I know that some varients of this question have been asked a thousand times, but I want my own personalized responses. My first thread on my upcoming trip sort of wandered into this territory as well. You can check it out for background at http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...8&start=50 .

Like everyone else who goes here the first time, I have Sydney and Cairns/Port Douglas as must-see destinations. If I allocate 5 days to each, I have 5 or maybe 6 more days available in my trip, in early April. I will also be spending 12 or 13 days in New Zealand, primarily driving in a big circle on the South Island, while my wife searches for Aragorn.

My wife and I are just on either side of 40, active and enjoy bush-walking (I'm trying to learn the lingo), good food and wine and just sort of soaking up local ambiance. I'm getting so many things free on this trip that I don't mind the expense of extra flights, although I don't want to spend my whole trip in airports.

We initially thought of the Red Centre for the full remaining days, but have gotten more and more soured on the idea the more we reflect. Our primary reason is that it seems an artificial place fueled only by tourism and populated only by tourists and those who deal with them. I'm not sure we will know anything much more about Australia or Australians from spending our time there. Plus there are those pesky flies! The things that still weigh on my mind are the opportunity to learn more about Aboriginal culture and missing some extraordinary scenery and Australian icons.

Other ideas we have considered have included Darwin/Kakadu, the Whitsundays or Adelaide or Melbourne. Oddly enough, I started out thinking one of the islands would be the thing I most liked, but I now view that as my least favorite as of 4:05pm EDT.

Melbourne or Adelaide are good from the point of view of efficient air connections and hotels I can get for free by cashing in points. Proximity to scenic drives and wine country is also a plus. They also seem to be more insightful into life in Australia on some level.

Darwin and the north is the one that seems to be calling my name at the moment, it has some of the amazing landscapes and natural wonders that interested me about the Red Centre but without existing only as a tourist center.

If we assume that I'll return to my old habits of vacations in Europe after this and I'll not get back anytime soon, what advice might you offer me? I'd also like to thank you all in advance -- this board is a wonderful resource for research and the ratio of helpful posts to blather is much higher than other talk board I know.

I happen to like the southern areas quite a lot. I have a biased leaning towards Melbourne, as it seems so different from Sydney and because there are a number of things to do from there. Of course, there are usually a variety of options regardless where you go. Melbourne/Victoria, Tasmania or Kakadu would all be options that I'd personally feel were good ones.

I am an Australian and have done quite a deal of travelling around the world but I must say that my trip to Uluru and the surrounding countryside was one of the most memorable trips I have done. Yes the area is fuelled by tourism but that is because it is worth visiting. The feeling of awe has to be experienced to be understood...one can well understand the Aboriginal affinity with the land and nature. Also if you do go , indulge your interest in food and wine by doing the Dinner under the Stars tour ..it is phenominal.Please don't dismiss the area, which is certainly not artificial.Have a great holiday whatever you decide.

For a genuine outback experience you might try a 4-5 day loop out of Broken Hill
the Barrier ranges..mootwinjee...white cliffs opal mines...stay at a huge sheep station on the darling...the old river town of Bourke..see the current aboriginal situation at Wilcannia

not the glamour of the red centre or Kakdon't but there won't be too many other yanks out there.

I like the idea of Melbourne or Adelaide - perhaps you could drive one way between the cities and spend a couple of days on the very scenic Great Ocean Rd. Cape Otway and the Otway Ranges (on the GOR) offer good bushwalking, rainforests and waterfalls. April weather could be pretty nice.

Using Adelaide as a base would give you a number of options - Kangaroo Island, the wine country and if time allowed, a visit to the Flinders Ranges, an oft overlooked, spectacular region of Aussie Outback about 250 miles north. Superb for bushwalks, though I must confess I've yet to see the Flinders Ranges for myself.

