Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - where to spend 3-4 days in Australia after business? already done most of east coast

Hi all! I'm going to Australia for trip #3 in October, and I'm wondering if you have any good suggestions for spending 3-4 extra days (could be anywhere).

I've already been to Cairns, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast, on the previous trips. I was thinking Uluru (but a little too expensive/rushed), or Perth/Broome (too far).

What do you all think about Tasmania or New Zealand (in 3 days)? Or any other good suggestions?

Thanks!

Depends on what your interests are.

If you like big big red (and some good cool climate white) wines, Adelaide. McLaren Vale (d'Arenberg), Langhorne Creek, Barossa (Henscke, Grant Burge, Rockford) and Clare (Jim Barry) valleys, even Coonawara if you want to make the drive out there.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by TA:
I've already been to Cairns, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast, on the previous trips. I was thinking Uluru (but a little too expensive/rushed), or Perth/Broome (too far).

What do you all think about Tasmania or New Zealand (in 3 days)? Or any other good suggestions?

Thanks!</font>

Tasmania would be a great option.

Fly into Hobart. Visit the Samalanca Markets if you're there on a weekend, and DEFINATELY do the Cadbury Chocolate Factory Tour if there during the week.

Take a day drive up to Cradle Mountain if only just to check out the view. Even spend a night at the Cradle Mountain Lodge - probably the best money spent per night at any hotel in Tasmania.

If you like your history, take a trip to Port Arthur, the former penal colony made infamous back in the 90s when Martin Bryant decided it'd be fun to fatally shoot 35 visitors to the park.

Either that or a trip to Longreach to the Qantas museum and Stockmans Hall Of Fame in Queensland.

From Sydney, a flight to Hobart return is around the $200 return.

From Sydney, a flight to Longreach return is around the $550 return mark.

Also, if you want something "different" catch a train from Brisbane to Cairns. Traveltrain has a list of all different long distance train trips available in Queensland.

You could even combine the above two options, a train to Longreach [24 hours each way] and a trip to the Qantas Museum and Stockmans Hall Of Fame.


Edit: fixing html


[This message has been edited by dannyr (edited 08-31-2003).]

Edit : my HTML sucks - here's the links

Cadbury Tour - http://www.tasmaniaoutdoors.com/tours/tourdetail.php?TourID=4

Cradle Mountain - http://www.tased.edu.au/tot/central/cradle.html

Qantas Museum - http://www.qfom.com.au/

Stockmans Hall Of Fame - http://www.outbackheritage.com.au/

Traveltrain - http://www.traveltrain.qr.com.au/

[This message has been edited by dannyr (edited 08-31-2003).]

[This message has been edited by dannyr (edited 08-31-2003).]

Re: Tasmania. If you enjoy walking, you could do the Bay of Fires walk with Cradle Mtn Huts Pty. The beaches are the most beautiful I have ever seen, and the Bay of Fires lodge is pretty spectacular. It's an easy walk.
www.bayoffires.com.au (http://www.bayoffires.com.au)
I agree that the Cradle Mtn area is beautiful. (We hiked there, too.)

Tasmania could be a really good option, although you'll really have to pick a particular place like those suggested above and stick to that in only 3 or 4 days. Also, for NZ I think it really will just be too little time, even for a mere taste - you would just end up frustrated that you had to leave already!

Other ideas: the islands of Bass Strait / along the southern coast of Australia: Kangaroo, Flinders, King are wonderfully rugged and interesting, all with good local food, and 3 or 4 says is ample to do one or even two of them. Not tropical Nth Queensland type islands by any stretch of the imagination: try -

Kangaroo Island (http://www.tourkangarooisland.com.au/)
King Island (http://www.kingisland.net.au/)
Flinders Island (http://svc091.bne149v.server-web.com/)

Or, you mention that you've been to Melbourne, have you done the Great Ocean Road (http://www.greatoceanroad.org/)? 3 or 4 days would give you a good taste of that, as well. Spectacular scenery...

Just some additional ideas for you of things that would be "complete" in 3 or 4 days.