Whether or not you’ve got 1, 2, or 3 weeks in Australia, listed below are some recommendations for an Australia itinerary that may enable you benefit from this large, various, and beautiful nation!
Planning a visit to Australia will be fairly tough, just because the nation is so large.
A number of its greatest sights, cities, and pure landmarks are very unfold out, so it’s unattainable to see every part in a brief period of time.
Australia can also be an costly nation to go to, so most backpackers and common travellers gained’t be capable to go to each single focal point with out spending loads.
Regardless of these challenges, planning an epic journey to Australia is certainly potential.
You simply must be sensible about your Australia itinerary, sticking to at least one or two main areas and choosing journey routes which are logical.
For instance, you gained’t be capable to match Sydney, the Nice Barrier Reef, Melbourne, Uluru, Tasmania, and seashores and nationwide parks of Western Australia and the Northern Territory right into a 1 week Australia itinerary.
To see all these unimaginable locations, you’d want at the very least one month, and even you then’d be speeding to get in every single place.
What you are able to do, is choose the areas that enchantment to you essentially the most and plan your journey accordingly.
READ MORE: Try our complete information with every part it is advisable to learn about travelling in Australia!
So that you’d be higher off choosing both the east coast or the west coast and hanging round there in case you solely have 1 or 2 weeks in Australia.
On this article, I’ll present a couple of pattern Australia journey itineraries.
Every Australia itinerary will embrace a couple of of the nation’s greatest locations to go to, whereas sustaining affordable journey instances.
Whether or not it’s your first journey to Australia otherwise you’ve been right here for some time, there may be all the time one thing unimaginable to see!
The Final Australia Itinerary Journey Information
Having travelled throughout the nation, we’re excited to share these epic 1, 2 and three week Australian itineraries that’ll cowl the most effective locations round.
However first, a tip…
Get Round Australia
It’s additionally vital to contemplate the way you’ll get round Australia throughout your go to.
As I discussed, the nation is large and public transport like buses or trains is dear.
If you happen to’re staying in a single space, it’s value renting a automobile for a couple of days so you may discover and do day journeys, however driving from one metropolis to the subsequent might take 12+ hours of driving.
One of the simplest ways to get round is to lease a automobile and discover by yourself! We advocate Rental Cars, which has the biggest vary of automobiles for the most effective worth available on the market.
Catching low-cost home flights is one of the best ways to leap from one state to the subsequent, and you’ll take public transport or drive inside smaller areas.
Although each traveller may have their very own distinctive preferences and modify these itineraries as obligatory, listed below are some pattern Australia itineraries that may hopefully enable you plan your dream journey!
7 Day Australia Itinerary
One week in Australia goes by shortly, however some individuals can’t afford to take for much longer off of labor or their different duties.
You may nonetheless handle to expertise a number of the Aussie tradition and pure magnificence in a single week.
On this 7 day Australia itinerary, you’ll be sticking to the center east coast.
You’ll start in Sydney, then head as much as Queensland to benefit from the Nice Barrier Reef.
This plan is ideal for 7 days in Australia as a result of it doesn’t require large quantities of journey time.
READ NEXT: 25 Amazing Things to Do in Australia
Days 1-2: Sydney
After arriving in Sydney and getting settled, you’ve got two days to benefit from the metropolis.
You may spend someday visiting all the favored vacationer sights, just like the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Sydney Opera Home, Sydney Tower Eye, the Royal Botanic Gardens, and perhaps a number of the museums.
One other day will be spent swimming and sunbathing on one of many metropolis’s primary seashores.
The northern seashores round Manly, or the western seashores round Bondi and Bronte are nice choices for a enjoyable day in Sydney.
Bondi Seashore has a really robust well being and health scene, in order that they have numerous unimaginable wholesome cafes the place all of the locals prefer to gasoline up.
Go to Berri Bar Bondi Seashore for a refreshing Acai bowl, Porch and Parlour for a wholesome breakfast on home made bread, or Umu for some nourishing natural lunch bowls.
