Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - OT: Queensland Australia Resorts and tips?

Wildly OT besides that I am flying with BA to Australia next January (between 6 and 25). I am trying to decide how to spend my 18 days there... I have rented a nice convertible but I am still doubting between:

1. See when I get there - meaning no reservations in any hotels and just find them there. High season though so maybe finding reasonable accommodation will be difficult.

2. Pre book at least 2 resorts for 4 or 5 days. 1 within a day's drive of Sydney and one around Brisbane (north or south).

Any of you have any recommendations? I like beach resorts outside of the bigger cities, preferably with a large pool. Looking to spend around AUS$ 120 to $180 a night but a little higher is no problem.

Suggestions for a scenic route from SYD to SYD lasting about 2 weeks are very welcome too.

Wildly OT besides that I am flying with BA to Australia next January (between 6 and 25). I am trying to decide how to spend my 18 days there... I have rented a nice convertible

Watch out for the sun. It can be evilly strong and you can get very, very badly burnt before you even realise it.



Any of you have any recommendations? I like beach resorts outside of the bigger cities, preferably with a large pool. Looking to spend around AUS$ 120 to $180 a night but a little higher is no problem.

It will be really hot and humid in QLD. If that's something you're happy with, I would suggest Port Douglas or Palm Cove (fly to Cairns). Note, it is stinger season and I do not advise you to swim in coastal waters without a stinger suit. Sea Temple at Palm Cove looked very nice and had a large pool (if I remember correctly), although I haven't stayed there.

If you choose to do the Gold Coast due to proximity to Brisbane, I would suggest NOT staying in Surfers Paradise - it should really be renamed Tacky Hell. While there is no beach (you can swim safely without a stinger suit on the Gold Coast - for now) at Hyatt Regency Sanctuary Cove, it does have nice big swimming pools - including a 25m pool (at their gym) as well as a lagoon pool. Gold Coast beach water is not nice, so it isn't really worth swimming in the sea there anyway, so you're not really missing anything. If you prefer to be close to the beach, Sheraton Mirage is pretty decent, without being in Surfers Paradise itself (not far from there though), and it is actually on the beach. Sheraton Mirage isn't bad at all, although bathrooms could do with renovating. An alternative is Couran Cove - also with a large pool, and has some pleasant walks etc.
You should be able to get a room for just above your budget at both HR Sanctuary Cove and Sheraton (AUD 190-220). Sheraton has quite a good sized pool (or two?) too.

Sunshine Coast is generally nicer than the Gold Coast, and Noosa is not bad and that would be my choice, although it is further away from Brisbane than the Gold Coast. I can't give you any recommendation on where to stay though, as I haven't over-nighted there for quite some time.

We stayed here in Noosa last year, really enjoyed it, Noosa is a great upmarket'ish resort town, lots of nice places to eat, etc.

http://www.netanyanoosa.com/index.php

Previous year we went to Brampton Island, lower end of the Whitsundays, heli or small fixed wing from Mackay. Superb.

http://www.brampton-island.com/

Also, have stayed at the Sebel Reef in Palm Cove, very good, but do not stay at the front of the resort. Great trips into the Daintree.

http://www.reefhouse.com.au/

Hi there henkybaby - you might like to pop in and visit us at the very friendly Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/australia-new-zealand-south-pacific-461/) forum, where you will get a lot more people who will be able to assist you.

Dave

Wildly OT besides that I am flying with BA to Australia next January (between 6 and 25). I am trying to decide how to spend my 18 days there... I have rented a nice convertible but I am still doubting between:

1. See when I get there - meaning no reservations in any hotels and just find them there. High season though so maybe finding reasonable accommodation will be difficult.

2. Pre book at least 2 resorts for 4 or 5 days. 1 within a day's drive of Sydney and one around Brisbane (north or south).

Any of you have any recommendations? I like beach resorts outside of the bigger cities, preferably with a large pool. Looking to spend around AUS$ 120 to $180 a night but a little higher is no problem.

Suggestions for a scenic route from SYD to SYD lasting about 2 weeks are very welcome too.

Take the inland route from SYD. The Blue Mountains are spectacular and a couple of days in the Hunter Valley sampling some wine should not be missed. Plenty excellent accommodation in both places. After that head back to the coast and take in Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour before ending up in Byron Bay which has some fantastic beaches and plenty of accommodation. Brisbane is worth seeing before you return to SYD. Noosa is a sophisticated small resort although it can be pricey.

Hi there henkybaby - you might like to pop in and visit us at the very friendly Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/australia-new-zealand-south-pacific-461/) forum, where you will get a lot more people who will be able to assist you.

DaveAs is usual, we will allow this thread a short run here on the BA Board before moving it on.

