australia travel itinerary 6 weeks

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The Restless Hobo

6 Week Australia Itinerary

Lisa Mullally · April 16, 2019 · 4 Comments

Trying to decide what to include in a 6 week Australia itinerary? Well, you’ve come to the right place my friend! You’re about to set off on the absolute trip of a lifetime, with so many amazing stops and adventures to choose from. Here’s my own 6 week itinerary to help get you started.

Hobart – 4 nights

I flew pretty much non stop from Dublin to Hobart (Dublin-Dubai-Melbourne-Hobart). I wanted to get the toughest and longest part of the journey over as early as possible so that I could have the maximum amount of time in Australia. I have family in Hobart and had visited there a couple of times before, so I knew my time there would be relaxed and give me a chance to get over any potential jet lag before heading off on my own.

There’s so much to see in and around Hobart that 4 nights is definitely not too long for anybody. It could be an advantage to hire a car as some of the sights are well outside the city; otherwise there is an excellent tourist office that can help you work out how to get to everywhere you want to go.

Within Hobart itself, there is a vibrant bar scene, and the Salamanca markets on Saturday morning are an absolute must for all sorts of souvenirs and delicious fresh food.

Be aware that Tasmania is a huge state and that if you want to see more than just Hobart and it’s surrounds, you will need a lot more than 4 days.

Adelaide – 2 nights

After flying from Hobart back to Adelaide, I spent 2 nights there before heading off for the Great Ocean Road. I honestly wasn’t a big fan (sorry, Adelaide!), and recommend skipping it if you’re short on time. I spent most of my one full day there doing laundry and getting myself sorted with an Australian SIM card.

Adelaide to Melbourne via the Grampians and the Great Ocean Road – 3 days and 2 nights

Next up was my 3 day, 2 night Grampians and Great Ocean Road trip with Groovy Grape tours. Honestly, I hadn’t heard much about the Grampians and it wasn’t really on my must-see list for the trip. But when I started looking at my options for seeing the Great Ocean Road and spotted the trip, it was the perfect choice.

It picks up in Adelaide on the morning of day 1 and drops off in Melbourne on the afternoon of day 3 (it also runs in reverse, Melbourne to Adelaide), so there’s no doubling back or trying to sort out transport from one city to the next. The Grampians National Park is absolutely beautiful and I got to see some Aussie wildlife that I probably wouldn’t have seen otherwise, so I definitely recommend the trip.

Melbourne – 3 nights

Melbourne is pretty much universally considered the cultural capital of Australia, so you will need AT LEAST 3 nights here. It’s a big-ass city with a ton to see and do, so use your time wisely and try to stay in the area where you feel you’ll spend the most time.

I stayed in St. Kilda on 2 of my 3 visits to Melbourne, including the most recent one. Make sure to get a Myki card to make travelling on public transport quick and easy.

Overnight train from Melbourne to Sydney – 1 night

Click here for bookings .

Sydney – 3 days and 2 nights

I had already visited Sydney on a few occasions in the past, so I opted for a short visit this time. If it’s your first visit though, 2 nights is just not going to be enough. As with Melbourne, you’ll need to choose whether to stay in the CBD area, or one of the more chilled-out beachside suburbs.

Check out this blog post for recommendations on what to see and do in Sydney, and click here for details on how to get around the city.

Overnight bus from Sydney to Byron Bay – 1 night

Greyhound Australia offer a great bus service up and down the east coast. Visit their website here for fare prices and bookings .

Byron Bay – 2 nights

Being a bit of a beach bum at heart, I loved my time in Byron Bay. I was there for Christmas Day and so I didn’t do much other than checking out the hippie vibe and taking a break from the city scene before heading to Brisbane.

I definitely recommend including at least 2 nights here. There’s plenty to see and do as well as just enjoying the laid back atmosphere of the town itself. Consider a day tour to Nimbin, something I didn’t get a chance to do myself.

Brisbane – 3 nights

Unlike Melbourne and Sydney, Brisbane isn’t filled with Instagram famous sights like Sydney Harbour or Hosier Lane in Melbourne. It has a lazy charm of it’s own though, with a manmade beach and the Brisbane sign in the South Bank area offering a relaxing days sightseeing.

There are also day tour options to Moreton Island and Australia Zoo, as well as river dinner cruises and the chance to see the southern part of the Great Barrier Reef. Some Fraser Island tours offer pick up and drop off in Brisbane, although this does cost considerably more than leaving from Hervey Bay or Rainbow Beach (or even Noosa), so I only advise doing this if you don’t plan on heading further north up the coast.

Hervey Bay – 1 night

Hervey Bay is one of the starting points for the very popular Fraser Island experience (the others are Rainbow Beach, Noosa and Brisbane). We made our own way from Brisbane to Hervey Bay using the Greyhound bus service and stayed there overnight, meeting our Fraser Island tour bus the following morning.

Hervey Bay is a nice little town, with some decent bars and restaurants but doesn’t really call for any longer than a quick overnight stop between other locations or activities.

Fraser Island – 4 days and 3 nights

If I were to urge you to do just one thing during your time in Australia, a Fraser Island tour would absolutely be it. I visited 12 years ago on my first visit to Oz and was certain that I wanted to go back this time.

There are various tours available, from shorter 1 night/2 day visits, to a 4 night/5 day experience. Viator.com is always a good starting point to see what tours are available, although it is generally cheaper to book the tours directly with the provider once you’ve decided on what you want to do.

We took the 4 day/3 night Cool Dingo tour with Adventure Free tours and were very impressed with the package. It was great value for money with a professional guide to do all the 4 wheel driving so we could just sit back and relax.

Agnes Water – 2 nights

Agnes Water is another small town that I absolutely recommend stopping in for a night or 2. We originally included it because I wanted to take the Scooteroo tour, where we would have dressed in leathers with fake tattoos and ridden mini Harleys around at sunset.

When we got there though, it was seriously too hot for wearing leathers, so we decided to take a local tour instead, visiting a kangaroo sanctuary and seeing some other local sights before enjoying wine and nibbles on the beach at sunset.

Overnight bus to Airlie Beach to board our Whitsundays tour – 1 night

Whitsundays sailing tour.

This was another of our organised tours where we decided to splurge a little bit. It’s honestly pretty difficult to have a DIY experience of the Whitsundays. There are ferries between the islands so it is possible to some extent. But to have the full experience of living on the sea for a few nights, it’s best to book a tour.

Once again, we booked with Adventure Free tours as they were offering great value packages, and had lots of different options with dates and trip durations. We chose a 3 day/3 night experience on an old sailing boat and absolutely loved it.

Airlie Beach – 1 night

We had a quick stop in Airlie Beach for one night after our Whitsundays sailing trip. I definitely recommend spending at least one night here before moving on as most of the sailing trips organise some sort of “after party” type event somewhere in Airlie Beach where you can spend an evening with your new BFFs before saying goodbye.

Be sure to check out the Airlie Beach lagoon. I found it just as impressive as the more famous one in Cairns, and much less crowded and more chilled, even though we were there on a Saturday afternoon.

Magnetic Island – 2 nights

This was another destination where our plans completely changed from what we had originally hoped to do. Magnetic Island is relatively small but has quite a lot of wildlife. One of the popular things to do is to rent an open top jeep and drive around the island spotting kangaroos and koalas in the wild.

The jeeps apparently book up quickly so it’s best to arrange rental in advance. The weather warnings had been pretty unpredictable though so we decided to wait and try our luck on the day if the weather was on our side.

On our arrival on the island, the weather was fabulous but we both agreed to skip the jeep tour and just enjoy a lazy day by the hostel pool. However, due to another unexpected change, we had a front row seat (from our sea view room) of a very impressive thunderstorm.

Townsville – 1 night

This was another quick stop after our return from Magnetic Island. We have a friend from Ireland who lives in Townsville, so we planned a quick catch up and a one night stay at the Rambutan hostel. Townsville is big and impressive and we both wished we could stay longer.

Read my full review of the excellent Rambutan hostel in Townsville here .

Cairns – 6 nights

Honestly, 6 nights in Cairns felt like too long. It was one of my least favourite places we visited on the entire trip, and I wished that we had spent longer in Agnes Water or Townsville instead of spending so long in Cairns.

A visit to the Great Barrier Reef is obviously a must while in the area, and there’s an opportunity to skydive in Cairns itself or at Mission Beach. I also recommend taking the Kuranda Railway and spending a few hours in Kuranda, a pretty little town surrounded by the Daintree rainforest.

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The ULTIMATE 6-week Australia Itinerary of the East Coast & Beyond!

Guest blogger and author of TheFlainsTravel.com , Jordie Flain, takes the wheel of the Greyhound blog to share an epic 6-week Australia itinerary of the East Coast and beyond, perfect for a short sabbatical.

Posted in: Itineraries

A Six Week Australia Itinerary From Sydney

Last updated: October 14, 2020 . Written by Laurence Norah - 2 Comments

In this post, the second on travelling to Australia for around six weeks, I propose an itinerary for travellers starting their adventure in Sydney.

This is partly to answer a question posed to me recently by some friends who are doing this very thing, and secondly because I think it’s a fairly common trip to take.

If you missed the first post , that one covers things to consider like transport options and the climate. This one focuses on the nitty gritty of the actual trip, in weekly itinerary form, for a six week trip, highlighting some of the most amazing parts that this country has to offer. Enjoy!

A six week road trip from Sydney to the Red Centre

I’m going to go with a road trip for this itinerary because I think it’s the best way to see the country over a six week period. Normally I’d advise saving money by buying a vehicle and then selling it at the end of the trip – but this might be a bit much hassle for a trip lasting only six weeks. If you’re confident in your salesmanship though, then go for it. It should work out cheaper!

Australia six week itinerary Painted desert Australian Outback Coober Pedy clouds sky.png

My favourite part of Australia has to be the vast and incredible nothing that is the outback.The endless open road, the scorched earth look – there is nothing like it. So a road trip to the middle to visit the world’s most famous rock would be my perfect trip

But that’s not to say in your six weeks you couldn’t do a bit more than see the outback. Here’s what I’d do over that six weeks:

Week one – Sydney, Blue Mountains, Canberra.

Sydney is one of Australia’s most iconic cities, so any trip to Australia that starts in Sydney needs to include some time in this place. You’ll want an absolute minimum of two days – partly because there is so much to see, and partly because you’ll probably be recovering from jet lag!

Sydney opera house at night - New South Wales - Ausralia

After some time spent exploring Sydney, you’ll want to head out into the country side. So saddle up your ride, pack the tent (or book a hostel / hotel, whichever works for you!), and head east. First stop, the Blue Mountains.

Located just about 100km west of Sydney, the Blue Mountains are a really incredible collection of mountain mesa’s and deep forested valleys, with great views and excellent hiking opportunities. The town of Katoomba is an excellent base from which to explore the area.

From here I’m going to recommend finishing off the first week or so with a trip down to Australia’s capital, just to take in the weirdness that is Canberra . Here you can wander perplexed around the highly designed city, pop into parliament, and wonder quite why anyone would want to visit.

Distance covered, aprox 450km. Total trip distance, aprox. 450km.

Weeks two and three – Canberra to Port Fairy

From Canberra I’d head south down to the coast via the wonderful alpine scenery of the Kosciuszko National Park . This is home to Australia’s highest mountain, and keen hikers might want to head deeper into the park for more exploration, either of this park or the neighbouring Snowy River National Park. Then it’s time to hit Australia’s southern coastline.

Clouds on Mount Bogong - Victoria - Australia

Along the coast to Melbourne there is stunning coastal scenery, including the gorgeous ninety mile beach. Of particular interest on this route is the Wilsons Promontory National Park , home to some really quite fabulous white sandy beaches, scenery and hiking. Worth a couple of days of your time, at least.

From here it’s a quick trip up to Melbourne , Victoria’s capital city and a rival with Sydney for coolest Australian city. Here you’ll find great food, great bars, and a relaxed laid back style.

If you can tear yourself away from Melbourne, it’s time to take in one of the world’s greatest road trips: the Great Ocean Road. This runs along the Victorian coastline from just outside Melbourne to Port Campbell.

Here you will find funky surfer seaside towns, incredible coastal views such as the twelve apostles, lighthouses and magnificent coastal rainforest. Little wonder that this stretch of road regularly makes top ten lists of the worlds greatest road trips.

Distance covered, aprox 1200km. Total trip distance, aprox 1650km)

Week four – Port Fairy to Broken Hill

Done with the great ocean road, it is time to turn your nose back inland and head for the outback town of Broken Hill . On the way, I’d recommend stopping off in the Grampians National Park for some rather fine bush walking and scenery.

North of Halls Gap you’ll head up towards the town of Mildura, where a great deal of Victoria’s fruit production takes place. It also used to be home to the longest bar in the world, but that is long gone. You will also pass the Murray Sunset National Park , where you will start getting used to seeing the kind of sunsets that only outback Australia can produce. Enjoy!

Outback sunset - Western Australia - Australia

The stretch of road north of Mildura to Broken Hill will introduce you to properly arid outback scenery. We’re talking brown / red dirt, dried out lake beds and endlessly blue skies. This is also mining country, so the odd giant mining pit will loom.

The city of Broken Hill was a real frontier environment back in the day, and it is Australia’s oldest lived-in mining city. Mining is really big here, which you’ll notice very quickly – even the street names are all mineral themed.

Classic outback scenery Australia road trip

Since you’re at Broken Hill already, you should take a side trip to the ghost town of Silverton , about 25km away. Here you’ll find a small artistic community, and the remains of what was once a thriving mining village, now long abandoned. You’ll also find an excellent pub, which happened to be the filming location of Mad Max 2 . Totally worth the trip.

Distance covered, aprox 900km. Total trip distance, aprox 2550km)

Week five – Broken Hill to Coober Pedy

The last couple of weeks of this trip require quite a bit more driving. At this point in the adventure, the scale and vastness of Australia’s outback become apparent, as the highlights along the route become further and further apart.

Still, a road trip in Australia is always going to involve some driving, right? Practice your outback wave (one finger raised off the wheel will suffice), watch out for kangaroos, and pop some tunes on the stereo. Life, you will realise, doesn’t get much better than this.

From Broken Hill you have a couple of options, depending on how adventurous you are feeling, to get to Coober Pedy . You can head across to Port Augusta and then up the nice and safe Stuart Highway, or you can go properly outback, read the terrifying warning signs, and take on the Oodnadatta Track.

If you and your vehicle are up to it, then I can highly recommend the latter option. This is a classic bit of outback driving which will give you an unforgettable adventure. On the way you will be able to experience the beautiful Flinders Ranges , take a side trip to the Mars like terrain of Arkaroola , and stop off at the vast dried out lake bed of Lake Eyre . You’ll even see the weirdness of Planehenge at the Mutonia Sculpture Park. Totally worth it.

Finally, after covering a whole lot of road, you’ll pull in to Coober Pedy , the opal mining town where everyone lives underground. This has to be seen to be believed. It’s also close to some seriously funky local attractions, including the Moon Plain, and the Painted Desert, both of which are worth the extra bit of driving.

Distance covered, aprox 1150km. Total trip distance, aprox 3700km)

Week six – Coober Pedy to Alice Springs

From Coober Pedy you can either head back on to the Oodnadatta Track and keep on experiencing the wonder of outback dirt road driving, or you can plough on up the Stewart Highway. This section of the road trip really just requires a lot of driving, so the Stewart Highway may be the best option at this point.

The highlights along this section of road become few and far between – you are basically aiming for Uluru, and you need to cover ground to get there. I can recommend stopping off at a roadhouse for a night, though, to experience true outback hospitality with a whole host of characters, from cowboys to truckers. You’ll likely have a night you’ll never forget… if you can remember it that is.

A great deal (seriously great) of driving later, and you will arrive at the world’s most amazing rock, where you will suddenly find yourself surrounded by people, which will come as a bit of a shock after a couple of weeks of driving and barely seeing another soul.

Uluru is an incredible place, although you will not be experiencing it alone. I can recommend quelling the urge to run screaming from the hordes of tourists, of which you are one, and just take it all in. Do the sunset watching thing, walk around the rock (or up it, if you don’t mind ignoring 40,000 years of aboriginal tradition), and enjoy yourself. Just make sure you also head over to the Olgas too, the other, less well known rock formation in the area.

Then, once you’re all rocked out, it’s back onto the highway for the final stretch of driving to Alice Springs . On the way up, you really should take the time to stop off at Kings Canyon , which is another spectacular bit of outback geology. Then, arrive into Alice, from where you can explore the amazing MacDonnell ranges, and this road trip ends.

Distance covered, aprox 1250km. Total trip distance, aprox 4950km)

This trip describes an ideal scenario where you can hire a vehicle in Sydney, finish your trip in Alice Springs and fly home. It should be pointed out that one way rentals usually carry a supplement over a return trip, as someone has to return the vehicle to where it started from.

If you go for the purchasing option, you may be better off continuing up to Darwin or even across to Cairns and trying to sell there, although for the distances involved, this may not be worth the added expense. Maybe you can find someone looking to do something similar in reverse, and sell the car to them. Or, find a very dear friend willing to lend you a car 😉

A trip of this magnitude is always going to need some planning and forethought. However, I believe that this route really showcases some of Australia’s most magnificent scenery, from rainforest to beaches to outback, in a slightly compressed timescale. If you have the funds and will, then it’s totally worth doing!

Finally, here’s a Google Map of this route for your to peruse:

There are 2 comments on this post

Please scroll to the end to leave a comment

16th February 2019 at 9:52 am

Why on earth would you go to Broken Hill rather than via Adelaide? By far the prettiest capital city, surrounded by vineyards and beaches rather than by arid dust. If you think thsi is the best way to spend six weeks in Australia you’ve clearly not been to the best parts. Yorke Peninsula, Flinders Ranges, Kangaroo Island, Coffin Bay? You’ve bypassed all of them.

Laurence Norah says

17th February 2019 at 2:03 pm

Thanks for your comment and feedback. This was the route I took, because I preferred the outback of Australia, which for me is the more unique and most beautiful part of the country. One man’s arid dust is another man’s paradise I guess! But of course everyone will have their own preferences. I spent a year driving around Australia, and it still wasn’t enough to see it all, and I did visit many of the locations you mention. Hopefully other readers will find inspiration in your comment 🙂

Safe travels!

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The ultimate itinerary for a trip around Australia

Seriously, this itinerary for Australia is the best. It heads through every capital city and will take you by all the things Australia is famous for.

You’ll see national parks, gigantic red rocks, and specky coastline. You jump into crocodile territory and swim with clown fish. You’ll have plenty of time to admire the ocean while relaxing with a beer and will explore some of the most remote areas of the outback.

The ultimate itinerary for a trip around Australia

Itinerary features:

Visits every capital city and all 8 states and territories.
4 road trips including the Great Ocean road from Melbourne to Adelaide, Alice Springs to Ayers Rock, Broome to Darwin via the Kimberly, and Sydney to Canberra.
5 of the best national parks / natural wonders Australia has to offer.
8 internal flights.

Places to visit in Australia:

Queensland: Great Barrier Reef, Cairns, Brisbane , Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Fraser Island
New South Wales: Byron Bay , Coffs Harbour , Port Macquarie, Sydney , Port Stephens, Blue Mountains , Hunter Valley, Jervis Bay
ACT: Canberra
Victoria: Melbourne , Geelong, Great Ocean Road
Tasmania: Hobart , Tasman Peninsula , Freycinet National Park, Cradle Mountain
South Australia: Adelaide, Kangaroo Island, Barossa Valley
Western Australia: Broome, The Kimberly, Perth, Rottnest Island
Northern Territory: Darwin, Kakadu National Park, Katherine, Litchfield National Park, Alice Springs, Ayers Rock (Uluru), Kings Canyon

Where to start?

You can start anywhere on the loop! Most international flights will head into Sydney or Melbourne, but you may also find flights into Cairns, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, and Darwin.

How long will it take?

Australia is actually the world’s sixth largest country by area. Wowee! So as you can imagine, a trip around Australia can not be completed quickly. The distances are great, so you’ll have a lot of travel time.

To do this ultimate itinerary quickly, you could probably squeeze it into 6 weeks at an absolute minimum.

If you’ve got more time (lucky you!) then I would definitely suggest taking at least 7-10 weeks, depending on the pace you’d like to travel and whether you’d prefer to drive or fly between destinations. Many people take a year off work to do a comprehensive trip around Australia. Some love it so much that they decide to move to Australia permanently !

How to get around?

The whole itinerary can be done via road – but it would be a very, very long road trip. You could spend multiple days driving through desert without actually coming across any other form of civilisation, so flying is the best option between most places.

There are some parts that should be done by car, such as Broome to Darwin, Alice Springs to Ayers Rock, and Sydney to the Blue Mountains, and the Great Ocean Road. Hiring a car is an easy option from most airports and cities.

How much will it cost?

Australia is not a particularly cheap country to travel around, especially because internal flights are the preferred method of getting between destinations. It is possible to do most of Australia on a budget – see my post on backpacking Australia costs to get an indication of prices.

Month-long seasonal itineraries:

If you’ve only got a month and you’re struggling to put together an itinerary for Australia, here are some seasonal suggestions.

One important thing to note for you folks that reside in the northern hemisphere; the seasons in Australia are opposite to what you’re used to. Winter in North America/Europe will be Summer in Australia!

The ultimate itinerary for a trip around Australia - Summer

Summer itinerary

Unless you want to swelter in humidity and travel through the wet seasons in the north, then stick to the south during Summer. The southern states of Tasmania and Victoria will be at their absolute best at this time of year.

Flights are required between all locations except Melbourne to Adelaide.

6 nights Sydney
6 nights Hobart / Tasmania
5 nights Great Ocean Road
5 nights Adelaide
6 nights Perth

The ultimate itinerary for a trip around Australia - Autumn

Autumn/Fall itinerary

Australia’s red centre is perfect in the shoulder seasons with warm days that won’t leave you scorched. It’s also the perfect time to visit the southern states of Tasmania and Victoria while the weather is still ok, as Winter and Spring are often rainy.

Flights are required between all locations except Melbourne to Adelaide, and Alice Springs to Ayers Rock.

6 nights Alice Springs / Ayers Rock

The ultimate itinerary for a trip around Australia - Winter

Winter itinerary

Head North during winter to take full advantage of the year round pleasant weather. May-October is typically the dry season in Queensland, Northern Territory, and the north of Western Australia. You’ll be treated to many dry, sunny days.

Lonely Planet hails the drive between Broome and Darwin as ‘Australia’s Wildest Road Trip’. It will take you through huge expanses of untouched wilderness and mind-blowing landscapes.

Flights are required between all locations except Broome to Darwin.

4 nights Sydney
3 nights Broome
7 nights Broome to Darwin
4 nights Darwin
6 nights Cairns / Great Barrier Reef
4 nights Brisbane

The ultimate itinerary for a trip around Australia - Spring

Spring itinerary

Spring is the perfect time to visit Western Australia, as the wildflower season is in full swing! It’s also a great time to head to the Great Barrier reef, when it’s not overrun with tourists and the weather is balmy.

Flights are required between all locations except Alice Springs to Ayers Rock.

6 nights Perth
6 nights Darwin / Kakadu NP

Guided tour options:

If you want to see Australia but just don’t have the time to do these longer itineraries, here are a few multi-day tours that will allow you to see the best of Australia in a short amount of time:

Explore Australia : A whirlwind 12-day tour with G Adventures
Beaches and Reefs : A 16-day Contiki tour that follows the coast from Sydney to Cairns
Best of Eastern Australia: An epic 25-day G Adventures tour visiting 5 states

How to spend one day in Tamworth, NSW

The Brighton Bathing Boxes in Melbourne, Australia

The best Melbourne activities (plus some hidden gems!)

Is Taronga Zoo worth the admission price?

Is Taronga Zoo worth the crazy admission price?

37 comments

Wow! This is really well-prepared. I hope to visit Australia one day 🙂

Thanks Susanne! You absolutely should, it’s one helluva country! 😀

All of these trips sound so amazing! I am applying for a Working Holiday Visa to live in Australia for a year, so I’ll definitely need to see as many places you mentioned as possible. I’m planning to live in Melbourne, and Great Ocean Road is at the top of my list of things I want to see!

Melbourne is a great base for travel around Australia, and one year will be plenty of time to hit up a few of the popular spots 😀 Great Ocean Road should definitely be top of your list, you will love it!

Great post! I drove around Australia for 11 months. It was fantastic and we still didn’t reach the Red Centre or Tassie! A good excuse to go again I reckon. I love how you have split the trip into seasons too! I met plenty of visitors that didn’t plan their driving trip very well and some ran into serious trouble. So thanks for sharing, hopefully more potential visitors will be better prepare by reading your posts!

11 months is a long time, you’re the perfect example that Australia is just too big to do in one go. I’ve lived here 27 years and still never visited Northern Territory or South Australia! It can definitely be a troublesome place for those who don’t plan properly – I also know of people who’ve managed to get stuck in the middle of nowhere when their car broke down, and it’s apparently common to run out of fuel on the long stretches of road that require a full tank just to get to the next fuel stop. Thanks for your comment Ruthie!

This was SUPER helpful. The seasonal tips were especially great, thanks!

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Thanks Jessica, I’m really glad you found it useful. I hope you get the chance to test out one of the itineraries sometime soon 😀

What a great itinerary! It sounds like an amazing trip, I’d love to find myself there for the Wildflower season one day!

Me too, I haven’t seen them for myself but I’ve heard wonderful things!

THIS LOOKS SO GOOD! I wish this post had come earlier 😛 I’m heading to Australia in 3 days time and I’m only going Brisbane, Gold Coast, Byron Bay, Sydney, Blue Mountains. Hopefully the weather’s good 🙂

http://www.youtopiantravels.com x

Sounds like you’ll still get a fabulous taster of the east coast, Jing! We’ve had a bit of wild weather lately but I think it’s settling down now. I’ve been posting some Blue Mountains pics on Instagram if you want to get inspired. I hope you have a fabulous time in Australia 😀

This is without a doubt the dream vacation/journey I am saving for right now. Australia just seems so so incredible, and I will be referencing back to this post when I finally do get around to visiting!

ExploresMore.com

That’s awesome Julia, I hope you make it over to Australia soon! I’m sure you will love it 😀

This is marvelous. I’m Aussie but have seen far more of Europe than I have of my own backyard. This is definitely the type of trip I want to tackle in the not-too-distant-future.

I know exactly what you mean – every time I look into travelling within Australia I’m turned off by how expensive it is… and how much longer I could travel in South East Asia for the same price! But still, Australia is wonderful and everyone should travel here 😛

Great suggestions! Ive visited Australia once and spent a few weeks in Brisbane, but I would love to go back and explore some more. Laura @ Laughter is Catching

One day! What I really need is to find myself a really well-paid job, save lots of money, and then take three months sabbatical. Oh, and hubby needs to do the same 🙂

Fab ideas Ashlea 🙂

Now that is a great idea! I usually do my long-term travels in between jobs so that I have time to save up, then am not worried about how long I’m taking off work 🙂 Thanks Emmalene!

Thank you for this article. Just stumbled upon it. I’m going to Australia for 2 weeks only over Christmas and New Year and I’ll try to squeeze in your Summer itinerary suggestion by cutting down on the days in each location. I have friends in Sydney, but want to see Melbourne, Perth and Tasmania very bad. Also to determine if I want to move there permanently.

Thanks, Marina! It’s so great that you have a trip to Australia planned 😀 2 weeks isn’t long, but if you plan to move there then you’ll have plenty of time to see more of the country later. I’d say it might be hard to fit in Perth on this trip, but it should be easy enough to do Sydney, Melbourne, and Tasmania. Be sure to let me know what you thought of it all after your trip!

I sure will, Ashlea! But I think I can not skip Perth at all because that’s where you have quokkas! I’m in love with those animals. And Tasmanian Devils. That’s why I want to go to those places. I don’t want to go to the mainstream zoo and see animals behind the glass or in cages, but I want to visit a special wildlife sanctuary or even better if I can find a place where someone will let me hold them, I’ll be in heaven! Any suggestions?

That’s fair enough, Perth and the areas around it (like Freemantle and Rottnest Island) are pretty lovely places 🙂 The quokkas are running about all over Rottnest Island so you’ll be able to see them everywhere. I’m not aware of any places in Tasmania that will let you hold Tasmanian Devils, but I have the perfect place for you to see them – go to Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary just outside of Hobart. This place rescues injured wildlife and has a breeding program for endangered animals. You can also hand-feed kangaroos! And it’s definitely not a zoo 🙂

OMG, thank you so much!!!! I’m definitely going to the Rottnest Island and that sanctuary. This is something I’ve been thinking about for a while – toying with the idea of abandoning career in yacht sales and dedicating my life to the animals. It’ll be great to see what it’s all about to help me make a decision. ???

The round Australia trip would ideally take three to four months…any less would be really rushed. If you have only two weeks I would suggest fly to Sydney and spend a few days there then fly to Melbourne and visit Wilson’s Promontory National Park and then go to Phillip Island to see the penguin parade. Return to Melbourne and try out some of the cafes in the city or in Lygon St Carlton. The drive out along the great ocean road stopping at Mait’s rest to do a rainforest walk, Kennet River to feed colourful cockatoos and see koalas in the trees and of course see the twelve apostles etc. Stay overnight at Warnambool then head north towards Grampians national park, stopping first at Tower Hill….an island park in the middle of an ancient volcano. At the Grampians stay for a night or two in Hall’s Gap and visit a number of waterfalls and lookouts. On your way back to Melbourne you could visit Daylesford which is an area famous for wineries and gourmet foods. After Melbourne fly to Perth and head south to the Margaret river region where you can visit Jewel cave, Yallingup beach, Canal Rocks, buy a pie at the Dunsborough bakery and eat it at Meelup beach before driving down to see Sugarloaf rock. Visit the longest jetty in the Southern Hemisphere at Busselton before returning to Perth, where you can explore Fremantle and the beaches for a few days before flying home. That will give you a taste of Australia in two weeks. Sydney…three days then fly to Melbourne Melbourne and Wison’s Promontory and the penguins at Phillip island …two days Great ocean road and Grampians …three days Melbourne city one day Fly to Perth….allow one day…..you need to get to the airport an hour before your flight, it takes three and a half to four hours to fly To Perth and because of time zone differences you lose another two or three hours, so you will only have time to eat and go to your accommodation once you get to Perth. Southwest trip three days then a day or two in Perth

Wow, that already seems like a lot! Lol Thank you, Jan, for your thorough suggestion. I’d love to see penguins as well! Do you know by any chance if there’s some kind of guided tours like that, with a group of people? I’m staying with my friends in Sydney but I’ll be pretty much on my own for the whole 2 weeks, so I wanted to find a group of other travelers to join to. I was going to search online for that in the next couple days….

This itinerary is PERFECT.

Heading down under in 2 years and have been saving saving but the planning had been a bit slow. This has been a gear help, especially that you split them into seasons, thanks for that.

I will be in Australia for a year on a s raking holiday visa, but dint know if I will even see all of this as I am also planning to visit nearby countries such as New Zealand, Fiji etc. Lets see how I go!

It’s so great that you’re planning a trip down under! And I’m very glad that you found my itineraries useful. There is a lot to see in Australia, so it would be totally understandable if you didn’t get to see it all. I lived there for 22 years and didn’t even get to see the states of Northern Territory or South Australia!

I enjoy reading your post, seems very different from other which you included the very important factors of touring which is the weather. We all know before we decide to go anywhere when touring, we check what kind of weather we expect. I like summer, less luggage. Great ocean road is one of my favorite to visit, been there once and wants to come back again and again with my camera of course.

-https://www.notmyfault.com.au/

This is a great help. We are planning to take a year out to travel Australia with our 3 year old. Would be starting our travels around November time and have been researching best times and places to visit each area. Also trying to work out the best way to travel, ie by campervan/Winnebago or flying. I’d be grateful for a little help with this and also with the itinerary if possible? Thanks

What a wonderful page….. We are planning 8-10 weeks, starting Feb 2019. I love the ultimate route, do you reckon its doable the time we have? What would you suggest… traveling by campervan/RV, car rental or flying. And can we do this on our own without taking any organized tour? Can you suggest an itinerary for us to follow? It would be very helpful to hear your suggestions.

Thanks for your help

Yes it’s possible, but there’s no way you could fit in the whole trip via campervan in 8-10 weeks – if you pick and choose some parts to do via road and other parts via flight, you’ll manage it. Also keep in mind that Feb/Mar is wet season in the north, so maybe try to fit that part in last 🙂

Thank you so much for you response. Yes I am aware that it’s impossible to fit the whole trip in 8-10 weeks on the road, whether with campervan or rental car. We are planning to fly to some places, as you suggested on your blog….8 flights! There is still a lot to research and come up with an itinerary. Thanks again!

Love this Ashlea. You’ve covered all the bucket list musts. We’re two Aussies who dream of doing an epic Aussie road trip some day. Will definitely be bookmarking this page for when that time comes!

I’d love to do the whole trip, too! It would take quite a lot of time to do it all, but it would be such an epic trip. Thanks Rhiannon!

You will see everything that everyone else has seen…..And you will miss so much!

Well of course – it’s impossible to visit any country and see all of it in one go! This is just a suggestion for anyone who wants to see the best of Australia. You can always come back to visit more places on future trips 🙂

Your Perfect Australia Itinerary For 1-4 Weeks

Post last modified: January 3, 2024
Post category: 10+ Days / Australia / Itineraries

Australia is huge! Like the size of the continental U.S. huge. So don’t assume you can see it all in a few days. You need a month or more to travel to all of the territories in Australia. And Australia can be expensive. However, Australia is also the most amazing place we’ve ever been! And we want you to have an amazing Australian vacation too. So we’ve put together our three week Australia itinerary that includes all the best stops along the Eastern coast. We’ve also included plenty of suggestions to help you plan a 1, 2, 3, or 4 week Australia itinerary that is perfect for you.

Stuff In This Post

How Many Days In Australia Is Enough?

You need at least one week to see just one or two regions of Australia. If you want to see all the main tourism areas you’ll need at least one month.

How To Plan Your Perfect Australia Itinerary?

First, you need to decide how much time you have. Next, you need to decide what you really want to see. Sure Cairns has the Great Barrier Reef , but if you don’t like snorkeling or scuba diving, do you really want to spend time there? So what is important to you?

We’ve broken down popular travel regions and listed how many days we think you need to visit that location. You can easily piece together your own itinerary with all of these mini itineraries.

New South Wales – 1 week

Sydney – 3 days
Sydney Day Trips – 1-2 days
Pacific Coast road trip – 3-4 days

Northern Territory – 4 days

Alice Springs – 1 day
Uluru – 3 days

Queensland – 1+ week

Cairns – 4 days ( Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest)
Brisbane – 1 day
The Queensland Coast – 4-5 days

South Australia – 3 days

Adelaide – 2 days
Kangaroo Island – 1 day

Tasmania – 5 days

Victoria – 5 days

Melbourne – 2 days
Phillip Island – 1 day
Great Ocean Road – 2 days

Western Australia – 9+ days

Perth – 2 days
Western Coast Road Trip – 1+ week

How To Get Around Australia?

First, several areas of Australia are perfect for the road trip! And traveling by car in Australia is easy to do. It’s also much cheaper to rent a car in Australia than in the US – something about insurance – which was really nice. Road trips are an affordable way to get around Australia. However, gas can be expensive so make sure you get a vehicle that has good gas milage.

However, Australia is HUGE – did we mention that already. So you can’t drive everywhere unless you have unlimited time. And quite honestly there are some places that you wouldn’t enjoy the drive either. This is where domestic Australian flights come in. Those are also really cheap compared with domestic flights in the US.

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So using a combination of domestic Australian flights and scenic road trips you’ll be able to see all of Australia without breaking the budget.

Three Week Australia Itinerary

This is the three week Australia itinerary that we followed. It was our favorite vacation we’ve ever taken and also one of the cheapest per day. Feel free to use the entire vacation or pick and choose days to make your own perfect Australia itinerary.

Day 1 – Arrive in Australia

A big portion of your morning will likely be spent arriving in Australia and getting your rental car. Most international Australian flights from the U.S. arrive in Sydney so you’ll likely have to take a connecting flight to Melbourne to start this Australia itinerary. We arrived in Melbourne around 11 AM and started this itinerary from there.

