Gold Coast & Melbourne Dec 23 Itinerary

LDigitalDevils10 on 09/01/2023 - 14:54

Hi All,

My brother and his family will be visiting us from California end of this year for about 2 weeks. They are keen to cover Gold Coast, Melbourne and Sydney. Sydney can be managed as I live here. Looking for suggestions on the itinerary for Gold Coast and Melbourne. We will be a group of 4 Adults and 3 Kids (Aged 7 - 13). Some of the thoughts in my mind to get within a budget:

  • Should we fly to Gold Coast and Melbourne and hire local rentals. I believe the cost of transport (flying and rental) will be higher in this case due to peak season.
  • Or should we break the journey and do SYD > Mel and SYD > GC. I can drive my 7 seater to these locations and back, only skeptical about fitting the luggage in the car.
  • Pointers to score deals on hotels, amusement parks, entry tickets, food etc. for the travel
Travel Gold Coast Melbourne Queensland Victoria

Comments

  • GG57 on 09/01/2023 - 15:29
    +4

    For a two week visit, I think driving from Sydney to Gold Coast (+ return) and from Sydney to Melbourne (+ return) would eat up too much of that time, even allowing for the time wasting of getting to airports etc.
    My recommendation would be to choose either Gold Coast or Melbourne and then plan the trip.
    I imagine the GC theme parks are probably on your list but if your family are visiting from California they have probably seen better there.
    It comes down to what they want to see and do.

    • Gunnar on 09/01/2023 - 15:52
      +4

      This! For two weeks you will have a lot of time eaten up by driving. The driving alone will eat up 4 days.

      Really up to them and what they want to do but I would try to get them to ditch the GC from the trip for the reasons above.

      Increase time in Melbourne (go down the great ocean rd, spend a night at port Campbell as sunset at the 12 apostles is just amazing)

      If they want to go to QLD go to Cairns, it’s a more uniquely Australian experience than the GC. For even more of an Australian experience I would be inclined to take them to Uluru (NB that time of year it’s hot and a lot will be closed but you can see the main bits).

      • Ghost47 on 09/01/2023 - 16:22
        +2

        12 apostles

        I think it’s down to like 5 now lol.

        Just checked, 8 left.

      • DigitalDevils10 on 12/01/2023 - 20:04

        Discussed over the weekend with bro and they will be extending their stay by 3.5 weeks. So i guess that gives us a room to drive, thoughts?

  • dmac80 on 09/01/2023 - 15:50
    +2

    Yeah I think all 3 is a bit much in 2 weeks. Definitely do Sydney and then choose eitehr Melbourne or the Gold Coast. Honestly - aside from the theme parks the Gold Coast isn't THAT exciting unless you are happy to spend a lot of time by the pool/beach.

  • lachhelix on 09/01/2023 - 15:51
    +1

    As above - if you've only got 2 weeks, not sure you've really got enough time for all 3 imo

    I live in Melbourne but I feel like Sydney/Gold Coast would probably be more interesting for them to visit so maybe just stick to those two and do a bit more of the sights

    I feel like QLD is a bit more "impressive" with pretty beaches and atmosphere to visitors than Melbourne is (I personally wouldn't really call Melbourne an international holiday destination)

    If you do come to Melbourne though:
    - great ocean road (whats left of the 12 apostles)
    - Wilson's promontory (if you can squeeze it in)
    - puffing billy (if that's of any interest)
    - fed square
    - Ballarat (maybe?)

    Take my advice with a grain of salt though, I spend 51 weeks a year at home on Ozbargain

    • Ghost47 on 09/01/2023 - 16:27
      +3

      On top of those suggestions:

      • Sovereign Hill
      • Kryal Castle
      • Mornington Hot Springs (maybe)
      • Dandenongs
      • Phillip Island
      • Gumbuya World
      • Enchanted Maze Adventure Garden

      I would definitely stick with two instead of trying all three though.

    • x x on 09/01/2023 - 16:40
      +2

      I would say Melbourne is much more interesting than Sydney for a tourist

      • GG57 on 09/01/2023 - 16:43
        +2

        Maybe, but only one of the suggestions by Ghost47 and lachhelix is in Melbourne. All of the others are outside of the metropolitan area.

        • Ghost47 on 09/01/2023 - 17:27
          +4

          As OP said they were willing to drive I suspect they will be fine with travelling outside of the greater metropolitan area. Mornington Peninsula, Yarra Ranges and Cardinia all appear to be part of metropolitan Melbourne so it’s six suggestions in total actually.

          If they aren’t willing to drive they can also consider:

          • Eureka Skydeck
          • NGV
          • Theatre shows
          • Queen Vic Market
          • Luna Park (although Sydney already has a Luna Park)
        • x x on 09/01/2023 - 18:27
          +2

          There's loads of stuff they can do in Melbourne if they like sport, theatre, galleries, cinema, art, museums, cafes, fashion, shopping, restaurants, architecture etc

    • barge-in hunter on 09/01/2023 - 20:10
      +4

      If you end up in Melbourne:
      - overnight trip staying at a winery in the Yarra valley, with the days spent between Healesvilles wildlife sanctuary and a leisurely drive/bush walks through the black spur

  • dmac80 on 09/01/2023 - 15:53
    +2

    Deal wise - keep an eye on Luxury Escapes - they have some great deals especially for the Gold Coast - but you'll probably find some deals for Melbourne too, just might be hard given that is peak tourist season. I'd recommend a car for at least part of the Melbourne trip as the Peninsula is worth visiting - highly recommend the hot springs - and a day trip to Lorne/Torquay is worth doing.

