Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > Australia & the Pacific
Reload this Page >

Trip Report: May/June Sydney and Cairns, Part 4 and Conclusion

Trip Report: May/June Sydney and Cairns, Part 4 and Conclusion

Old Jul 17th, 2009, 08:45 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Trip Report: May/June Sydney and Cairns, Part 4 and Conclusion

This is the final part of the trip report on our late May/early June trip, including a couple of days in Cairns, return and overnight in Sydney, and some overall observations.

The following day, out kids went on a tour to Green Island, while my wife and I shopped, strolled the esplanade, and spent some time at the main casino. The casino has (by US standards) relatively high table minimums, with blackjack, craps, roulette, maybe a couple of other table games at Au$10 minimum in the midday hours. Slot machines available in 1 cent and up denominations, a horse/dog betting area, and a couple of dining options. It is very attractive, open and spacious for the relatively small facility, with gaming available on 2 floors. The very nice feature (as non-smokers) is that the entire facility is smoke free.

The kids enjoyed their Green Island trip, but said it paled in comparison to the Reef Magic experience. We wandered around the waterfront and downtown area, ultimately ending up at the night market again for dinner and back to the casino, where my son hit a nice horse race trifecta bet, which paid enough for him to buy a leather jacket he had been coveting all week.

Our last day, my wife and daughter had selected a horseback riding trip while my son and I opted for a morning estuary fishing trip on Gone Fishing. The boat was a comfortable covered skiff with 5 fisherman plus our guide. We started with a couple of stops looking to net the bait we would use, ending up in a mangrove-lined feeder steam where we finally found the bait fish. We fished several spots without much luck (various small non-keepers on a couple of lines fishing cut prawns) with our bait constantly being harassed and beheaded by smaller bait thieves. On the final fishing stop over an old wreck, I had the only larger fish of the trip, first a 2 foot barracuda followed a few minutes later by a nearly 40 inch older relative. To someone more used to inland freshwater fishing in Minnesota, the barracuda had a pretty amazing set of teeth , and reminded me of a salt water version of a muskie with a bad attitude.

Returning to the dock, we made a final casino trip, had lunch back at the food court, and met up with my wife and daughter. We spent our last couple of hours on the waterfront and then walking around downtown Cairns. A taxi ride to the airport, followed by the reverse of the long outdoor trek between check in and the security gates in the warm late afternoon sun left me perspiring a bit, which in turn precipitated my being pulled out of the security line for a more intense drug/explosives screen. (I asked why, and she said because I was sweating, like that would be unusual after the long outdoor walk pulling a suitcase.)

Our flight back to Sydney was turbulent but uneventful. Our son took the train back to his apartment, and the three of us taxied to our hotel, the Formule 1 by the airport. We were only going to be in the room for about 10 hours, so we were looking for something cheap, clean and basic, and that is exactly what we got. It was raining fairly hard when we arrived, so I called for their shuttle and was told it would be cheaper for the three of us to taxi, which turned out to be true. Reviews had said it would be close enough to walk, but pulling large suitcases, that would still have been a stretch, even if it weren’t raining and if we had even a clue what direction to go, which I suppose if necessary, I could have asked. There is major construction going on at the exterior of the hotel, which fortunately was silent for the hours we were there.

One online review said “now I know what prison feels like” to describe the very plain rooms, and while that is a bit of a stretch, seeing the room the first time immediately reminded me of that review. We had a full sized bed plus bunk beds, with barely enough room left over for our 3 suitcases and carry ons. The bathroom was very small, with the shower head right on the wall draining into the floor, so everything was wet after the first shower. But, the beds were comfortable, the room was quiet and dark, there is a Krispy Kreme and McDonald’s less than a block away, staff were friendly and helpful, it was very convenient to both airport terminals, and the price was right, so we were ultimately pleased with the choice for a short getaway night stay.

We taxied to the international terminal the next morning, and met up with our son who was seeing us off as he had 2 more weeks for final exams in Sydney before returning. We were also taking back a fair amount of his clothes and other items, so we needed to do a luggage-balancing act at the terminal, but check in went well. We did a Wagamama stop in the food court, and said goodbyes there. The return trip was uneventful, except for my being pulled out of line both in Sydney and San Francisco for additional security checks (Sydney was my own fault as with all the luggage shuffling, I ended up with a bottle of ice cream topping intended as a gift back home in my carry-on, which was of course confiscated).

Overall, it was an amazing trip, and among the four of us with 4 digital cameras snapping, we ended up with over 1100 photos to back up our memories.