First things first, listen to Down Under by Men At Work to start your vacation right!

Then drive straight through Melbourne and on to Phillip Island.

Stay overnight on Phillip Island in a cute home rental.

Day 2 – Phillip Island

On our first day in Australia, we took it easy as we adjusted to the time difference. And what is more relaxing than seeing Australian critters and walking the beach?

While you await the nightly Penguin Parade, consider walking along the beaches or visiting the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit . We would have liked to visit the Grand Prix for a tour but there was an actual event happening when we visited so we walked the beaches instead. However, we did notice that most beaches in the area were beautiful but the waves were too aggressive for swimming when we visited.

Next, head to the Phillip Island Nature Park . Here you’ll get great views of the ocean and you’ll probably spot your first kangaroo/wallaby.

PS: We asked several Australians how to tell the difference between kangaroos and wallabies and the answer was size. When we asked how to tell the difference between a big wallaby and a small kangaroo, no one could tell us.

Grab a quick dinner before it gets dark.

Once it gets dark, the Penguin Parade begins. Grab your tickets ahead of time and come ready to spot the cute tiny penguins as they go to their burrows from the ocean at the end of the day.

Stay overnight on Phillip Island again.

Day 3 – Melbourne

First, wake up early to start your journey back into Melbourne .

Spend the day exploring Melbourne. Keep in mind that there is a free tram that goes through the Central Business District of Melbourne that you can use for all of your transportation needs. So find somewhere to park your car for the day. We chose Melbourne accommodations that had free parking.

For a full list of fun things to do in Melbourne, check out our post here.

Our most highly recommended piece of Melbourne advice for your day is to visit the Queen Victoria Market for lunch. This farmers market meets flea market is a great place to sample some of the local Australian fare. We bought little snacks throughout the market to make up our lunch.

Next, spend your evening enjoying a game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. There are games almost every night and any game is impressive in this stadium.

Stay overnight in Melbourne.

Day 4 – The Great Ocean Road

First, drive west of Melbourne to take the greatest road trip of all time, The Great Ocean Road . This is one of the best road trips we’ve ever been on. The views are gorgeous.

For this part of your Australia itinerary, you’ll drive as far west as you can get in the day along the coast. The Twelve Apostles are the show stopper along this road trip so plan to spend most of your time enjoying these viewpoints.

For more information on visiting the Twelve Apostles, check out the guide here.

Stay overnight along the Great Ocean Road; we stayed in a home rental in Port Campbell .

Day 5 – The Great Ocean Road

You may be able to spend a bit of your day continuing west to finish up any Twelve Apostle sights that you weren’t able to see yesterday.

Then, head back east to Melbourne along the inland road.

Here, you’ll want to spend plenty of time exploring the oldest rainforest and looking for koalas in the wild.

For more details on this two day Great Ocean Road Trip, check out our complete itinerary here.

**Alternative transportation option** We like driving ourselves around and the freedom that gives us. However, if you don’t, you could forgo the self drive options here and ditch the rental car. There are Phillip Island half-day trips and Great Ocean road overnight trips that you can take with tour companies from Melbourne. By buying from this link , we’ll earn a commission at no extra cost to you so we can afford to keep this blog up and running.

Head back into Melbourne and stay overnight near the airport .

Day 6 – Travel and Kuranda

First, catch an early morning flight from Melbourne to Cairns. This flight, with airport and travel time, took about 6 hours. You’ll need an early morning flight if you want to have time to visit Kuranda.

Next, take a taxi from the airport to your accommodations and get your bags stored before heading to Kuranda . You will not need a rental car in Cairns as you can rely on tours to get you around. Take the tram car up to the mountain to explore Kuranda before taking the railroad back down.

Finally, spend the evening walking along the Esplanade Boardwalk and exploring the town of Cairns. Most shops along the boardwalk stay open late.

For more ideas on things to do in Cairns, check out our post here.

Lastly, eat at Prawn Stars . Period. The coolest seafood restaurant we’ve ever been to.

Stay overnight in Cairns . Try to stay somewhere with free luggage storage so you can leave extra luggage on land when you explore the Great Barrier Reef. Lots of hotels in the area offer this as reef tours here are popular.

Day 7 & 8 – The Great Barrier Reef

Next, spend two days on a live aboard dive trip or an overnight snorkeling trip exploring the Great Barrier Reef . This is a bucket list worthy adventure and you need two days to do it. This is because most of the best dive sites are farther out and take several hours to get to. Two days exploring the Great Barrier Reef is totally worth the extra money this overnight tour will cost you. Read more about our tour here.

Return to Cairns in the evening and stay another night there.

Day 9 – Daintree National Park

Take a day tour into the Daintree National Park . Most day trips include visits to Port Douglas, Cape Tribulation and plenty of time in the rainforest.

Stay overnight in Cairns.

Day 10 – Brisbane

First, get another early morning flight from Cairns to Brisbane for the final leg of your trip. We caught another early flight and were in Brisbane before lunch. Once in Brisbane, rent a car as you’ll be driving the Pacific Coast from Brisbane to Sydney.

You’ll likely arrive in the afternoon and there are two great options. First, you can drive a few hours to the Australia Zoo . Alternatively, you can drive a little less for an amazing beach just outside of Brisbane. Some of the best beaches are along this stretch of the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast. Whatever you choose to do it will be fabulous.

Stay overnight in Brisbane.

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary - kangaroo feeding

Day 11 – Brisbane

Next, spend the day exploring Brisbane.

For a full list of activities, check out the things to do in Brisbane here.

Whatever you end of doing, make sure to check out the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary . This is one of the best zoos we’ve ever been to and the opportunity to interact with Australian critters here is amazing.

Check out our full post on what to expect at Lone Pine here.

Day 12-15 – Australia’s Pacific Coast

Spend 4 days making your way down the sunshine coast as you drive one of Australia’s best road trips.

Want more information on all of the stops, we wrote all about our road trip here.

One the end of day 14 of this Australia itinerary, stay overnight in Newcastle .

Day 16 – The Blue Mountains

Start early in the morning so you can spend one full day exploring the Blue Mountains . Additionally, don’t forget to take a tour of the Jeolan Caves as well.

To learn more about our one day Blue Mountain itinerary, check out our post here.

Stay overnight in a home stay in Katoomba.

Day 17 – Bondi Beach

First, spend the morning driving to Sydney, specifically Bondi Beach . Spend a few hours here relaxing and soaking up the sun. After you’re done at the beach, do all or part of the Bondi to Coogee Coastal walk .

Next, return your rental car. You won’t need it to get around Sydney if you are staying near public transport so this will save you a bit of money. Then head to your Sydney accommodations to get checked in a drop off luggage.

Stay overnight near public transportation in Sydney .

Day 18 – Sydney Sights

Spend the first day in Sydney doing a hop-on-hop-off tour of Sydney . We love these types of tours in large cities as it gives us an opportunity to learn about everything but only focus time on the things that interest us.

However, there are two sights that every Sydney visitor needs to see and that is the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera house .

For the breakdown of how we spent our time in Sydney, check out our detailed Sydney itinerary here.

Day 19 – More Sydney

Spend the final day of your Australia itinerary, exploring more of Sydney. There is plenty of history and nature to explore in Sydney. Don’t forget to stop in at the Australian Museum to learn all about the country you’ve been tramping around for the past three weeks of this Australian itinerary.

For a full list of popular things to do in Sydney, check out our list here.

Day 20 – travel home.

Finally, wake up and enjoy your last breakfast in Australia on this final day of your Australia itinerary. Catch a flight home.

Want To Adjust the Australia Itinerary?

One australia itinerary.

With one week in Australia, most people stick to New South Wales. Honestly, this wasn’t our favorite area in Australia . However, it is the region with the most to do packed into the smallest area, which makes it a great spot if you are short on time. It also makes it cheaper as you have to spend less on transportation costs.

Day 1-3 – Sydney – follow Days 17-19 above
Day 4 – Blue Mountains – follow Day 16 above
Day 5-7 – Drive Australia’s Pacific Coast from Sydney to Brisbane, make sure to stop at least one night in Byron Bay

Additionally, with one week in Australia, you could pick two cities to base yourself in and then explore farther afield with days trips.

Our suggestion would be Melbourne and Cairns, our two favorite cities in Australia.

Day 1 – Melbourne
Day 2-3 – Great Ocean Road trip
Day 4 – fly to Cairns, see Cairns
Day 5-6 – Great Barrier Reef liveaboard
Day 7 – Daintree Rainforest tour

However, we understand that most people want to see Sydney on a Australian vacation . So this one week in Australia itinerary includes Cairns and Sydney.

Day 1-2 – Sydney – follow Days 17-18 above
Day 3 – Blue Mountain day trip

Two Week Australia Itinerary

Two weeks in Australia is possibly the hardest Australia itinerary to decide upon. Because you can see a ton of different things OR you can really delve in to a few areas and do some road trips. We would recommend visiting Cairns, Sydney and Melbourne and doing short trips from those areas.

Day 1-2 – Melbourne, with a day trip (or half day trip) to Phillip island
Day 3-4 – Great Ocean Road trip
Day 5 – fly to Cairns, see Cairns
Day 6-7 – Great Barrier Reef liveaboard
Day 8 – Daintree Rainforest tour
Day 9 – fly to Sydney
Day 10-12 – Sydney , follow days 17-19 above
Day 13-14 – Blue Mountains

Four Week Australia Itinerary

With four weeks in Australia, you can add in a visit to Uluru. Honestly, most three week Australia itineraries include a visit to Uluru and skip Victoria. However, when we visited Australia, we’d just got done spending a lot of time in Arizona, so we were kinda desert rock-ed out. However, with four weeks in Australia, you can visit Victoria, then South Australia, the Northern Territory, then Queensland and lastly New South Wales.

Days 1-5 – Victoria – follow the Day 1-5 itinerary above
Day 6 – Continue driving the Great Ocean Road on to Adelaide
Day 7 – Take a day trip to Kangaroo Island
Day 8 – Explore Adelaide in the morning, Fly to Alice Springs in the afternoon
Day 9 – Explore Alice Springs
Day 10-13 – Explore Uluru , including Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon
Day 14-17 – Queensland – follow the Day 6-9 itinerary above
Day 18-28 – New South Wales – follow the Day 10-20 itinerary above

We hope that this three week Australian itinerary has helped you to plan your own Australia vacation. If you need more inspiration for planing your Australian vacation, check out all of our Australia posts here.

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Australia Road Trip Itinerary for up to 5 Weeks

By Author Jurga

Posted on Last updated: April 24, 2024

Australia Road Trip Itinerary for up to 5 Weeks

Are you looking for the best Australia itinerary ? It’s a tough choice – there are just so many options… Nevertheless, in this post, we try to give you a good starting point on how to best plan your Australia road trip itinerary . Find out!

Good to know: This 5 weeks Australia itinerary is structured in such a way that it includes separate ‘itinerary blocks’ per area (Sydney, Melbourne, Red Center, etc.). So you can just pick the areas that interest you the most and plan your own perfect Australia road trip.

We visited Australia twice. The first time we followed a standard East Coast itinerary from Cairns to Sydney and, to tell you the truth, were quite disappointed. The 5-week Australia road trip itinerary that I share in this article is based on our second road trip in Australia. We planned this trip ourselves, spent many hours perfecting this itinerary and we absolutely loved this trip!

This Australia itinerary covers many highlights that we thought were worth our time the most. After all, when you fly to the other side of the world, you really want to see the best of the best, right?

We spent more than a month in Australia with kids and visited many different regions. Our Australia itinerary started in Sydney and the Blue Mountains , followed by the Red Centre . We then visited Kangaroo Island and the Great Ocean Road . We spent 10 days in Tasmania and ended our Australian road trip in Melbourne .

Below you can find our 5-week Australia road trip itinerary in a nutshell. It includes a day to day planning of our Australian road trip and some practical tips.

Would I change anything to this Australia itinerary? Not much. I would add some extra days here and there, but this itinerary pretty much covers all the highlights in each place. And who has so much vacation time… We could only do this trip because our kids were still young and we weren’t tied to school holidays at that time…

There are a few popular regions of Australia we didn’t cover during this trip – the Great Barrier Reef and the Northern Territories around Darwin, also Western Australia.

We skipped the Great Barrier Reef because we had been there in the past and because our kids were too young to go snorkeling. We left Darwin for another time as well because we visited Australia in November and it’s rainy season in the North. But if you have more time, I definitely recommend adding these two areas to your Australia itinerary as well. Here you can find a suggested trip itinerary for Darwin area .

If you have even more time in your Australia itinerary, Western Australia is also beautiful, especially if you like nature destinations. Just keep in mind that distances are big and so you’ll need at least a few weeks extra if you want to add Perth and Western Australia to your Australian itinerary.

Australia trip itinerary featuring Sydney and the Blue Mountains, the Red Centre, Kangaroo Island, the Great Ocean Road, the Grampians NP, Melbourne, Tasmania and more - plan your trip! #Australia

Planning tip: Below you can find our Australia road trip itinerary. To help you plan your trip easier, I split our Australia itinerary into separate blocks per region .

That way you can easily mix and match these ‘blocks’ depending on which areas you want to visit. This will allow you to plan your trip Down Under and create your own perfect Australia itinerary, using our tips and suggestions. Take a look!

Sydney and The Blue Mountains – 4 Days

Probably every Australia itinerary will start or end in Sydney. It’s such a beautiful city and there is so much to see – definitely worth a stop. We don’t spend much time in cities when we travel, but we spent two days in Sydney and loved it. We also visited the nearby Blue Mountains and I think that this stunning area is also a must when visiting Sydney.

Here is what our itinerary in the Sydney area looked like:

Day 1: Arrival in Sydney. Stay in Sydney for 2 nights (we recommend InterContinental Sydney ).
Day 2: One day in Sydney . With a family, check out these top attractions and/or Taronga Zoo .
Day 3: Featherdale Wildlife Park and the Blue Mountains. Stay in Leura for 1 night (or you can simply book a day tour from Sydney).
Day 4: Blue Mountains. Sleep near Sydney Airport for 1 night (we stayed at Novotel Sydney International Airport ).

TIP: You can either rent a car for the last two days or spend more time in Sydney, stay in the city, and book a day trip to the Blue Mountains . If you travel without kids, I think it’s a much better option to just stay in Sydney. Unless you want to spend more time exploring the Blue Mountains, of course. In that case, you may want to stay there for a few more days.

Sydney is a must in any Australia trip itinerary

Australia’s Red Center – 6 Days

If there is one part I would include in every Australia itinerary, it’s the Red Center. It’s just so typically Australian and so unique that you really shouldn’t miss it. The trip between Alice Springs and Ayers Rock including West MacDonnell Ranges and Kings Canyon is probably one of the most special trips we ever did, not just in Australia.

Below is a short version of our daily schedule. Here you can find our detailed 6- day itinerary for Australia’s Red Centre, from Alice Springs to Uluru.

Day 5: Flight Sydney – Alice Springs. Stay in Alice Springs for 1 night.
Day 6: Alice Springs – West MacDonnell Ranges – Glen Helen. Stay in Glen Helen for 1 night.
Day 7: Glen Helen – Kings Canyon. Stay in Kings Canyon for 1 night.
Day 8: Kings Canyon – Uluru (Ayers Rock). Stay in Ayers Rock Resort (Yulara) for 2 nights.
Day 9: Uluru – Kata Tjuta National Park.
Day 10: Uluru – Kata Tjuta NP and drive back to Alice Springs. Stay in Alice Springs for 1 night.

TIP: You will need a 4WD for this itinerary. It’s possible to do this trip driving only on paved roads as well, but in that case, you will need to cover the distance of almost 700 km between Glen Helen and Kings Canyon on the paved road (instead of 250km via the Mereenie Loop).

If you decide to do that, then take your time to explore the gorges of the West MacDonnell Ranges a bit more and spend a night in Alice Springs again, before continuing to Kings Canyon. If you are only planning to drive from Alice Springs to Uluru, you can do it in a regular car. We always use the RentalCars website to find the best deals for car hire.

READ MORE: Red Centre Itinerary – from Alice Springs to Uluru

Australia Red Centre itinerary for the most complete road trip including all the highlights like Ayers Rock, Kings Canyon, West MacDonnell ranges and more

Adelaide and Kangaroo Island – 5 Days

I am so glad we included Kangaroo Island in our Australia road trip itinerary. It became one of our favorite places Down Under and one I’d like to return to again.

Here is an overview of our Kangaroo Island itinerary:

Day 11: Flight from Alice Springs to Adelaide. Stay in Adelaide for 1 night.
Day 12: Adelaide to Kangaroo Island. Stay on Kangaroo Island for 4 nights.
Days 13 – 15: Kangaroo Island.

Good to know: You will need to rent a car in Adelaide and take a ferry to Kangaroo Island . We rented a car from Adelaide and dropped it off in Melbourne. After visiting Kangaroo Island, we continued our Australian road trip via the Grampians National Park and the Great Ocean Road to Melbourne (see further).

Kangaroo Island to Melbourne via the Grampians NP and the Great Ocean Road – 7 Days

This part of our Australia itinerary required a bit more driving, but the two main highlights – Grampians National Park and the Great Ocean Road were more than worth it. Here is how our road trip itinerary between Adelaide and Melbourne looked like:

Day 16: Kangaroo Island to Robe. Stay in Robe for 1 night. There isn’t much to see in Robe, but you need to break the long drive somewhere in the area.
Day 17: Robe to the Grampians National Park. Stay in Halls Gap for 2 nights.
Day 18: The Grampians National Park.
Day 19: The Grampians to Warrnambool. Stay in Warrnambool for 1 night.
Day 20: Warrnambool to Lorne (Great Ocean Road). Stay in Lorne for 2 nights.
Day 21: The Great Ocean Road. TIP: try to spot some wild koalas at the Kennett River first thing in the morning.
Day 22: Lorne to Melbourne Airport and flight to Tasmania. Stay in Hobart for 1 night.

As you can see, we skipped the city of Melbourne at this point and flew straight to Tasmania. This is because we came back to Melbourne at the end of our Australia trip for the flight back to Europe (see further).

LEARN MORE: Best Stops on the Great Ocean Road

The Great Ocean Road is one of the must see places in Australia

Tasmania – 10 Days

While not many people include Tasmania in their Australia trip itinerary, it’s really worth a trip if you have at least a week to spare. It’s probably worth it for just a few days as well, but it really depends on how much time you have. Below you can see what our itinerary in Tasmania looked like.

TIP: You will need to rent a car in Hobart for this Tasmania trip.

Melbourne – 2 Days

Days 33-35: Melbourne and flight back to Europe.

If you like visiting cities, you can easily spend several days in Melbourne. We spent here one full day and half a day before heading back home.

6 Weeks in Australia

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. PLEASE READ OUR DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO.

Last Updated on May 14, 2021 by Amy

I have very bad news for you. Let me just get this painful part out of the way; I can not narrow down this trip for you. I can not give you highlights. Because every single place we went to on our trip for 6 weeks in Australia was AMAZING.

Despite ending on a low note (our fault, not Australia’s), the whole trip was pretty amazing. We would be very hard pressed to pick a part we would leave out if you only had 5 and a half weeks.

Table of Contents - Click to Jump

All the blog posts

54 Hours in Canberra
Adelaide to Melbourne Road Trip
Melbourne Laneways Self-Guided Walking Tour
Tasmania in 8 Days
Surfing in Bondi
5 Nights in the Red Centre
Diving in Ningaloo with Sail Ningaloo
Liveaboard sailboat with Sail Ningaloo
Travel FAIL in Ningaloo Reef
Rottnest Island

Driving Versus Flying around Australia

Australia is such a huge country, and we would have loved to cover it via buying a car like we did in New Zealand . We knew we had to get to the Red Centre, and driving to the Red Centre takes far too much time out of a six-week trip. It just isn’t feasible to get to as many places as we did in six-weeks if you plan on driving. I think an east coast road trip is an amazing option if you want to get a long drive in (and buy a car). It would be cheaper, but you would miss out on the center of the country and the west coast.

Alternatively, you can use a relocation deal to get a campervan for $1 a day .

Trip Statistics

All 6 states & mainland territories
3,000 km of driving
5 scuba dives
1 surf lesson
3 awesome Milky Way shots
5 biggest cities in Australia
3 boat trips

Nights Breakdown

Canberra: 2
Adelaide: 2
Driving to Melbourne: 6
Melbourne: 4
Tasmania: 8
Kings Canyon: 1
Alice Springs: 2
Fremantle: 2
Ningaloo Reef: 5

It’s important to remember that we’ve spent a lot of additional time on the east coast already, including nearly 3 weeks in Sydney and 3 days in Brisbane . Between May 1 and mid-July we will be taking our sailboat from Scarborough (outside of Brisbane) to Thursday Island. We look forward to a lot of amazing stops between now and then.

Some of my Favorite Photos

Australian airlines.

We flew four major domestic airlines:

Jetstar Airways

Our strategy was to fly non-stop as much as possible (which we achieved) and not have to get up insanely early anywhere, so we did spend a bit more on our flights than someone who’s absolutely penny-pinching.

We got served food on every Quantas flight we took, although it was usually pretty bad. Quantas and Virgin always allowed 23 kg of luggage, versus Tigerair and Jetstar that had additional fees for luggage over 15 kg. The additional fee depends on the length of time for your flight. Additionally, Tigerair and Jetstar charge a fee to pick your seats.

I did look at booking using a third-party website for a few flights, but when I ran the numbers, it was only a few dollars more to book directly with Quantas or Virgin. Weirdly, third-party sites are allowed to advertise a lower price for these airlines, but then charge additional fees for seating, etc.

Cell phone service

My SIM card is Vodaphone, and David’s is OVO. Vodaphone did not have service in parts of Tasmania or Exmouth. OVO had service in all of Tasmania and in parts of Exmouth. Telstra is the best option if you are traveling extensively in Western Australia.

6 Weeks in Australia Trip Costs

I would say David and I have a moderate budget when traveling. We skimp on accommodations and do lots of free activities in order to eat delicious food and buy the one or two really big special activities that we got to do.

Airfare: We spent $4,500 AUD ($3,500 USD) on airfare.

Accommodations: Of 34 nights in hotels or Airbnbs, we paid an average of $130 AUD a night. That’s $4,400 total over 34 nights. The most expensive nights were at Exmouth Escape in Exmouth, WA (very nice apartment-style) and Outback Pioneer at Uluru, NT (meh).

Car Rental: We did 3 car rentals for a total of $1,300 AUD (Adelaide to Melbourne, Tasmania, and Red Centre).

Final Thoughts

We had an amazing time. We’d seen a lot of the country, and many Australians we talked to said: “wow, I’ve never been to most of these places”. Australia is such a huge and diverse country, and we are so glad to have been able to explore so much of it. And we’re not done yet!

PS. The next few blog posts are going to be boat project related! Enjoy. 🙂

Looking for more big trip ideas? How about a month (or more) in the US or 35-days in New Zealand ?

Pingback: 6 Weeks in Australia - Voyage Love
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Hi Guys, I just watched your youtube video about the race you had with Sandy Cheeks and Cheeky Monkey. I purchased Sandy Cheeks in February 2018. She is moored just around the corner from you in Newport Marina. We refueled on Sunday and saw you at Scarborough. Are you going to be around tomorrow night (Tuesday 1st May)? I would love to catch up.

Craig Symons (Sandy Cheeks)

Hey Craig! Saw your message on Facebook and replied there! Hope to see you soon!

Incredible collection of pictures, Amy. Love your posts – they are always a great read.

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How to Plan the Perfect East Coast Australia Itinerary on a Budget

By: Author Taylor Lorenz

Posted on Last updated: 10/25/2023

How to Plan the Perfect East Coast Australia Itinerary on a Budget

The East Coast of Australia is a must-do for every backpacker in the country. It is the most popular route for travellers and easily has the most things to see in Australia. There is a very beaten backpacker trail as you as either go north or south so you’ll most likely run into people along your trip.

The East Coast is a very long route as you will be travelling most of the country. The first mistake people make is thinking it can be done quickly. Australia is about the size of the USA so driving the entire strech of the East Coast will take days. So even through there are so many things to do in Australia along this trip they will still take time to get to so be prepared to buckle up and plan to spend some time in Australia to really see it all.

The best part of an East Coast trip is that most places to visit in Australia are natural. From stunning beaches to gorgeous islands and even the oldest rainforest in the world, you’ll find them all and what to do in Australia in this sample itinerary.

Table of Contents

East Coast Australia Itinerary

Recommended australia tours.

Most of the Coast: Sydney to Cairns
Australian Highlights
Uluru & Kings Canyon Adventures (I personally did this tour and highly recommend it!)

Daily Breakdown of My Australia Trip Itinerary

How this itinerary works: In order to accommodate itineraries varying from 2-6 weeks I list the minimum amount of days to the maximum amount of days to spend in each spot to give you a rough idea of how much there is to do in each stop along the coast. I list typical activities to do in each stop, day trips and then link to further resources to help you create the perfect itinerary for each destination.

This East Coast Australia guide is made specifically for backpacking Australia but it can also be used for anyone travelling the East Coast as it covers what to see in Australia and the best places to visit in Australia.

Suggested Time: 2-5 days

There are so many things to do in Melbourne that you could easily spend a week here. Spend a day roaming around the CBD (central business district), exploring the hidden bars and street art in the alleyways. Grab a bite to eat at one of the fabulous restaurants along the Yarra River and find a rooftop bar to hangout for the evening.

Hit up St Kilda beach for an afternoon, wander through the Botanical Gardens and don’t miss out on trying a freakshake! Melbourne is a foodies paradise so the chances are that there will be some kind of food festival going on while you’re visiting. Most of the museums are also free and you can find out tourist info in Fed Square.

There are also a number of days trips from Melbourne that are totally worth it:

Great Ocean Road : A stunning 2-day road trip or day tour, if you do any day trips from Melbourne make it this one
Philip Island : See the fairy penguins, famous because they’re so small and adorable
Yarra Valley : Wine lovers head here to one of Australia’s biggest and best wine regions for a day of tastings
Peninsula Hot Springs : Take a day to relax in the cave pool, hot springs, sauna and bath house

READ MORE: 51 Things to do in Melbourne (21 of Them are Free!)

Australia travel | Sydney | Sydney Australia things to do in

Suggested Time: 3-4 days

A stop in Sydney is a no-brainer. You simply must day a take to wander through the CBD, making your way over to the Sydney Opera House where you can stop for a drink and take in views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. From there walk through the Royal Botanic Gardens for even better views. Roam around The Rocks and find yourself at Darling Harbour for the evening for dinner and drinks.

A second day should be spent at one of the many beaches such as Bondi Beach, the most famous. Don’t skip the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk for breathtaking views of the water and beaches. And if you’re feeling adventurous try climbing the Harbour Bridge for an epic photo opp.

A third day can be spent on another beach, Manly Beach, cruising around the water or visiting the zoo .

Sydney also has a number of really great day trips:

Blue Mountains : This national park is famous for the Three Sisters. You can get here by public transport, hike around the stunning area and be back in Sydney for dinner
Hunter Valley : Another treat for wine lovers, Hunter Valley is another one of Australia’s best wine regions
Royal National Park : If want Insta pictures in those cool figure eight pools, this is where you find them
READ MORE: 5 Easy Trips from Sydney

Suggested Time: 2-3 days

With so many places to go in Australia the smaller spots are often overlooked or unherd of. Yamba is a small town that is off the beaten track but it is quickly becoming popular. It’s the perfect place to chill out for a few days on one of the 12 beaches with its laid back vibe. And if you’re Canadian you’ll find the most folks from home in Australia in this spot!

Surfers must stop here as it is home to the best surfing in Australia, is where a number of pro surfers live and the creator of Billabong. Surf lessons here are extremely cheap, I’m talking under $20 so if you want to give it a go you won’t find any cheaper.

There’s only one hostel where you can sign up for surf lessons and you must do Shane’s Yamba tour, for $15 it’s probably the cheapest tour in Australia.

Australia travel | Byron Bay | Byron Bay lighthouse

Suggested Time: 2-4 days

So many people fall in love with Byron Bay and end up staying here longer than planned. I don’t blame them and you’ll see why too. This is another top spot for surfers but has more action for those who don’t like spending so much time in the water.

Here you can still get outdoors by hiking up to the Cape Byron lighthouse and visiting the most easternly point in Australia close by. Or spend your days chilling out on one of the many beaches such as Main Beach, Clarks Beach, The Pass and more. Byron Bay is also known for its dolphins which you have a very high chance of spotting. So jump in a kayak and have a leader take you to the best lookout spots.

Byron Bay is a popular hangout for backpackers, it is also quite touristy but still has a very laid back vibe. So shop your heart out at the chain and local stores or at some of the top markets such as the Byron Bay Artisan Market (Saturday nights, October-March) and Byron Bay Markets (first Sunday of every month). And spend your evenings partying at the local bars.

There is one popular day tour from Byron Bay:

Nimbin : This small hippie town is completely stuck in the 60s and is known for its “special” treats. Many tours include waterfalls and cliff jumping too

Australia travel | Gold Coast | Surfers Paradise Australia

If you love to party you’ll love Gold Coast. Gold Coast is not actually an area like the Sunshine Coast is but a city in itself. It is the most touristy city in Australia. Despite its most popular area’s name, Surfers Paradie, the surfing is only okay. The beach itself is fine but my best advice is to only spend a few days as there are much better beaches along the coast.

You can spend a lot of time shopping and partying here. All the main tourist attractions are here and day trips can be taken to amusement parks such as Sea World, Dreamworld and many more. Plus there’s spectaular natural scenery on the city’s doorstep like these waterfalls .

In all honesty I found Brisbane to be the most boring city in Australia. However a stop here will break up your trip between Gold Coast and Noosa and it will be the last city you see until the end of the this trip!

Spend a day roaming around the CBD where there are lots of shops and make your way over to Southbank. It’s here that you’ll find the famous Brisbane sign along the river. Walk a little further and there are a ton of restaurants, a pool and a manmade beach in the middle of the city.

A trip to the city’s West End will show you the quirkier side of Brisbane with some of the city’s best restaurants and bars. The city’s best collection of art can be found at GOMA. And don’t miss the chance to hop on the free ferry for a ride down the river where you can jump off to explore more of the city. As for nightlife the trendy hot spot is Fortitude Valley.

The most popular day trip from Brisbane is:

Australia Zoo : Made famous by Steve Irwin himself, this is the biggest zoo in Australia

I’m a little obsessed with Noosa. It is hands down my favourite place in Australia, but I won’t hype it up too much. People always prefer one or the other: Noosa or Byron Bay. Noosa has an even more chill vibe, there is less partying and more beach time with sunsets.

Spend some time on the Main Beach, watch sunset from that beach or walk along it to where the river meets the ocean for even better views. Surfing here is also quite good.

But the best part about Noosa is the national park that has an amazing coastal walk. Get up early and watch the sunrise from Hell’s Gate or walk it during the day, seriously it could be a daily activity. Stop by the fairy pools for a dip in the natural pools in the rocks during low tide. Stop and just take in the stunning views and watch the surfers along the way.

Shop along the main street, Hastings Street, but bring your credit card. Window browsing is all you’ll be able to do if you’re on a budget. Though you can find cheaper places for coffee and gelato here too. Lastly take a 30 minute bus ride to the Emundi Markers which are every Wednesday and Saturday until about 1PM. There is everything here from local crafts, food, jewelry, photography and so much more.

Noosa also has popular day trips:

Noosa Everglades : There’s only two in the world, so if you love nature jump in a boat and tour to see the River of Mirrors where you can canoe or kayak, a self-guided tour is always a cheaper option
Australia Zoo : You can also do a day trip to the Australia Zoo from here as it’s about half way between Brisbane and Noosa

Fraser Island

Fraser Island is the largest sand island in the world. It is a must-do trip so you can drive along the beach, star gaze, learn about the history and culture of the island and see local wildlife such as dingoes. You can do a trip to Fraser Island from one of 3 jumping off points: Noosa, Rainbow Beach or Hervey Bay. There are also options to start in Noosa and then finish in Rainbow Beach which is more north so you can continue your East Coast trip up.

I will warn you that a Fraser Island tour is not cheap but it is well worth the splurge to see this incredible place. A 2-3 day tour is recommended, but one-day tours are available if you’re limited on time.

READ MORE: The Australian Island You Can’t Miss: Fraser Island Tours with Drop Bear Adventures

Australia travel | Town of 1770 | Agnes Water

Agnes Water and Town of 1770

Suggested Time: 1-2 days

A stop here breaks up the long trip between Noosa or Rainbow Beach and Airlie Beach as bus journeys are about 9 hours between Noosa and Agnes Water and Agnes Water and Airlie Beach (be sure to get night buses!).

Agnes Water is really just a small tourist town so you don’t need long here. Stop by for some surfing (lessons here are also very cheap) or hire a bike to get to some areas for hiking such as the scenic trail to the Captain Cook monument. You could also do a Larc tour, a boat that drives on land as well as in the water.

What you absolutely can not miss is the Scooteroo tour. They’ll be given a leather jacket and will drive around Agnes Water and 1770 in a group to see the area and then watch sunset. Even if you don’t do Scooteroo a sunset is in order as the Town of 1770 is one of the best spots along the East Coast to watch.

Australia travel | Whitehaven Beach | Whitsunday Islands | Whitsundays Australia

Airlie Beach and Whitsunday Islands

In Airlie Beach itself there is not a whole lot to do. It mainly acts as a jumping-off point for the Whitsunday Islands. However you will most likely have some time to kill before of after your tour so you can chill out at the Airlie Beach lagoon, visit the beaches such as Boathaven Beach or do the coastal walk to Cannonvale Beach.

This is most certainly not a budget option but I highly recommend it. I swear a scenic flight over the Whitsunday Islands and the outer Great Barrier Reef was the best splurge I had on my trip along the coast. I paid $179 but I’ve heard you can find them for as cheap as $99! This is where you can see the famous Heart Reef.

And while you’re here don’t miss a sailing trip around the Whitsunday Islands. This is what everyone comes here to do! Spend 2-3 days on a sailboat where you can visit one of the world’s most beautiful beaches, Whitehaven Beach, snorkel the Great Barrier Reef and soak up the sun on the deck. Prices range significantly on tours and some boats are known to be party boats. I recommend using BookMe where you can find tours with big discounts or Get Your Guide because they have an awesome selection that shows you majority of the tours available.

Australia travel | Townsville Australia | Castle Hill Townsville

Townsville is another stop to help break up long trips and is also the jumping-off point for Magnetic Island. There’s no need to spend long here, you can explore the entire coastal city in just 2 days. One of the most popular things to do in Townsville is a hike to the top of Castle Hill for views of the city and Magnetic Island.

Spend some time along The Strand where you’ll find beaches, restaurants and parks. The Reef HQ is awesome for those who don’t like diving or snorkelling as you can see a ton of underwater life as it’s the largest living coral reef aquarium. Then there’s the Billabong Sanctuary where you can experience Australian wildlife and interact with the animals.

Magnetic Island

Magnetic Island is a quick half an hour ferry ride from Townsvile and one of my favourite places in Australia. The locals often refer to it as Maggie, since Australian’s shorten everything. What’s so special about this island is its unique formation of rocks that jut out to create a different landscape.

Activities on the island include lots of hiking. Some of the best trails are The Forts Walk where you can spot wild koalas and the hike to Radical Bay from Horseshoe Bay. Be sure to time getting back to Horseshoe Bay for sunset as it’s stunning with islands in the background.

If you haven’t already you can get your picture with a koala or have breakfast with koalas at Bungalow Bay which is also the hostel I recommend staying at. By far the coolest thing to do is rent one of the famous Barbie cars to cruise around to different hiking spots. It isn’t cheap but if split 4 ways it is affordable. And you must visit the rock wallabies, they are tiny wallabies that live in the rocks that are just too cute!

Mission Beach

Mission Beach is Queensland’s little secret. This small town of only 3000 people is most known for being the best spot to sky dive in Australia . My best advice is to wait until you get here to do it as you’ll fall through the sky over the Great Barrier Reef and it is the only spot in Australia to guarantee a beach landing.

