Oceania (Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific) - July trip for 8 days. help planning out trip.

I'm heading down under with my brother in July from July 8th - 16th. Flying into SYD and out of MEL. I was also looking into going to the Great Barrier Reef and the outback. I love taking photos, including of landscapes. I honestly don't know how to plan this short time to the best and was looking for advice. How should I structure my plans? I don't know if there are any tours for instance from SYD out to the reef via the outback or something. Also I'm lost on hotels. I got a SPG Amex (with the SPG50 coupon and Gold status) and also Radisson Gold for both USA and Europe, so I would like to focus on those, but then I really don't want to spend too much money.

What should I do and see? In SYD? In MEL?
How should I get around, including to the reef and outback?
any good tours I should take? something once in a lifetime?

Any help would be appreciated. I'm just lost where to begin. I want to maximize the trip and get the most from it.

Only 8 days, and 1 is typically shot with jet lag, makes planning this trip challenging. SYD (and MEL) are just cities (very nice cities, and easy to spend all 8 days in therm), so best to go straight to Cairns if you want GBR time (min 3 days). Next CNS-AYQ, stay overnight, and fly AYQ-MEL the next day. The gives enough time to see Uluru (best not to climb it, the rock is sacred). This would work out to 4 nights (but only 3 days) CNS, 1 night AYQ and 3 nights MEL. The travel eats into it (SYD-CNS is 1200 miles, longer than JFK-MIA). Going to CNS the day of arrival combines your jet lag time with travel time, but you don't get to see SYD.

You're doing WAY too much for 8 days!!

Depending on what you want to do you could spend a wonderful 8 days in Sydney alone. I lived there for a year and still didn't see everything.

For Sydney - if you have points, the Westin Sydney is nice. There is a brand new Hilton that is very sleek. All the major chains are there. Tons of shopping. Plan on at least two days in Sydney just seeing the sights, shopping, the Harbor Bridge, Circular Quay, Cockle Bay. Definitely plan a full day for Manly - take a ferry over and boogie board / surf.

Melbourne as well as a day or two in the city. Wineries are great there.

Getting from Sydney to the Gold Coast or Cairns will take 3+ hours so you'll lose a full day just in transit, security clearance, flight time, transit to the hotels etc so would really encourage you to focus on Sydney / Melbourne only.

You're doing WAY too much for 8 days!!

Depending on what you want to do you could spend a wonderful 8 days in Sydney alone. I lived there for a year and still didn't see everything.

For Sydney - if you have points, the Westin Sydney is nice. There is a brand new Hilton that is very sleek. All the major chains are there. Tons of shopping. Plan on at least two days in Sydney just seeing the sights, shopping, the Harbor Bridge, Circular Quay, Cockle Bay. Definitely plan a full day for Manly - take a ferry over and boogie board / surf.

Melbourne as well as a day or two in the city. Wineries are great there.

Getting from Sydney to the Gold Coast or Cairns will take 3+ hours so you'll lose a full day just in transit, security clearance, flight time, transit to the hotels etc so would really encourage you to focus on Sydney / Melbourne only.


For cairns, I can take a late night plane so I dont waste a full, full day.
I was looking at
July 8-11th SYD
July 11th (late at night) - 13th Cairns
July 14th-16th MEL

Hmm I would want to go see Uluru

could I do
July 8-10th SYD
July 10th (late at night) - 13th Cairns
July 13th night - 14th night Uluru
July 14th-16th MEL

Definitely not enough time, no matter what. So if you can't extend, I suggest Cairns and Sydney only and plan your next trip while you are at it.

Other choices are great too, but you are spending way too much time in (and getting to and from) airports and on airplanes, and not enough enjoying what is only a very short time in Aus.

Have to go to MEL as thats where the plane is flying out of.
Unless I cut off my MEL 2 days.

Im not worried about jet lag. We will be in C, and I have no issues sleeping. and we get in at about 630AM into SYD so I got all of the 8th

Have to go to MEL as thats where the plane is flying out of.
Unless I cut off my MEL 2 days.

