Look in the hotel reviews section under other destinations, I wrote a review on the Cairns Colonial Club and Desert Gardens Hotels about 16months ago.

Than ks Judith.

Gill, you will find all our reviews for Australia HERE

Kath HT Admin

Hi Gill

We have never stayed at any of the hotels you have on the list but I think you could pick any of them to be ok
We have done one day cruises out to the reef with
http://www.quicksilver-cruises.com
They leave the marina in cairns, for a day trip go to Kuranda on the train and take the chair lift ride back down over the tree tops it is very good if you take that trip on a weekend there is a market going in Kuranda
Sydney the Sheriton Darling Harbour is very good do take a tour of the harbour and also go to the Centrepoint Tower in Pitt Street for the best veiws of the city
The Sails of The Desert is very good but dear we stayed there some years ago The Desert Gardens is a small bit cheaper they do have very good dinner under the stars it is very good
http://www.voyages.com.au
will give you all the info about your hotels there they own the lot of hotels there if you are interested on bus tours out there
http://www.aatkings.com.au
We have use them and found them to be very good

I have stayed at the Desert Gardens hotel in Ayers Rock which was very good and also stayed at the Cairns Colonial Club. We are actually returning there this December, can't wait. The Blue Mountains is a must whilst you are in Sydney as is Quicksilver in Cairns. Enjoy!

Hi,
How many days would you say would be needed in Sydney?? These are the things I would like to do while there
Sydney Skywalk
Magnificent Hunter Valley Wineries Tour
Sydney Opera House Guided Walking Tour
Sydney Harbour Hop On Hop Off Explorer Cruise
Bondi beach

Any other suggestions that I should do whilst there??? Plus how many days do you think I need I had put myself for 7 nights which give me 6 FULL DAYS but I was woundering do you think I could maybe cut those nights down to say 5 or 6 nights, which will be 4 or 5 FULL DAYS. I dont want to be rushing around as this is a trip of a life time!!! I am off to Ayres Rock for 3 nights after Sydney!!!
Gill x

You can do the Harbour Tour and the Opera House on the same day.
I would go to the Blue Mountains rather than the Hunter Valley and Manly Beach rather than Bondi. You could do everything with 5 or 6nights.
I spent 4 nights in Sydney on my first trip to Australia (part of a RTW) and wished I had stayed one more night.
3 nights in Ayers Rock Resort is plenty, I stayed 2 nights and saw pretty much of everything.

Hi,

Thanks for that I think i might cut it down to 6 nights. which will give me 5 full days and I can add the blue mountains as a day trip as well!!! I assume you can do this as a day trip??

Gill x

Hi Again

As Judith has said is all ok the Hunter Valley is one of Australias best wine areas if you are into wines yes go but there is only vinyards there and it will be an all day trip The Blue Mountains is also a must see and that will take all day the sky walk at centre point tower if you are game to do it you will remember it all your life I have only done the look out on top of the tower the harbour bridge walk to the top is an other thing to to do
Bondi and Manly beachs well we could say each is the best and still be in fight over which is best
Then if you want to do the shoping thing it will take a day the cruise and the opera house could be done in a day if you can time it ok so you add it up I would say 6 days
The Ayers Rock if you want to climb it do so early in the morning and TAKE WATER it is the hardest climb we have done to get to the top and it is the hottest if you do not want to climb it two days is all you want a sun rise or a sunset is a must see and go to The Olgas some 45KLS away from the rock that is all there is to see in that area

Hi,

I will be wanting a hotel in Ayres Rock for 2 ngihts the 8th to the 10th dec and i have heard that i will be better off waiting till about Septembver to book the hotel, as December is classed as out of season and have been told I could get a great deal. Has any one else heard this or can advise??

Gill x

Hi yes you are to far out at Dec to get discount it is 3 mouths out it starts you are paying full price now for those dates even if you have take one of the other hotels there it than the Sails of the Desert it would be a lot cheaper $ 442.00 a night (ouch) wait you will get it for around $260.00 to $300.00 Aus standard room

Hi Gillsmudge,

There's lots to see and do in Sydney.

I think you'll find Bondi is a bit of a disappointment; it's a very average beach, with quite a lot of graffiti in places. Sydney has some truly stunning beaches, but they're slighty out of the centre of town.

The Opera House can certainly be done in a a couple of hours, and a harbour cruise is a must. The Rocks in Sydney is a great place to go drinking and eating, and there's some fabulous shops around.

If you like seafood, then Doyle's is the place to eat. They have two restaurants in Sydney, but my favourite is the older restauarant located on the beach itself. They will drop you back by speedboat after you've eaten - or you can get a taxi. The food is out of this world, and the setting is fantastic - particularly at night.

CentrePoint was the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere - but I think it's been overtaken by one in Malaysia now. The lift is very narrow, and would be dreadfully claustrophobic if it weren't for a voice-video telling you what speed you're going up at, and what height you've reached. But the views are fantastic once up there.

To be honest, I don't think 5 days is enough - especially if you have a touch of jet-lag to recover from. I'd try and extend my stay there and shorten the Ayer's Rock trip.

Whatever, you'll have a great time. It's a fabulous city.

Strawberry

Hi,

Just to up date I have got booked at the Four Point by Sheraton with a harbour view and a balcony for 7 nights so that gives me 6 FULL days and 2 half days!! i will also have 2 nights Bondi Beach at the Swiss Grand its just something i need to do!! And will not get another chance to stay at Bondi Beach!!!! A bit far from the UK!! travel lag hopefully I will be over that as I arrive in New York the 29th October...then arrive in Austrlia 5th November so I hope by 1st Dec I will be over the jet lag then I have 5 nights in Singapore then arrive back in the Uk on the 16th December!!!

Gill x

Hi,

Can any one advice me if there is any truth to this...i was told by a travel agent that I should wait till at least September to book my hotel at Ayres Rock as the dates I want 8th to 10th December are classed as out of season. As I should get a great deal as hotels slash the prices by about 50%.

Gill x

Don't forget to go to the fish market in Sydney - had a lovely lunch there sat on the verandah watching the pelicans. The tower walk was "scary" much more so than the bridge climb but not to be missed. The Blue Mountain trip we did ourselves by catching the early morning train from Sydney then getting on the Hop on Hop off bus which tours round all the major sites in the mountains.