Where to go with free flight :)

[k3nnis]

Hi All,

Not sure where to ask this question. So if it needs to be moved please feel free

I have the plat charge that comes with a free flight through the reserve CC. I will be travelling with my wife and my daughter (18 months old). By the time we go away probably closer to 20 months? Will be before she is 2.

Will probably go away for say 5 days? Can be less but as a rough guide. Will be departing from SYD. Thinking about Cairns, Queenstown, Gold Coast, Brisbane? Can someone chime in on where to go

Thanks,
K.

 

[StevePER]

We did Cairns and Port Douglas when our son was 19 months old. Probably the most enjoyable trip we've done with him (compared with Sydney, Melbourne and Asia). He particularly liked Hartley's Crocodile Adventures, the train up to Kuranda, and going out to the reef.

 

[k3nnis]

Thanks for the info. Will take that into consideration.. CNS looks like a nice place to visit...Wonder if the Cairns Hilton is anygood

 

[smit0847]

Nice problem to have!

Cairns or Queenstown.

Cairns (Northern Beaches) has absolutely stunning beaches (and +1 on Hartleys - 2 city kids in their mid 20s loved it!!). Highly recommend Trinity Beach if you want somewhere a bit quieter, down to earth, local, less honeymooners etc. Beaches were remotely crowded even in high season school holidays.

Queenstown has absolutely stunning scenery but it is cold all year round.

 

[k3nnis]

Thanks yeah it's a tough one on queenstown vs Cairns. I know this sounds silly, just worried about the quakes thats been happening in NZ recently, and not sure how prone is Queenstown to it....

 

[wingspan]

Thanks for the info. Will take that into consideration.. CNS looks like a nice place to visit...Wonder if the Cairns Hilton is anygood

It is lovely. And their breakfast is fantastic.

 

[k3nnis]

Thanks. Hopefully I will get exec lounge access with HH gold.

 

[flyingfan]

Nice problem to have!

Cairns or Queenstown.

Cairns (Northern Beaches) has absolutely stunning beaches (and +1 on Hartleys - 2 city kids in their mid 20s loved it!!). Highly recommend Trinity Beach if you want somewhere a bit quieter, down to earth, local, less honeymooners etc. Beaches were remotely crowded even in high season school holidays.

Queenstown has absolutely stunning scenery but it is cold all year round.

I also really like both Cairns and Queenstown, although I'd aim to spend more time at Port Douglas vs. Cairns if heading that way

 

[k3nnis]

Oh ok. Is cairns suitable for a 20 month old? Or is Queenstown more suitable?

 

[sutho58]

when are you thinking of going?? I would stay away from Cairns in summer, the heat and humidity can be very over powering. I don't think either has a real lot to keep a 20 month old amused, but you might find that the locals in Queenstown are more helpful when it comes to helping keep your child amused whilst you do something..

 

[k3nnis]

Thanks. I'm pretty flexible for dates. If I decide to go to Cairns will be sept/October, hopefully this time of year will be good weather wise?
For queenstown I will go say end of december or early jan?

 

[smit0847]

Thanks. I'm pretty flexible for dates. If I decide to go to Cairns will be sept/October, hopefully this time of year will be good weather wise?
For queenstown I will go say end of december or early jan?

Yeah thats a good time to go to CNS - best time is June-Aug but thats when accom is also the most expensive. What sort of crowd/activites are you looking for? The towns/beaches in FNQ vary quite a bit.

If you are not skiing, avoid Queenstown in winter - it is freezing (literally). In summer its still quite cool - prob max of 20 degrees average in december/jan.

They're both beautiful parts of the world for very different reasons.

 

[k3nnis]

Ok thanks. Just in a dilemma!
Will be going with a 20 month old daughter, basically just under 2 years old. Which of these 2 destinations would be best? I guess we won't be doing any hardcore adventure stuff Guess want a relaxing holiday. Will be for a week... I am Hilton Gold, so will stay at either cairns hilton or queenstown hilton... Will be myself and wife and daughter.

 

[sutho58]

If it was me, I'd go for Queenstown, you could hire a car and do some really nice day trips,, the weather is nice and heaps of great places to eat..me,, I'd go fishing

 

[k3nnis]

Thanks. I was thinking to go to Queenstown in Dec/Jan? Good time? Or in October/Nov?

 

[sutho58]

I went fishing late Oct early November,, the weather was beautiful until my last day (cup day) and it snowed, since thrn, each time I go overseas fishing, it snows. My wife has told me I can't take my fishing gear with me when we do our rtw next year

Maybe early Jan would be better?

 

[k3nnis]

oh ok. It's unbelievable in november it still snows??? isn't that very close to summer???

 

[sutho58]

No,, normally doesn't snow, in fact there was no snow on the mountains,, except a little on the remarks,, just wouldn't want you to go in Nov. and tell me that it snowed,,

 

[k3nnis]

lol My worry is where in Queenstown I can go to entertain my just under 2 year old We can go on Milford Sounds but what else? Any playgrounds or parks for her to play? I know cairns has the esplanade...

 

[sutho58]

Queenstown has a prom with a playground,, within an hour or two by car is arrow town, glenorchy, wanaka just to name a few,, I go to cairns 4-6 times a year, and I would much rather go to nz for a family holiday,,