Trip Report Australia - 12/22/24-12/31/24

[Jason Martin]

Ok since I've been looking at comments about Australia for the past two years figured I'd add some feedback from my trip. I'm not the picture taker of the family so I won't be posting pictures but giving a overview and not ruin the surprises

Day 0 and travel Departed my home airport of IAD and after layovers in SFO and BNE arrived in Cairns 29 hours later as scheduled. It was a quick and easy ride to the Flynn hotel. Walked around the area which is very easy to get around to and there are plenty of nice restaurants and the night markets opened at 4:30. As a recommendation we had dinner at Salt House and our family split a Australian Tomahawk steak which was amazing and well presented

Day 1- since they removed Hartleys crocodile from the itinerary we decided to do it ourselves. Made a reservation for a koala breakfast as my family wanted to do that. Ended up taking an Uber each way (about $110 AUD and 40-50 mins). At the breakfast there were only 3 families so we had a lot of opportunity to pet and take pictures (not hold - more on that further down). Got back to the hotel around lunchtime and met our guides Mel and Amber

The tour started with a twilight tour of the aquarium when it was closed to just us. The group dinner was at Salt House (so ate there twice in a row which was fine since they served different food and it was served family style.

 

[Jason Martin]

Days 2-3

Day 2 was our trip to the Great Barrier Reef. A later morning (9am start - not that this matters as I'm still waking up between 4-5 each morning). Short walk over to terminal. The tour as we knew in advance was not private (just not practical with the reef set up and the personnel required but we did get many Disney preferences. First we did not have to wait to board (think Lightning Lane or fast pass type queue). We had a reserved area on the main level (inside and A/C). Included was lunch as 4 drink/ice cream coupons each. It was a 2 hour trip each way to Moore reef with a stop at Fitzroy island. Once we got to the pontoon we had 4 hours. We had a reserved area of sitting on the boat and Disney guests with food allergies were allowed to go to the buffet before other guest. Each family got a 30 min private snorkel tour, they also had semi submersible trips every 20
Minutes and glass bottom boat tours (we had a private reserved time). After a 2 hour trip back we disembarked around 6:15 and then we were on our own for the rest of the evening

Day 3 - started with a 45 min drive to Rainforestation. We had a duck tour through the rainforest in an amphibious vehicle made during WW2. After that we painted boomerangs and while they dried had a demonstration from on of the aboriginal hosts in playing the digeridoo, spear throwing and we each had a chance to do boomerang throwing. Then there was a nice show and we headed to kuranda for lunch and free time. Afterwards we headed towards the Kuranda skyrail. Unfortunately it was closed due to a pending thunderstorm. We attempted to wait it out for about 45 minutes and with the long backup line they made the decision to cancel. We did get ice cream and a nice souvenir from the guides and were told they would make it up to us later in the trip. Being in a tropical climate in the summer there is always that risk. The prior trip had their reef trip cancelled and replaced with a glass bottom boat tour because of bad weather conditions so we were more fortunate. After we got back to the hotel around 4 and had free time until dinner

Dinner was the JA nigh and adult dinner at the hotel. Unlike other ABDs we had been on where they did staggered reservations for each couple, we had a long table for everyone so we had a chance to meet those that we hadn't chatted with yet. Family style Italian dinner where everything was great.

We have a group of 34 of which there are 12 teenagers between the ages of 10-17 along with a few college age.

Now it's Christmas morning here and we have to have bags out in 1 hour for our flight to Melbourne more later

 

[Jason Martin]

Day 4 - Melbourne (Christmas Day)

With all of the concerns about what is open on Christmas Day with most restaurants closed as well as the Old State house and Jail ABD absolutely knocked this one of the park.

First things first - traveling from Cairns to Melbourne - started with 6am bags out, 7am departure for a 9:05 Jetstar flight to Melbourne. Landed in Melbourne around 1:30 (note they gave us a box lunch at the hotel which we threw away and ended up getting meat pies at the airport and on board as an alternative). Once we landed we drove about two hours towards Philip Island first stopping at a Koala Conservation center. It was a bit sad that they only had 9'koalas on site which speaks to the reduction in population. BTW it's only legal to hold a Koala in QLD so your best bet to do that is at the Rainforestation park or Kuranda on day 3. After that we did a quick drive to the Nobbies visitor center to see the birds on the rocks and other wildlife (wallobys) on the scenic drive. From there the highlight - the Philip Island Natire Centre.

