ( let alone April) and enjoyed it very much.
The weather in Tassie is not cold in terms of US winters anyway and at least you can hike to your hearts content and not get overheated. It would not deter me from going. The idea of going to the Blue Mountains instead would probably get you exactly the same terperatures you would have in Tasmania anyway as it does get somewhat "soldiers" up there.
I get the idea that you are not after glaciated scenery in Tasmania anyway - and it is correct to say that that type of scenery is better in NZ, but it would also be correct in saying that that scenery is much better in the USA for that matter.
No, Tasmania is not those things and it is different from the rest of Australia and it is still uncluttered, has fabulous food, wonderful scenery ( but perhaps not as green as you would expect, because of the dry grasses and lack of rain) the air is clean and fresh and the countryside is worth a visit and its sub-temperate rain forests are very different from the tropical ones. You won't feel pushed in time or temperament and you will relive a time past when things were not as "fast" as they are now.
I think your plans are just fine except for the drive from Whitsundays to Cairns - I would fly