Australia, Australia, Australia, we love you amen!

With apologies to Python...

We're now dangerously close to our honeymoon jaunt down under, and I'm trying to put the finishing touches to the pre-booked trips and activities we're hoping to do. Wondering if any of you V-Smashers could help at all:

Port Douglas - we have time for a trip to the Low Isles on a Chinese junk or a heli out/cruise back trip to the Barrier Reef. Bearing in mind we have 2 year old mdvipond jr. in tow, which would be best? We're into snorkelling rather than diving, so we're not bothered about missing out on bona fide dive sites.

Kuranda - is the train/skyrail thing worthwhile? Is the whole affair a full day out? Can I cuddle a koala???

Harbour Bridge Climb - it's looking really unlikely that we can both do the bridge climb, as we're a little nervous about leaving jr. with a nanny/sitter for so long. It would be better on a night (as jr. could be put to bed), but all the night climbs are booked up. Is it a 'must-do' experience, 'cause the-now Mrs. mdvipond has suggested I do it on my own if I really, really want to give it a go?

And finally - we're in Avalon, an hour north of Sydney, for Christmas Day. Now, I'm guessing that a three course turkey dinner with all the trimmings followed by Christmas Pud, then sitting down to fall asleep in front of the Morecombe and Wise Show isn't the Oz way, but what exactly should we expect of our day. Is anything actually open (pubs, for instance!)?

Sorry to treat you all like the Oz Tourist Board, but your advice is generally much better than anything that can be found anywhere else.

Now Bruce - crack a tube!

Bridgeclimb.....DO IT! The hardest thing I've ever done in my life (I'm seriously scared of sheer drops), but at the top the sun was setting over the Blue Mountains and I'll never forget that view.

[HighFlyer]

Oooh, i so want to go back to Oz!

1) Low Isles gets my vote. The GBR is amazing, but i would think the snorkelling would be better at the Low Isles as you'll be by a cay where the coral will be closer to you. If your junk takes you to one of the islands you'll get time on a beach, and there are a lot of birds and other wildlife to see, both of which junior might enjoy more than being boat bound for most of the day? (I assume she wont be snorkelling just yet? [:)])

2) Yes you can cuddle a Koala at Kuranda (i did!) though i would think you can cuddle a Koala at half a dozen places in Australia. Its a fun day out, you can probably do the train and cable car in half a day, but if you are going to the Blue Mountains then skip it as its quite similar. A trip to Kuranda might be something you can put on the 'maybe' pile and decide when you are there whether you want to do it or not.

3) The Bridge Climb is good, but i didnt find it difficult at all. Most of it is gentle walking and there are only a few parts where you feel as if you are climbing or scaling a bridge. I did the twilight climb (and it poured with rain just as i got to the top of the bridge). I'll definitely do it again, but i wouldn't have described it as difficult or challenging - just a fun experience. You could try asking on the day if there are any cancellations or reserve spaces as there were a few the day i climbed. The whole thing takes about three hours from memory.

Thanks,
Sarah

Christmas Day- well mine was spent with a rather middle class family near Cooggee Beach in Sydney. Not wanting to impose we threw ourselves into the Aussie Christmas celebration. They had a very young family, youngest being around Jnr's age and the day was like so.

- 4am, or some ungodly hour for a national holiday, get up and open presents.
- 10am hit Cooggee Beach- everything was open (bars, restaurants, ice cream stands etc).
- 1pm lunch in a restaurant near the beach
- More beach
- 5pm back to the house and in goes the turkey with all the trimmings.
- 9pm Xmas dinner with the little ones still up.
- Little ones went off to bed and carried on drinking into the early hours.


SO conclusion, in Sydeny by the beach (which was packed btw) everything was open. The norm seems to be to have the full on turkey but in the evening when a lot cooler.

The Dragon clan are busy planning the 'Return to Oz Trip 2009' as we speak... I am soooooo envious. As the diving is out, go for the Shaolin trip. Kuranda- full of tourists - Blue Mountains are much nicer . Koalas- they're everywhere( generally costs about $30 to cuddle one!!!!).Best 'koala moment' moment was seeing a load of them in the wild, almost falling out of the trees.If you're both keen to do the Bridgeclimb why don't you book two separate climbs? Mr DL didn't want to do it (but I booked him on it regardless!!). He was glad that I did however and it's one of our most enduring memories. The guides are fab- you'll be with a group, and the camaraderie is awesome - i'd do it again (alone even- and I don't like heights).If Mrs mdvipond doesn't do the climb, why not book her a Harley tour as a surprise. I took DB on a Harley Trike tour. Awesome! Going accross the Bridge with the roar of the bike and DB saluting eveyone who gave her the thumbs up (and there were lots)is another highlight.
Fantastic memories of the whole trip.
DL