My bad! Feel free to move it at your convenience. I appreciate all the feedback. Looks like I might have to start from Cairns instead of Sydney. Althought the inland route appeals to me too.

Last December - when I was in SYD - the weather in Cairns was horrible. Rain, rain and more rain. How big is that risk in January?

The route SYD - MEL and beyond has crossed my mind too. Is that nice(r)?

We were in Brisbane area 2009 almost identical dates to those you have written for 2010!! Noosa is great and quite a few things to do. You have the choice of the 'resort' style complex on the sunshine coast or can rent a holiday home. Minimum stay at that time of year is usually 1 week although we booked with a company with a 3 day minimum.

The second part of this trip was staying at Hyatt Sanctuary Cove. A great place as described above, although there is not that much else to do in the immediate area outside the Theme Parks a few minutes away. That was not a problem for us as with the good weather the man made beach/pool area plus the normal pool was adequate. Much quieter than the Gold Coast an easy drive/transfer to BNE. If you go for the Hyatt look carefully at the rooms and what you are after. Some rooms open out onto the grass are near the pool and make access really good - great for children, however they do have their wedding receptions here so can be a little noisier than some of the other locations. Leisure area is great (gym, tennis etc), but a 5 mins shuttle ride away - you can not walk it as no paths.

Overall though a good hotel in a great location, but depends what you are after.

My bad! Feel free to move it at your convenience. I appreciate all the feedback. Looks like I might have to start from Cairns instead of Sydney. Althought the inland route appeals to me too.

Last December - when I was in SYD - the weather in Cairns was horrible. Rain, rain and more rain. How big is that risk in January?

The route SYD - MEL and beyond has crossed my mind too. Is that nice(r)? Hi henkybaby. I wasn't being critical, I just thought you would get a lot more (and possibly more useful) answers in the A, NZ & SP forum.

Dave

The second part of this trip was staying at Hyatt Sanctuary Cove. A great place as described above, although there is not that much else to do in the immediate area outside the Theme Parks a few minutes away.

Gold Coast Hinterland is relatively close as well, and quite pleasant.

I should mention that Hyatt Sanctuary Cove's shower temperature can be pretty unstable (my pet hate!), and water pressure could be a bit on the low side, if that irritates you.


Last December - when I was in SYD - the weather in Cairns was horrible. Rain, rain and more rain. How big is that risk in January?

Pretty high. It's the wet season, I'm afraid.

I should mention that Hyatt Sanctuary Cove's shower temperature can be pretty unstable (my pet hate!), and water pressure could be a bit on the low side, if that irritates you.

It does! It is a pet peeve of mine as well. Especially when a resort claims to be 4 or 5 star. The Bali Hyatt in Sanur suffers from the same. Very annoying.

As a local at the time, most of us couldn't understand why Sanctuary Cove was built (apart from government kickbacks, bribes etc etc!! :D ) It was mosquito infested marshland at the time. I was taken a few years ago to one of the restuarants and felt it wasn't really up to standard. As pointed out if you stay there, there isn't much around to go to unless you fancy a drive to the Gold Coast or Brisbane.

I think you'll get better value for money on the Gold Coast than Sanctuary Cove. It is school holidays till the end of Jan in most of Australia, so rates will be high, but demand tends to reduce after the xmas/new year week and the one after.

Try hotels around Main Beach, which is off the highway and doesn't get the same volume of traffic as the reast of the coast ( The Gold Coast Highway does have some traffic issues, despite the motorway built behind it). Main Beach has some nice places to eat along Tedder Avenue and is within walking distance of Marina Mirage and the Versace Palace hotel ( as featured in I'm a Celebrity, get me out of here!). Most hotels will have pools and instead of being stuck with room service, you can either self cater, dine out or get a wide array of food delivered.

One tip, as you come out of Customs at Sydney international airport there is a Vodaphone stand there. If you have a locked UK Vodaphone, an Australian prepay sim will work with it. If you're with 3, you should be able to use your current phone and number and current calling plan (unless it's changed since I last looked).

Have a good trip!

Interesting holiday. Just to confirm you are not driving from Cairns to Sydney? In Cairns, hire a car for a few days to get around as the drive to Port Douglas (and around the various beaches) is one of the best drives in Australia.

I would be tempted not to drive between Sydney and Melbourne. Fly from Cairns to Sydney and do Sydney for 5 days without a car (but, since you have already been there, you may want to hire a car to do the Hunter Valley).

Although, I would be tempted to take another option, which others have mentioned, forget Cairns (if it is not hot, it is hot and wet. Or worse, a cyclone) and do Noosa - the area in and around Noosa is great. Then go down to Melbourne and hire a car there to do the Great Ocean Road, the Yarra Valley (wine district) and other trips such as Phillip Island.

January is a peak time, so organise some of your major accommodation - eg. Noosa.