I am heading to Australia for the Sydney marathon -we will be there 12 days and would like to make the most of it! We will be staying on the East coast and fly in and out of Sydney. What are some must sees? must dos or experiences? Any itineraries you have done or recommend? and do we need a car and if so where?
Posted by
Calgary
2063 posts
We spent 2 weeks mainly on the East coast of Australia, flying into Sydney and out of Brisbane.
In Sydney, we did a tour of the Sydney Opera House that included lunch at one of the restaurants. We chose Midden, because of the Indigenous dishes they have.
We also took the train to the Blue Mountains to see the Three Sisters.
From Sydney, we flew to Uluru, the famous red rock in the outback. We did an experience where, after watching the sunset, we got to walk through a field of lights art installation. We also did a sunrise Segway tour of the ~12 km circuit around the base of the rock.
From there, we flew to Cairns and transferred to Port Douglas in tropical North Queensland. We visited the nearby Daintree Rainforest--the oldest rainforest in the world. Some people also visit (and snorkel or dive) the Great Barrier Reef from here or from Cairns. Australian winter is a good time to visit this area, as you are far less likely to encounter stingers in the water.
We flew from Cairns to Brisbane and then transferred to Redcliffe. We flew from there to Lady Elliot Island to snorkel the Great Barrier Reef at the "Home of the Manta Ray." We stayed overnight on the island.
After our return to Brisbane, we spent two nights/one day before our flight out. We liked Brisbane a lot.
Something we did not do was to drive the Great Ocean Road. That's a different option you could consider.
My trip report is here, in case you might find it helpful: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/sign-sign-everywhere-a-sign-australia-trip-report
Another trip report from last year, where the poster visited somewhat different locales than I did: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/beyond-europe/australia-a-trip-report-as-i-go
Posted by
Massachusetts, USA
2285 posts
A car would be very helpful if you don't mind driving on the left. We had a rental car, and luckily, my husband didn't mind driving on the left, and he adjusted quite quickly.
What to see and do depends on what you like, and how much time you want to spend in transit. The first part of our trip was for personal reasons: my husband lived outside of Melbourne decades ago, and he still has relatives there. The places we visited that would be of interest to tourists are the following:
- Sydney
- Blue Mountains - we spent 2 nights here which I personally think is more enjoyable that visiting as a daytrip
- Melbourne
- Philips Island to see the penguin parade
- The Great Ocean Road - we spent 3 nights here, in two different locations - much better than doing a daytrip from Melbourne, IMO
- The goldrush towns of Ballarat and Bendigo
While in Sydney, I recommend taking the ferry from Sydney Harbor to Manly. The views of the harbor, the Opera House, the bridge, and the Sydney Skyline are stunning!
We have friends who visited Brisbane and really enjoyed it.
Posted by
Victoria, Australia
71 posts
Not only do you not need a car while in Sydney but you won't want one. The traffic is awful, the parking is prohibitive and the public transport system is fabulous. Outside of Sydney, you are definitely better off with your own wheels. Whilst you can catch trains to various places, once there, a car is needed for ease of getting around.
Late August and early September is the ideal time of year to visit Far North Queensland for the Great Barrier Reef and rainforests. Although, with only 12 days and where the marathon fits into your schedule, you may only have time in and around Sydney to fill in your time. Start with www.australia.com and www.visitnsw.com for ideas. Must see and dos are very personal so check out the official tourist websites and explore things that catch your imagination on YouTube.
Posted by
Sacramento, CA
743 posts
Like other responders, I think the Blue Mountains are a must see, and agree that you should stay over at least one night. Day tours from Sydney are probably OK, but I think doing a hike along part of the rim provides a most unique view. We did a 3-day guided hiking tour (stayed in Katoomba) and had an amazing time. While I also liked Sydney, it was nice to get away from the city. Personally, I enjoyed the Blue Mountains much more than the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rain Forest, for what it's worth.