Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - Winter trip to Australia again. Where to go?

Last winter (July) I was able to go to Sydney, Cairns, and Melbourne. This year, I have about 2.5weeks or so to plan it out. I can either fly into/out of SYD or MEL. I want to go to CNS for 4 days on the reef diving again - that was a lot of fun.
But where to go? Perth? Adelaide? Maybe Hobart? Maybe a day or two side trip to Papua New Guinea? Could do SYD-CNS-POM-MEL/SYD (but the CNS-POM seems a bit pricey) or SYD-HBA-ADL-CNS-SYD/MEL
SYD I don't think more than a day or 2 as I have already seem it and around it (parks and stuff)
MEL also a day or 2 should be more than enough
CNS can get tricky, as if I try to go diving, I would need to either spend the night on the return of the trip at a hotel and fly out the following morning to decompress, or like last time just snorkel on the last day and grab the last flight out at night (which we took to MEL). If I did a 4day/3night diving or 3day/2night I have to add a night before that (as theres no way I can get to CNS dock by plane before 7am boat dept)

Edit: Seems I got a room on hold in Port Moresby in Crowne Plaza. Can get the diving in there, if possible. If not I can always cancel it.

If you like cold water diving, tassie has some AMAZING dives - I know its not where you would think of immediately but we have some of the best kelp forests and stuff in the world.
Try here, (http://www.eaglehawkdive.com.au/) here (http://www.godivetassie.com.au/news.php) or here (http://www.bichenodive.com.au/). Once you have dived your heart out you can do the wineries, the historical stuff and some of the amazing bush walks etc. EASILY fill 2 weeks - if you want a suggested itn ask and I'll see what I can do.

quite different also - the red earth - its a real different experience to the west coast.

You should try it.

Adam

cold water diving is not really what I wanted to do. I liked it last time in CNS with a 3mm shorty and still being warm diving :)
Perth is a good consideration

July is a good time to visit the red-centre or even Kakadu. You could try Broome also....

cold water diving is not really what I wanted to do. I liked it last time in CNS with a 3mm shorty and still being warm diving :)
Perth is a good considerationI wouldn't reckon July is the best time to visit Perth regardless of your intentions while there but especially if you plan to go diving. While the winter is very mild by European or North American standards it would still be cold enough if in the water. Also winter storms will stir up sediment according to friends from Perth who dive.
If you are keen to dive on the west coast at that time I'd consider going further north.

July is a good time to visit the red-centre or even Kakadu. You could try Broome also....

Kakadu is a great destination, if the season and your timing is right.

^

Kakadu is a great destination, if the season and your timing is right.

^

Hmm
Havent seen ululu could do
July 7th-9th am SYD
9th-13th CNS
13th-14th Ululu (flyng into Ayers rock)
14th-20th HBA
20-22nd MEL

I don't know if it'll be good to visit HBA or not. Other option is

July 7th-9th am SYD
9-15th POM
15/16-17th ululu
17th-21st ?????
22nd MEL/SYD back to USA

I want to fit in 5 days for diving. I just do not know where. CNS? (was very nice), POM? Solomon Islands? NAN??

You probably would need a little more time in Uluru (AYQ) than you have given yourself.

Also if you decide to go make sure you book in advance if you want to do some of the trips to Kata Tjuta and the Rock. I was there over Christmas and it was very busy and I was not able to do some of the activities that I had planned as they were booked out. I am not sure how busy it is during the winter but it is better to be safe than sorry.

Check out this site (http://www.ayersrockresort.com.au/experiences/) for some ideas.

Be aware the accommodation is not cheap at the rock and again you would need to check on availability for July.

A sample of my photos are online here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/97736173@N00/sets/72157603855778984/), if you are interested.

Hobart is DEFINATELY worth it. Its gorgeous in winter, and there is still lots to do without the masses of tourists we get in Jan/Feb/Mar.

Hobart is DEFINATELY worth it. Its gorgeous in winter, and there is still lots to do without the masses of tourists we get in Jan/Feb/Mar.

Yes - I can definitely recommend the Peppermint Bay Cruise & Lunch !! :)

http://www.peppermintbay.com.au/

You could always do what we did: rent a 4wd car or camper from Britz and drive across the north of Queensland through Hell's Gate Roadhouse to Darwin. We took about 2 weeks for this trip and included several national parks (best known of which was Kakadu). This trip is only doable during winter in Oz, otherwise too many of the roads are underwater.

Britz does one way rentals which are more fully stocked with camping equipment than their website would lead you to believe. Be sure to rent a satellite transponder in case of emergency or, better yet, an Iridium phone.

This trip is not inexpensive, but it sure is unusual. It is best if you have experience driving off-pavement before undertaking this trip. However, the road conditions posted on the auto club websites turned out to be overly conservative, the roads were better than expected. There are other precautions, such as: Do NOT get out of your vehicle when in, or within, 5 meters of a river or lake. (You will be in some rivers since the roads cross them and not everywhere has a bridge.)

This is not your everday tourist trip. The sign at Hell's Gate Roadhouse reads, "Next fuel, 320 km."

There are camper van companies who are looking for ppl to drive vans from Tassie to the mainland and are willing to pay or help pay with petrol and the ferry costs.

There are camper van companies who are looking for ppl to drive vans from Tassie to the mainland and are willing to pay or help pay with petrol and the ferry costs.

Probably not so much fun during winter though. Winter is for the northern part of Oz IMO.