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#11
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Thanks for all the suggestions and here's our revised plan.
Must arrive & leave Sydney at dawn (5 am!). Skipped Canberra & Yarra or Hunter Valley winneries or split group... can't possibly please all! Further comments welcome. Day 1 Thur Arriving Sydney at dawn - taxi to city centre (hotel); leave baggage at city centre hotel - Sydney Explore Bus - whole day city tour - major attractions - dusk - Sydney Tower - evening - dinner - back to hotel Day 2 Fri Sydney - morning: Darling harbour, monorail, Chinatown, etc. - noon: Ferry to Torango Zoo (or Manly Beach only if time allows) - evening - dinner - back to hotel Day 3 Sat Blue Mountain - early morning: pick up car, drive to Blue Mountains - whole day at Blue Mountains - lodging in Blue Mountains (any suggestion?) Day 4 Sydney - Melbourne - early morning: drive to Sydney Airport; return car - fly to Melbourne - noon: Arriving Melbourne Airport; pick up car - drive direct to Phillip Island - Koala Conservation Centre & Penguin Parade, etc - lodging in Phillip Island (any suggestion?) Day 5 Melbourne - morning: drive to Melbourne city centre - hotel - City Tour by tram / walk (should we drive around or leave car at hotel?) - evening: Italian dinner in Carlton or dinner on tram or Crown Casino - lodging in Melbourne Day 6 Great Ocean Road - morning drive to Port Campbell Nat Park, 12 Apostles, etc - afternoon - evening in Port Campbell Nat Park (helicopter tour recommended?) - lodging in Port Campbell Nat Park nearby hotel Day 7 Ballarat / Soverign Hill - morning drive back Great Ocean Road up to Ballarat / Soverign Hill - day tour + evening light spectacular - lodging in Ballarat Day 8 Melbourne - Sydney - morning drive to Melbourne Airport; return car - fly back to Sydney Airport; check in airport hotel - still time to go to Bondi Beach by Bay Explorer Bus (or Manly Beach by ferry)? - evening return to airport hotel Day 9 Sydney - Hong Kong - dawn: fly back to HK |
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On Mon, 17 Jan 2005 06:00:04 GMT, "AlmostBob"
wrote: |I used to like the Goulburn police, every night for 6 months, after the |first time, when they did stop me and spend hours checking my story with my |Unit CO, they let me speed (slightly) through town going to see my girl, coz |I had to be back at Jervis Bay for reveille at 05:45. | |You can be really dumb at 19, |really really dumb |-- |Ever wonder why evian Water |is $3 for a half litre, | |spell Evian backwards How long ago was that? I still remember being on duty at Fairbairn (RAAF Canberra) the night your lot burnt all the Skyhawks down there in the late '70s. Cheers, Alan -- |
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Many more thanks for excellent advice. I could never imagine what the
traffic conditions is like there. I should perhaps give up driving from Sydney if public transport / tour transport is more reliable. Jetlag shouldn't be a big problem for us coming from HK but your flexibility / weather factors are excellent reminder. Not sure how to fit in the Melbourne trips. Phillip Island seems too far off.... does it worth the trip or better spend more time in the city? I'll check if there is any special events going on there. Yes, I notice there's a road going north from Otway NP to Colac to Ballarat, cutting some time. Any comment on anything to do on my last day in Sydney. I expect arriving from Melbourne in mid-morning and have rest of the day free. Is there enough time for a winery tour (which tour) or Bondi Beach or Manly Beach or what? Can return airport hotel late night. "Alan" ??? ???... On Mon, 17 Jan 2005 16:02:27 +0800, "ET" wrote: Hi ET I'll interlace some first thoughts at this stage. On driving, I drove 11000km around Europe last year, so I'm not troubled by all the driving you've elected to do, but I think you'll enjoy a short trip like this more if you're in the passenger seat a little more often. |Thanks for all the suggestions and here's our revised plan. |Must arrive & leave Sydney at dawn (5 am!). |Skipped Canberra & Yarra or Hunter Valley winneries or split group... can't |possibly please all! |Further comments welcome. | |Day 1 Thur Arriving Sydney at dawn |- taxi to city centre (hotel); leave baggage at city centre hotel |- Sydney Explore Bus - whole day city tour - major attractions |- dusk - Sydney Tower |- evening - dinner - back to hotel | Allow for jet-lag, so don't make firm bookings for the bus tour in case you are zonked; also be flexible so that if the weather is good for photos then take the ferry to Manly on day 1, and have lunch or dinner over there. If the weather isn't suitable, do that on a different day. |Day 2 Fri Sydney |- morning: Darling harbour, monorail, Chinatown, etc. |- noon: Ferry to Torango Zoo (or Manly Beach only if time allows) |- evening - dinner - back to hotel | I'd swap this for day 3 (see next), and mix it up with the day 1 ideas for flexibility.| |Day 3 Sat Blue Mountain |- early morning: pick up car, drive to Blue Mountains |- whole day at Blue Mountains |- lodging in Blue Mountains (any suggestion?) | I suspect you've underestimated the time to drive from the Blue Mountains to Mascot, particularly if you happen to be doing it in the morning traffic (which starts early from out there). Consider making this day 2. Also consider taking the suburban train (subject to luggage problems?) to the Blue Mountains and picking up a car or meeting a tour there. Sydney traffic can be "interesting" to a novice:-) |Day 4 Sydney - Melbourne |- early morning: drive to Sydney Airport; return car See above |- fly to Melbourne |- noon: Arriving Melbourne Airport; pick up car |- drive direct to Phillip Island You really love to drive:-) I was a Melbourne cabby; you're talking 3 1/2 hours+ for an experienced driver from Tulla to San Remo. However, it's a much easier drive than the one proposed for Sydney, because it's mainly freeways/tollways or good straight highways. |- Koala Conservation Centre & Penguin Parade, etc |- lodging in Phillip Island (any suggestion?) I've forgotten when you were going - if it's not Xmas School Holidays or Easter and there are no bike races, accommodation should be easy to arrange ad hoc, or to book in advance on the net. However, if the races are on, go on a different date. | |Day 5 Melbourne |- morning: drive to Melbourne city centre - hotel |- City Tour by tram / walk (should we drive around or leave car at hotel?) Definitely leave car at Hotel |- evening: Italian dinner in Carlton or dinner on tram or Crown Casino Not Crown, or any major hotel. Tram Restaurant, Lygon St, Bruswick St Fitzroy, Chinatown, Chapel St South Yarra, many restaurants in Richmond, St Kilda - but not a hotel:-) Pick one while you're wandering around to go back to that night. |- lodging in Melbourne | |Day 6 Great Ocean Road |- morning drive to Port Campbell Nat Park, 12 Apostles, etc |- afternoon - evening in Port Campbell Nat Park (helicopter tour |recommended?) |- lodging in Port Campbell Nat Park nearby hotel | |Day 7 Ballarat / Soverign Hill |- morning drive back Great Ocean Road up to Ballarat / Soverign Hill Tere are a few options, depending where you stayed overnight. There is also a road directly north from Lorne (I think, memory) towards Colac which cuts some distance off. |- day tour + evening light spectacular |- lodging in Ballarat | |Day 8 Melbourne - Sydney |- morning drive to Melbourne Airport easy drive for a change:-) | return car |- fly back to Sydney Airport; check in airport hotel |- still time to go to Bondi Beach by Bay Explorer Bus (or Manly Beach by |ferry)? |- evening return to airport hotel | |Day 9 Sydney - Hong Kong |- dawn: fly back to HK | Sleep....... Cheers, Alan -- |
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On Mon, 17 Jan 2005 16:02:27 +0800, "ET" wrote:
Hi ET I'll interlace some first thoughts at this stage. On driving, I drove 11000km around Europe last year, so I'm not troubled by all the driving you've elected to do, but I think you'll enjoy a short trip like this more if you're in the passenger seat a little more often. |Thanks for all the suggestions and here's our revised plan. |Must arrive & leave Sydney at dawn (5 am!). |Skipped Canberra & Yarra or Hunter Valley winneries or split group... can't |possibly please all! |Further comments welcome. | |Day 1 Thur Arriving Sydney at dawn |- taxi to city centre (hotel); leave baggage at city centre hotel |- Sydney Explore Bus - whole day city tour - major attractions |- dusk - Sydney Tower |- evening - dinner - back to hotel | Allow for jet-lag, so don't make firm bookings for the bus tour in case you are zonked; also be flexible so that if the weather is good for photos then take the ferry to Manly on day 1, and have lunch or dinner over there. If the weather isn't suitable, do that on a different day. |Day 2 Fri Sydney |- morning: Darling harbour, monorail, Chinatown, etc. |- noon: Ferry to Torango Zoo (or Manly Beach only if time allows) |- evening - dinner - back to hotel | I'd swap this for day 3 (see next), and mix it up with the day 1 ideas for flexibility.| |Day 3 Sat Blue Mountain |- early morning: pick up car, drive to Blue Mountains |- whole day at Blue Mountains |- lodging in Blue Mountains (any suggestion?) | I suspect you've underestimated the time to drive from the Blue Mountains to Mascot, particularly if you happen to be doing it in the morning traffic (which starts early from out there). Consider making this day 2. Also consider taking the suburban train (subject to luggage problems?) to the Blue Mountains and picking up a car or meeting a tour there. Sydney traffic can be "interesting" to a novice:-) |Day 4 Sydney - Melbourne |- early morning: drive to Sydney Airport; return car See above |- fly to Melbourne |- noon: Arriving Melbourne Airport; pick up car |- drive direct to Phillip Island You really love to drive:-) I was a Melbourne cabby; you're talking 3 1/2 hours+ for an experienced driver from Tulla to San Remo. However, it's a much easier drive than the one proposed for Sydney, because it's mainly freeways/tollways or good straight highways. |- Koala Conservation Centre & Penguin Parade, etc |- lodging in Phillip Island (any suggestion?) I've forgotten when you were going - if it's not Xmas School Holidays or Easter and there are no bike races, accommodation should be easy to arrange ad hoc, or to book in advance on the net. However, if the races are on, go on a different date. | |Day 5 Melbourne |- morning: drive to Melbourne city centre - hotel |- City Tour by tram / walk (should we drive around or leave car at hotel?) Definitely leave car at Hotel |- evening: Italian dinner in Carlton or dinner on tram or Crown Casino Not Crown, or any major hotel. Tram Restaurant, Lygon St, Bruswick St Fitzroy, Chinatown, Chapel St South Yarra, many restaurants in Richmond, St Kilda - but not a hotel:-) Pick one while you're wandering around to go back to that night. |- lodging in Melbourne | |Day 6 Great Ocean Road |- morning drive to Port Campbell Nat Park, 12 Apostles, etc |- afternoon - evening in Port Campbell Nat Park (helicopter tour |recommended?) |- lodging in Port Campbell Nat Park nearby hotel | |Day 7 Ballarat / Soverign Hill |- morning drive back Great Ocean Road up to Ballarat / Soverign Hill Tere are a few options, depending where you stayed overnight. There is also a road directly north from Lorne (I think, memory) towards Colac which cuts some distance off. |- day tour + evening light spectacular |- lodging in Ballarat | |Day 8 Melbourne - Sydney |- morning drive to Melbourne Airport easy drive for a change:-) | return car |- fly back to Sydney Airport; check in airport hotel |- still time to go to Bondi Beach by Bay Explorer Bus (or Manly Beach by |ferry)? |- evening return to airport hotel | |Day 9 Sydney - Hong Kong |- dawn: fly back to HK | Sleep....... Cheers, Alan -- |
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On Mon, 17 Jan 2005 16:02:27 +0800, "ET" wrote:
Hi ET I'll interlace some first thoughts at this stage. On driving, I drove 11000km around Europe last year, so I'm not troubled by all the driving you've elected to do, but I think you'll enjoy a short trip like this more if you're in the passenger seat a little more often. |Thanks for all the suggestions and here's our revised plan. |Must arrive & leave Sydney at dawn (5 am!). |Skipped Canberra & Yarra or Hunter Valley winneries or split group... can't |possibly please all! |Further comments welcome. | |Day 1 Thur Arriving Sydney at dawn |- taxi to city centre (hotel); leave baggage at city centre hotel |- Sydney Explore Bus - whole day city tour - major attractions |- dusk - Sydney Tower |- evening - dinner - back to hotel | Allow for jet-lag, so don't make firm bookings for the bus tour in case you are zonked; also be flexible so that if the weather is good for photos then take the ferry to Manly on day 1, and have lunch or dinner over there. If the weather isn't suitable, do that on a different day. |Day 2 Fri Sydney |- morning: Darling harbour, monorail, Chinatown, etc. |- noon: Ferry to Torango Zoo (or Manly Beach only if time allows) |- evening - dinner - back to hotel | I'd swap this for day 3 (see next), and mix it up with the day 1 ideas for flexibility.| |Day 3 Sat Blue Mountain |- early morning: pick up car, drive to Blue Mountains |- whole day at Blue Mountains |- lodging in Blue Mountains (any suggestion?) | I suspect you've underestimated the time to drive from the Blue Mountains to Mascot, particularly if you happen to be doing it in the morning traffic (which starts early from out there). Consider making this day 2. Also consider taking the suburban train (subject to luggage problems?) to the Blue Mountains and picking up a car or meeting a tour there. Sydney traffic can be "interesting" to a novice:-) |Day 4 Sydney - Melbourne |- early morning: drive to Sydney Airport; return car See above |- fly to Melbourne |- noon: Arriving Melbourne Airport; pick up car |- drive direct to Phillip Island You really love to drive:-) I was a Melbourne cabby; you're talking 3 1/2 hours+ for an experienced driver from Tulla to San Remo. However, it's a much easier drive than the one proposed for Sydney, because it's mainly freeways/tollways or good straight highways. |- Koala Conservation Centre & Penguin Parade, etc |- lodging in Phillip Island (any suggestion?) I've forgotten when you were going - if it's not Xmas School Holidays or Easter and there are no bike races, accommodation should be easy to arrange ad hoc, or to book in advance on the net. However, if the races are on, go on a different date. | |Day 5 Melbourne |- morning: drive to Melbourne city centre - hotel |- City Tour by tram / walk (should we drive around or leave car at hotel?) Definitely leave car at Hotel |- evening: Italian dinner in Carlton or dinner on tram or Crown Casino Not Crown, or any major hotel. Tram Restaurant, Lygon St, Bruswick St Fitzroy, Chinatown, Chapel St South Yarra, many restaurants in Richmond, St Kilda - but not a hotel:-) Pick one while you're wandering around to go back to that night. |- lodging in Melbourne | |Day 6 Great Ocean Road |- morning drive to Port Campbell Nat Park, 12 Apostles, etc |- afternoon - evening in Port Campbell Nat Park (helicopter tour |recommended?) |- lodging in Port Campbell Nat Park nearby hotel | |Day 7 Ballarat / Soverign Hill |- morning drive back Great Ocean Road up to Ballarat / Soverign Hill Tere are a few options, depending where you stayed overnight. There is also a road directly north from Lorne (I think, memory) towards Colac which cuts some distance off. |- day tour + evening light spectacular |- lodging in Ballarat | |Day 8 Melbourne - Sydney |- morning drive to Melbourne Airport easy drive for a change:-) | return car |- fly back to Sydney Airport; check in airport hotel |- still time to go to Bondi Beach by Bay Explorer Bus (or Manly Beach by |ferry)? |- evening return to airport hotel | |Day 9 Sydney - Hong Kong |- dawn: fly back to HK | Sleep....... Cheers, Alan -- |
#16
