Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - Seeking Australia advice: Where to go, including Grt Ocean Rd, Tasmania or Blue Mts?

My wife and I will be in Australia for the first time for about 15 days in the very end of January and the first half of February. We're definitely set on about five days in Sydney and pretty set on at least three in Melbourne. That leaves another six or seven days, which we'd like to mainly devote to either the Great Ocean Road or Tasmania. We're very much inclined to do just three "destinations" (i.e., Sydney, Melbourne and either GOR or Tasmania) because we don't want to jump around too much. But especially if we do the GOR, which I assume could take less time than Tasmania, we're also considering two or three days in the Blue Mountains.

For what it's worth, in addition to the charms of Melbourne itself, we're heavily leaning toward spending a few days there so (as in Sydney) we won't need a car during that time and because (again, as in Sydney) we could pay for nice accommodations with our hotel points rather than cash. Also, by virtue of our plane tickets (we'll be coming from San Francisco) we're locked into arriving in Sydney and departing from Melbourne, or possibly vice versa.

As for the GOR, Tasmania and/or the Blue Mountains, we'd like to do day hikes, seeing the natural beauty and some time just relaxing wherever we'd be staying, preferably B&Bs.

I realize that choosing between the GOR and Tasmania and possibly the Blue Mountains is like comparing apples and oranges--they each have wonderful but different features. And, based on my very limited knowledge so far, I also understand that the GOR could involve considerably less driving than Tasmania, which is fine with us but not a necessity. Also, for any of these three destinations, we probably would prefer being based in a single town for two or three nights for at least part of the trip rather than moving from one town to the next every night.

So...some questions:

1. Any general advice based on anything I've mentioned above?

2. Between GOR, Tasmania and the Blue Mts, any advice or preferences? Is any of them more or less likely to be crowded with tourists in February?

3. I realize that it can be very hot during early February. Am I correct in assuming that especially Tasmania and also the Blue Mountains would be much cooler than the cities and the GOR?

4. On the other hand, how reliable is the weather, especially in Tasmania but also the other places, during the summer? Could we get a lot of rain?

5. If we were to stay for a few days in any one town in any of these three locations, is there a town in each that you'd recommend as a particularly pleasant place, preferably with nice views?

6. I hope I don't get flamed for this admittedly ignorant question: A friend who's been to Tasmania (and loved it) was wondering whether it would be similar to New Zealand (which we've been to and loved, but which he hasn't seen). I realize that we're talking about very different countries and locales, but would still welcome any advice on whether doing the Blue Mts. and/or the GOR would offer a more different experience than NZ than Tasmania would. Again, sorry if this is a stupid question.

7. Just to get a sense of the scale of things, if one were to simply drive all the way around Tasmania, how many hours would that be?

8. If we were to go to the Blue Mountains, is there a town where we could simply base ourselves without a car for two or three days of relaxation and hiking, or would we be better off with a car?

9. If we did the GOR, would you recommend going back and forth both ways on the GOR itself, or doing one way on a more inland route?

10. I'd welcome any recommendations of specific B&Bs in these places, even including specific rooms to ask for.

11. Any other advice on things to do, restaurants, things to avoid, etc. would also be very much appreciated.

12. I assume that we're far better off visiting Melbourne at the end of our trip rather than the start, when the Australian Open will still be going on, right?

Thanks in advance for any information and advice!

My wife and I will be in Australia for the first time for about 15 days in the very end of January and the first half of February. We're definitely set on about five days in Sydney and pretty set on at least three in Melbourne. That leaves another six or seven days, which we'd like to mainly devote to either the Great Ocean Road or Tasmania. We're very much inclined to do just three "destinations" (i.e., Sydney, Melbourne and either GOR or Tasmania) because we don't want to jump around too much. But especially if we do the GOR, which I assume could take less time than Tasmania, we're also considering two or three days in the Blue Mountains.

For what it's worth, in addition to the charms of Melbourne itself, we're heavily leaning toward spending a few days there so (as in Sydney) we won't need a car during that time and because (again, as in Sydney) we could pay for nice accommodations with our hotel points rather than cash. Also, by virtue of our plane tickets (we'll be coming from San Francisco) we're locked into arriving in Sydney and departing from Melbourne, or possibly vice versa.

