Australia recs for Syd, Mel & Cairns

[expatjen]

Hi! So we’re heading to Australia in December so MH, son and FIL can watch some cricket and me, the toddler and my MIL can do other fun stuff that doesn’t involve a 5-day test match.

We fly into Sydney on Dec 21 and have 3 days there.
Next up is Melbourne and we have 6 days there (Dec 25-31)
We then fly on Dec 31 to Cairns until Jan 3.

I would love some recommendations for family friendly things to do (my kids are 8 and 1) and my in-laws are in their 70s, but both are fit and enjoy sightseeing and walking.

Are there tour companies in Cairns that you’d recommend for snorkelling and maybe seeing the GBR via glass-bottom boat? Is Port Douglas a better area to stay in vs Cairns?

Thanks for any and all recommendations!

[dutchgirl678]

I can only give you tips for Sydney as that is the only place I have visited. The museum of Sydney was amazing, I really enjoyed walking through and immersing myself in their beautiful displays. The botanical gardens behind the Opera House are amazing too as are the views from the Sydney Tower. Taronga Zoo was also great and just taking the ferry from Circular Quay to the zoo or to Manly Beach was a fun trip in and of itself.

[meowmaps]

I definitely recommend Port Douglas over Cairns. It has a much more authentic community vibe whereas Cairns is very touristy. I can't remember the name of the tour companies we used because it was so many years ago but we took a boat tour of the GBR and an all-day your of the Daintree rainforest from Port Douglas.

Eta: We loved driving the Great Ocean Road which begins right outside Melbourne.  I don't have much of an impression of Melbourne since we were there for one night only.  

[Nonny]

Here is my Australia recap from April.  We were supposed to do a cruise out of Cairns, but it got cancelled so we ended up being stuck there for our time due to a free hotel room, but Port Douglas was recommended to me over Cairns.

Probably the only tour we did that is kid friendly was Hartley's Crocodile Adventure.  That park was a lot of fun for my H and I, and there were lots of kids there when we went. 

[expatjen]

Oct 3, 2018 18:25:05 GMT -5 Nonny said:

Here is my Australia recap from April.  We were supposed to do a cruise out of Cairns, but it got cancelled so we ended up being stuck there for our time due to a free hotel room, but Port Douglas was recommended to me over Cairns.

Probably the only tour we did that is kid friendly was Hartley's Crocodile Adventure.  That park was a lot of fun for my H and I, and there were lots of kids there when we went. 

Thanks for the link. Hartley's is definitely on my list now

Were you happy with your AirBnB in Sydney? 

[expatjen]

Oct 3, 2018 10:56:39 GMT -5 dutchgirl678 said:

Taronga Zoo was also great and just taking the ferry from Circular Quay to the zoo or to Manly Beach was a fun trip in and of itself.

This sounds like something we'd all enjoy! thanks for the tip  

[expatjen]

Oct 3, 2018 13:59:36 GMT -5 meowmaps said:

I definitely recommend Port Douglas over Cairns. It has a much more authentic community vibe whereas Cairns is very touristy.  

Glad to get that reaffirmed Did you go with family or as a couple?

[meowmaps]

Oct 3, 2018 23:12:17 GMT -5 expatjen said:

Oct 3, 2018 13:59:36 GMT -5 meowmaps said:

I definitely recommend Port Douglas over Cairns. It has a much more authentic community vibe whereas Cairns is very touristy.  

Glad to get that reaffirmed Did you go with family or as a couple?

We went as a couple but I'd say that everywhere we went and the tours we took were definitely family-friendly.  

[moorea]

We just went to Australia in early September. We chose Port Douglas over Cairns and we were very happy with that decision! We stayed.a block from Macrossan St (the main street in Port Douglas) and we were able to walk to shops and restaurants - great area! We loved the hotel, but it was adults only, so no recommendations there.

We did a day trip of the rainforest with Billy Tea Safaris - recommend! They have comfortable 4x4s and it’s only around 14 people per tour.

For the GBR, we used SilverSonic and enjoyed them. They visit 3 different sites and we chose them because they noted they have stabilizers for a smoother ride (it’s about an hour and twenty min boat ride out to the reef). If you stay near Macrossan St in port Douglas, it’s only about. 10 min walk or so to the marina where all the GBR boats leave. Also check out QuickSilver - rather than moving around to 3 sites, they dock at a platform and have different things to do even if you’re not a swimmer like undersea observatory and semi-sub. Might be good option with kids or even the ILs.

We also visited Kuranda one day and booked that through Viator.. We took the gold class train ride which was pretty neat. The village was a bit touristy, but we enjoyed walking around. They also had a koala gardens, butterfly sanctuary, birdworld, etc. Return was via SkyRail which has great views.

In Syndey, we stayed right near the Harbour at the Marriott - loved the location. We took a tour of the Opera house and bought spur of the moment tickets for a show that same night - one of the highlights of our trip! Might be something your ILs would consider - or you if your ILs watch the kids . We also did the bridge climb. Pricey, but pretty easy to do even if you have a fear of heights like I do. Minimum age is 8, so obviously not for your youngest, but something fun if others are interested and it’s in your budget.

