travel blog in australia

29 Australian Travel Blogs You NEED to Follow in 2024

If you’re in the middle of planning your own Aussie Road Trip or Big Lap of Australia , you’ll no doubt be following loads of travelling blogs with a fine-toothed comb. I certainly did before hitting the road!

There are some fantastic Australian Travel Blogs out there who are sharing their adventures, hints, tips and experiences as they go. In this post you’ll find mostly caravan blogs, plus a few motorhome, tent and campers blogs.

When planning a big trip there are so many unknowns and questions to research. You end up becoming like a sponge, soaking up every little tidbit of information that you can find.

I’ve compiled a list (in no particular order) of some top Australia travel blogs, including lots of families, to help inspire you so that you’re able to be as ready as possible for your own travels. Have a browse and don’t forget to follow the ones that really resonate with you.

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Travel Blogs Australia – CARAVANS

Towns travel oz.

Family Members Bec (37), Wayne (38), Henry (10), Blake (9) and two pups Tyson and Roxy (both 13!).

Travelling Set-up We travel with a Y62 Patrol and a Design RV 22ft caravan. It’s well setup for long term travel and hasn’t let us down in 3 years of full time travel.

2024 Travel Plans We are currently in Exmouth enjoying everything the Ningaloo has to offer and hopefully spending a few months around here and then doing the north of WA in winter.

Follow ‘Towns Travel Oz’ Facebook   | Instagram

Elnick Adventures

Family Members Elenya (28), Nick (28), Lennox (4), Finley (2) and Ollie (1).

Travelling Set-up 2016 Isuzu Dmax with a rooftop Tinnie & 19.9ft Vacationer Rough Rider caravan.

Follow ‘Elnick Adventures’ Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Website | Patreon

The Feel Good Family

Family Members Paul, Katie and Jasper (8).

Travelling Set-up We began our adventures 4.5 years ago in a Toyota Hilux Rugged X and a Windsor Genesis 220MD. In 2022 we upgraded to a Landcruiser 79 series and a Zone RV Sojourn off-road van.

Follow ‘The Feel Good Family’ Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Podcast

Now or Never

Family Members We are Alex (Dad – 37), Erin (Mum – 37), Bella (10) and Toby (8).

Travelling Set-up We are travelling in a 2019 Ford Ranger XLS Sport and a 2021 JB Gator X caravan.

2024 Travel Plans We took off on 8th November 2021 and plan to make it work for as long as we can. This year we’ll be heading north to explore Queensland and the Cape.

Follow ‘Now or Never’ Facebook   | Instagram | YouTube

Life Changing Change

Travelling Tribe Members Kylie, Tyson and two kids, Grace (6) and Jayden (4).

Travelling Set-up We will be travelling in a RAM 1500 and Southern Design RV Mica Series family caravan.

Travel Plans for 2024 We are heading off on an anti-clockwise lap around Australia for about 12 months at this stage, but will see what happens. It may be longer.

Follow ‘Life Changing Change’ Facebook | Instagram

Paul Wheel Drive

Travelling Tribe I’m a solo guy travelling “Trip in a Kilt” across Oz, filming for my YouTube channel “Paul Wheel Drive.” In addition, I maintain my website (link below) with articles providing tips and tricks and ways to stretch your travelling dollar. 

Travelling Set-up My first tow vehicle was a 2012 diesel Prado, towing a 20ft Coromal caravan. My tow vehicle is now a 2015 Ranger Wildtrak, which I bought after my Prado engine blew up due to faulty fuel bought in Kununurra.

Travel Plans for 2024 Currently I am travelling to Tasmania to shoot series 3 for my TV show, Paul Wheel Drive on Channel 31 Melbourne and Channel 44 in Adelaide.

Follow ‘Paul Wheel Drive’ Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

Svedos Trippin

Family Members Brett (Dad), Mel (Mum), Kaylee (9) and Owen (7).

Travelling Set-up We are travelling full-time in a 17ft off-road caravan, it’s a VanCruiser family HTO. We tow with a 2017 Mazda BT50, which also carries an awesome little roof top tinny. We are fully set up for off-grid and love taking advantage of free camps when we can.

Travel Plans for 2024 Our plan for 2024 is South West WA for the rest of the summer, up to Ningaloo for winter, followed by the SA coast at the end of the year. We have a new tow rig being built in 2024 that we expect to pick up half way through the year.

Follow ‘Svedos Trippin’ Instagram | YouTube

Overland Exposure

Family Members We are Dan (36), Manda (37) and Aria (6).

Travelling Set-up Our setup is an Iveco Daily 4×4 Truck (set up as a camper in the canopy also) and a 23 ft Retreat Fraser semi-off road caravan. We also have a Sur-Ron Electric Motorbike that comes along for the journey inside the truck for additional transport and off-road exploring.

Travel Plans for 2024 So far, we’ve explored parts of South Australia, Western Australia and some of the Northern Territory. We do like to travel slowly and try to follow the warm weather. 2024 will see us hitting Tasmania, Victoria and more of South Australia.

Follow ‘Overland Exposure’ Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Adams Family Travels

Family Members Dale (50) and Tracey (51).

Travelling Set-up We are travelling in our 300 Series Landcruiser and a 21ft Retreat Daydream full off-road caravan. Our new van allows us to spend more time off-grid with all the creature comforts at our fingertips.

Travel Plans for 2024 We have been travelling full-time since April 2021. This year we plan on exploring Victoria and South Australia, attending the Mundi Mundi Bash and visiting K’Gari (Fraser Island) while organising everything to visit Arnhem Land.

Follow ‘Adams Family Travels’ Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Our Aussie Advantures

Family Members Emily (31), Todd (30), Audrey (6) and Annabelle (4).

Travelling Set-up We have a custom built 2021 Ocean Breeze double bunk caravan towed by a Holden Colorado (with a rooftop tinny).

Travel Plans for 2024 This year we will be exploring Western Australia and Queensland.

Follow ‘Our Aussie Adventures’ Instagram

Our Whittle Adventure

Family Members Mark (Dad – 33), Clem (Mum – 34), Liam (4), Heath (Newborn) Kosta (Black-tan Kelpie) and Curi (Red Kelpie).

Travelling Set-up We are travelling in a 2006 Landcruiser 100 series 1HD-FTE, towing a 2020 21ft New Age – Road Owl Adventurer plus.

Travel Plans for 2024 We have just welcomed another bub to the family so we have been stationary for a while but hoping to be back on the road by April. No drastic changes to our set up, just a few upgrades to make our life a little easier. Better battery monitoring, better storage, more weight availability etc. Getting itchy feet big time!

Follow ‘Our Whittle Adventure’ Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Livin Like Kings

Family Members We are Bianca (43) and Grant (40). We travel with our 2 dogs Frank (French Bulldog x Staffy) and Baxter (Labrador).

Travelling Set-up We’re travelling in our 2007 Ford F350 and 2003 Bushtracker Caravan.

Travel Plans for 2024 We have been travelling full-time since March 2021, documenting our journeys on YouTube. We will be exploring NSW and QLD through 2024.

Follow ‘Livin Like Kings’ Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Lotzys Adventures

Family Members Aaron & Anna Lotz with our son Ethan who is 16. We also have our twin daughters Sienna & Payton who are 19 and our older son Jayden (20) join us from time to time on the road. Keeps things very interesting coordinating with where we will be and arranging to meet up!

Travelling Set-up We have a 2021 Ford Ranger Wildtrak Bi-Turbo with a GVM upgrade and have a touring set-up. Our caravan is a 20.6ft Willow Boab, which has bunks. We love this van as it’s off-road and light weight! We also travel with tents for when we have more than four of us on the road. 

Travel Plans for 2024 We started our lap of Australia in December 2021. We left from the Gold Coast and have travelled quite quickly through NSW & some of VIC. Thankfully, we have now slowed down and are about to start the Great Ocean Road (with 7 of us in tow!). We are planning on doing as much of the lap going clockwise as we can with plans to hit SA, WA, NT and the top of QLD over the next year. We are trying to be flexible in our plans but have quite a few things on our bucket list such as Lucky Bay, Ningaloo, Horizontal Falls, Gibb River Road, Arnhem Land and Cape York. As a very active family we love to get outside and explore!

Follow ‘Lotzys Adventures’ Instagram

Packing Up to Travel Australia

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Lapping Oz

Family Members We are a family of four, originally from Western Sydney. Adam, Mia and our two children Jett (16) & Skye (13).

Travelling Set-up We are touring Australia in a pre-loved 2011 Coromal Magnum Transforma XC450 Off-Road Caravan. It is a similar concept to the Jayco Expanda and a Windsor Rapid. The caravan had a makeover before we left, including new linen curtains and new dining seat upholstery. During 2021, we gave the caravan some fresh lovin’ after living in it for 2.5 years full-time. Our towing vehicle is a 2014 Volkswagen Amarok that we have owned since new. The Amarok hasn’t missed out on the TLC, with a repaint in Raptor Coating. It’s a tough, scratch-resistant paint – perfect for how we live and play with our 4×4!

2024 Travel Plans This year we have permanently relocated to Tropical North Queensland. We plan to visit and explore our new region. We will be doing trips and venturing out in the same van that we did the Big Lap in a few years ago. There is so much to see and experience and we are looking forward to sharing more about our new surroundings throughout the year.

Follow ‘Lapping Oz’ Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Big Oz Explorers

Family Members Chris (36), Sian (36), Jayda (10) and Jack (4).

Travelling Set-up Nissan Patrol S5 Y62 and Zone RV 21ft Sojourn Family.

Travel Plans for 2024 This year is a bit of a shift for us as we transition to the other side of the campfire. We are super excited to be planning and starting up our own camping location for people to come and stay. The whole journey will be shared on our socials and YouTube channel.

Follow ‘Big Oz Expolorers’ Website | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram

Travel Around the Country

Family Members Dave, Hayley, Harlan (11) and Keira (10).

Travelling Set-up We have a 2020 Leader Gold 21.6ft Bunk Van and our trusty 100 Series Landcruiser Sahara Turbo Diesel.

Travel Plans for 2024 After doing a full lap in 2011 for our honeymoon, a half lap in 2015 and 4 months in QLD in 2020, we then spent 2022 taking the kids to some of our favourite places around Australia. This year we’re doing smaller trips including some farm stays and and free camps.

Follow ‘Travel Around the Country’ Website

All Around Oz

Family Members Annette and Kevin.

Travelling Set-up We have a 2022 Y62 Patrol and a fully customised Urban X-Terrain off-road dual axel van.

What we plan to tackle in 2024 We are currently in Yandina, heading for Teewah and then the Gold Coast and Iluka. From there we’ll move down to Bendigo and explore SA until the chill sets in and then head up the centre exploring along the way. Flinders Ranges, Coober Pedy, Alice West and East Macs, Uluru, Kings Canyon and up to Darwin. We’ll end up WA and spend most of this year over there, then maybe head back across the Nullarbor.

Follow ‘All Around Oz’ Website | Facebook | Instagram

Curious Campers

Family Members Steve & Natalie

Travelling Set-up Pajero Sport with a renovated Regent Cruiser Caravan & Swags when the adult kids join us.

2024 Travel Plans Our daughter is now working as a Scuba Instructor and Underwater Photographer and is on the move from Cairns to Exmouth and our son is based in Karratha. It will be a great excuse to head to WA this year. We also have trips planned to Sunshine Coast, Northern New South Wales and Yorke Peninsula in SA. As for the second half of the year, we are not sure yet.

Follow ‘Curious Campers’ Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest

Adventure By 3

Family Members Stacey (39), Carl (40), Zed (12), Kiki (10) and Roo (9).

Travelling Set-up We have a 2018 New Age Gecko 16BE with triple bunks, towed by a 2021 Toyota Prado GXL.

2024 Travel Plans We will spend this year doing local trips around Tassie and also heading around the South Island of New Zealand in a motorhome.

Follow ‘Adventure by 3’ Website | Facebook | Instagram

Our Wayfaring Life

Family Members Our travelling tribe is made up of my husband Daryl, myself (Emma) and our dog Chika.

Travelling Set-up 2006 Toyota Prado we named Stanley after one of our favourite towns we visited in Tasmania and Josephine our 1990’s Viscount Vogue Pop Top caravan.

Travel Plans This year we are starting in Victoria before heading over to South Australia. Our plan this year is to stretch our travel money by working regular odd jobs as we travel.

Follow ‘Our Wayfaring Life’ Website | Facebook | Instagram

Seeking The Serenity

Family Members Lisa, Rex and Marlee (3).

Travelling Set-up We started our travels in a 100 Series LandCruiser fully set up for free camping so we could ditch the caravan when the need for extra adventure arises (roof top tent, swag, shower, fridge, cookers etc.). 25 foot (we know… it was massive) Spaceland Sydney caravan with ensuite and spare room/ study. We renovated her ourselves to make her a home. But, we have since sold the caravan and bought a boat!

What are our 2024 travel plans 2021 saw us move to an island off East Arnhem Land and basing ourselves from there. Rex is working has a contract as a Primary School Teacher and Lisa is a Nurse. We have decided to stay on our remote islands for another year and base ourselves there, travelling and exploring the islands and surrounds. We are making great friends and learning so much from the amazing people out here. Marlee is learning the local language (she’ll be teaching us soon!). Unfortunately our Rusty Boy (beloved dog) passed away last year, but it’s nice to know we showed him all the best beaches and sticks in the last few years.

Follow ‘Seeking the Serenity’ Facebook | Instagram

Young Adventures Australia

Family Members Jaidyn (23), Maddy (22), Alfie is a 5-year-old Staffy x Bullterrior and Willow is a 2-year-old Labrador x Cattle – possibly Australia’s youngest full-time Nomads!

Travelling Set-up 2004 Trition named “Big stretchy” due to her massive 1m chassis extension done by creative conversions. 2003 Jayco Heritage pop top ensuite caravan.

Our 2024 Travel Plans We will likely head over to South Australia and back up to Queensland at some point. We play things by the ear so to say.

All of my hard work and dedication that I’ve been pouring into AMD Touring is also starting to turn some results becoming a small stream of income. I’ll continue to add more Australian manufacturers and products, as well as growing the affiliate team! AMD Touring is your one-stop-shop for high quality Australian Made 4WD, Camping and Caravanning gear!

Follow ‘Young Adventures Australia’ Facebook | Website

Aussie Road Adventure

Family Members Julie-Ann, Graeme & Coco (the cat) travelling full-time, originally from Brisbane.

Travelling Set-up Jayco Starcraft (JS0875) with a Mitsubishi Challenger (heavily tweaked).

Our Travel Plans We’re spending time in southern Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania. Hoping to find a few house/ pet/ farm sits to help with the travel funds and also have a social media support business. We both ran screaming from the building of our corporate lives and have no regrets!

Follow ‘Aussie Road Adventure’ Facebook

Not Grey Nomads

Family Members We are Frannie (45), Crispy (48) & furbaby Bella, who is about 11 now.

Travelling Set-up Brutus is our 2015 dual cab Holden Colorado with rooftop tent and toolboxes. Then there’s Myrtle, who’s our second hand 22ft 2003 Roadstar Voyager 3000 Caravan.

What are our travel plans for 2024? We will still be travelling and plodding along with the blog, although you’ll mostly find us on Facebook, Insta and YouTube. We’re in Broome working at the moment, setting off again in March to head south in WA. We’re working on getting a new van in 2024 and have a bit of stuff we want to share about living in an older van before then.

Follow ‘Not Grey Nomads’ Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest

Keep reading for Australian Camper Travel Blogs!

Off the Trax

Family Members We are a family of four – Ally, Willow & two kids aged 12 and 14.

Travelling Set-up We have a 76 series Landcruiser, which we’ve been slowly modifying to suit our touring needs. We upgraded from a Jayco Swan to an 18ft off-road JB Gator in 2022 and have been taking that to some amazing places ever since.

Our 2024 Travel Plans We just got back from K’gari (Fraser Island) with planning underway for a bigger trip such as the Simpson Desert later in the year. We also have lots of trips planned for South East QLD like Kenilworth, Bribie Island and hopefully get back over to Moreton or Straddie as well.

Follow ‘Off the Trax’ Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Vantastic Aus

Travel Crew Leah and Aidan (both 51)

Travelling Set-up Ram 2500 with Tailgate Camper on rear plus Bushtracker 20ft van.

Travel Plans for 2024 Our 2024 travel plans include as much red dirt exploring as we can! We still do property and station caretaking, plus picking up work on the road as we go.

Follow ‘Vantastic Aus’ Facebook   |  Instagram | YouTube

Caravan Packing List

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Travel Blogs Australia – CAMPERS

Nana on the road.

Travel Members Hi, my name is Gaye, a full-time solo traveller working online 3 days per week.

Travelling Set-up I carry a hard-shell slide-on camper on a 6×4 Dmax spacecab. My slide-on is fully self-contained with solar and a full bathroom. My ute is also set up for remote camping without the slide-on.

2024 Travel Plans I will be leaving in February for an inland loop taking in SA, NT and outback QLD before heading back to Central NSW at the end of the year. This year I have also started a YouTube channel.

Follow ‘Nana on the Road’ Facebook | Instagram   |  YouTube | Website | Buy Me a Coffee

Read on for Motorhome Australia Travel Blogs!

Travel Blogs Australia – MOTORHOMES

Indefinite leave.

Family Members Kevin & Adele Hockey (mid-late 50’s). Travelling Australia since 1 Feb, 2016.

Travelling Set-up 2009 Winnebago Esperance Motorhome – acquired October 2015 and we have been living in it for nearly 4 years. Plus, we now also have a 2015 Mitsubishi Triton 4WD with Canopy which we recently purchased a few months ago and fitted out ourselves.  The addition of the Triton has allowed us to already explore Fraser Island and Moreton Island as well as providing us with a separate vehicle to run around in.

Travel Plans for 2024 This year will see us managing a resort on Fraser Island. So, we will make the most of our time there and explore all that Fraser has to offer… plus fishing. Lots of fishing.

Follow ‘Indefinite Leave’ Facebook | Instagram | Website | YouTube

Keep reading for Tent Australian Travel Blogs!

Travel Blogs Australia – TENTS & SWAGS

Take it ezy.

Travelling Tribe Skye (40) and John (50).

Travelling Set-up We are traveling in a Darche Roof Top Tent. At times we also use swags depending on the location and time away. We drive a 2017 Holden Colorado Z71 and are set up for off-grid.

2024 Travel Plans Travelling to Flinders Ranges, Outback SA, Coorong, Queensland, plus a sneaky trip overseas!

Follow ‘Take It Ezy’ Facebook | Instagram

Travel Planning Tools

35 thoughts on “29 Australian Travel Blogs You NEED to Follow in 2024”

Thank you for compiling such a comprehensive list. I got to learn about other people experience, and it was really useful.

An awesome list Emma. Have been following you (since Julia Creek, six months into your first trip) and a number of these blogs for a while now. Just love the adventure.

Ahh yes, I remember. Were we camped near each other.. or did I meet you at the Walkabout Creek Hotel?

My husband and I have been travelling Australia in our hybrid van for over a year now. We also have a blog – Flannerysfootprints.wordpress.com I love looking at travel blogs especially by seniors like us!

This is such a great list, thanks for putting it together. I love reading about other peoples experiences in Australia! I also run an expat travel and would love for you to check it out! passportdownunder.com.

Travelling Oz Our Way Been on the road fulltime for 12 months

Great to see so many Aussie’s living the dream! Great wrap up Emma! We will join them all next year once our van arrives, can’t wait!

Wahoo, that’s exciting!

A fantastic blog list you have added here. Thanks for all the great sites which I have found on here.

Awesome list! Makes me look forward to when borders reopen and we can explore the Great Southern Land once again!

I’d also recommend the ATAS blog, which is run by the Australian Federation of Travel Agents. Lots of articles about both international and local destinations, in-the-know tips from travel agents and so on.

Goodness what an epic list, for an epic country! I love how you have included so many families as well so you get a diverse range if opinions about what is good to visit.

This makes it looks like travelling for a long time around Aus in some kind of van/RV is the way to go!

Being such a huge country, a caravan, motorhome or camper is the best way to get around.

We’ve been following My Rig Adventures. Just like our 8 years RVibg North America, we would like to do it in Australia, too!

We love reading your stuff as well because we’re keen to do some RVing across the States.

I’ve had the pleasure of visiting Sydney for 3 weeks during my college times. Can’t wait to be back to Australia and explore the country beyond Sydney! It’s great that you shared so many useful blogs that I could go back to and refer to when planning my next trip with my husband.

There is so much to explore beyond Sydney, but that definitely gives you a great start. Hopefully you can get back down here one day.

There sure are a lot of travel blogs about Australia! And we’ll make sure to read all these travel blogs before planning our trip to Australia.

It’s a huge thing right now for families and younger people to take off around Australia on ‘The Big Lap.’ So, there are loads of people sharing their experiences for others. It’s great.

Wow, this is such an informative blog post, thank you for sharing! I’ve been to Australia three times now, but the first two times were for work and didn’t allow me much time to explore. Last year we spent a few days in Melbourne and drove the Great Ocean Road which was great! But it’s such a vast country with so many more places to explore so I’m saving this article for future reference 🙂

I can appreciate that work trips really don’t let you explore too much. They’re just a tease really. Funnily enough, we haven’t even done the Great Ocean Road yet, but we’re getting there. Even living here and travelling, the country is just so vast, it all takes time.

Australia is a country I always want to visit, but my fear of snakes won’t really let me at the moment! Maybe reading these bloggers will make me feel a little better about it!

If you visit the big cities you won’t see any snakes, so that’s an option for you.

Wow! This is an amazing list of bloggers and surely all their help and advice would be all anyone needed to help them plan their trip to Australia! So helpful to have so many listed in one place 🙂

It’s a huge collection full of people with loads of experience.

This list is such a great resource! Also, thank you for sharing everyone’s family units. If I’m traveling with kids it is super useful to hear about the experience of others with kids who are around the same general age.

Definitely. It’s always helpful to look at the experiences of those in a similar situation.

Thanks for compiling this helpful list! I’m always really grateful when researching new destinations to find that someone has already done all the leg work and gathered useful information into one place!

Thanks Carly-jo 🙂

Fittingly, a massive list for a massive country. Nice round-up!

Haha massive indeed.

I wish all the best on your journey in Tasmania Annette Dale and the boys

What about Trip in a Van…they have have 40 thousand followers on You tube, Instagram & Facebook. Another one is Sparkys on the Loose – a young couple that alot of people without kids can relate. Thanks.

