Tasmania v. Cairns v. Ulruru (kind of)
Oct 30, 2015, 8:07 pm
#1
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Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 44
Tasmania v. Cairns v. Ulruru (kind of)
So I booked the first part of an 11-12 day Australian adventure with my wife. Right now, we are flying into Sydney in mid September. I want to spend 2-3 days in Sydney, then go to the Blue Mountains and then maybe do a wineries tour (Hunter Valley maybe?). So that takes up about 5 days (6 maybe?). Cairns looks like a 3 day kind of place - reef & rain forest. Which leaves maybe 2-3 days for Uluru/Kata Tjuta.
But Uluru just doesn't look fun with the "one company running the whole place" kind of thing. It worries me that I will get there and they will charge me a kidney for a cheeseburger and a lung to stay in a hovel along with bloody sheets and dirty condom.
Sorry for the long post, but Tasmania looks super-beautiful. And relaxed. But it looks like a 4-5 day kind of place. Am I getting this wrong? Is Tasmania super-cool? It looks like hike, pick an apple, see a beach, drink a coffee, eat a great dinner kind of place.
Should I do Sydney and Tasmania? Or Sydney, Cairns, and Uluru? Thanks!
But Uluru just doesn't look fun with the "one company running the whole place" kind of thing. It worries me that I will get there and they will charge me a kidney for a cheeseburger and a lung to stay in a hovel along with bloody sheets and dirty condom.
Sorry for the long post, but Tasmania looks super-beautiful. And relaxed. But it looks like a 4-5 day kind of place. Am I getting this wrong? Is Tasmania super-cool? It looks like hike, pick an apple, see a beach, drink a coffee, eat a great dinner kind of place.
Should I do Sydney and Tasmania? Or Sydney, Cairns, and Uluru? Thanks!
Oct 30, 2015, 8:26 pm
#2
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
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Tassie is definitely a 4-5 day kind of place. September is a good time considering the weather https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tasmania
Very different to FNQ
Uluru is different to a lot of Australia. Very commercialised and expensive, but unique. Some people like it and others do not. 2 nights does not give you time to explore the complete area. There is more than just the rock. But 100's see the rock and leave the next day
The travel times in Australia can be significant. Flights are not all non stop between destinations SYD-CNS-AYQ-HBA-SYD
Very different to FNQ
Uluru is different to a lot of Australia. Very commercialised and expensive, but unique. Some people like it and others do not. 2 nights does not give you time to explore the complete area. There is more than just the rock. But 100's see the rock and leave the next day
The travel times in Australia can be significant. Flights are not all non stop between destinations SYD-CNS-AYQ-HBA-SYD
Oct 30, 2015, 8:47 pm
#3
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 21
Taz is more like 7-10 days. Stunning but will be pretty chilly in September.
Cairns is ok. Backpacker city, but lots to do in and around the area. Day trips to the GBR are a bit meh, as the reef that the day boats go to is pretty ordinary. Better to go out from Port Douglas if diving or snorkeling is your thing.
Uluru is stunning. So is Kings Canyon and the Olgas, which are a must do if you are in the area. Accomodation ranges from budget campsites to high end luxury lodges. Yes, you are a captive market, but it is totally worth seeing. The night sky alone in that area is amazing.
Cairns is ok. Backpacker city, but lots to do in and around the area. Day trips to the GBR are a bit meh, as the reef that the day boats go to is pretty ordinary. Better to go out from Port Douglas if diving or snorkeling is your thing.
Uluru is stunning. So is Kings Canyon and the Olgas, which are a must do if you are in the area. Accomodation ranges from budget campsites to high end luxury lodges. Yes, you are a captive market, but it is totally worth seeing. The night sky alone in that area is amazing.
Oct 30, 2015, 9:04 pm
#4
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Maui, HI
Posts: 170
I went to Australia for 6 weeks last year (October/November) and it wasn't enough time. I landed in Sydney. Work in Canberra for a day, a week in Tasmania (not enough), 3 days on Orpheus Island (recommended), 10 days in Cairns (3 snorkeling days, other tour days), 5 days in Uluru (don't use AAT Kings, go with the small local company, can't remember the name), Melbourne overnight enroute New Zealand for 5 days. Then back to Sydney, Blue Mountains, Sydney. Yeah, that won't quite add up due to travel time, etc, but you get the drift. In all places, I wanted more time. That surprised me at Uluru as I don't like hot, but it's such a magical place.
So, my personal advice for 10 days it to pick 2 places and enjoy. You can't go wrong. I didn't make any reservations for tours until I got there and I was lucky. I waited to know the weather for GBR snorkeling as it can be worthless if the water is mucky. I think you'd be ok with doing this in September.
Locals can give you more specific info and advice, but each place you mention would be interesting for the entire 10 days, IMHO.
