Help us plan our vacation to Australia!

[turtledazzle]

Thanks to TravelingGal''s post a few months back (linky), my husband and I are going to Australia for a two-week vacation.

My sincere thanks to you TravelingGal -- I just happened to see your post that night and we bit the bullet and bought the tickets.

We''ve booked our hotels, but we haven''t really planned out exactly what to do yet. We will be there August 30th through September 12th.

We''ll spend the first four days in Melbourne. We then fly to Cairns where we''ll spend about 2.5 days (one day will be spent diving). From Cairns we''ll drive to Port Douglas and spend 3 days there (one day probably diving). We will then end our trip with four days in Sydney.

We''re staying in the CBD in both Melbourne and Sydney.

Any advice on what to do would be appreciated. We''d also appreciate any recommendations for dive trips on the Great Barrier Reef (we''re just planning on day trips, not live-aboards as I''m afraid of sea sickness

).

We''d love to do a winery/vineyard trip (maybe in Melbourne?). Otherwise we love museums, outdoor activities, pretty much anything. We''d like to go out for a few nice meals, but we do want to keep things overall on a decent budget so we''d love some inexpensive restaurant suggestions as well.

Finally, Sydney -- Bridge Climb. Is it really worth the cost? It just seems so expensive ...

Thanks in advance!

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 7/14/2009 9:49:05 PM
Author:turtledazzle
Thanks to TravelingGal''s post a few months back (linky), my husband and I are going to Australia for a two-week vacation.

My sincere thanks to you TravelingGal -- I just happened to see your post that night and we bit the bullet and bought the tickets.

We''ve booked our hotels, but we haven''t really planned out exactly what to do yet. We will be there August 30th through September 12th.

We''ll spend the first four days in Melbourne. We then fly to Cairns where we''ll spend about 2.5 days (one day will be spent diving). From Cairns we''ll drive to Port Douglas and spend 3 days there (one day probably diving). We will then end our trip with four days in Sydney.

We''re staying in the CBD in both Melbourne and Sydney.

Any advice on what to do would be appreciated. We''d also appreciate any recommendations for dive trips on the Great Barrier Reef (we''re just planning on day trips, not live-aboards as I''m afraid of sea sickness

).

We''d love to do a winery/vineyard trip (maybe in Melbourne?). Otherwise we love museums, outdoor activities, pretty much anything. We''d like to go out for a few nice meals, but we do want to keep things overall on a decent budget so we''d love some inexpensive restaurant suggestions as well.

Finally, Sydney -- Bridge Climb. Is it really worth the cost? It just seems so expensive ...

Thanks in advance!

Bridge climb is great, but I did it in 2001 when the dollar was twice as strong as the AUD. It''s just fun and the history is interesting. You can get the same view from the lookout tower but just not as cool. And the photo they take is definitely worth it. I''ve been told to go up late in the day, so you come back at dusk, but I did it in the early afternoon and loved that too.

Personally, I say skip Cairns. Stay a night or two in romantic Palm Cove (just right outside of Cairns) and do the rest of that leg in Port Douglas.

In Port Douglas, if you want to see the local wildlife, I HIGHLY recommend David Armbrust Natural History tour. I have done his tour twice. I guess he remembered me fairly fondly and we kept sporadic touch. When I went to Cairns to meet TGuy''s sister, he wanted me to come back and see him so he could give the stamp of approval on TGuy (and he did.) He is amazing. Dry sense of humor, typical of so many Aussies. His tour is actually a guided walk around his land, which is in the rainforest. The animals know and trust him and will come right up to him. Birds will come and fly right onto his outstretched fingers. It''s wonderful. If you take the full day tour, you will get a wonderful lunch made by his wife, as well as freshly grilled fish in a lovely spot by a brook up in the rainforest. The afternoon takes you to different, dryer terrain.

It''s not a fast moving "safari" but a slow, quiet day where you can really learn a lot about nature. Don''t take it if you don''t like walking slowly and quietly for a good portion of the day. The time you are going should be good...just ask him what time of year the leeches are there.

Oh and tell him the crazy Korean girl sent you.

http://www.anhs.com.au/

As for diving, are you certified divers? If so, I also highly recommend NOT going on those big giant boats that dock at pontoons. The reefs are usually awful there. There are smalller operations that visit some great sites. It is worth it to do your two dives higher up north as the reefs down in Cairns are brown and often dead. Now, this was as of several years ago. My understanding is a lot of the coral has been affected since then.

Find any good lodging in Sydney? I have to book. We''ll be crossing each other at the airport in Sydney.

Restaurants, well, I have to recommend Tetsuyas in Sydney but that will probably break the bank! As touristy as it is, try a pie at Harry''s. Another horrifically touristy restaurant is Doyle''s on the Beach at Watson''s Bay...food is really meh, but it might be fun to go and have a drink there. I''ve eaten at a lot of good local joints in Sydney, but I don''t remember where any of them are because my friend always takes me around. If you are really interested, I''ll ask him for the latest great eats. It''s his wedding I am going to. I am also sure many of the PS Aussies will steer you the right direction.

Visit Manly Beach, and maybe something a little off the beaten path, like Balmain. Or Newtown.

And if you are a coffee drinker, you will have to learn quickly what a short black or a flat white is!

 

[AprilBaby]

Driving the Great Ocean Road from Melbourne was the highlight of my 2003 trip to Australia. We also went to Healsville Sanctuary to see the animals, downtown Mel to see the sights, and out to see the little penguins at Phillip Island. You will not regret going to see this LOVELY country! Have fun!

