Oceania (Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific) - 3-week Australia Honeymoon (SYD-CNS-BNE-SYD)

This is my first post on Flyer Talk! My husband and I are going to Oz from November 3-22, 2011. Here's our itinerary so far. I would like some feedback from you with some ideas on how to fill in the some of the time. We are both scuba divers and are fine just diving the GBR. We enjoy the outdoors (hiking) and watersports, and would like to find attractions off the beaten path. We are hoping to stay on a reasonable budget so booking a lot of tours does not appeal to us. Any recommendations for hotels or self-catering apartments in SYD (CBD/Darling Harbour) and BNE in the $100-150/night range would be also be appreciated.

SYD (1N): Will be jet-lagged (flying from ON, Canada), so we're planning on exploring the city on this day.
SYD-CNS (3N): Our self-catering apartment is located in Cairns City but we were thinking of doing a couple of day-trips such as Chillagoe Caves or Port Douglas. Any other suggestions? We're torn on renting a car (minimum $100/day) or hopping on a couple of day tours to see the rainforest etc. I've heard that CNS is kind of quiet with not much to do.
Spirit of Freedom Live-aboard to the Coral Sea (4N) - the highlight of our trip!
CNS (1N): We arrive back from our live-aboard in the early morning so we will have a full day in CNS.
CNS-BNE (4N): Our most flexible part of the trip since nothing is booked. We plan on visiting Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary one day. If travelling to the Sunshine Coast (Noosa, Mooloolaba) or Gold Goast, would you recommend an over-night stay or perhaps staying there for 2N? We would like to be back in the city before our flight to SYD.
BNE-SYD (3N): We're planning on getting a Multi3 pass or a weekly pass. Will be staying in SYD except for a Blue Mountains overnight trip using public transportation.

Please forward any and all suggestions our way!

Thanks in advance.

I assume that the accommodation in Cairns and the various flights are already booked? If not, the first two suggestions would be (a) don't stay in Cairns (and don't stay so long) and (b) come to Melbourne instead of Brisbane.

Cairns is the usual gateway to the reef but Cairns itself has nothing to recommend it. Most people probably stay in one of the beach communities to the north, primarily either Palm Cove (http://www.palmcove.net/index.php) or Port Douglas. Unless you want "beach time/lazing by the pool time", a couple of days in Cairns is more than enough, particularly if you've already been on a live-aboard for 4 days. One day trip many do from Cairns is to Kuranda (http://www.kuranda.org/) - take the train (http://www.kuranda.org/?p=73) up and the skyrail (http://www.skyrail.com.au/kuranda.html) back. It's derided by some as "touristy" but having done it several times over the years, it's always been a pleasant day out.

Brisbane is nice (I used to live there) but I'd pick Melbourne (http://www.visitmelbourne.com/) over Brisbane any day - generally much more to do and see. Go to the Yarra Valley for a day out or take a day or two and go down the Great Ocean Road (http://www.greatoceanrd.org.au/). Sydney has the glitz and the glamour but Melbourne has everything else - it's the sporting / cultural / shopping / dining capital of Australia.

If you do go to Brisbane, you can do the Sunshine Coast or the Gold Coast as a day trip, if needs be. Noosa is abut 1 1/2 - 2 hours north, the Gold Coast an hour+ south. The main part of the Gold Coast (Surfers Paradise) is an over-built concrete jungle (high-rise apartments). If you've had a week+ in Cairns etc., I'm not sure you'd really want more beach time? However, the Gold Coast hinterland may be much more interesting - a day or two at O'Reilly's (http://www.oreillys.com.au/) or Binna Burra (http://www.binnaburralodge.com.au/) would be nice.

Hi tt7,
Thanks for the tips. Unfortunately, yes our domestic Qantas flights are booked so the itinerary is somewhat fixed. We've been emailing with a dive travel agent in Cairns regarding things to do as well, so we're hoping that we can still keep busy in the area and not be bored out of our minds. :) We may change our Cairns City apartment for a resort further North for 2N, as there is some flexibility with that booking.

We'll put Melbourne on our next trip. We flew over on Aeroplan points so we'll be back to visit other regions of Australia at some point in the future.