[HighFlyer]

I didnt pay to cuddle a Koala in Port Douglas or Sydney. Though, i'f you'd have seen me elbowing the small children out of the way in order to cuddle the Koalas .... [:D]

Thanks,
Sarah

Do I take it from the lack of (usually clambouring)babysitters, that the Seniors have finally made up their minds not to be joining you?

throwing in my tuppence worth as my gran used to say

Low Isles - superb we did a snorkelling trip there on a catamaran. Went out to GBR a day or so earlier so I was unsure of what to expect however we swam with turtles amongst many other sea creatures. Amazing. On the day we were there no more 30 people in total.

Kuranda - cable car and train ride were fine something diferent. Kuranda I'm sorry to say we hated it. IMO a hell hole selling tat to tourists - no redeeming features whatsoever. If you go do half a day. Not really into cuddling the wildlife so no can help there. Much better seeing koalas in the wild. You don't have to go far from the cities and you'll see them sitting in the trees.

Harbour Bridge Climb - do it, but if you can do it together, we went at sunset so up in daylight back in dark. A tad romantic stood at the top at sunset with the harbour and opera house below with the sun going down in the distance. Best of both worlds. Everyone I know who has done it raves about it.

Christmas Day - well last year here in Mel the weather was 14deg C so not really beach or bbq weather. As had the folks here we had booked a restaurant anyway. Here in Mel all the public tramsport runs and a lot of things were open. Given you will be slightly more guaranteed better weather up there so do the beach thing. We are this year - but going to Malaysia to guarantee the weather!

Enjoy yourselves - you won't be disappointed.

[honey lamb]

Originally posted by DragonLady
Do I take it from the lack of (usually clambouring)babysitters, that the Seniors have finally made up their minds not to be joining you?

mdvipond responded to that here [:)]

Originally posted by honey lamb

Originally posted by DragonLady
Do I take it from the lack of (usually clambouring)babysitters, that the Seniors have finally made up their minds not to be joining you?

mdvipond responded to that here [:)]

Just so as you all know - honey lamb has now been appointed as my personal secretary. Thank you HL [;)]

Thanks as ever to you all for your most valuable and much appreciated advice. From your suggestions we've decided to do the Low Isles rather than the GBR, Kuranda for half a day (although this could be dumped if anyone has any other suggestions for things to do in and around Port Douglas...?) and we're looking into doing the Bridge Climb individually. mdvipond jr. can go first.

As for Christmas, I was rather shocked to discover that folk still go for the full-turkey-mashings. An ex-pat friend in Sydney suggested fish and mangos (or was she just taking the p;ss?)

One other quick Q whilst I have your attention - how are the Aussies when it comes to children in pubs? Is it much the same as in the UK or are bars a no-go area for wee ones? Bear in mind, jr. is quite a keen doms player, enjoys the odd bag of pork scratchings and is no stranger to half a pint of guest...

[Scrooge]

Originally posted by mdvipond

Originally posted by honey lamb

Originally posted by DragonLady
Do I take it from the lack of (usually clambouring)babysitters, that the Seniors have finally made up their minds not to be joining you?

mdvipond responded to that here [:)]

Just so as you all know - honey lamb has now been appointed as my personal secretary. Thank you HL [;)]

Oh...that explains her missing out on her duties on another matter.

Even though you have Jr with you, honestly would a trip to OZ be complete without a dive on the GBR [?]

Just one of those things that you must do..at least I think so.

[honey lamb]

Originally posted by Scrooge

Originally posted by mdvipond

Originally posted by honey lamb
[quote]Originally posted by DragonLady
Do I take it from the lack of (usually clambouring)babysitters, that the Seniors have finally made up their minds not to be joining you?

mdvipond responded to that here [:)]

Just so as you all know - honey lamb has now been appointed as my personal secretary. Thank you HL [;)]

Oh...that explains her missing out on her duties on another matter.
[/quote]
I'm multi-tasking

[Scrooge]

Originally posted by honey lamb

Originally posted by Scrooge

Originally posted by mdvipond
[quote]Originally posted by honey lamb
[quote]Originally posted by DragonLady
Do I take it from the lack of (usually clambouring)babysitters, that the Seniors have finally made up their minds not to be joining you?

mdvipond responded to that here [:)]

Just so as you all know - honey lamb has now been appointed as my personal secretary. Thank you HL [;)]

Oh...that explains her missing out on her duties on another matter.
[/quote]
I'm multi-tasking
[/quote]

I am a man..please explain this strange phrase 'multi tasking'


Anyways...back on topic..I have just shown Mrs Scrooge this thread..she is now officially jealous [:#]

I am sad because it means at some point we will be asking the same questions...So (and I think I speak for everyone here) a full TR will be required from you sir [y][oo]

[honey lamb]

I am a man..please explain this strange phrase 'multi tasking'

Sorry, sweetheart, I couldn't. You wouldn't understand it....

