We spent three nights at the Park Hyatt Melbourne, where we watched Auburn play in the BCS National Championship Game before touring the city.
We flew a couple of great domestic flights on Qantas — Cairns to Sydney in economy class and Sydney to Melbourne in business class. Both flights were fantastic domestic flights with good onboard product, and great service!
We spent four amazing days diving the Coral Sea and Great Barrier Reef on the Spirit of Freedom live-aboard dive boat. The diving, crew, food, boat, and experience all exceeded expectations.
A review of two Virgin Australia domestic flights from Sydney to Cairns via Brisbane in economy class.
We spent New Year’s Eve on Sydney Harbour at the Italian Village on Campbell’s Cove with a perfect view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House for an amazing NYE fireworks celebration.
The next 2 days in Sydney, we visited the Sydney Opera House, took a Ferry to Taronga Zoo, went to Bondi Beach, had lunch in The Rocks, went through the Sydney Royal Botanical Gardens, ate dinner at Harry’s Cafe de Wheels in Woolloomooloo, and went to the Sydney Fish Market.
During our first two days in Sydney, we took a free walking tour of the city, had dinner in the Rocks, took a ferry to Manly Beach, and spent an evening in Darling Harbour.
Flying to Australia on frequent flyer miles in the Winter is no small feat. I used United miles to fly between the USA and Sydney in United Global First Class. Domestic Australia flights on Virgin Atlantic and Qantas were planned with British Airways Avios, American Airlines miles, and cash.
An introduction to my fifteen day adventure Down Under to visit Sydney for New Years Eve; Cairns; a dive trip to the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea; and Melbourne — and of course getting there in United Global First Class!