Yeah everyone knows TIAV. We asked Sparkys if they wanted to be included but they said they’re having a bit of a break to restock the bank balance.

Just started one and hoping to add more content this year getting ready to travel next year hopefully. Recon Adventurers on Facebook , Insta and YouTube.

Wahoo, that’s super exciting!

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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 🙂

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The 10 best Australian travel blogs to inspire you

We love to travel!

While there may have been travel restrictions in place since early 2020, Australians have switched their overseas plans and decided on a local adventure exploring our beautiful home country.

And my oh my, there’s so much to experience!

To stay inspired during the restrictions, we decided to step back and live vicariously through some of our favourite travel bloggers from across Australia.

After reading about all the amazing Australian destinations and travel guides, we couldn’t help but share some of the best travel blogs we’ve been following. If you want some travel inspiration and are patiently awaiting your next local adventure, check out these 10 amazing Australian bloggers.

1. West Australian Explorer | Western Australia

West Australian Explorer was created and is managed by an Australian travel blogger, Nina. The blog content is focused around outdoor adventures, beaches, water sports and family-friendly (including pets) fun in unmissable destinations across Western Australia.

Search the website based on your interests or your travel location – West Australian Explorer makes it easy to find the best local travel destinations.

While West Australian Explorer focuses on many rural destinations across WA, it also highlights some of the best day trips from Perth. If you’re located close to Perth, check out the website for trip ideas to places like York, the Swan Valley, Serpentine Falls and more.

Recommend reads:

• Tips for a stress-free pet-friendly holiday
• Perth to Exmouth Road Trip – here’s all you need to know for an awesome drive
• 10 unmissable attractions in the Margaret River Region

2. ZigaZag | Western Australia

The ZigaZag was created by a local West Australian travel blogger, Jo, as a resource to help users find things to do across our vast state.

The Australian travel blog includes a complete list of towns and regions from A to Z so you can research your travel destination by searching the towns name.

Searching for the best restaurants in your area?

ZigaZag also includes a dedicated section on local WA restaurants with reviews so you can grab a coffee or bite to eat before starting your day of travel.

• How to Embrace Winter in Western Australia (Top Tips and Getaways)
• Things to do in Carnarvon – Gateway to the Ningaloo Coast
• Why you should escape The Kimberley in Western Australia

3. Summerstar Tourist Parks | Western Australia

The Summerstar Travel Blog (our very own) provides a resource full of travel guides, travel tips, family-friendly travel ideas and unmissable West Australian holiday destinations.

Updated regularly, you’ll find information on the latest newly-opened tourist destinations, be kept up to date with seasonal events in regional areas and check out the most unique and memorable local tours and experiences.

For the latest travel advice and holiday destination ideas, make sure you follow Summerstar Tourist Parks on Facebook and Instagram .

• Great South West Road Trip – Your Perth to Esperance Itinerary
• How to Find WA’s Best Beach Fishing Destinations
• Coral Coast Road Trip – Your Perth to Kalbarri Itinerary

4. Let Me Be Free Blog | Australia

Anne from the Let Me Be Free blog is an Australian travel blogger who shares her experiences online while travelling and taking road trips through Australia. She travels with her partner and two children, so you’ll find a lot of family-friendly travel ideas and advice on the Let Me Be Free blog.

While the Let Me Be Free blog primarily focuses on travel in Australia, there’s also some travel advice and guides for overseas locations such as New Zealand, Africa, Asia, North America and more.

• Getting off-road with a 4wd club
• Keeping Healthy While Camping
• My favourite things to do in Busselton

5. Dirty Drifters | Australia

Perth locals Adam & Tahnee manage the Dirty Drifters Australian travel blog. They continue to provide insightful travel tips, their top holiday destinations and advice for 4wd enthusiasts as they travel across Australia.

Setting out on a journey of Australia in early 2018, the Dirty Drifters have mapped out their favourite stops along the way as they explore everything that makes Australia such an amazing travel destination. Travelling by 4wd, they also take on more ‘off-the-beaten-track’ type adventures in rural and often remote destinations.

• Keep Calm & Carry on in Karijini, Western Australia
• CREB Track - 4WD Adventure in the Tropical Rainforest
• Camping with Wombats in Australia!

6. Trip In A Van | Australia

“We packed up and sold our home to live the dream!” – Trip In A Van

Justin and Bec took the plunge with their three kids, sold their home, purchased a caravan and set out on an unmissable adventure across Western Australia.

And reading through their blog, they most certainly made the right choice!

If you’re hoping to one day travel Australia by caravan on a budget, then follow along with the Trip In A Van team. With travel advice, must-see destinations and budgeting ideas while travelling, Trip In A Van cover all the bases, providing honest and insightful travel advice.

Travelling in a family unit of five, you’ll also find a bunch of family-friendly focused content.

• Packing Up Your House to Travel Australia – Here’s A Few Tips!!

7. Travelling Australia With Kids | Australia

Planning your next adventure with kids in tow?

Travelling Australia With Kids (TAWK) is the ultimate resource for travel tips, budgeting guides and family-friendly destinations for families looking to explore Australia. The Aussie travel blog has thousands of followers and are often providing amazing advice through their social channels - so be sure to give them a follow.

While you're there, consider signing up and becoming a TAWKer! TAWKers receive discounted accommodation and special offers from local Australian businesses. Check out the Summerstar TAWK page for special offers available at Summerstar Tourist Parks.

• Travel Budget Tips
• Homeschooling In Australia
• The TAWK Pose!

8. Curious Campers Australia | Australia

Based in South Australia, Natalie and Steve live a life of curiosity as they travel around Australia writing and sharing their favourite destinations. Originally travelling in a family unit of four, these Australian travel bloggers are now back on the road travelling as a curious team of two.

As they describe it, “We want to inspire you to see Australia” – and inspire they do!

While you can search the website based on state, we recommend jumping into the ‘Chin Wag’ section for some unique travel advice covering unusual situation you often can’t plan for.

• Karijini – Camping in Nature’s Playground
• Staircase to the Moon Broome
• Chasing Super Pit Blast Times in Kalgoorlie

9. Coasting Australia | Australia

Travelling as a young family team of four, Coasting Australia writes about their adventures exploring amazing Australian destinations.

As a family, Coasting Australia provides handy travel advice for other families looking to keep their kids entertained when travelling long distances.

Where possible, their kelpie-cross fur child Bobby joins along on the adventure, so you can also find some great pet-friendly travel advice – perfect if your four-legged pal likes to join along on your holiday.

• 5 Things to do in Perth Now
• Perth Beaches – The Ultimate Guide
• The Best Perth Picnic Spots with Kids

10. A Big Peachy Adventure | Australia

With an extensive list of caravan tips, useful travel gear and must-see destinations, Natalie and Michael (along with their three kids) provide amazing insight into travelling as a young family by caravan.

While not so active lately, A Big Peachy Adventure also have a family travel podcast with many hours of travel advice for parents dreaming of taking their own family on an outback adventure across Australia.

• 5 Best Options for Drying Clothes in a Caravan [Pros & Cons]
• Caravanning Tips 47 Travelling Families Wish They’d Learned Sooner
• How To Stop Your Caravan From Swaying [6 Simple Tips]

Did these Australian travel blogs inspire you?

Well then, what are you waiting for!

Book your next adventure with Summerstar Tourist Parks . With family-friendly caravan parks located across Western Australia, Summerstar ensures you have a relaxing and hassle-free holiday no matter your destination.

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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.

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

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

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!

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

Inspired? Pin it!

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 .

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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.

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Home » Oceania » Australia » Sydney

INSIDER SYDNEY ITINERARY for (2024)

Australia’s largest city, famous for its grand harbour front, Sydney Opera House, and being Nemo’s ever-elusive destination. It’s the perfect place to spend your holidays! With so much to offer, a massive harbour with plenty of waterside activities, historical buildings, and a multitude of fascinating tours to choose from, your Sydney itinerary is sure to be bursting with creative adventures!

Indigenous Australians are thought to have inhabited the Sydney area for at least 30,000 years, this means that there’s an overwhelming amount to learn about your destination of choice.

Whether you’re spending 2 days in Sydney, 3 days, or even a week in Sydney, we’ve got your activities covered for the trip. Here’s what we like to think is the best Sydney itinerary!

With a Sydney City Pass , you can experience the best of Sydney at the CHEAPEST prices. Discounts, attractions, tickets, and even public transport are all standards in any good city pass – be sure invest now and save them $$$ when you arrive!

3 Day Sydney Itinerary Overview

• Day 1: Bronte Baths | Sydney Opera House | Walking Tour | Wendy’s Secret Garden | Golden Age Cinema
• Day 2: Bondi Icebergs Pool | Bondi Beach | Bondi to Coogee Coastal Path | Lansdowne Hotel
• Day 3: Sydney Harbour Bridge | Royal Botanic Gardens | Luna Park Sydney

Where To Stay In Sydney

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You’ve booked your flights, now you’ve got the task of deciding where to stay in Sydney so you can begin planning your Sydney itinerary. There are so many things to do in Sydney you want to place yourself in a location where you can take advantage of the time you have.

Here are two of our favourite places to stay in Sydney!

Bondi Beach is probably one you’ve heard of before as it’s become famous all around the world. This neighbourhood stretches out along the coastline and has a kilometre of beach just waiting to be explored. Bondi Beach is full of health clubs, lifestyle events, and some very elegant dining options.

The locals in this area tend to be very active, go-getter types, so if you enjoy living life to the fullest, Bondi Beach just might be the perfect place for you. You’ll also find a lot of homestays and most of the best hostels in this neighbourhood, which makes it ideal for backpackers in Sydney .

Balmain is a neighbourhood in Sydney just 6 kilometres from the city centre. It’s home to the largest Italian population in the city, and you can see the Italian influence on every street corner. Italian architecture is sprinkled generously around the neighbourhood and little terraces jut out from almost every building.

As you can imagine, pizza and pasta joints are the main dishes served up in the area, and you’ll find cafes on almost every street.

Now that you know how to get around, here’s what you should be up to during your time in Sydney .

There’s a lot to do in this incredible city, from hitting the beaches to exploring then harbour and discovering the vast histories of this city and country. Sydney is easy to get around and a pleasant and sunny city to discover.

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Best Hostel in Sydney – Mad Monkey Backpackers on Broadway

The Mad Monkey Hostel on Broadway offers really affordable accommodation in the most convenient place: just a few minutes walk from Central Station! You can expect a clean interior with modern decor. Hot breakfast is served every morning, so you’re in for a treat if you’re on a budget!

Best Airbnb in Sydney: The Barn on Prince Alfred Park – Central Station

There is no cooler place to stay in Sydney than this 19th century converted barn in Surry Hills. In fact, it’s one of the best Airbnbs in Sydney . Enjoy high ceilings, spacious rooms, and modern amenities all in Sydney’s coolest neighbourhood.

Just a short walk to Surry Hills’ trendy bars, restaurants, and clubs, you won’t find a more ideally located flat in the city.

Best Budget Hotel in Sydney – Wyndham Sydney Suites

Close to all the best tourist attractions in Sydney, you honestly couldn’t ask for a better location than the Wyndham. Each room is modern with a clean finish, and they’re equipped with their own small kitchen and cosy balcony. If you’re someone who enjoys privacy and value for money, this is a great spot for you!

Best Luxury Hotel in Sydney – Astral Tower and Residences at The Star

This modern hotel is the picture of elegance at its finest! Located in Darling Harbour, you simply could not imagine a better view! Luxury is hidden around every corner of this hotel and the facilities are nothing less than world-class.

Your first day in Sydney will see you enjoying the beautiful natural surrounds that Sydney has to offer and immersing yourself in unique cultural experiences.

8:00 AM – Take a Swim at Bronte Baths

Join the early-risers in Sydney for a few salty laps of the Bronte Baths tidal pool. This full-size tidal pool is the perfect place to get your exercise in before the day has even started.

Waking up to an ocean swim is a truly Australian way to start your day! However, tourists often find that the water at Bronte Beach is a little too violent and volatile for swimming, so this is the perfect way to enjoy a beautiful saltwater swim without worrying about the tides. Blow off the cobwebs from your journey over to Sydney, especially if you’ve got jetlag, and dive right into the azure Aussie waters!

Enjoy the sounds and views of waves crashing over the edge of the tidal pool, knowing you’re safe inside its sheltered walls. Be sure to take your camera along for the trip, as the sunrise from Bronte Baths is nothing less than an Instagrammable sight.

Insider Tip: Try getting to the baths before 7 am, as watching the sunrise on the horizon is absolutely gorgeous from this perfect viewing spot. Check out this detailed guide to Bronte Baths for more information.

Cost – Free! Getting there – Catch the train/bus to Bondi Junction and switch to the 379 local bus. How long should you stay – 1.5 hr

11:00 AM – Take a Walking Tour

Taking a walking tour of the city helps you to come to a deeper understanding of the sights you see around you. Learning the history of these sights allows you to take a lot more value away from the experience.

There are 3 tours that take place every day, which makes the rest of your day a lot more flexible and allows you to revisit some of your favourite sights for a more in-depth tour.

Taking a walking tour is a great way to get your bearings and on a limited trip, it’s the best way to take in all the main sights in a short amount of time. Heading off with a local guide you’ll also get to see some of the more off the beaten track areas you might not have otherwise known about. You’ll also get an insider’s perspective on the history and culture of this city.

Cost – $50 Getting there – Take the 379 bus to Bondi Junction, then take the train to Martin Place Station. How long should you stay – 2 hrs

1:30 PM – Take a Tour of the Sydney Opera House

Sydney Opera House was put on the map by its ability to host performing arts on a continuous basis. The building hosts over 1600 events every year, making it one of the busiest performing arts centres in the whole world!

Your guide will lead you under the famed sails of the Sydney Opera House as they tell you the tales and secrets that the building has become famous for over the years.

Don’t just see this iconic building from the outside, head inside and learn more about one of the world’s most famous buildings!

Cost – $30 Getting there – Take the train to Martin Place Station or walk. How long should you stay – 1 hr

3:00 PM – Visit Wendy’s Secret Garden

The wife of famed artist, Brett Whiteley, poured her creative energy into designing a gorgeous secret garden when her husband passed away. Her name was Wendy, and that’s how the garden got its name. The garden is half public and half private property, but the owners don’t mind visitors popping by to explore the garden and enjoy a picnic.

The garden overlooks Sydney Harbour and is the perfect place to snap a pic of the beautiful bay. The garden has been taken care of by Wendy and two gardeners over the past 25 years. They’ve planted many gorgeous plants and created intricate pathways that run through the grounds. This makes it the perfect garden to explore before settling down for a picnic.

The garden is filled with birdbaths and benches, which makes it a great spot to relax and do some bird watching if you’re feeling up for it.

Being an artist’s wife, Wendy needed to add an artistic touch to the garden. For this reason, she has placed bronze sculptures throughout the garden. It can be loads of fun trying to find them all. Most of these statues were donated by local artists in the Sydney area.

Cost – Free! Getting there – Take the train to Milsons Point or North Sydney stations. You can also take a ferry to Milsons Point. How long should you stay – 1 hr

5:00 PM – Catch a Screening at the Golden Age Cinema

The building was constructed in 1940, intended to be used as offices for Paramount Pictures. It was used for just that for many years, but in 2013 the building reopened as the Golden Age cinema. The cinema contains an old basement theatre that is now being used to showcase old films as well as new Indie films.

Enjoying this old theatre experience is a must during your stay in Sydney. Its old-timey feel sends you straight back to the mid-1900s!

The cinema contains an adjoining bar, where you can purchase movie snacks before the screening. Here you won’t find just your regular popcorn and coke, but there are a few fancy extras thrown in.

If you’re in the mood for a full-on meal, chefs can prepare your meal and serve it to you during the movie. It really is a great experience. If you’re in the mood for a light snack, opt for a sundae. They’re known to be the best sundaes in town.

Cost – Around $15 Getting there – Take the train to Museum or Central and walk for 2 mins. How long should you stay – With there being a bar onsite and food available, you can stay for quite some time!

Wanna know how to pack like a pro? Well for a start you need the right gear….

These are packing cubes for the globetrotters and compression sacks for the  real adventurers – these babies are a traveller’s best kept secret. They organise yo’ packing and minimise volume too so you can pack MORE.

Or, y’know… you can stick to just chucking it all in your backpack…

Your day 2 Sydney itinerary will see you spending plenty of time by the ocean and enjoying some wholesome musical entertainment!

9:00 AM – Swim in Bondi Icebergs Pool

Bondi Icebergs Pool has become an all-year-round landmark for Bondi Beach. A dip into the seawater is the most refreshing way to start the morning, no matter what time of year you’re visiting Sydney. It may take a brave soul to venture into the water during winter, although the locals enjoy it just fine! Perhaps they’re a little more accustomed to the beach lifestyle?

The Bondi Icebergs Pool is an ocean pool that is by far the most photographed pool in all of Australia! It was built to look like a normal swimming pool but is filled to the brim with seawater, much like any other tidal pool.

Be sure to bring your camera along to this lovely pool as the turquoise blue water is something you’ll want to capture!

It’s a great way to start another day packed full of adventures by diving into this iconic beachside pool for a refreshing dip!

Cost – $7 Getting there – Take the train to Bondi Junction and either walk or get on the 380, 381, 382 or 333 bus for a 15-minute ride to the beach. How long should you stay – 1.5 hrs

11:00 AM – Take a Surfing Lesson at Bondi Beach

There’s nothing more truly Aussie than hanging ten on a wave at Bondi Beach. Learning to surf at one of the most popular surf destinations in the world is an absolute privilege that should not be missed while you’re staying in Sydney.

Each surfing lesson for beginners starts on the sand, so you don’t need to worry about being thrown in the deep end. Although each surfer requires taking a leap of faith to stand up on the board for the first time.

You’ll get the opportunity to feel the rush of riding your first wave, with the help of your very well-trained surf coach. Hopefully, you’ll be catching waves by yourself in no time.

During your lessons you’ll learn to ride a long-board, these are surfboards used to catch even the smaller waves, so riding a wave shouldn’t be a problem! Your lesson will include a wetsuit that you’ll be very appreciative of in the winter months. During summer, the water is warm and you may not require a wetsuit but the option is still there.

Cost – $85 Getting there – Walk to the beach from Icebergs How long should you stay – 2 hrs.

2:00 PM – Walk Along the Bondi to Coogee Coastal Path

After spending the morning in the water, now it’s time to dry off and take a walk along the stunning coast of Sydney. The Bondi to Coogee walk is one of the most famous of the many walks you can take along the coast here and it’s one of the best!

The path will lead you past Waverley Cemetery, where it can get a little windy. This part of the walk takes place on a suspended walkway, so be careful during this section of the journey. You’ll then pass Clovelly Bowls Club and head towards Gordons Bay. Gordons Bay is a secluded bay that is the perfect stop off for a picnic or just a breather.

This is a beautiful way to take yourself on a self-guided tour of the coastline. Not many tourists experience Sydney this way, so it’s a ‘must’ to add to your Sydney itinerary.

This coastal walkway will lead you along 6-kilometres of the gorgeous coastline while taking in some spectacular views! You’ll then reach Coogee where you should stop off for a refreshment or a bite to eat before heading back to Bondi Beach or the city.

You can spend as much time as you want on this trail, it usually takes around 2 hours if you don’t have many breaks. However, there are heaps of beaches and inlets along the way where you might want to take a dip or just enjoy the view.

Cost – Free! Getting there – Starts behind Icebergs. Take the bus back from Coogee back to Central. How long should you stay – 2 hrs plus

9:00 PM – Listen to Live Music at the Lansdowne Hotel

Support the local live music scene at the Lansdowne Hotel! The hotel pub has become a local favourite for those who appreciate some quality live music.

You’ll be happy to know that an over-the-counter meal will only cost you $10, so you’ll have plenty of extra cash for the night.

Gain access to live music in the upstairs section for only a few dollars. This amount changes depending on who’s playing but is never anything too extravagant.

Sit back and relax in a candle-lit room while listening to the best the live local music scene has to offer. Rugs line the couches giving the place a cosy feel that encourages guests to sit back and relax. However, if you like to get up and boogie, there’s always plenty of space to do that.

The venue can hold around 250 people, so don’t worry about not being able to get in. There’s generally enough space to arrive late and still find a space.

Cost – A few dollars. The amount is dependent on who’s playing. Getting there – Take the train to Central and walk. How long should you stay – As long as you like… but don’t overdo it, we’ve got another great day planned for tomorrow!

Mad Monkey Backpackers on Broadway

The Mad Monkey Hostel on Broadway offers really affordable accommodation in the most convenient place: just a few minute walk from Central Station! If you prefer to stay in hostels, this is one of the best hostels in Australia.

Stash your cash safely with this money belt. It will keep your valuables safely concealed, no matter where you go.

It looks exactly like a normal belt  except for a SECRET interior pocket perfectly designed to hide a wad of cash, a passport photocopy or anything else you may wish to hide. Never get caught with your pants down again! (Unless you want to…)

If you’re spending more than 2 days in Sydney, you’re going to need a few extra activities to add to your Sydney trip! Here are a few of the best places in Sydney we think you should be adding to your itinerary:

9:00 AM – Climb Sydney Harbour Bridge

Over 4 million visitors have climbed Sydney Harbour Bridge! Experienced guides will talk you through the activity before your climb and lead you every step of the way up the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

The bridge towers 134m over the water, which makes the view from the top nothing less than magnificent! Tours are held throughout the day, from dawn until dusk, and the views change continuously throughout the day. We recommend going early in the morning to catch the sunrise or late at dusk to catch the sunset.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge has become one of the most photographed parts of the city, and there’s no secret as to why. This gorgeous bridge stands tall over one of the most beautiful natural harbours in the world and now shapes the city skyline.

Don’t miss the opportunity to take part in an experience completely unique to Sydney. This is one activity you have to add to your Sydney itinerary if you plan on staying for more than 2 days in Sydney.

Before the climb, you will be equipped with everything you need to make the climb. All that you’ll need to bring with you are a pair of sunglasses and comfortable shoes.

Climbing the Sydney Harbour bridge was voted the number one traveller’s choice experience in all of Australia!

If you have extra time and want to spice things up a bit, you can even charter your own yacht to take you around the harbour. It might be the top end of your budget, but split between six to eight people, you can find an affordable option that still gives a memorable experience.