As for the GOR, Tasmania and/or the Blue Mountains, we'd like to do day hikes, seeing the natural beauty and some time just relaxing wherever we'd be staying, preferably B&Bs.

I realize that choosing between the GOR and Tasmania and possibly the Blue Mountains is like comparing apples and oranges--they each have wonderful but different features. And, based on my very limited knowledge so far, I also understand that the GOR could involve considerably less driving than Tasmania, which is fine with us but not a necessity. Also, for any of these three destinations, we probably would prefer being based in a single town for two or three nights for at least part of the trip rather than moving from one town to the next every night.

So...some questions:

1. Any general advice based on anything I've mentioned above?

2. Between GOR, Tasmania and the Blue Mts, any advice or preferences? Is any of them more or less likely to be crowded with tourists in February?
Tasmania is generally quieter that the other two locations. That being said early feb is still school holidays in Tassie.

3. I realize that it can be very hot during early February. Am I correct in assuming that especially Tasmania and also the Blue Mountains would be much cooler than the cities and the GOR?

4. On the other hand, how reliable is the weather, especially in Tasmania but also the other places, during the summer? Could we get a lot of rain?

Anywhere in Australia can have unpredictable weather. Blue Mountains and Great Ocean road are likely to be hotter than Tassie. Tassie could end up being cold, as it does have cold snaps in summer. The west coast of Tassie does have a lot of rain....


5. If we were to stay for a few days in any one town in any of these three locations, is there a town in each that you'd recommend as a particularly pleasant place, preferably with nice views?

Apollo Bay on Great Ocean Road has some wonderful guest houses to stay at. It is possible from there to drive to a lot of different nearby locations.

In Tasmania, it depends on what sort of things you like to see. Cradle Mountain is beautiful, as is Freycinet (Coles bay) area. Both places can be seen by changing locations each night.

6. I hope I don't get flamed for this admittedly ignorant question: A friend who's been to Tasmania (and loved it) was wondering whether it would be similar to New Zealand (which we've been to and loved, but which he hasn't seen). I realize that we're talking about very different countries and locales, but would still welcome any advice on whether doing the Blue Mts. and/or the GOR would offer a more different experience than NZ than Tasmania would. Again, sorry if this is a stupid question.

Tasmania does get compared to NZ. That is because it is small, a bit isolated and has amazing wilderness. Parts of the GOR are similar.

While they do have similarities they are quite different places in terms of wilderness. I cant say whether GOR or Blue Mountains are more different.

7. Just to get a sense of the scale of things, if one were to simply drive all the way around Tasmania, how many hours would that be?

Maybe 10 hours if you were to do it without stopping to look at anything. If you actually want to see things i would recomend a minimum of 3 days and that would be very rushed.

8. If we were to go to the Blue Mountains, is there a town where we could simply base ourselves without a car for two or three days of relaxation and hiking, or would we be better off with a car?

9. If we did the GOR, would you recommend going back and forth both ways on the GOR itself, or doing one way on a more inland route?

One way rentals along GOR often have hefty one way drop off fees. It could be worth driving back. You can drive back inland via somewhere like ballarat and see some different things.

10. I'd welcome any recommendations of specific B&Bs in these places, even including specific rooms to ask for.

11. Any other advice on things to do, restaurants, things to avoid, etc. would also be very much appreciated.

Once you decide which one of the three options to go with possibly repost this question.

12. I assume that we're far better off visiting Melbourne at the end of our trip rather than the start, when the Australian Open will still be going on, right?

Thanks in advance for any information and advice!

Hope the answers provided are helpful. Have only answered the questions where i thought i could be of some assistance.

If it were me i would either do GOR or Tassie. As an ex tasmanian i am more biased towards that but GOR is also amazingly beautiful.

Thunderroad, some thoughts below, relating to the questions to which that I think I can have some input.

1. Any general advice based on anything I've mentioned above?All would good choices and I think you'd enjoy any of them. I can say which one I'd do, but that isn't exactly the point...

