Elisa

Will be traveling alone for 2-1/2 weeks in Australia starting Jan. 9th after a quick stopover in Auckland. Would like to visit Sydney and then venture to a beach area near Brisbane or Cairnes. Definitely would like to visit the GBReef. <BR><BR>Any advice for traveling alone? Any safe resorts? Mini tours I could take?<BR><BR>Do not know anything about Australia and just booked this on a whim, so any suggestion would be appreciated.<BR><BR>Elisa

Debbie

Hi Elisa--<BR>I spent a month in Australia this past July and about 3 wks of it was on my own. I have friends who live in Sydney, but they work, so during the day at least, I was doing my own thing. I'm in my 30's but there was never a point anywhere in the country that I felt afraid for my safety. I followed the same precautions that anyone would anywhere--ie I didn't walk alone in dark alleys, I tried to be aware of my ssurroundings and kept an eye on my s stuff. People were incredibly friendly and it wasn't hard to strike up conversation. <BR><BR>HOw long do you plan to be in Sydney? Cairnes or Brisbane? I loooved Sydney but wasn't impressed by Cairns--I stayed in Port Douglas (smaller and nicer, closer to the reef) and had a great time. I can't help you w/Brisbane as I only saw the inside of the airport!<BR><BR>While in Sydney, I bought an Explorer Pass so I could get acclimated--there are two buses, red and blue--one goes around the main parts of the city, the other takes you out to Bondi. I only did the city tour as I took the ferry around the harbor. The ferry ride to Manly was cheap and scenic, a must do IMO. Bridge Climb is fun and not scary like I thought it would be...The Blue Mountains make a great day/overnight trip but I can't recommend a tour as my friends took me.<BR><BR>I need to get back to work but if you post again and give me some ideas of your likes/dislikes and I'll try to steer you iin the right direction!<BR><BR>Debbie<BR><BR><BR>

Abby

Hi Elisa-I went to Australia on a tour in summer 2001 but you will be fine alone. I am also in my 30s and found it to be the best place I&quot;ve ever been. Debbie's suggestions are great-Bridge Climb, the buses, are lots of fun. Make sure you check out Manly/Bondi Beaches, Darling Harbour (kind of touristy but fun), the wine country, and some of the surrounding suburbs that you can visit from the bus. Some other stops on the tour that I enjoyed were Fraser Island, the Whitsunday Islands, NOOSA (wonderful!), and Byron Bay. Those are definite must-sees. Cairns is okay-go to Pt. Douglas like Debbie. It's got lots of things to do, such as whitewater rafting and my favorite-skydiving! That was the highlight of my trip and perhaps my life..Go to Paul's Parachuting in Cairns if you want to do that. Check out the Rocks in Sydney and some of the funky places to eat. It's cheaper if you are American with our dollar. Email me directly if you want more advice-I'll have to look at my pictures and brochures but I loved Oz and I&quot;m sure you will too.

liz

Instead of staying in Brisbane, come on down to the Gold Coast for a stay as there is so much to do and many, many people who are also on their own here for holidays. Stay in and around the Broadbeach as you have access to everything from there or you may want a more upmarket area - then stay at Sanctuary Cove. Do a search of the Gold Coast to see what is available, I am sure you would be in for a terrific time. <BR>I agree with others in suggesting to stay in Port Douglas and not Cairns. So much nicer!!!!!!!

Elisa

Thank you so much for your suggestions! Really appreciate!<BR><BR>Here are my responses and some more question to each of your questions:<BR><BR>RE: Sydney<BR>I plan to spend 7 days in Sydney as my friends told me that this is a city not to skimp on during my trip. I'd like to hit the Blue Mtns as well for a night or a day trip and will tack on an 8th day if needbe. <BR><BR>Question: Are 7/8 days enough time there? <BR><BR>RE: Outside of Sydney<BR>I really want to hang at the beach for at least a week. Was told to go to Noosa and Frasier Islands as well.<BR><BR>Question: For those who went there, did you fly to a main city and then take a shuttle bus or something? Any hotel suggestions? Any logistics suggestions? Am going at peak Australian holiday time (ugh) and am wondering if I need to make hotel reservations ASAP. I will also have time in Sydney to do that.<BR><BR>RE: My Interestes in General<BR>1. The beach<BR>2. Scuba diving <BR>3. Hiking (camping is not my forte at all, but can deal with it for a max of 2 nights).<BR>4. Sailing<BR>5. Would like to go to Ayres Rock and have an interest in skydiving.<BR>6. Would like to do a mini tour to the Outback.<BR><BR>Thank you so much for the advice everybody! I'm 31, and very, very active. I like to relax on trips, but I like to be busy as some points (ie: hiking, scuba diving) during some points - I get bored FAST. <BR><BR>Elisa