If sky diving isn’t for you then you can walk along the beach, it’s perfect to because of its packed sand. Or try a day trip of white water rafting in nearby Tully. There are also hikes throughout the area in the tropical rainforest. However if you don’t have a car exploring Mission Beach is a challenge.

Australia travel | Cairns | Cairns Australia things to do in

Suggested Time: 3-5 days

Cairns is the most popular for one of the top Australia attractions: diving and snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef. There are so many options available from multi-day dives to half day snorkelling tours . The city itself is a bit of a party town as it’s the biggest city since Brisbane and people tend to get a little wild.

But being back in a city means art galleries are around but luckily it still have a small-town feel. You can explore the markets such as the Cairns Night Market and The Esplanade Market. And during the day you can hangout at The Lagoon, a manmade spot by the water with a swimming pool and beach that’s a favourite among locals and tourists.

There are also the Botanical Gardens which has a few hikes. But what Cairns has the most of is days trips.

Snorkelling and Diving Tours : The most popular islands to visit off the coast are Fitzroy Island and Green Island
Cape Tribulation : An area known for its ecotourism in the Daintree Rainforest, people visit here for the wildlife and jungle surfing (zipling through the trees)
Atherton Tablelands : A part of the UNESCO World Heritage site that also inclues the Daintree Rainforest, the Atherton Tablelands are an area with ancient rainforest and contain the popular waterfall route that will take you to stunning waterfalls in the region

When you visit Australia you’ll quickly notice how expensive things are but if you’re smart, plan ahead and know what to look out for you will be able to do all of the pricey activities and not miss any of the best sights in Australia.

Best Time to Travel East Coast Australia

If you plan on spending a lot of time on the beach or in the water the best time to visit Australia’s East Coast is during the summer (December-February) however it will be wildly hot and rainy season in tropical Northern Queensland. This is also peak tourist season. My recommendation is to travel in the off seasons, spring (September-November) or fall (March-May) when prices are lower, there are less crowds and the weather is decent on all parts of the coast.

That being said, there really is no bad time to travel Australia’s East Coast as it will be warm throughout the year in Queensland but prepare for the cool weather in New South Wales and Victoria! By cool I mean it can snow in Melbourne in the winter (December-February).

Australia travel | Millaa Millaa Falls | Atherton Tablelands | Atherton Tablelands waterfalls

How Long Does it Take to Travel East Coast Australia?

If you don’t have a lot of time it can be done it two weeks. This just covers the highlights. If you want the full East Coast experience plan to spend 4-6 weeks. With this timeframe you will be able to see and do everything plus have time to relax.

Backpacking Australia on a Budget

A budget in Australia is like splurging in places like Southeast Asia, but a budget trip can be done if you’re smart, know what to budget for and plan.

Food and Drinks

The easiest way to save money is on food and drinks. It can be difficult because drinking is a huge part of travel down the East Coast but save your money for some of the more expensive experiences instead.

Eating about can cost you anywhere from $5 at fast food restaurants to $15 at sit down restaurants with a lunch special to $20+ for dinner. When buying your food from grocery stores and cooking you can spend as little as $6 a day! I’m proof, I did this while living in Melbourne.

For drinks pre-drink before going out by picking up booze at bottleshops such as Dan Murphy’s where you can stock up on Goon, boxed wine for around $15. But expect a hangover and I can’t claim that it tastes delicious. When going out use an app like Happiest Hour to help you find the closest drink deals around.

Travelling Around Australia

Australia road trip.

The most budget-friendly option is to road trip Australia and it is also a very popular option. Some people even buy a car at the start and then sell it at the end. Finding used cars is very easy and common in Australia. But as a solo traveller (like me) you may not want to drive alone, you may not want to drive or camping isn’t your thing.

Travel in Australia is the easiest with the next best option, getting a bus pass. The most popular companies are Greyhound and Premier that travel not just along the East Coast but across the entire country. There are passes available based on kilometres travelled and hop on hop off passes. The main difference is that with a kilometres pass you can back track, with a hop on hop off pass you can’t. I personally recommend the hop on hop off as it works out cheaper and gives you 90 days of use between point A to B. A Sydney to Cairns pass will start at $410 with Greyhound but that is all of your travel covered!

You can also book buses pretty last minute as well so you can be flexible with your travel and change bookings for each stretch of your journey.

If you are short on time flying is the best option for you as it will be the quickest. Australia is huge and you don’t want to waste precious time spending days (yes driving can take that long!) getting between destinations. Luckily Australia has budget airlines and if you book in advance you can score awesome prices. You can also watch out for sales by signing up for budget airlines newsletters such as Tigerair and Jetstar.

Australia Accommodation

Camping on the Australia East Coast is the cheapest option. Some campsites will be free, others can be pricey. You can use books like Camps Australia Wide to find free campsites along the coast. If you have a campervan you can also pay to park in some hostels parking lots and use the bathroom and kitchen facilities.

Hostels in Australia

Personally I stayed in hostels because camping is not my thing and they’re a great place to meet people as a solo traveller. Hostels cost anywhere from $20-50 a night in a dorm room. Prices vary depending on where you are. Sydney is the most expensive so expect to pay $50 a night when there. Breakfast is often included and is typically cereal, toast and condiments, coffee and tea. Sometimes you’ll get pancakes! Be sure to check out Booking.com for an excellent selection of hostels with reviews from previous travellers and great deals.

Travel Insurance Australia

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How To Spend 6 Weeks In Australia

Gabby Boucher

April 16th, 2024

8 minute read

How To Spend 6 Weeks In Australia Image | East Coast Tours Australia

6 weeks in Australia is sure to be the adventure of a lifetime, especially because you have ample time to appreciate this fabulous country! For those who have always dreamed of travelling Australia , 6 weeks is an amazing time frame for taking in the highlights of the East Coast . You can take your time experiencing all the natural and cultural wonders from Cairns down to Melbourne without rushing. You can even plan your budget accordingly so you don't spend all your savings on this epic trip.

Here is our ultimate guide to spending 6 weeks in Australia, including an ideal backpacker itinerary, price breakdown, and travel tips.

There is no right or wrong way to spend 6 weeks in Australia, but we're going to provide an ideal 6-week itinerary so you can optimise your time on the East Coast . Australia is a huge country with lots of incredible things to see, but all the best destinations are spread out quite far along the massive coastline. Travel times can be long and popular experiences may sell out, so ensure you don't miss anything and plan your itinerary in advance!

Here is a sample 6-week Australia itinerary that you can use as a guideline. We will shortly outline the highlights of each place and recommend the best ways to get around so you can better visualise what 6 weeks in Australia might look like.

6 Week Australia Bucket List

How to get around during 6 weeks in australia.

The easiest ways to travel around during six weeks in Australia are any combination of flights, Greyhound buses , or campervan rentals . Most backpackers opt for the Greyhound Whimit Pass , as this is one of the cheapest and easiest methods for travelling around Australia. You can buy a bus pass that lasts for 30, 60, or 90 days and enjoy unlimited bus travel to all the top destinations.

If you wanted to cover any long distances quickly, you could also take domestic flights. They are generally pretty cheap and are much quicker than a long bus ride. Alternatively, you could hire a campervan and enjoy slow travelling along the coastal roads. This is also cost-effective because you can cook meals and sleep in your van to save money!

travellers floating along eli creek on k'gari

Six-Week Australia Itinerary – Cairns to Melbourne

Day 1 - 5: cairns, great barrier reef & rainforest.

As the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest, Cairns offers the ultimate tropical adventure. Snorkel or scuba dive, hike through the oldest rainforest on Earth, and soak in the laid-back energy of the city.

snorkellers near coral reefs in the great barrier reef

Day 6 - 8: Mission Beach

Mission Beach is a quaint coastal town in Australia's Tropical North. It's a hotspot for skydiving over the beach and embarking on adventure sports in the rainforest!

two travellers admiring palm trees in port douglas australia

Day 9 - 11: Magnetic Island

A magical oasis located just off the coast of Townsville, Magnetic Island gives travellers the chance to mingle with the island's koala population, snorkel at some breathtaking beaches, and drive around the lush landscapes in a mini topless car.

girl in a colorful jeep on magnetic island australia

Day 12 - 13: Airlie Beach

Airlie Beach is the Gateway to the Whitsunday Islands, but you'll want to spend a few days enjoying this vibrant tourist town before you head to sea. From swimming in a local waterfall to partying with other backpackers in the exciting town centre, Airlie Beach has so many fun things to do !

backpackers enjoying cedar creek falls in airlie beach

Day 14 - 16: The Whitsunday Islands

Embark on a breathtaking sailing tour through the Whitsunday Islands ! Glide over turquoise waters, soak in the sun on the famous Whitehaven Beach, admire the swirling sands from Hill Inlet, and snorkel with colourful marine life in this slice of paradise.

travellers walking on the whitsunday islands beaches

Day 17 - 19: Rainbow Beach

Rainbow Beach has some of southern Queensland's most impressive natural landscapes. It's a small, peaceful town, but it's surrounded by rippling sand dunes, rugged coastal cliffs, and sapphire waters that are perfect for water sports!

rainbow beach coloured cliffs and ocean in australia

Day 20 - 22: K'gari (Fraser Island)

From Rainbow Beach, depart on an epic 4WD adventure as you tour the world's largest sand island! K'gari (Fraser Island) , is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that has iconic and rare wildlife, perched lakes, ancient dunes, and magnificent rainforests.

backpackers near maheno shipwreck at sunrise on k'gari

Day 23 - 26: Noosa

Next stop, Noosa , one of the most gorgeous coastal towns in Australia. With a charming town centre, pristine beaches, tranquil Everglades and enticing national parks, Noosa has something for everyone.

people canoeing along the noosa everglades rivers

Day 27 - 28: Brisbane

As the bustling capital city of Queensland, here you can find an endless array of activities, attractions, and entertainment. From street food markets, to world-class museums, to landscaped gardens, to compelling architecture, Brisbane offers a wealth of epic experiences for travellers.

aerial view of brisbane city skyscrapers and river

Day 29 - 30: Surfers Paradise & Gold Coast

After a few days in the city, head back to the coast to soak in the sunshine on the Gold Coast ! Home to famous beaches like Surfers Paradise and Burleigh Heads, the Gold Coast is like heaven for surfers and beach bums.

two girls walking along the beach with skyscrapers in the background

Day 31 - 35: Byron Bay

Byron Bay is an inviting surf town in northern New South Wales that beckons travellers with its impressive coastal landscapes, diverse marine life, eclectic atmosphere, and hipster energy.

travellers checking out the views in byron bay

Day 36 - 40: Sydney

Arguably Australia's most famous and touristy city, Sydney is well worth the hype. Here you can admire famous landmarks in Sydney Harbour, surf at Bondi Beach, take a day trip to the stunning Blue Mountains, or just get lost and absorb all the cool architecture and culture.

two travellers posing in sydney harbour australia

Day 41 & 42: Melbourne

Finish off 6 weeks in Australia with a visit to Melbourne, the capital of Victoria. Known for its cultural landmarks and expert coffee scene, Melbourne is one of the coolest and most cosmopolitan cities in Australia.

man walking past street art in melbourne city australia

Best 6-week itineraries in Australia

Here are the best 6 week itineraries for East Coast Australia!

6 Week Cairns To Melbourne Ultimate (semi guided)
6 Week Melbourne To Cairns Ultimate (semi guided)
6 Week Guided Sydney To Cairns Group Tour (fully guided)

These itineraries will give you the full East Coast Australia experience without any hassle! All the activities, transport, and accommodation are booked for you to ensure you don't miss anything. Semi guided tours give you some free time and more flexibility with your travel days. Guided tours are great for first-time travellers as everything is led by an experienced tour guide. Either way, a pre-booked itinerary is a great way to get the most bang for your buck in Australia.

travellers posing in the dense forest of k'gari

How much money do I need for 6 weeks in Australia?

It's hard to say exactly how much money you would need for 6 weeks in Australia, but most travellers probably average around $200 AUD per day. This includes transport, accommodation, tours, food, and other daily costs. Of course, if you use any classic budget travel tips your daily costs may be lower, and if you treat yourself you can spend more than $200 per day, but it's a good estimate to start with when measuring your savings.

6 Weeks in Australia Itinerary Cost

If you book an itinerary, the upfront price includes most of the big costs such as accommodation, transport, and tours. You'll just need a bit of extra cash for meals and daily expenses. But when you're on a multiday tour, such as in the Whitsundays or K'gari, meals are included!

Cost breakdown for 6 week Australia itineraries

6 Week Cairns To Melbourne Ultimate - $5469 ($130 per day)
6 Week Melbourne To Cairns Ultimate - $5469 ($130 per day)
6 Week Guided Sydney To Cairns Group Tour - $5599 ($130 per day)

Average daily costs for food, drinks, and souvenirs during 6 weeks in Australia

Here is a quick breakdown of what things cost in Australia so you can estimate your daily spending. Remember to factor this into your budget on top of the itinerary price! If you're looking to save money in Australia , there are ways to cut costs while still having a fulfilling adventure. For example, cook your meals at home in the hostel to save money on dining out, or book tours at off-peak times for cheaper prices.

Either way, think realistically about your own spending habits when planning a budget for Australia. If you love to eat out and drink cocktails, you'll spend much more than if you're fine with cooking at home and skipping out on souvenirs.

These are standard cost estimates for daily spending in Australia:

Tight budget: $60 - $90 per day
Mid-range budget: $100 - $140 per day
Luxury budget: $150 - $250 per day

traveller taking a photo of sydney harbour bridge

Can you explore East Coast Australia in 6 Weeks?

You can explore so much of East Coast Australia in 6 weeks! Though many travellers only spend a couple of weeks or even one month touring the East Coast , 6 weeks gives you more flexibility and more wiggle room for extending your stay in places you really love. You won't be rushing as much and you'll get to enjoy each destination for longer. Having 2 to 4 days in each location gives you time for day trips, city exploration, water sports, fun excursions, and plenty of downtime where you can just melt into the landscape and relax with no plans.

So whether you're hopping off on an adventure during your Working Holiday Visa in Australia, or you're just on a fantastic 6-week holiday, fill your days with natural beauty, sunshine, and culture on the East Coast!

travellers smiling with drinks in the whitsunday islands

Check out our handy DIY itinerary planner for planning 6 weeks in Australia!

You can also chat with a local travel expert for personalised advice, or browse our curated itineraries , start your own journey.

2 Week Brisbane To Cairns Express

4 Week Sydney To Cairns Explorer

2 Week Cairns To Sydney Budget

3 Week Melbourne to Cairns Express

5 Week Sydney To Cairns Ultimate

10 Best Things To Do In Gold Coast For Backpackers

10 Best Day Trips From Melbourne

Best Backpacker Day Trips From Sydney

15 Best Day Trips From Brisbane

9 Ways To Celebrate Galentine's Day In Australia

Is Moreton Island Worth Visiting?

How To Spend One Day In Sydney

How To Spend Valentine's Day On A Budget in Australia

12 Stops On Australia's East Coast

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> 6 Week East Coast Australia Tour | Sydney to Cairns

From Sydney to Cairns, we’ll explore the best of Australia’s East Coast on this Ultimate 6 Week East Coast Australia tour. From Sydney’s city vibes to the surf culture of Bondi Beach, we’ll experience everything this amazing city has to offer before starting our Ultimate East Coast Explorer tour! Chill in Byron Bay, explore Fraser Island by 4×4, sail the Whitsundays, snorkel the Great Barrier Reef and everything in between – we’ll check everything off your Aussie bucket list!

Between 6 – 24 travellers per group.

14 itinerary stops Sydney to Cairns.

Scania coaches. WiFI. Reclining Seats.

2 night island Sailing.

Group Leader from Sydney to Cairns

2 night Camping adventure on Fraser Island.

Group Leader leading your trip from Sydney to Cairns

We help protect our planets largest coral reef ecosystem.

Over 25 activities and experiences plus some meals.

Flashpacker. 8-12 Bed Dorms. Upgrades available.

Local fees: $80AUD Total Paid direct. $30 EMC Levy, $20 port fuel and reef levy - Great Barrier Reef, $30 insurance - Fraser Island Adventure.

We recommend a travel budget of approx $80-$100/ day for meals when not included in the itinerary.

ABOUT THE TOUR:

Ultimate East Coast tours are all about having fun, exploring amazing locations and making great friendships that will last a lifetime. The East Coast Explorer tours are easy paced adventures and are designed to give you Free Time at most itinerary stops so that you can customise your experience.

This tour is perfect for solo travellers and for those travelling with friends. Enjoy your trip with a group of up to 20 other 18-35s from all over the world and your Ultimate East Coast Group Leader.

The Ultimate East Coast Explorer + Sydney tour starts in Sydney on Day 1 of the itinerary and departs from Sydney on the following Monday (Thursday or Saturday) on Day 8 of the itinerary. (Day 8 is the start of the '5 Week' option and is when any last group members will join the adventure)

Our East Coast Explorer tours are designed for travellers 18-35 that wish to experience the best of the East Coast. Some travellers will be on Gap Years and others will be on short holiday breaks looking to have fun, meet new people and experience Australia. Our tours are Social and Fun and our itineraries are designed for those who are eager to travel and experience their ULTIMATE Travel Moment. You should join us if you are looking to meet other travellers, make the most of every moment and experience the best of the East Coast.

We travel from Sydney to Great Barrier Reef via public transport, train and coaches. Our point to point transport features air-conditioning, leather reclining seats, Wifi, in-seat USB chargers, and onboard toilets. To make the most of our time in each location, we use several overnight coach services to travel, so we arrive rested, refreshed and ready for our next adventure!

ULTIMATE GROUP LEADERS

Your Ultimate East Coast Group Leader will be travelling with you from start to finish and will showcase the very best of the East Coast to you.

Whilst our tours are jam-packed with awesome activities, you may choose to add our optional activities to your booking.

Whether you'd like to brave a Skydive, a Bungy Jump, go White Water Rafting, visit the Daintree Rainforest or extend your stay in Cairns, we're here to help you plan the trip of a lifetime!

You can pre-book optional activities guaranteeing availability on your chosen departure date or organise any additional activities with your Ultimate guide as you travel, for the same price (subject to tour availability.) Check out some of our popular optional extras and simply add them to your booking at checkout.

OUTBACK ADD-ON

Experience Outback Australia on our 3-day tour of the iconic Red Centre. Visit the sacred sites of Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon, sleep in an Aussie swag under the stars and learn about Aboriginal history and current day Aboriginal culture.

SOUTHEAST ASIA

Looking to do a stopover on the way to Australia? Join our Ultimate guided tours in Thailand, Bali and Vietnam!

Want to explore another part of Australia or keen for an activity we haven't mentioned? Let us know! We're the Aussie travel experts and are here to help you plan your dream adventure Down Under!

To book, select your chosen departure date and any optional extras you would like to book. We'll send you a booking confirmation as well as important information about your tour.

If you have a travel date in mind but you're not ready to pay in full, you can secure your spot with a $200 Deposit

Book your flights into Sydney (not included)
Organise your travel insurance which is required to participate in this tour (not included)

TOUR INFORMATION

Tour starts in Sydney Mondays (Thursdays or Saturdays) at 11:30am Tour ends in Cairns Monday (Thursdays or Saturdays) at 10am

Tour starts in Sydney Mondays (Thursdays or Saturdays) at 11:30am Tour ends in Cairns Monday (Thursday or Saturday) at 10am

LOCAL CHARGES (Paid direct on arrival)

We have done our best to include the key touring components but have listed the below fee's that are required to be paid on arrival whilst on tour.

Fraser Island Insurance Fee ($20 AUD) - Paid direct on arrival
Fraser Island Sleeping Bag Hire ($10AUD) - Paid direct if required
Great Barrier Reef Conservation Levy ($20 AUD) Paid direct on arrival

OPEN DATED BOOKINGS

Book open dated when you have not decided on a tour date yet, but want to confirm your travel plans and secure a price. Once you have booked open dated, you can book on any available start date of your choosing, subject to availability.

Sydney City Tour & Welcome Dinner
Sydney Harbour Cruise
Bondi Beach Day
Blue Mountains Day Tour
Sydney Party Night
Guided Coastal Walk from Coogee to Bondi
Byron Bay Yoga
Visit Byron Bay Lighthouse
Surf Lesson
Byron Bay Beach & City Tour
Surfers Paradise Beach & City Tour
Brisbane Southbank Tour & Streets Beach
Noosa Headland Walk
Rainbow Beach Sand Blow Walk
3 day / 2 night All inclusive K'gari * ($20 insurance levy payable locally + $10 optional sleeping bag hire)
2 day / 2 night Whitsunday Island Sailing.
Airlie Beach post cruise party
Magnetic Island Guided Fort’s Walk
Visit Mission Beach
Visit Cairns Lagoon
1 day Great Barrier Reef Snorkel Trip ($20 reef conservation levy payable locally)
1 day Atherton Tablelands Waterfalls tour
17 included Meals

Local fees: $80AUD Total Paid direct. $30 EMC Levy, $20 port fuel and reef levy - Great Barrier Reef, $30 insurance - Fraser Island Adventure.

Ultimate East Coast tours are all about having fun, exploring amazing locations and making great friendships that will last a lifetime.

The East Coast Explorer tours are easy paced adventures and are designed to give you Free Time at most itinerary stops so that you can customise your experience.

The Ultimate East Coast Explorer + Sydney tour includes 40 nights accommodation and 2 overnight buses.

36-nights are spent in dorm share accommodation in the very best hostels on the Aussie East Coast. You'll be staying in a beachfront hostel, resort-style flashpacker accommodation and a leafy island bungalow with an on-site wildlife park.

You'll also spend 2 nights sailing around the Whitsunday Islands and 2-nights camping on Fraser Island.

Accommodation is based on 4-10 bed shared dorm arrangements.

Twin share and Private rooms upgrades are available.

Whilst our Ultimate East Coast Explorer + Sydney tour is jam-packed with awesome activities, you may choose to add our optional activities to your booking.

To book the Ultimate East Coast Explorer + Sydney tour, select your chosen departure date and any optional extras you would like to book. We'll send you a booking confirmation as well as important information about your tour.

> WHERE WE GO

DAY 1 WELCOME TO SYDNEY

Your Ultimate East Coast Explorer + Sydney adventure kicks off today after you arrive in Sydney! When you land, our driver will take you directly to your accommodation – one of Sydney’s best backpacker hostels. Settle in and get ready for your epic adventure in the land down under! Today, join us at Ultimate HQ where you’ll meet the rest of your group. We’ll talk you through the plans for the next few weeks, answer any questions you have and introduce you to the crew. Next, we’ll take you on a guided city walk; think selfies in front of Sydney Opera House, lunch in Darling Harbour, lush Botanical Gardens and China Town. This evening we’ll take you to our favourite backpacker bar for our Welcome dinner.

DAY 2 EXPLORE SYDNEY HARBOUR

Today, we explore Sydney Harbour on our private catamaran! We’ll cruise under The Harbour Bridge and past the Opera House stopping off at one of Sydney’s hidden bays for a swim. Enjoy your first Aussie BBQ, jump into the warm harbour waters and sip on a few chilled beers in the sunshine! What better way to spend your first two days in Sydney?

DAY 3 – 4 BONDI AND MANLY BEACH

Today we visit the famous Bondi Beach! In the morning we travel to Cooggee before taking in the sites along the coast via the local and famous ‘Coogee to Bondi’ coastal walk! After stopping at all the local beaches and taking in the views, we will arrive to the renowned Bondi where we can explore the Graffiti walls famous in Bondi or simply chill on Australia’s most famous beach! Bring your swimmers, comfy shoes & some money for a few drinks. The afternoon is at your leisure. We will return to Sydney late in the day via train. Tomorrow we continue to explore Sydney’s famous beaches! We will take the commuter ferry from Circular Quay through the Sydney Headlands before arriving at Manly Beach. You can explore the local markets or join a walk to Shelly Beach in the afternoon.

DAY 5 BLUE MOUNTAINS

We can’t spend a week in Sydney and not visit the Blue Mountains! Today we depart Bondi and escape the city to travel to the Blue Mountains National Park. We spend the day hiking, exploring waterfalls, spotting wild kangaroos and taking in some of the Blue Mountains iconic views!

DAY 6 – 8 SYDNEY

This weekend we are back in Sydney! Spend the next three days exploring the city during the day and experiencing the famous Sydney nightlife. Your group leader will be available to help you book any Harbour City Bucket List activities you may want to do… On Saturday evening, we head out for a Sydney Bar Crawl. On Monday, we meet the rest of our travel group and board the overnight bus to Byron Bay! Sit back, relax and get ready for our epic East Coast adventure!

DAY 9 – 12 BYRON BAY

Byron Bay is famous for it’s amazing beaches, laid-back-surfer attitude and boho vibes. Here we’ll explore the relaxed town and some of the many beautiful beaches in the area as well as the famous Byron Lighthouse, standing at the most easterly point of the Australian mainland. Embrace the surfer vibes of Byron with a professional surf lesson. Keen for more? Get up close with friendly wild dolphins on a dolphin kayaking tour or check out many other beaches and waterfalls surrounding Byron (add-ons).

DAY 13-15 SURFERS PARADISE

This morning, we’ll hop on the bus to Surfers Paradise: where long stretches of stunning sandy beaches meet high rise buildings and never-ending nightlife! By day we’ll explore the town and beaches and at night, we’ll make the most of the nightlife! Get dressed up and join our optional party night (add-on) for the real Surfers experience! Join a stand up paddleboarding session (add-on) or if you love theme parks, your group leader can also help you organise a visit Dreamworld, The Gold Coast’s most famous theme park (optional add-on).

DAY 16-18 BRISBANE CITY

After a short journey North of the Gold Coast, we’ll arrive at our Brisbane accommodation, right in the city centre. We’ll spend the next two days checking out some of Brisbane’s hotspots including Street’s Beach (Brisbane’s man-made city lagoon), Brisbane River and the cultural hub of the South bank. You’ll also have the option to head to the famous Australia Zoo to see some amazing wildlife! (add-on).

DAY 19 – 20 NOOSA

If being surrounded by tropical greenery and beautiful beaches is your cup of tea, you’ll love Noosa! We’ll hike through National Park to lookouts boasting incredible views over Noosa’s spectacular coastline, stopping off to spot amazing Australian wildlife along the way. Chill out at the hostel pool, take a free surfboard down to the beach and experience a local backpacker bar in town!

DAY 21-26 RAINBOW BEACH

Our next stop is Rainbow beach, the gateway to our K’gari adventure! Check into our hostel prepare for the adventure of a lifetime. Upon return to Rainbow Beach you will have a guided walk to the Carlo Sand Blow, a unique sand mass where you can watch the sunset over the southern tip of K’gari! The rest your time is free for you to chill on the beach, explore Rainbow or relax at the hostel.

DAY 22-24 K’GARI (FRASER ISLAND)

Welcome to World Heritage listed K’gari (Fraser Island) , the world’s largest sand island! You’ll be spending the next few days on this island paradise, exploring sand dunes by 4×4, driving through lush rainforest, swimming in crystal clear lakes, spotting rare Aussie wildlife and seeing other unique aspects of the island. At night, we’ll set up camp at our own private campsite just metres from the beach. After an epic few days on Fraser Island we return to Rainbow beach to rest and recharge before heading to the Whitsundays. But the adventure doesn’t stop here!

DAY 27-28 AIRLIE BEACH

Check into your hostel before heading out to explore tropical Airlie Beach, taking a dip in the famous harbourfront lagoon. We’ll be spending the next few days cruising around the stunning Whitsunday islands on a Maxi sailing yacht. After two amazing days on the boat, we’ll head back to our hostel in Airlie Beach for the next two nights for the After Boat Party and where you can add on activities like jet skiing or a scenic flight over The Great Barrier Reef!

DAY 29 – 31 WHITSUNDAYS SAILING

Lets sail the Whitsundays, we’ll be sleeping onboard so get comfy, have a drink, enjoy some delicious food, and settle into the gorgeous surroundings. Snorkel in pristine blue waters, visit some of the whitest sandy beaches in the world, chill with your mates and witness some incredible sun sets. The Whitsundays are breathtaking! – it doesn’t get any better than this!

DAY 32 – 35 MAGNETIC ISLAND

You’re in for a treat as we spend the next few days exploring Magnetic Island – home to wild koalas, wallabies, and golden sandy beaches. Snorkel in the pristine island waters, take the guided Fort’s walk offering incredible views of the island and chill at the beach front hostel. Want to explore the rest of the island? Rent a 4×4 ‘Topless jeep’ and drive around the island with your mates (available for hire)!

DAY 36 – 37 MISSON BEACH

This afternoon we leave Magnetic Island and travel to the beautiful beachside town of Mission beach where the reef and rainforest meet. The sunrise here in Tropical North Queensland is magical! This morning we recommend hiking into the neighbouring National Park, part of the traditional country of The Djiru Aboriginal people. Feeling adventurous? You have the option of joining our awesome white water rafting adventure in Tully, just a short distance from Mission Beach! (add-on). Mission beach is also home to Australia’s highest (15,000ft!) and most popular skydiving spot – an experience not to be missed for the adrenaline junkies out there! You’ll get the chance to do a skydive the following morning, before we travel on to Cairns. Pre-book your skydive (add-on) or arrange with the help of your guide as you travel, no worries!

DAY 38 – 42 CAINRS

This evening we arrive in Cairns, our final stop along the East Coast and the Ultimate backpacker destination – you are in for a treat! Our resort style accommodation is one of the best in Cairns, with luxury air conditioned en-suite dorm rooms, a huge pool and daily entertainment. Sit back, relax, and prepare for the next few exciting days! Keen to see more? Explore the rainforest on our Cape Tribulation add-ons!

DAY 39 ATHERTON TABLELANDS

Enjoy a guided tour to the Tablelands region where we’ll spend the day swimming under waterfalls, sliding down natural rock slides and spotting shy platypuses in the wild.

DAY 40 GREAT BARRIER REEF

We will explore the famous Great Barrier Reef. We’ll cruise to the outer reef to snorkel with inquisitive Nemos, stingrays, turtles and friendly Maori Wrasse and learn all about the diverse marinelife of the reef. When we’re not exploring the rainforest and reef, we’ll hang out at Cairn’s famous harbourfront lagoon, hit the local bars and party the night away at our hostel’s very own club! On our last evening we’ll take you to our favourite spot to reflect on an epic 6 weeks of Aussie East Coast fun!

> WHERE WE STAY

The Ultimate East Coast Australia Explorer 6 week tour includes 40 nights accommodation and 2 overnight buses.

36-nights are spent in dorm share accommodation in some of the very best hostels on the Aussie East Coast. You’ll be staying in a beachfront hostel, resort-style flashpacker accommodation and centrally located properties close to the best experiences at each stop.
You’ll also spend 2 nights sailing around the Whitsunday Islands and 2-nights camping on K’gari (Fraser Island.)
Accommodation is based on 4-12 bed shared dorm arrangements.
Twin share and Private rooms upgrades are available.

Wakeup-Where-we-Stay-Ultimate-East-Coast-Pool-Outdoors

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The PERFECT 1, 2 or 3 Week Australia Itinerary [2024]

Last Updated: January 30, 2024

Whether you have 1, 2, or 3 weeks in Australia, here are some suggestions for an Australia itinerary that will help you make the most of this huge, diverse, and stunning country!

Planning a trip to Australia can be quite difficult, simply because the country is so huge.

Lots of its best attractions, cities, and natural landmarks are very spread out, so it’s impossible to see everything in a short amount of time.

Australia is also an expensive country to visit, so most backpackers and average travellers won’t be able to visit every single point of interest without spending a lot.

Despite these challenges, planning an epic trip to Australia is definitely possible.

You just have to be smart about your Australia itinerary, sticking to one or two major areas and picking travel routes that are logical.

For example, you won’t be able to fit Sydney, the Great Barrier Reef, Melbourne, Uluru, Tasmania, and beaches and national parks of Western Australia and the Northern Territory into a 1 week Australia itinerary.

To see all those incredible places, you’d need at least one month, and even then you’d be rushing to get everywhere.

What you can do, is pick the areas that appeal to you the most and plan your trip accordingly.

READ MORE: Check out our comprehensive guide with everything you need to know about travelling in Australia !

So you’d be better off picking either the east coast or the west coast and hanging around there if you only have 1 or 2 weeks in Australia.

In this article, I’ll provide a few sample Australia travel itineraries.

Each Australia itinerary will include a few of the country’s best places to visit, while maintaining reasonable travel times.

Whether it’s your first trip to Australia or you’ve been here for a while, there is always something incredible to see!

Table of Contents

How to Get Around Australia

Days 1-2: sydney, days 3-5: brisbane , days 6-7: airlie beach and the whitsundays, days 1-3: sydney, days 3-6: melbourne , day 7-8: the great ocean road, day 9-10: adelaide, day 11: kangaroo island, day 12-14: perth, days 3-4: byron bay, days 5-6: the gold coast, days 7-8: cairns, days 9-10: port douglas and the great barrier reef, days 11-13: cape tribulation and the daintree rainforest, day 14: darwin, days 15-17: kakadu national park, days 18-20: uluru and the red centre, the ultimate australia itinerary travel guide.

Having travelled all around the country, we’re excited to share these epic 1, 2 and 3 week Australian itineraries that’ll cover the best places around.

But first, a tip…

It’s also important to consider how you’ll get around Australia during your visit.

As I mentioned, the country is huge and public transport like buses or trains is expensive.

If you’re staying in one area, it’s worth renting a car for a few days so you can explore and do day trips, but driving from one city to the next may take 12+ hours of driving.

The best way to get around is to rent a car and explore on your own! We recommend Rental Cars , which has the largest range of vehicles for the best value on the market.

Catching cheap domestic flights is the best way to jump from one state to the next, and you can take public transport or drive within smaller areas.

Though every traveller will have their own unique preferences and modify these itineraries as necessary, here are some sample Australia itineraries that will hopefully help you plan your dream trip!

7 Day Australia Itinerary

One week in Australia goes by quickly, but some people can’t afford to take much longer off of work or their other responsibilities.

You can still manage to experience some of the Aussie culture and natural beauty in one week.

In this 7 day Australia itinerary, you’ll be sticking to the middle east coast.

You’ll begin in Sydney, then head up to Queensland to enjoy the Great Barrier Reef.

This plan is perfect for 7 days in Australia because it doesn’t require huge amounts of travel time.

READ NEXT: 25 Amazing Things to Do in Australia

After arriving in Sydney and getting settled, you have two days to enjoy the city.

You can spend one day visiting all the popular tourist attractions, like the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Tower Eye, the Royal Botanic Gardens, and maybe some of the museums.

Another day can be spent swimming and sunbathing on one of the city’s main beaches.

The northern beaches around Manly, or the western beaches around Bondi and Bronte are great options for a fun day in Sydney.

Bondi Beach has a very strong health and fitness scene, so they have lots of incredible healthy cafes where all the locals like to fuel up.

Visit Berri Bar Bondi Beach for a refreshing Acai bowl, Porch and Parlour for a healthy breakfast on homemade bread, or Umu for some nourishing organic lunch bowls.

After 2 days in Sydney, you can catch a quick, 1-hour flight up to Brisbane.

Check out this post on how to spend one day in Sydney if that’s all the time you have.

Brisbane is another incredible city to visit in Australia.

After 2 days in Sydney, however, you may be sick of the crowded city streets.

Luckily, Brisbane makes a great gateway for exploring more peaceful areas of Queensland.

There are tons of amazing day trips from Brisbane that allow you to explore nature and see more of Australia, including:

Burleigh Heads: a charming coastal town with a massive beach and national park
Hervey Bay: one of the best spots in Australia for whale-watching
Lamington National Park: full of hiking trails and waterfalls
Stradbroke Island: a beautiful location that’s great for kayaking, paddleboarding, and trying other water sports
Fraser Island: the world’s largest sand island

After exploring Brisbane and the surrounding areas, catch another cheap domestic flight from the city up to Airlie Beach.

Read our list of the best things to do in Brisbane for more inspiration!

Airlie Beach is known as one of Australia’s most stunning beaches, complete with soft white sand and clear turquoise water.