  • x x on 09/01/2023 - 16:00
    +1

    I recently drove GC to Mel and stayed at Harrington and Paramatta along the way. Easy trip to do with good roads and lots of convenienecs along the Hume Hwy. If you're in Syd I would drive to GC in your 7 seater (Tarago/Carnival) and stay 4-8 nights up here. You can comfortably/safely drive this in one trip if you have 2x drivers. Then I'd go back to Sydney to unpack, wash clothes and stay 1-3 nights, then do a separate trip down to Mel and stay 4-8 nights. This is better than flying and renting cars cos you'll waste half a day in airports and car rental gets exy that time of year

    Learn how to pack if you're worried about too much luggage. You only need 4x socks, 4x underwear, 3-4 t-shirts, 3x shorts, 1x jeans, 1x tracksuit pants. You should be able to fit everything into a carry on sized luggage bag. Google "one bag" and check the main sites for advice/tips like https://www.onebag.com/ and https://www.reddit.com/r/onebag/

    • GG57 on 09/01/2023 - 16:13
      +2

      You only need 4x socks, 4x underwear, 3-4 t-shirts, 3x shorts, 1x jeans, 1x tracksuit pants.

      For Melbourne?

      • x x on 09/01/2023 - 16:31
        +1

        Add a lightweight jacket and long sleeve button up shirt and/or long sleeve t-shirt. I would also add 1x short sleeve button up shirt and 1x polo shirt to the original list. Also add a pair of bathers and long sleeve rashi if you plan to do any swimming

  • nekro on 09/01/2023 - 16:03

    Consider sunshine coast as well. Stay at the landmark resort in Mooloolabah. Prices are quite reasonable. Hire a car from apex car rentals and go for a drive up to the glasshouse mountains… theres also a theme park there called Aussie world and a go kart track thats not far from there as well. Mooloolaba is a chilled and relaxed place. Nothing like the gold coast in terms of crowds and hustle and bustle.

  • nuker on 09/01/2023 - 16:46
    +1

    Drop Gold Coast. Syd - Jervis Bay camping - Kosciuszko mountain, 12 Apostles - Mel.

    • Jimothy Wongingtons on 09/01/2023 - 16:56
      +2

      Drop Gold Coast

      +1

      • Gunnar on 09/01/2023 - 17:46

        Great idea for their trip!

        • fantombloo on 09/01/2023 - 17:51
          +1

          Can fit a day (or 2) in Canberra on the way too.

          • Ghost47 on 09/01/2023 - 18:13

            @fantombloo: Good call, the mint might be interesting for the kids and Mt Ainslie isn’t too hard of a hike. Maybe Questacon too?

          • Ade99 on 10/01/2023 - 07:54

            @fantombloo: Canberra is closed until the Polly's return…..unless you like Summer Nats?

  • Shadowsfury on 09/01/2023 - 17:08
    +2

    I mean they're from California which probably means they have decent beaches themselves. Plus they definitely have better theme parks. What's left in the Gold Coast?

    I like the suggestion of driving the coastal route Syd-Mel, and then through Melbourne and 12 Apostles and back.

    • Gunnar on 09/01/2023 - 17:46
      +4

      What's left in the Gold Coast?

      Bogans who couldn’t get to Bali

    • dandandan on 09/01/2023 - 18:40

      Agree with the theme parks and although they have way better in the US I suppose if you wanted to do something for the kids which I assume are cousins, you have Raging Waters Sydney, formerly Wet'n'Wild Sydney, Taronga Zoo and Luna Park. This avoids the Gold Coast trip. You have some good beaches in Sydney and you can show them what some good coffee is as well. You have the south coast and then areas like Port Stephens/Fingal bay so staying interstate may make it more enjoyable for all.

  • WreckTangle on 09/01/2023 - 18:23

    Forget Melbourne. Maybe go to NZ?

  • ForkSnorter on 09/01/2023 - 21:07
    -1

    Skip Melbourne and Gold Coast and just do Sydney. It’s the most spectacular city in the world, definitely enough to fill 2 weeks. Blue Mountains nearby if you run out of things to do.

    2nd on the list would be the Gold Coast. Also spectacular, but if you’ve got decent beaches in Sydney, why go all that way? It is a nice trip though.

  • Mechz on 09/01/2023 - 21:50
    +2

    Bring them to The G for the Boxing Day Test. 5 days sorted instantly. ;)

    • Ade99 on 10/01/2023 - 07:55

      Or the SCG and watch the rain fall for a few days.

  • Blokeinhisundies on 09/01/2023 - 23:20
    +2

    I live on the Gold Coast and would not include it in your circumstances. Better to spend more time in Sydney or Melbourne. Sydney checks off the big sites foreign tourists want to see.i.e. harbour, opera house, bridge plus there's plenty of other stuff to do. Add in Melbourne and the Great Ocean Road and I think that's plenty for a two week trip.

  • Grunntt on 10/01/2023 - 09:10

    Do you all need to be together for the whole time?

    Maybe they could fly into the Gold Coast and spend a couple of days before flying down to join you in Sydney for 5 or 6 days then drive to Melbourne for the rest of their holiday?

    They could flight back directly from Melbourne and you could drive home from there.

    Minimises their time just spent driving between major cities.

    • Mechz on 10/01/2023 - 13:54
      +1

      Flying from LAX to anywhere but Sydney is more expensive and a hassle.

  • BigBirdy on 10/01/2023 - 09:27
    +1

    Take them somewhere very different to where they live, ie if they live in a city … go regional, or on the coast … go inland, flat … go mountains. Melb, Syd and Gold Coast are a bit too much like America.

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