Hotels FAQ

Question:

Hello, Thanks to all the previous reponses, we have now changed out itinerary to drive from Sydney to Port Douglas and fly back to Sydney. Still looking for any suggestions on: 1.  Where to stay that is relatively cheap along the way — as long as it’s not a shared dorm/hostel room.  We don’t need five star, but something half decent that is not >$100/night 2.  Any must see places, things to do along the way, from people that have done the drive before. 3.  Any other tidbits of info to pass along thanks again! J & K Canada

Response:

Hi if you find the time  i recomend the "Paronell park" near Inisfail in QLD we had a night walk in the park ( with guide) it is scaring the sounds off the rainforest at night. but it was nice( hope the guide is still there) they have cabins, and a website look for it by searching by the name. greetings from Belgium — Swagmanneke( walter caremans) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hello, > Thanks to all the previous reponses, we have now changed out itinerary > to drive from Sydney to Port Douglas and fly back to Sydney. > Still looking for any suggestions on: > 1.  Where to stay that is relatively cheap along the way — as long as > it’s not a shared dorm/hostel room.  We don’t need five star, but > something half decent that is not >$100/night > 2.  Any must see places, things to do along the way, from people that > have done the drive before. > 3.  Any other tidbits of info to pass along > thanks again! > J & K > Canada

Response:

> 1.  Where to stay that is relatively cheap along the way — as long as > it’s not a shared dorm/hostel room.  We don’t need five star, but > something half decent that is not >$100/night > 2.  Any must see places, things to do along the way, from people that > have done the drive before. > 3.  Any other tidbits of info to pass along

Port Stephens is lovely and I highly recommend you spending day or two there, can’t really help with accom, we stayed a the motor inn I think, but felt ripped off when we left(they couldn’t be bothered telling us that Saturday night was $30 more than Friday I previously recommended Nambucca Heads, top floor at Blue Dolphin motel (great view and pool for around $60). Drive to Stuart’s Point for an amazing beach  although Nambucca’s beach is lovely too. Head inland to Bellingen area. QLD, sigh… don’t now where to start. Sunshine Coast is nice(Mooloolaba is one of my favorites). Don’t forget to do a few island trips (Fraser, Keppel, Whitsundays etc….) Spend a day in the Atherton hinterlands. In most areas you can EASILY get motel accom. for $60-70. Just stay far away from Flag or Best Western, pick up the Budget motel guide(or check them on the website). Almost every room will have electric kettle for coffee/tea and a small fridge. In heavy tourist areas motels have signs out, so look for price and whichever facility is important to you(pool, cable, A/C etc.) Might also be good deals on selfcontined apartments in certain areas – depending on when you go, and how many days you’ll stay… Anette

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 QLD, sigh… don’t now where to start. Sunshine Coast is nice(Mooloolaba is > one of my favorites). > Don’t forget to do a few island trips (Fraser, Keppel, Whitsundays etc….) > Spend a day in the Atherton hinterlands.

Oh, that’s supposed to read : Atherton Tablelands Anette

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> 1.  Where to stay that is relatively cheap along the way — as long as > it’s not a shared dorm/hostel room.  We don’t need five star, but > something half decent that is not >$100/night > 2.  Any must see places, things to do along the way, from people that > have done the drive before. > 3.  Any other tidbits of info to pass along >Port Stephens is lovely and I highly recommend you spending day or two >there, can’t really help with accom, we stayed a the motor inn I think, but >felt ripped off when we left(they couldn’t be bothered telling us that >Saturday night was $30 more than Friday >I previously recommended Nambucca Heads, top floor at Blue Dolphin motel >(great view and pool for around $60). Drive to Stuart’s Point for an amazing >beach  although Nambucca’s beach is lovely too. Head inland to Bellingen >area. >QLD, sigh… don’t now where to start. Sunshine Coast is nice(Mooloolaba is >one of my favorites). >Don’t forget to do a few island trips (Fraser, Keppel, Whitsundays etc….) >Spend a day in the Atherton hinterlands. >In most areas you can EASILY get motel accom. for $60-70. Just stay far away >from Flag or Best Western, pick up the Budget motel guide(or check them on >the website). Almost every room will have electric kettle for coffee/tea and >a small fridge. >In heavy tourist areas motels have signs out, so look for price and >whichever facility is important to you(pool, cable, A/C etc.) Might also be >good deals on selfcontined apartments in certain areas – depending on when >you go, and how many days you’ll stay… >Anette

Agree with the earlier advice. Additionally, check out Cania Gorge – you can stay cheap in a transportable (cabin in a trailer park) and you have to be careful not to tread on a wallaby or a roo when you step out the door. It’s near Monto, south of Rocky, inland from Bundaberg.  See http://www.caniagorge.com.au/facilities.html. No – I don’t get a kick-back, I haven’t stayed there since ‘97 but never forgot it. Hope it’s still the same. Also, get hold of the both the AAA accommodation and tourist park guides from a Sydney NRMA office – well worth the small investment if you are driving. Cheers – Alan

Response:

>Thanks to all the previous reponses, we have now changed out itinerary >to drive from Sydney to Port Douglas and fly back to Sydney. >Still looking for any suggestions on: >1.  Where to stay that is relatively cheap along the way — as long as >it’s not a shared dorm/hostel room.  We don’t need five star, but >something half decent that is not >$100/night >2.  Any must see places, things to do along the way, from people that >have done the drive before. >3.  Any other tidbits of info to pass along

Hi James…The recommendation for Cania Gorge is a good one…we spent a night there a few years ago. Nothing flash, but plenty of wildlife and off the beaten track a bit. Which speaks to the point that getting off the main Pacific and Bruce Hwys and exploring inland will open up a lot of possibilities. The Blue Mts (near Sydney), the Hunter Valley, Girraween NP, Bald Rock, Barrington Tops, Lamington NP (near the Gold Coast), Carnarvon Gorge, Eungella NP (near Mackay), Wallaman Falls (Australia’s highest), Undarra, Chilagoe Caves and the Atherton Tablelands (near Cairns) are some of my favorite "inland destinations", not more than a day’s drive from the coast, max. That’s not to say there aren’t some fantastic places along the coast to see, but as you head north you may want a bit of variety.  People may argue, but I’d say the beaches of NSW and southern Queensland are preferable to those further north where the surf peters out due to the reef offshore. Byron Bay ranks up there as one of my favorite places on the east coast, outside of the various islands off the coast of Queensland. Ralph R in CT, USA

Response:

James, If you happen to think of the Mission Beach area, I’d highly recommend Sanctuary (www.sanctuary.com.au) , an eco-lodge in Bingil Bay, just outside of town.  It’s reasonable, and just gorgeous.  Accomodations are screen-sided huts in the forest, open to all the day and night noises.  There’s a main lodge house, containing all the showers, cooking facilities (if you want to cook yourself), an excellent restaurant with new menu daily, bar, game/reading area, and a beautiful deck overlooking the forest and Coral Sea. We were there last month and it was one of the most relaxing and enjoyable parts of our trip to Oz.  There’s a nearly deserted beach close by(just 3 other people when we were there….), cassowaries in the jungle (one walked right under our hut!), and lots of neat stuff. Just arriving is an adventure – you are picked up in town or in the parking lot by staff in a 4×4 Landcruiser.  When they lock the vehicle’s hubs you know you’re in for a steep drive, and it is!  Just incredible. Have fun! Jim USA

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