2. Between GOR, Tasmania and the Blue Mts, any advice or preferences? Is any of them more or less likely to be crowded with tourists in February? Re: preferences, see above. Travelling in those parts of Australia is usually fairly easy; all of them being (in the Australian context) better places to visit in the summer than the winter, it will be a busy time but I don't think it ought to be too bad.

3. I realize that it can be very hot during early February. Am I correct in assuming that especially Tasmania and also the Blue Mountains would be much cooler than the cities and the GOR? Tasmania is the least likely to be hot. Average maximum in Hobart is about 21°C (70°F) in February; in Launceston, which is a bit inland but not in the hills, it is about 24°C (75°F). They do get hot weather there, especially in the northern inland part of the island, but it usually lasts only a couple of days and it is usually not very severe. Nights would be mild or, in the mountains, cool. The Great Ocean Road is maritime (naturally) in its weather, so it's likely to be cooler than further inland. But the weather in Victoria can be torrid in February (think of last summer's fires outside Melbourne, for example). The Blue Mountains can be hot, although the average summer maximum in the upper Mountains (say at Katoomba) in February is only about 22°C (say 72°F). However, heatwaves do occur; again it is likely to be cooler at night than in Sydney. Having said that, I've been in the Blue Mountains in high summer when the temperature hasn't risen above 14°C for a week and it's been misty all the time! (Very pleasant in its way, but not what one expects in the Australian summer...)

4. On the other hand, how reliable is the weather, especially in Tasmania but also the other places, during the summer? Could we get a lot of rain?Rain cannot be ruled out in any of those places. The Blue Mountains and Tasmania in particular have a fairly even spread of rain throughout the year. The place that's likely to be driest is Victoria (the Great Ocean Road), where the rainfall is highest in the winter.

5. If we were to stay for a few days in any one town in any of these three locations, is there a town in each that you'd recommend as a particularly pleasant place, preferably with nice views? In the Blue Mountains, perhaps one of the cliff-top resorts at Leura (a particularly pleasant little town), like Peppers Fairmont. There are others, plenty of them. In Tasmania, I'd stay in Hobart and then perhaps in one of the towns up the east coast, say in the Freycinet area, for the sheer beauty.

6. I hope I don't get flamed for this admittedly ignorant question: A friend who's been to Tasmania (and loved it) was wondering whether it would be similar to New Zealand (which we've been to and loved, but which he hasn't seen). I realize that we're talking about very different countries and locales, but would still welcome any advice on whether doing the Blue Mts. and/or the GOR would offer a more different experience than NZ than Tasmania would. Again, sorry if this is a stupid question.Not a stupid question at all. In many ways, Tasmania and New Zealand might be seen as similar. The scenery in Tasmania isn't quite as dramatic as New Zealand's although it has its own grandeur and the island is very beautiful. New Zealand also has more varied scenery, in a way, since it includes (among other things) the almost sub-tropical Hibiscus Coast etc north of Auckland. Tasmania probably has a feeling of more remoteness than New Zealand, especially in the southern and western parts of the island. The setting of Hobart is incomparable, on the estuary of the River Derwent and with Mount Wellington rising straight up behind it.

7. Just to get a sense of the scale of things, if one were to simply drive all the way around Tasmania, how many hours would that be? This site (http://www.discovertasmania.com/travel_information/car_hire/driving_times_and_distances) [http://www.discovertasmania.com/travel_information/car_hire/driving_times_and_distances] gives road distances in Tasmania in kilometres (which is how they are signposted) and in miles, as well as estimated travel times (which are probably a bit on the long side). The roads in Tasmania are not state-of-the-art, but they're generally very adequate for the volume of traffic. It's a good place for motoring.

8. If we were to go to the Blue Mountains, is there a town where we could simply base ourselves without a car for two or three days of relaxation and hiking, or would we be better off with a car?You'd be better with a car. The Blue Mountains are served by train from Sydney, but the stations are all in the town centres whereas the views, walks, etc are not. Taking Leura (see above), the town centre is worth visiting (interesting artisanal shops, restaurants, etc), but it's a good half-hour walk or more to where the views are, and the views are not all in the one place. There are also fantastic views at Katoomba, Blackheath, Wentworth Falls, etc, etc. There are taxis, of course, but you would be dependent on your feet and taxis.