After 2 days in Sydney, you may catch a fast, 1-hour flight as much as Brisbane.
Try this publish on how to spend one day in Sydney if that’s on a regular basis you’ve got.
Days 3-5: Brisbane
Brisbane is one other unimaginable metropolis to go to in Australia.
After 2 days in Sydney, nevertheless, you might be sick of the crowded metropolis streets.
Fortunately, Brisbane makes an important gateway for exploring extra peaceable areas of Queensland.
There are tons of wonderful day journeys from Brisbane that help you discover nature and see extra of Australia, together with:
- Burleigh Heads: a charming coastal town with an enormous seaside and nationwide park
- Hervey Bay: among the best spots in Australia for whale-watching
- Lamington Nationwide Park: filled with climbing trails and waterfalls
- Stradbroke Island: a fantastic location that’s nice for kayaking, paddleboarding, and attempting different water sports activities
- Fraser Island: the world’s largest sand island
After exploring Brisbane and the encompassing areas, catch one other low-cost home flight from town as much as Airlie Seashore.
Learn our listing of the best things to do in Brisbane for extra inspiration!
Days 6-7: Airlie Seashore and the Whitsundays
Airlie Beach is called one in every of Australia’s most beautiful seashores, full with smooth white sand and clear turquoise water.
From right here, you may soak within the postcard-worthy views within the Whitsundays Islands and do a day journey to the Nice Barrier Reef and the well-known Whitehaven Seashore.
E-book an ocean rafting day tour that embrace all of your snorkelling gear and takes you to Whitehaven Seashore and the most effective areas within the Whitsundays.
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Snorkelling, scuba diving, and crusing by the Nice Barrier Reef will make an unforgettable ending to your 7 day Australia itinerary.
On the finish of your week in Australia, you may fly from Airlie Seashore again to Sydney to your departing flight.
2 Week Australia Itinerary
Two weeks in Australia permits you a bit extra time to see completely different areas of the nation.
This two week Australia itinerary will begin in Sydney, transfer right down to Victoria to discover Melbourne and the Great Ocean Road, and can then curve as much as Adelaide in South Australia and finish in Perth in Western Australia.
So with two weeks in Australia, you may nonetheless handle to go to 4 states! If you happen to’d desire to spend extra time in a single place quite than leaping round a lot, you may all the time modify this.
For instance, you possibly can skip Perth and spend a couple of extra days exploring New South Wales, Victoria, or South Australia.
However here’s a pattern two weeks in Australia itinerary.
Opera Home and Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Days 1-3: Sydney
As soon as once more, you’ll fly into Sydney and start your Australian journey within the capital metropolis of New South Wales.
Along with all of the touristy stuff just like the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera Home and touring an area artwork gallery, you possibly can spend one in every of your days within the lush nature surrounding town.
Two good day trips from Sydney are:
The Blue Mountains: Stuffed with waterfalls, scenic lookouts and climbing trails, linked to Sydney by practice so that you don’t even want a automobile. Right here’s what you should do there.
The Royal Nationwide Park: Dramatic coastal surroundings with rugged cliffs and secluded seashores. Try these superior Royal National Park walks.
After 3 days in Sydney, hop on a airplane for a 1-hour flight right down to Melbourne.
Days 3-6: Melbourne
As one of the crucial vibrant and cosmopolitan cities in Australia, Melbourne is a favorite amongst travellers and locals alike.
Spend your days in Melbourne visiting avenue markets, sipping cocktails from rooftop bars, testing all of the cool cafes and eating places, and experiencing the wild nightlife.
You may as well go to St. Kilda Seashore within the south of Melbourne, or head to Brighton Seashore to {photograph} the colorful Brighton Bathing Bins.
Or take a day journey to Phillip Island or tour the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
After you go to Melbourne, proceed on to the well-known Nice Ocean Highway.
Day 7-8: The Nice Ocean Highway
One of many highlights of Victoria is the pure wonders of the Nice Ocean Highway.
