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Solo traveling in 2 weeks to Canberra Australia for 5 days - need help quickly!

My daughter (aged 25) will be traveling to Canberra Australia for work in February 2025 and is extending her trip by 5 days to see the local sights on her own. She needs to start at Canberra and fly back out of Canberra at the end, back to USA. she is interested in Sydney, Cairns (GBR), & Byron Bay as her main points to consider. Or, she is wondering if she Should she skip GBR reef due to spreading herself too thin, and just stick to Byron Bay & Sydney areas? She was hoping to scuba dive at GBR, but needs to keep in mind the time before and after scuba diving for safety while flying. She definitely wants to visit Sydney. Any suggestions on what to do and see at each of these locations? Is there a recommended itinerary, method of travel or suggested # of days at each place? Any suggestions would be most appreciated. she needs to plan her travel within the next two days for work so needs to plan everything very quickly with limited time to research options. TY!!

UPDATE: She is going to try to do both GBR (Cairns)- 4 days and Sydney- 2 days, fit both in and skip Byron Bay and extend to 6 days traveling. A few responses said to skip GBR so wondering why? it is because of too much travel time or other? But if she does the two areas she is looking at where to stay, what to do and how to get around. she hopes to scuba dive one day in GBR and possibly looks to do another tour, such as and airplane ride flying over GBR. This forum is always sooo helpful so keep the suggestions coming. TY!!

Posted by
1015 posts

The GBR is shallow enough that snorkeling will give her a good experience without worry. Flying is the easiest way to cover Australia’s long distances. Jet Star and Virgin Australia are the usual short haul airlines.
Maybe with just 5 days stick to Sydney and Byron Bay as getting up to Cairns would take the best part of a day.

Posted by
467 posts

Hi Linda.
Sorry to not explain further re earlier short post suggesting skipping GBR. I was doing a 15 hour road trip between Tamworth and Bendigo and didn't get a chance to add on.

Skipping Byron Bay and adding another day makes good sense if the GBR is her priority.

With just 5 days and trying to do 3 destinations and then back to Canberra was going to be pretty hectic.
As mentioned weather might be a bit wet up north but so be it.
Cheers.

Posted by
3059 posts

I think the rationale was that the GBR was something of an outlier and that her time would be better spent in and around Sydney. If she's committed to a trip up to Queensland then there are plenty of accommodations in Cairns that would answer her needs.
We booked with Quicksilver for our own SCUBA trip, and splurged a bit to include a helicopter ride out to the dive platform in order to add a scenic flight into the mix. The return to Port Dougles was on the boat ... about 1.5 hrs as I recall.
From Cairns there are a number of day trip and tour providers that offer excursions to Daintree, Kuranda, Cape Tribulation, etc. Point being that a car really won't be required.
Am curious why she needs to return to Canberra for her return flight. Why not just change her ticket to skip the Canberra connection and depart directly from Sydney - which is probably where she'll be departing from anyway?

Posted by
409 posts

@ Linda

Cairns and the Reef

Probably no direct flights for this route. Easy enough to get an early morning flight out of Canberra, circa 6am, via Melbourne, Sydney, or Brisbane. 5 to 7 hrs transit time. Plug here for Qantas. Warning will Robinson. Jetstar may/probably will require to collect luggage and re check in at midway point. Do not know Virgin procedures, do not fly them. Queensland time is one hour behind Canberra as the state does not participate in daylight saving. Should be able to make Cairns a little after lunchtime.

February is dead centre cyclone season. Maybe that is the reason for Wombats comment. Not the time my family would choose. More likely July-Sept for us. But you have to take the time you are given.

My wife’s best friend’s daughter and husband live just to the north at Mossman, so have no experience with accommodation.

We enjoy eating at Cairns Cruising Yacht Squadron, which is popular with the locals. Seems most are members. I am partial to their local Spanish mackerel, prawns, and calamari. The menu has hamburgers and chips for the less adventurous. Get an advance reciprocal introduction from your NY yacht club. If not, she probably will be able to be signed in via a benevolent local member.

I think it would be prudent to have your daughters Scuba cub secretary contact their counterpart in Cairns to check on what activities are likely to be offered. Being cyclone season, I suspect the outer reef may be a little too far. Do not know really. Best to check before she goes. That is where the unspoilt coral and fish are. And maybe Whale Sharks.

Sydney

For Sydney none better than Lonely Planet or my mate, https://tonywheeler.com.au/

Regards Ron