Expert: Ian Smith - 8/26/2009

Question
Hi Ian,

Im having a real quandry and wondered if you could help.  We are 2 adults and 2 kids who will be 12 and nearly 8 when we travel.  We arrive in Sydney in December and staying with friends for a few days.
This is where my dilema begins - do we fly up to  (around the 12th December for 10 days) Cairns (staying maybe in Palm cove or the likes) and visit the GBR if so where? and Kuranda/skyrail etc. From what I can gather it will be extremely hot and humid and I know its tropical but would we end up spending 10 days in the rain!  My other big concern is that we obviously would like to go snorkelling but these 'stingers' seem a really big problem - the thought of being on a beach and being unable to go in the sea makes me think we should go elsewhere.

Which brings me on to my second thought.

How feasible would it be to fly up to  somewhere (no idea where!) in queensland stay for maybe 3 days see something of the Reef, then fly from Cairns to Melbourne and drive up the coast back to Sydney for xmas.  Am I now looking at a 2nd mortgage and will my kids hate me.

I'm thinking the most sensible option would be to miss out the GBR completely and just fly to Melbourne and maybe get a camper van and do a week or so trip up to Sydney - if thats the case are there decent beaches and do stingers exist down there too!

Any advice, suggestions would be really helpful.

Many thanks in advance

Answer
In the amount of time you have I would not recommend going to Cairns.  There is so much to see elsewhere.
Going to Melbourne and coming up to Sydney offers you so many options and, apart from the occasional bluebottle (not fatal, just a sting that last awhile) you shouldn't get stung.
I would recommend doing the Grand Ridge Road, Victorian goldfields, Snowy Mountains then cross to the coast and work your way up the southern beaches and rainforest.
The Southern Highlands is also a wonderful place.
If you look up virtualtourist.com and can find iandsmith you'll find lots of information and photos.
It really is hot up north at that time of year and you're close to the cyclone season.  The reef is great but it's a looooong way up there and a loooong way out to sea.  I honestly believe your time would be better spent elsewhere.
Whatever you decide, have a nice time.
Cheers, Ian Smith
If you need any further help, please contact me.