.....just as I wouldn't understand the offside rule [:D]

Isn't multi-tasking when they do the hoovering whilst smoking a fag? Or is it when we let them do the ironing in the nude...?

Scrooge - even if we do the helicopter out and the boat back it means a good 6 hours on the pontoon/boat. That would be pretty boring for jr. and - as mentioned earlier by Sarah Ð at 2 she's not really the most proficient snorkeller. That means the-now Mrs. and I taking it in turns to snorkel. Just seems like a lot of hard work.

What we are considering Ð because you're quite right about going all the way to Oz and not experiencing the GBR Ð is a helicopter flight over the big bugger. Then, at least, we can say we've seen the reef.

And you can assure your dear lady that she's not the only one experiencing a pang of jealousy at our upcoming trip. The weather here is getting worse by the day - we haven't seen the sun for a week and it's barely light before it starts to get dark again. Everyone in my local seems so terribly pleased for me when I tell them we'll be in 80 degree heat in the next few weeks...

TRs will, of course, be forthcoming. 2 flights out and 1 big flight back, although with any luck we'll be asleep for a lot of it. I'm hoping to set a blog up to post a few pics and comments whilst we're out there too, so - if you really have so little going on in your life you want to have a look - I'll post the address on here before I go.

[Scrooge]

Great idea

Sorry for being so remiss and not noticing the 'Senior Situation'. In my defence it was in the 'Off Topic' section (into which I rarely venture).
However back to the question about kids in bars. We had no problems taking DB into any bars. Granted, she is quite a bit older than jnr but there seemed to be kids everywhere we went who were welcomed unquestioningly. If a premesis doesn't allow minors in, they usually make this explicit outside (there were a few bars/restaurants in Cairns who didn't allow under 18s so we simply spent our money elsewhere).The only thing they do enforce very tightly is no kids in the gaming/slots/pokies (call them what you will)areas in the bars/clubs.
Port Douglas is just a great place to wander about- chilling out drinking coffee (love Rehab on Macrossan for the atmosphere and caffeine fix,)mosieing around the quirky shops. It might be nice just to spend some time doing not a lot and enjoying your honeymoon.I think you've made the right decision with the reef- Mr DL came with DB and I (we were diving) and just looked miserable all day (he hates water and feels uncomfortable if he can't fell terra firma beneath him). And it was a LONG day to be stuck on a boat being miserable. I think the Low Isles wil be more enjoyable for you all. If you get bored or are looking for something else to do there is a croc sanctuary type place on the road back to Cairns (called something creek I believe) which is okay to pass away a few hours at (they also have koalas which although you can touch you can't 'cuddle'). The other thing we did was the Cane Toad Racing night at the Ironbar (on Macrossan). Touristy I know but we had fun. Reminds me- I must try and post some photos in ther gallery.
DL

From talking to the guys here at the office what you do at Christmas to a large extent depends on where in the world your family originated from. So those of UK descent go for the traditional UK fare of turkey and trimmings despite the fact it maybe darn hot outside.

Although with it being summer and the main school holiday break etc a lot of folks go away and are on their holidays - so will be in summer holiday mode more so than Christmas holiday mode. Therefore the barbie is a popular option - specially as the public ones are generally free to use.

80 degree heat

When in Melbourne always be prepared Monday and Tuesday this week we topped out at 36degC, min 24 overnight, yesterday we had grey skies, wind and rain with a max of 19 and last night min of 11, made me feel at home - the wind direction changed! However the change was most welcome. Don't worry thought your other destinations have rather more stable climates.

Originally posted by DragonLady
Sorry for being so remiss and not noticing the 'Senior Situation'. In my defence it was in the 'Off Topic' section (into which I rarely venture).

Very wise. It's not the safest forum into which you should venture, especially after dark. All sorts of blaggards and ne'r-do-wells loiter around there. And I hear it's a favourite haunt of a certain Mr. Jackanapes...

Thanks, DL, for the advice. Sounds like I won't have too many problems getting 'watered' over Christmas.

Rob - you know, I'm tempted to try and lay our hands on a turkey and go a bit more traditional. We only really eat turkey once a year, and it would be a shame to skip it. Might refrain from doing Christmas Pud though.

I've been watching the weather in Melbourne for the last week or so and it's weird to say the least. 30 odd degrees one day and mid-teens the next. Makes packing a blooming nightmare...