And finally, we took the ferry to Manly Beach - what a great way to get amazing photos of the bridge and opera house! Only about a 30 min boat ride, though to be honest, we were a bit disappointed in the area. I thought the pedestrian area would be lots of shops and fun to walk around, but it was a few clothing stores and cheap souvenir shops.

Any questions, just ask!

[Nonny]

Oct 3, 2018 23:09:46 GMT -5 expatjen said:

Oct 3, 2018 18:25:05 GMT -5 Nonny said:

Here is my Australia recap from April.  We were supposed to do a cruise out of Cairns, but it got cancelled so we ended up being stuck there for our time due to a free hotel room, but Port Douglas was recommended to me over Cairns.

Probably the only tour we did that is kid friendly was Hartley's Crocodile Adventure.  That park was a lot of fun for my H and I, and there were lots of kids there when we went. 

Thanks for the link. Hartley's is definitely on my list now

Were you happy with your AirBnB in Sydney? 

Except for the crummy recommendation for the coffee shop, the Airbnb was great.  It was super cute and quirky, very quiet (except for the loud birds which are everywhere in Sydney) and I picked out a place where we had the place entirely to ourselves, washer/dryer in unit (just in case, we didn't use it), and it turned out to be super close to one of the train stations (maybe 3 blocks away).  We took an Uber from the airport to the Airbnb because we got in kind of late and didn't know where the place was, but we took the train back to the airport and that was way faster and cheaper.

[expatjen]

Oct 4, 2018 21:32:19 GMT -5 moorea said:

We just went to Australia in early September. We chose Port Douglas over Cairns and we were very happy with that decision! We stayed.a block from Macrossan St (the main street in Port Douglas) and we were able to walk to shops and restaurants - great area! We loved the hotel, but it was adults only, so no recommendations there.

We did a day trip of the rainforest with Billy Tea Safaris - recommend! They have comfortable 4x4s and it’s only around 14 people per tour.

For the GBR, we used SilverSonic and enjoyed them. They visit 3 different sites and we chose them because they noted they have stabilizers for a smoother ride (it’s about an hour and twenty min boat ride out to the reef). If you stay near Macrossan St in port Douglas, it’s only about. 10 min walk or so to the marina where all the GBR boats leave. Also check out QuickSilver - rather than moving around to 3 sites, they dock at a platform and have different things to do even if you’re not a swimmer like undersea observatory and semi-sub. Might be good option with kids or even the ILs.

We also visited Kuranda one day and booked that through Viator.. We took the gold class train ride which was pretty neat. The village was a bit touristy, but we enjoyed walking around. They also had a koala gardens, butterfly sanctuary, birdworld, etc. Return was via SkyRail which has great views.

In Syndey, we stayed right near the Harbour at the Marriott - loved the location. We took a tour of the Opera house and bought spur of the moment tickets for a show that same night - one of the highlights of our trip! Might be something your ILs would consider - or you if your ILs watch the kids . We also did the bridge climb. Pricey, but pretty easy to do even if you have a fear of heights like I do. Minimum age is 8, so obviously not for your youngest, but something fun if others are interested and it’s in your budget.

And finally, we took the ferry to Manly Beach - what a great way to get amazing photos of the bridge and opera house! Only about a 30 min boat ride, though to be honest, we were a bit disappointed in the area. I thought the pedestrian area would be lots of shops and fun to walk around, but it was a few clothing stores and cheap souvenir shops.

Any questions, just ask!

Awesome recommendations and tips! Thanks a bunch I'll definitely ask as I dig deeper into the planning.  My H and my oldest would LOVE to do the bridge climb. 

[expatjen]

Oct 4, 2018 21:47:29 GMT -5 Nonny said:

Oct 3, 2018 23:09:46 GMT -5 expatjen said:

Except for the crummy recommendation for the coffee shop, the Airbnb was great.  It was super cute and quirky, very quiet (except for the loud birds which are everywhere in Sydney) and I picked out a place where we had the place entirely to ourselves, washer/dryer in unit (just in case, we didn't use it), and it turned out to be super close to one of the train stations (maybe 3 blocks away).  We took an Uber from the airport to the Airbnb because we got in kind of late and didn't know where the place was, but we took the train back to the airport and that was way faster and cheaper.

Cool. Thanks - the option of a washer/dryer is a big plus. Now I'm off to search AirBnB!

[dorothyinAus]

Based on your schedule, you'll have to plan Cricket in Melbourne. It will be the Boxing Day Test, the third test against India, December 26-30, and I would definitely plan on getting tickets for Days 1, 2, or 3 of the test, because you never know if they will last through Days 4 & 5.

[expatjen]

Oct 7, 2018 4:19:09 GMT -5 dorothyinAus said:

Based on your schedule, you'll have to plan Cricket in Melbourne. It will be the Boxing Day Test, the third test against India, December 26-30, and I would definitely plan on getting tickets for Days 1, 2, or 3 of the test, because you never know if they will last through Days 4 & 5.

Yep, cricket in Melbourne is the reason for our trip MH is a big cricket fan so we're all set on the tickets.  

