J. Barker

I have 5 extra days left on the tail end of my NZ / OZ trip.

I am trying to decide if I want to visit Cairns and Brisbane in 5 days or
focus my time in just one city.

My main interest are: Dive + snorkel, beaches, maybe an interesting day trip
to an island or an exciting drive on land, nightlife?

If I try to visit both places, I will kill 1/2 a day just traveling to and
from airports.

Any comments or suggestions?

PS: I am flying out of Brisbane on my way home

Kenchie

I put it to you, J. Barker, that on Tue, 06 May 2003 16:51:43 GMT you
did state the following:
    > I have 5 extra days left on the tail end of my NZ / OZ trip.
    >
    > I am trying to decide if I want to visit Cairns and Brisbane in 5 days or
    > focus my time in just one city.
    >
    > My main interest are: Dive + snorkel, beaches, maybe an interesting day trip
    > to an island or an exciting drive on land, nightlife?
    >
    > If I try to visit both places, I will kill 1/2 a day just traveling to and
    > from airports.
    >
    > Any comments or suggestions?
    >
    > PS: I am flying out of Brisbane on my way home
    >
    >
    >
Cairns for the interests you mentioned.

HTH

Kenchie.

Jason

On Tue, 06 May 2003 16:51:43 +0000, J. Barker wrote:

    > My main interest are: Dive + snorkel, beaches, maybe an interesting day
    > trip to an island or an exciting drive on land, nightlife?

The diving is different out of Brisbane. You won't find the coral reefs
that you get around Cairns and the water is colder. However, it can still
be good. Depending on what time of year you're going, you might see
mantas, leopard sharks and nurse sharks. A couple of hours south of
Brisbane is Byron Bay where the diving is also good. It's also usually
closer to the shore. If you go to Cairns and do a day trip, you're not
going to see the best of the Great Barrier Reef anyway.

Brisbane town centre has always struck me as pretty quiet. There's more
going on in Cairns, though again Byron might be a good option.

There are trip reports about diving and visiting Byron and North
Stradbroke island on my website which might help your decision.

Personally, I think I'd stick with Brisbane and nearby towns if that's
where you're leaving from. There's more than enough to do for 5 days.

Jason

--
See http://www.scuba-addict.co.uk/ for UK diving reports including
trips to Plymouth, Weymouth, Falmouth, Exmouth and Scapa Flow

Raffi Balmanoukian

in article [email protected], Jason at
[email protected] wrote on 5/6/03 4:18 PM:

    > On Tue, 06 May 2003 16:51:43 +0000, J. Barker wrote:
    >
    >> My main interest are: Dive + snorkel, beaches, maybe an interesting day
    >> trip to an island or an exciting drive on land, nightlife?
    >
    > The diving is different out of Brisbane. You won't find the coral reefs
    > that you get around Cairns and the water is colder. However, it can still
    > be good. Depending on what time of year you're going, you might see
    > mantas, leopard sharks and nurse sharks. A couple of hours south of
    > Brisbane is Byron Bay where the diving is also good. It's also usually
    > closer to the shore. If you go to Cairns and do a day trip, you're not
    > going to see the best of the Great Barrier Reef anyway.
    >
    > Brisbane town centre has always struck me as pretty quiet. There's more
    > going on in Cairns, though again Byron might be a good option.
    >
    > There are trip reports about diving and visiting Byron and North
    > Stradbroke island on my website which might help your decision.
    >
    > Personally, I think I'd stick with Brisbane and nearby towns if that's
    > where you're leaving from. There's more than enough to do for 5 days.
    >
    > Jason

Flinders Reef is easily accessible from BNE and not too shabby. It's not
the GBR but it'll do nicely.

Jason

On Tue, 06 May 2003 19:30:56 +0000, Raffi Balmanoukian wrote:

    > Flinders Reef is easily accessible from BNE and not too shabby. It's not
    > the GBR but it'll do nicely.

I think it's a liveaboard only job though. I don't think the day boats go
out there. There's also a bunch of wrecks near Moreton island that I
forgot to mention.

Jason

--
http://www.scuba-addict.co.uk/ for Aussie diving reports including
Cape Tribulation, Cairns, Airlie Beach, Exmouth and the HMAS Swan

Jared

Of course the Great Barrier Reef has the best snorkelling and water
activities, but as the other posters have said, there are nice places around
Brisbane too. Especially if you go to Morteon Bay, or you could go across
to one of the Stradbroke islands, which are very beautiful in parts. IF you
stay in Brisbane for the 5 days preceding your departure, you could make a
day-trip to Byron Bay, and stay on the GOld Coast for a night on the way
back to Brisbane from there. There's great swimming etc. on the Gold COast,
but a little chilly in the water right now... Brisbane has better night life
than the Gold Coast, in my opinion, but the GC has a few places you could go
if you like to club scene - Shooters, the Drink, Melba's etc. Go to the
Valley in Brisbane if you want night life.

"J. Barker" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > I have 5 extra days left on the tail end of my NZ / OZ trip.
    > I am trying to decide if I want to visit Cairns and Brisbane in 5 days or
    > focus my time in just one city.
    > My main interest are: Dive + snorkel, beaches, maybe an interesting day
trip
    > to an island or an exciting drive on land, nightlife?
    > If I try to visit both places, I will kill 1/2 a day just traveling to and
    > from airports.
    > Any comments or suggestions?
    > PS: I am flying out of Brisbane on my way home


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Brieux

Very beautifull....water

"Jared" escribió en el mensaje
news:[email protected]...
    > Of course the Great Barrier Reef has the best snorkelling and water
    > activities, but as the other posters have said, there are nice places
around
    > Brisbane too. Especially if you go to Morteon Bay, or you could go across
    > to one of the Stradbroke islands, which are very beautiful in parts. IF
you
    > stay in Brisbane for the 5 days preceding your departure, you could make a
    > day-trip to Byron Bay, and stay on the GOld Coast for a night on the way
    > back to Brisbane from there. There's great swimming etc. on the Gold
COast,
    > but a little chilly in the water right now... Brisbane has better night
life
    > than the Gold Coast, in my opinion, but the GC has a few places you could
go
    > if you like to club scene - Shooters, the Drink, Melba's etc. Go to the
    > Valley in Brisbane if you want night life.
    > "J. Barker" wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    > > I have 5 extra days left on the tail end of my NZ / OZ trip.
    > >
    > > I am trying to decide if I want to visit Cairns and Brisbane in 5 days
or
    > > focus my time in just one city.
    > >
    > > My main interest are: Dive + snorkel, beaches, maybe an interesting day
    > trip
    > > to an island or an exciting drive on land, nightlife?
    > >
    > > If I try to visit both places, I will kill 1/2 a day just traveling to
and
    > > from airports.
    > >
    > > Any comments or suggestions?
    > >
    > > PS: I am flying out of Brisbane on my way home
    > >
    > >
    > ---
    > Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
    > Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
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