Oceania (Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific) - Australia in May--Itinerary help

Been reading this great forum and thought I'd ask for some itinerary help. It's still very much in the tinker phase, so any suggestions are very welcome.

My hubby has a conference first week in May, so we're going to take 2 weeks after and try to see some of the country. His conference is in Melbourne, but he'll have been there a week by the time I arrive, so unless there's a good reason for me to start there, I'll probably meet him up in Cairns/Port Douglas and start there.

Having never been to Australia I'm struck by just how MUCH there is to see. I'm on information overload in terms of what to do. I'll never see everything, so seeing anything is great. I don't have a lost of "musts" other than the GBR. I've tried to build in enough beach to offer some relaxation time for mornings with things to do in the afternoons.

What I'd like to know is have I shortchanged anything horribly or added something that's just not worth it? Am I critically misjudging distances or times to get places or how to get there? Anything just completely missing?

Appreciate the help!

Right now I'm looking at this:

May 11, 12, 13: Port Douglas
I've got a bunch of points with Starwood, so will likely stay at the Sheraton Mirage up here. While here, I'm thinking reef day, beach day and trip to Daintree. Do we need a car for this segment?

Morning 14th, leave Port Douglas and fly (?) to Airlie Beach.

May 14, 15, 16: Airlie Beach/Whitsundays
Not sure whether to stay in Airlie Beach or Hamilton Island. My wallet says Airlie. Is it worth staying on the island? Here, it's going to be mostly reef and beach. Probably won't get a car here.

Evening of 16th, leave Airlie Beach and fly to Brisbane

May 17-18: Brisbane
Worth the stop? I'm thinking general area, Koala sanctuary, etc. Hadn't picked a hotel yet. Thinking we'd get a car here and then take it to the Gold Coast.

Evening of May 18th drive (?) from Brisbane to Gold Coast

May 19, 20, 21: Gold Coast
Probably looking at the Sheraton Mirage Gold Coast for this trip. Would still have the car to do some touring around to different places up and down.

Afternoon 21st, fly from Gold Coast to Sydney.

May 22, 23, 24, 25: Sydney
No car. Would likely stay at Westin in central business district.

My hubby actually has family in Canberra, so may have to throw in a side trip there, but haven't worked it in yet. Return date may well get later. :)

May 25/26-back to US

Thanks for the suggestions!

Australia is very large:- Australia compared to the USA (http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_size_of_Australia_compared_to_the_US) and Australia vs USA map (http://www.anbg.gov.au/maps/aust-usa-map.jpg)

For me would travel to fewer places and stay more time at each destination. Otherwise you are spending time at airports & on aircraft & travel airport/hotel. Places will just blend into each other. map MEL-CNS-WSY-BNE-OOL-SYD-CBR (http://gc.kls2.com/cgi-bin/gc?PATH=mel-cns-wsy-bne-ool-syd-cbr%0D%0A&RANGE=&PATH-COLOR=red&PATH-UNITS=mi&PATH-MINIMUM=&SPEED-GROUND=&SPEED-UNITS=kts&RANGE-STYLE=best&RANGE-COLOR=navy&MAP-STYLE=)

Not worth staying in Brisbane & Gold Coast. After Port Douglas, Cairns & Airlie Beach in FNQ (far north Queensland) Brisbane & Gold Coast will be disappointing.

My hubby actually has family in Canberra, so may have to throw in a side trip there, but haven't worked it in yet. Return date may well get later. :)

May 25/26-back to USBut the best idea is to attend http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/communitybuzz/1254452-oz-fest-9-canberra-australia-memorial-day-weekend-may-25-27-2012-a-3.html

Airlee beach is basically a backpackers town, if you're 23 and looking to get drunk and laid it's fantastic, if not staying on the islands is a much better bet.

Brisbane and Gold Coast I wouldn't bother, Brisbane is easily my (most peoples?) least favourite capital city and the Gold Coast is just a rather dire copy of Waikiki. If you want to do some additional beachside stuff staying on the Sunshine coast somewhere like Noosa is a much better option

It seems from your plan that you aren't making it to Melbourne, I think that's a big mistake

Your original itinerary spends a lot of time in places which are very similar, even if you are looking for a beahside holiday places you might want to think about swapping some of the Queensland stuff for some of the more low key beachside towns in NSW and Victoria (or even tassie), still similar in that they're beachside in Aus but a completely different experience.

His conference is in Melbourne, but he'll have been there a week by the time I arrive, so unless there's a good reason for me to start there, ....I guess the fact that it's one of the world's great cities isn't a good enough reason .... :)

Sydney has the glitz and the glamor (the harbor, the Opera House, the Bridge etc. etc.) but Melbourne has everything else - it's the sporting / shopping / dining / coffee / cultural capital of Australia.