[dorothyinAus]

Oct 7, 2018 5:39:56 GMT -5 expatjen said:

Oct 7, 2018 4:19:09 GMT -5 dorothyinAus said:

Based on your schedule, you'll have to plan Cricket in Melbourne. It will be the Boxing Day Test, the third test against India, December 26-30, and I would definitely plan on getting tickets for Days 1, 2, or 3 of the test, because you never know if they will last through Days 4 & 5.

Yep, cricket in Melbourne is the reason for our trip MH is a big cricket fan so we're all set on the tickets.  

I would be prepared for unpredictable weather in Melbourne. It's going to be hot, but it's just as often raining or hailing around Christmas. Definitely plan to check out the Myer Christmas windows in the Bourke Street Mall. It's really worth the queue to see them (I think so, anyway.) I'm not sure how long they stay up after Christmas, so I would plan that for a Christmas Day treat. I would absolutely avoid Bourke Street on Boxing Day.

Within the CBD, trams are free, which is one of the best things ever. It probably won't extend to the MCG for the Test, but it's still great for getting around the CBD.

I would plan a stop at the National Gallery of Victoria if only to play with the Water Wall and enjoy the stained glass ceiling (and the A/C). I don't have kids, so I am not much help there, but every child I have seen at the NGV loves the Water Wall and the Great Hall. Bonus, it's free admission to everything but the special exhibits.

[expatjen]

dorothyinAus , Thanks for the weather tip! This will be our first time in Australia, so there is much we don't know

The Myer Christmas windows sound lovely. I'll definitely add it (and the National Gallery) to our list of things to see.

Do you have any recs for hotels or AirBnBs? Or areas better suited to families?

[dorothyinAus]

Oct 8, 2018 0:37:11 GMT -5 expatjen said:

dorothyinAus , Thanks for the weather tip! This will be our first time in Australia, so there is much we don't know

The Myer Christmas windows sound lovely. I'll definitely add it (and the National Gallery) to our list of things to see.

Do you have any recs for hotels or AirBnBs? Or areas better suited to families?

I'm not sure I can help with hotels. When we go up for long weekends, we tend to stay at hotels in the CBD area, close to Parliament House (usually the Sofitel or the Hotel Windsor).

I've never used AirB&Bs.

As far as areas, my first inclination would be to look at the CBD and Southbank first. Carlton is a bit further, but still close to everything. St. Kilda is a lovely area with beach access and a great street of cafes, bakeries and shops, but it is a bit further out from everything, though still on the main tram lines. Richmond is convenient to the MCG.

[dorothyinAus]

Oct 7, 2018 5:39:56 GMT -5 expatjen said:

Oct 7, 2018 4:19:09 GMT -5 dorothyinAus said:

Based on your schedule, you'll have to plan Cricket in Melbourne. It will be the Boxing Day Test, the third test against India, December 26-30, and I would definitely plan on getting tickets for Days 1, 2, or 3 of the test, because you never know if they will last through Days 4 & 5.

Yep, cricket in Melbourne is the reason for our trip MH is a big cricket fan so we're all set on the tickets.  

How is he enjoying the cricket? (for timing reference, Australia just finished the first innings all out for 151, trailing India by 296. Why did India not enforce the follow-on?)

[expatjen]

Dec 27, 2018 23:52:23 GMT -5 dorothyinAus said:

Oct 7, 2018 5:39:56 GMT -5 expatjen said:

Yep, cricket in Melbourne is the reason for our trip MH is a big cricket fan so we're all set on the tickets.  

How is he enjoying the cricket? (for timing reference, Australia just finished the first innings all out for 151, trailing India by 296. Why did India not enforce the follow-on?)

Hi! Sadly, we cancelled our trip. Both my kids came down with a super bad case of the flu and the 1 year old had to be hospitalised for 3 days. So, we missed out on some epic cricket. But, we have a year to use our Singapore Airlines and hotel credit, so we’ve got to replan our trip.
How cold does it get in the wintertime (June/July)?

[dorothyinAus]

Dec 30, 2018 6:18:51 GMT -5 expatjen said:

Dec 27, 2018 23:52:23 GMT -5 dorothyinAus said:

How is he enjoying the cricket? (for timing reference, Australia just finished the first innings all out for 151, trailing India by 296. Why did India not enforce the follow-on?)

Hi! Sadly, we cancelled our trip. Both my kids came down with a super bad case of the flu and the 1 year old had to be hospitalised for 3 days. So, we missed out on some epic cricket. But, we have a year to use our Singapore Airlines and hotel credit, so we’ve got to replan our trip.
How cold does it get in the wintertime (June/July)?

I am sorry you had to cancel. I hope you got decent coverage of the cricket. It was an interesting Test.

It rarely gets below freezing in the winter, but it is almost always a damp kind of cold. There is snow in the mountains, but in & around Melbourne, even frost is rare. I love the winter. My first visit was over July 4th. It's the perfect time to visit for me, but I am not a beach person and I hate to be hot.

The last week of June/first week of July are usually the term breaks here, so some things or places may be crowded and flights/hotels might be slightly more expensive, but nothing like the in summer break.