mtnchick

My husband and I are planning a 2 week trip to Australia in November. Too much to see and too little time, can you help narrow down the must sees for me, so I can get the itinary together soon. I know Sydney and the Great Barrier Reef are a must, but how much time should I allow for each location with such a limited time to spend. I also looked at Melbourne, the outback (Ayers Rock, Alice Springs), and Adelaide/Kangaroo Island. Can you help narrow our decisions down? Thanks so much for all your help.

Alan

Hi, mtnchick!

Sydney and the Reef are certainly a "must", and if I had to choose one further destination, for contrast I would do the Alice Springs/Uluru option (it will be hot, but not as bad as it's going to get two months after you leave!), or, maybe, Tasmania. Melbourne has nothing to offer when you have a holiday with "too much to see and too little time", and I don't think I would willingly give up several days of a short holiday to see Adelaide and Kangaroo Island, either (although the Barossa Valley is pleasant). Divide your time something like this: Sydney, 5 days (include at least one day in Canberra as part of this); Reef, 5 days; Outback, 4 days (but don't confine yourself to Uluru)... I think, then, you will feel that you have really sampled what Australia has to offer.

marg

Alan' suggestion for five days in Sydney, five days for the reef and four days for the outback sounds sensible. Unlike him, I think Melbourne has something to offer tourists but there is no sense in trying to do too much and being exhausted.
For your outback experience, I'd suggest flying into Alice Springs and then hiring a car. The roads to Uluru, the Olgas and Kings Canyon are all good (as long as you stay on the bitumen), and you can't get lost. Try to do the walk through the Valley of the Winds at the Olgas and the walk around the canyon rim at Kings Canyon. Both are about three hours but well worth the time.
If time allows, try to drive out to the west MacDonnell Ranges and visit the gorges along the way. The Desert Park in Alice Springs will give you the opportunity to see Australian animals and birds.
Palm Cove is a really nice spot to base yourself in Queensland. It's a particularly pretty little village with a nice beach. Good choice of accommodation etc. It's a short drive to Cairns (public bus runs between Cairns and Palm Cove) and Port Douglas.
Hope you have a great holiday.

Paul_S

Hi mtnchick,

I am guessing by your username that you are used to cool climate areas, so unlike Alan's and Marg's advice about coming out here to Alice Springs?ayres Rock in November, I would advise that unless you are comfortable with 110 degrees F and vast numbers of flies you should forget coming out here and choose a southern Australian area.

Maybe Adelaide, K.I., and Great Ocean Road to suggest a few locations.

The Alice/Ayres Rock region is a destination to be enjoyed during our winter months of May thru July with maybe the first couple of weeks of August being okay but once the flies hatch you can forget about enjoying the outback.

celine13

I suppose it boils down to what you;re really after. But do go to KI. It's really beautiful. Nov. can get abit hot in South Australia (30s) so do come prepared, especially the sun block, sunnies.
I thought Kings Canyon was much prettier than Ayers Rock and the Valley of the Winds walk is a must ( altho it's 3 hours long and it will be hot!)

bigjay

Here is mvho, skip Alice and if you must go to the outback just do Ayers Rock area and leave. Do some research on Perth, my family loved the area and my son added another ocean(Indian) swim to is adventures. We tell friends to skip the outback and go to Perth for 3 days instead. Australia is by far the best country on the planet but the outback is way over done. My wife and I plan on touring more of the country as money allows.

Peteralan

I would entirely agree with Alan in regard to the itinerary if it wasn't November you were coming. I think you would find Uluru etc far too hot then. Barrier Reef area will be hot too but at least you can swim! Do Sydney and Barrier Reef this time and come back in Winter to do the Rock etc. Enjoy!