MELB - CAIRNS - DARWIN

When will you be here? The ski season <i>may</i> begin in June but more likely July through September. Others will know the best sources of ski packages. <BR><BR>Whether you go up the east coast by bus or air depends on your total time and your interests. If you have a limited amount of time, then fly - it's quite cheap (see JetStar or VirginBlue for fares). If you have a bit more time you could travel Melbourne to Brisbane on a bus (including Sydney, Byron Bay and SE Queensland - all very good), then fly Brisbane to Cairns and then fly Cairns to Darwin. It is a very long way, so I would not recommend the bus if it is just a transport issue, and it won't be as cheap as discount flights.<BR><BR>There are many diving & snorkelling tours on offer in Cairns - a case of shopping around or asking others. The main reason to go to Darwin is to see the three tropical savanna and wetland parks - Kakadu NP, Nitmiluk (Kathering Gorge) NP, and Litchfield NP - all good. Ideally need a total of about 8-10 days in the Top End to do it all justice.

ask for pink stubby holder at humpty doo pub in darwin

Some advice for where to go in Darwin and around;

Litchfield national park is a must see; Its a while out of Darwin (an hour or two, I think). My favourite falls are Buley Rock Hole and Florence Falls (the former is upstream from the latter and you can walk between the two in arround an hour if I remember correctly). Wangai is a common favourite and therefore attracts alot of tour busses, but is also great. I would take a day trip to one and avoid wasting alot of time travelling between them.

Mindil Beach markets are on a thursday night and I think also on a sunday night as well, but not during the hight of wet season (They would be on again now untill the start of the next wet). Parap markets are on a saturday morning. I dont know how long you are going to be in Darwin but you should get at least one market in and I think the two I mentioned are the best. There is alot of good food about (Thai style soups, paw paw salad, all-fruit ice cream) and also some unique art and craft.

Fish Feeding at Doctors Gully is a unique experience, really close to Darwin CBD, you can walk along the esplinade down to doctors gully. They go according to the tide so you have to check the times before you go. Its a quick trip and really fun, they give you old bread to feed the fish. You can just throw it in the water or you can feed them by hand and you can wade into the water to feed them.

Thats what springs to mind, but I would highly recommend Darwin, its got a great laid back atmosphere. The best time to go is the dry season... lets say may to october is about the best weather, and during that times you can also swim in the sea (other times there are deadly box jelly fish in the sea).

Oh and on skiing near Melbourne... if last season was anything to go by I would give it a miss! It was a dreadful season, I think our weather patterns are terribly stuffed up. So if you do decide to go wait until the last minute and go when you know there has been a good dump of snow, obviously mid week is best, for prices and space on the slopes.