Hi. I'm going to Australia for the first time next May. I will be traveling to Melbourne, Sydney and Cairns for two weeks as part of a academic program. I'd like to continue my trip with 3 friends and travel from Cairns to Ayers Rock and then return to Melbourne for my departure back to L.A. The program which we are participating covers all transportation, meals and accomodation costs for these 2 weeks.

The big question is how do four students (ages 21 and 22) could travel from Cairns to Ayers Rock and then head back to Melbourne the cheapest way possible. Please advice the best way that this might be possible (air, train, coach, car rental, etc). Thank you all!

In one short word! Fly!
There is no direct highway from Cairns to Ayers Rock so if you go by road (hire car or bus) you will need to go south to Townsville, west through Mt Isa to Tennant Creek then south to Alice Springs and then another 400 km to Ayers Rock. Long long trip - I've done it.
There isn't a train service on this route either. So my advice is to check out the airlines for the best fares. You may be able to buy a domestic airfare package as part of your international ticket.
There is a train service from Alice Springs to Melbourne but I think flying may be cheaper and save you a lot of time.

It is expensive to get to Uluru, especially as VirginBlue no longer seem to be offering this route. For Alice/Uluru to MLB you would have to fly. For Cairns to Alice you could, if you wanted to, though I doubt you will have the time, take the Desert Venturer Bus. It's not an A to B scheduled service more of a tour. Takes 3 days, 2 nights, and you get to see all sorts of different landscapes and really appreciate how big this country is.

It's about $375 AUD including all food and accommodation.

Alternatively, book yourself an open jaw ticket - fly into MLB and out of ADL, and check out Wayward Bus and Groovy Grape for super fast returns by road from the Alice to Adelaide. Or you could take the train.

The bottom line with travel in Oz is that the distances are huge. You can fly cheaply if you book a long way in advance (and, obviously, if the route you want to fly is available). Otherwise be prepared for long road journeys and sadly Greyhound buses' prices are quite high. Compared, that is, to the bargains to be had if you book air transport early. But still good value if you compare them to the normal air fares.

Two weeks is a drop in the ocean. If money is a problem you might do better to spend your extra days on R&R in the Cairns/Cape Trib area.

Best of luck.

Well, I will be in Oz for two weeks, and then I was planning to spend an extra week there. With the academic program I'm participating I'll visit Melbourne, Sydney and Cairns for 5 days each.

Where do you think then that I could spend my extra week? Is Ayers Rock worth it, or should I consider somewhere else?

I'd love to go to Western Australia, but that is out of the question since is too far. I was thinking something such as Ayers Rock, the Gold Coast or the Adelaide area.

Please advice!

Uluru [Ayers Rock] is unique. [Though I've lived in Australia most of my life I haven't been there yet, but plan to one day.] It won't be too hot in May, which is a major consideration.

The Gold Coast is very ritzy. The hinterland is lovely, but the Atherton Tableland behind Cairns is arguably better. Don't miss the waterfalls.

I haven't been to Adelaide for years so wouldn't like to comment.

It really, really depends on what you enjoy. I have passed thru the Gold Coast once. All I can say is that I was glad I hadn't made arrangements to stay in that high-rise mess. But it is a popular destination - for its excellent surf beach, I believe, and I guess for the clubs and bars.

I like Adelaide but its main selling points are culture, and wineries, unless you have time to go to Kangaroo Island.

And if you have time to go to KI then you have time to go to Uluru - and frankly there is no contest here.

So Uluru then. But it will cost you!!
Shame you don't have just a few more days.

See if you can fly from cns to alice. Then take a 3 day tour to the Rock and surrounds, returning to the Alice. Then you can train it (if the dates fit) or bus it, or go with WB or GG as previously mentioned to Adelaide, Then from ADL to MLB fly if you can get a cheap seat, else bus.

One other thought - it used to be a selling point with flights to Oz with Qantas that you could pre-book 2 domestic flights at preferential rates. This may or may not still be true but check it out.

Alternatively stay in FNQ - go to Cape Trib, and the Atherton Tablelands and Cooktown. Or south to Mission Beach, or a little further south to Townsville or the Whitsundays. You can fly from both the latter to Sydney - and maybe MLB too.

Get on the net and have a hunt around!!

Happy travels.