1

I think it will be VERY hot that time. I went 3 wks earlier, it was 37C and 39C.

Ppl usually go to Alice 1st, then take tour from there, incl KC, Kata Tutja & Uluru. You can then fly to CNS from Uluru.

Once in Cairns, check out a tour spending 4-5 hrs in the Outer Reef. From ASP, you prob have more options, but then waste a day.

I'll try to post my trip report this Sun when I am home.

2

1. Is it a good choice to skip Melbourne and the great ocean road, and go instead to the red centre?

• if you're going to spend some time in one city (Sydney) then it's probably better to spend some time in the remote parts - so yes

2. How can I reach Alice Springs from Uluru, by Kings canyon?

• tmpa1982 nailed it

3. From Alice Springs, I’m just looking to fly towards the beaches, Cairns seems to be a good option, any suggestion on an itinerary near great barrier reef, flying from Alice springs

• GBR is great - if it's beaches you want, the Cairns is not a good option - better beaches in Sydney

3

Hi Pierre,

I'm assuming you've already taken into account the time for travelling between each place? Taxi to/from airport, getting to the airport well before your flight for check-in etc...

skutr is right in #3.
I can't comment on the beaches in Sydney, but the ones just to the north of Cairns aren't that great, houses right along the frontage which spoils them a bit. There are some nicer more isolated ones further to the north about 1hrs drive, and some nice ones to the south about an 1½hr drive in Mission Bch, but you'd need more than a couple of days to really experience them.

4

good heavens u left out BONDI Beach easy trip by transit( bus or train ) the opra house is nice to visit for a looksee. but pricey if you want to go inside on the tour. i gave it a pass. in favour of fish and chips at bondi.

5

Alice/Ayers or Uluru as we officially call it, isnt it expensive to fly to Cairns from the Red Centre?

Seeing Jetstar doesnt fly to/from Alice/Uluru.

6

Ayers to Cairns is only possible with expensive Qantas.

Or cheaper a bit with Virgin, but you have to backtrack to Sydney, from Ayers then to Cairns. Looks like Virgin does not fly to or from Alice.

7

The 'Oprah House' has made my day. :-)

Bear in mind that this is a bit the wrong time of year for northern Australia - you may not be able to swim from those beaches unless there are stinger nets.

this is the classic 'reef, rock and harbour' itinerary. I didn't find Melbourne that interesting but the Great Ocean Road is good for rock formations, off-road koalas and going 'wow, that's the southern ocean!'. And many other things of course.

8

I think it, the trip, I mean is a bit too ambitious, tine wise.

It can be done, of course, but so much time, up to 6 to 7 to 8 hours will be spent on transport, or in transpirt related areas.

Getting to airport, check in, waiting, tgen on plane, getting off plane, getting to car rental stire, waiting...

If you had 14 to 21 days, then, do it all.

But as others have said, I talk a lot of bullpoo though.

9

What you are doing is called "the golden triangle" and these are the 3 classic highlights of Australia. On a 12 day itinerary, it's the obvious, and probably best use of your time in Australia.
1. Sydney. On this plan 4 days is about right. Though you could fit most of your plan in in 1 day. While Oprah did broadcast from there, it's actually called the Opera House, and it's right next to the Bridge, and Botanic gardens - this is all an easy walk of an hour or 2. Bridge Climb is very expensive - up to $300 per head. If you just want to walk across the deck it's free. Darling Harbour is a nearby tourist area where you will also find the aquarium (which is very good). The Blue Mountains is a long day trip - about 2 hours drive each way, but well worth it. But make sure you also see some beaches, and catch the Manly ferry - 90 minutes return for a fabulous cruise across the Harbour for about $13 return.
2. Alice Springs is not really worth it, just fly direct to Uluru and have a few days there. If you do want to see Kings canyon you need to hire a car or take a tour. If you do go to Alice springs hire a 4WD and drive to Kings Canyon (a large section of the drive is a dirt track). Then on to Uluru and also see Kata Tjuta. You COULD do this in 3 days, but it's a big drive and very rushed. In 3 days I'd just go straight to Uluru.
3. Do not double back - do NOT go Alice-Uluru-Alice - this is a 4-5 hour drive each way. Fly to Uluru, and from there to Cairns, or drive Alice-Uluru then fly out of there, or even better Sydney-Uluru-Cairns. No beaches in Cairns itself, you have to go a little north to Palm Cove, or better, about 45 mins north to Port Douglas. Make sure you spend a full day seeing the Reef NOT a short half day trip to the Inner reef or low isles. Daintre, Cape Tribulation, Mossman Gorge is another good day out. That time of year you can only swim in the Cairns area at netted beaches, or you will die a horrible death from a box jellyfish sting. Even netted beaches are risky. Best stick to the pools or Reef (no Box Jellyfish on the Reef BUT there are a rarer, but almost as nasty, tiny, invisible Irukandji).

10

Yeah not a good idea to swim in the ocean this time of the year. Some creeks are off limits too with the crocs.

11

I have to disagree with stinger nets being risky. While it is possible to be stung while inside a net, it is also possible to be left behind in the middle of the GBR if you do a reef trip. Neither possibility is likely enough, in my opinion, to warrant serious concern. Every year from around December to March, I swim in Townsville's stinger net at least once a week and have never been stung myself nor seen any of the many other swimmers being stung. If there were a real danger, the lifeguards wouldn't encourage people to swim there.

12

Defer to the first first hand knowledge there dammat, but isn't there an issue with the Irukandji getting through them? (didn't mean to suggest Box jellyfish got through).

13

Looking at the size of the holes in the nets, you'd have to imagine it's possible for them to get through. It is a bit curious! In the main enclosure in Townsville, lifeguards often walk throught the shallows with a fine net (presumably) checking for Irukandji. But I'm not sure what swimmers in deeper water would be told to do if any Irukandji were found in the shallows haha
Regardless of the theory, in practice swimming in stinger nets is, in my experience, completely safe.

Edited by: dammat89

14

As you're coming in October, I would personally steer away from the red centre and northern tropics as it will be very unpleasant (bloody hot, in fact).

However, the southern half of Australia is just lovely at this time. The beaches in NSW are far more outstanding that Cairns, there is no surf there at all. Great Ocean Road, heading north and south of Sydney on the Coast, Barossa Valley in SA and South West Western Australia will be grand at this time of year.

Just some alternatives to think about, that are equally as gorgeous as the ones you mentioned. And no stingers :)