Cost – Between $140 and $280 depending on which package you decide to take. Getting there – Catch a ferry, bus or train to Circular Quay. How long should you stay – 2.5 – 3.5 hrs

1:30 AM – Visit the Royal Botanic Gardens

After the excitement of the morning, take some time to wander these beautiful gardens to get your breath before the next thrilling adventure!

The Royal Botanic Gardens are an impressive 74 acres and is home to a variety of events throughout the year. The Gardens are a scientific institution and one of the most important botanic scientific institutions in the world!

These gardens were established in 1816, which makes them the oldest botanic gardens in Australia!

The gardens are open every day of the week and access is completely free! This makes it the perfect place to stroll around in search of some of Australia’s most beautiful plants. Plant and birdlife are abundant in the gardens, so be sure to take your camera along for the trip!

From the gardens, it’s a short walk to Sydney Opera House if you feel like exploring a little further. These famed gardens are a must-visit during your time in Sydney, so be sure to add them to your Sydney itinerary!

Cost – Free Getting there – Take the train to either Martin Place, St James or Circular Quay or walk from Central. How long should you stay – 1 hr

3:00 PM – Let your Inner Child Free at Luna Park Sydney

Sydney’s Luna Park is now listed on the NSW heritage registry! Apart from just being an amusement park, the park holds history tours that show you the ins and outs of running an old amusement park. Although it has undergone major restorations in the past, constant maintenance is required to keep it functioning at its best.

The park underwent serious restoration during the 90s allowing it to run safely and efficiently into the 21st century. Luna Park Sydney has a rich history. Starting in 1935, this rare surviving amusement park features fantasy architecture and the art deco style of the 30s.

The famous ‘face’ entranceway to Luna Park has been photographed many times, and is what the park has become most famous for all over the world!

You’ll be given a park map when you enter that will help you decide which rides and attractions you’d like to visit most! On the map, you’ll also find interesting facts about the park. You can enthral yourself with roller coasters or scare yourself at the haunted Mystery Manor.

This historic amusement park is a great way to spice up your Sydney itinerary and end your time in the city with a bang!

Cost – $37 for the day. Getting there – Take the train to Milsons Point station or the ferry to Milsons Point Wharf. How long should you stay – As long as you like!

The best time to visit Sydney is widely up for debate. While there’s no wrong time to visit this gorgeous city, you should make an informed decision when deciding what time of year you’d like to go.

January is the hottest month of the year in Sydney, as it’s just after the summer solstice. In February and March, Sydney tends to get its highest rainfall.

During April and May, the city starts cooling down considerably as Sydney heads into winter.

During the months of June, July, and August, temperatures drop quite low in Sydney which marks mid-winter. In September, October, and November the temperatures start to rise again-  during this time Sydney is at its busiest. Since it’s at the start of the season, however, we still think it’s a great September destination , especially for those in the Northern Hemisphere escaping fall.

December is the driest month of the year in Sydney and marks the end of the tourist season. This is a great time to book yourself into one of the cool Sydney hostels as prices begin to drop significantly.

Knowing how you’re going to navigate the city is one of the most important parts of your Sydney itinerary. In many cities, public transport can cause challenges to travellers, but luckily for you, Sydney is not one of those cities. In fact, their transport system is one of the best in the world!

Most of the locals in Sydney rely heavily on public transport. This means that it’s efficient and well organised!

It’s important to note that in order to make use of public transport in Sydney, you will need an Opal Card. This can be bought at a post office or a supermarket, so they’re really not hard to come by.

The train routes run a loop around the city, which is a great way to get from one side of the city to the other. If you’re looking for transport within the city, you can make use of the light rail, buses, or taxis.

Being on the coast, ferries are also a great way to get across the harbour and to other areas like Manley, when you take the ferry from Circular Quay you also get great views of the city and the Opera House too!

Sydney as a city is considered a very safe place , especially for tourists. The little crime that Sydney does have generally affects the locals and not visitors to the city. This being said, it’s important to be careful, no matter where you’re travelling. Like your mother probably told you, it’s better to be safe than sorry!

Here are a few things we suggest you watch out for during your vacation in Sydney.

It’s advised that you stay away from higher crime neighbourhoods in Sydney, mainly during the night. These include Kings Cross, Fairfield, Redfern, Cabramatta, Campbelltown, Blacktown, Liverpool, and Penrith. This is not to say that these areas are extremely dangerous, but they’re at higher risk than other neighbourhoods.

When visiting the beaches in Sydney, be aware of strong undertows that can easily take you out to sea. They have caused many drownings in the Sydney area.

Sydney has many dangerous animals that could bite or sting you. If you get bitten or stung by something poisonous, it’s important to call the emergency number immediately, 000. These animals include dangerous insects, spiders, snakes, and marine life.

ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing .

They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.

SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!

Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.

Find out what people want to know when planning their Sydney itinerary.

Are 7 days in Sydney too long?

A seven day Sydney itinerary is probably the ideal time to see the city in full detail, without any stress or rushing. That gives you enough freedom to have an afternoon to yourself to rewind and give your feet a break.

How many days minimum should I spend in Sydney?

Sydney is MASSIVE. So 3-4 full days is the absolute minimum to get a good grasp of the city. Having even more time would be recommended.

What should I definitely add to my Sydney itinerary?

Sport fans should definitely add the Bondi Iceberg Pool to their itinerary. Swim some laps, enjoy the cool water and then head straight to the famous Bondi Beach to chill on for the rest of the day.

What can I do with three days in Sydney?

Three days in Sydney allow you to see quite a few things in the city. Make sure you include Bondi Beach, a river cruise that’ll give you great views of the Opera House and a climb up the Sydney Harbor Bridge.

Sydney is an absolutely beautiful city! With so much to do, this city makes the perfect holiday destination all year round! Be sure to pack your camera for this trip, because you’re sure to be surrounded by exquisite views all trip long!

Sydney has a rich cultural history that is sure to knock your socks off, so be sure to learn as much as you can during your trip! It’s important to stay mindful of the incredible city you’re visiting.

If you haven’t already, be sure to add some of our great activities to your Sydney itinerary and pack your bags for Australia . It’s sure to be one for the books!

And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links . That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!

Alexandria Zboyovski

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Queensland is somewhere that’s been on my bucket list for as long as I can remember. It just looks incredible! I mean, those beaches, the underwater life, relaxed days in the sunshine – it looks like one of the dreamiest places on the planet!

Australia’s 2 nd largest state, Queensland is actually seven times the size of Great Britain. So, don’t think this is somewhere you can tick off in a few days. If you want to really explore, give yourself a good amount of time to get around, and mix up beach time with cultural and food spots too.

Flight Centre challenged me to find some truly unique things to do, for my dream trip to the region… so here goes. And while there are a few magical beach adventures, there’s plenty more to this part of Oz too.

Climb To The Top Of The Q1 Building

Ready for one of the ultimate views over the Gold Coast? 270m up, SkyPoint Climb in Surfer’s Paradise is Australia’s highest external building climb. London’s Shard is only 30m higher, which really puts it into perspective for me! I can only imagine that incredible sense of achievement once you reach the top. They also offer twilight and night climbs to see the region lit up by twinkly lights! Not feeling so brave, take the lift to the 77 th floor to the SkyPoint Observation Deck .

Take A Dip In Champagne Pools

What a unique swimming spot! Located on Fraser Island, these natural rock pools get their name from the way the waves crash on the volcanic rock, creating frothy bubbles. As many of the beaches aren’t patrolled in the region, and there are dangers including strong currents and sharks, it’s a great safe place for a swim too.

Finding Alexx

| Bucket list adventures around the globe

Australasia , Australia , Bucket list travel · March 25, 2024

Australia travel guide (2024)

Looking for a detailed Australia travel guide to help you plan your upcoming adventure Down Under? I’m going to share with you my top Australia travel tips , as well as must-see destinations, bucket list experiences, all the best places to visit for different types of travellers and loads more.

I’ve been fortunate enough to have visited Australia many times (it’s often the cheapest place to get to from New Zealand, where I’m from!) including many city breaks to Sydney and Melbourne, some summer vacations to the Gold Coast, and a recent 2.5 month solo road trip with Klook , where I drove more than 7,000kms and visited South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. Phew!

Australia is one of those destinations that truly has something for every type of traveller. The country is huge (the sixth-largest in the world in fact) and super varied, so whether you want a beach holiday, an adrenaline-packed adventure or a foodie getaway with a spot of shopping, you’ll find it here.

But with great size comes with endless options… or something like that!

Planning a trip to Australia can be totally overwhelming because it’s hard to know where to even start, especially if it’s your first time.

Hopefully this comprehensive Australia travel guide will make it a bit easier to figure out where to go, when to go, how to get there and things to do while you’re there, plus it’ll give you all the info you need to make the absolute most of your time and money while travelling Australia.

If there’s something you want to know about travelling Australia that I haven’t included in this post then please let me know in the comments below so I can add it, and if you want a more detailed guide for any specific destination you can scroll down to see a bunch of destination-specific blog posts as well as road trip itineraries and activity reviews that I’ve linked for easy access.

And for a behind-the-scenes pass to all my Australia adventures you can see my highlights on Instagram at @findingalexx .

So without further ado, here’s all you need to know before planning your Australia trip!

Australia travel planning: Things to know before you go

Currency: Australian dollars ($). At the time of the last update (March 2024) $1 AUD is equivalent to $0.653 USD, £0.518 GBP, €0.604 and $1.08NZD.

Money & payments: Australia is very card-friendly, I only used cash once in the 2.5 months I was there and that was to do my washing at a hostel. Most shops will take card, the only places you might have a problem will be independent convenience stories or food trucks, mainly in smaller towns.

If you do want to use cash you can find ATMs in all major cities and tourist spots, and expect to pay an additional $3-$5 fee to take out cash using an international card. Australia’s coin denominations are $2, $1, 50c, 20c, 10c and 5c, and the notes are $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100.

Tax: When you see the price for something in Australia, like food on a menu or a bag you’re going to buy, tax is included in the price you see on the tag. There’s no additional sales taxes like in the USA and Canada. And even better, you can even get 11% tax back on some purchases when you leave the country with the Tourist Refund Scheme .

Tipping: Tipping in Australia is not expected and the country has a minimum wage of $23.23 which is much higher than many other countries, so you know that servers and other hospitality staff aren’t relying on tips as their main income. If you visit a fancy restaurant then there will be a tipping option and all tips are obviously appreciated, but it’s not like North America where tipping is part of the culture. Many cafes and restaurants in Australia won’t even have a tip option when you pay by card, they might just have a coin jar at the counter.

Time zone: Because Australia is huge, as I already mentioned, the country has a number of different time zones which can get a bit confusing! Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) is UTC +10 and covers the eastern states (QLD, NSW, ACT, VIC and TAS), Australian Central Standard Time (ACST) is UTC +9.5 and covers South Australia and the Northern Territory, and Australian Western Standard Time (AWST) is UTC +8 and covers Western Australia.

To make things even more confusing, only some states observe daylight savings time, so during daylight savings months (from the first Sunday in October to the first Sunday in April) NSW, VIC, SA, TAS and ACT move their clocks forward an hour, while QLD, WA and the NT stick with their usual time zones.

When flying between states you’ll be updated on the time zone changes by the pilot, but you’ll need to keep it in mind yourself if you’re driving between states, like between Victoria and South Australia year-round or between NSW and QLD during summer.

Plugs & electricity: Australia uses the plug type ‘I’ (that’s an i, not a 1) and the standard voltage is 230V and frequency is 50Hz. If you’re coming from a country that uses a different voltage and/or frequency you might need a voltage adapter too, most appliances and chargers these days offer multi-voltage support but some things like hair straighteners may be an issue. I’d recommend taking a universal travel adapter when you travel to Australia.

Language: English is the main language spoken in Australia. There are also more than 250 Indigenous languages spoken around Australia so if you see words that you don’t recognise or if you see anywhere that uses an English place name and another place name, then it’s likely the language of one of the local Aboriginal communities.

A map of Australia

To understand the scale of Australia, driving from Melbourne to Sydney will take you about nine hours on the inland route, and driving from Adelaide all the way across to Perth would take a whopping 29 hours on the road non-stop.

When is the best time to visit Australia

With a huge range of climates right across the country, it’s pretty easy to find an Australian destination that suits what you’re looking for at the time of year you want to travel.

High season in Australia is from the start of December to around mid-February , this is the middle of summer and it’s when Australia (as well as its neighbours in New Zealand) are on school holidays, so the main cities and tourist spots will be busy, busy, busy, despite the heat and humidity. Prices go up during this time too and you might find it harder to book onto activities that you want to do unless you book at least a few weeks in advance.

If you’re looking for a summer Christmas experience then you could do Sydney, Melbourne or Adelaide during these months but expect high prices and hot weather, or Tasmania is a good option with milder weather but still expensive. Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland (especially Far North Queensland) will be pretty disgusting in summer, stay away unless you enjoy melting.

My personal favourite time to visit Australia, especially places like Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and the Gold Coast, is in the shoulder season just before and after high season. The official shoulder season is really September to November and March to May, but I prefer October/November and mid-Feb to mid-May for the best balance of good weather but with cheaper prices.

For most of Australia the low season is winter (June to August) , when you’ll find much cheaper prices and significantly less tourists, but you’ll also be dealing with winter weather which can mean lots of rain, hail and even snow in the mountains. Yes, Australia gets cold! If you visit Sydney or Melbourne in winter you’ll need a warm coat, some waterproof boots and a beanie or two.

If you’re planning to visit Queensland, Northern Territory or the northern half of Western Australia then your best bet is to visit between April and November , summer in these destinations can bring unbearable heat and humidity plus an increased risk of tropical cyclones. Winter in QLD/NT/WA can get super busy though as other Australians try to escape their wet and cold states, so book in advance to secure the best deals. And as an added bonus, end of May to early November is the best time for swimming in Queensland as there’s less likelihood of jellyfish in the ocean while the weather is cooler.

Events to be aware of in Australia

Now that you understand the seasons in Australia, it’s also important to know what major events are happening so that you can either avoid the high prices or book tickets early to make the most of what’s going on.

• Sydney Fashion Week , 13-17 May 2024
• VIVID Sydney (an incredible light festival with public art installations along Sydney’s waterfront), 24 May to 15 June 2024
• AFL Grand Final (biggest event on Australia’s national sporting calendar), 38 September 2024 in Melbourne
• Melbourne Cup (famous horse race which is celebrated with a public holiday in Victoria), 5 November 2023
• Schoolies is an Australian tradition where highschool leavers celebrate their completion of their school years with a boozy party trip, usually to the Gold Coast from the end of November through to early/mid-December. Avoid these dates at all costs (unless you’re freshly 18 and want to party!).
• Australian Open , 12-26 January 2025 in Melbourne
• Adelaide Fringe Festival , 21 February-23 March 2025

Getting to Australia

Australia has great flight links from all major destinations and most major airlines fly there. If you’re travelling from the other side of the world then you could also consider adding on a stopover on the way here or on the way back, to get a bonus holiday! I love using stopovers to be able to explore another destination, I’ve done this before in Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai and Thailand.

If you’re coming to Australia from Europe then it’s a long flight but you’ll have the option of flying via the Middle East (Etihad, Qatar Airways or Emirates are the main operators), Asia (with Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Thai Airways, Cathay Pacific, Air India) or North America (probably Vancouver or Los Angeles with Air Canada, Air New Zealand or Qantas).

From the Middle East, Asia or North or South America there will likely be direct flight options if you’re happy to pay a premium, or an easy one-stop flight for a cheaper price.

From New Zealand you can get the best deals on Jetstar (Australia’s budget airline), or Air New Zealand or Qantas.

How to travel around Australia

If you’re sticking within one city, the public transport system is probably the best way to get around. Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Perth all have decent public transport networks with affordable tickets and day passes.

If you arrive early and want to explore the city before heading to your hotel you can find convenient bag drop locations in Sydney , Melbourne, Brisbane and more,

If you are wanting to tick off more than one destination in Australia (I don’t blame you, there’s so much to see!) then you’ve got a few different options for inter-city transport.

You could rent a car in Australia to take advantage of the incredible road trips the country has to offer, like the Great Ocean Road or driving up the Queensland Coast. Car rental is expensive but it does give you the freedom to travel the country at your own pace and to detour to lesser-known destinations that public transport won’t reach. I rented a car to get from Melbourne to Adelaide and then again from Sydney to Brisbane.

Travel tip: I used Klook for all my rental car needs in Australia, you can search your travel dates and they pull up all the options from rental companies like Hertz, Sixt, Avis, Budget and more so you know you’re getting the best deal. They also offer free cancellation so you can lock in a good price early on and then cancel or amend it if your plans change.

A campervan is another option which offers maximum freedom, Australia is very campervan-friendly and the van life community over here is huge! You’ll easily find campgrounds and freedom/wild camping spots around the country to keep your travel costs low.

There are loads of campervan companies that service the main cities, like Jucy , Apollo and Britz to name a few. If you’re planning an extended trip for more than just a few months you could even buy a van to use while you’re there and then sell it afterwards, there’s Facebook groups like Backpacker Campervans For Sale for that.

If you want to leave the driving up to someone else you can take trains between some major cities , although the network is nowhere near as good as in Europe. There are regional trains that run between cities along the southern and eastern coasts, or you could go all out with a multi-night luxury train experience. The Indian Pacific runs between Perth, Adelaide and Sydney, and the Ghan between Adelaide and Darwin via Coober Pedy and Alice Springs. These trips book out months in advance though so lock in your plans early.

Buses are the cheapest way to get between destinations but remember that the driving distances in Australia are long. If bus is your chosen form of transport then check out Greyhound, you can buy single tickets or you might be best to purchase a hop-on- hop-off pass to get you right up or down the East Coast.

Inter-city flights are efficient but can be expensive depending on when you book. If you lock in your seats while there’s sales on you can get fares for as low as $80 return between Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, but normal prices can range anywhere from $150-$400 return. To get from the eastern cities to Perth you can expect to spend $450-$1000 return.

Safety tips for Australia

Australia is pretty safe to travel as a solo female traveller, but there are two things that pose the most risk: the wildlife and the environment.

Safety with wildlife

From koalas and kangaroos to snakes and spiders, Australia has an incredible variety of animals that call this place home. And while some of them are super cute (I’m looking at you, quokka!), it’s no secret that many of the creatures found here can be pretty dangerous if you get on the wrong side of them. While most Australia’s dangerous animals are very rare to come across, especially in the cities, it’s still super important to be aware of the risks.

Avoid getting into a bad situation with a crocodile by being Crocwise in Queensland, Northern Territory and the northern parts of Western Australia. Swim only where you know it is safe (swim between the flags at patrolled beaches, look for warning signs and speak to locals), don’t swim in murky water or at dawn, dusk or night, and stand more than 5m from the water’s edge.

Snakes are another one to be aware of, and the bad news is that they’re found all around the whole country. There’s good news too though! The majority of snakes in Australia aren’t deadly and for the 12 species that are, there’s anti-venom available as well as a great healthcare system that treats snake bites quickly and effectively. Avoid any unwanted interactions with snakes by wearing covered shoes in the grass, avoid walking away from marked trails, and if you do get bitten it’s important to get help ASAP, stay calm and don’t panic, and apply a pressure bandage to the bite to slow the venom.

Australia has its fair share of disgusting spiders but most of them are totally harmless, and there’s actually only two species of spiders that have caused fatalities in the past (Redback Spiders and funnel-web spiders), with the last fatality in 1979. So while they’re gross, spiders aren’t as much of a risk as everyone makes them out to be.

Other creatures to be aware of are cassowaries (a huge bird found in North Queensland that can be dangerous when threatened), jellyfish (found all along the Queensland coast from November to May) and sharks (swim at patrolled beaches as the lifeguards will keep an eye out for sharks).

And be extra careful when driving at dawn and dusk, this is when many animals (especially kangaroos) are most active and you don’t want to come across one in the middle of the road while taking a corner at speed.

Safety with the environment

In terms of the elements, Australia’s weather can be extreme and unchangeable. If you’re road tripping it’s particularly important to travel with lots of water and non-perishable food in your car as you don’t want to be left without things to eat and drink if you break down on a country road. Always check weather forecasts before heading out for a hike too, and take additional clothing in case the conditions change.

Crime safety

Australia is pretty safe for travellers in terms of crime, violent crime is rare and the most likely thing to happen is petty theft in the cities. As with any major city, avoid unlit streets at night, keep an eye on your drink if you’re out, and wear your bag on both shoulders or across your body to avoid having it snatched (although I’ve never heard of this happening to any of my friends in Australia).

I will say that as a solo female traveller I did experience multiple encounters with groups of young, drunk assholes on the street who tried over and over again to get my attention as I walked past or across the road from them, never enough to make me truly worry for my safety but enough to piss me off because women shouldn’t have to deal with that shit, especially not in the evenings when they’re outnumbered and just trying to get home.

Solo female travel rant: I do find it hilarious when men from Western countries tell me to be careful in countries like Turkey, Jordan and India, as if places like Australia, New Zealand and the UK don’t have a problem with disrespect and harassment towards women. Eye roll.

Travel insurance for Australia

Australia has a fantastic healthcare system that will look after you if anything goes wrong, but it’s still super important to have comprehensive travel insurance in Australia in case of any misadventures. I travel with an annual policy from Covermore NZ who I’ve only ever had good experiences with ( Covermore is in Australia too ), but if you’re not from NZ or Aus then I recommend checking out SafetyWing or World Nomads for comprehensive coverage.

Do I need Australia travel insurance even if I’m just coming from New Zealand? Isn’t healthcare covered over there for me?

Yes, you need insurance even if you’re just travelling over from New Zealand for a weekend! While medically necessary healthcare is covered by a reciprocal healthcare agreement, some things that aren’t covered are ambulance trips, doctor visits, and things like lost luggage or travel delays.

The average ambulance trip in Australia costs $800-$1000, so if you don’t want to risk being out of pocket in an emergency, insurance is essential.

Diversity in Australia

As a white-passing, heterosexual woman (I’m actually Maori but you’d never know because of my pasty skin 😂) I’m not the right person to talk about acceptance and diversity in Australia so I’m going to let some of my followers speak about their lived experiences instead.

