Expert: Mick Maurer - 1/28/2008

Question
Mick,

I will be down in Australia from for about 10 days in the beginning of April. We will be flying in to Sydney and staying there for a few days.  I know we would like to go out to the blue mountains and we are trying to find out if hitting the GBR is even possible.  We do not have an unlimited budget so we are looking at the most cost effective way of doing this.  How long would you say it is to Gladstone from Sydney?  Is Gladstone where you would go to get to Heron Island?  Is that a good part of the Reef?  Do you have any recommendations that we could do or see to experience true Australia?

Answer
Jon:
The closest GBR island to Sydney is Lady Elliott which you reach out of Bundaberg about 700 miles from Sydney.  Gladstone is about 75 miles further.  Heron is a coral cay that sits right on the reef and very nice for snorkeling and diving.  It is not inexpensive, rooms are going to start at over $250 per night.  You might be better off if you can find an inexpensive flight to Cairns and take one of the large boats out to the reef for a day of snorkeling and diving which, with some, includes a semi submersible so you can see the reef without getting wet.
When in Sydney, be sure to do the bridge climb and take a walking tour of the Royal Botanical Gardens which is free.  If you do go to Cairns, you need to go to Kurunda and the Tjapaki Aboriginal Theatre.  If you get to Bundaberg, the rum factory is great.
Good luck.

Mick