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Post by Kimby on Oct 1, 2009 9:50:29 GMT 2
I'm posting this to see if Meeting Pot is a travellers' forum or a forum for people who happen to have travel in common. I have been away for awhile, mostly planning my next trip on other forums, but missed you guys and wanted to come back and visit again. I know there's several Aussies on here, maybe they can help.
We just booked flights and campervan rental for a 3 week trip to Australia beginning Oct. 21. We'll have 19 full days on the ground, landing in Cairns and renting one camper for 10 days, then flying to Alice Springs and renting another camper for 5 days, then flying to Sydney for the final 3 nights.
Can anybody recommend places not-to-be-missed in Northern Queensland (fromCairns north to Cape Trib, and Cairns south to Townsville or Whitsunday Islands?). We don't know how much ground we can cover in 10 days but I imagine it's a lot.
Also will need a room in Cairns for 1st and 10th nights, and a place in Alice Springs for the night before the flight to Sydney, and a place in Sydney. Got any favorites? Since we'll be spending American dollars that are getting more worthless in Australia every day, we're hoping to find places with their own bathroom for less than 100 AUD, if this is possible.
We like to be in the heart of things (we won't have a vehicle when we don't have a campervan) and we like to do a lot of walking and outdoor sightseeing. We are not big on fine dining or night life, HATE paying huge admissions to anything unless it's really worth it, can only handle so many museums in a day, and don't like thrill rides. I'm thinking we'll WALK across the Sydney harbour bridge, rather than book a Bridge Climb, and the outside of the Opera House is the part I want to see unless someone tells me that a tour is a must.
Thanks for any advice you all have.
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Post by happytraveller on Oct 1, 2009 14:27:22 GMT 2
I was going to suggest to stay at Ellis Beach just a bit outside of Cairns but it might not be what you are after. Still, it is located at one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen, a lovely place www.ellisbeach.com/Don't miss: A trip to the barrier reef of course, a gondola ride above rainforest from Cairns to Kuranda and back by train. Near Townswille: Magnetic Island ist absolutely lovely. Do you like Zoos ? Best zoo I have ever seen, is called "the billabong sanctuary" where they have (almost?) only native animals, you can feed Kangaroos, Koalas, Parrots and if you are daring enough, you can hang a Python around your neck  I can't wait to go back there, we have planned about 5 days in Townswille over new years and the Billabong sancutary will be one of my highlights. www.billabongsanctuary.com.au/ |
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Post by happytraveller on Oct 1, 2009 14:28:52 GMT 2
Hope my post counts, as I am not an aussie :-P I am just a swozzie  |
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Post by Voy on Oct 1, 2009 16:15:49 GMT 2
and I'm only a Yank.. but second her rec. of Kuranda - but would amend it to be sure that the gondola ride includes admission to the Rain Forest thing - you can get out half way up and walk in the canopy ( awesome ) and the center at the top is superb in explaining it all -
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Post by Kimby on Oct 1, 2009 19:03:14 GMT 2
Thanks!
Is Mockchoc on here?
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Post by happytraveller on Oct 2, 2009 7:01:13 GMT 2
Yup, you might want to pm her.
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Post by Big Iain on Oct 2, 2009 10:26:22 GMT 2
Kimby, if there are no helpful aussies on here... One of my b/fs is married to a Cairns Lassie now living in Melbourne so I would be able to pimp her email addie for you! Give me a nudge if that is going to be helpful.
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Post by Kimby on Oct 2, 2009 20:24:32 GMT 2
thanks, iain. Would she have a recommendation for a moderate-budget hotel in Cairns that would be quiet, somewhat charming and have ensuite bathroom? We need to sleep after travelling from the US, and will head out with the campervan the next day.
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Post by tarra on Oct 2, 2009 20:30:21 GMT 2
Instead of doing the Bridge Climb, you can actually climb the pylon free of charge. Has a great view at the top - of the CBD, Opera House & it's close enough that you can even wave to the people beginning their Bridge Climb.
I can't quite remember where the entrance is as last time I went was in 2002/03 I think.
I also did a tour of the Opera House. It was fun but nothing spectacular unless you're really into architecture. Although with the tour ticket stub you'll get discounts for that day's shows. Some are even 1-for-1.
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Post by Kimby on Oct 2, 2009 20:39:50 GMT 2
Thanks for that, Tarra. Things seem SO pricey in Australia, it's good to hear about the things that don't have admission charges. AND the ones that are well worth their fee.
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Post by tarra on Oct 2, 2009 20:43:02 GMT 2
Tell me about it! Oz used to be THE place S'poreans would head to for their holidays as the rate was almost 1:1 way back then. Now it's getting ridiculously more expensive. And yet we still go.
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Post by Voy on Oct 2, 2009 23:56:27 GMT 2
speaking of which.. how ARE KateR and Clipperv and the miniperv?