9. If we did the GOR, would you recommend going back and forth both ways on the GOR itself, or doing one way on a more inland route?The GOR is stunning. You might welcome the opportunity to re-trace your steps and see some of the dozens of look-outs that you didn't see the first time. (Every one is worth stopping at, by the way, even when you think there can't be anything more to see.) If you can stand to be a bit relaxed about it, I'd be inclined to see how you feel when you're part way along the GOR and make onward travel bookings then. Motels in Australia are generally good (better than their US counterparts, if I may say so) and it would be fine, I am sure, to stay in one for a night or two. Anyway, just a thought.

12. I assume that we're far better off visiting Melbourne at the end of our trip rather than the start, when the Australian Open will still be going on, right?I don't think the Australian Open would inconvenience you. It's a big sporting event but Melbourne is a big city and it should be able to accommodate its annual tennis competition.

9. If we did the GOR, would you recommend going back and forth both ways on the GOR itself, or doing one way on a more inland route?

If you want to completely escape the tourist trail for half a day you could try taking the Hopkins Highway (B120) from Warrnambool to Mortlake then the Hamilton Highway (B140) to Geelong. This route takes you through a massive plain of dormant (not extinct!) volcanoes. The road runs right beside Mount Elephant, which is not huge but is quite dramatic. You'll see many other classic cone-shaped volcanoes on the drive as well.

Audrey

If world-class pristine wilderness interests you (think Yosemite without the tourists) then Wilson's Prom might be to your taste. Very beautiful, 3 hour drive SE of Melbourne and a nice complement to the GOR (completely different take on wilderness). Mostly camping but some accomodation options, including some stunning tent cabins (but expensive, in the AUD 300 a night range). Personally I would rather go there from MEL than to Tasmania. Also there is excellent wine country around MEL. Don't underestimate the charms of country Victoria (it was a free settleement, not a penal colony like Sydney, and the gold money in the 19th century led to some rural development which is quite charming in places; in fact quite interesting to compare and contrast the cities of Sydney and Melbourne, you can see some interesting historical forces at work -- so different yet the same). Both are world-class cities that I personally rate in the world's top-10 list.

If world-class pristine wilderness interests you (think Yosemite without the tourists) then Wilson's Prom might be to your taste. Very beautiful, 3 hour drive SE of Melbourne and a nice complement to the GOR (completely different take on wilderness). Mostly camping but some accomodation options, including some stunning tent cabins (but expensive, in the AUD 300 a night range). Personally I would rather go there from MEL than to Tasmania. Also there is excellent wine country around MEL. Don't underestimate the charms of country Victoria (it was a free settleement, not a penal colony like Sydney, and the gold money in the 19th century led to some rural development which is quite charming in places; in fact quite interesting to compare and contrast the cities of Sydney and Melbourne, you can see some interesting historical forces at work -- so different yet the same). Both are world-class cities that I personally rate in the world's top-10 list.

Agree, Wilson's Prom is very nice. Different to Tasmania so I guess it depends on preferences. By the way, Victoria was also established as a penal colony but never as big as NSW.

Righto - Tassie transplant here.....
Early Feb is edging towards end of peak tourist season here. Its still school hols down here, but everyone else has nicked off and gone back to supposedly learning things.
Technically, you cant drive right around the outside of Tassie, and if you could you would need a 4WD. There is a massive hunk down the bottom in the SW Wilderness which has minimal roads.
As for the time.....driving solidly and not stopping its about a day from Hobart to Launceston along the east coast via Scottsdale. Its another day from Launceston to Marrawaha via Smithton on the far NW tip. Its a LONG day from Marrawaha to Strahan/Queenstown via Corriana. Its 4-5 hours from Strahan to Hobart. Alot of that driving (esp down the West coast) needs 4WD.
I'd personally spend 3-4 days in Hobart doing some walks on Mt Wellington and down towards the Huon Valley. Cradle Mountain/Freciynet is also lovely, but may be a bit difficult to book into.

Thanks so much to all who responded to my post! This is very useful info. I may well be back in touch with other questions down the line.