Australia trip.

[matt21]

After some advice from the natives!

Off to Oz in December, we plan to drive from Cairns to Brisbane in 4/5 days. Is this realistic (I am used to long distance) and is the trip actually worth it? We could fly but want to see as much of the barrier reef as possible and see some of the country.

Whats Cairns and Brisbane like as cities themselves?

Also planning on spending time in Melbourne & Sydney.

We will fly to Cairns, drive to Brisbane, fly to Melbourne then drive to Sydney.

Any hints and tips on this would be much appreciated.

[SydneyP]

Looked at doing something similar but didn't seem to be much in between apart from Sunshine Coast (which I love) and would probably suggest you do as a day or so trip from Brisbane.

Cairns isn't really a City at all more like a medium town. I've not been up there for a couple of years but enjoyed it (even though I went on my own) with some great stuff to do in town / beach etc (diving, reef trip etc) as well as some great things to see in the hinterland.

Not a huge amount to see in Brisbane (my view) so I'd be thinking more 1-3 days there and Sunshine Coast then fly to Cairns for the rest. Better use of time unless you like long drives with not much to see...