Great Barrier Reef in April

[emeyers]

We will be taking a 31 night cruise on the Sapphire Princess embarking April 14, 2008. Prior to the cruise we are considering 3 nights in Sydney including a day on the Blue Mountain tour.

Our alternative is an Outback Adventure for 6 nights which consists of 2 nights in Sydney, a city tour and luncheon cruise, 1 night at the Sails Resort at Ayers Rock including a Liru tour of the Aboriginal people, 1 night in Alice Springs including a city tour, a visit to the Desert Park, and 2 nights in Cairns including a full day at the Great Barrier Reef.

Our concern is the April weather in that area of Australia and the airline flights.

Any information and recommendation will be appreceiated.

 

Ellis

[Aussie Gal]

Ellis,

 

April will be a great time to visit Sydney and Uluru (Ayers Rock) as it will be autumn which is a lovely time to visit Australia. I am reluctant to add Cairns to that scenario as we had our worst cyclone in that area in April this year. Once, the cylcones and the humidity would have finished by March but as with a lot of the world weather, it is becoming later. That is something you will have to weigh up and decide for yourselves. Other than the worry of a cyclone and some rain, you will be fine. We spent two lovely weeks up there last year in April and had good weather.

 

Sydney is also a great city to visit with lots to offer including the Bridge Climb - http://www.bridgeclimb.com/, a tour of the Opera House, a trip to Manly on the ferry or to Bondi, a trip also to Tooronga Park Zoo for the best view in Sydney etc. and of course the Blue Mountains with the 3 sisters and the Hunter Valley wineries not that far away. It is a pity that you cannot combine both tours.

 

With regard to airflights, there are quite a few flights each day from Sydney to Cairns. I am not sure what the schedule is like from Alice Springs to Cairns but here are a couple of our airline sites which may help you.

 

1. Qantas: http://www.qantas.com.au/regions/dyn/home/qualifier-region-au

 

2. Virgin Blue: http://www.virginblue.com.au/

 

3. Jetstar which is the cheap edition of Qantas: http://www.jetstar.com/

 

I hope this helps you with your planning and your enjoyment of our wonderful country.

 

Jennie

[Beehive]

We are booked on the same cruise, and are planning to add the land portion of six days....everyone says it's wonderful, and I think the time of year will be fine...one can never predict hurricanes or cyclones!

Would be interested in what you know about the various excursions available on this cruise!

[emeyers]

Jennie--Thank you for the information.

 

Beehive--I have the advance notice of the pre cruise tours Princess will be offering on our April 14, 2008 cruise.

There will be 4 tours, 2 of which will be for 6 days.

 

I gave a short synopsis on the roll call thread for our cruise.

 

If you want, I'll mail you the 2007/Spring 2008 Exotic Cruisetour Program. Write me at

ewm@tampabay.rr.com

It should be officially released for booking in early August.

 

Ellis

[travelnnana]

We were there this past April - on one of the the Princess 6 night land tours - we did Uluru, Port Douglas and Sydney - We did not do Alice Springs because I did not want to do 1 night stays - We enjoyed it immensely and felt they did a good job - the reef was very muggy and since there had recently been a cyclone - it was quite murky - you can look at my albums on

http://elizabeth-lewis.magix.net/

If you go to the end - you can see my reef pictures - Im disappointed -

but you will have a great time - If I could convince DH to be on a ship for 28 days we would take that cruise!