Oceania (Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific) - Australia Itinerary Critique/Suggestions

If you have any suggestions/tips/critiques it would be much appreciated. I know i am probably fitting too many cities in a short time but cant change that.



Friday, September 02, 2011


Flight Arrival: 6:10 AM
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
Mercure Hotel Brisbane
Dinner?


Saturday, September 03, 2011 - Cairns


BNE 09:45 AM - CNS 12:10 PM
Cairns Hotel: Mercure Cairns Harbourside
asdf
Bushfire Flame Grill


Sunday, September 04, 2011- Cairns


Green Island - 8:30 AM - 4:30 Return
Helmet Dive / Walk
Dinner?


Monday, September 05, 2011 - Cairns to Sydney


Kuranda Scenic Railway / Skyrail
CNS 5:15 PM - SYD 8:15 PM
Hotel: Westin Sydney
View Sydney Harbour Bridge
View Sydney Opera House


Tuesday, September 06, 2011 - Sydney to Adelaide


Bondi Beach
Sydney Aria Restaurant
View Sydney Opera House
Check-Out Hotel 04:00 PM
SYD 8:45 PM - ADL 10:25 PM
Hotel Grand Chancellor Adelaide on Currie


Wednesday, September 07, 2011 - Kangaroo Island


Ferry: to Kangaroo Island
Seal Bay
Remarkable Rocks
Admirals Arch
Hotel: Kangaroo Island Wilderness Retreat
Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary


Thursday, September 08, 2011 - Mount Gambier


Little Sahara
Ferry: From Kangaroo Island
Drive to Mount Gambier
Hotel: Comfort Inn Silver Birch


Friday, September 09, 2011 - Geelong


Great Ocean Road
Loch Ard Gorge
Mutton Bird Island
London Bridge
Twelve Apostles
Mercure Geelong


Saturday, September 10, 2011 - Melbourne


Bells Beach
Hotel: Grand Hyatt Melbourne
Explore China Town Area
Sichuan House / Dainty Sichuan Noodles
Eureka Sky Deck + Edge
Rare Steakhouse
Crown Casino and Entertainment Complex


Sunday, September 11, 2011 - Melbourne


Queen Victoria Market
Drive to Phillips Island
Ultimate Tour: Penguin Parade


Monday, September 12, 2011 - Melbourne


MEL 10:10 AM - LAX 07:30 AM

You have taken about a month's worth of touring and compressed it into just over a week. Aside from the obvious attractions which you have already listed, you really won't have any time to do anything in the cities you are going to, so there's not much that can be suggested.

I admire your itinerary but that honestly is way too much in such a short of a visit. You will be exhausted and really won't have time to enjoy much of what Australia is because you will ve rushing to your next event.

I will say you will love the Penguin Parade, :) I found it facinating.

I didn't think it was possible, but your itinerary makes some of my holidays look leisurely!

A few comments (mostly questions!):

Firstly, you've picked some great places!

Do you like food (it appears you do!)?

How are you getting around on Kangaroo Island? Are you aware of the conditions of hiring cars in Australia and in particular on Kangaroo Island? I've commented in other threads which you may have seen.

Is there any particular reason you're planning on staying in Geelong? IMO staying in Geelong is not worth it - there's nothing of interest whatsoever (it's just another largeish city with a small waterfront area but nothing else of interest). Not to mention Bells Beach is backtracking along the Great Ocean Road from Geelong (about half an hour backwards each way). I'd stay at one of the many nice beachside towns on the Great Ocean Road - e.g. Lorne (probably the largest of the towns, but still right on the beach, lots of accomm choices, about an hour from Geelong), Aireys Inlet (closer to Geelong, but tiny, so accomm will be limited), Anglesea (closest to Geelong and very close to Bells Beach, smaller than Lorne, but still reasonable amount of accomm), or you could even stay at Bells Beach itself (accomm will be very limited). Lorne would definitely be easiest from an accomm perspective, still has the beach town feel - much better than Geelong! Geelong residents might be offended!

Any particular reason you chose Rare Steakhouse? I've lived in Melbourne almost all my life, love food and had never heard of it until you mentioned it! Without knowing much about Rare Steakhouse, if you like food, there are much better places to eat!

If steak is your thing, there are a few good places, one being The Point, Albert Park.

If you're after something unique, the Tram Car Restaurant is very Melbourne - a restaurant on a 1920's tram that winds its way around the inner suburbs of Melbourne. I've never been on it, but would love to (it passes my home every night!). It is very expensive though and the food is good but not great (llimited space would account for that!). Also, another member (number_6) recommended Tjanabi at Federation Square, for kangaroo, emu and other Australian delicacies. I'm not sure it's still around (Google seems to suggest maybe it isn't).

A couple of other great restaurants include Movida (spanish tapas in a laneway), Cutler & Co, Cumuls Inc.

You could also catch a tram (or taxi) to St Kilda and eat at Donovans (well regarded Modern Australian restaurant on the beach), or the Stokehouse (upstairs for upper end Mod Oz cuisine, or downstairs for more casual, but still good, food). Both of these restaurants look out over the beach.

Rather than Crown, I recommend you try some of the hidden laneway and rooftop bars - e.g. Murmur, Madam Brusells, Rooftop Bar, Cookie.

