Should I pursue the Escaped Hostages?

[A. Secular Human]

Serious question:

I'm gonna visit Australia in Feb of '25.  It's a cruise that spends the bulk of its time around NZ, but starts in Sydney, then Melbourne, then across the straits to NZ.

We'll probably spend 5-7 days out and about from Sydney.

Is there anything relatively nearby that I absolutely should not miss (besides the typical tourist things)?

Quirky and/or unusual is a plus.


Is Uluru and Alice Springs worth a flight over?

TIA

When you go ashore in NZ wear your best Gandalf attire.

It's already packed...