Great Barrier Reef Questions

[vozzie]

Geez ... can I take you with me on my next holiday ????

[parispears]

My husband and I are taking the Auckland to Sydney cruise on HAL Oct 24, 08. We have signed up for the post cruise trip to Alice Springs/Uluru and Cairns. Has anyone been on the post cruise arranged trip? Would it be better to book this ourselves through Travel Team or another travel company on-line? We also are planning to stay a couple of extra days in Sydney on our own before flying home. Any hotel recommendations in Sydney for under $250/night (USD)?

 

Also what in heck can we do about leaving a suitcase or two as we don't need the tux, formal dresses, etc for the post cruise trip.

 

I am new to Cruise Critic - so any help with how to get answers to these questions would be appreciated.

[SheilaNC]

parispears,

We got a great rate at the Sydney Harbour Marriott via priceline. it's a short walk from the dock. Also, I'll bet if you book there you can arrange to leave some luggage there when you hear off to Alice Springs - worth an email or a call to the manager after you book the hotel.

[Globaliser]

Any hotel recommendations in Sydney for under $250/night (USD)?

I second everything that Host Sheila says.

 

If you are successful with Priceline at about the normal rate that it seems to go for, that hotel cannot be beaten for value.

[lucky dawn]

My husband and I were on the Holland Statendam November 18, 2007 cruise. We loved Cairns. We took Quicksilver to the outer barrier reef for snorkeling-although they do support scuba also. They have their own platform so it's not as crowded as some of the 'island' snorkeling trips.

We also took a hot air balloon ride one day. Very cool. We booked online thru Viator-watch for additional charges for insurance! I would recommend only the 1/2 hour ride. We booked an hour but much of the time is spent embarking and disembarking the 1/2 hour passengers. Also don't wear your nice clothes because part of the 'experience' is helping them pack up the balloon. I have a handicap and could not help (not that I wanted to) but my husband's clothes got dirty.

My husband rented a motorcycles there-would not recommend for the inexperienced- the roads have many turns but he did see some beautiful spots and got some great pics.

They have a boardwalk in town that runs for quite a ways along the waters edge we went for long walks each night.

They have many great restaurants, shops around town and delicious Gelato stands. It was a great time and I hated to leave.

As far as air travel we had several issues with Quantas-lost luggage yes and also not being accomodated for my handicap. Our friends flew New Zealand Air with no problems.

[tomtal]

We were on the same Statendam cruise as Lucky Dawn - incidentally, great to hear from you again - and did our own thing after disembarking in Sydney. We stayed at the Marriott Circular Quays which was terrific. They even suggest leaving the luggage with them whilst you tour! Also we did not have to settle our bill until the end of our second stay. So impressed that we wrote to them upon return, thanking them for such a wonderful stay. We took Qantas flights to Cairns (4 days) and then to Ayres Rock (1 night) and back to Sydney for 2 days. Flights were all good and on time. Would recommend the Cairns in a Day through Viator - absolutely marvellous. We also went to Green Island but it is very commercialised and we definitely preferred the snorkelling from the Cairns in a Day trip. Found Ayres Rock magnificent but disliked intensely the Sounds of Silence Dinner - just an excuse for drunken tourists - at least that's what we felt. However that's just an opinion and some do like it. Wished we'd stayed another day there though. Stayed at Sails in the Desert which was very good. Sydney - what can you say! There is so much to do and see - try the trip to the Blue Mountains, do go to the Opera House if you can for a great night, Manly Beach, the Botanical Gardens, the ferries, the Rocks - the list is endless. Have a great time.

[mochuck]

Tomtal, can I ask how much you paid for Sails in the Desert? Also who you booked it through. Thanks

[ConnMom]

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this thread. I have a number of questions about the best way to visit the Great Barrier Reef area.

My husband and I are planning a Sydney-Auckland cruise in February or March 2009 on Celebrity's Millennium. While researching ideas for pre and post cruise trips to places not on our cruise itinerary, I have become interested in a 4 day cruise on a 30 passenger schooner, Whitsunday Magic, which sails the GBR from the Whitsunday islands. It seems to offer a good opportunity to see beautiful scenery as well as to meet the crew and fellow passengers in a more intimate setting than a major cruise ship or resort. Has anyone had any experience with this ship or with the company, Southern Cross Sailing?

Also, if we see the GBR from this cruise, should we also visit Cairns? We could fly there from Hamilton Island for a couple of nights, before flying on to Sydney for our Millennium cruise. While there, I think we might take the scenic train and/or skyrail to Kuranda, visit Hapukai Park and take a rainforest tour. Do these justify the extra flights and time?

