Expert: Mick Maurer - 6/5/2007

Question
QUESTION: Hello,
I am also an expert on this site, on an area half way around the world.  I live in NYC, with a vacation place in Arizona.  My daughter will be studying law at the University of Auckland and when she finishes in November my husband and I are hoping to meet her in Australia.  I have arranged flights to Sydney.  We are trying to plan our trip and have allowed only 2 weeks to see Australia.  I realize this is far too short, but unfortunately we both work.  We would like to see the most important sights, but also some of the national parks, perhaps Flinders Range or a place like that.  Do you have a list of must see places?  Also, any hotels or restaurants that you feel comfortable recommending? Thank you very much for any advice you can give.
Phillis

ANSWER: Phillis:
Unless you are really keen on seeing Ayers Rock, I would recommend visiting three areas, Sydney, Cairns and Melbourne, or skip Melbourne and visit Tasmania.
Cairns of course is the Great Barrier Reef, Daintree Rainforest and Kuranda.  In Sydney is the Harbour Bridge Climb, the Royal Botanical Islands, a trip to the Hunter Valley Wine area and a 4wd trip to the Blue Mountains.  In Melbourne, a two or three day tour of the Great Ocean Road, the Queen Victoria Market and Phillip Island.  If you decide to see Tasmania, Port Arthur, Cradle Mountain and Lake St Clair National Park (hike dove lake)  Salamanca Market, and the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park.  Take the overnight ferry one way and fly the other from Sydney.
I hesitate to recommend hotels or restaurants unless for a client who's interests and budget I know but if you do visit Melbourne, almost no one is disappointed with the Colonial Tram Car Restaurant.
Hope this helps.

Mick Maurer
Aussie Travel

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for your response.  I've planned an itinerary and would like to run it by you to see if you think it is possible.  We are leaving NYC and flying to Tahiti via LA for 3 days of R and R since my husband refuses to sit in a plane for 22 hours.  We arrive in Sydney and are staying there for 2 days and then it is off to the BLue Mountains for 2 days.  Is it OK to drive there ourselves or do you suggest we hire someone?  We tend to like to drive places outselves.  On the second day in the Blue Mts. we would return to Sydney that night and fly to Melbourne the next morning.  We would spend that day and the next in Melbourne and then take the Great Ocean Drive.  We would stay somewhere towards the end of the Great OCean Drive on the first day (and suggestions?)and then drive back to Melbourne the nest day and try and get a late flight to Cairns.  We would stay in Cairns for 3 days (any suggestions for places to snorkel on the Great Barrier reef with out renting a boat?).  Then we will fly to New Zealand to visit our daughter on the 4th day in Cairns.  We will be spending a week in New Zealand but have not planned that portion yet.  We are going to be traveling in early November. Thank you for your help and advice.
The following are questions I copied from a letter my son sent me since he and his girlfriend will be vistiting over the Chrristmas Holiday.  He had a travel agent plan their trip and he is a bit unsure.
1 - Michaelmas Cay in Great Barrier Reef, which is a nice beach and has a lot of bird stuff supposedly, but we want to make sure the snorkeling is good since that is my main thing on being up there. We are staying in
Palm Cove probably (which is hopefully good) if they need a reference
point.

2 - Daintree National Rainforest in Great Barrier Reef area also. Just want to know what you really see and if it is worth a day there.

3 - Our other big decision is if the 4WD tour of the preserve outside of Sydney is all we need to do or if there is something we should rent a
car for etc.  

We greatly appreciate your taking the time to help us.


Answer
Phillils:
It is no lproblem for you to drive to the Blue Mountains.  I would pick up the itinerary of one of the tour groups for ideas on what to see and do.  If you like luxuary, Lillinfels is a great place to stay.
I have a great company that does an overnight tour of the Great Ocean road, the name is Natural Treasures.  I took a group with him a couple of years ago and everyone said it was the highlight of their entire visit to Australia.
If you drive yourself the Bentinck hotel in Portland is very nice.
I would not suggest taking a boat that goes to Michaelmas Cay.  There are a lot of dive operators that take you out with the divers and get to better spots.  Even the big Quicksilver boat goes out to a platform where you can snorkel better parts of the reef.  There is no place you can snorkel without a boat out of Cairns.
Palm Cove has nice beaches and most of the GBR operators will pick you up at your hotel there.
I have done the Daintree tour which included a boat trip down the river.  Not a lot to see other than the birds and forest, most of the crocks are gone.  If you can get an aboriginal guided tour tht is much better as you get a little culture with the scenery.
Not sure what the 4WD tour of the preserve outside of Sydney is.  There is a great 4WD tour of the Blue Mountains and some nice coach tours of the Hunter Valley.
Be sure to do the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb, you need advance reservations to be sure you get in.
Next time someone wants a travel agent to plan their itinerary, tell them to find an expert who has actually been where they want to go in Australia.-like me.

Mick Maurer
Aussie Travel