3 weeks east coast w/ 3-year-old
Replies: 5 - Last Post: Oct 8, 2012 6:32 AM Last Post By: poppageorge
jump to
3 weeks east coast w/ 3-year-old
Hi - my wife, 3-year-old, and I are spending 3 weeks along the east coast in December. We fly into Sydney and have five days there, then we fly to Melbourne (arrive 18 December). Once we arrive in Melbourne, we have 18 days before we need to be back in Sydney, and we're planning on flying up to Brisbane. (We have friends to stay with in Melbourne and Brisbane, and we're aware it's summer holiday.)Any recommendations on how much time we ought to spend in the Melbourne area vs. Brisbane? Should we be going further north than Brisbane? Skip Brisbane altogether and go to Tasmania or Adelaide? We don't want to spend too much time traveling, though it'd be great to go snorkeling. We're very interested in zoos, playgrounds, parks, etc., but don't care too much about the beach (we live somewhere with great beaches). Any thoughts?
Also, how bad is Tiger Airways, really? If I have a 6pm international flight out of Sydney on Jetstar, and I have a flight on Tiger Airways (domestic) that gets me to Sydney at 2pm, is that enough time (or should I plan to arrive a day earlier)? I got some super-cheap plane tickets on Tiger, but after reading some reviews about delays on Tiger I'm thinking I should just ditch them and fly in the day before.
Thanks!
- Dan
1
Melbourne is great for shopping but to the North of Brisbane ie North Queensland you will find many towns with short easy access by boat to the Great Barrier Reef and if you want to go snorkeling (or even scuba if you are certified) I can highly recommend this. Adelaide would be a waste of time unless you plan to visit wineries and Tasmania has some absolutely stunning wilderness if hiking is your thing. South of Brisbane in Southport you can go on some great kayaking, diving and snorkeling trips and again if you happen to be or wish to gain scuba certification the Gold Coast Seaway is one of the best shore dive's in the world.2
-The problem with Tiger is it's a bucket shop airline. If a plane breaks down, there are no replacements and you wait til the next day. If the seats are empty the pane doesn't fly and you wait til the next day. So, they are great for a cheap one way fare for a holiday NOT so for ensuring you make a connection.- 5 days in Sydney is about right. Go to the beach, take a Manly Ferry, take your child to the zoo, the Darling Harbour aquarium, walk around to the Opera House, maybe a day trip to the Blue Mountains.
- Melbourne is not so great for kids. Shops, restaurants, parks. Mornington Peninsula or Yarra Valley wineries? Fairy Penguins at Phillip Island, but this time of year that will be quite late, 8 or 9 PM when they come ashore. Dandenong Ranges for tall trees and walks? A 2 day trip out to the Great Ocean Road.
- Brisbane itself is not the great for a holiday, but it's close to a lot of places that are. The Gold Coast, 1 hour south, has theme parks that kids will love (a 3YO will especially love Seaworld, though the others are more for teenagers and above). There are great beaches on the Gold Coast, and to the north on the Sunshine Coast and at Bribie Island. The Gold Coast Hinterland has fabulous rainforest and waterfalls (especially the Natural Arch).
- To get to the Reef and beyond you will need a whole extra trip. Closest point is Gladstone, but to make it a holiday you need to fly to the Whitsundays or Cairns for at least 3, and preferrably 5 day, and take a day trip. You'd really love this and I'd highly recommend it.
4
The Gold Coast Hinterland has fabulous rainforest and waterfalls (especially the Natural Arch).
If you get to Natural Arch - make sure you go and see the glow worms.
5
personaly i found brisbane as about excitibg as canberra for the tourist would give it a miss in favour of adelaide which has nice glen elg beach also a very nice animal place for visiting. not easy to get to it by public transit but can be done think its to keep tour ops and taxi in business. Adelaide is verylaid back other than rundle street BUT HAS A Fabulous OXFAM used book store best i have found outside of vinnies on oxford street in Sydney.
