Hey guys, My names Willz and im an Australian guy thinking about going on the 16 day reefs and rainforst Contiki tour with my mate in around January.  We are thinking of starting in sydney going upwards to Cairns.  I was wondering if anyone who has been on this trip or a similar one could tell me what it was like and if they had a good time.  Is it weird for an Auzzie to go on a Contiki tour in their own country?  If anyone else is thinking of going around this time let me know as well.
cheers.

Hey Willz,
I did the Beaches and Reefs tour in April 2006, started in Carins down to Sydney. We had the people that were on the Reefs and Rainforests trip with us. You will not regret going on this tour, i was a bit the same as you before i went on my tour not knowing what to expect but it was so cool. we had some awsome people on our tour and you get to know everyone really well. we had someone from Aussie on our tour so it does not matter if you tour your own country in fact i'm thinking of doing a tour of my country. Our tour guied was Anna and our bus driver was Scotty he was a ex kiwi, Great people i got to know them well as we spent some time tubing at long island together that was great you will have a day song ours was "Love Generation".Long Island in the Whitsundays is truely beatufull. The only thing i regret is coming home, it was horrible. but i still have the memories and i will cherish those for ever i hope. A few things to do is the White Water rafting on the Tully River was a great day a great guieds, also if your up for it go sky diving in surfers awsome adrenilin rush, also Draculars show looks crap when you arrive but the food and show is great one of the real high lights.If you have not been to Carins be prepared its hot and sticky and i was there in April so January will be a sorcher.

well hope all that helps you feel more at ease. if you need to know anything else just send me a message.

well happy travels, you will have a ball.

Cheers

Craig

P.S have your liver ready there is some heavy drinking that goes on at night. 

Any recommendations for the optional activities?
Beaches and reefs is almost the same, so maybe you can give some info about the optional activities.

Hey guys, I just finished the Reefs and Rainforests tour 2 weeks ago.  First of all, I would definitly recommend starting in Sydney and ending in Cairns.  I started my tour in Cairns and alot of the people joining our tour had already known each other for a while.  If you start in Sydney, I think you all start together and drop people along the way instead of picking people up.  I'm not entirely certain.  Either way, I whole-heartedly recommend the tour. It was great.  As far as the optionals go, Dracula's is a must, and of course you have to take the trip to the reef.  Other than that, it is a personal decision.  Just remember, you may only be in Australia once! 

Hey,

Good advice...I'm going to book the Reefs and Rainforests tour (starting in Cairns and ending in Sydney) for Jan 11 - Jan 26 (I'm doing the Grand Explorer tour in NZ after this one Jan 28 - Feb 11).

Is anyone going on either of those tours?

Hey guys, I am thinking of going on the Reefs and Rainforests one in January too. Probably in the beginning of Jan heading from Sydney to Cairns. Anybody taking that one?

I just finished Reefs and Rainforests starting in Sydney and it was the best holiday I have EVER taken. You will get soooo close to the people you are with. I now have friends all over the world to go visit. I would recommend it to EVERYONE!

hey I'm doing this trip in jan problably with karamel, heve u already booked the tour?

HEY WAHTZZ UP RAFA.WILLZ AND KARAMEL IM ALSO GOING TO BE THERE IN JANUARY 2008 let me know im traveling solo . im a male 25 from LOS ANGELES. i will be arriving withsundays on january 23/2008 AND will finish in CAIRNS on JANUARY 31 2008.let me know i can wait

Hey Peeps, Im planning on going on this tour in January as well. Probably starting from January 10th or 12th and ending at the end of the month. Anyone else going at this time?? Im not too sure if my travel buddy and i are starting from sydney or cairns...any suggestions?

I am heading to Australia for the reefs and rainforests tour on January 11th starting in Cairns and ending in Sydney. I guess I'll see some of you there. My sister is coming with me and we are getting really excited.

HEY DEADAN i will be at whithsundays on january 22 2008 and will finish at cairns on january 31 2008 let me know whtazz up

Hey all, my name's Daryl and I'm going on the Reefs & Rainforests tour departing Cairns on 17 January 2008. I'll be in Cairns a day and a half before the tour begins. Any suggestions on what to do/what to see in Cairns during that time? Any recommendations from anyone who's been on this trip regarding the optional excursions - which are worthwhile, which to avoid? Any other suggestions would be great. I'm so looking forward to this trip - it's gonna be great!

Hey Daryl, My friend and I are also doing R&R starting Jan 17 in Cairns, we're both from Toronto.It's cool to finally meet someone going on the same trip. I caaan't wait.

Hey L-East, you're from Toronto eh? So am I (just north of, actually). I'm leaving Pearson on the 13th, flying into San Fran. You?