Google any of these things or ask! Many more suggestions where they came from! Might be useful to specify budget.

Anyway, that's probably enough of my ramblings for now!

I didn't think it was possible, but your itinerary makes some of my holidays look leisurely!

A few comments (mostly questions!):

Firstly, you've picked some great places!

Do you like food (it appears you do!)?

How are you getting around on Kangaroo Island? Are you aware of the conditions of hiring cars in Australia and in particular on Kangaroo Island? I've commented in other threads which you may have seen.

Is there any particular reason you're planning on staying in Geelong? IMO staying in Geelong is not worth it - there's nothing of interest whatsoever (it's just another largeish city with a small waterfront area but nothing else of interest). Not to mention Bells Beach is backtracking along the Great Ocean Road from Geelong (about half an hour backwards each way). I'd stay at one of the many nice beachside towns on the Great Ocean Road - e.g. Lorne (probably the largest of the towns, but still right on the beach, lots of accomm choices, about an hour from Geelong), Aireys Inlet (closer to Geelong, but tiny, so accomm will be limited), Anglesea (closest to Geelong and very close to Bells Beach, smaller than Lorne, but still reasonable amount of accomm), or you could even stay at Bells Beach itself (accomm will be very limited). Lorne would definitely be easiest from an accomm perspective, still has the beach town feel - much better than Geelong! Geelong residents might be offended!

Any particular reason you chose Rare Steakhouse? I've lived in Melbourne almost all my life, love food and had never heard of it until you mentioned it! Without knowing much about Rare Steakhouse, if you like food, there are much better places to eat!

If steak is your thing, there are a few good places, one being The Point, Albert Park.

If you're after something unique, the Tram Car Restaurant is very Melbourne - a restaurant on a 1920's tram that winds its way around the inner suburbs of Melbourne. I've never been on it, but would love to (it passes my home every night!). It is very expensive though and the food is good but not great (llimited space would account for that!). Also, another member (number_6) recommended Tjanabi at Federation Square, for kangaroo, emu and other Australian delicacies. I'm not sure it's still around (Google seems to suggest maybe it isn't).

A couple of other great restaurants include Movida (spanish tapas in a laneway), Cutler & Co, Cumuls Inc.

You could also catch a tram (or taxi) to St Kilda and eat at Donovans (well regarded Modern Australian restaurant on the beach), or the Stokehouse (upstairs for upper end Mod Oz cuisine, or downstairs for more casual, but still good, food). Both of these restaurants look out over the beach.

Rather than Crown, I recommend you try some of the hidden laneway and rooftop bars - e.g. Murmur, Madam Brusells, Rooftop Bar, Cookie.

Google any of these things or ask! Many more suggestions where they came from! Might be useful to specify budget.

Anyway, that's probably enough of my ramblings for now!

Pretty much all of my trips are like this. Few months ago I did Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara, Iyashima(sp), Osaka, and Tokyo again in 7 days.

Renting a car i'm aware of the conditions.

The main reason i'm staying in Geelong was it was a great deal on a Mercure hotel not so much for the city itself.

I wanted a good steakhouse. Rare Steakhouse got good reviews and is walking distance from the Grand Hyatt was my reason for choosing it. I'm going to look into The Point now tho. I tried to make reservations for the Tram Car Restaurant but it was booked solid for dinner. Only lunch was available and I didn't want to spend $200 on lunch lol.

Thanks for the other restaurant suggestions I will look into them.

Pretty much all of my trips are like this. Few months ago I did Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara, Iyashima(sp), Osaka, and Tokyo again in 7 days.

Renting a car i'm aware of the conditions.

The main reason i'm staying in Geelong was it was a great deal on a Mercure hotel not so much for the city itself.

I wanted a good steakhouse. Rare Steakhouse got good reviews and is walking distance from the Grand Hyatt was my reason for choosing it. I'm going to look into The Point now tho. I tried to make reservations for the Tram Car Restaurant but it was booked solid for dinner. Only lunch was available and I didn't want to spend $200 on lunch lol.

Thanks for the other restaurant suggestions I will look into them.

It would want to be a great deal on the Geelong Mercure!

Bugger on the Tram car restaurant!

According to The Age Good Guide (the bible on Melbourne restaurants), the top 5 steak restaurants in 2010 were:

Les Boucheries Parisiennes in South Yarra (I believe this is now closed - the restaurant business is cut throat in Melbourne)
Melbourne Wine Room in St Kilda (I've eaten there and the food is good)
The Point, Albert Park
Rockpool Bar & Grill at Crown
The Station Hotel, Footscray

All of these are either in the CBD or a short tram or taxi ride away.

Not to say Rare Steakhouse won't do a good steak, but if you're only going to be here a short time, something unique/well regarded might be worthwhile.

Forgot to mention Mt Gambier has an impressive blue lake and also some caves nearby

Mt Gambier to Geelong is going to be an incredibly long day. The Great Ocean Road doesn't start until after Warrnambool and the drive from Mr Gambier to Warrnambool isn't very exciting.

I recommend starting very early if you can, otherwise you may end up doing the most spectacular stretches of road (around Lorne) in the dark.

Audrey

Melbourne Wine Room in St Kilda (I've eaten there and the food is good)


I ate there recently and it is very good.