I found your statement about artificial places fueled by tourism a bit ironic in light of your intention to visit Cairns and PD. I'd venture to say that 90% of the economy up there is now tourism related. Which leads me to my next suggestion...why not fly to much less touristy Townsville and drive one way north to Cairns or PD from there? Some magnificent scenery - the view over rugged Hinchinbrook Island from the Casual Cassowary Cafe (near Ingham)is unforgettable. There are also some great inland diversions, such as Wallaman Falls (about 40 km from Ingham) - Australia's highest at 1000 ft. We saw platypuses in the stream above the falls and a wild cassowary in the forest nearby. The falls would be still raging in April I would imagine. Further north are the Tully River Valley - beautiful and also popular for white water rafting. Then there's Mission Beach, Dunk Island, the Aterton Tablelands, etc. Some excellent bushwalks in many of these areas.

Just a word of warning on the Townsville-Cairns coastal road in April. Only last week it was again impassable for several days due to flooding from heavy rain in a late wet season. AndrewDavid who is a regular contributor to this forum, and stayed with us in Cairns last week, was caught and he'll undoubtedly fill in details on his return to US. I've been trapped there in April a few years back - it's a very long deviation by the back route via Charters Towers and parts of that road can flood as well.

This is of course the problem with choices. If only one was merely selecting the good things it would be easy -- unfortunately one is also selecting not to do lots of other good things. I am very grateful for all the input.

Clifton: I forgot to explain my problem with Tasmania. I would have that higher on my list, but it is the one place I can't easily arrange to depart from. The terms of my ticket will only allow me one destination over the sea and I'm already using that for New Zealand.

Peteralan: I find it interesting to read people's reactions to Uluru. There are certainly many who share your views and I am unsure if we will feel the same way. In many respects I have a lot of difficulty eliminating the Centre from our list as well.

Johnj: I had not even heard of any of your interesting list but the White Cliffs Opal Mines. I will do some more homework. Thanks very much for the suggestions.

Ralph: Irony is my middle name! I am aware that the area I am targetting is heavily touristed (perhaps even over-touristed). However, snorkelling is a passion of ours and we hope to learn to dive and expect to love that even more. With any luck, we'll be out in the reef away from the hordes. Part of our selection of either Cairns or PD was that we could get 5 free nights lodging, which is a powerful draw. So we're sort of looking at that as a necessary evil.

Pat: Thanks for the warning. Because we need a direct flight from NZ and the hotel situation, we'll probably have to skip this attractive option anyhow. It would be rough to be stranded mid-trip!

MikeTravels,

Understood about the ticketing situation. If it helps, and if you haven't ruled it out, in December I found cheap "side" tickets on Qantas from Melbourne to Tasmania. Also check Jetstar.com.au and Virginblue.com.au Burnie and Launceston were cheapest at the time, but I'm sure that varies. I think it was less that $80USD round trip for web savers at the time, from Melborne where I was staying.

I think the Adelaide - Melbourne drive would be great. Did part of that drive in December (Great Ocean Rd). The views at the rocks are beautiful and while I know some people don't care for all the drive - it's not all as spectacular is the 12 Apostles - I did like the Otway park (spotted various wildlife inc. koalas and echidna). Also enjoyed walking up the waterfalls and lighthouse points for photographs and to stretch the legs.

Have fun.

Melbourne would be a good spot for the spare days of your holiday. The weather in April is generally good with reasonably warm weather and the autumn colours in the trees. There is a lot to see around the city - Yarra Valley wineries and Healesville Sanctuary, Melbourne Zoo, St Kilda, Williamstown, etc, plus we have some of the best art galleries in Australia. The drive along the Great Ocean Road is spectacular at any time of the year, so how about driving Melbourne/Geelong/Great Ocean Road as far as Port Fairy, head north to the Grampians National Park, east to Ballarat (lots of nice buildings, great folk museum, art galleries etc) and then back to Melbourne. This could take three or four days, or as long as you can spare.

An advantage of Melbourne is that I could get direct flights back to the states from there as well. The loop around the Great Ocean Road does appeal. Thanks very much for your help.