 

[Magpie09]

Hey turtledazzle

Can''t really give any advivce on the bridge climb because i''m a little scared of heights so me and the bridge climb don''t mix. In sydney you should definately check out Circular Quay (Train stops here) and from there you can walk to the Opera House, through the Botanical Gardens, and from here you can also get a few good pictures of the Harbour Bridge. Dalring Harbour is also worthwhile to check out as it has little boutiques and restuarants all along the sides (don''t know about prices though). Sydney aquarium is also there if that''s something you would be interested in seeing. If you want to go to the beach the i would suggest Bondi as it very popular and there are fish and chip shops and other stores along the main road. Nothing beats eating fish and chips whilst sitting on the grassed area near the beach and looking at the ocean Oh and the train system in Sydney is great- trains go to all the main tourist areas and it''s probable the easiest way to get around (well that''s what i found when i was there on holidays maybe PSers that live around there have better options).

Hope this helps you out a little

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 7/14/2009 11:03:36 PM
Author: Magpie09
Hey turtledazzle

Can''t really give any advivce on the bridge climb because i''m a little scared of heights so me and the bridge climb don''t mix. In sydney you should definately check out Circular Quay (Train stops here) and from there you can walk to the Opera House, through the Botanical Gardens, and from here you can also get a few good pictures of the Harbour Bridge. Dalring Harbour is also worthwhile to check out as it has little boutiques and restuarants all along the sides (don''t know about prices though). Sydney aquarium is also there if that''s something you would be interested in seeing. If you want to go to the beach the i would suggest Bondi as it very popular and there are fish and chip shops and other stores along the main road. Nothing beats eating fish and chips whilst sitting on the grassed area near the beach and looking at the ocean Oh and the train system in Sydney is great- trains go to all the main tourist areas and it''s probable the easiest way to get around (well that''s what i found when i was there on holidays maybe PSers that live around there have better options).

Hope this helps you out a little

Ooh, and look up into the trees...you''ll see tons of BATS.

I might be the only one, but I HATE darling harbour. It''s like every tourist trap waterfront I''ve ever been to. At least the Rocks/Circular Quay (pronouced "key") has two of Sydney''s major icons within view.

And just a head''s up that the CBD in Sydney is pretty well dead on nights and weekends.

 

[Sharon101]

You are choosing all good places!!!

I can help on the Melbourne front. I know many amazing restuarants depending on what food you like. Being in the city gives you proximity to some spectacular resturants that are second to none and not too expensive. So tell me if you love Indian, Chinese, Italian etc and I will get back to you!!! Also there are also some really serious coffee places around because here in Melbourne we take our beans seriously. Night time in the city you will find lots of groovy bars where you can buy a really amazing cocktail thats ginormous!!!

Bling wise there are some of the big names like Cartier etc etc and also many other smaller independant jewellery stores to see for fun. You can see some pink diamonds and lots of pearls in some of the specialty stores. Also Pandora is very big in Australia!

Entertainmentwise, you dont have much time because there is so much to see and do. The art gallery is like visiting amother world and the shop there is tdf. Plus there are many out door places to see, day spas and other tourest attractions.

Wineries are a bit of a drive from the city but worth it if you like that sort of thing. Its always a very luxurious day when you go to a winery as you spend the day with really good food, wine and scenery!

 

[softly softly]

Just thought I should mention that the weather will probably still be rather chilly in Melbourne when you get there (anywhere from low teens Celsius to high twenties). When in Melbourne check out Brunswick and Lygon Streets for cafes and great coffee (both are easily accessible from the CBD by tram) Lygon Street is famous for it's Italian influence while Brunswick Street is a bit more bohemian.

My recommendation for a day trip from Melbourne is Daylesford it's a great place for yummy food and wine, as well as for spa treatments.

Sounds like you have a great trip planned!

ETA as Tgal mentioned we have very different terms for our coffee here (as I learned when I visited the US in May). A flat white is similar to a latte (which we also have here) but with less milk and a long black is pretty much as it sounds, a tall cup of coffee with no milk.

 

[turtledazzle]

Date: 7/14/2009 10:43:21 PM
Author: TravelingGal

Date: 7/14/2009 9:49:05 PM
Author:turtledazzle
Thanks to TravelingGal''s post a few months back (linky), my husband and I are going to Australia for a two-week vacation.

My sincere thanks to you TravelingGal -- I just happened to see your post that night and we bit the bullet and bought the tickets.

We''ve booked our hotels, but we haven''t really planned out exactly what to do yet. We will be there August 30th through September 12th.

We''ll spend the first four days in Melbourne. We then fly to Cairns where we''ll spend about 2.5 days (one day will be spent diving). From Cairns we''ll drive to Port Douglas and spend 3 days there (one day probably diving). We will then end our trip with four days in Sydney.

We''re staying in the CBD in both Melbourne and Sydney.

Any advice on what to do would be appreciated. We''d also appreciate any recommendations for dive trips on the Great Barrier Reef (we''re just planning on day trips, not live-aboards as I''m afraid of sea sickness

).

We''d love to do a winery/vineyard trip (maybe in Melbourne?). Otherwise we love museums, outdoor activities, pretty much anything. We''d like to go out for a few nice meals, but we do want to keep things overall on a decent budget so we''d love some inexpensive restaurant suggestions as well.

Finally, Sydney -- Bridge Climb. Is it really worth the cost? It just seems so expensive ...

Thanks in advance!

Bridge climb is great, but I did it in 2001 when the dollar was twice as strong as the AUD. It''s just fun and the history is interesting. You can get the same view from the lookout tower but just not as cool. And the photo they take is definitely worth it. I''ve been told to go up late in the day, so you come back at dusk, but I did it in the early afternoon and loved that too.

Personally, I say skip Cairns. Stay a night or two in romantic Palm Cove (just right outside of Cairns) and do the rest of that leg in Port Douglas.

