Hi McCamish,<BR>we're Aussies too, and had 4 nights in Manarola last year, staying at Casa Capellini. It was like a B&amp;B without the breakfast. We visited all the CT villages and liked Manarola, Riomaggiore and Vernazza the best. The walk between Manarola and Riomaggiore is flat and easy, about half an hour. The trail between Manarola and Corniglia was closed due to a landslide, apparently very common in that area. The walk between Corniglia and Vernazza took about 2 leisurely hours, great coastal views along the way.<BR>If you have 5 or 6 days, try and make the trip north to Santa Margherita Ligure, about an hour by train. It's a lovely resort town with a lively waterfront. More of a proper town with roads and traffic, quite different from the CT villages which are very small and quite unlike anything we have in Australia!<BR>A really good website is (check out our trip report - Kay and John Fraser)<BR>http://homepage.sunrise.ch/homepage/avong/cinque_terre/<BR>Kay<BR>

I would recommend staying at Villa Argentina, Via A. de Gasperi, 170 in Riomaggiore in the CT. It's a great place (http://www.emmeti.it/Welcome/Liguria.../index.uk.html)
with double rooms starting at only 78 euro and includes an ample breakfast each morning. The property is located high up on the hill with commanding views of the town, coastline, and environs. A truly wonderful place to see and stay!

My husband and I will be visiting the Cinque Terre for 6 nights in early June. We are staying at an inn in Monterosso. I at first, thought that it was too long. My husband and I have visited the area before but only for a day trip. My husband really wanted to spend some time there, so off we go!! Plenty of day trips from there too, Santa Margherita Ligure, Camogli, Levanto, Sestri Levante, Portovenere, Pisa....We will stay in Lucca for a few days befor the Cinque Terre.. Can't wait!! Maybe I'll see you there! here!!