Australian help

[suejacko]

I am a 50+ single mother seriously considering travelling to Australia this summer. Would like to include Darwin, Uluru, Cairns, Brisbane and Sydney in itinery and am intending to use local flights to cover long distances. Would it be more ad advisable for me to book a complete independant package with a known travel company or to just book the main flight and to arrange the rest of the trip myself on line? Secondly, what would be my best option to gain maximum experience of the great barrier reef (snorkelling rather than diving) a trip from Cairns, a four day cruise with the Coral Princess or a trip around the Whitsunday islands?

[suejacko]

Sorry I omitted to say I would be travelling with my 16 yr old daughter.

[wildwood]

Can I carry your suitcases for you? :-)

Snorkelling at the reef is a great experience, but these things are really down to personal preference. As far as the travelling around.... you'd really have to do some searching and comparing. Some travel agents seem to have access to better deals than others. If you want to arrange your own flights in Aus, google for 'Pacific Blue' who offer some fantastic prices for national flights.

[Janetex]

Darnit - posted a lengthy answer, shall try again later.

[Janetex]

Hoping to get to N/E coast again this year too. Tell me how long you have in Oz and I can give you lots of details. It will be the height of tourist season in Queensland, so you'll need to have a firm plan. Unless you have months, I'd skip the big red rock in the centre. Instead DO Kakadu, Humpty Doo, Jabiru, Arnhem Land from Darwin.

[Janetex]

Maximum reef experiences are done from Port Douglas, not Cairns (they usually shuttle you there). Recommend things like Quick Silver's (sp) day cruises to the Outer Reef, Low Isles, etc. From Port Douglas you also do the Daintree River and Daintree Rainforest.

[Janetex]

Around Cairns you DO the Kuranda trip (train & sky), shop, a quick & cheap 1/2 or day trip to Green Island to get the hang of island/snorkelling things, see the botanic gardens And you Eat. Whitsunday area is nice if you have lots of time, so is Hinchinbrook Island, Townsville, Sunshine Coast and Ballina, Byron, Nimbin.

[Janetex]

Brisbane is a small city; the Gold Coast and Surfer's Paradise are rather tacky. In Sydney do The Rocks not The Cross. Most of what I've mentioned have websites. Pick up brochures for each next place. Lots of great, reasonable, apartment-style accommodation to be had too. Feel free to ask me anything and have a great time.

[suejacko]

Many thanks for all your ideas, am considering your suggestions and will make further contact if I need any help. possible length of trip 3.5 to 4 weeks, had also been advised by others to miss out Brisbane probably makes sense to confine visit to three centres, Darwin, Cairns and Sydney . Thank you again.

[2planks]

Did a similar thing a few years ago. Perth (relatives) Uluru, Cairns, Sydney. Booked everything before I went (free internal flights). On a practical level, if you are going in our summer, remember it is their winter - you will need warm/wet clothes (Sydney) and lighter/sun things (Cairns) and intermediate things for Uluru! Good way to see Sydney is by bus - get on and off as you please. Have a great time - I did. Great barrier reef can be seen via submarine too.