Researching the GBR

We have 12 days between our NZ cruise and our Transpacific back. Both out of Sydney.

We HAVE TO get to the GBR!!! Not sure about transportation yet. We may fly one way to Cairns and drive back to Sydney (or reverse).

Day trips to the GBR will work but would really like to STAY somewhere on the GBR for a few days.

Anyplace else to recommend besides Lady Elliot Island? Hubby not excited by the teeny-tiny plane ride over. Would prefer something by boat. And something not super deluxe expensive.

Thanks!!!

While all my trips to the GBR have been day trips, I've had friends who have done multi-day trips on liveaboards. You can reserach boats out of Cairns and Port Douglas which offer this option if it appeals to you. Port Douglas is a great place to stay, so you could do a few days on the liveaboard and then spend a few days in Port Douglas and visit places like Daintree National Park, Mossman Gorge, Kuranda (via the Skyrail), etc.

I wouldn't spend the time that it takes to drive between Cairns and Sydney. It's not like you are doing a scenic coastal drive for 1500 miles. It's just not interesting enough to warrant the time since you really don't have that much time in country to begin with. Fly and use that extra time for sightseeing elsewhere in Australia.

From Port Douglas you can do day trips out to Low Isles by boat. This is a small sand ringed island and the snorkelling was amazing. I haven't been there for years but it just happened to be on TV last night and still looked wonderful.

You didn't mention what time of year you were going to be here but assuming it's over our summer, just be aware that this is not the optimum time for visiting the GBR due to it being the rainy season so the water may not be as crystal clear as you expect.

Don't even dream of driving from Cairns to Sydney seeing as you have such a short time available, it's 2400km or 1500 miles as GradUT has pointed out. :eek:

This would probably be your best option if you want to spend a few days actually out on the reef. http://coralexpeditions.com/cruises/reef/

Otherwise I'd suggest staying in Port Douglas, about an hour from Cairns. There are shuttles between Cairns airport and Port Douglas so you don't need to rent a car. From Port Douglas there are a number of trips you can do out to the reef. As bronte2 mentioned, the Low Isles is close and a lovely day's outing. I recommend this company http://sailawayportdouglas.com/.

For a day trip to the outer reef I suggest this company http://www.wavelength.com.au/ Typically they visit three different spots on the reef so that you get a good variety of snorkelling.

Both of these companies run relatively small boats so you are able to snorkel without it being too crowded in the water, unlike some of the large catamaran trips out to the reef.

I also suggest doing a day trip up to the Daintree Forest. http://www.tropicaltours.com.au/

If you get an opportunity go to this for dinner one night. It's an amazing experience. http://www.flamesoftheforest.com.au/

Port Douglas is a lovely town, with plenty of good restaurants. We always like staying here http://portdouglasmeridian.com/. It's only a short walk to the shops and restaurants, to the beach, and to the marina where the tour boats leave from.

And, as others have said, don't even consider driving from Cairns to Sydney. It would take 27 hours of solid driving, so you'd have to allow a minimum of four days to do it comfortably.