Hi, first time posting in this forum!

Got lots of good answers via searches and web, but wanted to get your direct feedback on my itinerary which I have worked out for this 7 day visit to Australia with my wife in October 2011.

Our flight into Australia arrives in SYD (TG from BKK, arrive 8AM Oct 4) and we leave Australia out of MEL (QF to HKG, depart 11:50PM Oct 11).

I know it's not that many days, but we want to make most of it (and also be economical). Fortunately, AA miles and LAN km have will save me a lot of $$$ as domestic travel to particular locations seems to be quite expensive. Okay, enough of introductions and here's the proposed itinerary:

October 4 and 5
Full 2 days in SYD (hotel not booked, but thinking of Westin via SPG points)

October 6 - 8
Morning flight to CNS (arrive at 11:35AM) from SYD - LAN award
Accommodation: Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas Resort (2 nights cash & points) + one night in CNS (Hostel - not decided)
1) First day: relax @ resort
2) Second day: One full day of snorkel with local tour operator out of Port Douglas
3) Third day: head to Cairns down town area (or perhaps visit rain forest) - overnight in downtown area (hostel)

October 9
Early morning flight to AYQ (6:30AM flight, arriving @ 9:20AM on QF) from CNS - LAN award
Accommodation: TBA (I am thinking Outback Pioneer Hotel & YHA lodge - cheap @ 40 AUS per night per person)
1) Rent a car for one full day from AYQ (~ 50 AUD)
2) Base of Ayers Rock and if time permits, climb the rock (subject to trail opening) and witness the sunset
3) Next morning, drive to the rock again for sun-rise (or quick trip to Kata Tjuta in the morning) before the 12:20PM flight to SYD

October 10
12:20PM flight to SYD to MEL (arrive in MEL @ 5:40PM) from AYQ on QF - AA award in business class for 17.5K miles!
Accommodation: Grand Hyatt Melbourne (award stay)
Evening in Melbourne city

October 11
Morning car-hire (~ 50 AUD) to drive to Great Ocean Road
Return to MEL city by 5PM or so for dinner and a quick drive tour of the city
Head to the airport on a rental car @ 9:30PM
Depart MEL for HKG on QF @ 11:50PM (in F )


So, for domestic air-travel, it will cost me:
1) 56K km LAN + 160 USD in taxes for two
2) 35K miles AA + 100 USD in taxes for two

Hotels
1) 2 nights in SYD (Westin - SPG 24K points)
2) 2 nights in Port Douglas (SPG 8K + 120 USD)
3) 1 night in Cairns (hostel ~ 60 USD for two)
4) 1 night in Ayers Rock (hostel ~ 80 USD for two)
5) 1 night in MEL (Grand Hyatt ~ 12K Hyatt Points)
Total cash ~ 260 USD

Transport
1) 3 day car rental in CNS (160 USD) + 50 USD fuel = 210 USD
2) 1 day car rental in AYQ (50 USD) + 30 USD fuel = 80 USD
3) 1 day car rental in MEL (50 USD) + 30 USD fuel = 80 USD
Total ~ 370 USD

Activities
1) SYD - budget for about 250 USD per person (please recommend activities we could do during the two day stay in SYD with this budget!)
2) CNS - 1 full day reef tour + snorkel (360 USD for two)
3) Ayers Rock - park fees (25 x 2)
4) MEL - Not sure except for the drive to great ocean road
Total ~ 1000 USD

Approximate total budget for the 7 day Australian Adventure = about 2000USD for two people

Visiting:

* SYDNEY
* CAIRNS city and Great Barrier Reef
* AYERS ROCK!!
* 12 APOSTLES & MELBOURNE

What do you guys think?