If you like the outdoors/hiking, then (as suggested) you would probably enjoy O'Reilly's or Binna Burra in the Gold Coast hinterland, if the budget will stretch to it. I've only ever stayed at Binna Burra (and that was years ago) but really enjoyed it. If you stay there, you can visit the Gold Coast (Surfers Paradise etc.) on the way there (or back) but unless you really want more beach time, probably no reason to stay the night in Surfers.

On the way down from Brisbane (or back - or both), stop and have a Yatala (http://www.yatalapies.com.au/) pie (that's "Yat - ler"). Meat pies are an Australian delicacy (really ...) and a Yatala pie is worth stopping for.

... Any recommendations for hotels or self-catering apartments in SYD (CBD/Darling Harbour) and BNE in the $100-150/night range would be also be appreciated.....No problem at that budget in BNE, but you will struggle in SYD CBD/Darling Harbour. Anything nice will be over $200 most of the time, and with a view over $300. Last year SYD CBD hotels had 99%+ occupancy -- the highest in the world -- so guess what has happened to room rates? Much more expensive than even 2 years ago. It is sensitive to date, maybe you'll be lucky with your dates. Also once you get out of the CBD the prices drop considerably, and some of the "fringe" locations are actually better, esp. on a honeymoon. Consider an apt by the beaches (Manly, Bondi, etc.) as those can be half the price. Esp. from Manly it is quite nice commute to the CBD (by ferry) and a great place to walk around with some nice shops and cafes. Bondi is a bit less nice but might be cheaper.

If you must stay in CBD, try the Grand Quay apts (expensive but worth it). Otherwise stay in Kings Cross (funky and no longer dangerous or objectionable for the most part, no worse than Yonge St. in T.O). Cheaper for less nice apts (older but with character) in a real neighbourhood on Macleay.

I agree with tt7, 4 nights in Brisbane is a long time. I'd seriously consider swapping that with Melbourne or if you like the outdoors even Tasmania.

For accomodation in Sydney number_6 is right, the price bracket you are looking at is more a hostel than hotel rate.

I haven't stayed there so I can't make a personal recommendation but Vibe Hotel (http://www.vibehotels.com.au/default.asp?page=/vibe-locations/sydney-hotels/vibe-hotel-sydney) often has rooms in that price range.

If you're willing to take a chance and book closer to the date then you may be able to get something good on Wotif (http://www.wotif.com/) or Lastminute (http://www.lastminute.com.au/).

I haven't stayed there so I can't make a personal recommendation but Vibe Hotel (http://www.vibehotels.com.au/default.asp?page=/vibe-locations/sydney-hotels/vibe-hotel-sydney) often has rooms in that price range.


The Vibe in Rushcutters Bay starts at around $200+ for a room. As far as hotels in Sydney are concerned, it would be most definitely in the budget category.

Another factor against Brisbane at the time of year is that much of South East Queensland will be overrun with 17 and 18 year old school leavers on their first trip away from home. Schoolies week is sometime in mid/late November, which will mean both the Gold and Sunshine Coasts will be heaving with drunk teenagers. Brisbane should be OK though, as they don't tend to go into the city, just North and South of it.

If you're willing to take a chance and book closer to the date then you may be able to get something good on Wotif (http://www.wotif.com/) or Lastminute (http://www.lastminute.com.au/).Wotif (http://www.wotif.com/search/Advanced?country=AU&region=2414&startDay=2011-11-18&adults=0&children=0&child1Age=1&child2Age=1&child3Age=1&child4Age=1&child5Age=1&child6Age=1&child7Age=1&child8Age=1&child9Age=1&accommodationTypeMatch=&roomTypeCategoryMatch=&starRatingMatch=&maximumPrice=&isoCurrencyCode=AUD&propertyNameMatch=&assumedCountry=AU&selectedSuggestionId=&searchTerms=&page=22&viewType=all) used to only have rates for a couple of weeks in advance but they now have rates much further in advance (so you can look at November rates now) so it'll give you a pretty good idea of what's available and at what price point. I'm not sure they have every hotel in a given area but they certainly have most of them (as you will see if you go and look at Sydney CBD rates for November). Obviously, rates keep changing all the time and you may be able to get a last-minute bargain - although, in Sydney that may just mean a more tolerable rate, rather than a bargain as such. They also have daily (email) specials you can sign up for - you never know what's going to suddenly pop-up that may be of interest. I would just keep checking Wotif until you find something that works for you.