From here, you can soak in the postcard-worthy views in the Whitsundays Islands and do a day trip to the Great Barrier Reef and the famous Whitehaven Beach.

Book an ocean rafting day tour that include all your snorkelling gear and takes you to Whitehaven Beach and the best locations in the Whitsundays.

BONUS – Booking ahead of time ensures you won’t miss out on the tour, and get the best price too! And just for NOMADasaurus readers, if you use the Klook discount code “NOMADS10” on the website when checking out, you’ll get $10 off your first booking!

Snorkelling, scuba diving, and sailing through the Great Barrier Reef will make an unforgettable ending to your 7 day Australia itinerary.

At the end of your week in Australia, you can fly from Airlie Beach back to Sydney for your departing flight.

2 Week Australia Itinerary

Two weeks in Australia allows you a bit more time to see different areas of the country.

This two week Australia itinerary will start in Sydney, move down to Victoria to explore Melbourne and the Great Ocean Road , and will then curve up to Adelaide in South Australia and end in Perth in Western Australia.

So with two weeks in Australia, you can still manage to visit 4 states! If you’d prefer to spend more time in one place rather than jumping around so much, you can always modify this.

For example, you could skip Perth and spend a few more days exploring New South Wales, Victoria, or South Australia.

But here is a sample two weeks in Australia itinerary.

Once again, you’ll fly into Sydney and begin your Australian adventure in the capital city of New South Wales.

In addition to all the touristy stuff like the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House and touring a local art gallery, you could spend one of your days in the lush nature surrounding the city.

Two perfect day trips from Sydney are:

The Blue Mountains: Full of waterfalls, scenic lookouts and hiking trails, connected to Sydney by train so you don’t even need a car. Here’s what you should do there .

The Royal National Park: Dramatic coastal scenery with rugged cliffs and secluded beaches. Check out these awesome Royal National Park walks .

After 3 days in Sydney, hop on a plane for a 1-hour flight down to Melbourne.

As one of the most vibrant and cosmopolitan cities in Australia, Melbourne is a favourite among travellers and locals alike.

Spend your days in Melbourne visiting street markets, sipping cocktails from rooftop bars, checking out all the cool cafes and restaurants, and experiencing the wild nightlife.

You can also visit St. Kilda Beach in the south of Melbourne, or head to Brighton Beach to photograph the colourful Brighton Bathing Boxes.

Or take a day trip to Phillip Island or tour the Melbourne Cricket Ground .

After you visit Melbourne, continue on to the famous Great Ocean Road.

One of the highlights of Victoria is the natural wonders of the Great Ocean Road.

This coastal road runs for 243 kilometers in total and is full of Australian wildlife, quaint little towns, surfing spots, picturesque viewpoints, campgrounds, and overall gorgeous scenery.

Be sure to see the Twelve Apostles, Split Point Lighthouse, Port Campbell National Park, Apollo Bay, Loch Ard Gorge, and other stunning landscapes along the way.

You can either rent a car from Melbourne and drive the road on your own, or book a day tour .

It only takes one day to see all the best spots along the road, but you’ll need to save some time to make your way back to Melbourne and you don’t want to rush.

You can also stop by the Australian National Surfing Museum in Torquay at the start of the Great Ocean Road.

Fly from Melbourne to Adelaide.

Spend the next days of your two weeks in Australia itinerary soaking in the culture of Adelaide .

Enjoy the delicious food, the museums and galleries, and the laid-back charm of South Australia’s capital.

One of your 2 days in Adelaide should definitely be spent touring a vineyard and wine tasting in the Barossa Valley.

Again, you can either rent a car in the city and drive yourself around the vineyards (make sure you don’t drink too much!), or you can book a day trip.

As one of the most unique places in South Australia, Kangaroo Island makes a super fun day trip from Adelaide.

Take photos of the interesting rock formations in Flinders Chase National Park , stroll along the pristine golden beaches, or search for some local animals like wallabies, koalas, and of course, kangaroos.

Head back to Adelaide after Kangaroo Island and hop on another quick flight to Perth to finish up this two week Australia trip.

Read next: 8 Amazing Things to Do in Kangaroo Island, Australia

Your last few days of visiting Australia will be well-spent in Perth, the capital city of Western Australia.

Enjoy the beaches, explore the Fremantle Markets, visit wineries and wildlife parks, and more.

You could also treat yourself to one last epic adventure in Australia by taking a day trip to Rottnest Island .

This island is full of fun activities, natural wonders, beautiful views, and cute little quokkas, which are small, native Australian marsupials similar to wallabies.

After a few days in Perth, either catch your departing flight from here or fly back to Sydney if your flight leaves from there.

You could also consider a day trip to Margaret River , one of the top wine and surfing regions in Western Australia.

It’s a 3 hour drive from Perth to Margaret River, so only make the trek if you feel like you have time.

3 Week Australia Itinerary

3 weeks in Australia allows you to visit some big cities and tourist spots, but it also allows you to venture out to more remote and isolated areas.

In this 3 week Australia Itinerary, you’ll visit Sydney and Byron Bay at the start.

Then you’ll head up to The Gold Coast, and tropical north Queensland to the Daintree Rainforest.

Continue your journey up north by travelling to Darwin and Kakadu National Park, and then venture inland to Uluru (Ayer’s Rock).

Again, spend your first couple days in Australia checking out Sydney and maybe doing a day trip to the Blue Mountains of the Hunter Valley Wine Region.

Be sure to visit Sydney Harbour, Darling Harbour, and the famous Bondi Beach during your time in Australia’s largest city.

Then fly to Ballina, a small airport 30 minutes away from Byron Bay.

Check out our Sydney to Brisbane road trip guide if you’d prefer to rent a car and drive up the east coast.

Byron Bay is a hub for backpackers, and it is a very fun place to experience when you visit Australia.

From bar crawls and drum circles on the beach, to night markets and street art, to coastal walks and lovely beaches, a couple days in Byron Bay will feel like bliss.

Even if you aren’t on a strict backpacker budget, Byron Bay has so many great hostels that it’s worth immersing yourself in the backpacker scene.

Some of the best hostels in Byron Bay include Wake Up! Byron Bay and Byron Bay Beach hostel.

Both of these have hundreds of great reviews from travellers cost around $30 per night, which is pretty cheap for Australia.

If you want to meet other cool people and take part in all the fun social activities of Byron Bay, you may want to stay in one of these fun hostels instead of a hotel!

You can choose to hang out in Byron Bay for a few more days, or catch a flight from Ballina to the Gold Coast for a taste of the Sunshine Coast surf vibes.

The Gold Coast is one of the best places to learn how surfing when you visit Australia.

You can take a surf lesson from an experienced local and ride the waves, or just relax on the beach, eat some great food, and hit the bars and nightclubs in the evening.

The Gold Coast combines the excitement of the city with the salty air and water sports of a beachside town, so it’s a diverse and fun place to visit.

Fly from the Gold Coast up to Cairns.

The next few days of your 3 week Australia Itinerary will take you up along the coast of Tropical North Queensland.

This corner of Australia is hot, humid, and jam-packed with rich jungles, Aboriginal culture, waterfalls and the marine life of the Great Barrier Reef.

Keep in mind that during the rainy season, from October to April, you can’t swim in the ocean here because there may be crocodiles and jellyfish.

Cairns is the gateway to tropical north Queensland.

The real beauty lies outside the city, but spend a couple days adjusting to the heat, partying with the many backpackers, shopping at Rusty’s Fruit Market, and swimming in the big public swimming pool called the Lagoon.

Also check out Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park and the nearby Barron Gorge National Park near Kuranda.

Then you’ll take the local bus up to Port Douglas. You can buy your bus ticket from any tourism agency or from the main bus station, and take the Cairns to Cooktown route.

Only about an hour north of Cairns is Port Douglas, a small, relaxed town with one backpacker hostel, a few amazing restaurants, and a nice park lined with palm trees for viewing the sunset.

This is one of the best places to book a Great Barrier Reef snorkelling or diving tour because up here, the reef isn’t as crowded as near Cairns. A snorkelling reef trip is one of the most popular Australia tours and shouldn’t be missed!

So spend one of your days in Port Douglas swimming in the crisp, blue waters of the reef and seeing some incredible, colourful marine life.

From here, get back on Cairns to Cooktown bus and continue north up to Cape Tribulation in the Daintree Rainforest.

Located in the midst of the jungle, Cape Tribulation is the perfect place to disconnect from technology and reconnect with nature.

There is only one main road running through the town, if you can even call it a town.

Cape Tribulation has a few resorts and hostels, a couple tourism companies and about two shops, and that’s it.

But the powerful presence of the rainforest is more than enough to entertain you for a couple days.

The Daintree is the oldest rainforest in the world, and is one of the true natural wonders of Australia.

Go hiking, ride horses on the beach, book an ATV sightseeing tour, do an exotic fruit tasting at Cape Trib Farm, visit the Daintree Discovery Center, or take a boat cruise on the Daintree River to spot some crocodiles.

Try to avoid visiting Tropical North Queensland in December through February, however. This is the wet season and many roads may be flooded and tours will be closed.

On your third day, take the bus back to Cairns then fly to Darwin.

Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, and it is a convenient starting point for a trip into Central Australia and Ayers Rock, in the south of the state.

Use this day to walk around and sightsee a bit, relax and unwind, and plan your journey into Kakadu National Park.

Check out our guide for the best things to do in Darwin!

Rent a car in Darwin and spend the next couple days exploring the largest national park in Australia!

You can swim in waterfalls, find ancient Aboriginal rock art, and go hiking through some incredible landscapes.

If you have a van or a tent, you can camp at one of the park’s campgrounds. Otherwise there is a handful of resorts where you can stay overnight in Kakadu.

Most of the accommodation in Kakadu is located in Jabiru, the main town of the park.

You could also book a guided tour to Kakadu as a day trip from Darwin. This is a good option for those who want to take a break from planning and driving. A tour will take you right to the best spots in the park, which is handy because the park is so huge.

After exploring the national park, drive back to Darwin and then fly to Alice Springs at the heart of Australia’s Red Centre.

(Alternatively if you don’t want to keep travelling so much, you could stay in the Northern Territory and explore more natural wonders like Nitmiluk National Park.)

From Alice Springs in the center of the Northern Territory, it’s time to begin your journey to Uluru!

The Red Centre is the central desert area of Australia, consisting of Alice Springs and the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park.

Uluru, or Ayers Rock, is a sacred monolith and it one of the most famous places to see on a trip to Australia.

You have two options for getting to Uluru.

Option 1: Rent a car in Alice Springs and complete the 5-hour drive on your own. Keep in mind it’s also 5 hours to get back, so that’s a 10 hour road trip in total. You should also have your own camping gear and pack enough food and water for the road trip.

Option 2: Book a tour from Alice Springs if you are tired of driving. You can choose a straightforward day trip . It’s a bit pricier to do a guided tour, but it takes away a lot of the effort on your part.

Either way, watching the sunrise and sunset bathe Uluru in soft, natural hues is a sight you’ll never forget, so the journey is worth it.

If you are renting a car and doing your own road trip, consider also heading out to Watarrka National Park and Kings Canyon. This amazing spot is a 3 hour drive from Ayers Rock, which is a short drive for the Outback!

READ MORE: Check out all the incredible things to do in Uluru !

Your final day of the 3 week Australia itinerary will mostly be spent travelling.

Drive back to Alice Springs, then fly back to Sydney for your flight home.

I just want to add that there are many other natural wonders that I didn’t get to mention!

Australia is massive so it’s hard to fit in so many cool places in a short time.

For example, the north of Western Australia is stunning, but it’s very remote and not convenient to add to a few weeks in Australia.

Few Australians even make it out here on holiday.

But riding a camel on Cable Beach , snorkelling with Whale Sharks in Exmouth , or camping in Cape Range National Park are amazing experiences that you can have if you have the time to venture out there.

Tasmania is also one of the most gorgeous places in Australia. The island is home to some of the best hiking and camping in the country , but it requires lots of prior planning and preparation and gear.

You could also road trip around Australia, taking more time to see all the attractions and not having to rush.

But it would take you months or even years to road trip all of Australia!

Regardless of how much time you spend here, don’t stress about seeing everything!

It’s impossible to see everything, and no matter where you go, you’re sure to have an epic time.

DISCLAIMER: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links, which means if you book accommodation, tours or buy a product, we will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. These commissions help us keep creating more free travel content to help people plan their holidays and adventures. We only recommend the best accommodations, tours and products that ourselves or our fantastic editorial team have personally experienced, and regularly review these. Thanks for your support, kind friend!

Gabby Boucher

Hi, We’re Alesha and Jarryd!

We’ve been traveling the world together since 2008, searching for the planet’s best destinations and adventures.

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Have you got any info/tips about Central Australia? Adelaide, Coober Pedy, Alice Springs to Darwin (Stuart Hwy).

Would like more information on all inclusive 3 wk itinerary for family of about 12.

All the best with your research. Have a great trip.

Terrific article. Thanks so much for the insight!

Thank you so much. Glad the article was helpful 🙂

Action-packed Australia travel itineraries for every length of trip

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During our family’s gap year trip around the world , we spent a generous seven weeks touring around Australia, hitting five different states including countless cities, towns, villages and national parks. For most of the world, Australia is not close or inexpensive to get to – we figured we might as well explore as much as possible once we got there! If your family is considering a trip Down Under, check out our best itineraries for Australia, the top things to do in Australia with kids and our tips for visiting Australia on a budget (as much as possible – the country is expensive compared to many others, no matter how you slice it).

A note about car seats in Australia

Be advised that Australia has very specific laws on car seat usage. While most countries allow visitors to use their approved seats from home, in Australia it is only legal to use seats that meet the joint Australia/New Zealand standard.

We have heard that enforcement of that rule is most stringent in Victoria (Melbourne) and New South Wales (Sydney) and we spent tons of time there road tripping, so we opted to rent car seats with our car rental for that leg of our journey. You may be able to get away with using a US- or European-approved full-size car seat (NO backless boosters allowed) but if you are stopped it is a ticketable offense.

We used our portable car seats for the rest of our time in Australia without incident. Find out more in our detailed guide to travel with car seats .

Best itineraries for Australia

Every family has their own time constraints when planning a vacation – school, work and money all come into play. In general, we’d recommend allowing at least two weeks for a trip around Australia. It will probably take a few days to adjust to the very different time zone and the country is massive.

Itinerary for one week in Australia

Sydney area – 3 days

Port Douglas – 4 days

If you can really only muster one week to visit Australia, we recommend spending two or three days in Sydney (since you most likely have to fly there anyway) and then fly up to Cairns to explore tropical North Queensland for the remaining time. This east coast Australia itinerary will show you some of the country’s highlights in a very short time. If possible, book an open jaw ticket that arrives in Sydney and departs from Cairns. If that isn’t possible, there are many affordable flights connecting the two airports.

While we liked Sydney, we found that it’s similar enough to other major cities (like our home base in Los Angeles) that it doesn’t warrant that much time. In your two days you can hit the highlights: take in a view of the Opera House from the Royal Botanical Gardens, pop into the Art Gallery of New South Wales for a brief visit to see some contemporary Aboriginal art, enjoy a ferry across the harbor, and tackle the famed coastal walk between Bondi and Bronte beaches. If you have a few extra hours, we’ve heard that Taronga Zoo is lovely and has wonderful views (though it’s very expensive to visit).

You may also need a little time to let your body adjust to the time difference, but the good news is that Sydney’s bountiful sunshine and clean coastal air should speed up the process. Check out these tips for beating jetlag with little kids.

Far North tropical Queensland, on the other hand, offers a much more unique experience! There are so many awesome things to do in Cairns and Port Douglas that you won’t find anywhere else in the world – like walking rainforest bush tracks with an Aboriginal guide or snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef . Check out our full itinerary for five days in Port Douglas .

Use the interactive map to find vacation rentals and hotels in Port Douglas, Australia

Australia itinerary: 2 weeks

Sydney area – 7 days

Port Douglas – 7 days

With two weeks to visit Australia, you can give Sydney and the surrounding area a more complete look and at a slower pace. In addition to the activities mentioned above, consider taking a day trip or two outside of the city. Kaiama is just two hours away by train, and gives you a taste of the charming seaside towns and impressive blowholes that dot the Sapphire Coast of New South Wales. While we didn’t make it to the Blue Mountains, that’s another easy day trip by train if you’re interested in seeing waterfalls and doing some hiking. Check out these awesome spots in New South Wales !

Allow a week to explore the tropics with our Cairns itinerary. You’ll see the rainforest, the reef and more. You can consider heading to one of the nearby islands for crocodile-free swimming and snorkeling, exploring Cape Tribulation or spending a little time in the city of Cairns at its stunning botanical garden (or the super-cool playground). If you’re looking for an Australia itinerary for 10 days, just cut two days off of Sydney and Queensland each.

Australia itinerary: 3 weeks

Melbourne area – 5 days

Sapphire Coast drive – 6 days

Sydney area – 5 days

Port Douglas – 5 days

If you can allow three weeks for your time in Australia, things start to get really interesting! Instead of zooming around taking in high-impact tourist sites every day, you’ll have time to slow down and travel through one of our favorite parts of Australia, the Sapphire Coast !

Rather than starting in Sydney, book your tickets to fly into Melbourne . Spend a few days exploring the city and nearby areas – some of our top things to do in Melbourne include family-favorite ACMI (Australian Centre for the Moving Image), eating at Lakhsa King, a daytrip to the nearby Mornington Peninsula for a winery lunch and tasting at Foxey’s Hangout and a one-night trip along the Great Ocean Road to see the Twelve Apostles. Consider taking a trip out to Phillip Island to see the nightly penguin parade ! If you’re visiting with kids, check out these family-friendly Melbourne activities suggested by a local.

While we opted to rent a car in Australia to go explore outside of the cities and found it very easy, if you aren’t comfortable driving overseas you can always research one of these Great Ocean Road tours from Melbourne and spend the rest of your time in the city.

With a rental car at your disposal, drive the whole way up from Melbourne to Sydney instead of flying! There are so many picture-perfect coastal towns, peaceful natural parks and secluded beaches that it’s impossible to see everything. You’ll have amazing opportunities to see Australia’s most famous residents in their natural habitat. We spent four nights on the drive, and would have spent more if we’d known just how amazing the region is. Check out our complete guide to the drive from Melbourne to Sydney .

Green Cape Lighthouse, Ben Boyd National Park near Eden, Australia

Be aware that the car rental companies do charge a one-way drop off fee – and if you pick up your car at the airport, even that fee will be subject to the extra airport surcharge. If you rent car seats, those will be subject to the airport surcharge. It’s extremely frustrating! Our advice ( which we sadly didn’t follow ) is to pick up the car in town when you need it rather than from the airport. Check our rentalcars.com for the best rates.

Once you get to Sydney, check back above for our two week itinerary to find out our top things to do in Sydney and a full itinerary for visiting Queensland .

Use the interactive map to find vacation rentals and hotels in Sapphire Coast drive, Australia here

Australia itinerary: 4 weeks (or more!)

Perth/ Margaret River or Red Center or Tasmania – 7 days

If you plan to spend a month or more, you can follow our three week itinerary for Australia above and then tack on a visit to Western Australia (including Perth and Margaret River), to Australia’s Red Center to see majestic Uluru (Ayer’s Rock) rising from the desert (make sure to pack these essentials if you’re heading to the outback) or even to rugged Tasmania.

We really debated which of these areas to visit, and we decided on WA and Tassie. Visiting Uluru has long been one of my dream destinations, but we were in Australia during the hottest part of summer and we were pretty sure the kids would be miserable in the inhospitable temperatures surrounded by hoards of flies ( every single person we know who has visited told us about the flies!). There are several ways to get to Uluru – you can fly to Ayers Rock Airport directly or you can fly to Alice Springs and then drive 450km. We hope to include a visit to the Red Center on our next family trip to Australia!

Western Australia, on the other hand, is extremely family friendly and easy to access! We took a non-stop flight on Jetstar from Cairns to Perth, and then enjoyed five days each in Perth and Margaret River at free HomeExchange homes. Check out our favorite things to do in Margaret River with kids , or learn about our action-packed day tour from Perth to see the famous Pinnacles of WA.

If you have more time in Western Australia (and perhaps even the inclination to rent a camper van) there are tons of places off the beaten path to explore. Check out this awesome two-week itinerary for road tripping Western Australia !

Tasmania was our first stop in Australia, and flights are blessedly cheap between the island’s two airports and Melbourne on the mainland. Beware the open-jaw here: you’d have to pay a one-way drop off fee, but the drive between the two airports is just an easy two hour trip. We decided to save the money and fly in and out of Hobart. Though we spent ten days in Tassie, in truth it would take much more to explore all of its offerings. We didn’t see the unspoiled west side at all! We split our time between Hobart, Bicheno and the Tamar Valley just north of Launceston. Our top things to do in Tasmania include:

Things to do in Hobart

-visiting Port Arthur Historic Site (make sure to head out to Eaglehawk Neck for some awesome fish ‘n chips next to the blowhole)

-an afternoon exploring Richmond (see the bridge and old gaol/jail, and eat ice cream)

-a wine tasting lunch at Cole Valley Winery (buy some bread to take with you!)

-meeting the creatures of Bonorong Wildlife Reserve

Things to do in Bicheno

– kayaking Coles Bay at sunset

-tracking tiny penguins along the beach

-eating amazing fish ‘n chips at the harbor

-taking the very affordable glass-bottom boat tour

Things to do in Tamar Valley

-wine tasting at Holm Oak

-visiting Platypus House to learn about Australia’s unique monotremes

-soaring across Cataract Gorge

Another option, especially if you already plan to drive out on the Great Ocean Road, is to pay a visit to South Australia. You can enjoy the city of Adelaide, taste wine in the Barossa Valley, explore Kangaroo Island and much more. Check out what our Aussie friends at Thrifty Family Travels recommend to do in South Australia and Gold Coast .

Read more: Best things to do in Gold Coast with kids

Tips to budget travel Australia

We aren’t ultra-low budget travelers. But we do try to save money where possible without scrimping on the experiences that make a destination special. Australia is not a cheap place to travel. Our visit to Tasmania (which coincided with school holidays, and for which we didn’t book accommodations very far in advance) was one of our most expensive travel periods during our gap year! Here are a few hints we found for saving money while traveling in Australia

Thinking of making your trip to Australia permanent? Throw yourself an Aussie-themed going away party !

How to save on accommodation in Australia

We were really lucky to be hosted by friends and family for a good chunk of our time in Australia. Thanks guys! We also found wonderful HomeExchange homes to stay in for free during our time in Perth and Margaret River – find out more about HomeExchange here . There are also many options for HomeExchange in Melbourne and Sydney, though in the end we didn’t need to use them. We probably wouldn’t have stayed for as long without the free accommodation we scored.

For all of our other destinations, we used booking.com to find family-friendly places to stay in Australia. Now that we’re such frequent customers, we even get 10% off most bookings with our Genius discount! Check out our favorite simple tips to save more on every reservation.

How to save on food in Australia

Restaurant dining in Australia is pricey thanks to the requirement that workers be paid a living wage and the overall higher cost of food. There isn’t much way around that! We found that by arranging accommodations through HomeExchange or booking.com with a kitchen, we could prepare most of our own meals but still take advantage of Australia’s amazing local produce, meat and dairy. We also ate an unbelievable number of PB&J sandwiches, especially when we were staying on our own.

How to save on flights in Australia

We had been warned about flying Australian low-cost carrier Jet Star. In the end, they offered not only the lowest prices but also the best flight schedules for every single leg! We ended up with three flights on Jetstar and the service was basic but pleasant. We honestly have no complaints. We saved money on Jetstar by paying $49 upfront to join Club Jetstar, which offered additional discounts on tickets and add-ons. We booked the Starter fare for every flight, added seat assignments for everyone and then added only two bags . If we had booked tickets at the Starter Plus level, we would have been paying for two extra bags even though the kids didn’t have luggage! Check our family-favorite Skyscanner for the best flight deals. If you have points with Qantas or Virgin Australia, read about these tricks for maximizing your distance-based awards.

How to save on rental cars in Australia

As I mentioned above, we always find our best rental car deals on rentalcars.com . Fortunately, travelers with the Chase Sapphire Reserve or Chase Ink for Business credit cards can reject all of the insurance offers and use the free credit card coverage in case an issue arises. Our biggest unexpected expense was that the airports impose their extra 30% airport fee even on additional charges like one-way drop off fees and car seat rentals. Boooo! Whether you choose to pick up your rental car in Sydney or in Melbourne, neither city requires a car to get around. So either skip the car entirely, or pick it up in town when you really need it.

Start planning your trip to Australia

Be sure to read these articles to jumpstart your Australia trip planning!

Melbourne to Sydney drive: the ultimate guide
Your 5 day Australia adventure in Port Douglas
Quicksilver Reef Cruises: the best way to see the Great Barrier Reef with kids
The best way to visit Kuranda, the village in Australia’s rainforest
Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures: a family-friendly crocodile tour in Cairns
The Best 10 Things to do on the Gold Coast with Kids
An Insider’s Guide to Visiting Kangaroo Island, Australia
Top 7 awesome family experiences in Margaret River
A spectacular way to see Coles Bay, Tasmania: kayaking with Freycinet Adventures

Australia is a huge country with SO much to see! Don't get overwhelmed with planning, check out these great Australia itinerary options for every length of stay. You'll find practical information on travel in Australia (including Australia on a budget) and detailed travel guides on things to do in Australia for many states. Visit Sydney, Melbourne, Queensland, Tasmania and Western Australia! #Australia #Sydney #Melbourne #Tassie #Queensland #travel #budgettravel #familytravel

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8 thoughts on “action-packed australia travel itineraries for every length of trip”.

What a great guide! Australia is totally on my bucket list one day!

I’m so glad you found it useful!

Great blog post! Australia is on my travel bucket list. This was so informative! Thank you! ~Elizabeth

Thanks! You’ll get there one day ?

Some good tips here. I loved the port douglas area! Another place Id recommend is byron bay – i lived there for 2 years and theres something very special and unique about that place!

It looks so beautiful! When we eventually get back, I’d definitely like to explore the rest of coastal Queensland more ?

That sounds wonderful. This trip is now on my to-go list! And to go soon! Australia is sooo beautiful.

Australia was one of my favorite trips! When we travel as a family, I love to find engaging books for the kids to read before and during the trip. As a librarian, educator, and mom – here are some of my choices that other travelers to Australia might enjoy! http://storybooklists.com/country/storybooks-with-australia

Australia East Coast Road Trip Itinerary: A Complete Guide

Australia’s East Coast is one of the most popular places in the world to travel. It spans the length of Queensland and into New South Wales, and features the larger cities of Cairns and Brisbane. With its world class beaches, ancient rainforests, endless adrenaline activities and charming towns, it’s truly a destination like no other. So the main aim of this guide is to equip you with everything you need to know to plan your own Australia East Coast road trip itinerary.

I’ve done three road trips along Australia’s East Coast (mad, I know!). The first time, I joined an organised tour from Brisbane up to Cairns. It was fast paced and more fun than I could have ever imagined. The second time, I chose to do the journey more slowly in a camper van south from Cairns to Byron Bay. For the third visit, I did an awesome but far shorter one week road trip from Byron Bay to Noosa. So I feel I’ve got really sound experience in devising an East Coast itinerary.

One of the best things about the East Coast of Australia is the sheer variety in things to do. On each East Coast trip, I’ve ended up doing completely different things and each road trip has been equally incredible.

If you’re trying to decide which direction to travel the East Coast, there aren’t really any overarching reasons to go one way and not the other. The biggest factors will be around your plans before and after the East Coast, plus the time you have available. If you are planning to take 6+ weeks, I would suggest perhaps starting in Cairns. Then you could carry on driving south past Brisbane and on towards Sydney and Melbourne.

For the purpose of this blog post, I will share an Australian East Coast road trip itinerary starting in the tropical city of Cairns in the north. From here, the itinerary will weave south past pristine beaches, rugged mountains ranges, waterfalls, tropical rainforest, charming surf towns, some of the world’s best diving spots, as well as the epic K’gari island (also known as Fraser Island).

This guide is aimed at all travellers, with suggestions for both backpackers and those on a slightly bigger budget throughout. It can be used for anyone travelling in Australia as it covers all the best things to do along the East Coast.

Australia East Coast Road Trip Itinerary: Essential things to know

Wow, so where to start! Some of the most important things to consider for an Australia East Coast road trip itinerary are time of year to visit, vehicle type and budget. So let’s get stuck in!

When is the best time to travel the East Coast of Australia?

First things first – when is the best time of year to plan a road trip for Australia’s East Coast?

As you can see below, Australia is a huge country. You can fit about two thirds of Europe into its land mass. And therefore, the weather across the whole of Australia does vary, especially more so in the Australian winter months (May to September). I’ve summarised this below, but do make sure to check out my detailed Australia climate guide too.

Map of the country for an Australia East Coast Road Trip Itinerary

Cairns, in Tropical North Queensland, is the largest northernmost town on the East Coast and has hot weather year-round. However, this is divided into two distinct seasons – wet and dry.

During the Australian winter ( May to September ), Cairns experiences warm, dry weather and low crowds .

During the Australian summer ( November to April ), Cairns is hot and humid, with plenty of rain . This tropical monsoonal starts building up in December and by January, the rains are mostly daily and can be torrential.

Although the days can still be hot and sunny, the tropical rains can make diving conditions more challenging, and visibility worse for seeing underwater life. And as Cairns is popular for diving, it could be a real shame to visit and not be able to enjoy this fully.

Another key factor with Cairns and the surrounding area is stinger season. This refers to the presence of tiny stinging box jellyfish in the water. The sting can be extremely painful, and can be fatal in some cases. If you do visit in the months when this is at its worse (Jan to March), you will have to wear stinger suits in the water.

So, where possible, visiting Cairns in the Australian winter means long, sunny days, with minimal rain and no stingers in the water. As mentioned above, conditions for diving in the Great Barrier Reef are optimal with perfect water temperatures and visibility in excess of 50m. It’s also an excellent time to see the magnificent Daintree Rainforest at its best and full of life. Furthermore, the water levels are ideal so white water rafting is an awesome activity to during this time, but can often be too dangerous during the months from January to March.

From personal experience, I found the weather in Cairns during August/September to be perfect. We were able to experience every activity and as this is the start of spring, there was plenty of colour and life in the plants and trees. On my second road trip, we were in Cairns in the month of December which was still quite good, although noticeably hotter and humid. It was early December and we experienced no rainfall, but prices for accommodation were higher. I also got stung by a rogue stinger who had made an early arrival into the waters in the Great Barrier Reef. It was very painful for about 30 minutes, and then the sting subsided.

So to summarise, it depends on the activities you plan to do in Cairns as to when is the best time to visit, but generally the months from May to September are best.

Then, at the southern end of Queensland is Brisbane. It receives some of the most enjoyable and reliable weather in Australia throughout the year. It has a warm-temperate climate, meaning there are few days you’d need a jumper.

As with Cairns, the Australian summer from January to March bring the hottest and most humid weather . During this period is the highest chance of heavy rainfall and thunderstorms, although they are mostly in the late afternoon.

The best time to visit Brisbane is April to May and September to November , when temperatures are comfortable and humidity and rainfall are low. However, June through to August is also a great time to go to Brisbane, but the temperatures are slightly cooler.

I found Brisbane in the months of September and December to be really lovely, with long hot, sunny days. However, visiting Brisbane and the surrounding area in February did bring a lot of rain.

Whitsunday Islands Paradise on an Australia East Coast Road Trip Itinerary

So when should I plan my East Coast road trip?

Overall, visiting Queensland, which spans from Tropical North Queensland to just south of Brisbane, is best avoided from January to March in order to have the best experience for most activities. If you’re embarking on a longer Australia trip, then it might be best to spend these months in New South Wales (Sydney and surrounds) and Victoria (for Melbourne and surrounds), as the weather here is at its peak from January to March. The same goes for visiting the Outback, which is generally best visited from April to October/November.

If your Australia trip is focused purely on the East Coast, with the Cairns to Brisbane road trip being the primary focus, then a trip from May to August would be the best time. This also avoids stinger season completely. It would be slightly cooler in Brisbane, but you would still unlikely need a jumper or a jacket.

If you’re on a longer trip in Australia, then as just mentioned, you could spend December – March exploring Victoria and New South Wales, before then heading to the East Coast from April onwards. Alternatively, you could do the Australia East Coast Road Trip Itinerary during August, September and/or October, before heading down to Victoria and New South Wales onwards for the better weather during the Australian summer.

Beautiful beaches in Tropical Northern Queensland

How long does it take to travel East Coast Australia?

If you’re short on time, then it can be done in two weeks. This would cover the highlights. If you can spare longer, perhaps 4-6 weeks you’ll have enough time to see and do just about everything, and have some time to relax!

If you have two months or so, then an awesome adventure would be to drive from Cairns to Melbourne which would easily take in some of the very best parts of Australia. You’d traverse through some seriously different climates and experience both the tiniest beach towns as well as the huge, cosmopolitan cities of Sydney and Melbourne.

Should I go for a car or a camper van for my East Coast road trip?

Any road trip in Australia is best with a camper van. The freedom is unparalleled and you can truly travel at your own pace.

With a camper van, you can adjust your itinerary more easily and generally, it offers better value as the camper van doubles up as your accommodation each night. However, a camper van isn’t for everyone as space can be challenging.

The main camper van companies in Australia are:

Spaceships Rentals
Wicked Campers

Pros and cons of a camper van

Can save costs on more expensive hotel or lodging accommodation
It can save money on food costs as you have your own stove/kitchen area in the van which is great for easy breakfasts and some dinners
Is a good way to split fuel costs between friends if there’s a few of you
You can easily stay longer somewhere you like if you don’t need to look for accommodation
There are many free campsites, motorway rest stops or areas to park and sleep overnight (check Wikicamping and the state parks’ app/websites )
You can sleep and wake up so much closer to nature
You don’t need to carry suitcases or bags in and out of hotels
In the busiest months, the cost of a camper van can be steep
You will spend more on fuel as the vehicle is heavier
Making the bed each night can get a little tiring and sand from the beaches gets everywhere
You can’t really keep the air-con on overnight without draining the battery, so it gets hot!
Also, it’s likely you will lose stuff within the van all the time. There are just way too many cubby holes and spaces for things to fall down
There may be some days you go without a shower
Can be moments where it’s difficult to park, especially if you visit cities like Brisbane
There are many ways to lose money from your deposit with a camper van as there are so many more parts to it to break!

If you really fancy resting your head somewhere a little more comfortable each night, then a car is a great option. You still have a huge amount of freedom, but just slightly less freedom as you do need to find somewhere to sleep each night.

Driving from Cairns to Brisbane in a camper van on an Australia East Coast Road Trip Itinerary

Pros and cons of hiring a car

Lower initial cost for renting a vehicle
Also lower petrol costs
Easier to park in general
You have a boot to keep your suitcase in, and act as an on-the-go wardrobe space
Less risk of losing things as the vehicle is way smaller
No need to go without showers and guaranteed a slightly more comfortable and cooler sleep every night
May save money if hotels, lodges etc include breakfast in the rate
Need to find a place to stay each night, which can be expensive and time consuming/stressful in peak season
In my option, there’s a slight less feel of ‘adventure’ with a normal hire car, as opposed to a camper van

Joining an organised tour or using bus services

I joined an organised tour one year with Topdeck (read all about the trip here ). Generally, I don’t tend to join multi-week tours but it was aimed at students and more than 40 of my friends booked on. So as you can imagine, it was one of the best experiences of my life. I enjoyed some awesome adventures each day, with nearly all meals and activities included, it was excellent value. Except for skydiving, all other activities were already paid for, including bungee jumping, white water rafting and admission to the Australia Zoo.

Organised tours along the East Coast of Australia are very popular, but naturally, they don’t allow for any freedom or adjusting the itinerary at all. However, it can be a great way to meet people and have all logistics taken care of.

Some great companies include: Contiki , G Adventures , the Oz Experience, Intrepid

Stray also has a great value Cairns to Sydney bus pass, which you can book online here .