A few final thoughts:
-Food everywhere was more expensive than we figured, but was universally good and presented in an appealing way. Also, decent restaurants weren’t all that much more than fast food or lower quality places, so you may as well eat well. Even grocery store prices for many items were high by our expectations, but generics and other bargains are possible and worth the look. The two grocery chains we dealt with were Woolworths in Cairns and Coles in Sydney, both with decent prices and good quality.
-Grocery stores also can be a reasonable place to shop for souvenirs. Things like Aussie honey, macadamia nut cookies and candies, tropical fruit ice cream toppings (I still wish I had gotten that one home), etc. were unique, appreciated gifts that were a bargain compared to gift shop prices.
-People were nice everywhere. Not overwhelmingly, fawningly so, but very much like what we refer to as “Minnesota nice” back home. We had one encounter with a pan handler late one evening in Sydney, but otherwise, there weren’t any negative encounters with anyone the entire trip.
-The absence of wash cloths in hotels was notable. I don’t know if this is an Australian standard or just at our 2 budget places, but neither the Bellview nor Formule 1 provided wash cloths.
-Everywhere was so clean. It added a refreshing quality to this vacation I haven’t had outside of places like Japan or more expensive resorts in the US.
-I was glad we limited ourselves to two cities in the two weeks. It is obvious there are many things and places we didn’t get to see even in both of those to say nothing of the rest of the country, but I feel like we experienced the places we went at a comfortable pace yet thoroughly experienced them.
-We viewed all of the side trips we booked as well done, worth while, and well worth the expense. Our days were full and universally enjoyable, whatever the weather.
-I read many of the “downtown Cairns versus out on one of the beaches” discussions about where to stay in Cairns prior to our trip. While I didn’t experience the “beach” option, I can say the downtown option was a wonderful experience, both relaxing and exciting at the same time. Distances are somewhat deceiving on the maps, however, and if you aren’t staying within 3-4 blocks of the charter terminal, the other properties we saw looked like long walks, and you may as well have stayed out on the beaches and bussed in.

That’s about it. If you’ve hung in with me this far on the report, I hope it was worth your time, and thanks for reading. Above all, thanks again for the help we received prior to our trip.
Adamant is offline  
Old Jul 17th, 2009, 09:35 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 370
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Wow, great report. Thanks for posting!

I'm heading to Australia for the first time next month and I'll also be spending one week in Sydney and one week in Cairns.
mcbg1 is offline  
Old Jul 17th, 2009, 05:49 PM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 19,790
Received 83 Likes on 5 Posts
Thanks for posting Adamant. A very good read indeed!
Melnq8 is offline  
Old Jul 17th, 2009, 07:03 PM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 14,960
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 1 Post
Hi Adamant,
I've really enjoyed vicariously taking your trip with you; thanks so much for your detail & observations. As an Australian, I'm always interested in how others experience us and our country. Your comment about the differences in coffee here and the US made me smile, and think about English also being 'the same but different' wherever it is spoken as a first language.

Something else you made me think about and perhaps re-think advice I often give: Driving yourself v's taking a special interest or one day tour. When you're the driver, you DO miss out on seeing a lot of things, and I guess this is especially so when you're in strange territory and trying to negotiate driving on the opposite side of the road to that with which you're familiar. I'm usually heavily on the side of DIY because of the flexibility a car gives, and my aversion to being cooped up on a large bus with specific times allowed at various sites. Your trip to the Hunter Valley is a good example where the bus/coach is clearly a better option for the usual driver.

I'm glad you saw Bondi in a different hue from the iconic postcard sparkling blue - it is quite something, isn't it? You should have asked the girl for a photo - she'd have probably been happy to pose for you. I doubt you'd qualify as a Dirty Old Man, surrounded by your wife & kids. (LOL)

Interesting observation about food costs; I've found the costs pretty similar 'dollar for dollar' between Sydney & NYC.
Of course, with the fx difference,it's more expensive for us. Perhaps the difference is more pronounced if you're comparing major city and tourist area prices here with your local prices. Small town & regional costs here are generally lower for restaurants & cafes. I had an excellent lunch in Glen Innes (NSW North-West)recently - $15 for Middle Eastern influenced rack of lamb & a truly memorable salad with mandarines & cavallo nero. I thought they'd made a mistake - and they had. Forgotten to charge $4.50 for a glass of shiraz. Certainly city prices can be steep - and I've noticed coffee getting 'up there' lately. One place in the CBD charges an extra 50cents for 'extra hot'! Bit cheeky.

Thanks for the mention that it's possible and very easy to eat a variety of good foods at casual places where the prices are as cheap and the quality much better than the fast food chains. I think people sometimes go to McDonalds & the pizza chains etc because they think it'll be cheaper. Can't imagine what else would compel them to eat this stuff and not try some things they can't get at home; or at least a different version thereof.