Reservations through Wotif are payable up front (to Wotif) plus a small booking fee. We've booked through them numerous times and never had a problem with any of the reservations (e.g., turning up to find a non-existent reservation).

Wotif gets a lot of press here, and I've used them several times with no problems -- but also with no savings. In every case I could have gotten the same rate from the hotel for my stay ... ymmv. Once, during a high-demand date, wotif was actually 40% higher than expedia for same hotel/date. Best I can tell wotif is just an marketing agency, with no special access to rooms or better prices, just a nice web site. Strangely enough sometimes qantas.com.au has great hotel prices (but not always)!

The Vibe in Rushcutters Bay starts at around $200+ for a room. As far as hotels in Sydney are concerned, it would be most definitely in the budget category.

The Vibe Sydney (on Goulburn) has rooms starting at ~$135.

Definitely that's one of the lower price points I've seen here but I'd be willing to go out on a limb and suggest that it's likely to be better accommodation than most of the hostels in the CBD.

The Vibe on Golbourn is the old Southern Cross hotel, renovated in the Vibe style. Nice rooftop pool. I've stayed there in a suite complete with a grand piano but the regular rooms are spartan though furnished with the Vibe touch. Probably the best value hotel in Sydney, the location is pretty good too though not to everyone's taste. AUD 135 is a really good rate, doubt it is often available.

The Vibe Sydney (on Goulburn) has rooms starting at ~$135.

Definitely that's one of the lower price points I've seen here but I'd be willing to go out on a limb and suggest that it's likely to be better accommodation than most of the hostels in the CBD.

I just checked some random dates in November and the cheapest I found was $155, although for a Saturday that same room was $300.

Look further down. The advance purchase rate is $131 for rooms that are $155.

The advance purchase rate on the $300 Saturday room is $270.

I'm not saying that this is the best or only option in Sydney, merely that it is a hotel that I know of that has room rates that start in the OP's requested range.

If you have some better suggestions then I'm sure the OP would be delighted to hear them.

I just checked some random dates in November and the cheapest I found was $155, although for a Saturday that same room was $300.Great example of how supply and demand affects hotel rates in Sydney! There didn't use to be this 100%+ variation in the cost of the same room for adjacent days, but now is fairly common. Making it really hard to plan, and the pattern of when the rates go high is mysterious (hint: related to cruise ship sailings and conventions). Very annoying for someone like the OP if they happen to hit these dates (and lately it is more often than not).

Look further down. The advance purchase rate is $131 for rooms that are $155.

The advance purchase rate on the $300 Saturday room is $270.

I'm not saying that this is the best or only option in Sydney, merely that it is a hotel that I know of that has room rates that start in the OP's requested range.

If you have some better suggestions then I'm sure the OP would be delighted to hear them.

My point is that $100-150 is very low by Sydney standards. If I was price conscious, I'd rather stay at Wake UP than Vibe, YMMV.

Another factor against Brisbane at the time of year is that much of South East Queensland will be overrun with 17 and 18 year old school leavers on their first trip away from home. Schoolies week is sometime in mid/late November, which will mean both the Gold and Sunshine Coasts will be heaving with drunk teenagers. Brisbane should be OK though, as they don't tend to go into the city, just North and South of it.

"Schoolies" is pretty much restricted to the Gold Coast now.
Not much in the Brisbane CBD at all, and very muted (the ones who don't want to rave) on the Sunshine Coast.
So as long as the OP avoids Gold Coast there should be no problem.

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone! I realize that the original price point that I mentioned in my OP is a bit unrealistic for Sydney. There is some flexibility there so I will keep my eyes open. We would be willing to stay in Manly or Bondi Beach area, outside of CBD.

Regarding the Gold Coast, we will definitely avoid that area while we are in Brisbane so we don't run into too many 'schoolies.' :) In retrospect, I should have posted here first before booking our domestic flights but oh well, lessons learned! We will nonetheless have an enjoyable trip in November.