East Coast Australia

:Hey Guys,

Just wanting a bit of advice before i start shelling out lots of cash...

Were traveling up from Sydney on the hop on hop off bus (Greyhound) obviously hitting all the stops on the way up.

Have been to see a travel agent in Sydney who gave us what we think is a very good deal.....im just a little bit concerned that we might be able to book cheaper when we get up there.

So for the grand old price of $1050 we get

- 2 night/3 days Fraser/ 2 Days/2 nights Whitsundays
- Snorkling trip in cairns
- Trip to Nimbin
- 2 night magnetic Island including ferry
- Cape Tribulation rainforest 2 days/1 night
- Sky dive - cairns

Obviously this will not include reef taxs etc so with added extras including 1 month bus pass sydney - cairns this will work out nearer $1500

Im thinking its a great price and trip and itinerary looks fab...however being a ex holiday rep i know how these agents like to charge so thought i'd ask about first.

Thanks in advance guys for ur advice, and Happy traveling

Nicky x

Quoting nickyd2379

:Hey Guys,

Just wanting a bit of advice before i start shelling out lots of cash...

Were traveling up from Sydney on the hop on hop off bus (Greyhound) obviously hitting all the stops on the way up.

Have been to see a travel agent in Sydney who gave us what we think is a very good deal.....im just a little bit concerned that we might be able to book cheaper when we get up there.

So for the grand old price of $1050 we get

- 2 night/3 days Fraser/ 2 Days/2 nights Whitsundays
- Snorkling trip in cairns
- Trip to Nimbin
- 2 night magnetic Island including ferry
- Cape Tribulation rainforest 2 days/1 night
- Sky dive - cairns

Obviously this will not include reef taxs etc so with added extras including 1 month bus pass sydney - cairns this will work out nearer $1500

Im thinking its a great price and trip and itinerary looks fab...however being a ex holiday rep i know how these agents like to charge so thought i'd ask about first.

Thanks in advance guys for ur advice, and Happy traveling

Nicky x

Hi Nicky,

I did a quick trip around the web and a DIY job works out like this:

Sky Dive $210 Double it if you're both tired of living.
Snorkeling trip $125 but there's an option to fly out by chopper which doubles the price.
2x nights Magnetic Island $200 depends on the degree of luxury you want, but you'll find a variety on that site.
Backtracker Rail Pass - $500 (for 2 people) offers unlimited travel for one month. Also on this site along with other options Rail Travel
Cape Tribulation - $178 (2 persons for 2 nights) Other options available.

There's a rail link to Lismore so your Backpacker ticket would cover the cost of getting there after which I would think you could get a bus to Nimbin which is 30km further down the road.

So, now then where's my trusty calculator? I make it $1213 for the two of you, so it looks like a reasonable deal.

This link will open Google Maps at Nimbin So click the link in the navigation menu called "Get Directions" and then type "Lismore" in the top field. Then click the "Get Directions" button and it will plot the route for you. You can use the same fields to map out other routes you might want to take. The "Terrain" button (top right) shows you what the actual terrain looks like i.e. mountainous of flat.

Hope this helps.

Hi Nicky
looks like its a good deal but do you have ot go to Nimbin on this trip I think Bryon is proberly better. From what i have heard Nimbin these days it a little sad has a huge heroin problem . I have just returned from a trip north and many locals told me to stay away not much it see. Have been in the past anf I guess it is a laugh but why laugh its not really funny.

Quoting frankie 75

Hi Nicky
looks like its a good deal but do you have ot go to Nimbin on this trip I think Bryon is proberly better. From what i have heard Nimbin these days it a little sad has a huge heroin problem . I have just returned from a trip north and many locals told me to stay away not much it see. Have been in the past anf I guess it is a laugh but why laugh its not really funny.

Yes, you're right. I never even considered looking at that aspect because on the map, it looks like a small, sleepy village on the edge of Nightcap National Park. But looking at Wikipedia, I see that there's a substantial drug problem in the area like you say: Nimbin - drug culture