Im not worried about jet lag. We will be in C, and I have no issues sleeping. and we get in at about 630AM into SYD so I got all of the 8th

We usually fly F and that won't help with the jet lag. ;) That amount of E/W travel will catch up with you for sure. I'm laughing with you.

I prefer MEL to SYD, but for a first visit, SYD is the iconic Aus and therefore must see. MEL is more subtle, but a lovely and fine city.

I suggest as you say "cut off my MEL..."

And whatever you decide, please report back.

We usually fly F and that won't help with the jet lag. ;) I'm laughing with you.

I prefer MEL to SYD, but for a first visit, SYD is the iconic Aus and therefore must see. MEL is more subtle, but a lovely and fine city.

I suggest as you say "cut off my MEL..."

And whatever you decide, please report back.

Hmm yeah, I really need to see the reef. I also want to see the outback. My other pax (brother) wants to see SYD.
I might have to push for my last itin I posted, though its really packed. Theres no time for relaxing on this trip!

I wish there is a way to combine something, like a outback tour from SYD-Cairns or something. In cairns, what about doing one of those 2 day boat tours, where you tour the reef and sleep on a yacht?

Hmm I would want to go see Uluru

could I do
July 8-10th SYD
July 10th (late at night) - 13th Cairns
July 13th night - 14th night Uluru
July 14th-16th MEL

To get from the airport in Uluru to the "rock" you're talking several hours ONE WAY in a car!! Really - trying to do all of this is like trying to see the entire USA in the same time period. With the potential for flight delays, etc, the schedule is really packed. You'll need to make a few tough choices between Uluru or the reef. In Cairns for example, to get from your hotel to the docks for the boat, then out about 3 hrs on the boat to the nearest reefs, then back etc you'd be in the water about 10 minutes. Don't rush it - go back a second time!! Having lived there for a year it really takes a lot more time to get around than you could possibly imagine.

Best of luck whatever you do.

To get from the airport in Uluru to the "rock" you're talking several hours ONE WAY in a car!!

I think you are confusing Alice Springs with Uluru/Yulara. Alice Springs is a few hours drive away. Yulara is quite close, just outside the park borders.

Eh - just come down to Tasmania instead....gorgeous landscapes if you do the West coast....

Eh - just come down to Tasmania instead....gorgeous landscapes if you do the West coast....In July? That is being brave ....

It is pristine wilderness and well worth visiting, but I'm not sure I would suggest mid-winter visits for someone's first trip there -- they need to know what they are getting into, and how ferocious the storms can be.

In July? That is being brave ....

It is pristine wilderness and well worth visiting, but I'm not sure I would suggest mid-winter visits for someone's first trip there -- they need to know what they are getting into, and how ferocious the storms can be.

True - but the west coast is soooo gorgeous with all the mist etc that time of year. (Mind you I wouldnt do the Gordon river cruise at that time if you paid me.)

But then again I'm biased. I live down here and adore it in all its wonderful quirky ways....:)

yeah but I dont got much time :(

yeah but I dont got much time :(

Bummer - I guess if you really really want to do Alice etc you cant do Tassie. However, THIS (http://www.tabblo.com/studio/stories/view/250886/) is what you are missing out on - Dad took these a couple of weeks ago.

Mind you it was a perfect Autumn day!

I'll be a contrarian and suggest you can do it (then again I just visited eight cities in 11 days in China / Hong Kong / Macau, so I may not be the best person to ask.)

One thing I would advise changing, however, is the placement of the Uluru trip, as QF only operates non-stop AYQ-MEL service on Mondays and Fridays.