Another alternative is to use bus services such as Greyhound or Premier. Both of these companies offer dozens of buses stopping at hundreds of convenient stops across the East Coast every day. Plus, you can book the tickets just the day before and sometimes on the day, which can be really handy. If you don’t fancy driving the East Coast yourself, this is a great way to travel. They also offer hop-on hop-off bus passes which can be great value – for example, Greyhound has a bus pass that covers you for 90 days and starts at around $349.

Greyhound offers the slightly more expensive bus tickets of the two, but the buses are comfortable and offer on board Wi-Fi.

Finally, I wouldn’t recommend planning to do this trip by hitchhiking. It’s not as common as movies might suggest!

Eating on the East Coast

Three meals a day, plus snacks and coffees/drinks can add up quickly when travelling in Australia.

Fortunately, BBQ-ing in Australia is every bit as popular as you might imagine. There are gas BBQs all over Australia in parks, by beaches, in national parks and next to boardwalks. They are free to use and really easy to operate, most having utensils to use too. There’s always plenty of table space nearby and it’s one of the most easy ways to assimilate into Australian life, as these are equally popular with locals and tourists.

Supermarkets are really geared up to this, and their meat section sells all kinds of meats in different marinades, making it really easy. Furthermore, they always have a delicatessen section with choose-your-own salad bowls and side dishes. It couldn’t be more simple to pull together an amazing BBQ spread in Australia.

The big supermarket chains are Woolworths and Coles, which have the most competitive pricing and a huge range. In some smaller locations, you might find an IGA or a SPAR which can be a tad more expensive.

When you don’t feel like cooking or don’t have the chance to do a food shop, there are popular fast food chains such as Hungry Jacks and Pie Face, or smoothie chains like Boost. I personally prefer to sample the local food in cafes in town, or a family-owned fish and chip shop instead. There are also plenty of pubs in Australia, which are pretty cheap but the quality can be a bit iffy (like Wetherspoons in the UK).

A popular place for a pub-like meal on a Sunday is the local Surf Life Saving Club, and you’ll see these dotted all along the coastline – particularly in the Gold Coast. Mostly aimed at local members, they nearly all welcome in tourists (with sign-in at the door). It’s a very Australian experience if you like beer, local live musicians and ridiculously big portions of chips, nachos and battered fish!

Then of course there are excellent restaurants all across the East Coast.

Deciding where to stay on the East Coast – hotels, lodges, hostels or camping

Even if you do the road trip along the East Coast in a camper van, there will be some nights where you’ll need to opt for a campsite for its shower facilities.

And there are hundreds of campsites along the East Coast. Some are your traditional pitch and stay camping grounds, and some are huge, expansive holiday resorts. Whilst these are typically aimed at domestic travellers, everyone is welcome and you may be blown away by the facilities.

The best resources for campsites on the East Coast of Australia are:

Pitchup (can book directly on this site too)
Tourism Australia
Camping in Queensland
Camping in NSW

The East Coast is also home to hundreds and hundreds of hostels. There are also some hostel chains in Australia, and nearly always one where you’re travelling. The two biggest chains are Nomads and Base. Staying in one of these means a fairly reliable and comfortable experience. The dorms are clean and secure, and the social areas are often amazing. Staying in hostels add to a quintessential Australia experience. I’ve had some brilliant stays and met some awesome people.

Visiting the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns

However, I prefer now to travel and stay in hotels where possible. On my most recent visit to Australia, we had a hire car and spent our nights in various Airbnbs and hotels along the East Coast. We stayed in some amazing Airbnbs, including a treehouse in the Gold Coast and a Balinese style villa in Noosa.

However, throughout this itinerary I will suggest a couple of options for each destination that cover campsites, hostels and hotels. I’ve managed to stay in all three types nearly everywhere along the East Coast now, so I’ve got some good experience!

Money and Budget

The currency in Australia is the dollar (AUD). Generally across Australia card payments are widely accepted, and contactless is very popular as the limit is $200.

For slightly more remote locations or for any really small villages you visit, I would recommend keeping cash on hand.

In terms of budgeting, prices are approximately the below:

Accommodation:

Camping site (tent) – $10-20 per night
Camper van spot at campsite – $20 – $50 per night, depending on size and facilities of the campground/holiday resort
Double room in a value hotel or holiday resort: $100-140
Double room in a 4 or 5 star hotel: $200 – $300 depending on time of year you visit

Food (based on two people):

On-the-go coffees: $9
Fast food or take away meal: approx $20
Local cafe or pub meal: $60
3 Course meal in a good restaurant: $140-200

In terms of alcohol, it’s not sold at supermarkets but instead at bottle shops such as Dan Murphy’s. Prices are a little more than in the UK and the US, but they do sell boxed wine, affectionally called ‘goon’ in Australia. Boxed wine doesn’t taste the best BUT it’s cheap and lasts longer than a bottle!

Activites to do on the East Coast Australia

Excursions and activities are likely to be your greatest expenditure. There are so many bucket list activities on the East Coast of Australia vthat I highly recommend putting budget aside so you can make the most of these. As an indication, here are the approximate prices of several activities:

Animal sanctuary entrance fee: approx $40 per adult
15,000 ft sky dive in Cairns: $359 per person (not including video or photos)
Entry to Daintree National Park and canopy walk: $35 per adult

As an approximate guide, the AUD to GBP conversion is roughly half. So animal sanctuary entrance is around £20 ($40).

The AUD to USD conversion is about 1.5, so animal sanctuary entrance is around USD $25 (AUD $40).

Finally, fuel in Australia is similar in price to the UK, but more expensive than the USA. Fuel for the whole route could cost around AUD$600-800, or more depending on detours you might take.

Sailing day trip to the Whitsunday Islands

Deciding where to go on your Australia East Coast Road Trip Itinerary

So you’ve decided when to embark on your epic road trip, and you’ve got your vehicles or bus pass sorted. Now the fun part – deciding where to go!

If you can’t already tell, I love the East Coast of Australia. It has everything AND warm weather year round.

As mentioned above, I have driven the route in both directions but my favourite was probably the Cairns to Brisbane drive. This would also be considered the most iconic road trip for the East Coast of Australia too. It spans world class beaches, dozens of stunning national parks as well as incredible Great Barrier Reef and the twinkly Whitsunday Islands.

So for the purpose of this blog post, we’ll be starting in Cairns but this itinerary can be modified in any way, and of course started in Sydney, Byron Bay or Brisbane. I also list the minimum to maximum number of days needed in each place to help you plan and decide where to visit.

The most important thing to remember is that Australia is BIG . The Cairns to Brisbane road trip spans 1,682km (or 1,045 miles), and that’s taking the most direct route without any detours. It’s around 19 hours of driving if you were to go straight through. There are also some seriously long stretches of driving without any major towns or stops too.

One thing you must remember is to fill your car or van with fuel whenever you can. Never leave a town with less than a full tank – I speak from experience!

So without further ado, let’s jump in with our first stop, Cairns!

Suggested time for Cairns: 3-5 days

This tropical city is one of my favourite places in Australia. Although the town is somewhat unassuming, the adventures to be had in and around Cairns are epic!

The relaxed tropical lifestyle in Cairns will ease you in to an Australia road trip, but could also make a relaxing end point too to your road trip.

Cairns could easily be one of the places where you choose to spend longer, but only if your budget allows. There are countless awesome sights to see and places to visit in Cairns , but the tours can add up and makes Cairns quite an expensive stop. That being said, one of the best things to do in Cairns is free – and that’s spending the day at the incredible Esplanade Lagoon in the heart of town.

The Cairns Esplanade Lagoon, a must visit on an Australia East Coast road trip itinerary

Best things to do and see in Cairns

Free or low cost:

Cool off and relax in the magnificent Cairns Lagoon
Take a road trip to the Daintree Rainforest at Cape Tribulation via Port Douglas
Spend the day in the Behana Canyon, a swimming hole surrounded by dense rainforest. Why not join this tour .
Eat and drink your way around some of the beautiful waterside restaurant and bars
Visit the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Centre

Best things to do in Cairns on an Australia East Coast road trip itinerary

More expensive but bucket list activities:

Join a boat trip to the incredible Great Barrier Reef where you can snorkel or learn to dive
Take a boat out to the stunning Fitzroy Island
Brave the ultimate leap of faith at the AJ Hackett bungee jump centre
Go ATV riding in the rainforest
Take the train to spend the day at the Kuranda Rainforest Skyway , an awesome journey across the rainforest finishing at the epic Mossman Falls
Enjoy a hop on hop off beer and drinks tour of Cairns
Join a tour of the Atherton Tablelands , and visit beautiful waterfalls and scenic lakes (including the famous Milla Milla Falls)
Enjoy a foodie tour and wine tasting in the Atherton Tablelands
Visit the Daintree Rainforest and enjoy Cape Tribulation .

Blow-the-budget fun:

Book a super special day on the Sunlover Reef pontoon , where you enjoy all the activities at this mini village floating on the Great Barrier Reef
Organise a helicopter ride over the Great Barrier Reef, a true once in a lifetime experience, or even a scenic flight !
Enjoy an epic skydive over Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef

Overnight stay on the Great Barrier Reef

Where to stay in Cairns

In Cairns, there are no free camping options in the city centre, but there are some paid campsites on the edge of town. Make sure to check this guide on camping near Cairns .

And here are my best picks for accommodation in Cairns:

Best luxury stay: Shangri-La at The Marina (£90pn) or the Pullman Reef Casino (from £97pn)

Great value mid-range stay: Pacific Hotel Cairns (from £63pn)

Best hostel: Gilligans Backpacker Resort (dorm from £17pn, private room from £70) has some of the best facilities I have experienced anywhere. It’s a lively party place but does also offer great value if you book out a 4 or 6 bed dorm for your group.

Cape Tribulation, Port Douglas and the Daintree Rainforest

Suggested time for the Daintree Rainforest: 1-2 days
Driving distance from Cairns to Port Douglas: 68km (1hour) along the Captain Cook Highway
Driving distance from Port Douglas to Cape Tribulation: 75km (1h30)

This beautiful corner of Australia is home to the Daintree Rainforest, which is the world’s oldest! It is also unique as it the only place in the world where two UNESCO World Heritage-listed sites meet – the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef.

Cape Tribulation however is considered one of the most dangerous beaches in the world. This is due to the huge population of crocodiles that reside here, as well as the often-fatal stings from Box Jellyfish in the water.

Whilst driving to Cape Tribulation can easily be done as a full day trip , it’s well worth an overnight stay if you have the time. I would perhaps recommend opting for a small hire car for the day, instead of taking a camper van however. The roads can be narrow and difficult to drive, especially as you get deeper into the rainforest. Note that driving further north from Cape Tribulation towards Cooktown and the Cape York Village requires a 4WD and some previous experience essential as the tracks here are very challenging.

Port Douglas on route is also a beautiful upscale resort town which is definitely worth a stop for a few hours. The beach is beautiful and over four miles long, and its main street is packed with quirky shops and independent cafes and restaurants. If you visit on a Sunday, make sure to check out the beachside markets too.

In terms of activities in the Daintree forest, there are plenty:

Soar above the rainforest on a zipline adventure
Explore the rainforest from the elevated walkways
Take on some of the best hikes, including the Mount Sorrow hike
Spot crocodiles on a river cruise on the Daintree River
River drift snorkelling near Port Douglas
Explore the deserted and untouched beaches, and see where the rainforest meets the reef
Visit the Daintree tea plantation
Swim in the Mossman Gorge

The Cairns to Port Douglas drive is spectacular, with the road weaving between the rainforest and the azure ocean. The views are stunning. From Port Douglas to Cape Tribulation, the road is often surrounded by the dense, lush rainforest and you have to take a small ferry to cross the Daintree River. I’ve written a complete itinerary guide to driving from Cairns to Cape Tribulation, so make sure to check this out.

Driving from Cairns to Cape Tribulation on an Australia East Coast road trip itinerary

In terms of places to stay in Port Douglas or Cape Tribulation, there are some wonderful eco-stays including:

Niramaya Villas & Spa (around £450pn)
Noah Creek Eco Huts (around £157pn)
Thala Beach Nature Resort (around £220pn)

In Port Douglas, there is also the beautiful Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort (from £129 pn) too or the stunning Shantara Resort (from £229 pn).

Alternatively, you can of course join a day trip, such as this one which is a full day exploring the Daintree rainforest, the Mossman Falls and Cape Tribulation . Or this day trip, which includes a stop at Port Douglas and Wildlife Habitat .

Beaches in Cape Tribulation on an Australia East Coast road trip itinerary

Mission Beach

Suggested time for Mission Beach: 1-2 days
Driving distance from Cairns to Mission Beach: 139km (1h50)

Next stop, Mission Beach. In my opinion, the drive from Cairns south is stunning with the Bruce Highway bordered on both sides by sugar cane plantations, followed by banana trees. The first moderate sized town is Innisfail, which I personally don’t think is worth a stop. So I recommend heading straight to Mission Beach. Make sure to look out for cassowaries at the side of the road!

Mission Beach on the East Coast of Australia

Mission Beach is popular with backpackers for its laidback vibes and excellent beaches. What it lacks in obvious activities and sightseeing opportunities, it makes up for in huge stretches of glorious sandy beaches and walking tracks in the rainforest. I’ve only ever stopped at Mission Beach in October and December which is stinger season, so we could not enter the water.

I would recommend a night in Mission Beach, especially as it provides a decent break in the long drive between Cairns and Townsville, which is the next large town (347km, 4hrs). Mission Beach is also right next to Tully’s River, which is home to some of the best white water rafting in Australia.

Book your white water rafting trip to Tully’s River here!

Where to stay in Mission Beach

Best luxury stay: Castaways Resort & Spa Mission Beach (from £100pn)
Good value mid-range stay: Mission Reef Resort (from £54 pn)
Best hostel: Jackaroo Treehouse (from £30pn)

Townsville & Magnetic Island

Suggested time for Townsville: half day (but longer if visiting Magnetic Island)
Driving distance from Mission Beach to Townsville: 235km (2h40)

This large town is largely residential and also home to a big Australian military and naval base. I personally don’t think there’s a huge amount to see in Townsville but it is home to my absolute favourite wildlife sanctuary in Australia, which is the Billabong Sanctuary .

I cannot recommend stopping at this amazing wildlife sanctuary more! It’s the perfect place to meet a whole host of the most iconic Australian animals, such as the echidna, wombat, koala and kangaroo. Billabong Sanctuary is a really well-run wildlife centre, with lots of opportunities for animal interaction, plus the location itself is beautiful. It’s located 17km south of Townsville, so you could spend the afternoon there as you continue on your road trip south.

Townsville is the starting point for the ferry to Magnetic Island. This slice of paradise is popular with backpackers but a little less frequented by other types of tourists. I haven’t been to Magnetic Island, so I cannot comment from personal experience but I understand it’s super-laidback and full of beautiful, scenic spots. Make sure to book your ferry tickets from Townsville to Magnetic Island in advance here.

If you do choose to spend a night in Townsville, the Oaks Gateway Suites offer great rooms at a good price (£67 pn). Alternatively, there is a BIG4 Holiday Park at Rowes Bay with beachside cabins from £50.

Airlie Beach & The Whitsundays

Suggested time for Airlie Beach & The Whitsundays: 2-5 days
Driving distance from Townsville to Airlie Beach: 273km (3h10)

Airlie Beach is the gateway to The Whitsundays, and this stop is a must-do on any East Coast road trip itinerary. Make sure to read my detailed guide to visiting the Whitsunday Islands here .

The town itself is popular with backpackers, although there are few luxury hotels. Those on a slightly smaller budget or tighter time frame can visit The Whitsundays on a full day boat trip.

But if you have time, then I highly recommend splurging on a sailing trip around the Whitsundays. You can spend around 2-3 days on living onboard a sailing boat, where you can snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef and visit Whitehaven, one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

Alternatively, you could stay on one of the Whitsunday Islands for a couple of nights, for the ultimate barefoot paradise experience.

There are some amazing resort hotels in The Whitsunday Islands, with the InterContinental Hayman Island being one of the very best stays.

I’ve done both a sailing trip and a 3 night stay on the islands, and I honestly couldn’t say which I preferred. Both were incredible.

The stunning white sands of Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsundays

For day sailing trips, you could wait to book this in Airlie Beach, but you risk the boats being full, so I recommend booking a tour in advance. Here are a few excellent suggestions:

Whitsundays Full-Day Catamaran Sailing Adventure from Airlie (£108pp)
Half Day Whitsunday & Whitehaven 6-Hour Cruise £63pp)
Whitsundays Ocean Rafting Tour: Snorkel, Walk & Whitehaven (£85pp)

Sunset in the Whitsundays on an Australia East Coast road trip itinerary

For 1 or 2 night sailing trips, you could check the below companies:

OzSailWhitsunday s (2 day, 2 night trips) – starts at £208pp
Whitsundays Sailing Adventures (offer a 1 night sailing trip) – starts at £216pp
The same company also offers an awesome 3-day, 2-night sailing and diving trip – starts at £390pp
Red Cat Adventures (2 nights) – starts at £260pp
Wings Whitsundays Adventure (2 nights) – starts at £260pp
ProSail offer 2 or 3 night sailing adventures – starting at £398pp

Exploring the Whitsunday Islands National Park

Back on Airlie Beach, there isn’t a huge amount to do, so if you choose to visit the islands as a day trip, you could spend a relaxing day at the Airlie Beach Lagoon.

But this could be a place to splurge and explore the Whitsundays from a difference perspective entirely. For example, this 1-hour scenic flight over the Whitsundays Island archipelago looks incredible, or what about a tandem skydive over the Whitsundays ?

Or you could go all out with a helicopter trip to the Whitsunday Islands . It even lands on Whitehaven beach – possibly the most incredible day imaginable.

Slightly further inland from Airlie Beach (and slightly more affordable), there are some great hiking routes in the Conway National Park and waterfall swimming at the beautiful Cedar Creek Falls.

Where to stay in Airlie Beach

There’s a huge number of places to stay in Airlie Beach, covering every budget. In fact, you can find some seriously nice stays at very good value. Here’s my pick:

Base Airlie Beach (dorm from £16 per night, double from £53)
Big4 at Whitsundays Tropical Eco Resort (camping from £19 per night)
Magnums Airlie Beach (from £31 per night)
Mantra Club Croc Airlie Beach (from £57 per night)
Airlie Beach Hotel (from £82 per night)
Mirage Whitsundays (from £117 per night)
Coral Sea Resort Hotel (from £139 per night)

Airlie Beach, the gateway to the Whitsunday Islands

Where to stay on the Whitsundays

I’ve written about all the various options in the Whitsundays in more detail, which I recommend you check out.

Fortunately, there’s a good range of tropical island resorts to stay on, with Daydream Island offering excellent value. Rates here start from £150 per night.

One of the most luxurious resorts to stay in in the Whitsunday islands is the InterContinental Hayman Island (formerly the One&Only). Rates start from around £450 per night.

Alternatively, some other ultra-lux options include:

Beach Club , an opulent hotel on Hamilton Island . Rates start from £397 per night
Elysian Retreat can only host 20 people at any time, and is the ultimate in barefoot luxury with all stays on all-inclusive basis. Rates start at £630 per night.
Or, the exceptional Paradise Cove Resort. I recommend this excellent boat tour and 2 nights all inclusive in a secluded villa at the island resort. (£311 per person)

Capricorn Caves

Suggested time for the Capricorn Caves: 1/2 day
Driving distance from Airlie Beach to the Capricorn Caves: 460km (5hrs)

The stretch south from Airlie Beach is a long one – I think the second longest stretch of driving on this road trip. Optional stops before the Capricorn Caves include Mackay, a small quiet town with some lovely cycling and hiking, but no essential bucket list adventures. After Mackay, the next potential stop point would be Rockhampton, where (without exaggerating) there is nothing to do.

I recommend breaking up the long drive from Airlie Beach to the next key stop (Hervey Bay/K’gari Island) with a visit to the Capricorn Caves. These are fairly near to Rockhampton, so depending on the time you arrive in this area, you may want to consider an overnight stay near Rockhampton or a little further south at Gladstone (137km/1hr41).

The Capricorn Caves are called this because they are located on the Tropic of Capricorn. They are an awesome complex of caves, with over 1.5km of passages to explore. They only way to visit is on a tour, often called the ‘Cathedral Tour’ as they all take in the incredible largest cave, which often holds wedding and special events. The acoustics are incredible and it was like nowhere I’d seen before.

Book a tour to the Capricorn Caves here!

Visiting the Capricorn Caves on an East Coast Australia road trip itinerary

Taking around one hour in total, it’s well worth a visit and is often missed off travellers’ East Coast itineraries.

Suggestions for affordable places to stay around this area:

Mackay: Central Tourist Park (£41 per night)
Rockhampton: Denison Boutique Hote l (£54 per night)
Capricorn Caves: Capricorn Motel (£65 per night)
Gladstone: Barney Beach Accommodation (£50 per night)

Rainbow Beach

Suggested time for Rainbow Beach and K’gari Island: ideally 3-4 days
Driving distance from Rockhampton/theCapricorn Caves to Rainbow Beach: 601km (6hrs40)

From the Rockhampton area onwards, there are a few stops to consider including Agnes Water/1770 and Bundaberg. The latter is famous for its rum, and visiting the Bundaberg Distillery makes for a brilliant stop. Make sure to book a tour to the local brewery too!

The town of 1770, sometimes written as Seventeen Seventy, is the second spot in Australia that James Cook and his crew landed in the year 1770. We did stop here and I was fairly disappointed with the lack of things to do and see, so I wouldn’t necessarily recommend visiting.

So unless you make a brief stop at Bundaberg, I recommend driving straight through to the Rainbow Beach area. It’s a long old drive, that’s for sure! Looking back, that was why we stopped at 1770 – to break it up!

Rainbow Beach is located in the Great Sandy National Park and is a tiny backpacker town, surrounded by huge, towering sand dunes. The town is mostly a starting point for Fraser Island tours, but you can definitely spend a relaxing day here too.

One of my favourite things to do in Rainbow Beach is climb the huge Carlo Sand Blow and admire the spectacular views across the ocean. The Great Sandy National Park is well worth exploring too – you can even do this on horseback !

Where to stay in Rainbow Beach

There are quite a few places to stay in Rainbow Beach, many of which offer great value stays. Here are my suggestions:

Freedom Hostels (formerly Dingos) – from £26 per night
Pippie’s Beach House – from £77 per night
Rainbow Ocean Palms Resort – from £110 per night

K’gari Island

K’gari Island, previously referred to as Fraser Island, is one of the most popular things to do in Australia. Most tours here are typically aimed at a young backpacking crowd and last 2 days/1night or 3 days/2 nights. There are several other options, including day trips too but as the world’s largest sand island, there’s something special about staying overnight if you can. Unless you have a 4WD drive and significant experience driving on sand, you won’t be able to take your own car to K’gari Island. Several tours however let tourists drive the company’s 4WD vehicles though on what they call a ‘tag along’ basis .

If you book an overnight K’gari Island tour you will have a briefing the evening before departure at 6pm, so you’ll always need to stay the night before in Rainbow Beach. You may also want another night in the town once you come back from K’gari so you don’t have to rush straight off. However it’s worth nothing that you can also start a K’gari Island from trip from Noosa or Hervey, if you prefer.

K’gari Island is a bucket list activity in Australia and for good reason. For many people, K’gari Island is the highlight of their Australia trip!

Exploring Fraser Island on a full day tour

You definitely should book your K’gari Island tour in advance. Do not leave it for on arrival in Rainbow Beach/Hervey Bay/Noosa, unless you’re arriving several days in advance (at least).

These are the best K’gari Island tours:

Full day Fraser Island tour from Rainbow Beach (£125pp)
2 day/1 night tour from Rainbow Beach (£218pp)

Best things to do on Fraser Island

If you’re over 21 and on a tag-along tour, you’ll have the opportunity to drive the 4WD along the sand, which is epic
Swim in the crystal clear freshwater Lake Mackenzie
Bathe in the beautiful Champagne Pools
Drift along the natural lazy river at Ely Creek
Explore the tropical rainforest
Spot dingos (wild dogs) from afar
If on an overnight tour, spend the evenings around the campfire drinking and relaxing with new friends
Drive along 75 Mile Beach
Hike up to Indian Head to spot sharks and stingrays
Explore the Maheno shipwreck
Hike to Lake Wobby

If you visit Fraser Island on a one day tour from the mainland, you’ll be able to do most of the above, but at a quicker pace.

Suggested time for Noosa: 2-4 days (or as long as possible..)
Driving distance from Rainbow Beach to Noosa: 117km (1hr37)

Noosa is an absolute must-visit on any East Coast road itinerary and is hands down my favourite place in Australia. Whether you’re a backpacker, on honeymoon, a group of friends or a family, Noosa is the perfect place. The town centre is charming with some brilliant shopping, the beaches are phenomenal and the surrounding scenery is just breathtaking. It’s also the place in Australia where I’ve seen the most koalas in the wild.

Spotting koalas in Noosa Heads National Park

Best things to do in Noosa

Explore the magnificent Noosa National Park, which is easily accessed whether on foot from the town centre or if you drive to its entrance and park
Beach hopping from Noosa Main Beach to the dog-friendly waters at the Noosa Spit and over in Noosaville too
Get surfing or take part in a surf lesson
Go on a dolphin-watching safari by kayak , where your chances of seeing dolphins are super high
Bar hopping along Main Street
Tucking into some of the town’s best food, including the phenomenal Spanish set menu at 10 Hastings Street
Kayak through the Noosa Everglades
Hike nearby Mt Coolumb
Get stuck into the craft beer scene in Noosa
Drive to nearby Emundi to go to the popular Farmer’s Market, running Wednesday to Saturday until 1pm or so
Go hiking in the magnificent Glasshouse Mountains

Most of Noosa’s main attractions revolve around the beautiful beaches, the National park, the surf and the food. It’s pretty easy to see why I love it so much.

Noosa Main Beach on the East Coast Australia

Where to stay in Noosa

There are some beautiful places to stay in Noosa, covering all budgets and preferences.

Best luxury hotels: There are some amazing hotels in Noosa. Some of top luxury stays would be Noosa Shores (£350), Netanya or the beautiful Sofitel Pacific Resort (from £158 per night). However, there’s also the more affordable Peppers Resort on the beach (from £92 per night) and Tingirana .

Good value stays: My favourite good value spot is 10 Hastings Street Boutique Motel . It also has one of the best restaurants town downstairs! Rates start from about £60 per night.

Best hostels: Nomads Backpackers is the best spot in town. Dorm rooms start at £37, or a double is £44.

Suggested time for Brisbane: 1-2 days
Driving distance from Noosa to Brisbane: 141km (1hr44)

Queensland’s big city! Brisbane is a modern metropolis, with year-round warm weather and unique city beaches. I like Brisbane, but not even half as much as Melbourne and Sydney.

It’s probably a great city to live in, but visiting for a couple of days at a time, I have never fallen for Brisbane. However, it does have a fantastic manmade city beach at South Bank where I have spent many hours catching the rays.

I also have to recommend my favourite restaurant in Brisbane, which is New Shanghai located in the Myer Centre on Queen Street. There’s a few of these dotted across Australia, but for me, the Brisbane one is just amazing.

Things to do in Brisbane

Brisbane as a city may not be quite as cosmopolitan and lively as Melbourne and Sydney, but it does happen to make a fantastic base to visit other nearby areas. The winter months are an especially lovely time to visit the city, so make sure to check out this guide to the top things to do in Brisbane in the winter .

For example, if diving is your thing, then there are some impressive shipwrecks at Moreton Island.

You can also visit the famous Australia Zoo near Brisbane , which is of course known for being founded by Steve Irwin himself.

Take a boat ride along the river onboard a Kookaburra River Queens Cruise, which are old style paddlewheel vessels
Hike a bike to explore the city or join a guided segway tour
Spend some time in the city’s magnificent Botanical Gardens
Join a guided kayak tour along the river
Visit the city’s impressive collection of museums and art galleries
Take the river boat to the popular Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary on this excellent city tour
Go shipwreck diving at Moreton Island or visit on snorkelling day tour
Take a day trip to the beautiful Stradbroke or Bribie Islands

Where to stay in Brisbane

Best luxury hotel: W Brisbane is the coolest place to stay, with rooms starting from £127 per night. Another great luxury hotel would be The Westin (from £155 per night).

Great value stay: Royal on the Park is a beautiful hotel, and a steal with rooms starting from £53 per night

Best hostel: Bunk Hostel (dorms from £21) or Base Brisbane (dorms from £11)

Cairns to Brisbane road trip itinerary

So there’s my Australia East Coast road itinerary, covering the Cairns to Brisbane drive. As you can see, this route takes in countless iconic Australian experiences. I would say this is easily one of the best road trips in the world.

For international travellers coming to the end of the trip, Brisbane makes a wise finishing point as it has an international airport.

However, for those flying onto Australian domestic destinations or with more time, then I highly recommend continuing your journey. For example, onto the Gold Coast and Byron Bay where there are domestic airports in both destinations. If you have plenty of extra time, you could do the Brisbane to Sydney drive. Although this is another 1000km and 10hrs driving, the beaches are fantastic. However, as mentioned before, the drive from Byron Bay to Sydney would be quite cool if done in the Australia winter (May to August).

Cassowaries on the East Coast Australia road trip

Brisbane to the Gold Coast and Byron Bay

Driving distance from Brisbane to the Gold Coast: 99km (1hr10)
Suggested time for the Gold Coast: 1-4 days
Driving distance from Brisbane to Byron Bay: 166km (1hr50)
Suggested time for the Byron Bay: 1-4 days
Driving distance between Gold Coast and Byron Bay: 93km (1hr)

Both Gold Coast and Byron Bay are popular holiday destinations with Australians as well as international travellers. And as mentioned, with domestic airports near both locations, you could potentially also finish your road trip itinerary further south of Brisbane. For example, we finished our road trip from Cairns at Ballina Airport, which is just near Byron Bay. This was really convenient as there were rental companies to return you car or camper van.

Gold Coast and Surfer’s Paradise

Gold Coast is a city made up a dozens of smaller beach areas, with expansive stretches of white sand and some of the best surfing in Australia. This whole area is the most popular tourist place in Australia. It’s like visiting a beach resort town in Florida, USA or a resort in Spain. Gold Coast is where young Australians flock to party and have fun every summer, and there are a lot of bars and activities geared towards this. Surfer’s Paradise is at the heart of all the action but I wouldn’t recommend spending long here, unless partying is something you’re keen to do.

The other beach areas surrounding Surfer’s Paradise are amazing, and a great spot to recoup for a couple of days. In fact, the challenge can be deciding which beach to spend the day at.

Alternatively, Gold Coast is packed with all kinds of tourist attractions, including theme parks like Wet’n’Wild and Dreamworld . My personal favourite thing to do in Gold Coast is to visit Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary . This is a brilliant place to spend a full day. Plus, they have their own wildlife hospital with huge glass windows so you can see all kinds of animals being operated on. On the day we went, I saw birds, tortoises and koalas being treated!

Best things to do in Gold Coast

Go hiking in nearby Tamborine Mountain or get your adrenaline pumping at the high ropes course
Or why not visit Mt Tamborine and stop by the beautiful wineries and distilleries on this tour with lunch
Explore Springbrook National Park and swim in the refreshing waterfalls
Meet some of Australia’s most unique wildlife at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
Head to the farmer’s markets at different beaches – my favourite is at Burleigh
Rent bikes and cycle from one point to another, for example Burleigh Heads to Mermaid Beach
Explore the stunning waterways of Coolangatta
Join a surf lesson in Surfer’s Paradise
Visit the World-Heritage Listed Lamington National Park and explore the beautiful waterfalls and landscape
Check out the incredible views from the Sky Point Observation Deck

Where to stay in the Gold Coast

There is a seriously huge amount of places to stay in the Gold Coast. It’s hard to even know where to start.

If you are looking to get stuck into the nightlife, then you could stay right in the heart of Surfer’s Paradise .

Otherwise, I recommend picking a beachside community for a couple of days such as Burleigh or Coolangatta . Due to the sheer number of hotels and places to stay in the Gold Coast, you can definitely find some good value stays!

Check rates for all hotels, lodges and holiday parks in the Gold Coast here.

I’ve stayed in several areas around the Gold Coast, and I particularly love the InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort . This resort is beyond stunning, with a huge lagoon beach swimming pool, and access to an amazing health club with golf and tennis.

I could have stayed here for weeks, so I’d say, if there was once place to splurge en route, it would be this resort!

Book your stay at the InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort here.

There’s a certain magic in the air in Byron Bay that makes so many fall in love with the town. So many travellers arrive for a couple of days, but end up staying for weeks.

The main thing Byron Bay is known for is surfing, but there’s so much going on away from the away from the waves. The town is particularly popular with backpackers who get quickly drawn into Byron Bay’s hippy, bohemian, anything-goes lifestyle. But there’s increasing appeal for honeymooners, families and even those looking for a spot of luxury.

Best things to do in Byron Bay

Hit the waves, or take the chance to learn to surf
Beach hop – as well as the main beach, visit Clarks Beach, Tallow Beach, Belongil Beach and The Pass
Go dolphin-spotting from your kayak
Hike to the Cape Byron lighthouse, the most eastern point in Australia
Visit one of the many local markets, for example the Byron Bay Artisan Market (every Saturday evening from October to March)
Enjoy live music at one of the awesome bars
Shop at some the wonderful unique boutique stores
Stop for happy hour at some of the excellent cafes
Explore the craft beer scene in Byron Bay
Experience a scenic hot air balloon journey over Byron Bay
Get up and close personal with the elusive platypus a nature walk with a local guide
Take a day trip to nearby Nimbin, a small hippie town stuck in the 60s which is famous for its very liberal attitude towards marijuana. There’s an iconic bus tour which you can book onto.
Dance the night away with local musicians performing on Main Beach
Explore the beautiful Nightcap National Park with waterfalls and great hiking routes
Go hiking along the trails in the Arakwal National Park, followed by a swim in the ocean
Have a delicious dinner at The Roadhouse , just on the edge of town
Drive to Byron Bay Farm for day surrounded by farm animals, and for some seriously delicious food

Where to stay in Byron Bay

Best luxury hotel: Far and away, the most opulent hotel is Elements of Byron Resort & Spa . It’s perfect for couples, groups of friends and honeymooners. Rates start from around £245 per night, per villa.

Other great upscale stays include Atlantic Byron Bay (from £130 per night), Azur Villas (from £142 per night), The Bower Byron Bay (from £151 per night).

Great value stays: Bayhaven Lodge (from £71 per night) or Byron Palms (from £70 per night)

Best hostels: There are plenty of hostels in Byron Bay, as it’s so popular with backpackers and Australians visiting for ‘schoolies week’. There is the Byron Bay YHA , Nomads and Wake Up! all with similar rates for double rooms and dorm rooms (around £33 per night).

Finally, I couldn’t not mention the iconic Arts Factory Lodge . Located just outside of town in a beautiful forested area, this a mammoth campground, lodge and artsy bohemian stay all in one.

We chose to stay here with our camper van which was great – it has a pool, on-site cafes and bars, and even things like didgeridoo lessons! A dorm bed here is around £14 per night, and a double room around £68 per night.

Australia East Coast Road Trip Itinerary

So that rounds out my super long and very detailed itinerary guide for an East Coast Australia road trip.

I really hope this is useful for you if you’re planning a trip to the beautiful East Coast of Australia. As you can see, there is literally so much to do, particularly on the Cairns to Brisbane stretch. And as I said, you can do the highlights in two weeks, but the longer you have, the more you’ll be able to take in and soak up. Ideally, a month to 6 weeks would be the best for an Australia East Coast road trip itinerary.

If you enjoyed my Australia East Coast road trip itinerary guide, then please do consider sharing through one of the below links, that would be amazing. Also, if there’s anything else I can share or answer for you, please do let me know in the comments below.

For further Australia guides, please do check out my other guides:

Visiting the Whitsunday Islands
Noosa Travel Guide
Best day trips from Cairns
Cairns to Cape Tribulation road trip
Taking the Ghan train from Darwin to Alice Springs

Wanna see more? Check my Instagram here , my Facebook here or my Twitter here !

