Australia for the first and probably only time

[Anonymous]

If you do Sydney, don't forget about the theater scene. We saw a great ballet at the opera house and a play at another theater. Depending on the time of year there are a lot of options.

[Anonymous]

Make sure you have a vegamite sandwich.

[Anonymous]

Sydney is my favorite city in the world. I thought Melbourne was boring. Just like any other US large city. Sydney was much more unique, and pretty.

Loved GBR and the rainforests up north. Red center was dull, but also very unique in terms of landscape so I am glad in retrospect I saw it. Loved Tasmania too actually! Especially the penguins.

[Anonymous]

Melbourne— like others, used mostly as jumping off point for day tours (penguins, etc). Didn’t love it but also probably didn’t find the right things to love. It was cold in May and we were coming from Fiji and hadn’t packed anything warm.

Cairns— loved diving GBR, even with bleaching (though it was a decade ago so maybe it’s worse?); at least back then you could hold a koala in Cairns (no koala snuggling in other states). I, like others, found the Daintree rainforest underwhelming. It’s super ancient which is interesting but also means it’s missing the biodiversity of Costa Rica or Amazon rainforests. Birds and very old plants, not much else in my experience.

Sydney: bridge climb is really fun, in May they do Vivid, a light show and art installations which are awesome. (Again, may be outdated info but I hope they still do it bc it’s cool). Hiking the blue mountains was also fun

Syn

[Anonymous]

In January, I’d visit Sydney, Tasmania (esp Cradle Mountain), and if the grandparents enjoy wine, South Australia - combine the Barossa with the Eyre Peninsula for beaches and water. Perhaps fly in or out of Melbourne to add that.

I’d skip the red center in January. Too hot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In January, I’d visit Sydney, Tasmania (esp Cradle Mountain), and if the grandparents enjoy wine, South Australia - combine the Barossa with the Eyre Peninsula for beaches and water. Perhaps fly in or out of Melbourne to add that.

I’d skip the red center in January. Too hot.

I should add this all assumes you’re comfortable driving. If you want Queensland in January and really want the reef experience, I’d consider a road trip from Sunshine Coast or Brisbane airports up to Gladstone/Heron Island stopping at Australia Zoo, Giant Pineapple, Noosa, K’gari (Fraser Island) before snorkeling in stinger suits at Heron Island. January is stinger season and hot so less than ideal esp in Far North Queensland like Port Douglas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In January, I’d visit Sydney, Tasmania (esp Cradle Mountain), and if the grandparents enjoy wine, South Australia - combine the Barossa with the Eyre Peninsula for beaches and water. Perhaps fly in or out of Melbourne to add that.

I’d skip the red center in January. Too hot.

I should add this all assumes you’re comfortable driving. If you want Queensland in January and really want the reef experience, I’d consider a road trip from Sunshine Coast or Brisbane airports up to Gladstone/Heron Island stopping at Australia Zoo, Giant Pineapple, Noosa, K’gari (Fraser Island) before snorkeling in stinger suits at Heron Island. January is stinger season and hot so less than ideal esp in Far North Queensland like Port Douglas.

Good rec but the Big Pineapple doesn’t belong on the itinerary.

[Anonymous]

Do not go to Sydney. They have conservative Trump supporters and they are on the heavy rise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In January, I’d visit Sydney, Tasmania (esp Cradle Mountain), and if the grandparents enjoy wine, South Australia - combine the Barossa with the Eyre Peninsula for beaches and water. Perhaps fly in or out of Melbourne to add that.

I’d skip the red center in January. Too hot.

I should add this all assumes you’re comfortable driving. If you want Queensland in January and really want the reef experience, I’d consider a road trip from Sunshine Coast or Brisbane airports up to Gladstone/Heron Island stopping at Australia Zoo, Giant Pineapple, Noosa, K’gari (Fraser Island) before snorkeling in stinger suits at Heron Island. January is stinger season and hot so less than ideal esp in Far North Queensland like Port Douglas.

Good rec but the Big Pineapple doesn’t belong on the itinerary.

I was kinda joking but also it’s just right off the road so might as well snap a pic.

[Anonymous]

Lizard island for Great Barrier Reef. Worth the splurge. Just incredible.

[Anonymous]

The McDonalds there is much more delicious than in here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lizard island for Great Barrier Reef. Worth the splurge. Just incredible.

Splurge is an understatement.

[Anonymous]

Active: Sydney bridge climb - do the sunset or evening climb as you'll don jump suits over your clothes and it will be hot no matter when you go.

Opera House backstage tour starts early, 6-7 AM. Really interesting, even for teens.

Austrailia Zoo: The Irwin Zoo is great. The upclose Koala Nursery is adorable.

Tarunga Zoo in Sydney (make sure the Grands take the shuttle to the top entrance, then walk down the hill to the exit.) Open petting area for Roos and other marsupials.

We spent a month in Austrailia last March. It was HOT and the food was so underwhelming. Mostly fish and chips, and that was the best item available at most places. Note: We did not go to any high end restaurants, and in many places we traveled there was not a high end choice; however upper middle was frequently disappointing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The McDonalds there is much more delicious than in here.

Truth. Ditto Dominoes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Active: Sydney bridge climb - do the sunset or evening climb as you'll don jump suits over your clothes and it will be hot no matter when you go.

Opera House backstage tour starts early, 6-7 AM. Really interesting, even for teens.

Austrailia Zoo: The Irwin Zoo is great. The upclose Koala Nursery is adorable.

Tarunga Zoo in Sydney (make sure the Grands take the shuttle to the top entrance, then walk down the hill to the exit.) Open petting area for Roos and other marsupials.

We spent a month in Austrailia last March. It was HOT and the food was so underwhelming. Mostly fish and chips, and that was the best item available at most places. Note: We did not go to any high end restaurants, and in many places we traveled there was not a high end choice; however upper middle was frequently disappointing.

The food was underwhelming? Where did you go?