“I travelled for nine months in Australia but spent most of my time in Perth and Cairns, absolutely felt safe. No issues or concerns whatsoever, in Perth I felt safer as it had its own LGBTQIA+ community. I did go out in Sydney too, it has a huge nightlife scene with clubs all over. Very much like London but you still have to worry about your safety just like you would as a straight woman, i.e. walking alone at night etc.” – Amy

Women of colour

“As an Indian woman I have experienced some verbal racism in Australia, no different to what I’ve experienced in other Western countries. I feel like the main cities are significantly more accepting of diversity because the cities are so cosmopolitan, but on trips to more remote and rural destinations I have definitely been treated differently to white customers sitting in the same cafes and restaurants as me.” – Anonymous

Working in Australia

Australia is a super common destination for both backpackers on working holidays as well as young professionals moving to take advantage of the high salaries Australia has to offer.

New Zealanders have free access to live and work in Australia without need for a specific visa, so if you’re a Kiwi like me and you’re considering it, it’s as easy as packing your bags, booking a flight and job hunting. Living costs in both Melbourne and Sydney end up evening out to be very similar to Auckland (Auckland average rent is cheaper but food/gas/transport is more expensive) and the salaries in Australia are significantly higher than Auckland with a higher superannuation contribution from employers too, so you’re pretty likely to be in a better financial situation.

If you’re coming from another country and want to live and work in Australia, there’s a great Working Holiday Maker programme that offers work visas to 18-30 year olds (some countries up to 35) from 19 different countries, including Canada, the UK, Ireland, Germany, France and more.

Australia travel inspiration

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Australia is so diverse and there is truly a destination or an experience that will blow your mind, no matter your travel style or budget.

From getting amongst the big city life to exploring the wild and rugged coast to finding hidden gems inland, here’s a bunch of Australia travel inspiration to get you thinking about what to add to your Australia itinerary.

Top destinations to visit in Australia

Australia’s most populous city, Sydney is an absolute must-visit for any Australia trip. It’s not only the country’s business hub, it’s also home to some of the most famous Australia icons and experiences like the Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Bondi Beach and loads more. It’s the most expensive city in terms of accommodation (I recommend Wake Up! Hostel for a budget-friendly bed) but it’s well worth splurging for at least a couple of nights.

Melbourne is the cooler, chilled out younger sibling of Sydney, buzzing with world-class cafes, riverfront bars (some of them even float!) and a packed calendar of art, culture and entertainment year-round. If you’re a foodie you’ll want to stay a while, I could honestly name probably 40 eateries that I would highly recommend. I’ll put that blog on my to do list for next month!

A little further afield from the usual East Coast suspects, Adelaide is a buzzing, up-and-coming city with easy access to beaches, wineries and a fantastic range of events on all through the year, including the world-famous Adelaide Fringe in February/March.

I absolutely love the food scene here too, they have one of the largest undercover food markets in the southern hemisphere (Adelaide Central Market) as well as an annual food festival in April called Tasting Australia which showcases the country’s best gastronomic offerings.

You might also like: The perfect three day Adelaide itinerary

Airlie Beach & the Whitsundays

The Whitsunday Islands are a collection of 74 islands off Queensland’s central coast, best accessed from the holiday hub of Airlie Beach. Make sure you’ve charged your camera or have space for loads of photos on your phone, because this might truly be the most stunning part of Australia.

From the picture-perfect swirls of Whitehaven Beach to the Instagram-famous Heart Reef that adorn Australia brochures all over the globe, if you want to splurge on a scenic flight in Australia, this is undoubtedly the best place to do it.

The Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef isn’t actually a single destination but actually a 2,300km stretch of 3000+ individual reefs, starting at Cape York (the very northern tip of Queensland) and finishing down at Bundaberg. The most popular gateways are Cairns and Airlie Beach but you can also do day and overnight trips out to the reef from Bundaberg, Yeppoon, Townsville and Port Douglas.

The reef has definitely been impacted by climate change and by weather events that cause underwater damage, but it’s still an incredible place to snorkel or scuba dive. Or if you’d prefer to see the underwater life while staying dry, go on a tour that includes a semi-submarine or even spend a night in a Great Barrier Reef underwater hotel room .

The Gold Coast is one of the most popular holiday destinations for Kiwis wanting to visit Australia, you can often score super cheap flights from anywhere as low as $280 return. It’s a classic summer destination, a little bit tacky if you only visit the tourist spots, but there’s world-famous surf breaks, candy floss sunsets, an impressive cafe culture and easy access to Australia’s best theme parks.

You might also like: An honest review of the Klook Gold Coast Pass

Just across the QLD-NSW state border from the Gold Coast is Byron Bay, the hipster capital of New South Wales where you’ll find an endless selection of independent breweries, boutique clothing stores and farm-to-table restaurants. On land you can fill your calendar with yoga classes and kombucha dates, or hit the water with a surf lesson, kayak trip or boat tour.

The main tourist destination in North Queensland, Cairns is known as the best gateway to access the Great Barrier Reef because the reef isn’t as far from land as in the other hubs. Spend at least a few days here if you want to make the most of all the active adventures nearby, from diving trips to waterfall walks to rainforest adventures.

Western Australia

Now into the parts of Australia I haven’t visited personally yet! Western Australia is so high on my Australia bucket list but it’s not really the best destination for a solo traveller. The drives from one tourist spot to the next can be incredibly long and boring, and stories of breakdowns or running out of gas are common, not something I’d be super stoked to deal with by myself! This is one that I’ll put on the backburner until I have a travel buddy to join me.

For lots of Western Australia travel inspo I’d recommend checking out my friend Tessomewhere’s blog , she’s a Perth local and has written all about her WA escapades.

The Red Centre (Uluru, Alice Springs & Kings Canyon)

Another one I haven’t quite made it to yet, the Red Centre refers to the rugged and rocky Australian outback, and it includes landmarks like the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Kings Canyon and Alice Springs.

It’s not particularly easy to get here, flights from Sydney or Melbourne currently cost $700+ return (as of March 2024) and it’s at least 14 hours from any major Australian city by car, but if you have the time and the money this is quintessential Australia that sets the country apart from anywhere else.

Australia hidden gems

Okay so Tasmania is obviously an actual state of Australia so it’s not exactly hidden, but it is far less touristy than other parts of the country, so if you prefer travelling off the beaten track then it’s one of the best places to visit. The outdoor adventures are plentiful, with some of the best hiking trails in the country (Freycinet Peninsula Circuit is a must), and the local produce offerings will make you want to delay your departure for sure.

Byfield, Queensland

Now unless you’ve road tripped through Queensland before I can almost guarantee you wouldn’t have heard of Byfield , which is 30 mins from Yeppoon, an hour from Rockhampton and about six hours from Airlie Beach. This tiny rural village is sandwiched between Byfield State Forest and Byfield National Park, which offer some of the state’s best 4WD tracks and camping opportunities.

Don’t miss Stony Creek for a refreshing dip in a crystal-clear swimming hole (croc-free!) and animal lovers should add Cooberrie Park Wildlife Sanctuary to their Byfield itinerary too.

Read more: Why you need to add Byfield to your Queensland bucket list

Mudgee, New South Wales

If you want to escape Sydney’s city chaos and head into country NSW instead, Mudgee is the ideal spot for a weekend retreat. The drive will take 3.5-4 hours but you could easily add on a visit to the Blue Mountains en route if you haven’t been there yet.

The town boasts award-winning wineries, an innovative culinary scene and some magical accommodation options too (I recommend Sierra Escape and Evamor Valley , both absolutely divine).

Kangaroo Island, South Australia

Too many tourists that I’ve spoken to when visiting South Australia put Kangaroo Island in the “Too Hard Basket”, which is a huge mistake. Even my best friend’s Adelaidean husband (born and bred!) had never been there, despite living in Adelaide for most of his 32 years!

Taking the 45 minute ferry from Cape Jervis to Penneshaw and spending a couple of nights exploring the island was such a highlight of my big Australia road trip. We spotted koalas in the wild, made cocktails with local spirits, stayed at a super cute seaside motel and watched the sun go down from the edge of Flinders Chase National Park, which is thriving again after a devastating fire destroyed 96% of the park in 2019/2020.

Read more: Reasons to visit Kangaroo Island

Australia road trips to take

Great ocean road from melbourne to warrnambool.

The actual Great Ocean Road runs from Torquay to Allansford, but most people either drive Melbourne to Warrnambool, Melbourne to Port Fairy, or Melbourne to the famous Twelve Apostles and then back to Melbourne.

The Great Ocean Road road trip is known as one of the most scenic drives in the world, and for good reason! You can stop off at panoramic viewpoints perched on top of sheer cliffs, golden beaches with world-famous surf breaks, or lush rainforest walks and hikes, to name a few options.

And once you’re done, release the tension that comes with sitting in the car for hours on end with a relaxing dip in soothing mineral hot springs at Deep Blue Hot Springs in Warrnambool .

Melbourne to Adelaide

If you want to extend your Great Ocean Road trip, there’s plenty to see beyond Warrnambool and over into South Australia too.

If you want to stick close to the coast you could stop at Mount Gambier for out-of-this-world sinkholes (including one filled with tropical plants and one that you can snorkel in !), and Beachport and/or Robe for some of the best beaches along South Australia’s Limestone Coast.

If you’re going inland you could take a bit of a detour north from Warrnambool to tick off the epic lookouts and hikes in Grampians National Park, taste test wine in Coonawarra before sleeping in a bubble tent , and venture underground to explore Naracoorte Caves National Park.

The Legendary Pacific Coast from Sydney to Brisbane

Coming in at almost 1000kms, the drive from Sydney to Brisbane takes you through a huge variety of destinations, from vineyard villages to historic fishing towns to bohemian hot spots. Give yourself at least a week, ideally two, to really make the most of the experiences the Pacific Coast has on offer.

Some of my recommended places to stop between Sydney and Brisbane are the Hunter Valley, Port Stephens, Nambucca Heads, Yamba, Byron Bay and the Gold Coast.

The Pacific Coast Way from the Gold Coast to Cairns

Continuing on from the Legendary Pacific Coast drive is the Pacific Coast Way, which is about 1800kms running from the Gold Coast (just south of Brisbane) to Cairns in Far North Queensland. Sunworshippers, scuba divers and snorkellers will loooove this one, there’s opportunities to 4WD across white sand beaches, dive the Great Barrier Reef, spot wildlife like dolphins, whales and koalas, fly over heart-shaped reefs and the famous Whitehaven Beach and much, much more.

Set aside a decent chunk of time for your Gold Coast to Cairns road trip as there are plenty of destinations that warrant multi-night stops (Noosa, Hervey Bay/Fraser Island and Airlie Beach to name a few), and activities like boat tours, island visits, scenic flights and diving trips do require a bit of flexibility in your itinerary in case of postponement due to weather conditions. I managed to do it over four weeks but an additional week or two would’ve been much more relaxed.

Western Australia: From Esperance to Broome

The next Australia road trip on my bucket list is to make my way all the way up the Western Australia coast from Esperance to Broome, which is a gigantic 3350kms 🤯 plus return time to and from Perth if that’s where you’re picking up a rental car.

I’ve heard of people doing this trip in three weeks but you’d be spending a lot of time on the road and not have much flexibility to spend additional nights at places you loved. Aim for a minimum of six weeks, ideally two or three months to make the most of it.

Some of the most popular stops on any WA road trip between Esperance and Broome are Margaret River, Kalbarri National Park, Exmouth and Karijini National Park.

Australia bucket list experiences

Some countries are just packed to the brim with once-in-a-lifetime activities, and Australia is one of those destinations. Here are some epic experiences to that will take your trip to the absolute next level.

See the Great Barrier Reef from underwater and from the sky

No trip to Queensland would be complete without a trip to the Great Barrier Reef , and for the best GBR experience I highly recommend going on a dive/snorkel trip as well as getting sky high views with a scenic flight .

Spend a night under the stars or under the water at the Great Barrier Reef

Another GBR experience but this one deserves a point of its own because it is by far the best thing I’ve ever done in Australia, and I’ve done a lot of cool stuff!

You can sleep on the top deck of the Reefworld pontoon at the Outer Great Barrier Reef, with access to incredible snorkel spots after daytrippers go home plus all-inclusive meals and drinks, or splurge big time on an actual underwater hotel room and sleep with fish right outside your window.

Spot some wildlife

The wildlife options in Australia are abundant, with chances to see kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, echidnas, wombats, quokkas, platypuses (yes, I just Googled the plural of platypus), whales, sharks, dingoes and more. Phew!

Kangaroos and wallabies are common in many places but some of the other creatures are a bit harder to find, here are some top tips:

• For whale watching you could head to Hervey Bay (I recommend Blue Dolphin tours ), Logan’s Beach in Warrnambool (end of Great Ocean Road) or Byron Bay depending on the season
• For whale sharks your best bet is Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia from mid-March to mid-July
• Platypuses can often be seen on this rainforest tour from Cairns from April to Oct
• Koalas can usually be spotted in Kangaroo Island (we saw a couple on this e-bike tour ), at Kennett River Nature Walk along the GOR, or on the Forts Walk on Magnetic Island in Queensland (where I took the picture below)
• I spotted a wombat while leaving a carpark on Great Ocean Road (quite a rarity apparently) and saw an echidna as well as a bunch of other cute things on Kangaroo Island too

Do a scenic flight

If you think Australia is beautiful from the ground, just imagine what the rugged landscapes look like from the sky.

As I mentioned already my top recommendation for a scenic flight is over the Great Barrier Reef but here are some more specific suggestions on scenic flights in Australia:

• The Ocean Rafting Fly & Raft tour from Airlie Beach goes over the Heart Reef as well as Whitehaven Beach before you transfer to an Ocean Rafting boat for a day tour to Whitehaven and some snorkelling spots, brilliant value and probably the best reef flight available as it shows you the Whitsunday Islands as well. If you use the promocode FINDINGALEXX you’ll get 10% off any Ocean Rafting tours!
• I also did this 40-minute Reef Hopper flight from Cairns which flies over some incredible reefs and sandbanks
• Sydney is always a great scenic flight destination, with Sydney helicopter flights going over the Opera House, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Bondi Beach views
• Fly over the Flinders Ranges and Lake Eyre in South Australia
• The Twelve Apostles flight is a popular one, I personally think the Great Barrier Reef flights are much more impressive if you can only afford to splurge on one, but if you have the money then the Twelve Apostles heli flight is a worthwhile addition to your Great Ocean Road itinerary
• An Uluru scenic flight is one for the bucket list for sure
• Fly over the Horizontal Falls in Western Australia

Go skydiving

For a scenic flight with a twist, why not jump out of the plane? You can skydive in a number of places across Australia but some of the most popular spots are Cairns , Airlie Beach , Surfers Paradise , Wollongong and the Great Ocean Road .

Spend a night or two on an island

Australia’s mainland is pretty incredible, but there are some islands just offshore that are a brilliant addition to any Australia itinerary.

In South Australia there’s Kangaroo Island , Melbourne has Phillip Island (connected by bridge so easy to get to), and Queensland has a bunch of islands along the coast like Lady Elliot Island which has an incredible eco-resort, Magnetic Island (worth a couple of nights at least) and Fraser Island. On the Western Australia coast the must-do island is Rottnest Island, also known as Rotto, with a bunch of hiking trails and watersports to choose from.

Unique accommodation in Australia

I’m a sucker for a good hotel, hostel or glamping spot, finding epic accommodation is one of my favourite parts of planning a trip. Some of my favourite places to stay in Australia are:

• Evamor Valley and Sierra Escape , both luxurious glamping spots in or near Mudgee
• Hotel Indigo , a super funky boutique hotel in Adelaide
• The bubble tent at Coonawarra Bush Holiday Park
• Kimpton Margot Sydney , a five-star luxury hotel in central Sydney
• Citadines Connect , a brilliant value hotel at Sydney Airport and my go-to for late night arrivals or early departures
• ADGE Apartments , the best value self-contained apartments you’ll find in Sydney
• Ozzie Pozzie YHA , a cheap and cheerful back-to-basics backpacker hostel with a pool and games room
• Surf House Byron Bay , a boutique hostel with stylish rooms, a rooftop bar and unbeatable location
• KOKO Broadbeach , newly-built luxury apartments in the Gold Coast
• Il Mondo Boutique Hotel in Brisbane, a family-owned 4-star hotel in Kangaroo Point with comfortable and very well-priced rooms and apartments
• Bounce Noosa , one of the best hostels I’ve ever stayed in, complete with a glass-sided pool
• Habitat Noosa , which has safari tents with wild kangaroos roaming through the campground
• The riverfront glamping tents at Myall River Camp
• Sea Star Apartments in Airlie Beach, the best value apartment in the town (maybe even in Australia!) with an infinity pool. Absolutely incredible views!
• Island View Motel in Townsville, another family-owned spot with basic but very comfortable and spacious units, plus a pool and BBQ for guest use
• Mission Beach Resort , super spacious rooms with multiple pools on site
• Global Backpackers , by far the best hostel location in Cairns, right opposite Cairns lagoon

I’ll continue adding to this list each time I stay somewhere amazing in Australia!

The best places in Australia for…

If your idea of a holiday involves hitting the boutiques and overloading your suitcase, you’ll want to hit the Queen Victoria Building, the Rocks Markets, Westfield and Pitt Street Mall in Sydney; Bourke Street Mall, Melbourne Central, Chapel Street, Chadstone (the biggest mall in Australia) and South Wharf DFO in Melbourne; and Pacific Fair and Harbour Town Outlets in the Gold Coast.

You can find heart-racing adventures all through Australia but if you want an action-packed holiday, Cairns is most likely to fit the bill. Here you’ll be able to bungy jump, skydive, scuba dive, hang glide, zipline, whitewater raft or even go canyoning.

Scuba diving

The best places to dive in Australia are undoubtedly the Great Barrier Reef or Western Australia’s Ningaloo Reef, but you can also scuba dive on the Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia (to see the rare leafy seadragon), in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, on Lord Howe Island and more.

For a super unique scuba dive experience check out Kilsby Sinkhole near the SA-VIC border, it’s a 60m-deep crystal clear sinkhole that offers snorkelling tours (which I did) and intermittent scuba diving tours.

Sightseeing

If you only had time to visit one or two destinations in Australia due to time or budget constraints, my top two recommendations would be Sydney and either Cairns or Airlie Beach.

There are so many things to do in Sydney to keep you busy, from walking tours to tourist landmarks to day trips like the Blue Mountains or Hunter Valley. In Cairns and Airlie you’ll be able to experience the best of the reef as well as visit some beaches, islands and inland spots like the rainforest if that’s your kind of thing.

For some downtime on your Australia holiday, consider spending some extended time in Noosa and the Sunshine Coast, enjoying the wine regions around Adelaide, chilling out at cute cabins in Tasmania, soaking in the hot pools in Warrnambool or kicking back at the beach in Jervis Bay, a few hours south of Sydney.

Food and wine

Australia is one of my favourite food countries in the world, because there’s a brilliant mix of fresh and local produce as well as eateries that serve up dishes from so many different cuisines.

You can’t go past Melbourne if you’re a true foodie, the range of culinary options is one of the best in the world! I love Milk the Cow for cheese and wine nights, Flour Child for pizza (and other Italian treats) and cocktails, Elektra Fitzroy for Himalayan twists on classic dishes, and Southeast Asian-inspired Chin Chin is another favourite.

Adelaide’s food scene punches well above its weight along with having many of the best wineries in Australia. The Central Market is a must-visit, and to get the ultimate experience I’d recommend doing a market tour with Aus Food Tours (and use the promocode findingalexx to get 10% off).

Other top food and wine spots are Margaret River in Western Australia, Launceston in Tasmania, and Brisbane and the Gold Coast in Queensland.

Australia budget tips

Travel costs in australia.

Travel costs in Australia will totally depend on your travel style and specific destination, but here are some examples to give you a rough idea of how much you’ll spend.

Accommodation

Dorm rooms start from around $20-$35 for basic backpacker hostels, or $40-$50 in fancier hostels or the major cities. For private rooms in hostels I was paying anywhere from $80 in smaller towns like Port Macquarie to $150 in hot spots like Airlie Beach and Sydney. Motel rooms in less busy destinations usually start from $100-$120, and hotels can run anywhere from $120 upwards.

Rental cars

Rental cars in Australia have shot up in price since Covid, with prices ranging from $50 per day (super cheap) up to $200 per day! If you’re road tripping with friends this could totally be worth it, but for a solo trip it’s a pretty pricey way of getting around (as I found out haha) as you’ll also be paying for gas, any additional insurance and things like one way fees by yourself.

Renting a campervan

As with cars, campervan costs have increased through Covid, potentially due to some companies closing down or retiring/selling their fleet to cover their expenses while no one was travelling. At the time of writing (March 2024) you can expect to spend $100-$350 per day on a campervan or motorhome.

Food and drink

If you’re planning on cooking your own meals while travelling Australia, you can spend as little as $60 a week at the supermarket or local markets. Some of my favourite cheap travel meals to make in hostels are baked potatoes, pesto pasta, stir fry or omelettes.

If you’d like to experience Australia’s impressive culinary culture then you can expect to spend $20-$30 on brunch with a coffee, $25-$40 on a casual lunch or dinner with a drink, or $50-$100 on a fancier dinner. A house beer is usually $8-$12 in a bar, house wine from $10-$15 and cocktails from $15-$20.

You could travel Australia on a tight budget and still see loads of the country without spending a cent on an organised activity, but if you do want to try things like day tours, scenic flights, ferry tickets or watersports then this will be something you’ll want to budget for in advance.

An organised day trip out of a city (like a Great Ocean Road day trip from Melbourne or a rainforest tour from Cairns) will generally be $100-$150 for a seat on a small group tour. For day trips out to sea like whale watching or reef snorkelling, expect to spend $150-$250. Scenic flights generally start from $180-$220 for the shorter 20 minute flights.

In terms of iconic landmarks and activities, you’ll spend $43 on a tour of the Sydney Opera House, the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb starts at $248, it’s $89 for entry to Dreamworld in the Gold Coast, a park pass at Uluru is $25 (and valid for three days) and Australia Zoo (made famous by the Irwins) is $59.

