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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!djb
From: djb@cbosgd.UUCP (David J. Bryant)
Newsgroups: net.travel,net.wanted
Subject: Need info on Australia, Great Barrier Reef
Message-ID: <1456@cbosgd.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 2-Sep-85 19:28:35 EDT
Article-I.D.: cbosgd.1456
Posted: Mon Sep  2 19:28:35 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 3-Sep-85 04:30:59 EDT
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Columbus, Oh
Lines: 40
Xref: watmath net.travel:1722 net.wanted:7091

A group of us here are planning a trip to Australia next March/April.
I'd like to hear from anyone that has advice or suggestions on the
following points:

	1) We'll be arriving in Australia at Cairns, and plan to spend
	   a few days there and out on the Great Barrier Reef.  Because
	   of financial and time constraints we want to stay close to
	   Cairns, which I understand limits us to Green, Fitzroy and
	   Lizard Is.  Which should we select?  Lizard is pretty expensive,
	   so it's less of interest than the other two.  We want to see
	   the wonders of the reef of course, but we'd also like to be
	   able to do other things, plus we want some relative peace and
	   quiet (so we can rest up from the long airplane ride).
	2) What should we do in Cairns?  We've heard some about the trip
	   out to Kuranda, but don't know much else.  Any hotel suggestions?
	   Restaurants?
	3) Next stop is Darwin, principally to see Kuranda Park.  Any other
	   tips (including hotels and restaurants) on things in the Darwin 
	   area.
	4) Alice Springs is pretty well taken care of in terms of local
	   must-sees (Ayers Rock, The Olgas), but any other pointers would
	   be great.  Mostly we'll be observing Comet Halley while on this
	   part of the trip.
	5) On to Sydney.  Here we're pretty ignorant, and would like info
	   on hotels, restaurants and special sites.  We want to get out 
	   into the Blue Mountains for at least one night so we're interested
	   in accomodations in that area.

The travel agent has provided lots of brochures, but they all are pretty much
long on superlatives and short on details.  Also, it's nice to get personal
recommendations from folks that know the areas.   This is a dream trip of
a lifetime for most of us, so we want to do it right.

	David Bryant   AT&T Bell Laboratories   Columbus, OH   (614) 860-4516
	(cbosgd!djb)

ps: Any of you Australians out there in Netland that would like to meet some
    of us fascinating Bell Labs + astronomer types while we're out your way
    on holiday, let me know.  We'll happily reciprocate if you're ever in 
    the States.