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I'm off to oz in December with Mrs Gk74 and our two teenagers 14 and 16. Going to start in Mebourne and the coast road for first 4-5 days, then we will be heading North and need a base north of Sydney for 5-7 days which will enable us to:
- take in some beach life and possible national park areas and some native wildlife
- go scuba diving off the barrier reef (for me and our 14 year old lad)
- sailing trip
- spend xmas day on a nice beach (Mrs Gk74 already has a red bikini ready)
- surfing, although we will get opportunities near Melbourne for this and I understand that once into Great Barrier Reef territory the small matter of a barrier reef does somewhat reduce number of surfing opportunities
Dilema from research so far is cairns has loads of good diving but no beach! so no use as a base as Mrs Gk74 and 16 year old won't be happy. Further south has sailing, some surf opportunities but not as much diving opportunity. Whitsundays seem amazing, as does Byron Bay but would welcome insight on scope for diving.
Final stage is Sydney for new year and then home.
On a practical note, if anyone has done similar with family, what has worked best, trying to pack for nearly three weeks of clothes or less am doing find laundrettes etc which reduces packing but then takes time out for domestic chores!
Laundrettes are easy to find and use, plenty about.
East coast, just do the Tassie one 😉 be way less crowded than the mainland in the middle of school holidays 🙂
You can probably surf Bondi with lessons there
It's 1500km from Sydney to the Reef so no really a there and back drive for any kind of fun, look at the Northern NSW coast probably
Pack hats.
Have steak at San Telmo, and Greek at Stalactites, both in Melbourne.
Thank me later.
Bondi is OK. Just that, sadly. I mean, it's an iconic beach, and one to tick off the list, but that's about it. Still, head up to RAW for sushi when you've finished fighting off the tourists in the waves. Great saké selection.
That's a big list of stuff in a short time. You'd need to travel a lot as well. There is diving all along the coast but it is very different on the barrier reef and the NSW coast. I'd say the local wildlife is easier to spot further south but again it's all along. Tricky to say one spot that does it all, anywhere will be a compromise. Maybe Hervey Bay with a trip out to Fraser or Lady Elliott Island.
Melb eateries?
https://www.mamasita.com.au/#home/contact
Meat Works
https://www.stompingground.beer/beerhall2/
Though you should really be doing the seafood
Are you doing the great ocean road or coast to Sydney?
Inland from Sydney is Blue Mountains and all that worth a good look but check out https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/fire-information Kind of useful that time of year
Thanks all...agreed about Bondi, that will be one to tick off and move on, I will look into Harvey bay (thanks nick).
i've looked at tassie but was unsure about access to decent coral reef diving. Otherwise it looks amazing and the quieter location is appealing.
Mikewflasheart - food recommendations always appreciated, I have a 14 year old who is eating anything that doesn't move after 5 minutes minutes at the moment!!
Mikewsmith - great ocean road, want to take in the surf locations, wildlife, penguins etc over 2-3 days.
i’ve looked at tassie but was unsure about access to decent coral reef diving. Otherwise it looks amazing and the quieter location is appealing.
Bluntly if you want to go to the reef book a flight, it's a ****ing long drive up there and it will be ****ing hot.
6 Years in Tassie and it was the best of it all, small producers, amazingly friendly people - you could end up on a ride with Richie Porte on the east coast at Christmas time, stunning scenery, Sydney to Hobart coming in, all basically free and much more.
If you have not got anything booked get it booked VFQ, it's school holidays and everyone will be heading to their favourite places.
If you like cricket https://www.cricket.com.au/fixtures#teamname=Australia%20Men&teamid=1
Australia vs India at the G (Boxing Day) or SCG (New Year)
Great Ocean Road - http://www.bimbipark.com.au/ Koala Central, drive up 1hr to get to Forrest for some MTB and maybe chance of seeing a Platypus and some glow worms.
Do the GoR in the opposite direction to the coaches though. Also hows your surfing, plenty of it is not that friendly
Mikewflasheart
*Shudders*
Some more food tips, though...
