Australiais a great destination for any type of traveler with any travel style, budget and schedule. It can be difficult to decide what to include in your trip with so many amazing nature, culture and history destinations and experiences to choose from. Below are sample itineraries to better see what a trip to Australia could look like depending on the length of your trip.
Australiais an enormous country, with many of the top attractions situated along the coastline, making it impossible to see everything in one week or even two. But the classics are absolutely feasible - you may even catch a glimpse of a Koala!
Day 1, Sydney: Sydney Harbor Bridge, Opera House, Circular Queue, Luna Park, Botanical Gardens, Harbor boat tour, Blue Mountains.
Day 2-4, Queensland: Visit the famed Great Barrier Reef, and picturesque Cannes, for snorkeling and fun ocean sports.
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Day 2-4, Alice Springs: Watch the sunrise over Uluru, learn from local Aboriginal guides about the land through their ancient legends. Watch kangaroos in their natural habitat and appreciate the outbacks beauty.
Day 5-7, Melbourne: Explore the “world’s most livable city” fro Southbank and Federation Sq., to winetasting in Yarra Valley, and funky St. Kilda beach. Hit the coastal highway known as the Great Ocean Road for spectacular views and hidden gems.
2 Weeks in Oz gives you ample time to see Uluru, the famous Great Barrier Reef- though many tours opt for one or the other - as well as the urban centers of Melbourne and Sydney. You may even have enough time to visit the Yarra Valley for wine tasting.
Day 1-2, Sydney: Sydney Harbor Bridge, Opera House, Circular Queue, Luna Park, Botanical Gardens, Harbor boat tour, Blue Mountains.
Day 6-9, Central Australia: Uluru, The Olgas, watching the sunrise over the outback, seeing Kangaroos in their natural habitat.
Day 10-12, Melbourne: Southbank and Federation Sq, Yarra Valley wine tasting, St. Kilda beach.
Australiaand
New Zealand are famously difficult to get to, especially if you’re coming from the United States or Europe. For this reason, it can be a great idea to kill two birds with one stone! You won’t get to see everything (both Australia and New Zealand easily deserve their own trip) but if you won’t be back to that part of the world for a while, this is a great way to see some highlights in both countries.
Day 1-3, Aukland: Arrive in Auckland on the North Island of New Zealand. Mission Bay, Auckland Museum for an in depth look at the native Maori culture and history. Take a boat out for a whale watching excursion.
Day 4-6, Queenstown: Fly to Queenstown to spend a few days in this beautiful lakeside town. Jetboating on Lake Wakatipu, Skyline luge for incredible views and a thrilling activity in one. Full day excursion to Milford Sound, and visit historic Arrowtown.
Day 7, Mount Cook: Take a walk on Fox Glacier and stay overnight in Mount Cook National Park.
Day 8-9, Christchurch: Driving day through picturesque countryside as you head to Christchurch, where you will depart for Australia.
Day 10-11, Melbourne: Fitzroy Gardens, Federation Square, excursion to Phillip Island to see fairy penguins.
Day 12, Great Ocean Road: Drive along Melbourne’s idyllic coastline and view the famous Twelve Apostles. Have your camera ready for the stunning scenery!
Day 13-15, Alice Springs: Head to Alice Springs in Central Australia. Take a pre-dawn drive into the outback to watch the sunrise over the Olgas in Kata Tjuta. Half day
history tour at Uluru - learn about the Aboriginal
cultureon the Mala Walk. Visit the cultural center for more insight into the arts, music, beliefs and customs of the Aboriginal people.
Day 16-18, Cairns: Enjoy a few days of
snorkelingand
boat trips around the beautiful Great Barrier Reef. Learn about the geology and wildlife from a marine biologist. Other highlights include Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, and Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park.
Day 19-22, Sydney: In Sydney, visit the famous Opera House and learn about it’s unique design. Spend a leisurely time walking around Circular Queue, and the Sydney Harbor. Go on the thrilling Bridge Walk for views from atop the Sydney Harbor Bridge. Visit the Botanical Gardens, and take a day cruise to Luna Park.