Things to do in Australia/New Zealand

The Cairns area has some fabulous places but unfortunately they got hammered by storms recently so some of the land options aren't available (eg road to Port Douglas, which a fabulous drive and nice little town, is washed away.) Boat trip out to the reef should still be a good option. Not sure of the status of Mossman Gorge or Daintree region (both magnificent environments). I think you'll need to check with your concierge. And avoid being in Cairns on a Monday night, just about every restaurant closes!
Sydney is one of the great cities of the world BUT has beautiful natural environment right on the doorstep. Take the small local ferry to Watsons Bay and walk around the headland to where the Harbour meets the ocean. Stop off for a swim in some of the littke coves or just fir a snooze under a tree looking up the harbour to the city - msgic!
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Don't GO to Port Douglas, it is a hole, crowded, and a nightmare, better to stay at Palm Cove, I recommend the Daintree, just walk the beach, and some nice stopovers like coffee shops and chocolate factories/ice cream. The Chairlift in Cairns to the tableland and the train trip back is a must but book well before..

Sydney there is SO MUCH to do and admire .

 

NZ South Island is fantastic, you'll go there and wonder later why you went to QLD/NSW!

Oh, and if anyone suggests dinner/lunch at a Surf Club, be polite and say NO thank you, and you will end up in a dinner FULL of old Australians on Govt pensions with lizard skin, smelling of beer and Cigs, and fighting over a $10 buffet of cheap cold meats, so-called local fish, fried up chips, salad bar and a dessert tray full of sugar and a so-called craft beer.

 

When in Sydney DO NOT head south or west of the Red Rooster line

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Idiot.

You are to Tourism what Moretti is to police public relations.

 

FINE ,tell the America tourist to go to a large town like PD FNQ,and to eat at SCs with people who are poor and old and smell of beer and cigarette smoke with Lizard skin

 

Better than sending them to Sicktoria.

 

Have you been to PD in last decade it's a large town full of old people and tourists ,it's a shocker

 

True on both counts, Port Douglas is a beautiful spot, my sister lives there, you know , the one with the towe........ no she lives on the beachfront unlike decrepit old men who only sea the ocean when they leave landlocked shjtholes

Hopefully they've cleaned up the road from Cairns to PD as it's one of the great scenic drives in Oz ................ and restored power

 

I was there a couple of months ago, great place, don't believe old stories

 

True.

Yet his advice is surprisingly accurate.

 

Possibly the best advice of all.

PD is a nice place, although don’t go into town if you don’t like touristy areas.
Palm Cove is also nice, although the same thing applies.

Actually, pretty much all of FNQ is the same IMO.

It’s excellent, provided you stay away from the touristy spots, unless that’s your thing.

As an observation, I think it’s a shame that overseas people only ever seem to go to the same places when they come here.
Anywhere north this time of year is going to be nothing but a hot, humid, rainy, flooded, tourist infested, overpriced PITA where you can’t even swim in the ocean for fear of being eaten by a crocodile or stung by a jellyfish.

This time of year you’re far better off going to WA, SA, Victoria, NSW, or Tassie.

Note I’d say the exact opposite in May - Sept, when the north of Oz is awesome.

 

I regard myself and my partner as very well-traveled people in Australia, Asia, Europe, Scandinavia, the Pacific, and North America.........

I 1st went to PD QLD in 1985, in those days and the next time in 1990, it was well worth visiting, it was easy to get around the main street was easy to walk as was the Marina complex. The pub and restaurants were great as was the ability to go out to the reef.
Traffic was light and the accommodation was within walking distance of THE ACTION.

Fast forward to 2022 when I drove there after that year's GG to visit a friend who stays there over the Victorian winter and to bring my sister back from her short holiday, it was one large town full of tourists, old people, and local people, traffic, roundabouts, shopping centers and crowded restaurants ....cleary anyone who recommends PD QLD has never been there or NOT for a long time.

Yes the drive back to Cairns is scenic (apart from road works)

After last year's GG, my plan was to stay at Palm Cove (a far better spot) sadly the 'Roo put an end to that drive-holiday.

IMO you would only travel that far North to visit the Daintree rainforest and surrounds.

 

Some tourists enjoy "The snail trail "....................

 

The Botanical Gardens in Christchurch are as good as one will walk ., have a great safe holiday .

 

Like anywhere in the world, the 'sights' are famous for a reason and therefore normally full of tourists, but not many people actually move more than a few metres from the 'sights', so it's not too hard to just move a little way off the beaten track and get some space eg in Cairns, don't take a 'reef cruise' just get the regular ferry over to Green or Fitzroy Island and then walk over to the opposite shore and you'll probably have the place to yourself. Similarly the OUTER reef cruises have far fewer people and even less of them get in the water to snorkel.

 

BE careful if you wish to do a cruise to an island off Cairns -Fitzroy Island NO too full of tourists, was once a great spot to drop anchor and snorkel ...........

A couple of maps of the two of the more popular islands off Cairns Islands -Two very commercial tourist spots............

A few of the posters on here enjoy "the tourist snail trail " if that's your Gig go for it .
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I think Karen has a point. We went to Fitzroy island in 2018 and it was quite easy to get away from the crowds.

A ten minute walk to Nudey Beach and we had the entire place to ourselves to swim and wander around.

 

Not so sure Now, post-COVID,people so often on here suggest places without having ever been there!

Perhaps I just remember all these QLD towns,beaches before they became overcrowded with people living there as its all they could afford or 1,000s of tourists flocking in daily