We went to the center for a semi-private dinner in reserved seating. It was an Australian BBQ served family style. At 8:30 we took our position for the special underground viewing for the Penguin parade which was amazing. Not sure the final count of penguins but the night before it was over 1700. There are two rangers that keep that stat every night. The show goes for about 50 minutes from the first penguin siting. Very good show. Afterwards we took the bus back to the hotel and arrived right at midnight. A long day but quite worth it. Wish they could make this a permanent change for tours during the Australia summer

 

[jensen]

You left us hanging!

 

[DjmNash]

Day 4 - Melbourne (Christmas Day)

With all of the concerns about what is open on Christmas Day with most restaurants closed as well as the Old State house and Jail ABD absolutely knocked this one of the park.

First things first - traveling from Cairns to Melbourne - started with 6am bags out, 7am departure for a 9:05 Jetstar flight to Melbourne. Landed in Melbourne around 1:30 (note they gave us a box lunch at the hotel which we threw away and ended up getting meat pies at the airport and on board as an alternative). Once we landed we drove about two hours towards Philip Island first stopping at a Koala Conservation center. It was a bit sad that they only had 9'koalas on site which speaks to the reduction in population. BTW it's only legal to hold a Koala in QLD so your best bet to do that is at the Rainforestation park or Kuranda on day 3. After that we did a quick drive to the Nobbies visitor center to see the birds on the rocks and other wildlife (wallobys) on the scenic drive. From there the highlight - the Philip Island Natire Centre.

We went to the center for a semi-private dinner in reserved seating. It was an Australian BBQ served family style. At 8:30 we took our position for the special underground viewing for the Penguin parade which was amazing. Not sure the final count of penguins but the night before it was over 1700. There are two rangers that keep that stat every night. The show goes for about 50 minutes from the first penguin siting. Very good show. Afterwards we took the bus back to the hotel and arrived right at midnight. A long day but quite worth it. Wish they could make this a permanent change for tours during the Australia summer

Day 4 - Melbourne (Christmas Day)

With all of the concerns about what is open on Christmas Day with most restaurants closed as well as the Old State house and Jail ABD absolutely knocked this one of the park.

First things first - traveling from Cairns to Melbourne - started with 6am bags out, 7am departure for a 9:05 Jetstar flight to Melbourne. Landed in Melbourne around 1:30 (note they gave us a box lunch at the hotel which we threw away and ended up getting meat pies at the airport and on board as an alternative). Once we landed we drove about two hours towards Philip Island first stopping at a Koala Conservation center. It was a bit sad that they only had 9'koalas on site which speaks to the reduction in population. BTW it's only legal to hold a Koala in QLD so your best bet to do that is at the Rainforestation park or Kuranda on day 3. After that we did a quick drive to the Nobbies visitor center to see the birds on the rocks and other wildlife (wallobys) on the scenic drive. From there the highlight - the Philip Island Natire Centre.

We went to the center for a semi-private dinner in reserved seating. It was an Australian BBQ served family style. At 8:30 we took our position for the special underground viewing for the Penguin parade which was amazing. Not sure the final count of penguins but the night before it was over 1700. There are two rangers that keep that stat every night. The show goes for about 50 minutes from the first penguin siting. Very good show. Afterwards we took the bus back to the hotel and arrived right at midnight. A long day but quite worth it. Wish they could make this a permanent change for tours during the Australia summer

Any more information? Were you in Australia for New Year's Eve?

 

[Jason Martin]

Any more information? Were you in Australia for New Year's Eve?

Yes but not part of ABD. We did two more days in Melbourne including Sovereign Hill and Ballart Wildlife park and canoeing on the Yarra. Our time in Sydney was amazing. The tour ended the morning of NYE and we had booked one of the NYE fireworks cruises and left on 2 Jan. Did Manly beach on our own NYD