This coastal highway runs for 243 kilometers in whole and is stuffed with Australian wildlife, quaint little cities, browsing spots, picturesque viewpoints, campgrounds, and total beautiful surroundings.
You should definitely see the Twelve Apostles, Cut up Level Lighthouse, Port Campbell Nationwide Park, Apollo Bay, Loch Ard Gorge, and different beautiful landscapes alongside the way in which.
You may both lease a automobile from Melbourne and drive the highway by yourself, or book a day tour.
It solely takes someday to see all the most effective spots alongside the highway, however you’ll want to avoid wasting time to make your method again to Melbourne and also you don’t wish to rush.
You may as well cease by the Australian Nationwide Browsing Museum in Torquay at the beginning of the Nice Ocean Highway.
Fly from Melbourne to Adelaide.
BONUS – Reserving forward of time ensures you gained’t miss out on the tour, and get the most effective value too! And only for NOMADasaurus readers, in case you use the Klook low cost code “NOMADS10” on the website when testing, you’ll get $10 off your first reserving!
Day 9-10: Adelaide
Spend the subsequent days of your two weeks in Australia itinerary soaking within the tradition of Adelaide.
Benefit from the scrumptious meals, the museums and galleries, and the laid-back appeal of South Australia’s capital.
One in all your 2 days in Adelaide ought to positively be spent touring a winery and wine tasting within the Barossa Valley.
Once more, you may both lease a automobile within the metropolis and drive your self across the vineyards (ensure you don’t drink an excessive amount of!), or you may guide a day journey.
and study in regards to the historical past.
Day 11: Kangaroo Island
As one of the crucial distinctive locations in South Australia, Kangaroo Island makes an excellent enjoyable day journey from Adelaide.
Take images of the fascinating rock formations in Flinders Chase National Park, stroll alongside the pristine golden seashores, or seek for some native animals like wallabies, koalas, and naturally, kangaroos.
Head again to Adelaide after Kangaroo Island and hop on one other fast flight to Perth to complete up this two week Australia journey.
Learn subsequent: 8 Amazing Things to Do in Kangaroo Island, Australia
Day 12-14: Perth
Your previous couple of days of visiting Australia will likely be well-spent in Perth, the capital metropolis of Western Australia.
Benefit from the seashores, discover the Fremantle Markets, go to wineries and wildlife parks, and extra.
You could possibly additionally deal with your self to at least one final epic journey in Australia by taking a day trip to Rottnest Island.
This island is stuffed with enjoyable actions, pure wonders, stunning views, and cute little quokkas, that are small, native Australian marsupials just like wallabies.
After a couple of days in Perth, both catch your departing flight from right here or fly again to Sydney in case your flight leaves from there.
You could possibly additionally contemplate a day journey to Margaret River, one of many high wine and browsing areas in Western Australia.
It’s a 3 hour drive from Perth to Margaret River, so solely make the trek in case you really feel like you’ve got time.
3 Week Australia Itinerary
3 weeks in Australia means that you can go to some massive cities and vacationer spots, however it additionally means that you can enterprise out to extra distant and remoted areas.
On this 3 week Australia Itinerary, you’ll go to Sydney and Byron Bay at the beginning.
Then you definately’ll head as much as The Gold Coast, and tropical north Queensland to the Daintree Rainforest.
Proceed your journey up north by travelling to Darwin and Kakadu Nationwide Park, after which enterprise inland to Uluru (Ayer’s Rock).
Days 1-2: Sydney
Once more, spend your first couple days in Australia testing Sydney and perhaps doing a day journey to the Blue Mountains of the Hunter Valley Wine Area.
You should definitely go to Sydney Harbour, Darling Harbour, and the well-known Bondi Seashore throughout your time in Australia’s largest metropolis.
Then fly to Ballina, a small airport half-hour away from Byron Bay.
Try our Sydney to Brisbane road trip guide in case you’d desire to lease a automobile and drive up the east coast.
Days 3-4: Byron Bay
Byron Bay is a hub for backpackers, and it’s a very enjoyable place to expertise while you go to Australia.