Disclaimer: This Australia East Coast road trip itinerary guide is based on multiple visits to Australi a . There was no involvement from any local companies or the tourist board . However icelolly.com arranged two local tours on the East Coast: dolphin watching in Noosa and entry to Currumbin Wildlife Park.

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What an incredible resource! Thank you so much! Do you have something similar for New South Wales and Victoria?

Thank you! Unfortunately no! Although I lived in Victoria, I didn’t travel the state as extensively as Queensland 🙁

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6 Weeks Backpacking Australia

Well, this is going to be a big post! Somehow, I'm going to attempt to summarize every single fantastic thing I squeezed into the six weeks I backpacked around Australia. I've seen it all: from big cities to small villages, stunning beaches to mountaintop views.

I've taken 9 coaches, 12 ferries and 9 flights, hundreds of buses, trams, shuttles and trains and stayed in 17 hostels. I've gone hiking, biking, swimming, roadtripping, snorkeling, sand-boarding and even tried surfing.

I've seen koalas, parrots, kangaroos, lizards, pelicans, cockatoos, quokkas, wild goats, sting rays, crabs, crocodiles, dolphins, dingoes, eagles, coral, puffer fish, wild horses, sheep, manta rays, turtles, snakes and wallabies and discovered more about this country than I ever knew before.

Plenty of people have visited and explored Australia, but many people I spoke to said that trying to cram the entire country into such a short period of time was an unachievable goal. Well, I'm here to give you my entire detailed itinerary on how I did this life-changing trip so that perhaps you can embark on such an adventure yourself, too.

Before you get started down under, check out my detailed guide on everything to do before you go from visas to vaccinations, insurance to planning and everything in between.

The currency here is the Australian Dollar. Due to the 2.5% Visa charge on every purchase made with your credit card, I highly recommend taking money out of an ATM once or twice per month and paying most everything in cash. Although you have to pay a fee when you withdraw money, in the long run this fee is substantially smaller than the Visa charge. Keep in mind also that Australia is fairly expensive in comparison to other backpacking destinations. Budget about $80-$100 a day to cover your accommodations, food, transport and activities.

In the summer, Australia gets crazy hot. Particularly important, especially with the ozone hole in this part of the world, is to constantly apply sunscreen against the burns that can spring up on you. Wear a hat to protect your head from the sun rays and avoid spending too much time with uncovered skin in direct sunlight. Always remember to reapply after you've been in the water. I highly recommend bringing plenty of thin t-shirts so you can keep your shoulders covered.

Getting Around

Australia is big. Really, really big. Sometimes you can hop on a long bus journey to your next destination but often, it is actually cheaper and quicker to fly. JetStar and Tiger Air are Australia's main low-cost carriers but be wary as they can quickly add extra fees with luggage and seats! Qantas and Virgin Australia are Australia's better quality but often more expensive airlines. Also be aware that from each airport, transferring to the city usually costs $15-$20 each way. Within most cities, transit is great. Sydney especially has a wide-reaching transport system including buses, trains and ferries that allow you to get practically anywhere.

I highly recommend getting yourself a SIM card for while you're traveling in Australia so you can access Google Maps while you're out and not get lost! Just stop by a vendor at the airport and pick up a SIM card. One of the biggest networks is Vodafone and you're very likely to be able to score up to 20GB of data plus some international calling and texting for under $40.

Accommodation

Expect to pay between $25-$50 per night in a decent hostel, which you'll want to book in advance during high season to guarantee a spot (November-March). I have found that the price when booking directly from the hostel's website is always cheaper than even the cheapest HostelWorld or Booking.com rates because those sites charge a separate booking fee!

Food & Water

Australia is expensive, so in order to stretch your money further, avoid going out to eat for your meals. You can pick up cheap groceries in most places - I recommend Woolworth's, Cole's, IGA or Aldi. Almost every hostel I stayed in had a kitchen for guests to use which included big fridges to store your food. Also good to know is that most hostels have a basket for leftover food that other guests have had to leave behind as they move on with their travels! Remember also to always carry a reusable water bottle with you and fill it up at water refill stations as you go to stay hydrated in the heat. Check out my detailed guide about what to eat while traveling here!

Sydney, 6 nights

ARRIVE: fly into Sydney International Airport and catch the AirportLink train into the city.

GET AROUND: purchase an Opal Card at the airport to use on all trains, buses and ferries around Sydney. I spent approximately $40 during the week on public transport.

STAY: I cannot say enough good things about Wake Up! Hostel right across the street from Central Station.

DO: walk around the city to see the Opera House, Royal Botanical Gardens, Harbour Bridge, Sydney Observatory and the State Library. Spend a day on the beach at Bondi and then walk along the coast to Coogee. Tackle the 10km hike from Manly to Spit, one of the most beautiful walks I've done. Watch the fireworks every Saturday at Darling Harbour in the summer.

DAY TRIPS: head out to the Blue Mountains to spot waterfalls and viewpoints. Go bushwalking in Royal National Park.

READ MORE: check out my detailed guide about how to spend a week in Sydney.

Bondi Beach

Watsons Bay

Manly to Spit Walk

Canberra, 1 night

ARRIVE: take a Murray's bus from Sydney Central Station to Jolimont Centre in Canberra.

GET AROUND: the transit system here is called MyWay, but for just a day or two you're better off just paying cash to the bus drivers. It's $5 for a single trip (with 90 minute transfer) or $9.60 for a day pass.

STAY: since it's not as touristy, there aren't many hostel options. Canberra City YHA is a good choice for its central location.

DO: walk around the city to see all the free national institutions. The Capital Exhibition, the Library, the Gallery, the Museum and the International Flag Display all show important and interesting Australian history. Pay $2 to walk around the Old Parliament House before tackling the 1-hour return hike up Mount Ainslie to view Canberra from above.

READ MORE: check out my detailed guide about how to spend a day in Canberra.

National Library at Lake Burley Griffin

Mount Ainslie Lookout

Melbourne, 4 nights

ARRIVE: fly from Canberra to Melbourne; TigerAir flights are cheap and take approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes. Take the SkyBus for $19 from the airport to Southern Cross Station and make your way from there.

GET AROUND: trams in inner Melbourne are free, but to head out of the free zone, you'll need to purchase a myki card for trains and buses.

STAY: there's loads of options in this backpacker-friendly city; Flinder's Backpackers has a great central location and daily free breakfast.

DO: spend a day walking around town to visit some of the acclaimed attractions such as the art alleyways, the National Gallery of Victoria and the beautiful Shrine of Remembrance. Head south to see the bright boxes at Brighton Beach.

DAY TRIPS: hop on a tour to see the best part of the area: the Great Ocean Road . Favourite stops included Mait's Rest Rainforest Walk, Gibson Steps, Loch Ard Gorge and the famous 12 Apostles (of which there are not twelve!).

READ MORE: check out my detailed guide about how to spend a week in Melbourne.

Hosier Lane

Great Ocean Road

Brighton Bathing Boxes

Launceston, 2 nights (add 6 nights if hiking Overland Track)

ARRIVE: fly roundtrip to the island state of Tasmania from Melbourne to Launceston. From Launceston Airport, the shuttle will drop you off in the city for $15 one-way.

GET AROUND: Tasmanian public transport is practically non-existent, with many of the most beautiful places being impossible to visit without a car. If you don't have your own wheels, I suggest picking a few things you really want to see and booking a tour.

STAY: there's plenty of boutique hotels around, but in terms of hostels your options are numbered. Launceston Backpackers offers cheap and central accommodation in the heart of Launceston.

DO: spend a day exploring town, stopping to grab a sweet treat at Charlie's Dessert House before heading off to explore Cataract Gorge. Visit the Japanese monkeys in City Park and, if you're there on a Sunday, enjoy the live music.

DAY TRIPS: Take a tour to some of Tasmania's more famous and more isolated areas such as Bay of Fires and Bridestowe Lavender Estate. Have more time? Head to Hobart to climb Mount Wellington, stopping in Wineglass Bay along the way. Make a pit stop on Bruny Island to climb The Neck. If you've got a week to spare, I highly recommend hiking on the world-famous Overland Track at Cradle Mountain.

READ MORE: check out my detailed guide about how to spend a weekend in Launceston.

Cataract Gorge

jana meerman bridestowe lavender farm launceston (6)

Bridestowe Lavender Estate

Bay of Fires

Perth, 6 nights

ARRIVE: from Launceston, it's actually cheaper to book a roundtrip Melbourne-Launceston when you visit the island and then to book a one-way to Perth. Flights Launceston-Perth are pricey! From the airport, the #380 Bus goes into town and $4.80 will get you a 2-hour 2-zone pass.

GET AROUND: within Perth, I recommend walking to the local attractions as everything is quite close together. If you're heading down to and Cottesloe Beach, the Fremantle Line train takes about 20 minutes. A day pass for all transport in all zones costs $12.80.

STAY: Perth has plenty of budget accommodation to choose from so pick something that's close to things you want to see. Ensure your choice has a kitchen (aka, not Hostel G - it's not all it's hyped up to be).

DO: spend a day exploring town visiting Yagan Square, Elizabeth Quay and especially the beautiful King's Park. Head down to Cottesloe Beach to relax in the sand. I also spent Australia Day in Perth with beautiful fireworks!

DAY TRIPS: take the 5-minute ferry to Penguin Island to meet penguins and go bird-watching in Shoalwater Islands Marine Park. Spend the day biking around Rottnest Island visiting beautiful beaches and spotting quokkas.

READ MORE: check out my detailed guide about how to spend a week in Perth.

Penguin Island

Rottnest Island

Perth to Exmouth Roadtrip, 7 nights

ARRIVE: your tour guide will likely pick you up and drop you off at a meeting point in downtown Perth. Some tours are one-way only, ending either in Exmouth or further north in Broome.

GET AROUND: there's a reason Western Australia is called the roadtrip state! If you don't have your own wheels, head to the Western Australia Visitor Centre and book a tour that takes you past the most beautiful sights on the west coast up to Exmouth and back. I booked a 7-night, 8-day tour with Red Earth Safaris .

STAY: your tour will arrange all your accommodations for you; this will likely be either camping or hosteling or a combination of both.

DO: see koalas at Yanchep National Park, try sand-boarding in Lancelin, explore Cervantes, watch sunset at the Pinnacles in Nambung National Park, feed rescued kangaroos at Greenough, feel small at the Kalbarri cliffs, wade through Pink Lake, hike the gorges of Kalbarri, float in salty water at Shell Beach, spot dolphins from the beach at Monkey Mia, see Stromatolites, the oldest creatures on the planet, spend the night under the stars at Warroora Farm, go snorkeling on the Ningaloo Reef and take in the panoramic view of the most western point of Australia in Cape Range National Park. Sound convincing? It's fantastic.

READ MORE: check out my detailed post about my fantastic Perth to Exmouth Roadtrip .

Ningaloo Reef

Greenough Wildlife Park

Monkey Mia dolphins

Uluru, 3 nights

ARRIVE: fly from Perth to Ayers Rock. JetStar and Virgin Australia do the route with a layover in Sydney or Brisbane; Qantas operates via Cairns and Alice Springs. A free AATKings resort shuttle will take you from the airport to all of the 6 accommodations in Ayers Rock.

GET AROUND: a free commuter bus drives the 20-minute loop of Yulara from 5:30am to 12:30am including stopping at Town Square with little shops and a great supermarket. Getting to Uluru and Kata Tjuta requires a 1-, 2- or 3-day pass for the hop-on, hop-off bus.

STAY: the only hostel near Uluru is the Outback Pioneer Lodge in Yulara. There are five other types of accommodations ranging from hotels to apartments to camping. The hostel is big and clean, although there are no lockers. Avoid paying $6.50 for water at reception and pick up a bottle for $1.50 at IGA.

DO: stop in at the Cultural Centre to learn about the incredible Aboriginal history. Watch sunrise at Kata Tjuta before tackling the Valley of the Winds hike. Watch sunrise over Uluru, then circumnavigate the impressive rock around the 10km base before finishing off with sunset.

READ MORE: check out my detailed guide for five things to do at Uluru.

jana meerman kata tjuta uluru sunrise (4)

Sunrise over Uluru

jana meerman kata tjuta uluru sunrise (2)

Brisbane, 4 nights

ARRIVE: fly direct from Ayers Rock to Brisbane. From Brisbane Airport, the Brisbane Airtrain will take you into the city for $19 one way.

GET AROUND: the best way to get around Brisbane is to walk and when you wish to cross the river, to take the free City Hopper ferry.

STAY: I spent 2 nights at the Breeze Lodge near Kangaroo Point. The wifi was great, there were lockers and plugs in each room and it was clean. I also spent 2 nights at the Chill Backpackers right across the street from the Roma Street train station. The location was great but there's no free wi-fi, no lockers and it wasn't very clean.

DO: take in the view of Brisbane City from Kangaroo Point before wandering the beautiful South Bank and taking a dip at Streets Beach. Explore Roma Street Parkland. Head out of the downtown core to Mount Coot-tha for great views over the city.

DAY TRIPS: head over to North Stradbroke Island for the day and catch the bus to Point Lookout to do the 1.5km North Gorge Walk along stunning beaches and pristine oceans with the chance to spot manta rays and turtles dancing in the waves! Take a day trip up to Noosa to walk around the national park to Hell's Gate and the Fairy Pools.

READ MORE: check out my detailed guide for how to spend a weekend in Brisbane.

Kangaroo Point

Stradbroke Island

Byron Bay, 4 nights

ARRIVE: take the Greyhound from Brisbane Coach Terminal to Byron Bay. The journey takes just under four hours. From the Greyhound terminal you can either catch a shuttle or walk to your accommodations in Byron Bay.

GET AROUND: the best way to get around Byron Bay town is to walk. A bike will get you a bit further afield to places like Broken Head. Wake Up! lends them out to guests for free.

STAY: after my great experience at Wake Up! in Sydney, I decided to book into Wake Up! Byron Bay . It's in the more secluded part of town, away from the major touristy things, but in bus or walking distance to all the beautiful sights Byron is known for. It's by far one of the best hostels I've ever stayed at with big, clean rooms, personal lockers, strong wi-fi, a warm and welcoming atmosphere and free bikes and surfboards!

DO: spend a day at Broken Head Nature Reserve and walk the Three Sisters Track. Try your hand at surfing at the beach. Walk the stunning Cape Byron Track along Wategos Beach, the Pass, Byron Lighthouse and Tallows Beach.

DAY TRIPS: head out to Newrybar in the hinterland for a day to rummage through delightful shops and dine on exquisite local produce.

READ MORE: check out my detailed guide for how to spend a week in Byron Bay.

Surfing at Byron Beach

Cape Byron Lighthouse

Gold Coast, 2 nights

ARRIVE: take the Greyhound from Byron Bay to the part of the Gold Coast you are staying in. There's Southport, Surfer's Paradise, Broadbeach, Currumbin and Coolangatta. In Coolangatta, you can take the bus from the Greyhound Depot to your accommodations.

GET AROUND: I stayed just outside Coolagantta just across the street from the 700 bus which runs frequently all along the towns of the Gold Coast between Tweed Heads and Broadbeach which is a few stops south of Surfer's Paradise on the train.

STAY: I checked into the YHA in Coolangatta on the beach. The wi-fi only works in the kitchen unless you're willing to pay for premium and there's no plugs by the beds, but there's a swimming pool and a free shuttle into town. Guess you win some, lose some.

DO: visit Burleigh Head National Park and then walk all the way along the Gold Coast Oceanway passing beaches and towns before ending up in Surfer's Paradise. Head into Coolangatta to visit Snapper Rocks and see all the surfers.

READ MORE: check out my detailed guide for walking the Gold Coast Oceanway.

Surfer's Paradise behind Miami Beach

Burleigh Head National Park

Due to bad weather and flooding, I was unable to finish my original itinerary which included going up the Whitsundays as well as to Cairns to see the Great Barrier Reef. I will return soon to complete these and will update this post at at that time!

Australia Itineraries

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Given Australia’s vast scale, it makes more sense to focus on one, two or perhaps three regions, depending on your time frame. Whether you are looking for itineraries for seven days or a month, the following itineraries showcase both classic attractions and less well-known gems, from the elegant attractions of the coastal cities to the mesmerizing desert interior. Our pick of Australia itineraries can suit any time frame or budget.

Tailor-made travel itineraries for Australia, created by local experts

12 days / from 2900 USD

Explore Western Australia from Perth to Broome

Western Australia is the country's largest state, covering more than a third of Australia. This self drive itinerary allows you to explore sunny Perth, stunning national parks and waterfalls, the remote wild west outback, empty beaches and much more.

16 days / from 3300 USD

Explore South Australia and the Northern Territory

Explore South Australia and the Northern Territory on this self-drive adventure. Start in Adelaide and make your way over the Ayers Rock, Kings Canyon, and Alice Springs to the Kakadu National Park and ultimately Darwin.

23 days / from 4150 USD

Cross Western Australia to Darwin

Western Australia offers wonderfully remote outback experiences: from spectacular national parks to sandy deserts, pristine beaches to working cattle stations. This itinerary allows you to explore the way from Perth to Darwin in depth and at your own pace, in your own rental car.

Recommended Australia itineraries

If you are planning your travel to Australia by yourself, use these itineraries created by our travel writers as a starting point for inspiration.

Australia Itinerary 1 - East Coast Beaches Itinerary

Plentiful East Coast beaches means that Australia is fringed by some of the most glorious beaches you’ll ever see. Many of these are in surprisingly built-up areas – you’ll find pristine sand practically in the heart of Sydney, for example. Elsewhere, coral, tropical fish and shipwrecks provide wonderful coastal adventures. Touring through East Coast Australia’s beaches, these can be reached by public transport, but for maximum flexibility, you’ll want to hire a car or campervan and allow yourself three or four weeks to explore. It’s straightforward to use this as an Australian travel itinerary template.

1. Whitehaven Beach

This Whitsunday Island beach is comprised of 5km of pure white sand, making it a lure for pleasure boats. Camp at the southern end, snorkel and enjoy the glorious sunsets.

2. Fraser Island

Take your pick of seashore spots at Seventy-Five Mile Beach. Eli Creek is one of the most attractive options, or head for the Maheno shipwreck which peeks out of the sand. The Champagne Pools are natural indentations which make for a safe and serene swim.

At the swisher end of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Noosa is a high-end resort with an unspoilt beach and a national park, where you might see koalas on your coastal walk.

4. Byron Bay

Backed by rainforest, Byron Bay features 30km of sandy strands. Keep your eyes peeled for passing dolphins and humpback whales, and enjoy the increasingly hip restaurant scene and nightlife once the sun has set.

5. Crescent Head

A New South Wales beach, and the site of an important native title claim. A stunning arc of blond sand, the beach is safe for swimming and has some excellent surf spots.

6. Bondi Beach

This 1.5km-long stretch of sand is the ultimate in Australian beach glamour, with buffed lifesavers, surfer dudes, big waves, passing rollerbladers and a great café scene.

Australia Itinerary 2 - Natural Wonders Itinerary

The country is blessed with spectacular and varied landscapes, from eucalyptus-cloaked hills to epic desert and the great monolith of Uluru. To tick off the highlights in a single trip, set aside two or three weeks for a 4WD safari or a string of domestic flights. Hiking is the best way to travel and explore the flora, fauna and rock art.

1. Undara Lava Tubes

Vast subterranean pipes formed by an ancient volcano, which shelter microbats and brown tree snakes, known as “night tigers”, which hang from the trees.

2. The Kimberley

Western Australian frontier land, with a crocodile coast, wide rivers and deep isolated gorges. A unique sight here is the bulbous boab tree, whose nuts are carved by Aboriginal artists.

Epic and elemental, this massive rock is one of the country’s great natural sights. Aboriginal and ranger-led tours introduce you to some fascinating wildlife, including more than seventy reptile species.

4. Mungo National Park

Take a camping trip in a desert wilderness where Australia’s megafauna once roamed: you’ll see crowds of emus and kangaroos. The dome of stars in the night sky in this remote region is a sight in itself.

5. Kangaroo Island

Just off South Australia, the country’s third-largest island is remarkably unspoilt. As well as having a spectacular coastline, sand dunes and cave networks to explore, the island simply teems with wildlife.

6. Cradle Mountain

Tasmanian wilderness cut through by iconic hiking trails. Look out for wombats, echidnas and platypus. In the same region is Lake St Clair, Australia’s deepest lake.

7. Blue Mountains

Endlessly receding mountain ranges, tinged blue by gum oil in the atmosphere. The region is home to the Wollemi pine, or dinosaur tree, which dates back sixty million years and until recently was thought only to exist in fossil form.

8. Lord Howe Island

A tiny island ringed by coral, with unique flora, rare flightless birds, umpteen sea birds and dazzling tropical fish. Snorkelers might catch sight of imposing but unthreatening Galapagos sharks.

Australia Itinerary 3 - Foodie Tour Australia Itinerary

If you’re planning of touring through Australia’s food scene, then you’re in for a treat. Immigrants to Australia from Mediterranean Europe and the Far East have brought some wonderful food traditions to the country, and the sunny climate means bountiful produce. The food-obsessed coastal cities in particular offer a top-notch range of eating opportunities. You could cover this as a three-week itinerary.

You’ll find no end of top-notch restaurants in Sydney, the most famous being Japanese/French Tetsuya’s , which offers a ten-course degustation.

At F.O.O.D. Week in April you can learn about local food, browse markets, meet producers, listen to talks, and take part in the justly popular FORAGE walk, a gentle stroll with chances to gather and devour local produce.

3. High Country Gourmet Regions

Some of Victoria’s finest food, wine and beer can be found in the “High Country” of the Victorian Alps and along the Murray River. The vineyards, fields, orchards and olive groves result in some wonderful produce, including handmade butter and artisan cheeses.

4. Melbourne

From funky up-cycled coffee shops to high-end rooftop restaurants and bountiful farmers’ markets, Melbourne is a city that takes food seriously. Just listen to your waiter effuse about the specials and you’ll see what we mean.

5. Tasmania

The temperate Tasmanian climate results in excellent fruit and veg, cool-climate wine and high-quality beef, cheeses, beers and honey. The island’s oysters are also renowned.

6. Adelaide

With strong Greek and Italian influences, Adelaide has a lively eating and drinking scene, focused on the Central Market, home to scores of great stalls, cafés and restaurants.

7. Barossa Valley

You’ll find terrific wine across the country, but the Barossa region near Adelaide is the largest and best-established region. Visit between March and May for the harvest; the Barossa Vintage Festival is celebrated from Easter Monday in odd-numbered years.

8. The Kimberley

Catch your own mangrove jack or barramundi on a wilderness cruise and have it cooked up on board. You might also get a bite from a golden snapper, blue bone groper or red emperor.

Australia Itinerary 4 - Top to Bottom Itinerary

Touring through Australia from top to bottom is an adventurous travel itinerary for which you need a minimum of two weeks. From Darwin, make a foray into the Kakadu National Park. Then take the Outback Ghan train via Alice Springs to visit Uluru, winding up in Adelaide.

An ocean city with a revitalized waterfront area. Fast-growing and multicultural, it’s a great place for food: the sunset markets provide Malay laksa , peanut satays and even bushtucker.

2. Kakadu National Park

This Aboriginal-managed region features weird and wonderful wildlife, including freshwater crocodiles, jabiru birds and dingoes. The indigenous rock art, including images in the X-ray style, is outstanding.

3. The Ghan

Cutting into the Red Centre, the legendary Ghan train takes its name from the nineteenth-century camel drivers who explored the Australian interior. Red earth and inky blue skies provide a fantastic panorama.

4. Alice Springs

The modern desert town of Alice Springs makes an attractive stop-off, where you can browse art galleries and find some welcome good-quality cafés and restaurants. It’s a great place to shop for Aboriginal art.

Perhaps Australia’s defining sight, this mighty monolith is also a keystone in the country’s cultural history. Once seen by visitors as simply a challenging lump of rock to climb, it is now recognized for its deep significance to the local Aboriginal population.

Elegant Adelaide is the end of this particular line, with attractions including bountiful botanic gardens, bluestone mansions and a host of museums and cultural centres.

Australia Itinerary 5 - Western Australia Itinerary

The Western Australia itinerary (two weeks) takes you along the Indian Ocean coast, from tropical Broome in the north to cosmopolitan Perth in the south. Treats en route include sparkling beaches, river gorges and opportunities to dolphin-spot.

Broome is a bustling little place, first made wealthy by an 1880s pearl rush; remnants of the industry still pervade the town, and you can visit one of the world’s oldest cinemas.

If you fancy a bit of bushcamping, make a stop at the northern beaches here. You’ll find some lovely white-sand stretches and isolated creeks.

3. Ningaloo Reef

Take to the waters to snorkel and dive among the corals, and five hundred species of fish.

4. Monkey Mia

You’re pretty much guaranteed to see dolphins here, which is the main draw, but there’s also a lovely beach, and plenty of resorts and attractions to explore in the enclosing Shark Bay.

5. Kalbarri

The river and coastal gorges at Kalbarri comprise a spectacular national park which features wonderful hiking trails.

6. Nambung National Park

As you wend your way south, don’t miss the extraordinary limestone pinnacles of this park: the Pinnacles Desert Discovery Centre fills you in on the geological detail.

Sunny Perth is an ideal stopover after the great outdoors. Check out the fine collection of galleries, see rare flora at the Botanic Garden, and catch up on some nightlife.

Australia Itinerary 6 - Western Australian Road Trip Itinerary

For an Australian road trip itinerary, check out the Great Ocean Road. This is a classic drive, taking in dramatic rock formations, submerged shipwrecks and some lively and attractive beach resorts. Allow a week to explore the road at leisure, including a couple of days immersed in the café culture and arts scene of Melbourne.

1. Melbourne

Australia’s “European” city, with large Greek and Italian communities, stand-out restaurants, arts festivals and ornate Victorian architecture. There’s a varied selection of live music venues and some excellent galleries.

Picturesque seaside Lorne is an ideal holiday resort, combining a laidback surfie vibe with some fine restaurants, delis and boutiques. Plunge into the chilly waters, then warm up on a hiking trail among the ferns and eucalypts.

3. Great Otway National Park

A triangle of national park designated an Important Bird Area for its populations of bristlebirds, fieldwrens and pink robins. The lush hills and gullies are hugely scenic, and don’t miss the historic Cape Otway Lighthouse.

4. Twelve Apostles

These ocean-set limestone pillars are an icon of the Great Ocean Road, rising up to 65m. Watch out for the fairy penguins crowding onto the shore at dusk.

5. Port Fairy

A lovely place to end your trip, this early whaling settlement has some of the oldest houses you’ll see in Australia, as well as enticing beaches. The sight of umpteen muttonbirds roosting here is unforgettable.

Top image: Kangaroos at Batemans Bay, Australia - Shutterstock

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written by Andy Turner

updated 26.04.2021

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Itineraries East Coast Australia: Ultimate road trips for 2 to 6 weeks traveling along the coast!

Creating an itinerary for the east coast of Australia can be quite difficult. This coastline is very large and has more than enough sights to keep you entertained for months. In short, how do you choose a manageable itinerary along the east coast of Australia?

We have also written travel guides for a number of Australian hotspots. These travel guides are full of our travel experiences, photos, fun things to do and great hotels to sleep in. This gives you a good impression of a destination and what it is like to travel along the east coast of Australia.

5 itineraries for an unforgettable road trip along the east coast of Australia!

Australia is a wonderful camping country to travel through. Camping facilities are plentiful. In many places, you will find opportunities to barbecue, shower or use a toilet for free. Along the road, you also have campgrounds where you can spend the night for free. In short, Australia is a perfect destination to discover the great outdoors by campervan.

Last year there have been heavy bush fires that have destroyed a lot of nature. Above Sydney, you hardly see (any) traces of these fires. The further you go southwards to Melbourne, the more consequences you will see from these forest fires. However, the coastal itinerary to Melbourne is still very impressive to make . So don’t be put off by this and just go on that road trip with the camper!

We’ve put together 5 itineraries to help you plan your Australian East Coast journey. Varying from 2 weeks to 2 months ! In this way, you get some inspiration for planning your road trip and you immediately get an impression of how big Australia is regarding travel distances.

East Coast Australia map: Highlights and top attractions for your road trip

To help you plan your trip, we’ve created a map showing almost all the sights and top attractions of Australia’s east coast. To keep this map lean, not all attractions are listed. Think of nature parks, special waterfalls, smaller coastal villages, etc. These places are mentioned in various travel blogs about Australia.

Curious which hotels, hostels and accommodation we like in Australia? Then read our Australia hotels east coast blog!

5 great itineraries among the east coast of Australia per campervan

These 5 itineraries built up in terms of weeks. The first travel itinerary is for travellers who only have 2 weeks. The next itineraries are for backpackers who have more time available for exploring all the highlights of the gorgeous east coast of Australia.

1. Itinerary Sydney to Brisbane including a visit to Fraser Island | 2 weeks

Are you travelling along the east coast of Australia and do you want to include Byron Bay in your itinerary? Then consider travelling itinerary from Sydney to Brisbane on a two-week road trip ! The highlights of this trip are:

Sydney – Blue Mountains – Hunters Valley – Port Macquarie – Byron Bay – Surfers Paradise (Gold Coast) – Noosa – Fraser Island – Brisbane

Read here our free travel guide for Brisbane : 12 cool things to do in just 2 days!

2. Itinerary Cairns to Sydney | 3+ weeks

Is diving in the Great Barrier Reef, sailing the Whitsundays and surfing in Byron Bay already at the top of your list of destinations to visit during your road trip through Australia? Then consider travelling from Cairns to Sydney on a 3-week road trip. In 3 weeks it is possible to make this beautiful itinerary along the coast. Highlights of this road trip by campervan are:

Cairns – Palm Cove – Great Barrier Reef – Whitsundays – Fraser Island – Sunshine Coast – Brisbane – Gold Coast – Byron Bay – Hunter Valley – Blue Mountains – Sydney

Read here everything you need to know when visiting Fraser Island on a self-drive !

3. Itinerary Melbourne to Brisbane | 4 weeks

Are you travelling along the east coast of Australia and want to drive the famous Great Ocean Road , discover vibrant Sydney and surf ? Then consider traveling from Sydney to Brisbane on a 4-week road trip! This beautiful 4-week itinerary brings you along the coast, high cliffs, national parks, vineyards, golden beaches and impressive cities. Do you love nature parks and climbing as well? Then consider adding Grampians National Park , Great Otway National park or Springbrook National Park to this trip.

Melbourne – Great Ocean Road – Philip Island – Wilson Promontory/Mount Oberon – Jervisbaai – Sydney – Blue Mountains – Hunters Valley – Port Macquarie – Byron Bay – Gold Coast – Fraser Island – Brisbane

Do you love surfing, hiking and shopping all together? Then, visit this lovely cozy village Noosa !

4. Itinerary Melbourne to Cairns | 6 weeks

This itinerary from Melbourne to Cairns takes you across the 3 states of the Australian east coast: Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. In this road trip, you will pass all the beautiful sights and top attractions the east coast has to offer. A possible 6-week itinerary per campervan could be:

Melbourne – Great Ocean Road – Yara Valley –Philip Island – Wilson Promontory/Mount Oberon – Sydney – Blue Mountains – Hunters Valley – Port Macquarie – Byron Bay – Gold Coast – Brisbane – Sunshine Coast/Noosa – Fraser Island – Whitsundays – Great Barrier Reef – Cairns

Looking for the best hotspots in Byron Bay ? Read here our travel guide about this amazing surf town including the best places to eat!

5. Itinerary among the east coast, countryside and Alice Springs | 2 months

Do you have plenty of time for discovering Australia? Then consider exploring the entire East Coast and driving back to Melbourne via the mainland. In this 2-month round trip , you come across the beautiful Alice Springs and Uluru . Besides, you have more options for free campgrounds in the countryside than along the coast. In this adventurous 2-month itinerary you will visit:

Melbourne – Yara Valley – Philip Island – Wilson Promontory/Mount Oberon – Sydney – Blue Mountains – Hunters Valley – Port Macquarie – Byron Bay – Gold Coast – Brisbane – Sunshine Coast/Noosa – Fraser Island – Whitsundays – Great Barrier Reef – Cairns – Alice Springs – Grampians National Park – Great Ocean Road – Melbourne

How expensive is a road trip through Australia? Read here our Australia travel budget blog!

Must-do activities for your road trip along the east coast of Australia!

These are 5 special things to do during your road trip along the east coast of Australia. These unique activities range from skydiving to sailing through Whitsundays. Below, 5 cool experiences for your journey along the east coast of Australia.

1 Skydiving and sailing to the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns

Adventure junkies pay attention! Cairns is the place for skydiving in Australia! This is possible from €154.65 per person. Read here all about this adventure activity! Cairns is also a great base for visiting the Great Barrier Reef . Have you always wanted to visit this famous place? You can easily book a day tour by catamaran here . From €98.86 per person.

2. Rafting and discovering the Whitsundays!

Do you only have one day to explore Whitsundays from Arlie Beach ? Then consider this cool day activity and go rafting, snorkelling and hiking in this energetic day-trip! From €92.50 per person. Click here for more information. Do you prefer to experience the Whitsundays by catamaran ? This family-friendly activity can you book here!

3. Day tour to Fraser Island from Hervey Bay

Not enough time or budget to discover Fraser Island by 4×4? You might consider visiting the largest sand island in the world on a day trip from Harvey Bay. This is possible from €105 per person. Click here for more information and availability .

4. Experience Coles Bay in Tasmania with a nice glass of wine on a cruise ship!

If you visit Tasmania you shouldn’t skip Coles Bay . A relaxed way to explore Coles Bay is by boat. During this tour, you will be pampered with drinks. This relaxing activity can be booked from €93.21 per person. Click her e for more information.

5. Experience a hot air balloon ride in Alice Springs!

A special way to experience Alice Springs is by hot air balloon! This is possible from €166 per person. After this unforgettable flight, champagne is awaiting you. For more information about this special highlight of Australia click here !

Best time to visit the east coast of Australia

The continent of Australia has 3 different climate zones. This makes it difficult to say what the best travel time for Australia is. If you visit the entire east coast of Australia you will not have nice weather everywhere.

The most popular travel time is f rom October to March . The most expensive month to travel is January when the whole of Australia also has a holiday too. Airlines, hotels and car rental companies charge high prices. Depending on your destination, you can expect temperatures in January between 20 and 40 degrees Celsius . In the north, you can encounter have rain showers since it is the rainy season.

The east coast of Australia borders 3 states. It is not possible to visit all states in the “best time”. Below, you find the best travel time by state:

Queensland (Brisbane and surrounding area): June to October
New South Wales (think Sydney and surrounding area): November through April
Victoria (think Melbourne and surrounding area): November to March

Tip : know that Australian seasons run opposite to those of Europe. If it is winter in Europe, then it is summer in Australia.

Get a 20% discount on a Spaceships campervan for your last minute vacation in Australia! Book & travel before the 20th of December and have the same pick up and delivery location! Click here for the deal and more information!

How long do you need for visiting the east coast of Australia?

From the Netherlands point of view, Australia is almost on the other side of the world. You don’t go there quickly. Besides, this continent is very large. In short, 2 weeks is really the minimum . In 3 to 4 weeks you have more time and you can travel at a slower pace. If you have more than 4 weeks, that is great and gives you plenty of space to explore this beautiful western country.

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Hola! Great information thank you. We are an older couple, 60 and 55) and we are planning our first trip to Australia(and outside the USA and Mexico). My husband dream is to explore and see first hand kangaroos. We will be there in June 2023 and I read so much and still have so many doubts and questions. Where is the best place to do this? I read about Kangaroo Island (not seen in your blog; unless is known with a different name) Please advise and yes we will like to rent a campervan for part of the trip. Best of luck to you and husband.

Hi Isabel! Oh how nice that you will be visiting Australia! It is such a beautiful country! I am not sure what the very very very best place to do this is, but we can recommend Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. There they are tam and do not live in the wild. Other locations could be Yuraygir National park where you will be able to see many in the wild (don't approach them close by) and at North Strandbroke Island you might also see some in wild. Hopefully this helps? Kind regards, Charlotte

Hola Isabel, We have kangaroos in many places around Australia - don't worry they are easy to see! Kangaroo Island is off the coast of South Australia, and though the name suggests it is a kangaroo haven, it is many things - beautiful and rugged. The only thing is, it was devastated by bushfires in 2019-20, so many animals were killed. Today it is growing back and welcoming visitors again. Good luck! A beautiful country.