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Post by Kimby on Oct 7, 2009 22:27:06 GMT 2
Anyone have a suggestion for an Alice Springs hotel for one night before flying to Sydney? They all get very mixed reviews on TripAdvisor and almost all cost around 100USD per night.
With the USD sinking against the AUD every day, the prices in Australia keep getting higher!
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Post by Big Iain on Oct 7, 2009 22:47:09 GMT 2
Kimby, I have not yet had a reply on the hotel question you had asked about Cairns
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Post by Kimby on Oct 8, 2009 21:40:10 GMT 2
Iain, I already booked a hotel in Cairns for the first night, but will need one 10 days later after we turn in the motorhome before flying to Alice the next day, so more input would be good.
The hotel is the Quality Hotel Sheridan Plaza, which is only a 2 block walk from where we pick up the campervan next morning. It's also only a few blocks inland from the esplanade, which I assume we can walk to downtown, unless we're so bushed from the long flights that we blow it off until we return to Cairns.
Thanks for inquiring for us.
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Post by WildlyTravelled on Oct 9, 2009 8:11:29 GMT 2
Instead of doing the Bridge Climb, you can actually climb the pylon free of charge. Has a great view at the top - of the CBD, Opera House & it's close enough that you can even wave to the people beginning their Bridge Climb. I can't quite remember where the entrance is as last time I went was in 2002/03 I think. I also did a tour of the Opera House. It was fun but nothing spectacular unless you're really into architecture. Although with the tour ticket stub you'll get discounts for that day's shows. Some are even 1-for-1. The entrance would be at The Rocks, easy to find, just ask. Can't you walk around the Opera House any more on your own? Seems a shame.... I've said this before, take the ferries, the views are great, Sydney has a beautiful harbour, make the most of it Go to Manly whatever... you never listen to me anyway |
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Post by Kimby on Oct 9, 2009 23:04:03 GMT 2
whatever... you never listen to me anyway Oh, not true! I just wanted EVERYBODY to chime in. U R appreciated WT. |
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Post by WildlyTravelled on Oct 16, 2009 9:24:27 GMT 2
you're nearly set to go!! |
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Post by deyana on Oct 16, 2009 20:11:58 GMT 2
Can't help much with the info, Kimby, but I hope you have a great time.
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Post by WildlyTravelled on Oct 21, 2009 4:16:05 GMT 2
Yeah, I hope you're having fun and get to experience lots of wonderful adventures  |
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Post by KimB on Oct 21, 2009 16:11:49 GMT 2
No time to log in - we're off in a couple hours!
Will miss you all.
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Post by tarra on Oct 21, 2009 16:42:28 GMT 2
WT, I think you can walk the grounds of Opera House on your own but not inside. You either need to be part of a tour or have tickets i think cos the tour brings you into the halls.
Have fun, Kimby! I'm not jealous at all.
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Post by WildlyTravelled on Oct 22, 2009 4:52:07 GMT 2
You used to be able to walk around inside.....
Times-are-a-changing
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Post by Voy on Oct 22, 2009 17:42:57 GMT 2
they were building it when I lived there.. and I commuted from Paddo to N Sydney over the bridge every day - it was totally amazing to watch it go up - and glorious as they got the tiles on the "sails" and it started to shine..
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Post by WildlyTravelled on Oct 26, 2009 2:28:00 GMT 2
wow, you really are historic!!
what year was that?
I lived in Bondi when they opened the Eastern Suburbs line
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Post by Voy on Oct 26, 2009 2:45:27 GMT 2
it was 1967 --and to Bondi there was only the bus!
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Post by WildlyTravelled on Oct 26, 2009 3:06:37 GMT 2
there still is voy lol!!!!
The train only goes as far as Bondi Junction
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Post by Kimby on Dec 24, 2009 22:30:20 GMT 2
Instead of doing the Bridge Climb, you can actually climb the pylon free of charge. Has a great view at the top - of the CBD, Opera House & it's close enough that you can even wave to the people beginning their Bridge Climb. I can't quite remember where the entrance is as last time I went was in 2002/03 I think. I also did a tour of the Opera House. It was fun but nothing spectacular unless you're really into architecture. Although with the tour ticket stub you'll get discounts for that day's shows. Some are even 1-for-1. The entrance would be at The Rocks, easy to find, just ask. Can't you walk around the Opera House any more on your own? Seems a shame.... I've said this before, take the ferries, the views are great, Sydney has a beautiful harbour, make the most of it Well, now there is a charge to climb the pylon, too. But you can still cross the bridge on the pedestrian walkway for free and I got my best photo of the opera house from there.  |
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Post by tarra on Dec 29, 2009 5:18:27 GMT 2
I miss Sydney. SG is slowly strangling the fun out of me.
Kimby, where's the rest of the trip's photos?
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Post by Kimby on Dec 29, 2009 20:07:13 GMT 2
Kimby, where's the rest of the trip's photos? In the camera? Some of them can be seen on various threads in Any Port, including one called Wood... The rest are waiting for the travelog to be finished.... |
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