Activies while in Australia

Here's a quick summary of where we'll be and what we've booked when we're down unda:

We arrive on Friday, August 3 and will take the 9:00 a.m. bus on Saturday morning to Canberra: http://www.murrays.com.au/default.asp?action=article&ID=9 Once there, we will be meeting up with some new friends that we have been put in touch with who have graciously offered their home to us, Cindy and Kevin. We'll be going back on that same bus line to Sydney the evening of Monday, August 6. Both pre and post Canberra, we'll be staying at the Sydney YHA: http://www.yha.com.au/hostels/details.cfm?hostelid=29

Once in Cairns (August 7 to 10), we're going to maximize our time out on the Great Barrier Reef! We're going to book a full day outing on the 8th and a half-day on the 9th, but have yet to settle on a company. I do know that when we're there, we're staying at the Cairns YHA: http://www.yha.com.au/hostels/details.cfm?hostelid=42

In Darwin (from August 11 to 14), we're going on a 4-day safari! Details here: http://www.billycan.com.au/skkl4.htm Pre and post safari, we're staying at the Darwin City YHA: http://www.yha.com.au/hostels/details.cfm?hostelid=242

To get from Darwin to Alice Springs (August 15 to 16), we're taking the train! Details here: http://www.ntescapes.com.au/ghan/the_ghan.html PS I've booked us daynighter seats.

In Alice Springs and Uluru aread (August 16 to 19), we're renting a camper van from here: http://www.campertravel.com.au/vehicle_details2.asp?code=HITOP2 We're going to drive around the sights with destinations to be determined, but of course, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is a must (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uluru-Kata_Tjuta_National_Park for description)

We leave for Sydney on August 19 and remain there until we leave on August 25. We're staying at the Sydney YHA: http://www.yha.com.au/hostels/details.cfm?hostelid=29 Some activities have been planned at this point in time, but not everything. Here's what I can tell you now:

• We've booked a "Best of Sydney" day-long harbour cruise on August 23 with this company: http://www.viator.com/tours/Sydney/Best-of-Sydney-Tour/d357-3998_252
• Opera tickets to see Barber of Seville the evening of August 24: http://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/ I'll be having dinner with my boss and his family beforehand!
• We'll be going to the Tarango Zoo http://www.sydney.com.au/zoo.htm and Blue Mountains http://www.bluemts.com.au/tourist/ on Monday, August 20 and Tuesday, August 21 respectively (not confirmed)