liz

At the risk of upsetting some people who love Noosa, it does not have much of a beach. Noosa is a up-market beach area where you can shop, be seen and meet people who are doing the same. It is nice but as far as a beach goes it does not make the grade - in the last few weeks it has been closed due to some aweful floating algie stuff. There is not much scuba diving off that area either. Fraser Island is lovely but again you would be there at peak time and it is NOT a swimming island - it is more for people who want a fishing holiday. <BR>Ayers Rock is about 3 hours flight from Sydney - maybe less but if you are coming in January it will be HOT!!!!!!! and most definately not the time to be in the desert. <BR>There is no little excursion into the outback from anywhere as the outback is about 1,000 klms from the east coast. If you want plenty to do then the best areas are Sydney, Tropical North Queensland, Whitsundays, Gold Coast, and in and around these areas are enough things to keep you occupied.

Deb

Elisa-<BR><BR>Hiya. I'm a 33 year old American living in Sydney. I've pretty much hit every possible area of Australia (most of it by myself) and it was great! I, too, do spontaneous trips to random countries. I'm also a diver.<BR><BR>I would suggest 7 days in Sydney could include the Blue Mountains overnight and a day of diving. I would then go up to Byron Bay for a while (can fly from Sydney for about $120 US round trip) for some beach time. Remember, it is wet season up north so Cairns will be hot and humid, rainy, and there are stingers in the water close to shore. Instead of Byron (where you can dive Julian Rocks) you could fly up to the Whitsundays and do some beach/sailing (a 2 night sailing trip with ProSail costs about $150US, and most people show up alone). Fraser Island is THE most amazing place, but 3 days is all you'd need (a good option for doing Fraser is Kingfisher Lodge's 2 night, 3 day all inclusive for younger folks - ie under 35 - and costs about $175 US).<BR><BR>Ayers Rock is nice, but really isn't easy to include in a 3 week trip. It is expensive to get to, and can be done with Kings Canyon in 2 days. Not worth it, really.<BR><BR>You could fly Sydney to Coolongatta(which is the airport for Byron Bay), then take the bus (~7 hours) or fly to Hervey Bay (for Fraser Island) and then to Proserpine (which is the airport for the Whitsundays) and then back to Sydney. Internal flights could be bought on a Boomerang Pass or similar coupon-type deal from the US in conjunction with your ticket.<BR><BR>Anyway, would be happy to discuss if you had any questions. Also, I'm not working in January so if you wanted someone to wander Sydney with for a day, let me know. I could play tour guide.<BR><BR>Cheers

liz

I think Elisa would find that she could not fly say from Coolangatta to Hervey Bay and then on to the Whitsundays because the flights just don't go that way. <BR>She could fly into Coolangatta then get to Brisbane and fly to Hervey Bay (Maryborough) but she would probably have to go back to Brisbane for a flight to the Whitsundays, unless of course there is a milk run up to Mackay but I doubt there is. <BR>

xxx

liz-<BR><BR>you can fly to hervey bay (there is an airport there...don't have to stop at maryborough). you do have to go back through brisbane for some of the flights, but there is no additional cost i think.<BR><BR>your posts throughout the site seem to have very curt tones. why?

liz

XXX didn't mean the tone of my words to sound curt probably more to do with the time of day than anything else. <BR>The only problem with doing the flight into Hervey Bay is that its not a well run commercial route and therefore costs more than the Qantas flights into Maryborough but I do agree that if you could get there without going into Maryborough it certainly is better as you are just about there when you are in Hervey Bay so that is a good point if you are thinking of going to Fraser Island. <BR>You can also get into Byron Bay by flying into Ballina from Sydney or Lismore - both are easier to get to Byron Bay from than Coolangatta.