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Old 14 Apr 18, 07:30 PM  
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BONZO
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Reefs, Rivers and Rainforests - Australia September 2018

Reefs, rivers and rainforests – Australia east coast pre-trip report

Well, here we go again on another madcap adventure but this time it’s our longest journey to the other side of the world!

As usual it’s:

Shaun (me): getting older, wiser and wider as each year passes!

Alison: ditto!

BACKGROUND

We are always on the lookout for good deals and as before Qatar had a series of offers that we just couldn’t resist, such a good price in business class that doesn’t come round that often.

Are we flying direct? If you’ve read our recent reports then you’ll know the answer is of course not!

The main reason for this is to maximise the number of Tier Points with BA to maintain our status (so that we get to access lounges and select our seats for free). Also we like stopping off en route – it breaks up a long journey and we get to see more places.

The Qatar deal was start from Stockholm in Sweden, and fly to Adelaide; as always, ex-EU flights long haul can work out considerably cheaper.

As Australia is so big it’s defeated even us commandos in the planning with the time we have. We were trying to do about 5 stops but in around 2.5 weeks it’s not really doable. Because of this we’ve decided to drop the Red Centre, Uluru, and Alice Springs etc. and save it for another trip.

THE FLIGHT PLAN

London to Stockholm (booked – ticket number 1)
Stockholm to Doha (booked – ticket number 2)
Doha to Adelaide (booked – ticket number 2)
Adelaide to Sydney (booked – ticket number 3)
Sydney to Cairns
Cairns to Adelaide
Adelaide to Doha (booked – ticket number 2)
Doha to Stockholm (booked – ticket number 2)
Stockholm to London

A BIT MORE DETAIL

We’ll fly to Stockholm then stay overnight to make sure we have plenty of time before our outbound long haul flight.

The fly Stockholm to Doha then we have a longish layover so have a free hotel stay in Doha – courtesy of Qatar airways.

Then fly to Adelaide, where we’ll stay for 2-3 days.

Then fly to Sydney, where we’ll have 2-3 days (doing the Harbour Bridge walk, the Opera House and Bondi beach before moving up to the Blue Mountains to explore.

Then we’ll fly up to Cairns for some warmth and to explore for a week or so, doing skyrail, great barrier reef, Karunda railway, Green Island and probably Port Douglas

Then we’ll fly back to Adelaide for the journey home (also having another hotel stay in Doha for free)

We’ve not booked any accommodation yet, or any activities.


WHAT’S LEFT TO DO?


Well, nothing is “set in stone” at the moment other than the flights as above, so there’s plenty of time to fiddle with schedules and destinations.

We still need to book:

Accommodation in each location

Attractions and activities to be finalised – snorkelling, white water rafting etc

Possible car hire from Cairns to Port Douglas

Decide on whether to get the train to Heathrow or book car parking

If anyone has any suggestions / recommendations for hotels, activities etc. then do let us know!
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1988 ~ Contemporary ~ Honeymoon
1989 ~ Off site
1994 ~ EuroDisney ~ Santa Fe
1999 ~ Off site
2001 ~ CBR (Aruba) ~ Poly (Tahiti)
2003 ~ WL & HRH
2004 ~ Pop Century, RPH, CSR, PBH, Contemporary
2006 ~ DLP ~ Newport Bay
2007 ~ POR ~ HRH ~ GF
2008 ~ All star sports, BCV, RPH, Vero Beach, VWL
2010 ~ OKW ~ BCV ~ HRH ~POP Century ~ Vero Beach ~ VWL
2013 ~ AKL ~ HRH ~ BCV ~ Vero Beach ~ VWL

Edited at 07:34 PM.
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