I've booked a trip to OZ for the first two weeks of August and need some help with the itinerary once on the ground. Below is a quick breakdown of the sights/events I'm planning to attend, but heard conflicting feedback on some of the events. Some people have told me for example that the Sydney Aquarium is great and others telling me I would get the same thing at Sea World in San Diego. Are there any events not worth doing or that you would recommend replacing with another?
Sydney - 3 Days
Monday
Bridge Climb
Harbor Jet Boat
Opera House
Tuesday
Taronga Zoo
Sydney Aquarium
Art Gallery of New South Wales
Cirque du Soliel (evening)
Friday
Australian Centre for Contemporary Art
National Gallery of Victoria: International
Ian Potter Centre: National Gallery of Victoria
Australian Galleries
Melbourne International Film Festival (Evening)
Saturday
Melbourne River Cruise
Queen Victoria Market
Royal Botanic Gardens
Aboriginal Heritage Walk
Melbourne vs. St Kilda MCG (Evening)
Sunday
Great Ocean Road Drive
Port Douglas/Cairns - 2 1/2 Days
Monday - Depart Melbourne/Arrive Cairns
Hotel & Beach Time
Tuesday
Great Barrier Reef
Wednesday
Koala Petting
Beach Time
Thursday
Beach Time
Travel to Sydney
Sydney - 1 Day
Friday
Wave Surf School
Opera at Opera House (Evening)
Saturday
Return to US
number_6
Apr 25, 08, 1:39 pm
Pretty good itin overall. The Sydney Aquarium is pretty good but I think it is fair to say that Seaworld (at their various locations) are comparable. But then so is the Monterey Bay aquarium, etc. And I've visited them all.
Sydney has some great ferry walks, see http://www.sydneyferries.info/explore-sydney/harbour-walks-2.htm
Melbourne has great Italian and Greek neighbourhoods, with stunning shops and cafes. Lygon St. is a must see. http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-2716545-melbourne_introduction-i
kaukau
Apr 25, 08, 3:03 pm
Pretty good itin overall. The Sydney Aquarium is pretty good..........
If interested, purchase the combination Sydney Animal Park/Sydney Aquarium ticket, and enjoy both on site attractions at a discount. We did. As a plus, QF was offering a "Buy One Get One Free" promotion for the two attractions! Maybe check their website for current Sydney discounts and promotions.
BKKROP
Apr 25, 08, 11:13 pm
What a wonderful itinerary for Melbourne. I absolutely love how you are all galleries and theatre one minute, then yelling out for the St Kilda players at the football game at the MCG with a pie and a beer the next. There's shades of early morning markets, the Yarra River scene and the beautiful Botanical gardens. You have chosen well, and will find it hard to visit (leave) all our art galleries, but that is what holidays are about, seeing as much as possible. If you are staying in the city, the evenings can be taken up with shopping and dinners. Your program is optimistic, but I wouldn't change a thing. August is cften considered our coldest month, and if the chill gets to you, rush into a department store and buy some fleecy unders, they work a treat!!! At the markets there is a great food court where it's simple to buy a slab of cheese and some fresh bread, a strong black coffee, and just watch the locals for a while, and in the Botanical gardens near the Shrine there is another coffee spot to kill time and give the legs a rest. Enjoy your holiday regards bkkrop
gladstoneyoung
Apr 27, 08, 3:41 am
Your Tuesday in Sydney looks very full. The zoo could fill most of the day easily. If you just want a quick look-see, that's fine. Maybe move one the activities on to Wednesday. Bondi isn't wortha full day unless you are a grommet.
inasmuchas
Apr 27, 08, 4:06 am
Wow, what a fantastic itinerary. As an Australian who now resides in the UK, I must admit reading your plans made me yearn a little for home... but anyway... one thing you might consider doing in Sydney if you can fit it in, is catch the ferry to Manly and back. It's a lovely way to see the harbour, and Manly is a pleasant beach to stroll along, particularly if you wander up to Shelley Beach at the right hand end of Manly Beach.