There is no way I would pick Brisbane over Melbourne (and I lived in Brisbane for 2 years). You seem to be planning a largely "beach" holiday, which is obviously fine if that is what you want. However, after Port Douglas, I wouldn't spend any more time at the beach and certainly not at the Gold Coast. As already suggested, Noosa (on the Sunshine Coast, north of Brisbane) is far nicer than the Gold Coast (ok, the Gold Coast has great beaches but Surfers Paradise is just an overbuilt concrete jungle with not much to recommend it).

As others have said, I wouldn't bother with the Gold Coast (although I understand the recently opened Hilton is quite nice!), but consider Noosa instead and I wouldn't necessarily dismiss Melbourne. Without being biased, I would also visit Melbourne over Brisbane (and I also lived in Brisbane for 2 years).

All of this is dependent on what your interests are, other than the beach - it would be helpful if you advised on this. Do you like food, wine, cities, natural attractions, bush walking, driving, etc?

Answers to a couple of your detailed questions:

Closest airport to Port Douglas is Cairns, approx. 67 km/1 hr 10 min. drive.

Closet airport to Airlie beach is Proserpine/Whitsunday Coast (PPP), approx. 25 km/25 min. drive.

There are transfers available between both airports and the towns, but I don't think there is any public transport as such.

As far as I am aware, there are no directs flights between the two airports (you will have to fly via Brisbane).

There plenty of tours from Port Douglas to Daintree, but a rental car may be more suitable/flexible. You can rent cars from either CNS or Port Douglas.

I would echo many of the comments above. I think that Brisbane and (particularly) the Gold Coast could go – after spending time in Port Douglas etc, they will seem rather dull, I think. And yes, if you must have more time in Queensland, the Sunshine Coast is a better bet than the Gold Coast.

And Melbourne shouldn't be dismissed: it is one of the world's fine cities, and an example of Victorian town planning at a time when it was just about the wealthiest city in the British Empire, during the mid- and late-nineteenth centuries. It is not as immediately exciting as Sydney, but it is well worth exploring. Sydney and Melbourne are also surprisingly different from each other.

Personally I'd go to Tasmania but I'm biased. It would help if we had an idea of what you liked etc.

If you decide to stay in the Whitsundays (Airlie Beach) I would try and fit in 2-3 days on the water. There are trips to suit all budgets (even cheaper if you are a sailor) and it's a great way to see the islands/snorkel/relax.

I whole-heartedly agree with all of the suggestions above. Another wonderful place to visit, that would fit in with the 'beach' theme is Fraser Island, there is a (small) airport at Hervey Bay. IMO one of the few places on earth where the reality is even better than web photos.
Would recommend over Airlie Beach and Hamilton Island. If you spend your time on the water at Hamilton Island, then that is another matter, sailing around the Whitsundays is brilliant (and you can fly direct to Hamilton Island). So much does depend on your interests and hate to say it, budget.

Happy itinerary planning!

As a Melbourne girl I am of course biased, but I think you should definitely allow some time in Melbourne as a contrast to the strong beach focus in the rest of your proposed itinerary. I agree with other posters that after Port Douglas you may be disappointed by Brisbane, and especially the Gold Coast, and you will probably get sick of all the flying you are going to have to do to connect up the regional destinations you are considering in Queensland. If it were me, I would drop Brisbane and the Gold Coast from the plan, but still go to the Whitsundays because they are a very convenient access point for the GBR (and don't necessarily dismiss Hamilton Island - it has an airport and a range of accommodation at different price points).

Melbourne is a large, sophisticated city. It is very different to Sydney, which I also love (I am NOT trying to ignite a SYD vs MEL debate here!:D). It may not have the postcard wow factor of the Sydney Harbour and the Opera House, but it has subtle charms that are worth discovering. It is great for culture, art, and sports (neither will be on during your visit but it hosts the Australian Tennis Open and the F1 Grand Prix, for example). The Ian Potter Centre is great if you are interested in Australian art, and there are international galleries and various modern art galleries as well. If you like big stage shows/musicals it is the place for you. IMO it has better shopping than Sydney, with a flourishing local independent fashion scene. It has fantastic restaurants and a hidden but very sophisticated wine and cocktail bar culture. It has terrific live music venues (small jazz clubs, pubs, large venues etc). It has become very well known for its laneway culture and these are worth touring in the city centre (you can go on guided tours).. It is very multicultural, so if you like exploring different cuisines you will love the diversity of food to be had here. It has beautiful public gardens. It is only an hour's drive from two of Victoria's most vibrant wine regions (the Yarra Valley and the Mornington Peninsula). It is only a couple of hours' drive to the start of the Great Ocean Road, which is truly one of the world's great coast roads. Apparently it is the city that other Australians most want to visit for a weekend escape (I think I read that in a survey somewhere!)!

End of plug....:)