In Port Douglas, if you want to see the local wildlife, I HIGHLY recommend David Armbrust Natural History tour. I have done his tour twice. I guess he remembered me fairly fondly and we kept sporadic touch. When I went to Cairns to meet TGuy''s sister, he wanted me to come back and see him so he could give the stamp of approval on TGuy (and he did.) He is amazing. Dry sense of humor, typical of so many Aussies. His tour is actually a guided walk around his land, which is in the rainforest. The animals know and trust him and will come right up to him. Birds will come and fly right onto his outstretched fingers. It''s wonderful. If you take the full day tour, you will get a wonderful lunch made by his wife, as well as freshly grilled fish in a lovely spot by a brook up in the rainforest. The afternoon takes you to different, dryer terrain.

It''s not a fast moving ''safari'' but a slow, quiet day where you can really learn a lot about nature. Don''t take it if you don''t like walking slowly and quietly for a good portion of the day. The time you are going should be good...just ask him what time of year the leeches are there.

Oh and tell him the crazy Korean girl sent you.

http://www.anhs.com.au/

As for diving, are you certified divers? If so, I also highly recommend NOT going on those big giant boats that dock at pontoons. The reefs are usually awful there. There are smalller operations that visit some great sites. It is worth it to do your two dives higher up north as the reefs down in Cairns are brown and often dead. Now, this was as of several years ago. My understanding is a lot of the coral has been affected since then.

Find any good lodging in Sydney? I have to book. We''ll be crossing each other at the airport in Sydney.

Restaurants, well, I have to recommend Tetsuyas in Sydney but that will probably break the bank! As touristy as it is, try a pie at Harry''s. Another horrifically touristy restaurant is Doyle''s on the Beach at Watson''s Bay...food is really meh, but it might be fun to go and have a drink there. I''ve eaten at a lot of good local joints in Sydney, but I don''t remember where any of them are because my friend always takes me around. If you are really interested, I''ll ask him for the latest great eats. It''s his wedding I am going to. I am also sure many of the PS Aussies will steer you the right direction.

Visit Manly Beach, and maybe something a little off the beaten path, like Balmain. Or Newtown.

And if you are a coffee drinker, you will have to learn quickly what a short black or a flat white is!

Hi TravelingGal,

I was hoping you''d respond. Thanks for all of the advice. I''ve read about Tetsuyas, and it definitely sounds like it would break the bank ... but is tempting, but I''m sure we''ll pass though we''ve read great things about it.

Also, thanks for the advice on Cairns. I originally wanted to stay our whole time up north in Port Douglas, so we''ll see if those arrangements can be changed. DH just wanted to experience Cairns as well since that''s where we''re flying to/from up there.
We are both certified divers ... so if you have any specific recommendations for dive shops to go with, that would be great. What do you mean when you say "My understanding is a lot of the coral has been affected since then."?

The David Armbrust Natural History tour sounds just up our alley -- I''ll look into it.


My husband is the coffee drinker, so I''m sure he''ll learn the consequences quickly or suffer the caffeine consequences.

As for our Sydney lodging, we''re really no frills kind of people and were just looking for clean, non-budget-breaking lodging (preferably with laundry since we''re going to try to bring only carry-ons for our trip!). On vacation we just don''t spend a ton of time in our rooms, so we are just looking for a place to (hopefully) comfortably sleep. With that being said, in Sydney we''re staying at the Meriton Serviced Apartments - Kent Street

 

[honey22]

How exciting!!!!!

I don''t have much to add, but I would skip Port Douglas, it''s totally overrated and not all that. My parents live up there so I go up there often.

I would recommend you staying in Palm Cove instead, it''s right on the beach and much much nicer. We are actually getting married in Palm Cove at Angsana Resort.

There isn''t heaps to do itself in Cairns, it''s just a city and the majority of the tourist attraction are north ie. Palm Cove is about 20kms north of Cairns city. You could always stay based in Palm Cove and visit the city for a day (that''s all you would need) and maybe do a day trip drive to Port Douglas to check it out. It''s very touristy though and a bit disappointing.

If you can get to Mossman Gorge, it''s beautiful. Paronella Park is about 2hrs drive from Cairns but totally worth it, it''s an old castle in the rainforest, with a romantic tale to go with it.

If you have any more questions about the far north, just ask! I would be happy to recommend accommodation too, some places look fabulous on the net and are not exactly great when you get there. Good luck with the planning!

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 7/15/2009 12:02:44 AM
Author: honey22
How exciting!!!!!

I don''t have much to add, but I would skip Port Douglas, it''s totally overrated and not all that. My parents live up there so I go up there often.

I would recommend you staying in Palm Cove instead, it''s right on the beach and much much nicer. We are actually getting married in Palm Cove at Angsana Resort.

There isn''t heaps to do itself in Cairns, it''s just a city and the majority of the tourist attraction are north ie. Palm Cove is about 20kms north of Cairns city. You could always stay based in Palm Cove and visit the city for a day (that''s all you would need) and maybe do a day trip drive to Port Douglas to check it out. It''s very touristy though and a bit disappointing.

If you can get to Mossman Gorge, it''s beautiful. Paronella Park is about 2hrs drive from Cairns but totally worth it, it''s an old castle in the rainforest, with a romantic tale to go with it.

If you have any more questions about the far north, just ask! I would be happy to recommend accommodation too, some places look fabulous on the net and are not exactly great when you get there. Good luck with the planning!

Honey, I think PD is overrated to the person who may live there or visit often...it''s pretty great for a tourist. Lots of choices of dive ships and easy touring of the daintree. Don''t get me wrong, I love Palm Cove, but a couple of days there is enough. Especially since TD is wanting to dive.

Speaking of touristy stuff, I wasn''t a fan of Kuranda, but some people might like it.

TD, about the coral, you''d have to check the latest on it. I remember earlier this decade, there were quite a few stories about the water getting too warm, which was killing the coral. Just white/brown and dead. When I was in Cairns in 2005, TGuy''s family wanted to go snorkeling. We took a boat from Cairns, and honestly, it sucked. Fish are great and fun to see, but nothing in the way of coral. This was one of those big pontoon dealies. Yuck. I wish I could remember the dive operator in Port Douglas. There are some good operators that focus on snorkeling and others that focus on diving. Spots aren''t always great for both. Haba and Calypso come to mind, but I don''t remember the one I took that I was really pleased with. If you want, I will research it for you, but I''ll probably have to dig up some old trip reports that will take me a bit of time. I know the one I went on had a huge operation out of PD that docked on a pontoon, but it also had smaller dive boats. That is the one I went on.

Ah...just remember which one I did as well, Poseidon. http://www.poseidon-cruises.com.au/

Ah ha again...remembered the other one...it was QuickSilver tours, but NOT their big boat!

 

[whitby_2773]

hi turtledazzle

i''m an australian who lives now in NY, but who has traveled extensively around all the places you mentioned. my husband and i used to spend our annual leave each year on the coast in Queensland, and i can tell you for certain, Cairns isn''t all that great. it''s very touristy, flat and plain as towns go, and overpriced. the area you want is the place where more australians go - which is the Whitsunday Islands. that''s a colletion of 73 islands, as i recall off hand, just off the coast between the towns of Townsville and Mackay:

take a look here.

you can fly right into the islands, landing on Hamilton Island, and the water is gorgeous, the reef and the diving are spectacular, the resorts cater to all price ranges and the view is unbelievable. *this* is the australian equivalent of the caribbean, so if you want a spectacular great barrier reef island experience, this is where you''d go.

i''ll write more later, as it''s getting late, but just wanted to get this info out to you straight away. to inspire you a trifle, take a look at
this. i hope it entices you.

and i chuckled to hear t-gal describe Balmain as ''off the beaten path''; 5 minutes from the city by hydrocat, Balmainers consider themselves to be rather cool and inner-city-ish; i know this because i used to live there - within walking distance to Tetsuyas, in fact, before it moved, and was there when it first opened. anyway, will make some more suggestions tomorrow when i have time, but SCRATCH Cairns, and slot in the Whitsundays instead. and re Port Douglas - i agree that it''s not particularly spectacular, altho the sheraton port douglas is gorgeous, being set within 5 acres of swimming pool. but neither cairns nor Port Douglas are as quaint, artsy or pretty as Airlie Beach, the mainland town which services the Whitsundays. i agree Mossman (and the Ferntree Rainforest Lodge) is gorgeous, but it''s not easy to access. Cape Tribulation is my pick of naturalist tourist heaven, the Cape Tribulation Resort and Spa being the top choice in that region. so if you MUST go to Cairns/Port Douglas, keep going, and try to get to Cape Trib; known as the area where ''the rainforest meets the reef'', this is the only place in the world where two national heritage areas meet. the resorts up there will meet you at the airport and transport you to the appropriate resort, or will point you in the direction of transportation which can be booked ahead of time. it''s about 100 miles north of Cairns but is a slow drive due to the winding roads. the scenery along the way, however is breathtaking!

given that your time is so limited, i''d skip Cairns, Cape Tribultion and Port Douglas, and have a few days in the Whitsundays - recharge the batteries. they''re much easier to access, much more beautiful, and you can fly directly from there to Sydney. easy peasy.

will come back tomorrow to give you a few suggestions for my home town, SYDNEY!

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 7/15/2009 1:59:57 AM
Author: whitby_2773
hi turtledazzle

i''m an australian who lives now in NY, but who has traveled extensively around all the places you mentioned. my husband and i used to spend our annual leave each year on the coast in Queensland, and i can tell you for certain, Cairns isn''t all that great. it''s very touristy, flat and plain as towns go, and overpriced. the area you want is the place where more australians go - which is the Whitsunday Islands. that''s a colletion of 73 islands, as i recall off hand, just off the coast between the towns of Townsville and Mackay:

take a look here.

you can fly right into the islands, landing on Hamilton Island, and the water is gorgeous, the reef and the diving are spectacular, the resorts cater to all price ranges and the view is unbelievable. *this* is the australian equivalent of the caribbean, so if you want a spectacular great barrier reef island experience, this is where you''d go.

i''ll write more later, as it''s getting late, but just wanted to get this info out to you straight away. to inspire you a trifle, take a look at
this. i hope it entices you.

and i chuckled to hear t-gal describe Balmain as ''off the beaten path''; 5 minutes from the city by hydrocat, Balmainers consider themselves to be rather cool and inner-city-ish; i know this because i used to live there - within walking distance to Tetsuyas, in fact, before it moved, and was there when it first opened. anyway, will make some more suggestions tomorrow when i have time, but SCRATCH Cairns, and slot in the Whitsundays instead. and re Port Douglas - i agree that it''s not particularly spectacular, altho the sheraton port douglas is gorgeous, being set within 5 acres of swimming pool. but neither cairns nor Port Douglas are as quaint, artsy or pretty as Airlie Beach, the mainland town which services the Whitsundays. i agree Mossman (and the Ferntree Rainforest Lodge) is gorgeous, but it''s not easy to access. Cape Tribulation is my pick of naturalist tourist heaven, the Cape Tribulation Resort and Spa being the top choice in that region. so if you MUST go to Cairns/Port Douglas, keep going, and try to get to Cape Trib; known as the area where ''the rainforest meets the reef'', this is the only place in the world where two national heritage areas meet. the resorts up there will meet you at the airport and transport you to the appropriate resort, or will point you in the direction of transportation which can be booked ahead of time. it''s about 100 miles north of Cairns but is a slow drive due to the winding roads. the scenery along the way, however is breathtaking!

given that your time is so limited, i''d skip Cairns, Cape Tribultion and Port Douglas, and have a few days in the Whitsundays - recharge the batteries. they''re much easier to access, much more beautiful, and you can fly directly from there to Sydney. easy peasy.

will come back tomorrow to give you a few suggestions for my home town, SYDNEY!

Whitby, trust me, Balmain is quite off the beaten path for first timers to Sydney, who in a week do Rocks , Botanical Gardens, Darling Harbour, Manly or Bondi, and Watsons Bay.

Although I haven''t been there, I would agree that the Whitsundays would be a great stop. I researched it to death but figured PD would be easier for various reasons, the pocketbook being one (PD was more reasonable at the time). However, I am under the impression that TD''s tickets are booked?

The thing about PD is that the really nice resorts are a bit of a hike into "town", and that includes the Sheraton. I liked the convenience of walking everywhere.

Also, if you take a dive boat from PD, the reef is about a 2 hour ride away, so just keep that in mind. It''s a fairly long day!

 

[Magpie09]

Although the Whitsunday's are lovely the only problem is that the main activity is snorkeling which is fine unless the weather is unfavourable in which case you really have nothing to do. In which case Cairns and Port Douglas are a better option because there there is plenty to do (like shops and art gallaries) without having to be outdoors.

 

[Dannielle]

I live in Sydney, it is GORGEOUS

The best eatting spots:
- I'm Angus steakhouse at Cockle bay wharf, Darling Harbour
- Favela, Potts Point
- Ocean room at the Overseas passenger terminal, the rocks
- Petite La Creme, Darlinghurst.. a cute little wannabe french cafe, perfect for breakfast

Fun places to visit/Things to do:
- Bridgeclimb
- Ghost tour at the Rocks (We did this a few months ago.. SCARY!) Ghost Tours
- Royal Botanic Gardens
- Few of my favourite places to shop/wander are Coogee, Newtown, Darlinghurst, Bondi (Very touristy but gorgeous beach)

.. In case you can't tell I LOVE where we live

FI and I did Port Douglas last year, we had the best time..

I can only remember the name of one eatting joint, the Rattle & Hum.. such good pizza

We went to the great barrier reef with Quicksilver cruises.. the boat was great, the staff were really helpful and there was a variety of activities- snorkeling, diving and some other thing where you walk on the ocean floor with a glass helmet on your head. They also provided a seafood buffet lunch.. it was so good, writing this is making me want to go back!!!

Quicksilver

No matter what you do you are going to have the best time, I hope this has been helpful

ETA: Where are you staying at Port Douglas?

 

[bee*]

We just returned from our honeymoon in Australia-we adored Sydney. We stayed right beside Circular Quay in the Shangri-la, which was lovely if you''re still looking around for accommodation. The main things we did were-
Ferry out to Manly island-we hired bikes here and cycled around for a few hours-it was beautiful. Lots of reasonably priced restaurants too.
Took a bus trip to Palm beach, purely as I wanted to see the beach that "Home and Away" is filmed on.
Took a bus to Bondi beach-we adored it here-it was so laid-back here and we went for a walk, watched the skaters and then had fish and chips. We also got the most delicious desserts and sat out by the water watching the surfers.
We did a sunset dinner cruise thing as we were given it as a pressie. It was really good and the food and drink was lovely, which can be rare for those dinner things.
I enjoyed darling harbour. We did the Maritime Museum which was cool as we could go into a submarine. We didn''t do the aquarium as we though it was really overpriced. We ate at the Meat and Wine Co while we were there and it was absolutely delicious. The best calamari that we''ve ever tried. D has been raving about it since we got home. We also got a delicious hot chocolate from the lindt cafe. You''ll have an amazing time there.

 

[misskitty]

I lived in Melbourne for a while (and would go back in a heartbeat, it''s wonderful). I had quite a long time to experience the city, so it''s hard to condense the best things into a few days'' worth, but I''ll try!

I second the recommendation for Lygon Street. There are so many incredible restaurants there that it''s almost a shame to choose one or two.

Walking around the city for a few hours is totally worth your time, too. There''s such diverse architecture, and there are also some subtle little pieces of street art that are really incredible. I''d also recco a trip by the Queen Victoria Market -- it''s a gigantic, fabulous market, and there are plenty of souvenirs (so it''s worth a look even if you won''t be cooking meals while you''re there).

Catch a footy match if you can. Very fun times.

Mornington Peninsula is a great day trip when you''re in Melbourne, since you mentioned that you''re outdoorsy and looking into a winery trip. There are plenty of wineries, and some breathtaking scenery. If you get out to Philip Island (right off the peninsula) you can do some wildlife experiences, and hang out with penguins!

 

[whitby_2773]

Date: 7/15/2009 2:17:48 AM
Author: TravelingGal
Whitby, trust me, Balmain is quite off the beaten path for first timers to Sydney, who in a week do Rocks , Botanical Gardens, Darling Harbour, Manly or Bondi, and Watsons Bay.

Although I haven't been there, I would agree that the Whitsundays would be a great stop. I researched it to death but figured PD would be easier for various reasons, the pocketbook being one (PD was more reasonable at the time). However, I am under the impression that TD's tickets are booked?


The thing about PD is that the really nice resorts are a bit of a hike into 'town', and that includes the Sheraton. I liked the convenience of walking everywhere.


Also, if you take a dive boat from PD, the reef is about a 2 hour ride away, so just keep that in mind. It's a fairly long day!

gonna have to disagree with you there, T-Gal, tho i'm sure it's a case of perspective; one man's 'off the beaten path' is another man's 'just down the road, and there are both people who will explore as a matter of course while in a new are and some who prefer to stay close to their place of accommodation. Balmain can actually be seen from Circular Quay and is one of the number one vantage points for fireworks displays, for example, the view being direct and close. a lot of people explore the ferry system and the harbor foreshore, and Balmain is the closest stop, being closer than places like Neutral Bay or Woolwich. some people prefer ferries to trains, which one normally has to use to get around the Sydney CBD, and it takes about the same amount of time to get by ferry from Circular Quay to Balmain as it does from Circular Quay to Central Station. due to its arty nature and great restaurants, we always made a point of taking our visitors to Balmain and they seemed to love it, so i agree with you on the basic point, that it's worth a visit. i also like it because it's manageable for a tourist - one just walks the main street - as opposed to Sydney proper, where it's hard to know where to start and finish. so turtledazzle this might be a good place to keep in mind as a good trip for a half day, say, morning plus lunch.

turtledazzle, it sounds like you have a number of great suggestions from people, so i'll just add one. the 4 biggest tourist attractions in australia are Uluru, the Great Barrier Reef, the Sydney Opera House, and the Blue Mountains. the Blue Mountains are between one and 2 hours outside of Sydney (depending how far up them you go), and can be reached by a direct train trip from Central Station - the main train station in Sydney. there are also tours which will pick you up in Sydney and take you to the Mountains for the day.

here you'll find a link to a day tour with pick up from your hotel. if you want to see koalas, kangaroos, and the beautiful Megalong and Jamison Valleys, plus the Three Sisters - an Australian Icon, this is the tour for you. it will show you spectacular scenery and is a wonderful day out. some US friends of mine did it just recently and had a great day. for the money, i would probably rather do this than the bridge climb. the view up the bridge is spectacular (i've given this to friends as a gift a number of times, so do recommend it), but it's a lot of money to pay for a view that's going to be over in such a short time. just a thought, and the Blue Mountains trip is easy to organize and comprehensive in nature, with all the details taken care of for you.

re my earlier post, i understand you've booked your tickets already, but i'd still suggest you ditch Cairns. while you might not make it to the Whitsundays (which, while offering world class diving, have a great deal more than just diving to do in them!!), i'd still try to get out to the Daintree for an experience unlike any other. the two resorts in that area which i suggested are within your reach from Cairns airport, and will show you breathtaking rainforest flora and fauna, as opposed to the flat, touristy nature of Cairns. the Daintree borders the ocean, so you'll have the full rainforest/ocean experience and, as i said earlier, its the one place in the world where two World Heritage areas collide. it's awe inspiring

by the way, you've picked *the* best time of year to go to this region! the weather will be warm but temperate, and the rain levels are low. so it should be lots of blue skies with, perhaps, a few passing afternoon showers while in Queensland (it's a tropical climate, being so much closer to the equator). and Sydney in September is beautiful. do make a point of going to the Botanical Gardens in Sydney - they're right in the center of the city and definitely worth visiting. there's a lovely restaurant in the middle of the Gardens which serves very good food and makes a nice stop. next to one side of the Gardens is the NSW Art Gallery. i'm actually going home for august and an American friend is joining me for the last 10 days. i'm doing a day's sightseeing with him going to the Botanical Gardens, the restaurant i referred to, and the afternoon in the Art Gallery.

both my sister and my in-laws have stayed at the meriton apartments, and both say they're neat, clean, and a good price for where they're placed. we've dropped in to see them while there and, while not being hugely luxurious or beautiful, thought they were very functional and well placed; you'll be right in the center of the city with access to everything.

good luck with your holiday and have a wonderful time!

by the way, take a look at this for an idea of the Daintree. WOW!

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 7/15/2009 2:51:15 PM
Author: whitby_2773


gonna have to disagree with you there, T-Gal, tho i''m sure it''s a case of perspective; one man''s ''off the beaten path'' is another man''s ''just down the road, and there are both people who will explore as a matter of course while in a new are and some who prefer to stay close to their place of accommodation. Balmain can actually be seen from Circular Quay and is one of the number one vantage points for fireworks displays, for example, the view being direct and close. a lot of people explore the ferry system and the harbor foreshore, and Balmain is the closest stop, being closer than places like Neutral Bay or Woolwich. some people prefer ferries to trains, which one normally has to use to get around the Sydney CBD, and it takes about the same amount of time to get by ferry from Circular Quay to Balmain as it does from Circular Quay to Central Station. due to its arty nature and great restaurants, we always made a point of taking our visitors to Balmain and they seemed to love it, so i agree with you on the basic point, that it''s worth a visit. i also like it because it''s manageable for a tourist - one just walks the main street - as opposed to Sydney proper, where it''s hard to know where to start and finish. so turtledazzle this might be a good place to keep in mind as a good trip for a half day, say, morning plus lunch.

turtledazzle, it sounds like you have a number of great suggestions from people, so i''ll just add one. the 4 biggest tourist attractions in australia are Uluru, the Great Barrier Reef, the Sydney Opera House, and the Blue Mountains. the Blue Mountains are between one and 2 hours outside of Sydney (depending how far up them you go), and can be reached by a direct train trip from Central Station - the main train station in Sydney. there are also tours which will pick you up in Sydney and take you to the Mountains for the day.

here you''ll find a link to a day tour with pick up from your hotel. if you want to see koalas, kangaroos, and the beautiful Megalong and Jamison Valleys, plus the Three Sisters - an Australian Icon, this is the tour for you. it will show you spectacular scenery and is a wonderful day out. some US friends of mine did it just recently and had a great day. for the money, i would probably rather do this than the bridge climb. the view up the bridge is spectacular (i''ve given this to friends as a gift a number of times, so do recommend it), but it''s a lot of money to pay for a view that''s going to be over in such a short time. just a thought, and the Blue Mountains trip is easy to organize and comprehensive in nature, with all the details taken care of for you.

re my earlier post, i understand you''ve booked your tickets already, but i''d still suggest you ditch Cairns. while you might not make it to the Whitsundays (which, while offering world class diving, have a great deal more than just diving to do in them!!), i''d still try to get out to the Daintree for an experience unlike any other. the two resorts in that area which i suggested are within your reach from Cairns airport, and will show you breathtaking rainforest flora and fauna, as opposed to the flat, touristy nature of Cairns. the Daintree borders the ocean, so you''ll have the full rainforest/ocean experience and, as i said earlier, its the one place in the world where two heritage areas collide. it''s breathtaking.

by the way, you''ve picked *the* best time of year to go to this region! the weather will be warm but temperate, and the rain levels are low. so it should be lots of blue skies with, perhaps, a few passing afternoon showers while in Queensland (it''s a tropical climate, being so much closer to the equator). and Sydney in September is beautiful. do make a point of going to the Botanical Gardens in Sydney - they''re right in the center of the city and definitely worth visiting. there''s a lovely restaurant in the middle of the Gardens which serves very good food and makes a nice stop. next to one side of the Gardens is the NSW Art Gallery. i''m actually going home for august and an American friend is joining me for the last 10 days. i''m doing a day''s sightseeing with him going to the Botanical Gardens, the restaurant i referred to, and the afternoon in the Art Gallery.

both my sister and my in-laws have stayed at the meriton apartments, and both say they''re neat, clean, and a good price for where they''re placed. we''ve dropped in to see them while there and, while not being hugely luxurious or beautiful, thought they were very functional and well placed; you''ll be right in the center of the city with access to everything.

good luck with your holiday and have a wonderful time!

Whitby, I think perhaps I am not making myself clear. I am not saying Balmain is off the beaten path because it''s not accessible. I have been to Balmain and it''s ridicously easy to get to by ferry because as you say, it''s the first stop. I am saying it''s a little off the beaten path because general tourists who are not IN THE KNOW do not go there. Obviously your friends are fortunate because you encouraged them to go there, but you are in the know. The typical first time tourist with a guidebook in their hand will probably not head to Balmain,especially with only a few day since Sydney (since most American tourists try to head to all of Australia''s hot spots in 2 weeks or less.) I have found that true in the many years that I partcipated in an Australia travel forum (loaded with locals who knew better than I did.)

And I hate to say it...but...blue mountains..well...

It really depends on where you are from. I will say right off the bat that it is pretty up there and a nice trip. It''s quaint and cute in some of the town up there too. But coming from California where we have Yosemite and Big Sur and also having seen the Grand Canyon, I was totally underwhelmed. Now, that is not to say I didn''t appreciate it as a wonderful and unique place in Australia, I definitely did. But the three sisters didn''t make my jaw drop or anything. This is just my opinion, you may love it turtledazzle. I would place the 12 apostles as more iconic in my mind than the 3 sisters. But ask the average American what either of those are, and they probably would have no clue. Whereas Uluru, the opera house, and GBD, they''d have a solid visual picture.

Definitely agree with Whitby''s suggestions on Queensland.

Interesting to get all these different perspectives, isn''t it? Because I''ll say it, I did not like Melbourne. *ducks* But I was the typical tourist that didn''t go much past the guidebook and made the mistake of staying in the CBD.

 

[whitby_2773]

oh gees, T-Gal, i'm surprised you didn't like the Blue Mountains! just a few of the many things you can do are: abseil the three sisters, hike the Valley of the Waters, dangle over the Jamison Valley in a tiny little sky car at the sky way, do the rail trip on the steepest inclined rail in the southern hemisphere, swim in a natural water hole, encounter animals you'd normally only ever see in a zoo, learn an AMAZING amount about Australian flora and fauna - in a hands on kind of way, visit the Kanimbla rock walls, walk the Jenolan Caves- one of the oldest and most extensive cave systems in the world, visit the woodwork galleries, eat at any number of fine restaurants...the list goes on and on!

is it bigger than the grand canyon? not at all. but neither is the opera house. it's different. if you're into flora and fauna, you'll love the blue mountains. and some people, tho not all, wouldn't want 4 days in the city. i had 2 weeks in sedona in april, and i would never compare the two. but i love the Blue Mountains, and they show a side to Australia that you won't see if you spend all your time in the city. and it's an easy day trip, and most people enjoy the change of pace and the opportunity to see a totally different form of Australian natural beauty. it's also a World Heritage area, and worth seeing for that reason alone.

so turtledazzle here's two perspectives. i think the main thing is to work out what you like and do that. but i'd encourage you to get out into the Australian bush for at least one of your days - there's plenty to see and do!

and just by the way, Taronga Park Zoo is easily accessible from the center of Sydney (think, 10-15 minutes depending on how you travel) and is a world class zoo with one of the best views of the city you'll ever see. that's another great day out! HOW many days are you staying??