I am reasearching for our trip to Australia, and your's is the bestest blog I have seen on this topic. You are amazing at what you do! Thanks a ton for easy to consume representation (image) and descriptions.

Ooo so happy to hear that we can help you!! Enjoy your trip and its preparations!

The Best Four-Week Travel Itineraries in Australia

We’ve got plenty of inspiration to help you plan an unforgettable four-week trip Down Under

For most adventurers, a trip to Australia is a dream come true. And if you have four weeks in Australia, well, you won’t want to waste a second. With so much to see and do in this vast country — Australia is the sixth largest country in the world and the biggest island on the planet — and the lengths you may go to travel Down Under — it makes sense to not only create a wishlist, but plan a full-on itinerary. That’s where we come in!

Before embarking on a four-week itinerary in Australia, consider the Australian continent’s geography. If you’re a nature lover drawn to remote landscapes, then head to the outback of sparsely populated Western Australia — but be sure to allot time in its super-sunny capital of Perth , a metropolis boasting beaches, botanical gardens, vineyards, and off the coast, an island reserve called Rottnest Island. On the East Coast, between Brisbane and Cairns , you’ll find Australia’s largest cities, Sydney and Melbourne , and unlimited opportunities for adventure, from driving the scenic Great Ocean Road to deep-sea diving off the Great Barrier Reef .

And if four weeks in Australia and New Zealand is more the ticket, we’ve got itineraries for that incredible journey, too, including stargazing in the Aoraki/Mount Cook region and bungee jumping in Queenstown , a gorgeous natural wonder that’s truly earned its stripes as the world’s “Adventure Capital.” Let the itinerary planning begin!

Our top itinerary for four weeks in Australia

Perth to kalbarri.

Start your four-week tour of Australia in sunny Perth. And we do mean sunny — Western Australia’s vibrant capital is one of the sunniest cities in the world! Head north to Nambung National Park to explore The Pinnacles Desert, carving out time to swim at one of the gorgeous beaches. Next up: Jurien Bay Marine Park, where you can snorkel, dive and kayak along the limestone reef, or sand-board down the massive expanse of white sand dunes. Capping off the excursion: a trip through Geraldton to the chill beach town of Kalbarri.

Kalbarri National Park to Shark Bay

Take a short drive to the ancient Kalbarri National Park. Explore the spectacular Skywalk, with two cantilevered structures suspended over Murchison Gorge, and jaw-dropping views that defy the imagination. Hike the Loop Walk and scope out Nature’s Window, an iconic natural attraction formed from Tumblagooda Sandstone. Discuss it all over lunch, then it’s straight on to Shell Beach, composed entirely of white cockle shells—truly a rare phenomenon. End the day in charming Denham, a former pearling town, now the gateway to Shark Bay.

Monkey Mia to Coral Bay

Drive across the Peron Peninsula to the nature reserve, Monkey Mia, to meet the bottlenose dolphins that frequent the shallows. More treasures await as you continue on your Australia itinerary, 4 weeks and counting, including Carnarvon, a tropical haven, and two hours drive south, Hamelin Pool, a marine nature reserve where fascinating stromatolites known as “living fossils” await. Continue along the highway to Coral Bay, a scenic coastline known for its manta rays, white sand beaches, and red outback desert.

Coral Bay to Yardie Creek

Head to picturesque Coral Bay, home to the UNESCO World Heritage site, Ningaloo Reef, famous for its humongous whale sharks. Take a snorkeling or diving tour in the pristine waters or cruise the reef in a glass-bottom boat offering a front-row seat to the coral formations and marine life below. Later, drive to the campsite at Yardie Creek in Cape Range National Park, where you can take a nature walk or boat tour and explore Yardie Creek Gorge, with its enormous cliffs, wildlife, and astonishing views.

Exmouth and Cape Range National Park

Drive from Exmouth to Cape Range National Park, a snorkelers’ nirvana, offering a window to over 500 species of fish and 220 species of coral. Next, head to the hilltop Vlamingh Head Lighthouse with sensational views of the Indian Ocean, but time it right—it’s one of the few places in Australia where you can watch the sun both rise and set. Wander the seaside town of Exmouth before settling down in a permanent campsite.

Karijini National Park

Head inland through the vast cattle-grazing stations of the dry, red-earth Pilbara region. Pass through the little mining town of Tom Price, nicknamed “Top Town in Western Australia” thanks to its position as the country’s highest town above sea level. Spend the night at a campsite overlooking the Hamersley Range, a natural wonder in Karijini, notable for its ancient canyons, gorges, and rocks, plus Mount Bruce, Western Australia’s second-highest peak. Discover the full itinerary here: West Coast Discovery (From Perth to Darwin)

Four-week itinerary for Australia and New Zealand

Start your sightseeing at gorgeous Fitzroy Gardens, the city’s most historic gardens, then drive past the lush Royal Botanic Gardens, renowned for its plant diversity and scenic lakes. Next, it’s on to the Victorian Arts Center, famous for its architecture, as well as its performance spaces. Enjoy dinner at one of the local standout restaurants—Melbourne’s innovative food and drink scene is without equal—then browse Chapel and Brunswick Streets for vintage finds and designer clothing.

Fly to the coastal city of Cairns and spend a day relaxing in this tropical paradise. Catch some rays and enjoy year-round swimming at Palm Bay, explore the splendor of Cairns Botanical Gardens, or nearby Daintree Rainforest, the world’s oldest rainforest, where you can zipline, hike, or hop on a river cruise—the options are endless!

The Great Barrier Reef

One of the rewards of spending four weeks in Australia and New Zealand? A trip to the Outer Great Barrier Reef—definitely the experience of a lifetime. Board a catamaran and cruise to the Outer Reefs where you can snorkel, scuba-dive, and swim among turtles and fish in this dazzling underwater world. Or take a glass-bottom boat tour and view the reef’s brilliant beauty without taking the plunge.

Fly to Australia’s largest and most famous city. First stop: the Sydney Opera House, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and stunning architectural masterpiece. Want a peek of the performance spaces? Take a guided tour—or score tickets to a show. Next, Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair, a sandstone landmark within the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney beckons—the perfect photo-op with sweeping views of Sydney Harbour. Visit beautiful Bondi Beach (surfing, anyone?) then hop on a Sydney Harbour cruise and enjoy postcard-worthy vistas.

Christchurch

Fly to Christchurch, a must-visit when spending four weeks in Australia and New Zealand. Divided by the Avon River, it’s the largest city on New Zealand’s South Island. Travel south to Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, a hiker’s heaven named after New Zealand’s highest peak. If weather permits, join a stargazing tour—the Mount Cook region has some of the darkest skies in the world, perfect for viewing the southern night sky with the naked eye, binoculars or telescopes.

Start the day at the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre, spotlighting the history and culture of the Aoraki/Mount Cook region—and don’t sleep on the domed digital planetarium. Then enjoy the adrenaline rush of Queenstown, dubbed the “Adventure Capital of the World.” There’s no limit to the exciting activities on offer, from bungee jumping, jet-boat rides, skydiving, and canyoning, to snow sports. Discover the full itinerary here: The Complete South Pacific: Melbourne to Queenstown

Randi Gollin

Randi Gollin is a freelance writer and editor based in Brooklyn, NY. She’s covered everything from travel, food, and cocktails, to shopping and business topics for digital publications and tech and media brands.

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How to Backpack the East Coast Australia: 6 Week Itinerary

Known for its many outdoor backpacking activities such as surfing, rock climbing, caving, and scuba diving (amongst many others of course), both the coast and smalls towns found more inland offers a plethora of activities and things to see during your 6 week backpacking NSW holiday.

Regardless of whether you are following a travel guide for Sydney and the surrounding areas to the T or are getting a more rugged and off-the-beaten path adventure , you must take the time to backpack the east coast of Australia.

Take a look at these top places to see in the New South Wales territory during a 6-week backpacking trip through the East Coast of Australia.

East Coast Australia Itinerary in 6 Weeks

1) sydney –.

Kicking off with the bustling beauty of Sydney is the hallmark of a promising itinerary for the NSW holiday. Sydney is a city that boasts of sparkling harbors, beautiful parks, and pristine beaches. With a lot of thriving markets and excellent restaurants, a visit to Sydney is worth every penny and stress invested.

You can visit the Zoo, the Sydney opera house or see the famous Harbour Bridge. The jewel in the crown is the visit to the Blue Mountains National Park, a place that is attractive for excursion amongst residents.

2) Snowy Mountains –

In the Snowy Mountains, regardless of the time of visit, there a lot of extreme adventures to do. Activities like fishing, horse riding, mountain biking, hiking, road cycling, and bushwalking are bound to keep you occupied. The towns in the Snowy Mountains also surround the Kosciuszko National Park where you can explore the highest parts of Australia.

In the Snowy Mountains, there are also activities like water sailing, skiing, swimming, and kayaking. There are many activities, and they happen all year round.

3) Hunter Valley –

Backpacking Hunter Valley NSW Wine Country

Hunter Valley nicknamed ‘wine country’ is a serene and beautiful environment. As suggested by its nickname, a place with many wine companies that offers you the opportunity of sampling some of Australia’s finest wines and cuisine. You also have a chance to go on historical tours of the museum and old architectural facilities.

It also boasts of a world-class National Park where there are lots of wildlife and one of Australia’s most beautiful golf courses.

4) Kosciuszko National Park –

The Kosciuszko National Park is the home to Australia’s highest mountain, Mt Kosciuszko, which is the largest park in Australia. In the Snowy Mountains, there is a lot to do like snowboarding and skiing although it’s not quite as intense as skiing in Aspen, Colorado . The region is also notable for its steepness and the air that is as clear as crystal.

You can also see the Yarrangobilly Caves, at the northern wing of the park. The caves are five in number and are about 440 million years old. If you are visiting during the warmer months, you can engage in activities like kayaking, camping, mountain biking, rafting, caving, and horse riding.

5) Newcastle –

Newcastle, being amongst the largest cities in the New South Wales territory, and also home to the wine country of Hunter Valley, is a place to be if you want to enjoy beach surfing and great nightlife. You will also have the chance for day tours to the Hunter Valley wineries.

6) Dorrigo National Park –

Feel the excitement of browsing through the towering forest that looks like where dinosaurs once roamed. This wilderness is among the list of ancient World Heritage Sites just like the famous Sagamartha National Park – where you can see Mt. Everest . There is also an opportunity for bird watching, hiking as well as watching silent waterfalls.

7) Byron Bay –

East Coast Australia Itinerary 6 Weeks - Byron Bay Lighthouse

A region known for its alternating healing practices like Yoga, Byron Bay is home to Gaia Retreat and Spa that is located among hills and lush rainforest with packages to help you find inner peace. There are also beaches, a thriving food scene made of local foods and a natural environment coupled with a laid-back lifestyle.

8) Jervis Bay –

Just a three hours’ drive to the south of Sydney, Jervis Bay is renowned for its powder-fine sand and turquoise waters. Experience scuba diving at the Jervis Bay Marine Park, visit the Hyams beach , and go camping at the Booderee National Park. These water-based activities are among the best in the New South Wales region of Australia and can be enjoyed by nearly all ages – especially travelers who are planning to take a future vacation .

9) Lord Howe Island –

Backpacking NSW Australia Lord Howe Island in 6 Weeks

Lord Howe Island is a paradise. It is a destination you must not miss when you are thinking of visiting the NSW for the holidays. With services scheduled all year, Lord Howe Island is a place to take out some time and relax. Notable for its natural environments, breathtaking views, and most especially its twin peaks, the island is suitable for biking or hiking as you may also want to discover a lot of the place on foot while traveling with your family .

Activities like snorkeling, diving, swimming, paddle boarding, bird watching, fishing, kitesurfing, and windsurfing are also bound to keep you busy throughout your stay.

10) Kangaroo Valley –

Hidden between Cambewarra and Barrengarry is one of Australia’s jewels. A 2-hour drive from Sydney can get you to this beautiful valley, and its characteristics are silent rivers, picturesque villages, and productive farms. It is a popular place to visit for canoeing, kayaking, golfing, or wine sampling.

Would you like to take a 6-week vacation and backpack the East Coast of Australia to explore the beautiful attractions in New South Wales?

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About the author: ronald robbins.

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I’d never heard of Lord Howe Island, but it looks gorgeous! I’m definitely adding it to my bucket list now lol. Thanks!

I’m glad you approve Jillian!

Woah this is great 🙂 ☝???

Thanks Rany!

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Wild Junket

Two Weeks in Australia: The Ultimate Itinerary for First-Time Visitors

Last Updated on March 11, 2024

Can you see anything with two weeks in Australia? Hell yeh! Here is the ultimate two-week Australia itinerary.

Let me start with the obvious: Australia is HUGE. It’s a country and a continent, almost as big as USA (not including Alaska).

Australia’s coastline stretches almost 50,000 kilometers and the country has a myriad of landscapes, ranging from tropical rainforests in the north to deserts in the center and mountains in the south.

Of the 130+ countries that I’ve been, Australia has to be one of the most diverse. I’ve traveled all over Australia (on five trips in total), exploring the Top End, South Australia, Sunshine Coast, and Tasmania. For those who have limited time, I’ve compiled the perfect two-week Australia itinerary and guide.

Table of Contents

Visas for Australia

Travel insurance for australia, how to get to australia, travel australia independently or on guided tours, when to travel australia, cost of travel in australia, the ultimate two-week itinerary in australia, days 1-2: explore the vibrant city of sydney, where to stay in sydney, day 3: day trip to the blue mountains, day 4: wander around the colonial city of melbourne, where to stay in melbourne:, day 5: day trip to phillip island, day 6: day trip to the great ocean road, days 7-8: soak up the sun in cairns, where to stay in cairns:, day 9: day trip to the great barrier reef, day 10: day trip to daintree and cape tribulation, day 11: get to know alice springs, where to stay in alice springs:, day 12: camping trip in uluru, days 13-14: camping trip in kings canyon, day 15: fly back to sydney, victoria & tasmania: for a mix of everything.

Northern Territory: For Adventure Seekers (my favorite!)

Western Australia: For Family-Friendly Adventures

Queensland: for underwater lovers, travel resources, two weeks in australia.

Australia has a strict visa rule in that every non-citizen must have a visa to enter the country, except for citizens of New Zealand .

Citizens of EU member countries need to obtain an eVisitor visa online before arriving in Australia. This is a free visa for multiple visits to Australia for up to three months at a time within a 12-month period. Apply here.

Citizens of Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, US, UK and Canada can get an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) online as well. The official website to apply for the ETA is here . It costs AU$20.

two weeks australia itinerary - glen helen gorge

It’s important to have travel insurance, regardless of whether you’re in Australia for 2 weeks or 2 months. Travel insurance covers any expenses you might have to fork out for flight delay, trip cancellation, loss of baggage and even accidents.

Safety Wing is the most popular travel insurance company for COVID19-coverage. I use their Nomad Insurance plan , which covers COVID-19 as any other illness as long as it was not contracted before your coverage start date. Refer to my travel insurance guide for more details.

The most popular international airport to fly in and out of is the Sydney International Airport.

There are direct flights from Los Angeles LAX to Sydney for under $1000 return and from London Heathrow to Sydney for around 600GBP.

I also recommend making a stopover in Dubai or Singapore to break down your journey to Australia. Many airlines don’t charge an extra fee for the layover.

There are lots of budget airlines that fly from Asia to Australia for just US$200+ return.

Check for flights to Sydney here

two weeks in australia - sydney opera house

How to Travel Around Australia

Since you’ve only got two weeks in Australia, the best way to travel around the country and see as much as possible is by domestic flight. Thankfully airfares to travel within Australia are affordable.

E.g. a flight from Sydney to Melbourne is US$100 return (you can get them as cheap as $50).

Here are the best budget airlines that can get you across Australia:

Qantas — Australia’s national airline
Virgin Australia — Affordable luxurious airline
Jetstar Airways — Australian low-cost airline
Tigerair Australia — Another budget airline with good deals
Scoot — Singaporean low-cost airline with cheapest fares

Search for domestic flights here

two weeks australia itinerary - bondi beach sydney

Australia is most famous for its spectacular national parks and remote islands, and driving is the best way to see them. Renting a car in Australia will set you back at around US$70/day or $160 for a week.

Petrol is particularly expensive in the remote regions such as the Red Centre, at almost $2.80 per liter.

It is very easy to do road trips in Australia . There are road signs everywhere and they’re in English. The main thing you need to be careful about when driving in Australia is wildlife. Kangaroos often dash out to the roads especially at night, so be extra alert. Your best bet is to avoid driving at night.

Book Your Car Rental!

two weeks in australia itinerary - renting a campervan

Backpackers with lots of time on their hands might prefer to take the bus around Australia. It’s the cheapest option and buses in Australia are comfortable and punctual. Greyhound Australia is the main coach service within this beautiful country. Book your bus tickets here to ensure availability.

You can choose from hop-on and hop-off passes which give you lots of flexibility. Choose your start and end points from the routes, and then enjoy three months to hop-on and off where you please. You have 90 days to complete your travel (or extend to 180 days for a nominal fee) and your first day of travel must commence within 12 months of purchase. You can get the bus passes here.

Australia is safe and easy to travel around on your own. My first trip there was when I was 17 and I backpacked around Australia with a group of friends without any difficulty or challenges.

If you prefer to travel with a group, check out this 15-Day Outback to the Top End tour with small-group operator G Adventures. I’ve traveled with them many times (to Mongolia, Antarctica, Brazil, Svalbard and Nepal) and can highly recommend them. Every single trip was epic and I’ve made some lifelong friendships on my trips with them.

Another alternative is to travel independently but go on day tours when necessary. You can find a wide range of day trips with prices and reviews at Viator. They have free cancellations and mobile vouchers which make it really convenient. We did a three-day camping trip in Uluru and it was the best experience we had in the whole of Australia.

Most day trips in Australia cost around US$100 and upwards. If you book them when you arrive, they’re more expensive at local travel agencies or hotels.

two weeks in australia - camping in uluru

Australia is a huge country, so this really depends on which part of the country you’re planning to travel.

Keep in mind that Australia is in the southern hemisphere so the seasons are reversed to the northern hemisphere. Summer in Australia runs from December to February and winter goes from June to September.

For our ultimate itinerary below, December to February is the best time to take the trip. The weather will be warm and sunny and temperatures won’t go below 20°C (68°F).

However, it can get very hot in Alice Springs , Northern Territory, with average daytime temperatures around 32 to 36°C (90 to 97°F). This is also peak travel season in Australia so prices are higher.

Winter can be quite cold in Melbourne and Sydney, with temperatures dipping to 7 to 9°C (45 to 48°F). You’ll definitely need to pack warm clothing and a winter coat.

Prices in Australia are quite high, comparable to prices in the US and Western Europe. Expect to pay US$15-25 for a restaurant meal and at least $70 for a standard three-star hotel room.

Renting a car can set you back at around US$70/day or $160 for a week. Petrol is particularly expensive in the remote regions such as the Red Centre, at almost $2.80 per liter. Keep that extra cost in mind as well.

However, there are ways to travel on a budget in Australia. It is quite backpacker-friendly with a strong network of YHA hostels and inter-city bus services.

A bed in a YHA hostel is usually around $25-40 per night, and Greyhound buses are around $50-100 each way (book your flights early and you’ll pay almost the same).

Please keep in mind that this itinerary is designed to help those of you who want to get an overview of Australia in a short time.

The itinerary packs in a lot, so be prepared to be on the go a lot and to spend quite a bit on domestic flights and day trips.

I have included all my favorite states in the itinerary and what I think are the essential areas to explore in Australia. If you’d like to slow down a bit, I would suggest removing one state and extending your stay in the other three states.

Here’s an overview of where the itinerary covers:

Sydney – 3 days (day-trip to the Blue Mountains)
Melbourne – 4 days (day-trips to Phillip Island & Great Ocean Road)
Cairns – 3 days (day-trips to Great Barrier Reef & Daintree)
Alice Springs – 4 days (camping trip to Uluru and Kata Tjuta)

Sydney makes a great introduction to Australia, so make sure to spend at least two days exploring Australia’s biggest city. The multi-cultural city has a vibrant and lively flair, and the best places to get a sense of that are the Rocks district and Darling Harbour .

Head to Sydney Tower for a bird’s eye view of the city; you can even walk 250m (820 feet) above the ground on the Observation Deck. A must-see in Sydney is its most iconic landmark: the Sydney Opera House and the nearby Harbour Bridge. I recommend doing the Sydney Bridge Climb , where you get to climb up the Harbour Bridge with a harness and get fantastic 360-degree panoramas of the city from above. I did that when I was 18 years old and absolutely loved the thrill of it.

Sign up for a bike tour to see some highlights of Sydney or a food tour in Sydney’s historical quarters . Spend an afternoon surfing on Bondi Beach or just people watch at King’s Cross.

In the evening, go on a Sydney harbor sunset dinner cruise for an unforgettable experience.

two weeks in australia - sydney from above

Budget: Noah’s @ Bondi Beach

This backpackers’ hostel is just a two-minute walk from the surfing hotspot, Bondi beach. It’s got lively vibes, a social atmosphere, and affordable prices. There’s a rooftop BBQ area with unobstructed beach views. Book your stay here!

Another good budget option is Ibis Budget – St Peters, where we stayed at. It is cheaper than Noah’s and offers more privacy than a hostel does. Check the latest prices.

Midrange: Glenferrie Lodge

Housed in a charming historical building, this lodge has an excellent location right next to Sydney Harbour Bridge. It’s located in Kirribilli Wharf, where ferry services to Circular Quay and Sydney Opera House depart regularly. Kirribilli has a nice village atmosphere and lovely Victorian buildings. Book your stay here.

Luxury: Four Seasons Hotel Sydney

Boasting the best views of Sydney Harbour, Four Seasons is definitely a top choice for luxury travelers. It has a rooftop pool overlooking Sydney’s CBD and harbor-facing rooms all have spectacular water views. Check the latest rates here.

two weeks australia itinerary - sydney harbor bridge

It’s time to head out to see Australia’s beautiful natural landscapes. An hour west of Sydney, the Blue Mountains is a stunning region with rugged cliffs, waterfalls, and eucalyptus trees.

Katoomba is the biggest town, located on the fringe of the Blue Mountains National Park and its bushwalking trails. For the best views of the famous Three Sisters rock formation, head to Echo Point.

I recommend renting a car for the day or booking a day trip . Each has its own advantage: renting a car gives you the freedom to explore at your own pace and allows you to seek out secret corners; booking a day tour is easier and you’ll an expert to show you the hiking trails and the best viewpoints.

two weeks australia itinerary - blue mountains

Fly to Melbourne, my absolute favorite city in Australia. This multi-faceted city has gorgeous colonial Victorian architecture and a fun city beach. The 1.5-hour flight from Sydney to Melbourne costs around $30-50 one way.

Kick off your first day in Melbourne by hopping on the City Circle Tram that’s free for everyone. The historical tram travels through Melbourne’s central business district, specifically Flinders, La Trobe, and Victoria Streets.

Next, stroll through the historic Queen Victoria Market for some fresh Australian produce and arts and craft. Every Wednesday night between November and April, it also plays host to the Night Market.

Then head out to St Kilda, a coastal village just a tram ride away from the city. Here you can ride a paddle board or take a lesson , also explore the nightlife of this place. Luna Park Melbourne is free entry and it’s an excellent spot for families.

two weeks in australia itinerary - melbourne

Budget: Melbourne Metro YHA

I stayed at this Melbourne YHA on my first trip to Australia when I was 17 and had a blast! It’s a fun and budget-friendly place perfect for those who want to mingle. Located on the city fringe, it has a rooftop terrace with panoramic views of Melbourne. Book your stay here!

Midrange: Hotel Causeway

Housed in an Art Deco building, this boutique hotel is just steps from bustling Bourke Street Mall and the restaurants of Swanston Street. Despite its prime location and good quality accommodation, prices are reasonable. Check the latest rates here.

Luxury: Grand Hyatt Melbourne

Easily the best hotel in Melbourne, Grand Hyatt is perfectly positioned on Collins Street in the heart of Melbourne. Rooms here have views of either Melbourne’s skyline or the Yarra River. It’s well worth checking out the signature restaurant Collins Kitchen, and its stylish, modern bar Ru-Co. Check the latest rates here.

two week australia itinerary - melbourne

Next day, rise early for a day trip to Phillip Island , home to the world’s largest fur seal colony. Located only 90 minutes from Melbourne, this wildlife island features impressive landscapes and an overload of Australian wildlife.

Visit the Penguin Parade at sunset, go whale-watching , see koalas at the Koala Conservation Centre, or go on an EcoBoat Tour. Don’t miss the Nobbies outcrop, where you’ll find the Australian fur seals.

I recommend booking this day trip as it includes hotel pickup and entrance to all the above-mentioned centers on Phillip Island. The tour leaves at 13:15 and gets you back to your hotel at 21:00 (from April to September) or 22:30 (from October to March).

For your last day in Victoria, head to the spectacular Great Ocean Road , one of Australia’s most visited destinations. This meandering road snakes its way along the dramatic coastline, revealing unique rock stacks and the lush rainforest of the Otway Ranges (home to quite a few wild koalas).

Driving along the Great Ocean Road makes for one of best road trips in Australia . With so much to see, the Great Ocean Road definitely merits more than one day to explore, but those tight on time will have to make do with a day trip .

From Melbourne, drive west to the start of the Great Ocean Road, passing the coastal towns of Lorne and Apollo Bay. You will also see the iconic Split Point Lighthouse .

Spend some time exploring the Shipwreck Coast and admiring the Loch Ard Gorge. The highlight of the Great Ocean Road is the 12 Apostles (twelve rock stacks rising from the waters). Descend the Gibson’s Steps to the beach, where you will get new perspectives of the enormous offshore stacks and cliffs.

two weeks australia itinerary - great ocean road

Your next stop is Queensland, the sunshine state full of pristine beaches, castaway islands and miles upon miles of reef. Fly from Melbourne to Cairns for around $100 one way. It’s a 3.5-hour flight. Check for flights here.

Cairns is the liveliest city in Queensland and the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. I recommend spending your first day on the beach and soaking up some sunshine.

Located on the Esplanade is the Lagoon, a lively area to swim and chill. On Sundays, the Lagoon also hosts live music on a temporary stage. Don’t miss the Saturday Esplanade market for local artwork and jewelry.

If you’ve got some extra time, head to the many swimming holes outside of Cairns. Fairy Falls and Crystal Cascades are only a 10-minute drive from Cairns. A bit further away is Ross and Locke where you can go tubing along the rapids – just watch out for crocodiles!

Budget: YAL Cairns

This well-priced budget hotel offers great value for money, with a nice swimming pool and a comfortable outdoor lounge area. All rooms come with air conditioning, microwave, fridge, and shower. This hostel is great for couples and backpackers who are traveling on a budget. Book your stay here!

Midrange: Palm Royale Cairns

Set amidst 2.5 acres of tropical gardens, Palm Royale is a surprisingly affordable resort with two gorgeous pools. The hotel is just a 10-minute drive from the city center. I would definitely stay here again on my next trip to Cairns. Check the latest rates here.

Luxury: Treetops Retreat Cairns

Perched on the treetops of the Crystal Cascades rainforest, this elegant yet rustic retreat is walking distance to swimming holes, hiking trails and waterfalls. The tree house has a spacious deck high in the canopy, with an outdoor pool and a private rainforest spa deck, perfect for star gazing. Check the latest rates here.

On your second day, take a catamaran sailing trip to the Great Barrier Reef for some snorkeling and sailing. The world’s largest coral reef system is made up of nearly 3000 individual reefs sprawled across an area of almost 135,000 square miles (350,000 square kilometers).

During the sailing trip , you’ll get to snorkel at two of 24 authorized reef locations depending on the day’s sea conditions. All of the sites offer exotic marine life like turtles and parrot fish. You’ll also get interpretation talks on board from experts about the reef.

Alternatively, book an eco-adventure day trip to Green Island , a private island resort in the Great Barrier Reef. The island also has a lush rainforest with over 120 native plant species and a rich bird life.

At just 45 minutes from Cairns, Green Island gives you the unique chance to do a combined reef and rainforest tour . . You can explore the island’s lush rainforest on foot, see the reef from the glass bottom boat, or snorkel off the beach.

two week australia itinerary - great barrier reef

For your last day in Queensland, head inland on an adventurous day trip to the Daintree Rainforests and Cape Tribulation . Daintree is Australia’s biggest tropical rainforest, and also the oldest rainforest on Earth at 135 million years old. Here you will find kingfishers, lorikeets, tree frogs, and entwining strangler figs.

By foot, walk through the Daintree and find the point where the rainforest meets the reef at Cape Tribulation. Ditch your hiking shoes and dip your feet in the white sand beaches.

Don’t miss Alexandra Lookout where you can get spectacular views of the Daintree River and the Coral Sea. Cruise along the Daintree River among rainforest jungles, mangroves, and crocodile-infested waters before returning to Cairns.

two weeks australia itinerary - daintree rainforest

I have saved the best for last! Australia’s Red Centre is my favorite part of Australia and it’s where the raw and rugged Outback lies. Alice Springs is a small town and the gateway into the Red Centre. As low-cost airlines don’t fly there, airfares are slightly more expensive. A one-way flight from Cairns to Alice Springs costs around $200 on Qantas.

Just 7km outside of town is the Alice Springs Desert Park , a wildlife sanctuary and botanic garden. Standing at the base of the MacDonnell Ranges, the desert park is a beautiful nature park where kangaroos roam, birds fly overhead, and endangered bilby burrows underground.

You get to see unique Australian animals like the thorny devil, echidna, and bearded dragon. For an interesting experience, sign up for a guided night tour to see rare and endangered animals under the stars.

If you’ve got some extra cash, I recommend treating yourself to a hot air balloon flight in Alice Springs . From the air, the landscape looks different and you get a real sense of the magnitude of the desert. Flights usually take place at dawn so you might need an extra day for this excursion. Read about our experience on a hot air balloon flight in Alice Springs .

Book your hot air balloon flight here!

Budget: Alice Lodge Backpackers

Just 5 minutes’ walk from Alice Springs town center, this great hostel is the best budget place to stay in town. Rooms are clean and spacious, plus they have cheap private rooms. The outdoor swimming pool is a great area to hang out and they organize barbecue nights occasionally. Check the latest rates here.

Midrange: Diplomat Motel

We stayed at this well-priced hotel and highly recommend it to travelers seeking affordable comfort and convenience. It’s located in the center of Alice Springs, just a few minutes’ walk from stores and restaurants. We hung out at the swimming pool in the evening and had a barbecued dinner that night! Check the latest rates here.

Luxury: DoubleTree by Hilton Alice Springs

As one of the best hotels in town, DoubleTree by Hilton is a luxury resort awarded for its environmental-friendly ethos. The hotel has a beautiful setting, with the MacDonnell Ranges as a backdrop. All rooms have balconies that overlook either the mountains, swimming pool or gardens. Book your stay here!

For some real Australian Outback adventure, head into the Red Centre on a three-day camping tour of Uluru , Kings Canyon and the Kata Tjuta National Park.

This trip is power-packed and you’ll need a medium level of fitness for the walks. They are not technically difficult, but the high temperatures in summer can make them slightly challenging. Check out the trip details here.

You’ll travel around on a sturdy overland truck and your guide will prepare barbecued meals every day. Plus you get to sleep in cozy swags under the stars every night! We did this camping trip in 2013 and it was definitely THE best experience we had in Australia to date. Read about my experience here.

Next day, you’ll head straight to Kings Canyon for a three-hour hike through the sandstone domes of the Lost City. Admire the many natural amphitheaters and see the North and South walls on the way to the Garden of Eden.

The next day, take a guided walk in the Kata Tjuta or the Olgas and learn about the spiritual significance of the area.

Then visit the Aboriginal Cultural Center and listen to tales from the Tjukurpa Dreamtime. On the last day, watch the sun rise over Uluru, the world’s largest rock.

Do a base walk at Uluru to see beautiful Aboriginal cave paintings. You’ll get back to Alice Springs in the evening of the last day.

Book the camping trip here!

Sadly your trip has come to an end! Fly from Alice Springs to Sydney direct for around $150 one-way, just in time to catch your flight home.

Other Two-Week Itineraries in Australia

Because Australia is such a massive place, you could easily spend two weeks focusing on one particular state in Australia that fits your interest.

Consider what your interests are: do you prefer hiking in the outback or exploring cities? These itineraries will help you narrow down your focus and show you the best in one state. You’ll also save money as you won’t need to book domestic flights to get around.

Here are some examples of two-week itineraries in Australia:

Victoria is a micro-Australia, with dramatic coastlines, outstanding landscapes, wildlife-rich islands, and buzzing beach vibes. This state is great for road trips and a mixture of adventure, urban life, and relaxation.

Tasmania is an outstanding, scenic island that every nature lover needs to visit!

Visit Melbourne and its Victorian buildings and markets
Drive along the spectacular Great Ocean Road
Go wine-tasting in Mornington Peninsula
Take a day trip to Phillip Island to see penguins and the world’s largest fur seal colony
Fly to Tasmania, a paradise for nature lovers
Hike in the famous Cradle Mountain National Park
Enjoy a wineglass bay cruise and visit its national park

two weeks australia itinerary - cradle mountain

Northern Territory : For Adventure Seekers (my favorite!)

This is where you’ll see the real Outback, where termite mounds rise above the rose red sand and Aboriginal artwork sprawl across ancient rocks. Adventure seekers would love this itinerary as it involves lots of hiking and camping in the deserts.

You can easily do a road trip from Darwin, driving from Australia’s Top End to the Red Centre and flying back from Alice Springs.

Experience the tropical city of Darwin
Swim with the mighty saltwater crocodile at Crocosaurus Cove
Take the ferry to the Tiwi Islands to learn Aboriginal island culture
Hike amongst waterfalls in Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks
Camp in the Red Centre to explore Uluru and Kata Tjuta National Parks

Western Australia is the sunniest part of the country as it averages an annual eight hours of sunshine per day. This itinerary is great for families who are looking to get outdoors and experience Australia’s wildlife and beaches.

Read this two-week itinerary of Western Australia for more details or click the links below for day trip ideas.

Explore the sunny capital of Perth: King’s Park, Cottesloe Beach, and Fremantle
Take a day trip to Rottnest Island to bike around and see quokkas
See koalas and kangaroos at Yanchep National Park
Have a 4WD adventure in the Pinnacles and try sandboarding
Wine-tasting in Margaret River

two weeks australia itinerary - the pinnacles

The sunshine state is more than just blue skies and never-ending beaches. With five World Heritage Listed sites and the world-famous Great Barrier Reef, Queensland is Australia’s favorite natural playground.

This itinerary is perfect for underwater enthusiasts and those who want to see the lush rainforests and pristine islands of Australia.

Fly to Cairns, a modern coastal city
Take a catamaran sailing trip to the Great Barrier Reef for some snorkeling
Spend a few days on Green Island to dive and explore the coral life
Explore the rainforests in Daintree and Cape Tribulation on 4WD
Visit the Chillagoe caves and waterfalls
Take a historic scenic train to the village of Kuranda nestled within a UNESCO forest

two weeks australia itinerary - sunshine coast

That’s a wrap! Hope you’ve found this Australia itinerary to be useful. Feel free to print it out and bring it with you on your trip. Any trip to Australia is an adventure and a trip of a lifetime. Enjoy the journey!

Over the years (and traveling to 140+ countries), I’ve learned a thing or two about travel planning. I’ve put together this list of travel resources that I personally use to find the best deals and book travel! For more details, check out my travel tips resource page .