Budgeting tips for Australia travel

• Plan any big purchases wisely (clothing, accessories, tech gadgets etc.) so you can claim tax back when you leave Australia
• The cheapest major supermarket is ALDI, with Coles and Woolworths mid-range, and IGA is at the upper end with more local products rather than generic brands
• Look at opportunities to work while travelling (if you have the correct visa), like working at a backpacker hostel in exchange for a room or doing freelance gigs from your laptop to make money while on the road
• Campervanning can save costs big time if you are happy to wild camp/freedom camp, just make sure you use apps like CamperMate to confirm where you’re allowed to park up for the night
• Websites like Klook , Viator and GetYourGuide let you search through loads of the most popular activities in each city so you can cross-check prices to make sure you’re getting the best deal
• You can find last minute deals on travel activities with Bookme

Australia packing tips

Suitcase or backpack.

This one’s always a controversial topic in traveller circles, but I’m Team Suitcase for sure. I travel with lots of camera gear so I’m already carrying 15kgs on my back, there’s no way I could also carry clothing, toiletries and shoes too!

I travel with a Samsonite Cosmolite suitcase which I LOVE and will never switch from, and I also have a PeakDesign camera backpack as my overhead locker cabin bag and a Brevite Jumper to go under the seat.

Most destinations in Australia are suitcase friendly, the roads are well-paved in all major cities and *most* buildings have elevators (except for some older ones in Melbourne and Sydney, in which case hotels/hostels are usually only 2-3 floors).

If you want to use a backpack then it will be easier if you’re taking lots of public transport. My Team Backpack friends always recommend this budget-friendly 35L daypack that meets cabin luggage requirements, this highly-rated 40L Osprey daypack , or this 60L check-in backpack .

Australia travel essentials

Aside from the clothing that suits the weather and climate of wherever you’re going, here are some things you’ll want to add to your Australian packing list:

• Reef-safe sunblock
• Strong insect repellent
• Aloe vera for inevitable sunburn
• A hat with decent coverage, I love the Rider hat from Will & Bear
• A swimsuit or two (or five if you’re like me!)
• A good rain jacket
• Thongs (and by that I mean the footwear, not the underwear)
• Warm clothes if you’re planning on being in the southern half of the country between April and October
• A reusable drink bottle (tap water is safe to drink in Australia)
• A reusable cutlery set
• An eye mask and ear plugs if you’re staying in a hostel
• A quick-dry travel towel
• A universal travel adapter
• A waterproof phone case or GoPro if you’re going to be snorkelling and diving

All Australia blog posts

Things to do

• The ultimate Australia bucket list with 50+ things to do

Itineraries & destination guides

• Three day Great Ocean Road itinerary
• Three days in Adelaide itinerary
• Why Byfield needs to be on your Queensland bucket list
• Why you should add Kangaroo Island to your Adelaide itinerary
• The perfect Sydney to Byron Bay road trip itinerary
• The ultimate Brisbane to Cairns road trip itinerary

Activity & accommodation reviews

• The best accommodation in Australia (that I’ve stayed at personally)
• Great Barrier Reef underwater hotel: Reefsleep & Reefsuites review
• Klook Pass Gold Coast: Is it worth it?
• Hotel review: Deep Blue Hot Springs & Hotel, Warrnambool
• Hotel review: The Langham, Sydney
• Hotel review: Next Hotel, Melbourne
• Hostel review: The Surf House, Byron Bay
• Motel review: Seaview Motel, Kangaroo Island

Budget travel tips

• Sydney Airport Tax Refund: How to claim tax back when you leave Australia

If you’ve got any other questions about my time in Australia or any suggestions on blogs you want me to write, please let me know! You can leave a comment, message me on Instagram @findingalexx or flick me an email at [email protected] .

Happy travels everyone!

You’ll Also Love

August 10, 2022 at 8:52 am

Hey mate, JP from ‘Escape The Stanway’ here! Just wanted to say this guide is incredible, so much detail and value to go with it. Has certainly set a bench mark as to what a travel blog/guide should look like and I have definitely taken some inspiration from it. So, thank you!

August 18, 2022 at 6:26 am

Ahh this is the nicest comment to receive 🙂 thanks so much man, appreciate your kind words!

May 26, 2023 at 7:12 pm

I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt appreciation for the incredible resource you’ve created. Your Australia travel guide has been an absolute game-changer for me and has undoubtedly enhanced my travel experiences in ways I never imagined.

June 7, 2023 at 6:22 pm

Thank you for putting together such a comprehensive guide. I’ll be referring to it constantly as I plan my Australia adventure. Cheers!

June 22, 2023 at 1:29 am

Glad to hear it’s been helpful, hope you have a fantastic time!

June 25, 2023 at 10:12 pm

Thank you for this comprehensive Australia travel guide! As someone who is planning a trip Down Under, I truly appreciate the wealth of information and tips you’ve provided. Your personal experiences and insights make it even more valuable and relatable. I love how you’ve covered various aspects of travel, from must-see destinations to different types of experiences for every kind of traveler. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and expertise!

June 26, 2023 at 3:23 am

I’m so glad it’s been useful 🙂 thanks for reading!

November 7, 2023 at 9:27 am

Love that you mention Adelaide. I’m actually a Qldr but I love Adelaide and it never seems to end up on anyones list. Beaches, food, wine – what’s not to love!

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All Destinations , Australasia , Australia , Road Trip Itineraries

Road trip in australia: an itinerary for the whole country.

G’day mates, I’m here to take you on a 6 month long road trip in Australia.

Well, I’m not actually taking you (although maybe I’ll get the chance to do guided road trips around this beautiful country at some point, watch this space!), but, with this 6 month itinerary for the ultimate Australian road trip, you’ll know exactly where to go and when .

This Australia road trip planner is customizable depending on your wishes, but I’ve added suggested lengths of times in each location. I

’m recommending at least six months to orbit Australia (this Australia road trip itinerary takes you into the centre as well).

Australia is big and some days will consist of just driving.

Also, this itinerary doesn’t include for rest and admin days – so do take that into account when you plan your road trip in Australia.

I’ve also got dozens of more detailed itineraries for different segments of the road trip, as well as city and region itineraries for different parts of the country.

You can click through to them using the links below – all links open in a new window.

So wherever you’re visiting on this island, and whether you’re backpacking in Australia or on a road trip with toddlers , you can use this 6 month itinerary to plan your ultimate Australia road trip.

Shall we begin?

When to take the road trip in Australia?

I recommend that you begin the road trip in Melbourne in March or April.

Of course, you don’t have to begin at this time, or even in Melbourne. Most travellers fly into Melbourne or Sydney, and as Melbourne is the most temperamental weather – wise, I thought it would be nice to give you two chances to see it in its glory.

Plus, Tasmania, which I’ve put on the end of this road trip Australia itinerary, is accessible from Melbourne.

I’d recommend starting your road trip from Melbourne in March or April, as this should give you the best weather everywhere – it’ll be a bit cold in the south at first, but it will quickly warm up.

Then once you’ve returned to Melbourne, you’ll have a summer there!

Of course, if you want to start in Darwin (which is the cheapest place to fly into from Asia), then you could do this loop starting in September or October, skipping the rainy season in the north and arriving back there for the high season.

Bear in mind that some parts of the north, like Kakadu and the Gibb River Road, are inaccessible during the rainy season.

The south is still great during the winter, but may be a bit chilly and it is more rainy. Some rough outback roads all over the country can be closed when it rains.

What to pack for the Australia road trip

I’m going to be writing a full road trip Australia packing list very soon, but here’s some staples you’re not going to want to forget:

• A car or van (just in case you forget!). If you want a car like my Subaru, you can find deals on a Subaru model on KBB, BCP, Edmunds and other huge sites. For my budget, I couldn’t have asked for a better car in Australia. It’s a great vehicle for road tripping, with AWD capacities and a fantastic reputation for reliability – actually, its Outback model is on the Consumer Reports’s best road trip vehicle lists!
• High quality tent if you’re not sleeping in your car/ van
• High quality sleeping bag suitable for both tropical and temperate climates
• Mattress – a blow up, camping mat or full on double inflatable mattress (you might want to opt for the latter if you’re camping for six months).
• An esky – that’s Australian for coolbox, by the way – or a cooler bag .
• A camping stove
• Gas for said stove
• Pots and pans
• High quality torches
• Coolant, oil, jump leads, and a spare fuel tank for the car
• Ask for some of these gifts for campers for Christmas as some extras!
• If you’re planning on doing some serious off-roading and have a 4×4 (only do off-roading in a 4×4!) You might also want some quality 4×4 accessories. Check out Lifestyle 4x4s range here. 

If you haven’t left your home country yet, check out my what to pack for Australia list to check you’ve got all of the essentials covered.

Where to stay during your road trip around Australia

I’m presuming you’ll be camping around most of Australia – download the app WikiCamps to help you find free and paid campsites, and check out my free camping in Australia post to get the basics.

In places where campsites, free or paid, aren’t readily available, I’ve recommended some hostels and hotels.

You can also of course use Airbnb (click here for money off your first booking) and Couchsurfing, depending on your travelling style.

Road Trip Australia Itinerary for 6 Months on the Road

Melbourne: 3 days.

There are so many things to do in Melbourne; it’s been voted the world’s most liveable city time and time again for a reason.

From the wealth of museums to the amazing coffee, to cultural attractions like the AMCI and the Victoria Art Gallery, to the many vintage stores, to the beautiful library, you certainly won’t get bored during your time here!

You might not quite have seven days in the city, but this Melbourne itinerary will help you get to grips with the place.

Oh, and are you conscious of not spending too much at your first stop? I got ya! I had an erm… interesting time in Melbourne where I only had about $14 to my name.

Check out my tips for visiting Melbourne on a budget here.

There aren’t many places to free camp near Melbourne – I stayed at Urban Central Hostel, which is decent (although no free parking). You can book in by clicking here .

Victoria Hotel Backpackers is 5km from the city centre, but does have free parking. Click here to book .

Want to stay somewhere a bit more upscale? The Novotel Melbourne is a good option, close to the centre and with free parking. Click here for rates and to reserve .

Melbourne to Sydney: 1 week

The Melbourne to Sydney road trip is one that’s well-trodden with travelers, but it still isn’t hard to find somewhere that’s a little off the beaten path.

Highlights include Wilson’s Promontory National Park , Lakes Entrance , Eden , camping in a NSW state forest and Jervis Bay .

Once you reach Jervis Bay, if you want, you can take a detour inland to Canberra , the nation’s capital and to the beautiful Blue Mountains National Park – a must-see about 3 hours west of Sydney.

Sydney: 3 days

Sydney’s the most famous city of Australia, and one that all tourists want to visit, but there’s more here than just an opera house. Once you’ve seen the crowning glory from a few different angles – from Darling Harbour, Mrs Macquaries Seat and of course, up close are my favourites – check out some of the other things to do in Sydney.

It’s famous for its beaches of course; Bondi, Glebe and Manly are firm favourites. Click here for my three days in Sydney itinerary. There are some really great hostels in Sydney – although they’re bladdy expensive.

Bounce is really well facilitated, but it’ll set you back around $40 for a dorm room. I also really like YHA Railway Square, where you can stay in dorms in train cabins! Click here to book .

If you want free parking, you’ll need to stay a bit further out. I’ve also stayed in Cambridge Lodge Budget Hostel which is near Newtown – it has cheap dorm rates (for Sydney) and free parking. Click here to book .

If you’re looking for a hotel, Veriu Broadway is in a good location and has free parking. Click here to book .

Sydney to Brisbane: 1 week

The Sydney to Brisbane road trip takes in some amazing nature spots, as well as my favourite place in the world, Byron Bay.

Driving north, you’ll reach Newcastle fun things to do in this town here (check out some ) and Port Macquarie before turning inland towards the Waterfall Way .

This hinterland is beautiful, so give yourself a bit of time to properly absorb it all.

Then head out toward Coffs Harbour and up to Yamba , a chill beach town with some great natural spots.

Then it’s time for Byron Bay and its surrounds – check out these great things to do in Bryon Bay and don’t forget to see its hinterland.

Then you’ll cross into Queensland – the Gold Coast is your first point of call, with Surfer’s Paradise being a place to let your hair down before relaxing on some of the other beaches!

Finally, you’ll arrive into the capital of the sunshine state, Brisbane .

Brisbane: 3 days

Brisbane is often an overlooked Australian city, but it’s well worthy of a spot on your road trip around Australia. It’s a chilled out, breathable place, with lots of attractions to pass a few days in.

Check out the Brisbane Botanical Garden, the Brisbane Museum, the City Beach and the sunset from Kangaroo Point Cliffs.

If you’re already missing nature, head to Stradbroke Island which is very close to the centre and feasible as a day or overnight trip. You could even go camping at Adder Rock if you don’t want to return to the city for accommodation!

City Backpackers HQ is my preferred Brisbane hostel – and it has free parking! It’s reasonably priced and has a bar, a pool, a terrace with city views and $10 nightly dinner deals. Click here to book .

For a hotel option, Ibis Styles is a great option in the middle of the city. Click here for rates and book today .

Brisbane to Cairns: 3 weeks

The most popular one of all the Australian road trips, Brisbane to Cairns is the one where you’ll see the most travellers – and for good reason.

There are tons of amazing spots here, and it’s also the perfect spot to make some friends!

Highlights include Noosa National Park , Fraser Island , surfing at Agnes Water , the Aboriginal cultural centre at Rockhampton , the Whitsunday Islands , Magnetic Island , diving or snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef , and the beautiful Daintree Rainforest .

Cairns is another place you’ll probably be wanting to stay in a hostel – all of the free campsites are quite far out.

Gilligans has free parking, and the rest – it’s a really well facilitated place, with lots going on, but is only for those who are dedicated to partying!

If you want somewhere a bit more chilled, Cairns City Backpackers has free parking as well and has a calm courtyard and good atmosphere. It’s a 15 – 20 minute walk from the centre. Click here for rates and book today .

Want a hotel? Double Tree Hilton Cairns is a great place to relax and unwind! Click here for rates and book today .

You’ll need a four-wheel drive for this segment of the road trip; and it’s somewhere really off the beaten track. Think rainforest, crocodiles, rugged tracks and beautiful beaches, eventually making it to the tip of Australia.

Accommodation on the way will be free camping, and there’s only the odd roadhouse or pub – this is proper off the grid living.

Cape York was a spot I didn’t make it to (and I can’t wait to return to Australia and go!) – here’s a great 7 day itinerary for the trip to the tip .

Cape York to Uluru: 1 week

From the base of Cape York, rejoin the highway and head westwards, towards the Northern Territory border .

You’ll see a really distinct landscape here as the terrain changes, and experience towns like Karumba and Burketown (if you take highway one) or Charters Towers and Mount Isa (if you take the A6).

Either way, it’s a lot of country towns, desolate scenery and hot temperatures! Once you reach the Stuart Highway, turn down and head towards your ultimate destination: Uluru .

You’ll be able to see the attractions on the Stuart Highway on the way back up, but by all means stop at them on the way down as well!

Uluru is an unmissable place in Australia and at least 2 full days should be spent here.

Take some time to walk around the base and see the rock art, do some of the walks in the area to the gorges, and see Katja Tutja on the Valley of the Winds walk.

Uluru to Darwin: 2 weeks

After some time at beautiful Uluru, make your way north. If you have a 4WD or an AWD (or you can do it in a 2WD if you’re daring – do double check road conditions before you head out though!) take on the Red Centre Way .

This is a loop that takes you to King’s Canyon and then to Alice Springs the back way.

You’ll get to check out the West McDonnell Ranges , which are really spectacular, and drive along rough, outback roads. You might see wild ponies and camels!

Then head to Alice Springs for a couple of nights.

Next, head north to Tennant Creek , stopping in Wycliffe Well – the UFO capital of Australia – and at the Devil’s Marbles . You’re approaching the top end now; after Tennant Creek spend a night at Daly Waters , a fantastic pub and campground.

Mataranka has some beautiful springs and sweltering Katherine is your next stop, with the Nitmiluk National Park . Then it’s on to Kakadu National Park and finally, to Darwin .

Darwin: 3 days

I love and hate Darwin at the same time.

It’s a great place to let your hair down and party, if that’s your scene – but the backpacker crowd is typically pretty OTT.

There are some fun things to do in Darwin , however – the Military Museum is a must, as is the Art Gallery and Museum of the Northern Territory.

If you have the funds, a day trip to the Tiwi Islands is a must-do as well.

Plus there’s Charles Darwin National Park and the lagoon which is perfect for a dip on a sweltering Darwin day.

Darwin hostels are… interesting. If you’re there to party and don’t mind sacrificing on sleep and erm a certain standard of cleanliness, Youth Shack is an option – I found the dorms and bathrooms not the cleanest, but there is a really nice pool area. (Have I sold it? Click here if you want to book after my rave review 😉 )

Melaleuca has higher cleanliness, but is even more of a party place (if possible!). Click here for more information .

If you want somewhere chill on a budget in Darwin, I’d recommend staying at a campsite out of the city, finding somewhere on Airbnb – use this link for $44 off your first booking – or Couchsurfing .

I’ve done all of these in Darwin!

The Argus Hotel is modern, comfortable and clean and has a pool and on-site restaurant. Click here for rates and to book .

Darwin to Broome (via the Gibb River Road): 2 weeks

Heading south, your first stop should be Litchfield National Park .

I don’t find it as breathtaking as Kakadu, but it’s worth the stop.

Then head west, towards the border with Western Australia. It’s a long old drive, but once you’ve crossed it, head into Kununurra and check out some of the town’s attractions.

Then it’s time for Lake Argyle – this beautiful spot is perfect for kicking back in for a couple of days. Make sure you stay in the Lake Argyle campsite and enjoy its amazing infinity pool!

If you have a 4WD or AWD (I did it in an AWD, much to a lot of people’s disbelief!), take on the Gibb River Road .

This is my favourite part of Australia – 660 kilometres of gorges, waterfalls, secluded campsites and unmissable nature.

You’ll get off the road at Derby, from which it is a 2-hour drive to Broome.

Broome to Perth: 3 weeks

Spend a few days recharging in beautiful Broome , making sure you don’t miss a sunset!

If you’re there during Staircase to the Moon, it’s well worth checking out.

Gantheaume Point is amazing for dinosaur footprints and cliff jumping, and if you have a 4WD Cape Leveque is a great spot to head up to.

Broome town centre has some interesting attractions which nods to its Indigenous heritage and history as a pearling town. If you’re wanting to stay in the heart of Broome or Cable Beach, you’ll need to pay for accommodation.

I spent a month at Cable Beach Backpackers, which is a small hostel with a really nice atmosphere. Click here for more information and to book .

If you want to stay in Broome town Kimberley Klub YHA is a good option. Click here for rates and book today .

For somewhere a bit more private, try Broome Vacation Village. Click here for more information and to book .

Once you hit the road again, your first stop will be 80 Mile Beach and then Port Hedland .

From Port, you can head southwards to Karijini National Park – one of the best in Australia.

Then head out to the west coast to Exmouth and the Ningaloo Reef .

If it is the right time of year, you can go snorkeling with whale sharks here; a bucket list experience.

Diving at the Navy Pier is also incredible. From Exmouth, head south to the country town of Canarvon and then Shark Bay .

Going south more will take you to Kalbarri National Park , Geraldton and then the Coral Coast .

The Indian Ocean Drive here is incredible, as you drive right next to the sea. The Pinnacles, Lancelin and New Norcia round off your west coast itinerary before arriving in Perth.

Perth: 4 days

Perth is my favourite Australian city .

I love the spaciousness, the blue skies, the copious amounts of water. Spend a day in the CBD, seeing the attractions there like Elizabeth Quay and King’s Park.

Day two should be spent in funky Fremantle, a hip suburb with lots of attractions .

On day three, head to the Perth Hills to see another side of the city.

Finally, take a ferry over to Rottnest Island for a slice of island livin’. Billabong Backpackers in Perth offers free parking and also has a pool, a large common area and free breakfast. Click here for more information and to book .

If you’re wanting to stay in Fremantle, the Old Fire Station is the one – check out my review here and book using this link .

OFS does have parking but it’s kind of expensive – I used to park at South Beach and take the free CAT bus there.

For a hotel option, Tribe Perth is clean, contemporary and has free parking. Click here for more information and to book .

Perth to Esperance: 1 week

Once you’ve had your fill of Perth, head back down south (you could stop back into Freo on the way down, I wouldn’t blame you!) toward Margaret River .

This is a beautiful area where you could easily spend a few days. Next on your trip is the karri forests of Pemberton and swing by D’entrecasteaux national park .

There are some amazing beaches around Denmark and Albany , as well as some intriguing natural attractions. Then head to Fitzgerald River National Park and check out the unique biosphere here.

After, it’s time for Esperance , which has a picturesque ocean drive. Head to Cape le Grand National Park after, which has famous white sand beaches and lots of kangaroos.

If you have a 4WD, Cape Arid National Park is worth a visit too, before you head back to Esperance and start the drive north to the Nullarbor Plain.

The Nullarbor: 3 days

The Nullarbor Plain is a place of mystery; it’s a long, arid stretch of road with not much at all to see. But it’s really beautiful, and the feeling of being so in the middle of nowhere is unbeatable.

Take three days to drive it, as you’ll want to take it in properly and avoid driver fatigue. Highlights include Australia’s longest straight road, various quirky road houses and the beautiful Great Australian Bight .

You can free camp near here and watch the sunrise in the morning – it’s a magical experience. At the end of the Nullarbor, the seaside towns of Ceduna and Streaky Bay are worth popping into.

The Eyre Peninsula: 2 days

The Eyre Peninsula juts down at the bottom of South Australia, and is a great destination for 4WDing, beautiful beaches and wild camping.

The terrain varies from what you’ve just experienced on the Nullarbor, and there are a few small towns that are worth checking out around the peninsula.

Port Augusta to Coober Pedy: 4 days

At the top eastern side of the Eyre Peninsula, arriving in Port Augusta will feel like you’ve reached a city. It’s time to head north, up the Stuart Highway, to a town called Coober Pedy.

This is a 550-kilometre detour (plus the return trip) to see a population 3,500 town where everyone lives underground; and I do think it’s worth it.

If you love the weird and wonderful, you’ll find lots of entertaining things to do in Coober Pedy . The drive up there is pretty mesmerizing as well!

Coober Pedy to the Flinders Ranges: 5 days

And the good news is you don’t have to go back the way you came; from Coober Pedy, you can head south east on the Oodnadatta Track – an unsealed but generally in good condition (check before you head out) road connecting the Stuart Highway with the Outback Highway.