Sydney
Mary's Burgers. Castlereagh St. Proper, dirty little hole in the wall, but epic burgers!
Catalina. Lyne Park. Oh yes...
Manjit's. Barangaroo. Some of the best curry I've eaten. Anywhere. Head chef is a friend of a friend, but still, epic food.
Will think of some more in Melbourne
Some good (if sub-tropical) dives in Sydney -
Watson’s Bay night dive
North of Bondi beach (leafy sea dragons)
Clovelly Pool
I have been told diving on the GBR is a bit meh unless you do a liveaboard, that said I’ve had a good time snorkelling- but it was a while ago...
Really liked Mission Beach 20 years ago. I guess it’s changed a bit now...
Will not be driving North, looking to book flights for movements around locations.
kids will be surfing, they've done surfing for a few years but will be avoiding the more extreme locations.
Port Douglas is north of Cairns, has a beach and access to the reef by boat But also jellyfish, hot and expensive.
Never been to Tassie but heard great things about it.
Fraser Island is fantastic. Hire a 4wd (either Hervey Bay or Rainbow Beach) and stay on the east coast. I wouldn't surf there (Sharks. Seriously) but otherwise sensational. Our kids loved it. Nowhere else like it that I can think of. I've been quite a few times over the years and would happily go back.
Getting to the reef is going to be expensive and time consuming as stated above so Lady Elliott is a good shout from what I've heard.
Noosa is nearby, really pretty and great beaches but expensive, bit flash and I doubt you'll get accommodation this late. In fact Sydney at NY might be a struggle as well. Beaches south of Noosa are more exposed (Sunshine Sunrise etc) but just a short trip by road or longer walk round the beautiful headland to Noosa. Surfing can be great here.
You are talking about massive distances. Not sensible to drive them as stated above
Whitsundays are great if you hire a yacht for a week
Ah Mission Beach 1989.takes me back....
Movida for Tapas in Melbourne.
Swimming in the mossman gorge north of cairns
Biggest pasta dish I've ever had was on the Rocks in Sydney.
Great Ocean Road is great
There's heaps pf beaches near Cairns. My house was on the beach about 15 miles north. If there was anyone nearer than 100 yards, I thought it was getting too crowded.
The tourist beaches are often busy but nothing like the pics I have seen of the Med resorts.
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The Reef does keep down the surf except when there's a cyclone coming.
Usual provisos about jellyfish (fatal type), cover up, wear a stinger suit, no problem. Watch out for crocs, there are some whoppers, although generally if they're along the shore they're in transport mode, not hunting, but keep away from river deltas. Sharks are around but no problem in clear water.
If it gets too hot, just shoot up the Tablelands for an immediate drop in humidity and temperature.
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For surfing and diving I would head to Byron Bay. I’ve dived a fair bit in Australia & honestly the best diving I have done possibly anywhere was there at Julian Rocks. I’ve been back there several times & it never disappoints. On every dive I’ve descended into loads of big Grey Nurse Sharks, Bull Rays, Wobbegong Sharks, huge turtles as well as large shoals of fish. The last trip had Humpback whale song too as well as close up breaching on the surface before & after the dive.
You can watch the whales from the lighthouse too as they travel past. Byron Bay is a nice chilled out place with great restaurants (especially the Mexican), surfing & beautiful farmland with interesting small towns like Bangalow to stop by.
There are plenty of excellent dive sites without having to head to the GBR. Coffs Harbour, Wolf Rock, HMAS Brisbane wreck at Mooloolaba to name a few.
I would head as far north as Rainbow Beach which would give you the opportunity to dive at Wolf Rock, visit Fraser Island and Noosa.