From bar crawls and drum circles on the seaside, to nighttime markets and avenue artwork, to coastal walks and beautiful seashores, a pair days in Byron Bay will really feel like bliss.
Even in case you aren’t on a strict backpacker price range, Byron Bay has so many nice hostels that it’s value immersing your self within the backpacker scene.
A number of the greatest hostels in Byron Bay embrace Wake Up! Byron Bay and Byron Bay Seashore hostel.
Each of those have a whole bunch of nice evaluations from travellers value round $30 per night time, which is fairly low-cost for Australia.
If you wish to meet different cool individuals and participate in all of the enjoyable social actions of Byron Bay, you might wish to keep in one in every of these enjoyable hostels as an alternative of a resort!
You may select to hang around in Byron Bay for a couple of extra days, or catch a flight from Ballina to the Gold Coast for a style of the Sunshine Coast surf vibes.
Days 5-6: The Gold Coast
The Gold Coast is likely one of the greatest locations to learn the way browsing while you go to Australia.
You may take a surf lesson from an skilled native and journey the waves, or simply chill out on the seaside, eat some nice meals, and hit the bars and nightclubs within the night.
The Gold Coast combines the joy of town with the salty air and water sports activities of a beachside city, so it’s a various and enjoyable place to go to.
Fly from the Gold Coast as much as Cairns.
Days 7-8: Cairns
The following few days of your 3 week Australia Itinerary will take you up alongside the coast of Tropical North Queensland.
This nook of Australia is sizzling, humid, and jam-packed with wealthy jungles, Aboriginal tradition, waterfalls and the marine lifetime of the Nice Barrier Reef.
Needless to say through the wet season, from October to April, you may’t swim within the ocean right here as a result of there could also be crocodiles and jellyfish.
Cairns is the gateway to tropical north Queensland.
The actual magnificence lies exterior town, however spend a pair days adjusting to the warmth, partying with the various backpackers, purchasing at Rusty’s Fruit Market, and swimming within the massive public swimming pool referred to as the Lagoon.
Additionally take a look at Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park and the close by Barron Gorge National Park close to Kuranda.
Then you definately’ll take the native bus as much as Port Douglas. You should buy your bus ticket from any tourism company or from the primary bus station, and take the Cairns to Cooktown route.
You may simply do a day journey out to the waterfalls.
Days 9-10: Port Douglas and the Nice Barrier Reef
Solely about an hour north of Cairns is Port Douglas, a small, relaxed city with one backpacker hostel, a couple of wonderful eating places, and a pleasant park lined with palm bushes for viewing the sundown.
This is likely one of the greatest locations to guide a Nice Barrier Reef snorkelling or diving tour as a result of up right here, the reef isn’t as crowded as close to Cairns. A snorkelling reef journey is likely one of the hottest Australia excursions and shouldn’t be missed!
So spend one in every of your days in Port Douglas swimming within the crisp, blue waters of the reef and seeing some unimaginable, vibrant marine life.
From right here, get again on Cairns to Cooktown bus and proceed north as much as Cape Tribulation within the Daintree Rainforest.
Days 11-13: Cape Tribulation and the Daintree Rainforest
Situated within the midst of the jungle, Cape Tribulation is the right place to disconnect from know-how and reconnect with nature.
There is just one primary highway working by the city, in case you may even name it a city.
Cape Tribulation has a couple of resorts and hostels, a pair tourism corporations and about two outlets, and that’s it.
However the highly effective presence of the rainforest is greater than sufficient to entertain you for a pair days.
The Daintree is the oldest rainforest on the earth, and is likely one of the true pure wonders of Australia.
Go climbing, journey horses on the seaside, guide an ATV sightseeing tour, do an unique fruit tasting at Cape Trib Farm, go to the Daintree Discovery Middle, or take a ship cruise on the Daintree River to identify some crocodiles.
Attempt to keep away from visiting Tropical North Queensland in December by February, nevertheless. That is the moist season and plenty of roads could also be flooded and excursions will likely be closed.