You’ll drive around the south side of Lake Eyre (if you have a 4WD and a sense of adventure you might have the chance to go off the track and see it more) and experience even more outback living.

It’s hard to ever get enough, really!

The Flinders Ranges are a beautiful national park that twin mountains and outback – looking otherworldly.

Adelaide: 3 days

From the southern end of the Flinders Ranges, it is about a fiv hour drive to Adelaide (and this is their local national park – told ya Australia was big!).

Adelaide, like Perth, seems to get a reputation for being ‘boring’ but it’s actually a bundle of joy.

The city is really gorgeous, with markets, museums, a great state library and there’s lots of nature around the city, including beaches and vineyards. Make sure you check out the Barossa Valley.

Backpack Oz in Adelaide has a great atmosphere with a bar and organized trips, and is set in a historic building. There isn’t free parking right by the hostel, but there are spots nearby – the hostel staff can advise you. Click here for rates and to book .

If you’re after a hotel, Pullman Adelaide is a good option with free parking. Click here for more information and to book .

Adelaide to Melbourne: 1 week

Between Adelaide to Melbourne, there are a few great attractions, both coastal and inland. Coolong National Park and Mount Gambier are great spots to visit with South Australia, and once you cross over the border, head north towards Gariwerd (The Grampians) National Park .

A couple of hours east from here is the historic city of Ballarat , with attractions geared around its gold-rush history.

From here, zig-zag back down to Warrnambool, where you can enjoy the gorgeous Great Ocean Road. Spend a few days here enjoying the beaches and attractions before completing your loop and reaching Melbourne city once again.

Tasmania: 3 weeks

But your trip doesn’t stop here!

From Melbourne, catch the Spirit of Tasmania over to Devonport .

From here, you can do a circuit of the island state, enjoying attractions like the Bay of Fires, Wineglass Bay, the Tasman Peninsula, the capital Hobart (which is worthy of a few days in itself) and the mighty Cradle Mountain . Make sure you check out the north coast and the beautiful town of Stanley as well.

Three weeks is a great time to see everything properly, although because Tasmania is small compared to the rest of Australia, you can do it in less.

You’ll be able to free camp most of the way around Tasmania, but in Hobart, I recommend staying at Montacute Bunkhouse. It’s a beautiful boutique hostel with lots of features to make a really pleasant night’s stay. Click here for rates and book today .

If you want a bit more space, Riverfront Motel and Villas makes you feel like you’re still in nature while being very close to Hobart city! Click here for rates and to reserve .

Then take the spirit back over to Melbourne and conclude your road trip around Australia!

End: Melbourne, VIC in SEPTEMBER OR OCTOBER

You’ve done it! You’ve circumnavigated Australia, seeing the very best of the country.

If you’re in the country on a year’s working holiday visa, you’ve arrived in Melbourne just as the summer kicks off and the city comes alive. You’ve even got time to do your regional work for another year down under!

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13 thoughts on “ Road Trip in Australia: An Itinerary for the Whole Country! ”

Oh my goodness, this itinerary is AMAZING!!! What an adventure you would have had!! This is a total dream for my husband and I. I’ve stayed at the Urban Hostel in Melbourne, it’s a great little hostel. I wonder did you do much freedom camping? We dream of kitting out a van or minibus but we’ve heard it can be hard to find places to camp free. Will be bookmarking this itinerary to come back to if we’re lucky enough to get to do this trip someday!

I’m glad you enjoyed this Rhiannon! Are you based in Australia currently? It’s a cool spot isn’t it! Yes I did mainly free camping 🙂 Wikicamps has lots of options and I never had any issues – many of them are serviced by pubs or roadhouses so I just spent a little in the establishments. I have an article about free camping in Australia as well! I hope you get to do this trip, it’s not too expensive and it’s the adventure of a lifetime!!

Hi Claire! Going to Australia early in may to do my 3 months of work asap after arrival. Hopefully i will be ready to kick off my roadtrip somewhere in september starting in Southwestern Aus and travelling the country in a –> (N) <– looking route if you can understand what i mean. Doing this because a want the eastcoast summer and will probably stay there for a while. Im guessing this will take me approximately 7 moths to complete, I dont really have a timeline, but would like to get a full year on my second year visa to settle down and work etc.

What do you think about the route, does it make sense to you considering the weather and all or does it sound completely crazy?

Thank you for your inspo, noted many tips from you! 😉

I think it’s a great idea to do your farm work as soon as you get there. You should be able to find something in Southwestern, I’m not sure what the harvest seasons are like in Margaret River but I know it’s a popular spot for farm work.

In September I actually think I’d go the other way. It’ll be warming up by then down south, you’ll get over to the east coast around November and will still be there for summer (although you don’t really need to be there then above Brisbane, I’d say spring/ autumn are better weather, it is rainy season during the summer as well!), and then after summer you’ll get to enjoy the NT and the Kimberleys after the wet season (when waterfalls are at their best).

The other way would work too, but you’d need to rush the west coast/ Kimberleys/ NT to get it done before the wet season starts and they’re not places you want to rush, trust me!

But do whatever you think is best depending on your preferences 🙂 Let me know if you have any more questions and I’m glad the blog helped!

This looks like an awesome trip! I will probably fly to Australia at the end of august/ beginning of september. Not sure where I will be landing yet, keeping my options open for now. If I would want to start this roadtrip , where would you suggest me to start if i would want to start in september?

Your blog is very helpfull btw!

Hi Claire, We are a family of four (kids 3y and 5y) living in Rocky for one year. We are thinking of a roadtrip Rockhampton-Cairns-back to Townsville-Alice springs- Kings canyon- Aderlaide-Melbourne in 1,5-2 months. What do you think about that? We have a 2w car at the moment, would that be enough? Also thinking about getting a camper trailer for this roadtrip, or du you think it would be enough B&B, motels or hostel on the way to be ok? And we are thinking about doing it between May-August sometime. Or is it preferable a 4W car doing that roadtrip? We are just in the beginning of this plan, so I am happy with every advice you can give me. Regards Frida

Amazing! Your itinerary sounds good, although I’m guessing with kids you’ll want to add some time on so I’d definitely go towards 2 months in your case. As far as I know the only way you’d get from Townsville to Alice Springs on a 2WD track is via Tennant Creek, certainly doable but it will take a while. There is the Outback Way that stretches from Queensland all the way to Western Australia via the red centre but that’s 4WD only.

I love camping and would always recommend it, it does save a lot of money as well. If you’re happy to use tents they’re a great option without having to get a camper trailer! If not, you could probably just about get by without (staying at roadhouses and hostels in bigger places) but I wouldn’t want to say 100%.

May – August is a good time! It might be a bit cold in the south, so you might want to opt for some indoor accommodation then, but it’s still beautiful.

Let me know if you have any other questions!

Claire, I have been planing a solo Australian cross country driving trip from Sydney to Darwin. What have learned is that car rental in Australia is different then USA. My original plan was to land in Sydney, rent a suv and start driving but it doesn’t seems that easy due to your car rental laws.

That said would you be able to advise the best approach to achieve my goal.

Kind regards Tom K. [email protected]

So I’m actually British but spent a long time in Australia, I bought a car in Melbourne no problem and sold it again 8 months later. I did however rent a car in Australia and didn’t have any issues. What is the problem that you are finding with the car rental? Let me know and hopefully I can help!

Hi Claire, I am planning to do road trip with roughly the same itinerary, and I was wondering wether you think a 4*4 car is necessary or not ? And weather 4 or 5 months would be enough to do it? Thanks, Taís.

Myself, my partner and our 2 yr old son are planning to go from Melbourne to Broome via Perth along the West Coast. Then possibly up to Darwin and back down through Alice Springs to Melbourne. We are taking a caravan with us. Firstly, do you think it’s going to be too long and uncomfortable for a 2 old to cope with being on the road so long. And also is 2 months long enough for this trip?

This is a great itinerary! I’m looking to come to Aus and do a roadtrip of as much of the country as possible without rushing too much. I’ll be there late May-August. How much do you think is doable for 3 months? What would you cut out to squeeze this itinerary down?

Thank you!!

hi lovely! wow your trip looked incredible! what an experience. i have 2 months with hubby and 2 kids to do round trip… any tips? i am using some of your stop off as the base 😀

starting in canberra.. wondering if we should head clockwise or anticlockwise? will be starting in june next year (ideally). driving in a 4wd with pop top tent.

thank you any feedback would be amazing. i have no idea where to start..

love from an amateur

Comments are closed.

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Australia Travel Guide

Last Updated: April 1, 2024

Australia is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world. It’s known as a major backpacking, camping, road tripping, and diving destination.

Backpacking Australia is considered a “must do” for backpackers. It’s a central highlight on the round-the-world trail. I started coming to Australia in 2008 as a backpacker. It hooked me and, since then, I’ve visited over five times and have crisscrossed the country three times. Every single trip I discover something new about this country to love.

But this isn’t just a country for backpackers. Its huge diversity means every traveler can find something they love here.

Australia is filled with incredible natural beauty: Uluru and the Outback, rainforests and pristine white sand beaches, and of course, the Great Barrier Reef. Sydney’s Harbor Bridge and Opera House are iconic man-made wonders, and Melbourne’s café culture will make you feel like you’re relaxing in Europe . You have surfing, hiking, camping, boating, and a ton of other activities available to you. It makes some of the best wine in the world. Australia has it all.

However, the country’s size and limited transportation options, makes it hard to get around. And it’s not the cheapest place to visit, even if the currency is a tad weak right now.

Fortunately, this extensive Australia travel guide will show you how to save money, plan your trip, and make the most of your time Down Under. Because this country is worth taking the time to explore – and doesn’t need to cost a fortune!

Table of Contents

• Things to See and Do
• Typical Costs
• Suggested Budget
• Money-Saving Tips
• Where to Stay
• How to Get Around
• How to Stay Safe
• Best Places to Book Your Trip
• Related Blogs on Australia

Click Here for City Guides

Top 5 things to see and do in australia.

1. See Sydney

Australia’s largest city has a range of activities to keep you busy. Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge, surf at Bondi Beach, party in King’s Cross, sail across the harbor, visit the Opera House, and take in world-class innovation in Darling Harbor. There’s a ton to see and do here and it’s worth spending a few days here to soak it all in. Other popular beaches nearby include Manly (wide and beautiful), Bronte (small and quiet), Coogee (fun), Palm (chill), and Dee Why (surfing). And, if you’re feeling adventurous, tours that climb the iconic (and massive) harbor bridge cost 250 AUD.

2. Visit Uluru

This beautiful red rock formed over 550 million years ago. Tourists have been visiting the rock since the 1930s and it’s of great spiritual importance to the local Aboriginal peoples. Formerly known as Ayers Rock, the best way to visit is by going as part of a multi-day tour of the area or driving on your own. You’ll be able to walk around the rock, learn about its cultural importance, and watch the rising/setting sun splash against it. Admission is 38 AUD per person and is valid for three days. Note: Climbing on the rock is prohibited.

3. Dive the Great Barrier Reef

Don’t miss diving or snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef. It’s the largest living organism on Earth, spanning some 344,000 square kilometers (133,000 square miles). The reef is brimming with wildlife, including giant clams, manta rays, sharks, turtles, clown fish, and more! Cairns is the most popular jumping-off point for dive trips to the reef. I was blown away by the abundant wildlife and coral. It did not disappoint! Dive trips start around 230 AUD.

4. Explore Melbourne

Melbourne is much more relaxed than Sydney (and, personally, I like it more). This is the place to relax by the river, walk through the city gardens, eat amazing food, enjoy the art, and party in St. Kilda. It’s a fun, chill city with a youthful vibe and a ton of backpackers.

5. Sail the Whitsundays

The Whitsunday Islands are a collection of 74 islands off the central coast of Queensland. They’re one of the most popular destinations in the country. It’s a popular region for sailing trips and since the vast majority of these islands are designated national parks, you’ll find numerous pristine beaches and dive sites here. It’s a postcard-perfect region. Expect to pay between 399-499 AUD per person for a three-day/two-night sailing trip. While expensive, it’s worth doing (I loved my trip).

Other Things to See and Do in Australia

1. explore fraser island.

The world’s largest sand island is a popular spot for camping, swim, hike, and seeing dingoes. You can hire your own 4WD car or take an overnight tour through the island that’s famous for its freshwater lake (and dingoes). The island is beautiful and filled with lakes, hiking paths, and sweeping vistas. Sadly, you can’t go in the water nearby as it’s rough and full of sharks, but there’s plenty of fishing, cool sand dunes, the stunning 75 Mile Beach, and a cool shipwreck for snapping photos. Camping on the island is super cheap too (less than 10 AUD per night!).

2. Visit Cairns

Cairns is Australia’s gateway to northern Queensland. From here you can visit the Great Barrier Reef, the Daintree rainforest, the Atherton Tablelands, Cape Tribulation, and much more. Cairns is a pretty typical tropical city and life here focuses on taking the time to smell the roses. With so much to see, the city deserves a very long stay. Plan to visit for a week, which should give you enough time to explore the area and allows some downtime by the city’s awesome pool.

3. Wander Brisbane’s South Bank

Brisbane is a “business city.” Unlike Sydney or Melbourne, there isn’t a lot of “culture” here. But it’s a popular stop on the backpacker trail due to its location. Be sure to explore South Bank, which has some nice restaurants and decent pubs. There’s also an educational koala sanctuary here as well as a relaxing botanical gardens.

4. Hike the Daintree

The world’s oldest rainforest (yes, it’s older than the Amazon) offers hikes that range from easy to challenging, with dense jungles, beautiful mountains, waterfalls, and lots of wildlife. Spend a few days hiking around and getting out of touristy Cairns. If you really want to get off the beaten path, head up to Cape Tribulation and enjoy some real peace and quiet (just watch out for jellyfish when you go swimming). There are all kinds of day and multi-day trips available here with two-day guided trips costing around 350 AUD per person.

5. See Perth

Perth is Australia’s west coast capital and is often overlooked by most travelers. It’s expensive to get out there from the east coast (it’s a 5-hour flight from Sydney) so most travelers avoid it. But I love it. In fact, it’s probably my favorite city in all of Australia. Perth feels more like a large town than a city and is the best place to have a “Sunday Session” (an Aussie tradition of drinking on Sunday afternoons). From the beaches, food, and beer (be sure to take a day trip to Freemantle), Perth is just awesome.

6. Explore the Outback

No trip to Australia is complete without a trip to the Outback to see crocodiles, valleys, lakes, and the red desert. Find your own Crocodile Dundee as you explore the Red Center and Western Australia. And be sure to visit some of the places I love: Karijini National Park, the Kimberleys, Kakadu, and Litchfield National Park. The landscapes are stunning and there are all kinds of epic hikes to enjoy.

7. Surf on the Gold Coast

Australia is famous for its surfing, and one of the best places to learn is on the Gold Coast near Brisbane. You’ll find world-class waves, a wide beach, and lots of available lessons. If you don’t like the Gold Coast , there is always Noosa, Byron Bay, Bondi Beach, Perth, and, well, you get the idea. There’s a lot of surfing in Australia! A two-hour group lesson costs around 75 AUD. If you don’t need lessons and just want to surf, you can rent a board for around 60 AUD per day.

8. Take a wine tour

Whether you go down to Margret River, Hunter Valley, or the Barossa Valley, you will have many chances to taste Aussie wine right from the source. Visiting the wine country should be on your list of things to do. If you rent a car, you can stay longer or you can do guided tours from major cities. I think it’s best to base yourself in the area and spend about 3-5 days in each area tasting as much wine as possible. Day tours with Colorful Trips that visit three wineries in the Hunter Valley cost 199 AUD.

9. Admire the Ningaloo Reef

The Great Barrier Reef gets all the hype, but the Ningaloo Reef on the west coast is a far better reef system. Because it’s less developed and attracts fewer tourists, there are actually more fish and wildlife here — you can even swim with whale sharks . Plus, at some points (like at Coral Bay), the reef comes so close to the shore that you can swim right up to it on your own. Half-day trips start around 120-225 AUD per person.

10. Visit Western Australia

The most overlooked area in the country is the west coast. Here you can escape the crowds of the east coast, explore the Outback, see the Ningaloo Reef, Coral Bay (one of my favorite spots in the world), Broome, Perth, and the Margaret River. It’s much less developed than the east coast but if you take one piece of advice away from this guide, it should be to visit this part of Australia. It’s the version of the country you picture in your head and is an amazing region for road trips, camping, hiking, and enjoying nature.

11. Tour Tasmania

Despite everyone knowing its name, hardly anyone ever makes it down here. (It’s far from the main tourist trail.) Tasmania has amazing hikes, beautiful bays (Wineglass Bay being the most famous), small towns, and excellent people. It’s just a ferry away from Melbourne too. The island is about the size of Ireland (or West Virginia in the USA) yet it’s home to just under 545,000 people. If you have the time, explore this terribly under-visited part of the country. It’s amazing. The ferry from the mainland costs around 100 AUD each way and takes 9-11 hours.

12. Hike the Blue Mountains

Right outside of Sydney , the Blue Mountains are an awesome place to explore. Over millennia, the ancient sandstone of this national park has been weathered into gorges lined by steep cliffs and separated by narrow ridges. The area is free to visit and you can get there by train, which takes around two hours. Spend the day admiring the magnificent rock formation of the Three Sisters (particularly stunning at sunset and under evening floodlights) and hiking along the paths that offer excellent views of the valley, sheer rock walls, tumbling waterfalls, and magnificent forests. For a guided tour, Get Your Guide offers full-day wildlife-spotting tours for 155 AUD.

13. Learn about pearling in Broome

Broome used to be the largest pearling port in the world. Founded around 1880, pearls were an important commodity used for making cutlery, buttons, and jewelry. By 1900, there were 300 ships here, though the industry fell into decline during World War II (and then, after the war, plastic was invented, which diminished the need for pearls). You can learn all about the region’s rich history at the Pearl Lugger Museum (tours for 30 AUD). If you want a more hands-on experience, Willie Creek Pearls also offers a two-hour boat tour for 129 AUD. You’ll learn about the risks and challenges of the industry while also getting to hold and touch all kinds of valuable pearls.

14. Visit the Kimberley

This area is known for its wilderness, so if you love the outdoors and don’t mind things getting rugged, add this to your itinerary. Located near Broome, this outback region is three times bigger than England that’s filled with stunning gorges, beautiful waterfalls, and a vast desert landscape. It was one of the first areas settled in Australia some 65,000 years ago (Europeans didn’t arrive here in the 1830s). There are all kinds of day trips and hikes here that you can do solo, as well as multi-day guided tours. Expect to pay around 1,200 AUD for a three-day guided excursion. If you’re going solo, popular overnight hikes include Piccaninny Gorge and Lurujarri Dreaming Trail.

15. Explore Kakadu National Park

The enormous Kakadu National Park is a biodiverse nature reserve in Australia’s Northern Territory. It encompasses wetlands and rivers and is home to saltwater crocodiles and flatback turtles, as well as many different bird species. Rock paintings (dating back to prehistory) can be viewed at Nourlangie, Nanguluwur, and Ubirr. You can find a lot of tours departing from Darwin. Be sure to spend at least a night in the park! Three-day tours cost around 735 AUD.

For more information on specific cities in Australia, check out these guides:

• Alice Springs Travel Guide
• Brisbane Travel Guide
• Broome Travel Guide
• Cairns Travel Guide
• Fraser Island Travel Guide
• Gold Coast Travel Guide
• Melbourne Travel Guide
• Perth Travel Guide
• Sydney Travel Guide
• Whitsunday Islands Travel Guide

Australia Travel Costs

Accommodation – Hostels dorms start around 25-30 AUD per night, though they get as high as 40 AUD in the big coastal cities. Private rooms with a double bed and a shared bathroom in hostels range between 65-100 AUD per night, though in larger cities they can be as high as 150 AUD. Expect basic amenities like free Wi-Fi and self-catering facilities. Only some hostels include breakfast.

For those traveling with a tent, a basic tent plot without electricity starts around 7 AUD, though most are 10-25 AUD per night.

For budget hotels, expect to spend 100-120 AUD per night for a two-star hotel. Amenities usually include TV, Wi-Fi, and AC. Some hotels have a pool.

Airbnb is available around the country with private rooms starting around 40 AUD (though they average closer to 90 AUD). Entire homes/apartments cost at least 140 (though they are usually double or even triple that price so be sure to book early). Expect to pay about 10-20% more in the coastal cities.

Food – Food in Australia is diverse, with each region having its own specialties. While you can find cuisine of all types here, popular traditional choices include BBQ meat (especially sausages), meat pies, fish and chips, seafood, chicken parmigiana (chicken schnitzel topped with tomato sauce, ham, and melted cheese), and, of course, the infamous vegemite on toast.

Food prices vary per region, but generally, you can expect to pay 20-25 AUD for a meal at a casual restaurant. A fast-food combo from somewhere like McDonald’s costs 13-14 AUD while a pizza costs around 16-20 AUD. Chinese, Thai, and Indian food cost 12-20 AUD for a main dish.

If you want to splash out for something more upscale, a expect to pay around 55-70 AUD, including a drink, per person.

A beer is around 8 AUD, latte or cappuccino costs around 5 AUD, and bottled water between 2-3 AUD.

If you cook your own meals, expect to pay around 75-95 AUD per week for groceries. This gets you basic staples like pasta, rice, seasonal produce, and some meat.

Backpacking Australia Suggested Budgets

On a backpacker budget, you can visit Australia for 70 AUD per day. This assumes you’re staying in a cheap hostel, cooking all of your meals, using public transportation to get around, and doing mostly cheap or free activities like hiking and enjoying the beaches. If you camp, you can lower this budget by around 20 AUD per day. If you plan on drinking, add 10-20 AUD to your daily budget.

On a mid-range budget of 200 AUD per day, you can stay in a private Airbnb or hostel room, eat out for a couple of meals, enjoy a few drinks, take the occasional taxi to get around, bus between cities, and do more paid activities like taking surf lessons or going diving.

On a “luxury” budget of 385 AUD or more, you can stay in a hotel, eat out for all your meals, drink more, rent a car or camper van to explore, and do whatever tours and activities you want. This is just the ground floor for luxury though. The sky is the limit!

You can use the chart below to get some idea of how much you need to budget daily, depending on your travel style. Keep in mind these are daily averages – some days you’ll spend more, some days you’ll spend less (you might spend less every day). We just want to give you a general idea of how to make your budget. Prices are in AUD.

Australia Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips

Australia can be a very expensive country to visit. If you aren’t careful, you’ll blow through your entire budget in no time as activities, food, and transportation all adds up fast here. Fortunately, there are lots of ways to save too. Here are some ways to save money when you visit Australia:

• Drink goon (box wine) – Goon is infamous on the Australian backpacker hostel trail. This cheap box of wine is the best way to drink, get a buzz, and save a lot of money at the same time. Drink this before you go out and save on spending money at the bar.
• Cook your own meals – The best way to reduce your costs is to cook as many meals as possible. Hostels and Airbnbs usually have kitchens and, while it’s not glamorous, it will save you a ton of money!
• Car share – Australia is a big country that can be expensive to get around. If you are traveling with friends, it’s smart to buy a used car or campervan (or rent a new one from one of the many rental companies in the country) and split the costs of gas. You can also hitch a ride with other travelers using sites like Gumtree, Jayride, or hostel message boards.
• Book tours as a package – This country has a lot of exciting activities and tours that eat into any budget. Booking activities together through a hostel or tour agency can get you a discount and save you hundreds of dollars.
• Work for your room – Many hostels offer travelers the opportunity to work for their accommodation. In exchange for a few hours a day of cleaning, you get a free bed to sleep in. Commitments vary but most hostels ask that you stay for at least a week. Check with the staff when you arrive to see if there are any opportunities available.
• WWOOF – WWOOFing is a program that allows you to work on organic farms in exchange for free room and board. Everyone I’ve met who stays in the country long-term does it for at least one month. It’s a great way to reduce your expenses and can a deeper look into local life.
• Stay with a local – Accommodation in Australia is pricey. If you plan ahead, you can usually find a Couchsurfing host that will host you for free. It’s the best way to connect with a local and get insider tips and advice.
• Camp – Camping is very affordable here, with basic tent plots costing as little as 7 AUD per night!
• Bring a reusable water bottle – The tap water in Australia is safe to drink so bring a reusable water bottle with you to save money and lower your plastic use. LifeStraw makes a bottle with a built-in filter to ensure your water is always clean and safe.

Where To Stay in Australia

I’ve been a backpacker here for ages and have accumulated a long list of places to stay. Here are my suggested places to stay in Australia if you’re looking for a hostel:

• Base St. Kilda (Melbourne)
• Space Hotel (Melbourne)
• Wake Up! (Sydney)
• YHA Rocks (Sydney)
• Bunk Brisbane (Brisbane)
• City Backpackers HQ (Brisbane)
• Kimberley Travellers Lodge (Broome)
• The Shiralee Hostel (Perth)
• Aquarius Backpackers (Byron Bay)
• Gilligan’s Backpacker Hotel & Resort Cairns (Cairns)
• Nomads Noosa (Noosa)
• Alice Lodge Backpackers (Alice Springs)

How to Get Around Australia

Public transportation – All of Australia’s cities have reliable, affordable public bus systems. In the bigger, cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth, you’ll even find subways and tram systems. This is the cheapest way to travel the cities. Fares cost between 2.75-4 AUD.

Many cities offer day passes that include unlimited public transportation for under 10 AUD.

Bus – After driving, this is my favorite transportation option in Australia. On the east coast, this will be your cheapest option too. On the west coast, buses are surprisingly expensive as there are not many people moving up and down that coast and there’s limited competition. However, on the east coast, you can find really cheap bus tickets, especially if you book in advance.

The two main bus companies in Australia are:

• Greyhound Australia

Greyhound also offers several bus passes. Their Whimit Passes range from 15-120 days of unlimited travel and are perfect for traveling around on a whim (hence the name). They come in 15, 30, 60, 90, and 120-day passes costing 349-729 AUD.

To find bus routes and prices, use BusBud .

Backpacker Bus – If you want to party with other backpackers as you travel, book a seat on the Magic Bus . This backpacker bus departs with 25 backpackers aged 18-35 for 3-4 weeks of exploring the country’s national parks, camping, bonfires, and non-stop parties and shenanigans.

Trips go from Perth north to Broome or east to Melbourne each month, so you have to time your trip accordingly to line up with the set departure. The itineraries are always flexible so every trip is unique. They try to keep a balance of 50% men and 50% women, as well as a balance of different nationalities, so there is always a diverse group. Prices vary so contact them for departure dates and ticket prices.

Train – Between city trams, commuter trains, and long-distance and trans-continental trains, Australia can be seen extensively by rail. Train lines exist mostly on the east coast with only two other major lines in the country: one goes north/south from Melbourne to Darwin and another east/east from Sydney to Perth.

For reference, Sydney to Canberra takes 5 hours and is 40-50 AUD while the 11-hour trip from Sydney to Melbourne costs over 200 AUD. Sydney to Brisbane takes 14 hours and costs 100-140 AUD.

Beyond the east coast, trains aren’t as plentiful and long-distance trains can be very expensive.

Flying – With Australia spanning over 7,000,000 square kilometers, it takes a long time to get around the country. Flying is one of the most efficient ways to city hop, but it’s not the cheapest. Australia’s major airlines include:

When booked in advance, flights can be very affordable here. Sydney to Melbourne is just 55 AUD and takes 90 minutes while Sydney to Cairns takes 3 hours and costs around 100 AUD each way. To cross the country, flights last around 5 hours. Sydney to Perth, when booked in advance, can cost as little as 150 AUD each way.

When not booked early, however, flights can easily double or triple these prices.

Rideshares – Every hostel has a bulletin board where travelers post rides and websites like Gumtree have active ridesharing sections where people look for cars or riders. I HIGHLY recommend this way of traveling when in the country. CoSeats is another good resource for finding rides.

Car rental – Car rentals start around 40 AUD per day. You don’t need one to explore any of the cities but if you want to travel the country then a car is best. Just remember that they drive on the left here.

Additionally, you can also purchase a car from backpackers leaving the country or locals selling used cars. You can usually find a used car for under 3,000 AUD. It might seem a lot, but there are always backpackers looking to share rides, which can cut down on our expenses.

When to Go to Australia

Temperatures vary across the country (it’s a huge landmass after all), but generally speaking, average summer temperatures range from 20-37°C (68-99°F). Remember that summer is from December-February here in the southern hemisphere. This is the most popular time to visit so expect big crowds and higher prices.

June-August (winter) is the low season. Prices are lower and there are fewer crowds. The temperature dips as well, hovering around 1°C (52°F) in the south while going as high as 30°C (86°F) in the north.

Spring and fall (March-May and September-October) are the shoulder season and the best time to visit. Crowds aren’t as big and prices aren’t as high and the weather is still enjoyable too, rarely dipping below 17°C (63°F).

Note that October to April is also “jellyfish season,” making waters unsafe for swimming or any other water sport. If you’re planning on enjoying Australia’s coast, this probably isn’t the best time to come. The season lasts from October to April in Northern Australia, and then from November to March elsewhere.

How to Stay Safe in Australia

Australia is an incredibly safe place to backpack and travel around. Violent attacks and petty theft are rare here so you’re unlikely to get into trouble.

Most incidents in Australia tend to occur because visitors are not used to the country’s unique climate and wilderness. Be sure you have plenty of sunscreen and stay as hydrated as possible. This is especially true if you’re driving through the Outback. There are long, long distances without any towns in sight, so if you break down, you’ll want to be prepared. Always make sure you have enough gas in your vehicle for long drives.

If you’re hiking, make sure you know what to expect ahead of time. Be on the lookout for snakes and spiders. If you’re bitten, seek immediate care.

If you’re swimming, heed the red and yellow flags. Yellow flags indicate swimming conditions may be dangerous; red flags mean the beach is closed.

Mother Nature in Australia is NOT a force to be reckoned with in this country. Don’t be a hero.

Solo female travelers are generally safe here, however, the standard precautions apply (never leave your drink unattended at the bar, never walk home alone at night intoxicated, etc.). Consult other solo female travel blogs for specific advice.

If you’re worried about travel scams, you can read about common travel scams to avoid here . There aren’t many in Australia though so I wouldn’t worry too much here.

If you experience an emergency, dial 000 for assistance.

The most important piece of advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance. Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. You can use the widget below to find the policy right for you:

Australia Travel Guide: The Best Booking Resources

These are my favorite companies to use when I travel. They consistently have the best deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and overall, are better than their competitors. They are the companies I use the most and are always the starting point in my search for travel deals.

• Skyscanner – Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine. They search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites tend to miss. They are hands down the number one place to start.
• Hostelworld – This is the best hostel accommodation site out there with the largest inventory, best search interface, and widest availability.
• Booking.com – The best all around booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. In all my tests, they’ve always had the cheapest rates out of all the booking websites.
• Get Your Guide – Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions. They have tons of tour options available in cities all around the world, including everything from cooking classes, walking tours, street art lessons, and more!
• Rome2Rio – This website allows you to see how to get from point A to point B the best and cheapest way possible. Just enter your departure and arrival destinations and it will give you all the bus, train, plane, or boat routes that can get you there as well as how much they cost. It’s one of the best transportation websites out there!
• SafetyWing – Safety Wing offers convenient and affordable plans tailored to digital nomads and long-term travelers. They have cheap monthly plans, great customer service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those on the road.
• LifeStraw – My go-to company for reusable water bottles with built-in filters so you can ensure your drinking water is always clean and safe.
• Unbound Merino – They make lightweight, durable, easy-to-clean travel clothing.
• Top Travel Credit Cards – Points are the best way to cut down travel expenses. Here’s my favorite point earning credit cards so you can get free travel!

Australia Travel Guide: Related Articles

Want more information? Check out all the articles I’ve written on Australia travel and continue planning your trip:

The 7 Best Hotels in Sydney

Where to Stay in Brisbane: The Best Neighborhoods for Your Visit

The 6 Best Hotels in Brisbane

The Best Walking Tours in Melbourne

The Best Walking Tours in Sydney

Where to Stay in Melbourne: The Best Neighborhoods for Your Visit

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Australia Travel Blog

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Our Australia travel blog will help you plan your trip to Australia, we’ll tell you about the best places to see, how to get around, costs of visiting Australia, activities, how to snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef, and more.

This blog post has all of our Australia content in one page, covering our experiences and explorations of Australia. My husband, James Long was born and raised in Australia and works on the Great Barrier Reef, I am a British expat in Australia, we live in Queensland today after extensive travels all over the country.

We have loads of great photos to share with you too! Because we live in Australia, and have travelled pretty much all over the mainland, plus some Australian islands, we can share some cool stuff that most travel bloggers will miss.

I never thought I’d spend any time in Australia let alone such a large chunk of my life.

I certainly never dreamed I’d marry an Australian and move to the other side of the world. I also never dreamed I’d become a travel blogger, nor that I’d develop such a knowledge of travel in Australia that I’d be able to put a whole Australia travel blog section together, but here it is, and that’s what happened.

So if you’re looking to visit Australia as a backpacker and travel around by bus and train with a 2 man tent, as we did, or if you’re looking to come here on vacation and stay in Australia’s top hotels, as we have, or even if you’re looking to move to Australia, we can help you with that.

There are many ways to travel in Australia, rest assured we’ve done them all. Last on our bucket list is to complete a lap with a camper van or motor home, it will come, maybe when the kids have flown we’ll join the grey nomads on this classic tour. 

What about you? What do you want to get out of Australia? Are you a newcomer to Australia or will this be a return journey? What are your travel plans and which parts of Oz do you want on your itinerary? If you can’t find it below, let us know in the comments and we will put your content at the top of the queue if we can.

We lived in Far North Queensland for many years between travels further afield, so most of our Australia content focuses on the tropical north of Queensland, particularly the Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics. Of course, we have also travelled all over Australia.

I have an advantage in that my husband, who is my co-travel blogger, lived just about everywhere in Australia as a child so we can talk knowledgeably about most destinations in Australia.

If we’re stuck we have other writers we can call on for insider local knowledge. So here’s the Australia travel blog, with a lot of facts, a smattering of personal stories and a whole heap of experience to help you get the most out of your time in Australia.

Australia is easy to break into fun-sized chunks for the purposes of a travel blog, not just the states and territories, but those divisions can be subdivided into distinct areas.

Q ueensland becomes The Gold Coast, Surfers Paradise, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, and the Far North, along with Australian islands, for instance.

You can also talk about Australia in terms of the East Coast, West Coast, Great Ocean Rd., Red Centre and so on. We’ve tried to give you those chunks below.

Backpacking Around Australia

Young backpackers normally flood to Australia, some still come for working holidays but you’ll need to look carefully at current visa regulations.

There are many ways to see Australia as a backpacker or on a budget and no one way is the “right’ way.

You can travel the classic train routes, buy a vehicle, hire a camper or invest in a tent, it’s up to you.

Consider the well-known “free” ways to travel the world . Options such as Couchsurfing,  HelpX and Workaway could save you a lot of cash.

Australia’s Classic Train Routes

Because I mentioned the train routes above, let’s just talk about those first. Australia is pretty difficult and expensive to travel by public transport and no matter how much you want to be an eco-friendly traveller and save the planet by cutting emissions, flying just always seems to be a lot cheaper than train or bus.

And internal flights in Australia aren’t cheap!

The classic train routes I’m talking about are The Ghan (Short for The Afghan, named after camel herders from Afghanistan present in central Australia) and the Indian Pacific.

The Ghan goes straight up the middle of Australia, from Adelaide to Alice Springs to Darwin. To ride the whole 2,979 Km would take you over 50 hours.

The Orient Express, it is not. Chef and I rode it as far as Alice  (with the help of student cards to cut the price) and hopped off there for the Alice Springs Camel Cup and to hire a car to drive to Uluru where we camped in our two-man tent.

It was freezing at Uluru, deserts get very cold at night.

The Indian Pacific cuts across the bottom of Australia and will take you from Sydney to the Pacific Ocean on the east coast – Perth. The journey takes over 70 hours.

Again we’ve taken this train part of the way, to Broken Hill and Silverton.

Silverton is where Mad Max was filmed and is worth a look, we hopped back on then to Adelaide and joined The Ghan to Alice.

Classic Australia Road Trips

The East Coast, West Coast and Great Ocean Road are all popular road trips , an intrepid few travel coast to coast or through the outback to the Red Centre or Northern Territory.

Australia is huge, vast.

Consider this, to drive from Brisbane to Cairns will take you just short of 24 hours, and you’d still be in the same state.

Sydney to Perth , East Coast to West Coast would take you in the region of 4 days.

You need to know what to expect and be prepared, with some routes requiring a well equipped 4×4 vehicle and a group of like-minded friends.

The journey to “The Tip,” Cape York, is one such route where off-roading is required. It’s very rewarding to see these lesser-visited parts of Australia and the remote communities who call them home.

This is something the World Travel Family team will be doing in coming years, getting to these far-flung parts of Australia. We have already driven to “The Tip” as part of our conservation work.

Costs of Travel in Australia

Australia is one of the most expensive places in the world to travel, there’s no sugaring that pill, but there are ways to make your Australian adventure cheaper.

Travel, food and accommodation are the big expenses that you’ll have to deal with. Activities can also cost a lot. A trip to the Great Barrier Reef could easily cost $1000 for a family of four, but it is what it is, there’s really not a cheaper way to do it.

We have put together a post on ways to save money on travel in Queensland , if you check that out you’ll see that most of the tips apply equally well to travel anywhere in Australia.

Australia is a huge country with vast distances between areas of interest.

Fuel isn’t as expensive as Europe but much costlier than in the United States. With huge distances to travel your fuel bill will add up quickly.

Don’t assume that buses and road transport will be cheaper than flying.

Getting from Cairns, in the North of Queensland down to Brisbane Queensland’s capital is a journey of 1600 km or 1000 miles. It is much cheaper and economical if you fly from Cairns to either Brisbane or Gold Coast.

In fact, the bus is up to 6 times more expensive and takes another 21 hours longer than flying.

Look at carpooling and see if anyone else is going the same direction. Splitting costs is a great way to keep your budget in check.

Don’t backtrack on your route. Australia is big enough as it is, without going back over roads already travelled. Spend time researching your route and make it as efficient as possible.

Accommodation is more expensive than other places especially compared to Southeast Asia. Costs are probably pretty similar to Singapore.

One of the benefits of good weather and lots of space is the abundance of campsites that are scattered across the country. Hotel and motel bills will add up quickly but campsites can be relatively cheap.  There are even some free places to camp.

Buy a cheap tent and some cooking equipment and you’ll save a lot. If you’re spending a lot of time and want to cover a large area think about purchasing a camper van. This will save both money on accommodation and food.

Unless you have an unlimited budget it isn’t feasible to eat out all the time in Australia. In fact,if you’re sticking to a tight budget eating out once a week would be realistic.

Australia has a great mix of fine dining restaurants, cheaper eats and takeaways across a wide range of ethnic flavours. None of them cheap.

Being in a position to cook for yourself is a must and whether that is through self-catering accommodation or having a camper van that has cooking facilities or even staying at campsites with cooking facilities, you’ll want to spend some time planning meals.

Food costs can make or break your budget. Chef and I ate a lot of $1 instant noodles spiked with a few fresh veggies cooked on our little Trangia stove back in the day.

Visas for Australia

You probably won’t be allowed on a plane or ship to Australia if you don’t have either a visa, EVisitor or ETA. Don’t worry it isn’t as hard as you think.

Visa restrictions change often please double-check all information below for yourself.

If you’re coming to Australia for a holiday and won’t be working it is normally very quick and easy to get an EVisitor visa which allows you to visit for up to 3 months at a time and is valid for a year.

It isn’t an extendable visa but allows you to board your plan or ship and get to Australia.  Everything is linked to your passport electronically so you don’t need to send it away and you can apply wherever you are so long as you’re outside Australia.

Currently, EVisitor applications are free of charge although that could change in the future. (At time of writing, please check this)

6 countries were eligible for an ETA which isn’t a visa but allows travel to Australia.  These countries were eligible Brunei – Darussalam, Canada, Hong Kong (SAR PRC), Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Korea, Rep of (South) and the United States.

This visa allows for tourism and some business but is normally limited to conferences, business negotiations and business esquires.

The ETA costs about $20 AUD and is payable by credit card at the time of applying.

Australia is very strict in enforcing visa rules so if you want to work or study make sure you get the right visa before you leave.

A lot of the short-term visas aren’t extendable so you’ll have to leave Australia and re-apply.

Please check and double-check all of this information for yourself, we do our best to stay up to date but can’t guarantee accuracy.

Australia With Kids

Sure you can bring your kids to Australia, it’s a great family destination with loads of child-pleasing things to see and do.

The only drawbacks are the cost and the long plane ride.

Kids enjoy travel if you fill it with fun and exciting adventures and Australia offers plenty for children

If you’re worrying about our deadly snakes, spiders, sharks, crocodiles and jellyfish, don’t, all can be avoided with some common sense.

I saw 3 wild snakes in 7 years and have never seen a redback spider. I have seen stinging plant though, read up on that if you’re going bush-bashing.

I need to add that since we’ve been living in the countryside in rural Australia (the last few years), not in a town or city, we see a lot of snakes, most of them are pythons, but there are some venomous ones too.

We have a post on Queensland Stinger Season below, along with various posts on crocodiles, living with them and spotting them.

Our only post on Australia with kids is here. When looking for accommodation for families in Australia, you’ll notice that prices are pretty high. Maybe consider using campsites – some have simple family cabins.

Think about renting or hiring a camper van or look into AirBnb, but be warned, you don’t usually get much for your dollar at Australian Airbnbs, and they add cleaning charges.

Of course, if money isn’t tight, go for some of Australia’s amazing family-friendly resorts.

Popular Activities in Australia

Bushwalking is Australia is popular, there are a number of classic hikes or treks, camping is huge, as is 4 Wheel Driving, fishing and even skiing. Yes, you can ski in Australia.

Most tourists will be heading to beaches and reefs, some will want adrenaline activities, there is plenty of skydiving and bungee jumping to be found around Australia’s tourist destinations.

Of course, we have scuba diving, snorkelling, paddleboarding, whale watching, kayaking , surfing, fishing and just about any aquatic activity around our shores.

We cover many of these popular in Australia on our travel blog. Maybe check out our scuba diving section, it includes snorkelling as many boats are dual-purpose.

Of course, most visitors to Australia want to check out Australian wildlife. Who doesn’t want to cuddle a koala and pat a kangaroo? There are dozens of places you can do this in Australia, including in every major city.

Sydney’s Taronga Zoo, or Australia Zoo (near Brisbane, Steve Irwin’s zoo) are two very good places to go, but there must be hundreds of smaller wildlife reserves, wildlife tours and cruises, for you to enjoy.

Holding a koala can prove difficult, but mostly you’re allowed to pet them, as my son is doing in the photo above.

As well as this general Australia travel blog page we have a full post on places to visit in Queensland . A simple guide is also below. We live in Queensland, it’s the part of Australia we have most coverage of.

Queensland is where you need to be for The Great Barrier Reef, The Daintree Rainforest, and more. Queensland is hot. While Brisbane can be pleasantly cool in winter, the Far North is hot year-round and in summer, it’s “The Wet” and you may encounter tropical storms.

But read more on Queensland below!

Fraser Island (Now K’gari)

Australia has many islands that serve as destinations in themselves but Fraser Island is special, it’s the world’s largest sand island and can be found not far off the coast around Hervey Bay. You can get to Fraser Island with your 4 x 4 vehicle by ferry and once there enjoy the scenery, beaches and lakes. However, you shouldn’t swim in the sea from Fraser, that’s not smart. You can discover why and  things to do on Fraser Island here.

Far North Queensland

Visitors come to Far North Queensland for our tropical rainforests, the Great Barrier Reef and the unspoilt beaches that line this coast. You will find something for everyone in this region for every kind of traveller, your backpacker, luxury traveller, long weekend, 2 week vacation or family holiday maker.

Far North Queensland and the big centres of Cairns and about an hour north, Port Douglas, work for every age, You’ll find information here on things to do and see for babies, kids, teens, adults and the older traveller.

Trips to the Great Barrier Reef

Visiting the Great Barrier Reef features on many a someone’s bucket list and deservedly so, it’s an incredible experience. You can do it further south, Great Barrier Reef trips start towards the south of Queensland. The Great Barrier reef is situated in the Coral Sea off Australia’s north-east coast and is a World Heritage Site protected by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

We  have a full post on trips to the great barrier reef from Port Douglas here , a reef fleet also operates out of Cairns. If you want to find out what this experience is like, is it scary, are there sharks, is it expensive etc.  you want this one, snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef. If you’re thinking of learning to scuba dive or taking a liveaboard dive trip , we can tell you about that too.

