Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - Going to OZ 1-28-03 looking for tips

Ar Sydney via QF 1st class (lucked out) 5 night at the ANA. Then 4 nights at Port Douglas Sheraton, then to Hobart Taz at the Leena for 3 nights and ending up in Melbourne at the Sheraton for 3 nights. Looking for any and all sightseeing tips. Going to make a day trip to the reef for snorkeling and also to the rainforest. Any other suggestions? (other than making the stays longer. Already tried that, but the only 1st seats on QF were these (thru US). Thanks for any info.
Bob

My first tip is..go get yourself a guidebook. These always give great starting points and you know your likes and dislikes far better than a group of strangers. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/smile.gif

There are always the obvious things like, Bondi Beach (though there are better beaches), Blue Moutains, Bridge Climb etc in Sydney. In Port Douglas of course there is the reef and the rainforests, the train and the skyrail at Kuranda.

But honestly..guidebooks are a great way to start, then you can always come back here for more information. You can also take guidebooks with you for tips along the way..of course you could take us too http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/smile.gif

Phoebe

Sydney -

ANA is in a nice location and you'll enjoy the hotel, a definite 5 star. While you are here visit

- The rocks (where the ANA is) and the rocks markets when they are open
- Opera House (maybe even see an opera)
- Harbour bridge (perhaps take a harbour bridge climb, quite spectacular)
- Take a cruise on the harbour (such as taking the manly ferry and having the lunch in manly beach for the day and take the ferry back
- Take the ferry to Taronga Zoo (a 5 min walk down from the ANA to the ferry terminal) and then take photos with koalas, kangaroos
- Go to the top of the Sydney Tower and take the tour about sydney when there (may be a good first stop)
- Go to a basketball match if you like - http://www.sydneykings.com.au - they are based down at the entertainment centre in the city
- Go to chinatown, on friday nights they have night markets, some great souveniors there (good quality stuff, great) and nice food
- Kings Cross (if you really want to.... at least maybe a dinner there, some nice restaurants in the potts point area)
- Bondi Beach (on a nice warm day head down to the beach there and enjoy the sun)
- Blue Moutains (you could take a day tour up there or a day tour to the wineries in the hunter valley the ANA conceirge will be able to help you with that

I'm sure there's lots more, but that's a sample. FOr an idea of whats on try
http://www.citysearch.com.au

For Cairns/Port Douglas;

- play a game of golf there, as bill clinton does when he stays there
- take a "quicksilver" cruise out to the reef quicksilver have won plenty of awards, the hotel will be able to advise and book for you when there
- i would rent a car and take a drive up to mosman gorge and bring a picnic lunch there (ask the hotel to make a hamper for you if you want) and take a dip there and lunch, all freshwater, no crocs up there
- maybe after that take a drive up to the daintree (about 45 more mins, its 45 mins to mosman from port douglas) - they have a qaint little shop up in daintree which last time i remember offered Barra (barramundi) and chips for just A$4.50 (about US$2.50!) and it was delicious and filling, and take a boat cruise along the daintree rainforest
- drive down to cairns one day and take the kuranda scenic rail up to kurana from cairns, and then the sky rail back down making sure to make stops in the rainforest visits on the way down
- spend the afternoon in cairns and go shopping at the cairns central shopping centre, the pier, enjoy the reef casino and a drink out on a balmy evening, enjoying some prawns, crabs, lobsters.
- enjoy the scenic drive during the day between cairns and port douglas (i think the most scenic drives i've ever been on . spectacular where the reef on the edge meets the rainforest)
- relax and enjoy yourself, play tennis etc.

Melbourne -

Not my idea of fun, but hey... ok here's what to do, not as much as sydney

- visit crown casino and do some gambling, big casino, nice food, cinemas, etc. even a fancy large seat cinema with wine
- take a tour down to see the penguins in philip island (about 90 mins away from melbourne) an interesting trip....
- go to bridge road and do some factory outlet shopping for nice aussie clothes and things like that - ie country road, etc.
- go to the penang affair restaurant in footscray, really really yummy food there!!
- go to yum cha in richmond (where there are many vietnamese and delcious food)
- vist the big markets in the city on the weekend, lots of nick nacks, food, etc, have lunch there.
- visit the melbourne zoo
- go to the dandenong ranges and have a devonshire tea and scones
- take a tram!!
- may be a bit boring but maybe a boat cruise up the river
- dining - melbourne has some great restaurants and bars, ask the conceirge when you are there, if you are a bit wild, they also opened Australia's largest cinema screen in Knox in Nov.... hrmm!!

Tassie - i'm not a good person to advise on that, perhaps someone else can help.

Enjoy your holiday down under.

I do suggest you perhaps get a book on Australia from lonely planet, invaluable. Also, if you don't want to queue for taxi's in Australian airports (particularly domestic) I suggest you go upstairs after arriving and go the the departures level and catch a taxi passing by on that level.

[This message has been edited by kawoh (edited 01-07-2003).]

Track down ozstamps here and drop him a note. I believe that he's a native...

JP

I have found the Fromm's guidebook to be a great resource

Er, I think you mean Frommer's. I've had good luck with them wherever I've used them--but not yet in Australia!


JP

Kawoh: Thanks for your detailed reply. It will be a big help. Also, thank to all for your suggestions.
Bob

Guidebooks!!!!!!!!!

You have NO time to waste on such a short visit. You must get all the data and then select between TOO many things that you will want to do. Having the list will help you to be less sorry about the things you did not have time to do.

Lots of excellent web sites too, buy very time consuming.

You might also want to look up some trip reports. They should help you get some ideas of costs too

take a look at this thread:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum95/HTML/002903.html

we are all meeting up in Sydney that week for a lunch or dinner...

Hope to see you there!
C