In your third day, take the bus again to Cairns then fly to Darwin.
Day 14: Darwin
Darwin is the capital metropolis of the Northern Territory, and it’s a handy start line for a visit into Central Australia and Ayers Rock, within the south of the state.
Use this present day to stroll round and sightsee a bit, chill out and unwind, and plan your journey into Kakadu Nationwide Park.
Try our information for the best things to do in Darwin!
Days 15-17: Kakadu Nationwide Park
Lease a automobile in Darwin and spend the subsequent couple days exploring the biggest nationwide park in Australia!
You may swim in waterfalls, discover historic Aboriginal rock artwork, and go climbing by some unimaginable landscapes.
When you’ve got a van or a tent, you may camp at one of many park’s campgrounds. In any other case there’s a handful of resorts the place you may keep in a single day in Kakadu.
A lot of the lodging in Kakadu is situated in Jabiru, the primary city of the park.
You could possibly additionally book a guided tour to Kakadu as a day journey from Darwin. This can be a good choice for individuals who wish to take a break from planning and driving. A tour will take you proper to the most effective spots within the park, which is helpful as a result of the park is so large.
After exploring the nationwide park, drive again to Darwin after which fly to Alice Springs on the coronary heart of Australia’s Purple Centre.
(Alternatively in case you don’t wish to preserve travelling a lot, you possibly can keep within the Northern Territory and discover extra pure wonders like Nitmiluk Nationwide Park.)
Days 18-20: Uluru and the Purple Centre
From Alice Springs within the middle of the Northern Territory, it’s time to start your journey to Uluru!
The Purple Centre is the central desert space of Australia, consisting of Alice Springs and the UNESCO World Heritage Web site, Uluru Kata Tjuta Nationwide Park.
Uluru, or Ayers Rock, is a sacred monolith and it one of the crucial well-known locations to see on a visit to Australia.
You may have two choices for attending to Uluru.
Choice 1: Lease a automobile in Alice Springs and full the 5-hour drive by yourself. Bear in mind it’s additionally 5 hours to get again, in order that’s a ten hour highway journey in whole. You also needs to have your individual tenting gear and pack sufficient meals and water for the highway journey.
Choice 2: E-book a tour from Alice Springs in case you are bored with driving. You may choose a straightforward day trip. It’s a bit pricier to do a guided tour, however it takes away a number of the trouble in your half.
Both method, watching the dawn and sundown bathe Uluru in smooth, pure hues is a sight you’ll always remember, so the journey is value it.
In case you are renting a automobile and doing your individual highway journey, contemplate additionally heading out to Watarrka Nationwide Park and Kings Canyon. This wonderful spot is a 3 hour drive from Ayers Rock, which is a brief drive for the Outback!
READ MORE: Try all of the unimaginable things to do in Uluru!
Day 21
Your remaining day of the three week Australia itinerary will largely be spent travelling.
Drive again to Alice Springs, then fly again to Sydney to your flight dwelling.
I simply wish to add that there are a lot of different pure wonders that I didn’t get to say!
Australia is huge so it’s exhausting to slot in so many cool places in a short while.
For instance, the north of Western Australia is beautiful, however it’s very distant and never handy so as to add to a couple weeks in Australia.
Few Australians even make it out right here on vacation.
However driving a camel on Cable Beach, snorkelling with Whale Sharks in Exmouth, or tenting in Cape Vary Nationwide Park are wonderful experiences which you could have when you have the time to enterprise on the market.
Tasmania can also be one of the crucial beautiful locations in Australia. The island is dwelling to a number of the best hiking and camping in the country, however it requires numerous prior planning and preparation and equipment.
You could possibly additionally highway journey round Australia, taking extra time to see all of the sights and never having to hurry.
However it could take you months and even years to highway journey all of Australia!
No matter how a lot time you spend right here, don’t stress about seeing every part!
It’s unattainable to see every part, and regardless of the place you go, you’re positive to have an epic time.
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