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![]() "ET" wrote in message ... Many more thanks for excellent advice. I could never imagine what the traffic conditions is like there. I should perhaps give up driving from Sydney if public transport / tour transport is more reliable. Jetlag shouldn't be a big problem for us coming from HK but your flexibility / weather factors are excellent reminder. Not sure how to fit in the Melbourne trips. Phillip Island seems too far off.... does it worth the trip or better spend more time in the city? I'll check if there is any special events going on there. Yes, I notice there's a road going north from Otway NP to Colac to Ballarat, cutting some time. Any comment on anything to do on my last day in Sydney. I expect arriving from Melbourne in mid-morning and have rest of the day free. Is there enough time for a winery tour (which tour) or Bondi Beach or Manly Beach or what? Can return airport hotel late night. Sydney driving isn't that bad. The bigger problem is navigation; what's the misses like at reading maps? You haven't got time to do a winery - the nearest real ones are 2 hours drive away (in the Hunter Valley), and unless you are wanting to buy a ton of wine, why bother - you can buy Austrtalian wine in bottleshops in HK, and I can't see that having grape vines outside changes the flavour. You must really see Bondi and do the ocean walk around to Tamarama. You might well find on your last day that there is something that you missed and really want to do - but if this doesn't happen, and its a nice day, relax on Bondi Beach. There are public showers available free in a big building right on the beach, so you can clean up a bit before your flight. What a great (and authentic) way to finish an Australian holiday - soaking up the rays in Bondi. |
#17
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Otway National park, colac, Ballarat- saving time?? That road would break a
snakes back. -- Ever wonder why evian Water is $3 for a half litre, spell Evian backwards Yes, I notice there's a road going north from Otway NP to Colac to Ballarat, cutting some time. |
#18
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"AlmostBob" wrote in
news:EvIGd.91531$nN6.23182@edtnps84: I used to like the Goulburn police, every night for 6 months, after the first time, when they did stop me and spend hours checking my story with my Unit CO, they let me speed (slightly) through town going to see my girl, coz I had to be back at Jervis Bay for reveille at 05:45. You can be really dumb at 19, really really dumb LOL! Ah yes, it's amazing what one will do for love. H picked up many, many speeding tickets back in the days when we first were seeing each other - he was working on Fraser Island and would drive to Rockhampton to see me, every other weekend. Geodyne |
#19
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"AlmostBob" wrote in
news:EvIGd.91531$nN6.23182@edtnps84: I used to like the Goulburn police, every night for 6 months, after the first time, when they did stop me and spend hours checking my story with my Unit CO, they let me speed (slightly) through town going to see my girl, coz I had to be back at Jervis Bay for reveille at 05:45. You can be really dumb at 19, really really dumb LOL! Ah yes, it's amazing what one will do for love. H picked up many, many speeding tickets back in the days when we first were seeing each other - he was working on Fraser Island and would drive to Rockhampton to see me, every other weekend. Geodyne |
#20
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On Mon, 17 Jan 2005 17:57:54 GMT, "AlmostBob"
wrote: |Otway National park, colac, Ballarat- saving time?? That road would break a |snakes back. Yeah - not the dirt track! The one I took (just checked the map) was OK a couple of years back, from Skenes Creek through Forrest to Colac. There's another from Lorne via Winchelsea. The first sections are winding, but sealed, and I was in a motorhome at the time. I wasn't in a hurry to get anywhere, so winding roads were preferred, not avoided:-) According to my map there is also a sealed road from Lavers Hill via Ferguson and Gellibrand, and also direct north from Port Campbell via Cobden. Cheers, Alan -- |
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