Smith's Beach on Phillip Island for a surf and then penguins early evening, Woolamai is nice but a bit exposed. You have to go a fair way up the Prince's Highway (past Gippsland) before decent beaches start again. Noosa and Byron Bay will be rammed in their summer but if you go, take in the Friendly Railway Bar. I wouldn't hire a car on Fraser Island (too bloody tricky), plenty of driven tours (and good overnight, dingoes on the beach etc). Port Douglas is nicer than Cairns and the Daintree rain forest is amazing.. I don't think Sydney is all that interesting but I prefer Manly to Bondi. Great Ocean Road: Bell's and Winkie Pop get very crowded, check out 13th Beach. You might find it easier to buy boards and then sell on, get a soft roofrack for the hire car. Bear in mind distances, Melbourne will take hours to get across. Surf can be a rarity involving much driving but sea temps in Qld make it an extraordinary experience. The sharks at Julian Rocks are certainly there, I was back in the boat sharpish. Oh and Sunshine Coast (eg Happy Valleys for a surf and then Australia Zoo) rather than Surfers' 'Paradise'. For the GBR get on a small indie boat for better dive locations and less crowds. Stay in the odd hostel so your kids can meet other young travelers. Don't exceed speed limits. If you've got limited time, I'd focus on a few things rather than spending ages travelling. I've spent about 18 months out there and feel I've only scratched the surface.
Don't overpack, live in shorts and T shirts and clothes dry quickly. Leave some room for Aussie merino or moleskins or Blunstones.
Will not be driving North, looking to book flights for movements around locations.
OK take a look at virgin or qantas first, jetstar are easyjet. Tiger are Ryan Air avoid them.
A flight to cairns and back will knock 2 days out of your itinerary, personally QLD is just too hot in the middle of summer and the days are short so you don't get the nice evening walks on the beach.
Having done the coast for 5 weeks in 2004 and then a week in 2009 I guess it’ll be totally different now, couldn’t believe the amount of new build in those 5 years
favourite places Hervey Bay for the Fraser Island 4wd jeeps and a 3 day sail around the whitsundays, those are my best memory’s, done them both trips
funniest memory a near punch up at an overnight fuel station at Newcastle as a bloke got jealous that a naked man got out his car, filled up his tank then went over to chat to the ladies in his car..
Ps. The Great Barrier Reef for the tourists is pretty rubbish, if you want colourful fish get to Thailand Malaysia Indonesia
Don't try and do too much, you're on holiday.
+1 you need to book accommodation and flights. Christmas week to New Year is the busiest week across Aus.
Check if you can get a hire car that allows you on the Sorrento ferry, otherwise the drive from Great Ocean Road through the city to Phillip Island for the penguins is really crap! You would be better doing a night tour from Mel and concentrate on the GOR. Koalas are also common at Kennett River on the GOR.
It is not the best time of year for far north Queensland (heat, marine stingers). The bleaching on the GBR has lead to a lot of fatality, from Townsville north, pic. But it ticks the scuba + beaches box. The best snorkelling and diving is off shore. Places like Heron Island are always recommended but $$$ and probably already booked up. I would either do Port Douglas, rainforest and the tablelands with day trips for snorkelling/scuba, or do Sunshine coast (e.g. Noosa) for relaxing beaches that are easy to get to you in your time frame. Since you want activities, prob PD/Cairns and hire a car so you can find a nice beach for Christmas.
Another vote for Byron Bay. Amazing place.
If you do the Great Ocean Road to the 12 Apostles stay for a night at least at Chris's at Beacon Point on the way https://www.chriss.com.au/home the view from the apartment balconies is stunning.
My mum is Australian and most of my family live there but all up in QLD, Victoria was a great new place to explore on our last trip and I'd definitely like to see more.
Thank you all for the additional intel, all really helpful and assisting me to focus the time away. Really looking forward to great ocean road, and will now focus on Byron Bay and maybe Fraser Island in the middle, GBR will be too much of a stretch.
Byron is awesome as is Melbourne/Victoria, the australian alps are pretty special. I did a touristy trial dive on the barrier reef from agnes water and it wasn't a patch on snorkelling from the shore at ningaloo, I think you really need to go far out or further north for the proper coral barrier reef experience perhaps. there's some snorkelling near sydney too but nothing remotely like ningaloo. Fraser island day trip is OK, the big bus charging around the sandy forest roads is fun but it is like being cattle herded around the place.
DOn't underestimate the size of the place, 7 days is barely a sneeze in terms of exploring australia.