I'd suggest the following itinerary:

July 8 Arrive SYD
July 11 QF726 SYD-AYQ (dep 8:15 a.m. arr 11:20 a.m.)
July 12 QF1924 AYQ-CNS (dep 2:55 p.m. arr 5:55 p.m.)
July 14 JQ 948 CNS-MEL (dep 8:05 p.m. arr 11:20 p.m.) or DJ 652 CNS - MEL (dep 8:15 p.m. arr 11:40 p.m.)
July 16 Depart MEL

You may even want to head straight for the Blue Mountains, where Christmas in July will be in full swing, for a night upon arrival in Sydney.

I spent a few hours less than that in Uluru and had a great time. The key times to see the rock are really sunrise and sunset. As another poster said, the airport is quite close to the rock. Depending on your budget. Longitude 131 (http://www.longitude131.com.au/) is incredible, but it is $1800/night, including meals, for two. While their website lists a two night minimum stay, they may allow a one-night stay if you call (they did for me). If you don't go for Longitude 131, The Sounds of Silence Dinner (http://www.ayersrockresort.com.au/sounds-of-silence/) is supposed to be quite spectacular, though it will be a tad chilly in July.

In Cairns, I'd recommend the Shangri-La for the night of the 12th, as it's nice and right at the pier where boats depart for the reef. You may want to call and ask for the LOCAL rate. I can't recall exactly what it was, but it was <AU$200. From Cairns, a number of companies offer one-day tours to the reef that leave around 8 a.m. Alternatively, you can do an overnight trip on Reef Encounters (http://www.reeftrip.com/live-aboard.htm). I spent a night on the boat and really enjoyed it, though the number of dives definitely does tire you out. If you're looking to splurge, they have a "Top Deck Club" which offers a bit nicer room, breakfast in bed, and dinner on a top deck. We were the only ones doing the Top Deck Club, so it felt a bit weird to be having a different dinner than everyone else on the boat and being treated a bit differently than everyone else. A nice experience, but probably not worth upgrading. The transfer boat will get you back to Cairns between 5:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., which is enough time to make an 8:05 p.m. flight to MEL. You can also take a helicopter back (or in both directions) to avoid the 2.5 hour motion sickness-evoking (paper bags are provided) boat ride. The helicopter lands right on top of the boat and can ferry you straight to the CNS airport. (If you choose to take a helicopter from Cairns to the reef, there's a helipad right next to the Shangri-La as well.)

If you want more time in MEL, you can shift everything back one day, though you'll need to take the Virgin flight from CNS on July 13, as Jetstar doesn't operate a late flight on Fridays.

Feel free to PM if you have any questions.

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I think on this forum I read somewhere in SYD I think where you can have breakfast in the parliment house with a great view, is that true?

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I think on this forum I read somewhere in SYD I think where you can have breakfast in the parliment house with a great view, is that true?
Guess this is the place you are thinking of:- buena vistacafe (http://buenavistacafe.com.au/) Not Parliment but the Supreme Law Courts Building (OK: not much difference as too many pollies are lawyers :rolleyes: )

Buena Vista Cafe Bar provides spectacular & breathtaking views of Sydney harbour, the heads, Hyde Park & the CBD. Offering contemporary Australian cuisine plus a good range of local & imported wines at very affordable prices. Come try our famous & popular Sandwiches and varied range of light dishes.

Buena Vista Cafe Bar is the perfect venue for a wonderful sunrise breakfast, a relaxed lunch or for a get together any time of the day.

Thanks
I got some bars\pubs places in the other thread and this for some breakfast. Now what about a good dinner places in SYD that wont break me? I think I went to the Rock (the place across the Opera House) and that had a good pre-theatre menu. Any other places to grab a great lunch & dinner for a good price?

Also, what about Cairns for dinner spots?
Perth for bkfast,lunch,dinner?
Melbourne for dinner?

And whats the best way to get to IC perth from the airport? there seems to be airport shuttles for a good price.


SYD airport to the IC. I will have a laptop bag,carryon wheelie, and a large 29kg (damn scuba gear) checked bag. From what it looks like on the map, I can take the train into C.Quay and then walk over (as both bags are on wheels I got 2 hands...) Is it dooable?