Booking Flights : Kayak is brilliant for finding the best dates to fly as it allows you to search for the lowest airfares within a 3-day period. Then I use Skyscanner as they’ve consistently given me the lowest airfares.
Accommodations: I always use Booking.com to book hotels, mainly because of the flexible cancellation policy and good customer service. You can also find short-term rental apartments there (I prefer not to use Airbnb due to the extra charges).
Travel Insurance: It’s important to have travel insurance, regardless of whether you’re traveling for a few days or months. Safety Wing is the most popular travel insurance company for COVID19-coverage. I use their Nomad Insurance plan , which covers any healthcare expenses I may have worldwide. Refer to my travel insurance guide for more details.
Health Advice: I always refer to the travel guides on the CDC website for recommended medications and vaccines. You can get them at your travel doctor’s office or a walk-in pharmacy.
Tours: If you’re looking for all-encompassing tours, I recommend small-group adventure tour outfitter, G Adventures . I’ve traveled with them to Antarctica, Mongolia, Svalbard, and Nepal, and loved every single trip. For day tours, I always book with Viator and GetYourGuide ; they have easy booking systems and free cancellations.
Car Rental: I always book car rentals on Discover Cars , as they’ve consistently given us the best rates and customer service (with free cancellations). We’ve used them in Seychelles, South Africa, Spain, Peru, and Mexico.
Transportation : Whenever possible, I book local transportation online using Bookaway and Busbud . They’re more reliable than many local transport websites and cover trains, buses, and car hire.
Restaurants: TripAdvisor is my go-to resource for restaurant reviews and bookings. I also make restaurant reservations on OpenTable .
Travel WiFi: I always travel with my Travel WiFi Sapphire 2 device; it’s the most convenient way to get internet data on the go. Instead of getting a local SIM card in every country I travel, I get an internet data package online and the device works immediately when I land.

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Nellie Huang

Nellie Huang is the founder of WildJunket. Originally from Singapore, Nellie has traveled to over 150 countries across 7 continents. She is a book author and Lonely Planet guidebook writer. As an adventure travel blogger, she has a special interest in unusual destinations and deep experiences. Follow her travels on her Facebook and Instagram .

The Comments

I love this post so much – but it’s making me homesick!! I’ve just realised how little of my own country I’ve seen.

Andy Shuman

Excellent post, Nellie. It’s going to be helpful for my first trip to Australia when I finally get down to it. One thing though: Are you sure that Scoot can carry passengers on domestic flights in Australia. I’m quite sure that would be a violation of anti-cabotage rules.

hi Andy, good to know you find it useful! Yes Scoot does run domestic flights in Australia. I’ve just double checked. Scoot is a Singaporean budget airline – I flew them once to Taipei and they were really good. I’m not sure about the anti-cabotage rules though, sorry can’t be of much help there!

Stunning captures! In love with the blue mountains. Cheers!

Looks like an amazing place to explore. Loved it.

Jean-Robert Corvington

Hi Nellie! Great recommendations for our first trip to Australia. What if you only have 10-12 days and are flying out of Melbourne on the return? We are also wine lovers and would love at least a 1 night camping experience. We’ll be landing first in Sydney so we can easily follow the first part of the trip. What should we skip or add?

hi Jean-Robert! Thanks for dropping by! If you only have 10-12 days, I would recommend spending your time mostly in Sydney and Melbourne. There are loads to do in and around both cities. For wine lovers, I recommend checking out Yarra Valley near Melbourne, it’s a very popular place for Australians. You can also easily book an adventure/camping trip along the Great Ocean Road. Many people drive that, but you can also hike it and do short walks. Hope this helps!

good info. it just drive me crazy. that y i love to travel. travel more to see more. cant wait to visit Australia again. thanks. cheers!.

Gill Solnick

thanks this is a really exciting and helpful site. We are going to Sydney for a wedding and would love to find a sane itinerary for the old but adventurous.

Hi Nellie, what a great site! So lucky to see your recoms before my first trip to Australia in 3 weeks. I ll definitely do some day trips u recommended. I got days from 19/12/19 to 02/01/20. I was planning to stay in Sydney for 4 days and then flying to Melbourne and staying there for another 3-4 nights. Then I dont know where I should go for another 3 days and fly back to Sydney on 30th to see New Year fireworks. Any recommendation for me? Thank you so much.

Hey Joy, thanks for the comment! It depends on your interest. Check out the last part of my article. I share more 2-week itineraries based on your interests. If you’re into hiking and camping, then I definitely recommend the Red Center in Alice Springs.

Carol Bracey

Hello Nellie: Great information on Australia. Three fairly active seniors are planning a trip for about 15 days in April next year 2023. We love nature, wildlife, cultural adventures, and other non-strenuous experiences. Would you change or add anything in your recommendations for 2 week tours? Carol Bracey

hi Carol, thanks for dropping by! :) I have packed in ALOT to this itinerary. If you prefer to slow it down, I would suggest removing the Cairns (Queensland) part of the itinerary. The Uluru part of the trip is spectacular and it’s my favorite part of Australia, full of nature and interesting aboriginal interactions – but it would involve more hiking and strenuous activity. As long as you’re active and mobile, I think you’ll do just fine. Plus, you can sign up for a tour that doesn’t require camping or too much hiking to make things easier. Hope this helps!

Thank you but.. hiking compass in (almost) 2023? I wonder, what year was the original article written?

The original article was published 3 years ago. Many backcountry hikers prefer to rely on a hiking compass than phone because it never runs out of battery (unlike a phone) and is far more accurate.

Hi Nellie, thank you so much for the post!! I’m planning my first trip to Australia and this was super helpful. Do you happen to have any other recommendations for the 3 day camping trip to Uluru, Kings Canyon, and Kata Tjuta? The link you’ve provided didn’t lead to that tour. Thank you!!

hi Rachel, oh sorry the link is not working. I will update it. We actually traveled with Wayoutback Safaris on this tour . You can read about our experience here .

Thank you Nellie for this wonderful information. My husband, daughter and I are planning a trip in January 2025 and we were wondering about the 3 day camping trip alternative as well. The trip sounds so amazing however, the link does not appear to be the 3 day trip any longer.

hi Jo, sorry about that, I’ll update the link. I’ve sent some suggestions below. Hope you guys get to go on a camping trip at Uluru/Kata Tjuta. It was the highlight for us!

Thanks for the post. When I asked for advise on trip advisor they said the itinerary is too busy and can not enjoy all of above in 2 weeks.

Did you do all of this in 2 weeks? If you did, then its doable and I can do it too in last week of May/Early June.

Any alternatives to camping as I don’t like to sleep in tent. I like hotel rooms with out own restroom.

I don’t mind doing day trips to experience camping?

I don’t think there is nay place for Brisbane in this itinerary?

hi Sam, yes we did it in 2 weeks. It’s definitely pretty intense and if you’re the kind who like to chill and relax, it might not be for you. But if you like to pack your itinerary fully and see as much as possible, then it’s totally doable. There are definitely hotels and guest houses available in the outback, you don’t have to camp if you don’t want to. There’s no room for Brisbane I’m afraid; I went to Brisbane on a separate trip and had a great time in the Gold Coast but if it’s your first time in Australia, I think it’s ok to skip Brisbane.

2 Weeks in Australia: 6 Itineraries

DISCLAIMER: This post might have links to travel services and products that we enjoy. We might make a commission from it at no extra cost to you.

Australia, also known as the land down under, is well-known for its deserts, kangaroos, spiders, and animals or species that could rarely be found anywhere else.

In fact, more than 80% of the species found in Australia are unique. But there’s more to Australia than unique animals and acres upon acres of dunes. For instance, there are incredible (and scary) wild animals that are unique to Australia. Aside from that, this is also where the Great Barrier Reef , which has the largest ecosystem in the world, is located.

If these facts aren’t enough to convince you yet, the island with the cleanest air can be found here as well, the island of Tasmania is a world heritage site and is a must-visit for people who plan to have a vacation for 2 weeks in Australia.

They have more than 60 separate wine regions which are perfect for wine connoisseurs. The perfect time to visit Australia is from September to November and March to May because these are the months wherein the weather isn’t extreme. If you want to explore this country in depth, you should stay for at least 2 weeks.

CHECK OUT: Best places to spend your 2-week holiday

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE VISITING AUSTRALIA

4 images - mount teide, madrid aerial shot, valencia, and gran canaria beach - 2-WEEKS IN SPAIN ITINERARY

There are a few things you should keep in mind while in Australia to stay safe, plan your itinerary properly , and ensure you will have a great time.

Australians are also very respectful of the Aboriginal people so make sure to be mindful of their traditions, some tribes don’t want their photos taken and find it culturally inappropriate.

Ther emergency hotline in Australia is 000. We made sure that your 2 weeks in Australia itinerary was composed of the most interesting cities with scenic spots, cultural diversity, and tons of restaurants and bars. We hope that you’ll enjoy your stay here and make the most out of it.

RELATED POST: Spend 2 weeks in New Zealand and see filming locations of The Hobbit

When is the best time to go to Australia

The best time to visit Australia depends on what you’re looking for. Peak season is during Australia’s summer from December to February , perfect for beaches and festivals but also crowded and pricier.

The rainy season varies by region ; in the tropical North (like Cairns), it’s from November to April, bringing hot, humid weather and rain. In contrast, the South (like Sydney and Melbourne) has milder weather this time.

Winter, from June to August, is cooler and great for visiting the Outback or skiing in the southeastern mountains.

For good weather and fewer crowds, consider the shoulder seasons: March to May (fall) and September to November (spring) , offering pleasant weather and moderate prices. Personally, these are the months I’d say the best time to visit Australia .

First, there are various types of summers in Australia but always make sure to wear sunblock wherever you go as it could get very hot and very dry. There are some areas where the data connection is slow so you must be prepared to go offline.

Waters in this country are shark-infested so make sure to stay learn about the flags when it comes to visiting bodies of water to know when it’s not safe to get on.

How to get around

Australia is a massive country, there’s no denying that. Therefore, making a decision on the best way to get around depends on the places you want to see.

For example, there’s only a 12-hour drive between Sydney and Melbourne, assuming you will have stops along the way, the best way to see these two cities is with a rented car. Now, Brisbane to Melbourne is a longer stretch, driving might take too much time during your 2 weeks in Australia.

Let’s say you want to see Perth and Sydney, that’s coast to coast. You definitely have to take a domestic flight, and then rent a car while in the city to have freedom of movement.

If you rent a car, remember that they drive on the left. In general, Australia recognises IDP or international driver’s permits and licenses for a period of time. Check first if your international driver’s license from your home country is accepted in Australia.

There are also trains, buses, and trams within the city to make moving around much easier. Overall, taking a domestic flight should be on your list especially if you’re visiting cities that are more than 6 hours to reach if you’re driving.

Cost of 14 days in Australia

Planning a 2-week vacation in Australia can vary in cost based on how fancy or simple you want it to be. For an affordable trip, it might cost around $1,500 to $2,500 per person if you stay in budget accommodations, eat out less, and enjoy free activities.

A mid-range vacation could be around $3,000 to $5,000 per person , with nicer hotels, some dining out, and paid attractions. You can also rent a car with this budget or go on guided tours.

For a luxury experience, expect to spend $8,000 to $15,000 or more per person, enjoying top hotels, fine dining, and exclusive experiences.

These numbers don’t include the main flight to Australia and back home, travel insurance, and travel accessories such as a new suitcase, hiking shoes, etc that will be used for your trip.

Language and Currency

Australian speaks Englis h with a strong accent, but it is still quite easy to understand. Australia’s currency is the Australian Dollar (AUD). In terms of currency, the size of the notes increases as the value decreases. paying with your bank card should be easy wherever in Australia you plan to go.

However, it’s still best to have some cash with you. The ATMs allow a $300-$1,000 limit per single transaction, but they also follow your bank’s withdrawal policy.

Travellers with a passport issued by the government of most countries in North America, Europe, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, and French Guinea can enter and travel around Australia for up to 3 months per visit in a 12-month period. New Zealand citizens have freedom of movement in Australia ( see SCV ).

However, visitors from a visa-free list must apply for an ETA permit to enter and travel around Australia. This form should be applied beforehand as it will be asked before you board your plane. It’s recommended to start your application in advance since processing time might take a few days.

Other visitors must apply for an Australia visitor visa in advance. You can do this all online, which is quite convenient, but still takes about 7 to 20 days to process.

Other basic travel tips

Pinned map of tops things to see in australia.

Click the icon on the top right to enlarge the map. Credit: map data: Google

2 WEEKS IN AUSTRALIA ITINERARIES TO CHOOSE FROM

I created these six itinerary options for those who are planning to stay for 2 weeks in Australia. This sovereign country is considered the largest country by area in Oceania and has a wide variety of climates and landscapes, including deserts, mountain ranges, and rainforests.

Their official sport is cricket so you should try to watch at least one match during your stay here. The first itinerary option contains the cities of Melbourne and Sydney.

TIP: Since the cities are repeated in some itineraries, I didn’t include the must-see places, instead, you can scroll down and see a massive list divided per city.

Itinerary #1: Sydney and Melbourne

Sydney is the largest and most populous city in Australia. It has a world-famous harbour and stunning scenery of the blue mountains, as well as culture, art, and nightlife scenes. With the diverse sceneries that you can see, you’ll certainly enjoy your stay here.

Melbourne on the other hand is Victoria’s vibrant capital. It has been voted as one of the most liveable cities in the world each year and has the largest tram system outside of Europe.

There are a few ways to get from Sydney to Melbourne and vice versa. You can take a 12-hour train, a 1.5-hour direct flight, or by car (as long as you make stops in between).

2 images - sydney opera house and cliff of byron bay aerial shot - 2-Weeks in Australia

Itinerary #2: Sydney and Brisbane

Another itinerary option for your 2 weeks in Australia includes the cities of Sydney and Brisbane. Sydney has so much more to offer aside from the wonderful facts above about it.

It has more than 100 beaches, one of the tallest steel arch bridges could also be found here and it has the biggest harbour in the world.

Brisbane is famous for Queenslander architecture, outdoor dining culture, and jacaranda blossoms during spring. It is also a great spot for surfing, you can head to Byron Bay and Gold Coast.

I love this 2 weeks in Australia itinerary because it features the vibrant city of Sydney while offering a fun and adventurous surfing area of Brisbane. This is definitely a perfect itinerary for those who love to catch the waves.

To get from Sydney to Brisbane, you can either take a 14-hour train ride or an hour and a half direct flight. Again, you can take your rented car and make great stops in between that allows you to do sightseeing and stay in a smaller town along the way.

Itinerary #3: Melbourne and Cairns

I’m sure that this next fact would draw foodies to this city. Melbourne has the highest number of cafes and restaurants per number of people compared to any other city in the world.

If you are travelling with a young kid, there are many free things you can do in Melbourne with a child, especially outdoor activities.

Another monumental fact about Melbourne is that the workers successfully campaigned for an 8-hour workday here first. There are also many historical sites that you can visit in Melbourne.

Since it’s a busy city, you should probably wait until you get to Cairns before you enjoy the beach and the sun.

As for the city of Cairns , this wonderful city is considered the gateway to the Great Barrier reef. Aside from that, it has a swimming lagoon and national parks containing beaches and mountainous rainforests. There are also hiking trails that you can explore.

This itinerary for 2 weeks in Australia is a great mixture of city exploration and being with nature. You can take a direct flight from Melbourne to Cairns, which is about 3.5 hours.

Itinerary #4: Melbourne and Perth

2 weeks in Australia might not be a long time for a vacation, but it doesn’t mean you can’t visit both the east and west coasts . The next itinerary option for your stay in Australia in 2 weeks includes the cities of Melbourne and Perth.

Melbourne has been picked twice now, and for a good reason: because this city just has so much to offer. Fisherman’s bend in Port Melbourne is the only place that creates vegemite.

The first pizza restaurant in Australia can also be found here. Melbourne is also the fox capital of the world, with around six to 23 foxes per square kilometre.

Perth on the other hand, has sandy beaches, riverside, and other scenic cityscapes. Perth is the metropolitan city that you can imagine. Although Sydney and Melbourne are both busy cities, Perth has a different vibe.

Apart from its tall buildings, there are still many things to do in Perth such as going to shows, getting on a boat cruise, and even hiking and visiting botanical gardens. It’s a less popular destination in Australia. That means that the crowd is not as crazy as on the east coast.

The flight between Melbourne and Sydney is a little over four hours. But once you land, it’s best to get a rental car, this will provide convenience when it comes to sightseeing and exploration on both cities.

2 images - gpo building and great barrier reef aerial shot - 2-Weeks in Australia

Itinerary #5: Cairns and Adelaide

For those who are having a vacation in Australia in 2 weeks, the cities of Cairns and Adelaide are the next itinerary option. What I love about Adelaide is how it’s a bustling city and skyscrapers, Adelaide has its own charm.

The Cairns house the highest mountain in Queensland and of course, the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. Although Adelaide has some beaches, if you feel like the beach and tall buildings don’t seem to match, beaches in Cairns bring serenity and tranquillity.

It also has the world’s largest lava tubes and the world’s longest ferns. Adelaide is the cosmopolitan coastal capital of South Australia. It has renowned museums and hosts world-famous festivals.

Direct flights from Adelaide to Cairns or vice versa is available, but usually only a few times a day (it can even be as little as once a day). The flight is only about 3-hours.

Itinerary #6: Sydney, Cairns, and Darwin

Last but definitely not the least itinerary option consists of the cities Cairns, Darwin, and Sydney. Sydney is among the global cities in the world as more than ⅓ of its population was born overseas and around half of the citizens are first or second-generation immigrants.

Aside from the cultural diversity, it is also only 3 hours away from Canberra, Australia’s capital so if you want to explore the area as well, you wouldn’t have a hard time doing so.

The next city is the city of Darwin. It is a former frontier outpost and a gateway to the massive Kakadu National Park. It also has several beaches and museums.

Last is the city of Cairns. Despite its beachfront esplanade, Cairns is filled with mudflats abundant with native birdlife.

This itinerary is a little tight since you will need to get on a flight from Sydney to Cairns (3 hours), and then to Darwin (2.5 hours).

2 images - a kangaroo hopping across a road, and granite island - 2-Weeks in Australia

THINGS TO DO AND SEE

Before you decide which itinerary or which cities you want to be included in your 2 weeks in Australia, check this list of what to do in each place.s Perhaps it will help you decide and visualise the kind of vacation you are looking for.

Royal Botanic Garden
Bondi Beach
Macquarie Street and the State Library of New South Wales
Sydney Opera House – book your tour in advance or watch La Boheme
Chinese Garden of Friendship
Explore the city and Bondi Beach – get your bus ticket or join a half-day tour or join a crime tour
Queen Victoria Building
Sydney Tower- look at the tour price and reviews and enjoy a buffet feast at the tower
Luna Park Sydney
Taronga Zoo
Blue Mountains – book a day trip with a cruise
Darling Harbour
Day trip to Katoomba Scenic World – get your hop-on, hop-off bus and park pas or bushwalk and lunch
Cruise at Circular Quay
Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park
Madame Tussauds – skip the line and get a ticket in advance
St. Mary’s Cathedral
King Street Wharf Darling Harbour
Sydney Harbour – enjoy a sunset cruise or an all-inclusive dinner cruise
BridgeClimb Sydney
Art Gallery of New South Wales
Day trip to Hunter Valley for wine, cheese, and chocolate tour
Federation Square
Arts Centre Melbourne
Parliament House
Melbourne Cricket Ground – a tour that you can join
Melbourne Museum and Royal Exhibition Building
National Gallery of Victoria
Day trip to Phillip Island – see the penguins and Moonlit Sanctuary or the one with Penguin and Koala tour
Queen Victoria Market
Immigration Museum
Shrine of Remembrance
Melbourne Skydeck – check the updated price
Southbank & South Wharf
National Sports Museum
Eureka Tower
Great Ocean and 12 Apostles – book a day tour from Melbourne
South Wharf Area
Polly Woodside – the country’s last surviving 19th-century ships
Garden and Sporting Precinct River Cruise
Ride Hot Air Baloon – check the tour price and reviews
City Circle Tram
Skydive Melbourne
Luna Park in Melbourne
Yarra River Cruise – enjoy a dinner cruise or balloon flight at sunrise or a bottomless brunch cruise
Visit Yarra Valley and go on a Winery Tour
National Tennis Centre (Rod Laver Arena)
Williamstown Ferry Cruise – read the reviews and see the tour price
Royal Botanic Gardens
Day trip to Healesville Sanctuary – ride Puffing Billy and see the rescued wild animals
George Street
The Cultural Centre
Surf at Byron Bay and Gold Coast
Australia Zoo – ride the famous Croc Express
Queensland Performing Arts Centre
Queensland Museum and Science Centre
Queensland Art Gallery & Gallery of Modern Art
Dracula’s Cabaret – book a night party on the Gold Coast
South Bank Parklands
Go ATV ride at Tangalooma – check the tour price
Wheel of Brisbane
State Library of Queensland
Brisbane river cruise with lunch
Museum of Brisbane
Day trip to Moreton Island – do a kayak, snorkel, and sandboard tour or a dolphin and Tangalooma wreck Cruise
Brisbane City Botanic Gardens
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary – get your day pass
Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mount Coot-tha
Story Bridge Avenue Climb
Glass House Mountains National
Story Bridge Adventure Climb – book a tour
Roma Street Parkland
For crime junkies, there’s a True Crime Tour
Great Barrier Reef
Cairns Esplanade
Cairns Botanic Gardens
Kuranda and Kuranda Scenic Railway
Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park
Barron Gorge National Park
Green Island
Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation
Cairns Aquarium
Walsh’s Pyramid
Cairns Hot Air Balloon Trip
North Terrace
Adelaide Botanic Garden
Cleland Wildlife Park
Glenelg Area – book a Catamaran Sunset Cruise
Adelaide Central Market
Kangaroo Island – do a day tour
Art Gallery of South Australia
Book a River Torren Cruise
BOUNCEinc Adelaide
South Australian Museum
Join an eco kayaking tour at Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary
Cleland Conservation Park
Mt Lofty and the Waterfall Gully Reserve
Join the famous Barossa Valley wine tour
Adelaide Oval Rooftop Climbing
Rundle Mall
Brighton Jetty
Mindil Beach and Mindil Street Sunset Market
Darwin Waterfront Precinct
Stokes Hill Wharf
Crocosaurus Cove
Elizabeth Quay
Hillary’s Boat Harbour
Get a hop-on, hop-off bus pass for ease of travel within the city
Mandurah Dolphin Watching
Pinnacles Desert – do a sandboarding and 4WD day tour or a stargazing sunset tour
Book a Murray River Cruise
Art Gallery of Western Australia
Swim with Wild Dolphins – read the reviews first
Visit Rottnest Island and do a ferry tour with a bike or a ferry with a bus tour
Kings Park and Botanic Garden
Day trip to Swan Valley – for food and wine tasting or a Swan River lunch cruise
The Bell Tower
Book a romantic Perth Swan River Dinner Cruise
Cottesloe Beach
Margaret River – to see caves and visit a winery

ACCOMMODATIONS

I also included a list of places to stay regardless of your budget and travel style. This should help give you an idea of what accommodations in Australia are like and their costs:

Budget hostels: Wake Up! Sydney Central or Sydney Harbour YHA
Mid-range hotels: Mariner’s Court Hotel or Meriton Suites
Luxury Hotels: Sofitel Darling Harbour or Radisson Blue Plaza or Shangri-La
Budget hostels: Space Hotel or Flinders Backpackers
Mid-range hotels: The Victoria Hotel or Atlantis Hotel
Luxury Hotels: The Langham or Crown Towers
Budget hostels – Breeze Lodge or Brisbane YHA
Mid-range hotels – Royal On The Park or Meriton Suites
Luxury Hotels – Emporium Hotel or W Brisbane
Affordable: Travellers Oasis or Dreamtime Travellers Rest or Travellers Paradise
Midrange: The Abbott Boutique Hotel or Crystalbrook Bailey or Nightcap at Balaclava Hotel
Luxury: Crystalbrook Flynn or Crystalbrook Riley or Pullman Reef Hotel Casino
Budget hostels – Tequila Sunrise Hostel or Adelaide Central YHA
Mid-range hotels – ibis Adelaide or Hotel Grand Chancellor
Luxury Hotels – Mayfair Hotel or Pullman
Affordable: Discovery Parks – Darwin or Palms City Resort or Capitanos or Alatai Holiday Apartments
Midrange: Rydges Palmerston – Darwin or City Gardens Apartments or Palms City Resort
Luxury: Argus Apartments Darwin or Magnum Serviced Apartments or Hudson Parap
Budget hostels – Hostel G or Spinners Hostel
Mid-range hotels – Doubletree by Hilton or Great Southern Hotel
Luxury Hotels – The Westin or The Ritz-Carlton

SUMMARY OF 2 WEEKS IN AUSTRALIA

Planning a vacation in Australia is not easy. It’s so big and there is so much to see and do. But don’t let the limited time stop you from visiting this stunning place. Perhaps, right now, you can only visit 2-3 cities, on your next visit you try a new place.

I hope that you found this list of itineraries for 2 weeks in Australia helpful. Enjoy your trip which you very much deserve.

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Australia beckons with its vast landscapes, from the iconic Sydney Opera House to the Great Barrier Reef. Explore vibrant cities, ancient deserts, and unique wildlife, offering an adventure in diverse environments. via @twoweektraveller

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The ultimate itinerary for a trip around Australia
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COMMENTS

6 Week Australia Itinerary
Sydney - 3 days and 2 nights. I had already visited Sydney on a few occasions in the past, so I opted for a short visit this time. If it's your first visit though, 2 nights is just not going to be enough. As with Melbourne, you'll need to choose whether to stay in the CBD area, or one of the more chilled-out beachside suburbs.
The ULTIMATE 6-week Australia Itinerary of the East Coast & Beyond!
Catch the bus to the infamous Bondi Beach and Icebergs swimming pool before a scenic rugged coastal walk to Coogee. Pass the idyllic Tamarama Beach, Bronte Beach, Clovelly Beach, Gordon's Bay and finally Coogee Beach. Treat yourself to a fish and chips before your bus back to Sydney. DAY 13.
A Six Week Australia Itinerary From Sydney
Distance covered, aprox 450km. Total trip distance, aprox. 450km. Weeks two and three - Canberra to Port Fairy. From Canberra I'd head south down to the coast via the wonderful alpine scenery of the Kosciuszko National Park.This is home to Australia's highest mountain, and keen hikers might want to head deeper into the park for more exploration, either of this park or the neighbouring ...
The ultimate itinerary for a trip around Australia
Australia is actually the world's sixth largest country by area. Wowee! So as you can imagine, a trip around Australia can not be completed quickly. The distances are great, so you'll have a lot of travel time. To do this ultimate itinerary quickly, you could probably squeeze it into 6 weeks at an absolute minimum.
Your Perfect Australia Itinerary For 1-4 Weeks
Three Week Australia Itinerary. Day 1 - Arrive in Australia. Day 2 - Phillip Island. Day 3 - Melbourne. Day 4 - The Great Ocean Road. Day 5 - The Great Ocean Road. Day 6 - Travel and Kuranda. Day 7 & 8 - The Great Barrier Reef. Day 9 - Daintree National Park.
Australia Road Trip Itinerary for up to 5 Weeks
Below is a short version of our daily schedule. Here you can find our detailed 6- day itinerary for Australia's Red Centre, from Alice Springs to Uluru. Day 5: Flight Sydney - Alice Springs. Stay in Alice Springs for 1 night. Day 6: Alice Springs - West MacDonnell Ranges - Glen Helen. Stay in Glen Helen for 1 night.
6 Weeks in Australia
Airfare: We spent $4,500 AUD ($3,500 USD) on airfare. Accommodations: Of 34 nights in hotels or Airbnbs, we paid an average of $130 AUD a night. That's $4,400 total over 34 nights. The most expensive nights were at Exmouth Escape in Exmouth, WA (very nice apartment-style) and Outback Pioneer at Uluru, NT (meh).
How to Plan the Perfect East Coast Australia Itinerary on a Budget
Daily Breakdown of My Australia Trip Itinerary. How this itinerary works: In order to accommodate itineraries varying from 2-6 weeks I list the minimum amount of days to the maximum amount of days to spend in each spot to give you a rough idea of how much there is to do in each stop along the coast.I list typical activities to do in each stop, day trips and then link to further resources to ...
How To Spend 6 Weeks In Australia
Cost breakdown for 6 week Australia itineraries. 6 Week Cairns To Melbourne Ultimate- $5469 ($130 per day) 6 Week Melbourne To Cairns Ultimate- $5469 ($130 per day) 6 Week Guided Sydney To Cairns Group Tour- $5599 ($130 per day) Average daily costs for food, drinks, and souvenirs during 6 weeks in Australia.
East Coast Australia Tour
The Ultimate East Coast Australia Explorer (5 Week) and Explorer + Sydney (6 Week) start in Sydney on Mondays (Thursdays or Saturdays) at 11.30am and ends in Cairns on Mondays (Thursdays or Saturdays) at 10am. At the end of your adventure your Group Leader can help you to arrange onward travel. Main Tour Meeting Point: WakeUp Hostel Sydney ...
The PERFECT 1, 2 or 3 Week Australia Itinerary [2024]
Uluru, or Ayers Rock, is a sacred monolith and it one of the most famous places to see on a trip to Australia. You have two options for getting to Uluru. Option 1: Rent a car in Alice Springs and complete the 5-hour drive on your own. Keep in mind it's also 5 hours to get back, so that's a 10 hour road trip in total.
Action-packed Australia travel itineraries for every length of trip
Australia itinerary: 2 weeks. Sydney area - 7 days. Port Douglas - 7 days. With two weeks to visit Australia, you can give Sydney and the surrounding area a more complete look and at a slower pace. In addition to the activities mentioned above, consider taking a day trip or two outside of the city.
Simple Australia Itinerary
Sydney to Cairns is about 1,510 miles or 2,415 kilometers. Sydney to Uluru is about 1,780 miles or 2,850 kilometers. Sydney to Perth is about 2,460 miles or 3,935 kilometers. To get in between Melbourne and Sydney, either book a short flight (hour and a half) or you can choose a bus or train option.
Australia East Coast Road Trip Itinerary: A Complete Guide
Suggested time for Airlie Beach & The Whitsundays: 2-5 days. Driving distance from Townsville to Airlie Beach: 273km (3h10) Airlie Beach is the gateway to The Whitsundays, and this stop is a must-do on any East Coast road trip itinerary. Make sure to read my detailed guide to visiting the Whitsunday Islands here.
6 Weeks Backpacking Australia: A Complete Guide
Somehow, I'm going to attempt to summarize every single fantastic thing I squeezed into the six weeks I backpacked around Australia. I've seen it all: from big cities to small villages, stunning beaches to mountaintop views. I've taken 9 coaches, 12 ferries and 9 flights, hundreds of buses, trams, shuttles and trains and stayed in 17 hostels.
The Best Australia Travel Itineraries for Backpackers
Remember these are only suggested Australia travel itineraries. There is no right or wrong route and they can be shortened, extended or altered as you wish. ... Canberra - the capital of Australia. Sydney - Cairns (3-6 weeks) Finally head up the famous East Coast, stopping off at the many beautiful destinations along the way (see the Small ...
Australia Itineraries
Australia Itinerary 4 - Top to Bottom Itinerary. Touring through Australia from top to bottom is an adventurous travel itinerary for which you need a minimum of two weeks. From Darwin, make a foray into the Kakadu National Park. Then take the Outback Ghan train via Alice Springs to visit Uluru, winding up in Adelaide. 1. Darwin
Itineraries East Coast Australia: Ultimate road trips for 2 to 6 weeks
5 great itineraries among the east coast of Australia per campervan. These 5 itineraries built up in terms of weeks. The first travel itinerary is for travellers who only have 2 weeks. The next itineraries are for backpackers who have more time available for exploring all the highlights of the gorgeous east coast of Australia. 1.
Four-Week Travel Itineraries in Australia
Fly to Christchurch, a must-visit when spending four weeks in Australia and New Zealand. Divided by the Avon River, it's the largest city on New Zealand's South Island. Travel south to Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, a hiker's heaven named after New Zealand's highest peak. If weather permits, join a stargazing tour—the Mount Cook ...
How to Backpack the East Coast Australia: 6 Week Itinerary
10) Kangaroo Valley -. Hidden between Cambewarra and Barrengarry is one of Australia's jewels. A 2-hour drive from Sydney can get you to this beautiful valley, and its characteristics are silent rivers, picturesque villages, and productive farms. It is a popular place to visit for canoeing, kayaking, golfing, or wine sampling.
6 Days in Australia
Itinerary #1: Australia Adventure: Sydney & Cairns. This action-packed six-day adventure takes you from the opera house to the reef to the rainforest. You'll discover the wonders of Sydney, the largest city in Australia, and the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns. Sunset over Cairns' Trinity Bay. Day.
Two Weeks in Australia: Ultimate Itinerary for First-Time Visitors
The Ultimate Two-Week Itinerary in Australia. Days 1-2: Explore the Vibrant City of Sydney. Where to Stay in Sydney. Day 3: Day Trip to the Blue Mountains. Day 4: Wander Around the Colonial City of Melbourne. Where to Stay in Melbourne: Day 5: Day Trip to Phillip Island. Day 6: Day Trip to the Great Ocean Road.
2 Weeks in Australia: 6 Itineraries
Planning a 2-week vacation in Australia can vary in cost based on how fancy or simple you want it to be. For an affordable trip, it might cost around $1,500 to $2,500 per person if you stay in budget accommodations, eat out less, and enjoy free activities. A mid-range vacation could be around $3,000 to $5,000 per person, with nicer hotels, some ...
Trump meets with foreign leaders looking to boost their ...
Donald Trump no longer commands the trappings of White House state dinners to host foreign dignitaries or the flight itinerary of Air Force One to meet them abroad, but that hasn't stopped the ...

6 Week Australia Itinerary

Hobart – 4 nights

Adelaide – 2 nights

Adelaide to Melbourne via the Grampians and the Great Ocean Road – 3 days and 2 nights

Melbourne – 3 nights

Overnight train from Melbourne to Sydney – 1 night

Sydney – 3 days and 2 nights

Overnight bus from Sydney to Byron Bay – 1 night

Byron Bay – 2 nights

Brisbane – 3 nights

Hervey Bay – 1 night

Fraser Island – 4 days and 3 nights

Agnes Water – 2 nights

Overnight bus to Airlie Beach to board our Whitsundays tour – 1 night

Airlie Beach – 1 night

Magnetic Island – 2 nights

Townsville – 1 night

Cairns – 6 nights

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The ULTIMATE 6-week Australia Itinerary of the East Coast & Beyond!

Posted in: Itineraries

A Six Week Australia Itinerary From Sydney

A six week road trip from Sydney to the Red Centre

Week one – Sydney, Blue Mountains, Canberra.

Weeks two and three – Canberra to Port Fairy

Week four – Port Fairy to Broken Hill

Week five – Broken Hill to Coober Pedy

Week six – Coober Pedy to Alice Springs

Further reading

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The ultimate itinerary for a trip around Australia

Seriously, this itinerary for Australia is the best. It heads through every capital city and will take you by all the things Australia is famous for.

Itinerary features:

Places to visit in Australia:

Where to start?

How long will it take?

How to get around?

How much will it cost?

Month-long seasonal itineraries:

Summer itinerary

Autumn/Fall itinerary

Winter itinerary

Spring itinerary

Guided tour options:

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37 comments

Your Perfect Australia Itinerary For 1-4 Weeks

How Many Days In Australia Is Enough?

How To Plan Your Perfect Australia Itinerary?

How To Get Around Australia?

Three Week Australia Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrive in Australia

Day 2 – Phillip Island

Day 3 – Melbourne

For a full list of fun things to do in Melbourne, check out our post here.

Day 4 – The Great Ocean Road

For more information on visiting the Twelve Apostles, check out the guide here.

Day 5 – The Great Ocean Road

For more details on this two day Great Ocean Road Trip, check out our complete itinerary here.

Day 6 – Travel and Kuranda

For more ideas on things to do in Cairns, check out our post here.

Day 7 & 8 – The Great Barrier Reef

Day 9 – Daintree National Park

Day 10 – Brisbane

Day 11 – Brisbane

For a full list of activities, check out the things to do in Brisbane here.

Check out our full post on what to expect at Lone Pine here.