Face washers/cloths - absence: I think it must be the cheaper places. They're usually provided - cheaper for the proprietors to throw out make-up stained washers than towels

Hope you'll come back again .... and post reports of your other travels. Cheers, Bokhara
Bokhara2 is offline  
Old Jul 17th, 2009, 09:15 PM
  #5  
SnR
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 187
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks for a great trip report, Adamant. One suggestion--copy and paste parts 2-4 as posts on Part 1 because they will get lost in the regular roll of postings. We are EXTREMELY UPSET that you saw a cassowary AND a chick at a touristy place and we looked all over the Daintree for one and didn't see one!!! Just lucky, as was your whole trip (especially your son's winnings at the casino!!) Glad to hear that Reef Magic lived up to its reviews--we had to cancel out since the winds were blowing so hard that the visability was low and even the Reef Magic people told Pat W. not to book. We found Australian food to be a little on the high side, too, but enjoyed the food and ambiance of the restaurants and pubs that it didn't bother us--and we went when the dollar was way down, almost equal to the AUD. I am glad you and your family had such a wonderful time.
Sally in Seattle
SnR is offline  
Old Jul 18th, 2009, 05:32 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,694
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I'll second Sally's suggestion regarding all your parts in one report. I'm glad I found your four different posts before they got separated because I really enjoyed reading your report.

How amazing that you saw the cassowary and chick. Did you get pictures? What a wonderful memory for you.
Toucan2 is offline  
Old Jul 18th, 2009, 05:33 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,106
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Great report!!! Gave me some good ideas for next time.
Songdoc is offline  
Old Jul 18th, 2009, 07:18 AM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,680
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks, adamant, for the informative and detailed review. You certainly were lucky to see cassowary and chick on the Skyrail route, have been on it many times myself and not seen a hint of a cassowary there. Just a tiny detail, the cassowary would have been a "he" not a "she" the cassowary Dad looks after the hatching and rearing of chicks, very smart of cassowary Mum.

Sorry Sally, I know this sighting would make you want to weep after your cassowary-searching-in-vain; if it makes you feel any better, I have it on good recent authority that a cassowary at a Daintree resort gave a tourist a very hearty bite. Big birds, big beaks!!
pat_woolford is offline  
Old Jul 18th, 2009, 09:13 AM
  #9  
SnR
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 187
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Pat, yes, we did moan and gnash our teeth, but were happy for Adamant. If more people see them, maybe Randy will agree to come back to Oz! I wouldn't want a cassowary bite, but would want a kick with the spur less. I had forgotten about the dad watching the chicks, thanks for the reminder. Cheers!
Sally in Seattle
SnR is offline  
Old Jul 19th, 2009, 05:29 PM
  #10  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks for the comments on the reports.

I didn't want to put everything together since it was so long, and I figured most people searching would be looking for one place or another, and wanted to spare them the added text length.

As for the cassowary, yes, we did get pictures, my daughter especially got some very nice shots of the adult and chick together. Mine were the adult about 10 feet into the underbrush. If it hadn't been for the flash of blue, I don't think I would have see it.

As for prices, we are from the mid-western US, so New York prices would be high to us, too.
Adamant is offline  
Old Jul 20th, 2009, 05:33 PM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 479
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi Adamant,
As an Australian who lives in Sydney and visited Cairns ten years ago I enjoyed your trip report very much.

It was a good point you made about the drive to the Blue Mountains. I find the constant merging of the left lane into the right one quite maddening. I imagine it would be far worse if you're not used to driving on the left.

You were so lucky to see a cassowary - we didn't.
We did the same Kuranda trip as you, and also enjoyed Tapukai very much. Thank you for reviving some memories!
Suelynne is offline  
Old Sep 17th, 2009, 06:20 AM
  #12  
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
thanks for your great trip report! i am heading to Oz in a couple months myself and it was a great help- just the kind of details i like to read about!! so glad you enjoyed your stay
awlrain is offline  
Old Sep 27th, 2009, 04:14 PM
  #13  
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks for your report, Adamant. It was a great read! I'm from Sydney but really enjoy reading the experiences of overseas tourists in our country. Hope you and your family enjoyed yourselves "Downunder" and return again one day (despite the long arduous flight)!
Salstar is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Adamant
Australia & the Pacific
5
Apr 8th, 2010 03:07 PM
SnRSeattle
Australia & the Pacific
15
Dec 21st, 2007 08:51 PM
Gardyloo
Australia & the Pacific
5
Aug 14th, 2005 04:46 PM
Mark
Australia & the Pacific
6
Oct 13th, 2002 05:10 AM
Jlynn
Australia & the Pacific
15
Aug 2nd, 2002 03:13 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -