Looking for any and all suggestions: Australia!

Soooo our goal for 2011 is to make it to Australia! I've finally gotten dh to come around. He hates flying but i'm sure we have enough miles for at least one free seat, and I want to go WHILE WE'RE YOUNG!!

We'll probably stay 2 weeks. Others have said Melbourne and Sydney are musts. Being from NYC, cities don't really excite us, so convince me to put them on the itinerary! We're huge snorkelers so we're ready for the Reef, although i'm researching and finding its more of a diving reef vs snorkeling.

Any suggestions welcome!

Re: Looking for any and all suggestions: Australia!

I lived in Sydney for about 5 years, DH is Australian. I've never been to Melbourne, but if you have two weeks, I would do Sydney and Cairns.

It's a long flight, I'd stay about 4 nights in Sydney if you aren't big city people. Just to get you adjusted to the time, etc. If you really don't want to do Sydney, go up the the Blue Mountains or Hunter Valley. It really isn't a 'city, city' like NY. Head to the North Shore of Sydney or go down south part of Sydney to get out of the city.

By Cairns stay in Port Douglas, it's much nicer. From there you can do a rain forest tour and head up to Cape Tribulation. You can snorkel and dive from somewhere out of Cairns or Port Douglas. The reefs are in better shape by Port Douglas. You can also do a cruise from the Whitsundays. You stay overnight a few nights on a boat and can snorkel and dive.

I wouldn't fit anything more than two to three places in two weeks. Australia is very big and you have to fly to the different cities.

What time of year were you thinking of going? If you want to snorkel in the reef, keep in mind that you will have to wear a stinger suit for 10 months out of the year. Box Jellyfish can kill you!

Also it can be very very hot in the summer (December-about late March). I liked May for a nice autumn. I couldn't stand September onwards b/c of the flies and the cockroaches

Let me know if you have any other questions! I'd be more than happy to help out with restaurants and stuff to do in Sydney.

Re: Looking for any and all suggestions: Australia!

WOW thanks sooooooo much, this is the kind of info I was looking for!

I was thinking December. Thanks for the heads up about the jellies. As we get closer i'll def get in contact for specific recommendations on places

Re: Looking for any and all suggestions: Australia!

i studied abroad down there and it was great

i loved cairns area - if you like river rafting - defiently raft the Tully river - lots of rapids - it is dsouth of cairs - so you might want to stay in cairns - one night - port douglas is further north than cairns

sidney is beautiful - the mountains outside are great


melbourne - is where i studies - so the great ocean road starts there and there are interestign rock structures- equates to california's coastal highway - there are a lot of vineyards


there lots of nature preserves
(similar to zoo) in both cities that are great to visit - kangerroos can hang on the path and emus and other animals - but also can stay back in areas where vistors can't come in

defiently worth the long flight

Re: Looking for any and all suggestions: Australia!

Studied abroad there as well in Melbourne and traveled for the 6 months while I was there.

First thing to know - Australia is HUGE, about same size as continental US (most people don't realize this). So as pp said, you do need to fly in between cities.

I understand what you mean about cities, but Syndey/Melbourne will give you a taste of the culture and there are neat things to see. If you only have 2 weeks I would probably do a few days in Sydney - it could take you as long as 3/4 days to adjust to the time difference. Then do a tour up the Gold Coast - fly to Brisbane and do a tour up to Cains, or past if you have enough time.

The Whitsunday islands are the most beautiful place on the plant - you can reserve a 2/3 day cruise around on a small sailing ship. Seriously most amazing thing I have ever done in my life. While sailing, you pull over and go snorkeling, etc. as the Whitsundays are in the Great Barrier Reef.

The other thing that is truely unique is the Outback - Alice Springs area. It is a desert with Uluru (Ayer's rock). I went camping and slept outdoors under the stars - awesome. Again, the red sands, wild camels, kangaroos - not something you can see anywhere else in the world. But it is probably a 3/4 hour (I forget) flight from Sydney.

It's impossible to see everything, as it is a huge country with amazing nature, culture, etc. and very unique. I would advise buying a guide book and picking out the couple of things that you want to do and focus on those.

Re: Looking for any and all suggestions: Australia!

Re: Looking for any and all suggestions: Australia!

I will definitely take all this into consideration. Sigh, I knew 2 weeks would be tough to see 'everything'. Maybe we'll just save up more time and go for 3! It's gonna cost us a small fortune i'm sure. But I don't see us making another trip back there so...