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 7/15/2009 4:22:38 PM
Author: whitby_2773
oh gees, T-Gal, i'm surprised you didn't like the Blue Mountains! just a few of the many things you can do are: abseil the three sisters, hike the Valley of the Waters, dangle over the Jamison Valley in a tiny little sky car at the sky way, do the rail trip on the steepest inclined rail in the southern hemisphere, swim in a natural water hole, encounter animals you'd normally only ever see in a zoo, learn an AMAZING amount about Australian flora and fauna - in a hands on kind of way, visit the Kanimbla rock walls, walk the Jenolan Caves- one of the oldest and most extensive cave systems in the world, visit the woodwork galleries, eat at any number of fine restaurants...the list goes on and on!

is it bigger than the grand canyon? not at all. but neither is the opera house. it's different if you're into flora and fauna, you'll love the blue mountains. and some people, tho not all, wouldn't want 4 days in the city. i had 2 weeks in sedona in april, and i would never compare the two. but i love the Blue Mountains, and they show a side to Australia that you won't see if you spend all your time in the city. and it's an easy day trip, and most people love it.

so turtledazzle here's two perspectives. i think the main thing is to work out what you like and do that. but i'd encourage you to get out into the Australian bush for at least one of your days - there's plenty to see and do!

and just by the way, Taronga Park Zoo is easily accessible from the center of Sydney (think, 10-15 minutes depending on how you travel) and is a world class zoo with one of the best views of the city you'll ever see. that's another great day out! HOW many days are you staying??

Whitby my dear, you are putting words in my mouth. I didn't say I didn't like them. I said I was UNDERWHELMED by them. I said it was nice and pretty and the towns quaint and cute. It was the three sisters mostly that I found underwhelming. I enjoy learning about Australia flora and fauna (hence why I love the David Armbrust tour). I like quiet walks in nature. I agree many people love it up there. I'm just prepping the unsuspecting American that it may not be particularly "wowing".

For people who don't know what the heck we are talking about, here they are. Photo not taken by me.

 

[whitby_2773]

T-Gal -

i think you''re talking about the Three Sisters which is a rock formation, but i''m talking about the Blue Mountains which is a World Heritage listed National Park. it''s not a ''town'' as such, altho i''m guessing you were at the bottom area of the town of Katoomba. there''s dozens of towns in the Blue Mountains, many normal and not inspiring, but some gorgeous and very interesting. the 3 sisters are indeed iconic within Australia, but i don''t think many people would think looking at 3 rocks was aaall that fabulous. but the national Park is amazing. take a look....

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 7/15/2009 4:55:14 PM
Author: whitby_2773
T-Gal -

i think you''re talking about the Three Sisters which is a rock formation, but i''m talking about the Blue Mountains which is a World Heritage listed National Park. it''s not a ''town'' as such, altho i''m guessing you were at the bottom area of the town of Katoomba. there''s dozens of towns in the Blue Mountains, many normal and not inspiring, but some gorgeous and very interesting. the 3 sisters are indeed iconic within Australia, but i don''t think many people would think looking at 3 rocks was aaall that fabulous. but the national Park is amazing. take a look....

Whitby, "town" was typo, which I had already corrected. I know there are towns up there, as we went through a few. I also do realize that the three sisters is just a small part of it. I am not saying that is all there is to the blue mountains. But I AM saying that if you go up there to just see them, well...

I do think it''s (the blue mountains) pretty. I don''t think it''s amazing. That''s my opinion. Also, most tourists will not see the scenery set like the gorgeous photographs (that goes for the Grand Canyon and Yosemite too.) The Blue Mountains were an interesting topic of conversation on a travel forum I frequented because a lot of day tripping tourists were also underwhelmed. For Australians, it''s an amazing place and you are right, the 3 sisters are an icon. For people who are coming outside of Australia, I''m just giving a head''s up that they may be underwhelmed. That''s all. The Blue Mountains are not best suited for a day trip, IMHO. It''s suited for a few days to really explore and appreciate, unlike something like the Grand Canyon where the initial impact is "whoa!" and you can take your happy snaps and leave content. (Of course, there''s plenty to explore in the GC as well.)

Also, re: the 3 sisters...I do think people who grew up seeing photos of the icon would find it more impressive and enthralling to see. Like the half dome in Yosemite...is it really that cool? I grew up loving the Ansel Adams photographs so yes, it was enthralling for me to see. May not have been otherwise.

 

[whitby_2773]

another one

 

[whitby_2773]

some water views

 

[whitby_2773]

rock formations. lots of canyoning is accessible in the Blue Mountains

 

[whitby_2773]

here''s one way to travel! abseiling down with bikes, to then go mountain biking along the tracks. i''ve hiked the Blue Mountains, but have never done anything this extreme. many of my friends, including my husband, tho, have abseiled the Mountains. lots of fun!

 

[gwendolyn]

Date: 7/14/2009 10:49:31 PM
Author: AprilBaby
Driving the Great Ocean Road from Melbourne was the highlight of my 2003 trip to Australia. We also went to Healsville Sanctuary to see the animals, downtown Mel to see the sights, and out to see the little penguins at Phillip Island. You will not regret going to see this LOVELY country! Have fun!

I also LOVED the Great Ocean Road! Definitely try to do some of it--you can spend a whole day (or longer) driving it, but it's worth it--so gorgeous! St. Kilda is also one of my favourite areas of Melbourne, and Luna Park is fun if you like rides or just want to kill some time while at the beach.

Having lived in Tasmania for 6 months, I'd say you shouldn't miss it, but sadly most people do when they visit Australia. But it's the most beautiful, pristine place I've ever seen. It is a wonderful place; I still get homesick for it and haven't been for 9 years.

 

[whitby_2773]

aaaand last one. here it is as i know it and love it. a great expanse of health

 

[whitby_2773]

and here''s one for gwendolyn and anyone else who recommended the Twelve Apostles drive along the southern coast of Victoria...i hope this puts a smile on your face, gwendolyn

 

[TravelingGal]

Whitby, those photographs are gorgeous. It''s too bad that most people won''t be able to see the Blue mountains at times of the day where the lighting is like the photos. For a day trip, you are taking a couple of hours to get up there and see it right in the middle of the day. Harshest lighting. There was the blue "haze" the day we went as well.

Here is our photo the day we went. TGuy, myself and a friend who is a Sydneysider. TGuy took the photo.