[tomtal]

Mochuck - it wasn't cheap! We booked it via our UK agents at £200 (sterling) per night, but this was a spa room with a great big verandah overlooking the pool. We only had breakfast at the hotel which was very good although, again, not cheap. The normal rooms are a little less expensive. For us, it was a once in a lifetime trip and hence we 'went to town'.

ConnMon - we loved the scenic train and skyrail to Kuranda and the rain forest. It was one of the highlights of our trip. Without having done the schooner trip, I would not know whether it is worth it to add on even more (although if I could afford it, I probably would!!!).

[Globaliser]

I have become interested in a 4 day cruise on a 30 passenger schooner, Whitsunday Magic, which sails the GBR from the Whitsunday islands. It seems to offer a good opportunity to see beautiful scenery as well as to meet the crew and fellow passengers in a more intimate setting than a major cruise ship or resort. Has anyone had any experience with this ship or with the company, Southern Cross Sailing?

I don't have any experience with either, but I have done a sailing trip of about that length of time in the Whitsundays, on a smaller yacht. It's great fun, and I would highly recommend it. Make sure that the itinerary includes a stop at Whitehaven Beach, which is frequently said to be one of the finest beaches in the world.

[dea71]

Hi!

 

I just wanted to add a few of my favourite reef experiences - Blue Pearl Bay is located on one side of Hayman Island (Whitsunday Islands) - beautiful snorkelling and fairly quiet - not as commercial! We toured the Whitsundays aboard a maxi yacht - Ragamuffin & it includes Blue Pearl Bay on it's itinerary - there is nothing quite like sailing home under spinnaker!!

 

http://www.maxiaction.com.au/html/cruise.html

 

From Cairns we have cruised the reef with Ocean Spirit - just a wonderful day!!! Make sure you take the trip to Michaelmas Cay - nowhere near as chaotic as some of the other reef adventures - just relax and enjoy paradise!

 

http://www.oceanspirit.com.au/

 

Whatever you do on the reef - you will be so glad you took the time to see it!!

 

Dea

Newcastle Australia

[ConnMom]

Thank you, globaliser and Dea71, for all the suggestions and enthusiam. I am going to check out the other sailing vessels you mentioned. I think the Whitsunday Magic stops at both Whitehaven Beach and Hayman Island, although I don't know which beach it visits. It also appears to stop at Border Island and to visit the outer reefs. I am becoming very excited about this portion of our trip, although getting there seems to be a bit more difficult than flying into Cairns and seeing the GBR from there. Would late February be a decent time to go, and are the seas likely to be rough?

Also, would you recommend that we still go to Cairns for a couple of days? What things are not-to-be missed there?

[susierailroad]

While you are answering ConnMom's questions, could you address the best location to stay with perhaps some suggestions for specific places to reserve. We're flying into Cairns, staying three nights, then flying on to Ayers Rock.

[dea71]

HI Again!

 

When you do the Kuranda trip (well worth it!) you can do the railway one way and return via the Skyrail - it is a great day. I would also recommend a trip to the Daintree and also go & see Mossman Gorge - just beautiful.

http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/projects/park/index.cgi?parkid=163

 

 

Also my favourite beach is Palm Cove - less crowded but oh so relaxing!! (The common thread for us is trying to stay a bit away from the crowds - we tend to look for smaller operators for tours, quieter beaches and snorkelling spots - you just get the chance to appreciate it all a bit more & relax!)

 

If you are limited on time and would rather see the reef and cruise the islands it is my very humble opinion that some of the locations on the reef around Whitsundays are equally as beautiful as those you will visit from Cairns.

 

Late February will be stinger season (until April) - you can still snorkel/dive the reef as most tour operators supply stinger suits. We have been to the Whitsundays during March (Daydream Island - ah the memories - only one child and a great kids club!!) - and we did experience a cyclone :rolleyes: . The weather can be a little unpredictable!! Having said that we are booked on a South Pacific Cruise (Pacific Dawn) in early March so obviously we like to 'walk on the wild side'!!

 

Happy planning!!

 

Dea

[Nelly91401]

I will be on a cruise in late December that stops in both Cairns and Airlie Beach. I was wondering which is better for the GBR? I see the ship has an excursion to Green Island from the Cairns port, or to a pontoon on the outer reef from the Airlie Beach Port and I can't decide what will be better. Any advice is appreciated! Thanks!

[MMDown Under]

[quote name='Nelly91401']I will be on a cruise in late December that stops in both Cairns and Airlie Beach. I was wondering which is better for the GBR? I see the ship has an excursion to Green Island from the Cairns port, or to a pontoon on the outer reef from the Airlie Beach Port and I can't decide what will be better. Any advice is appreciated! Thanks![/QUOTE]

I would recommend the Outer Reef, as better than Green Island.