So, my personal advice for 10 days it to pick 2 places and enjoy. You can't go wrong. I didn't make any reservations for tours until I got there and I was lucky. I waited to know the weather for GBR snorkeling as it can be worthless if the water is mucky. I think you'd be ok with doing this in September.
Locals can give you more specific info and advice, but each place you mention would be interesting for the entire 10 days, IMHO.
Oct 31, 2015, 8:26 am
#5
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2-3 days isn't really long enough for any of these places. Don't forget you lose a lot of time travelling between - particularly significant for Uluru which also has the drawback of limited flights.
Oct 31, 2015, 9:20 am
#6
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If you are stuck on Cairns (the GBR is amazing but Cairns is not), then I'd probably say check out Uluru with your extra time. I have not been to Uluru but I know plenty of people who have done an overnight and felt like they got something worthwhile out of it. You won't do Tassie justice with 2-3 days.
Oct 31, 2015, 11:10 pm
#7
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I think Sydney, Cairns, & Uluru would be doable. 2 nights at Uluru would be OK, but it does take the better part of a day to get there or back. You can see Uluru at sunset one night and Kata Tjuta the next morning for sunrise. Yes, the hotels are way overpriced, but our suite at Emu Walk Apartments was quite nice. Food wasn't terribly expensive. There's a grocery store at the resort if you want to really save. The casual Pioneer Grill was fun and about $25 (grill your own meat and then a "salad" bar with unlimited sides). The cafe (not a particularly nice place) at the Uluru cultural center sold meat pies for $5 or other sandwiches/wraps for under $10.
Rent your own car! The resort charges really really unbelievably outrageous fees for the simplest of tours. Worth it even though diesel was over $2/liter. I was able to use AA miles for flights on Qantas which made the whole excursion a bit more affordable.
Rent your own car! The resort charges really really unbelievably outrageous fees for the simplest of tours. Worth it even though diesel was over $2/liter. I was able to use AA miles for flights on Qantas which made the whole excursion a bit more affordable.
Last edited by flyernick; Nov 5, 2015 at 7:46 am Reason: spelling
Nov 4, 2015, 4:04 am
#9
Join Date: Oct 2015
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Yes, down here in Tassie it is likely to still be cool in September: you don't say where you're from, but if from the UK that shouldn't be a problem.
What does worry me though is the 2 or 3 days. In that time I guess you could do Hobart and .... the Port Arthur Peninsular OR Cradle Mountain OR the West Coast and Franklin River OR the East Coast and Wineglass Bay/Freycinet OR...
I could go on but I suspect you get my point!
My advice is to do the red centre (Uluru and Kings Canyon) ... in your timeframe, that's just about doable. Come back to Tassie another time and spend at least 7 or 10 days here. You won't regret it or ever stop talking about it!
PS Oh, and unless you want to subject yourself to cruel and unusual punishment, NEVER fly with Jetstar or Tiger. Virgin and Qantas are of a pretty good standard, Qantas is one world, Virgin has partner airlines, check their web site.
What does worry me though is the 2 or 3 days. In that time I guess you could do Hobart and .... the Port Arthur Peninsular OR Cradle Mountain OR the West Coast and Franklin River OR the East Coast and Wineglass Bay/Freycinet OR...
I could go on but I suspect you get my point!
My advice is to do the red centre (Uluru and Kings Canyon) ... in your timeframe, that's just about doable. Come back to Tassie another time and spend at least 7 or 10 days here. You won't regret it or ever stop talking about it!
PS Oh, and unless you want to subject yourself to cruel and unusual punishment, NEVER fly with Jetstar or Tiger. Virgin and Qantas are of a pretty good standard, Qantas is one world, Virgin has partner airlines, check their web site.
Last edited by glazfolk; Nov 4, 2015 at 4:15 am
Nov 4, 2015, 3:16 pm
#10
Join Date: Jun 2011
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I agree that 3 days doesn't give you much time in Tasmania, but I think you're better seeing a bit of Tasmania than all of Ayers Rock, unless you're really committed to the rock thing.
If you're worried about being ripped off at Yulara, you're right. Some people really like the rock, some people think it's an awful lot of travelling and getting money sucked out of your pocket just to see a big rock. If you think you're in the latter category, you possibly are.
If you're looking for a relaxed "hike, pick an apple, see a beach, drink a coffee, eat a great dinner kind of place" have you considered Adelaide and surrounds? Or even Melbourne?
If you're worried about being ripped off at Yulara, you're right. Some people really like the rock, some people think it's an awful lot of travelling and getting money sucked out of your pocket just to see a big rock. If you think you're in the latter category, you possibly are.
If you're looking for a relaxed "hike, pick an apple, see a beach, drink a coffee, eat a great dinner kind of place" have you considered Adelaide and surrounds? Or even Melbourne?