Having said that, it is August, so it won't exactly be beach weather, but the trip to Manly is well worth considering – if for no other reason than the return ferry ride and it's approach back toward the city, Opera House and Harbour Bridge. I agree with gladstoneyoung – a full day at Bondi is probably too much, unless of course you start at Coogee Beach and do the coastal walk around to Bondi Beach – that's a lovely way to see it – albeit contingent on the weather.
Have a fantastic time.
Leumas
Apr 27, 08, 6:10 am
I agree your Tuesday in Sydney seems full. I'd leave the Aquarium for Wednesday. Since it's August, there isn't a great deal to do at Bondi...
Personally, I'd give the Harbour Jet Boat a miss, especially if you have done or have plans to do it on a narrow rivers with cliffs on both sides, e.g., Queenstown, NZ. Getting on a fast boat on a wide open harbour doesn't really give you a great deal of thrills. I'd swap it for a ferry ride to Manly or Watsons Bay for lunch.
Will you be diving at the Reef? Dive operators may not let you dive if you plan to fly within 48 hours.
trooper
Apr 27, 08, 6:10 am
Second both the ferry suggestion (it's a beautiful harbour - SLOW is better!) and the concern that the Zoo and the Aquarium in ONE day might be a bit much...
The Zoo not only has a lot to see... but requires a pretty decent amount of walking... and a lot of it isn't flat either....
tuapekastar
Apr 27, 08, 8:50 am
Nice itinerary. In Melbourne, whilst the Rialto view is excellent (I've seen it), you might consider the newer, higher Eureka tower view (I haven't seen it). There is something called "The Edge" which sort of 'pops out' of the edge of the building on the 88th floor...check it out on the Eureka Tower website (http://www.eurekatower.com.au/main.cfm). Perhaps not everyone's cup of tea though.
If you're planning on seeing a lot of the Great Ocean Road, then you're in for a LONG day, if planning a 'there and back' trip on one day. I'd target a specific portion (obviously the Melbourne end of it), or consider overnighting somewhere. Just to avoid too much rushing spoiling a nice drive. It's definitely doable but as I said, can make for a long day.
Enjoy your trip!
number_6
Apr 27, 08, 9:08 am
...The Zoo not only has a lot to see... but requires a pretty decent amount of walking... and a lot of it isn't flat either....I have to disagree with most of this (except for the "not flat" part -- it is built on a hillside). The zoo is quite small by world standards and easily seen in a couple of hours, unless you sign up for some of the special tours which are rarely available (so have to be arranged months in advance), such as the tiger walk and the koala feeding. There are about 20 thematic animal areas, and it is possible to see it all in 2 hours. Nicely done but not a big zoo (maybe 10% of the size of Toronto, for example). I'd estimate about 2 miles walking maximum, and under a mile is feasible. Plus you never have to walk uphill if you don't want to. Well worth a visit, even for a 2 hour schedule.
kaukau
Apr 27, 08, 1:41 pm
..........Well worth a visit, even for a 2 hour schedule.
Purchase the combination Ferry/Zoo ticket when you buy the ferry ticket at Circular Quay. Upon docking, take the elevator or walk directly up to the gondola station, and you're on your way tout de suite. There is also a shuttle bus up to the Zoo's entrance on top.
BiziBB
Apr 27, 08, 8:33 pm
What kaukau said. :)
One ticket at the ferry, then take the gondola and tour from uphll to downhill, before a ferry ride back to the hotel and comp lounge drinks. ;)
The aquatic section would be open by now.
If you decide on a quick trip, see if you can time it to coincide with the feeding times, especially the primate enclosures in order to see the baby gorilla (5mths old by now) and chimps, if an afternoon visit suits you.
(A tip for photographers - get to the popular places a little earlier to get a good spot, if there is a baby animal on display at feeding time.)