Planning Second Honeymoon to Australia... Advice needed

[jel0511]

Well, DH and I are probably going to take a second honeymoon for our 10th anniversary next year. We're looking at going to Australia, since we've never been there. We're going to go for 2 weeks and plan on visiting Sydney, Great Barrier Reef, and Daintree Rainforest. The resorts we're thinking about are the Park Hyatt in Sydney, Dunk Island, and Silky Oaks Lodge in Daintree. Has anyone stayed at any of these places? We're basically novices here and need advice. THANKS!!

 

[monkeyboy]

Beware or Aggressive 'Roos

 

[cynsaun]

You may need a translation dictionary.

 

[mickeyboat]

My advice, get a very large suitcase, place it on your bed, unzip the case, open it up ...

and wait for me to jump in

Sounds like a wonderful trip. I hope you enjoy it.

Denae

 

[Jane and Ian]

Have a fab trip, we love Australia, having been lucky to go twice!! In Cairns, try Barnacle Bills for supper and also Dundees. The first is a fish restaurant, the second has Australian food, Croc, Emu, Kangaroo. Weren't too keen on the emu sausages. Take a trip out on the reef and take the helicoopter ride - awesome! Anymore questions, just ask.

 

[vernon]

You're going to find that 2 weeks just isn't enough time to get much more than a taste. If you can find anyway to increase the amount of time you stay there GO FOR IT.

I enjoyed Sydney but didn't see as much of it as I would have liked because I was mostly there to watch a rugby tournement. A good way (cheap and quick) of getting a lot of photo opportunities ( Opera house and the harbour bridge) is to take a water taxi from Darling Harbour. I think the cost of this was less than US$10 per person for about an hours cruise round the harbour. IF you feel brave, are reasonably fit/mobile and are not scared of hights you can take a walking tour over the bridge ( http://www.bridgeclimb.com/ ) . The parts I enjoyed most in Australia was getting out of the cities and to see some of the countryside. One of the best ways to do this is to drive between destinations. It would be too far to drive to Cairns in the time you have, but if you decide to add Brisbane to your itinerary I did this drive at Xmas and it's pretty easy with an overnight stop. It's about 700 miles. On my way to Brisbane I took a couple of nights stop near Coff's Harbour and stayed at ( http://www.boambeepalms.com.au/ ) which was a fantastic B+B run by an English couple (prices are in aussie $ not US$ by the way) . This was the nicest place I stayed in Aussie and their back garden/pool area is a bird watches paradise. They even get rock wallabys and Koala's come visit at times. There are some beautiful (and quiet) beaches in this area. In Brisbane I went to Steve Irwin's ( the crocodile hunter) Australia zoo which I thought was a really well conceived and laid out zoo. http://www.crocodilehunter.com/australia_zoo/welcome/index.html . I know zoos are not everyone's "cup of tea" but in a limited trip it this does afford you some great photo opportunities of Australia's animals. Be nice to see them in the wild, but if you don't have the time to track them down it's a workable second best. There are a few "walk through" exhibits with the kangaroos where you share their enclosure (feed and pet them if they are agreeable to the idea) . If they don't want to be friendly they have sectioned off areas when guests are not allowed. DEFINATELY try to organise some snorkling on the reaf, I did a scuba course and the variety of marine life is spectacular.

 

[robsmom]

I was lucky enough to have a business assignment to Australia and for DH and I to tie an vacation in. You are hitting our 3 favorite spots. We did stay at the Park Hyatt in Sydney and it was the most beautiful hotel that I have ever stayed at. It is ranked among the best in the world. Marble bathroom, a butler, and great views. Did not stay at either of your other choices.