Visiting the Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation

You can drive or take a tour. But what is there to do up in the Daintree ?

Where can you take a walk on the beach, stroll through the rainforest, spot a cassowary, get an ice-cream and how do you cross the Daintree river?

We have a full post on tours and trips to the Daintree Rainforest here.

Driving up to Cooktown from Port Douglas, or Cairns

We used to love taking the 4 x 4 up to Cooktown. We owned a Toyota Hilux and crossing the creeks and scrambling up dirt tracks was a dream. But there’s also an inland, tarred road.

Getting to Cooktown, named after Captain Cook for this is where he collided with Australia, things to do, places to see, camping and hotels.

It’s a whole other world up there. See our link above or click on the image.

Stinger Season – You Need to Know About This

Summer in Far North Queensland is winter in the northern hemisphere. It is our wet season, it’s hot, wet, humid and all that rain brings dangerous marine stingers ( jellyfish) into our waters.

You need to read up on stinger season here .

The Cairns Lagoon, Sugar World Water Park and Other Places to Swim in the Region

Swimming off Cairns is pretty much out of the question so they built the lagoon. Find out about this and other swimming options in the Cairns and Port Douglas region here.

Fresh Water Swimming Holes in Far North Queensland.

If you’d prefer a more natural swimming experience there are streams, pools, waterfalls and swimming holes to enjoy.

Wildlife Experiences in the Cairns and Port Douglas Area

You can see wild platypus on the Atherton Tablelands . Also, of course, you can look out for crocs and cassowaries.

Things to Do in Port Douglas

Have you ever seen cane toad racing? Well now’s your chance. Tours, things to do, places to see, in and around Port Douglas.

New South Wales

Destinations in New South Wales include :

• The Blue Mountains
• The Hunter Valley
• Lord Howe Island
• Snowy Mountains
• Outback NSW
• Broken Hill
• The South, Central and Northern Coast

It’s not that we don’t know New South Wales, we’ve been many times, most recently in 2024, and a lot of my husband’s family lives there. We just haven’t written much about it yet! What we do have is this guide to things to do in Sydney , including the slightly off the beaten track things. It’s full of recent photos, so check it out!

Sydney is of course home to the two top tourist destinations for Americans in the whole of Australia, the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. Nearby Bondi Beach is also in the top 5. We went to Bondi recently and walked right into one of the lifeguards from Bondi Rescue. Bondi is an easy train/bus journey from Central Sydney. The city is really well-covered by public transport, it’s easy to get around and actually quite cheap.

The whole Sydney waterfront is stunningly beautiful and you really should go if you can. Walk from Circular Quay, around through “The Rocks”, home to The Rocks Markets, lovely old buildings and some very old pubs, around to Darling Harbour. The Harbour Bridge is between these two harbour buildings.

If you cross the Harbour Bridge (by train) you will reach Lunar Park and a few beauty spots. Read our post about Sydney for a lot more information.

The Blue Mountains, a famous beauty spot, are an easy day trip from Sydney.

Belanglo State Forest

The first post on our website dedicated to New South Wales isn’t exactly a tourist attraction. Belanglo State Forest was the scene of a string of serial killer murders. Why do we have a post on it? It’s a favourite place to forage for wild mushrooms and that happens to be a subject my husband’s brother knows a lot about.

He very kindly wrote us a post, Belanglo State Forect, Murder and Mushrooms .

Western Australia

Perth is a fantastic destination in itself but there is so much more to see and experience in the state of Western Australia. We have a top 30 list of Places to see in Western Australia itinerary.

We can give you a brief idea on what to do in Perth for now. It’s a great destination particularly with kids, we took our two when they were tiny and had a great long weekend in Fremantle.

South Australia

Our only post covering South Australia so far revolves around Adelaide, things to do in Adelaide and popular wine and food experiences nearby. We hope it’s useful in planning your South Australia trip. Enjoy those wineries!

Northern Territory

Uluru is in the Northern Territory, as is Alice Springs but most people would associate the NT with Darwin. Popular tourist draws in the Northern Territory include:

• Kakadu National Park
• Litchfield National Park
• Alice Springs
• Kings Canyon

We have a post on must see destinations in the Northern Territory of Australia and more content is on its way. We’ve taken road trips in the NT and travelled by bus and train. We just can’t get it all written up fast enough!

Our favourite place in the NT, other than Uluru, was the little town of Pine Creek, read about that in the post above.

Melbourne is the state capital of Victoria and is a popular tourist draw. You won’t go short of fun things to do in Melbourne no matter what age you are! The drive from Sydney to Melbourne is around 9 hours, 878 km or thereabouts.

• Phillip Island
• Wilsons Promontory
• Mount Buller
• Mornington Peninsula
• The Great Ocean Road

The ACT, Australian Capital Territory is home to Canberra and the rest of my husband’s family. We know it well. To drive from Sydney to Canberra is only around 3 hours, so it’s doable!  Our first post on Canberra for the Aussie travel blog section is this one – Things to do in Canberra . Hidden Gems are what we do best here at World Travel Family.

Cradle Mountain and the Cradle Mountain Overland Track are popular with visitors as is Hobart and Tasmania’s stunning scenery. I haven’t been, my husband has. He’s completed the Overland Track. We will go soon. You can get to Tasmania from Melbourne by ferry, the trip is roughly 11 hours and is always overnight.

Australia Travel Blog – Conclusion

So as you can see we’re still filling the blanks on this page. To produce an Australia travel blog and guide to rival the Lonely Planet takes time, but we’re working on it. This page is growing as we add new insider knowledge, local tips, guides and information. We’re hoping to make the best guide to Australia in coming weeks as well as still covering our recent travels in the Himalayas and Borneo. Sign up to follow, this site grows almost daily and it’s our family business. 

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If you'd like to hire a car during your stay, use this car rental comparison tool to find the best deal! We also suggest you take a look at this company to get a quote for all kinds of the more tricky adventure or extended travel insurance. Try Stayz / VRBO for an alternative way to find rentals on homes/apartments/condos in any country!

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The Ultimate Australia Road Trippin’ Guide — 10 Itineraries For The Perfect Adventure of a Lifetime

From cities to coasts and national parks to natural beauties, an epic road trip is the best way to explore Australia!

Recently, I rented a Blue SG car with my best friend and had a wild time driving 17km from Yishun to Hougang. It barely qualifies as a road trip, but it reminded me of my last trip to Australia . If you didn’t know already, it’s one of the sweetest places for a truly epic road trip!

Across the country, there are tons of routes packed with scenery, action and adventure. And it’s friendly for beginners (a.k.a. driving noobs) too!

It’s a bummer we can’t travel right now, but I’ve found that an instant mood lifter is to get your ‘ revenge travel ‘ plans in order (i.e. a long post-COVID-19 trip that makes up for lost time) — so here are 10 of the best Australia road trips to go full throttle on once we get the green light! 🟢

1) Coastal drive from Sydney to Melbourne

Journey time: 4–8 days (~1,300km) Starting point: Sydney Airport (~8hr flight from Singapore)

Between two of Australia’s largest cities, the coastal drive from Sydney to Melbourne (or vice versa) is sensational. Every inch of the way from New South Wales to Victoria offers quirky seaside towns, golden beaches and wondrous ocean views.

Part of the route includes the Grand Pacific Drive , a 140km stretch along New South Wales’s South Coast . It covers gorgeous attractions like the Royal National Park and the stunning Sea Cliff Bridge .

The drive from Sydney to Melbourne is perfectly beginner-friendly. There are many stops along the route whenever you need to stretch your legs.

Read more: Sydney South Coast Road Trip — 7-Day Itinerary From Sydney to Eden

Now, onto the epic must-dos. First, sign up for some adrenaline-pumping skydiving over Wollongong . Above the magnificent coast, you’ll freefall at speeds over 200km/h, wayyy faster than you’ll ever go on your road trip!

Photo credit: @kattgao via Instagram

After Wollongong, drop by the Kiama Blowhole and be blown away. Well, not literally, but there’s a good chance of getting soaked.

Alternatively, if you’re road trippin’ during summer, spend a night or two in Jervis Bay . You might be lucky enough to catch the phenomenal sea sparkles , or bioluminescence.

Once you’ve crossed the border into Victoria , get ready for even more wow’s (and aww’s ). For nature lovers, don’t miss the adorable Penguin Parade on Phillip Island . It’s a heart-melting treat watching these little fellas waddle out of the ocean and scuttle around the beach.

Check out other island activities like scenic walks and visiting the cuddly Koala Reserve too!

Photo credit: @helenabradbury via Instagram

Before you reach Melbourne , make one last stop at Mornington Peninsula . Here, you can drink deep at exquisite wineries and explore the stellar coastline at Cape Schanck (recommended by Chris Hemsworth 🤩).

Got another week to spare? Extend your road trip from Melbourne to Adelaide just next door! Alternatively, if you’re flying out from Sydney , make the return drive from Melbourne to Sydney via the inland route . After coasts and busy beaches, you can now enjoy the quiet countryside and historic gold-mining towns.

2) Ultimate Australian Outback road trip from Darwin to Adelaide

Journey time: 10–14 days (~3,000km) Starting point: Darwin Airport (4.5hr flight from Singapore)

Cutting across the vast outback, the drive from Darwin to Adelaide takes you through a series of wonderful and unusual landscapes. You’ll pass miles of red earth in the Northern Territory before reaching South Australia’s world-renowned wineries.

This adventurous route is more suited for seasoned travellers as you might be driving long distances (depending on your itinerary). Petrol stations are also few and far between, so plan carefully and refuel at every stop.

To eager first-timers, don’t let the long drives stop you from diving into this road trip! Just add a few more days for exploration and extra rest.

Photo credit: @exploreuluru via Instagram

Deep in the heart of the Red Centre , the hallmark of this outback road trip is the monumental Uluru . Get to know it your way — see it from above with a badass helicopter ride , or join a cultural tour and learn about the sacred land and Aboriginal culture.

Photo credit: @nealjennings via Instagram

Eight hours away lies the strange town of Coober Pedy . It’s the opal mining capital of the world, but the show-stealer is that the locals live underground to avoid the scorching heat!

Staying a night here is a must. It’s not every day you get to live in a posh B&B carved out of natural sandstone, especially one located 25m below .

Photo credit: @alan.timms1 via Instagram

If you thought Coober Pedy was mind-blowing, wait till you hit the Flinders Ranges .

The national park is home to incredibly dramatic landscapes like Wilpena Pound , a massive bowl-shaped crater made up of craggy mountains. The best way to see it is through an exciting scramble up to its rugged ridges or a relaxing scenic flight .

Photo credit: @ashhughesphotos via Instagram

After days of non-stop adventure, wine down in the Barossa Valley — reputed as one of the world’s greatest wine regions. There are over 150 wineries and 80 cellar doors, so take your time to swirl and sip Australia’s finest Cabernet Sauvignon or special Barossa Shiraz.

The excitement doesn’t have to end in Adelaide ! Not too far from the city, there are plenty of jaw-dropping coastlines that are ripe for exploring, which brings us to our next route…

3) Scenic South Australia road trip — Southern Ocean Drive from Adelaide to Kangaroo Island and Mount Gambier

Journey time: 5–7 days (~500–1,200km) Starting point: Adelaide Airport (~7hr flight from Singapore)

With an abundance of coastal scenery, tasty wines and native wildlife, the Southern Ocean Drive is one of the loveliest, lesser-known road trips in Australia. In fact, some consider it a ‘sequel’ to Victoria’s Great Ocean Road drive (more on this later)!

The route is great for beginner road trippers as there are plenty of stops to pull over at. Plus, attractions are relatively nearby one another. It’s likely you won’t drive for longer than three to four hours each day.

Photo credit: @officialfleurieupeninsula via Instagram

South Australia produces half of all the wine in the country, so there’s no excuse not to indulge! Make your first stop at McLaren Vale in Fleurieu Peninsula . It’s home to some of the world’s oldest grapevines, and serves the most delectable wines and local produce you might ever taste in your life.

Photo credit: @promotemytown via Instagram

Nature and wildlife lovers would adore Kangaroo Island . A good part of it is protected in nature reserves, so it’s no surprise to meet wild ‘roos and see other wildlife roaming free!

Photo credit: TripAdvisor

To make your Kangaroo Island experience more unique, stay the night in a quaint cottage by Cape Willoughby Lighthouse . You’ll enjoy a well-deserved package: Exclusive privacy, calming sounds of crashing waves, and a magnificent sunrise view.

If you only have a few days, keep the road trip short and explore Kangaroo Island fully. Otherwise, take a ferry back to the mainland and continue your coastal journey.

Photo credit: @discover_mount_gambier via Instagram

Situated along the Limestone Coast , Mount Gambier is a city built atop an extinct volcano. Its main attraction is the mysterious Blue Lake , a huge crater lake. From April to November, the water is a distinct greyish-blue colour. But once November rolls around, it transforms into a striking turquoise blue.

The Blue Lake is not permitted for swimming, but its smaller cousin is! Satisfy your urge to dip at the Little Blue Lake , a giant sinkhole filled with pleasantly cool waters. It’s free to enter, and makes an awesome photo spot too!

Photo credit: @sarahafindlay via Instagram

4) Northern Territory Top End Nature’s Way Drive from Darwin to Katherine

Journey time: 8 days (~900km) Starting point: Darwin Airport (4.5hr flight from Singapore)

Top End Nature’s Way features a fantastic mix of tropical wonders and the fascinating Australian outback. Peppered with spectacular national parks, timeless Aboriginal culture, and the charming town of Katherine — this triangular route is especially geared for outdoor lovers.

Adventurous as it may be, the drive from Darwin to Katherine is actually easy. Main attractions are about three hours from each other. Roads are also well-paved, so you don’t need four-wheel drives (4WD). What you do need, though, are your best hiking shoes!

Photo credit: @_danieltran_ via Instagram

The first must-visit is Kakadu National Park , Australia’s largest. Take a walk through  Burrungkuy (Nourlangie) , an ancient rock art gallery that showcases Aboriginal traditions. Or, pack your bathers and dip in the beautiful Gunlom Plunge Pool .

Photo credit: @traveling_yorick via Instagram

The huge park is also home to boatloads of exotic wildlife, including 10,000 crocodiles ! Feed your curiosity and join a croc-spotting cruise — you might catch these prehistoric beasts basking lazily in the sun, or silently stalking their next meal.

Photo credit: Tourism Australia

In Katherine, travellers usually make a beeline for Nitmiluk National Park , and it’s easy to see why. The highlight is the Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge , a deep sandstone gorge that transports you to another realm.

While cruises are available, enjoy a bigger thrill by hiring a canoe . During the dry season (May–Sep), you’ll get enchanting views while paddling through ancient landscapes.

Photo credit: @fewdaysbetween via Instagram

Finally, after days of fast-paced action, cool off at Litchfield National Park on your drive back to Darwin. The park has plenty of lush swimming holes, great for refreshing soaks.

In need of more adventure? Fly down to Alice Springs from Darwin and explore the Red Centre Way ! The route snakes through mighty attractions like Uluru and Kings Canyon . Seasoned travellers can rent a 4WD and zip through Mereenie Loop , a dusty dirt road.

Read more: 40 Lesser-Known Things to Do in Australia Highly Recommended by Locals, Travellers and Celebrities  

5) Grand Tasmania road trip — Great Eastern Drive from Hobart to Bicheno and the Bay of Fires

Journey time: 2–5 days (~300km) Starting point: Hobart Airport (~8.5hr flight from Singapore)

Whether you’ve got a week or a weekend, Tasmania’s Great Eastern Drive promises a road trip getaway that’ll clear your head. Expect breathtaking coastal drives, pristine beaches and some of the freshest seafood around.

The drive from Hobart to Bicheno is mainly on sealed roads and highways, making it suitable for both beginners and seasoned travellers. Plus, attractions are less than two hours from each other!

Photo credit: Maria Island Walk / Great Walks of Australia

Start your trip by disconnecting from civilisation. Take a 30-minute ferry ride from Orford to Maria Island . Hike to the Painted Cliffs , made magical by its bold swirls of earthy colours. The best time to view it is at sunset when the colours truly pop — just be sure you make it back to the ferry on time!

Photo credit: @itsworthashot via Instagram

Back on mainland Tasmania , dedicate a full day for Freycinet National Park . Wake early (or try your best to) and follow the Mount Amos trail to see Wineglass Bay at sunrise. The famous azure bay looks completely different when it’s bathed in a warm orange glow.

For the rest of the day, treat yourself to juicy, succulent oysters from Freycinet Marine Farm . Or, you could always work a little harder and harvest oysters straight from the waters.

Photo credit: @lady_siu_mei via Instagram

Wildlife lovers, stop by Bicheno for a cute penguin tour . Every evening, little penguins splash out of the waters and waddle around their burrows on the beach. The tour lets you get up close to watch them go about their adorably busy routines.

Photo credit: @_aswewander via Instagram

Finally, drive an hour from Bicheno to the legendary Bay of Fires . Clumped together on the white sand beach, the orange lichen-covered granite boulders are a great place to rest, swim, and take lots of lit photos .

Read more: 16 Picture-Perfect Places Every Australia Itinerary Needs

6) Best of Victoria road trip — Great Southern Touring Route from Bellarine Peninsula to Great Ocean Road and the Grampians

Journey time: 5–8 days (~850km) Starting point: Melbourne Airport (~7.5hr flight from Singapore)

No Australia road trip is more iconic than the Great Southern Touring Route ! You’ll feast well at the gastronomical Bellarine Peninsula , before winding along the marvellous coastline of the Great Ocean Road , and end with adventures in the Grampians .

The weeklong, round-trip drive is great for beginners. Most attractions are within two to three hours from each other, and there are plenty of stops along the way for rest and photos. Add more days if possible — this is one brilliant journey you don’t want to rush.

Photo credit: @littlemusselcafe via Instagram

If you’re travelling to the coasts first, make a quick detour to the Bellarine Peninsula . Bring an empty stomach — the up-and-coming region serves delicious local produce, from insanely fresh seafood to full-bodied wines and decadent desserts.

Recommended eateries include the Little Mussel Cafe , Scotchmans Hill , and the Scandinavian Ice Cream Company . Or, plan your own yummy Bellarine Taste Trail !

And now, the main event: The Great Ocean Road . Take your time for this leg of the journey! It’s totally normal to stop every few minutes and take photos of the unbelievable coastline. But, make sure you’ve allocated enough time to see all its classic sights — the 12 Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge, the Arch and the Grotto.

As you drive back inland, stop at the Grampians , another must-visit attraction. The National Park is popular with outdoor lovers and travellers, who come to rock climb or conquer its adventurous treks.

If you only have time for one hike, make it the Pinnacle Lookout , one of the park’s highest peaks. The journey from Wonderland Car Park is moderately challenging, but filled with scenery that makes it a highly Instagrammable spot .

For a less gruelling hike, head to MacKenzie Falls . It’s one of the largest waterfalls in Victoria that flows all year round.

Read more: 8D Melbourne Road Trip Itinerary — The Ultimate Road Trip Around Victoria’s Best Adventures

If you’re craving more coastal scenery, extend your Victoria road trip from Melbourne to Adelaide . The route includes Port Fairy , a whimsical seaside town, and picturesque Mount Gambier .

7) Hidden gems in the Australian Capital Territory — Canberra and Coast road trip

Journey time: 5–6 days (~650km) Starting point: Canberra Airport (8hr flight from Singapore)

For an unhurried escape, go on a picturesque road trip around Canberra and the South Coast . This round-trip route meanders from the city to the countryside and coast, topped with a mix of culture, adventure, and best of all — food!

As the road trip is relatively short, it’s great for beginners. Depending on your itinerary, you might be driving for a maximum of three hours a day. But there are many places to rest and take a breather along the way.

Photo credit: @balloonaloftcanberra via Instagram

Canberra is Australia’s capital, but not many travellers get to know the place! Rent a car and explore the city, teeming with friendly locals and cultural gems.

If you’re big on views, sign up for a fancy hot air balloon ride over the city. If not, tour around the impressive Australian Parliament House or the scenic National Arboretum .

Photo credit: @avenuehotelcbr via Instagram

After ticking off the city’s attractions, drive out to the peaceful countryside. There’s an abundance of fresh, farm-to-plate produce to savour, so bring your biggest appetite! During truffle season (Jun–Aug), many truffle farms offer hunting experiences, where you get to team up with a cute truffle dog that’ll sniff for this superb delicacy.

Other places to check out include traditional cider from Sully’s at the Old Cheese Factory , and Tilba Real Dairy for some rich, premium cheeses.

Get some peace and quiet with some overnight glamping! There are many sites to choose from in the South Coast, but the one that holds a special place in our hearts is Tilba Lake Camp . Located in the middle of a sprawling green pasture, you get a cosy lotus bell tent, a comfy bed and a delicious homemade breakfast.

Further down the coast, dip into the beautiful Bermagui Blue Pool . The good news is the natural rock pool offers some of the best views of the ocean, but be prepared — the waters can be quite chilly!

Once you’ve soaked up enough of the coast, end your road trip in Canberra.

8) Fun-filled Western Australia road trip — Indian Ocean Drive from Perth to Kalbarri

Journey time: 5 days (~1,800km) Starting point: Perth Airport (5hr flight from Singapore)

Few road trips are as vibrant as the Indian Ocean Drive . From Perth to Kalbarri , you’ll get a splash of colour driving past earthy landscapes, pink lakes and rich, red gorges. Arrive between Jul–Oct, and there’s also an explosion of multi-coloured wildflowers.

This route is part of Australia’s Coral Coast , and highlights some of the most exotic things you’ll ever see in the country. It’s also fairly easy for first-timers as there are many rest stops along the way. If you’re a seasoned traveller, don’t overlook this stretch — you might just discover something new!

Photo credit: @szjanko via Instagram

Just two hours from Perth, kickstart your adventure with some rad sandboarding at Lancelin Sand Dunes ! It’s a great winter sport substitute if you’re not a fan of cold or frozen snow. Plus, the fine sand makes a soft landing too!

Like the ruins of an ancient city, the Pinnacles Desert at Nambung National Park is one of Western Australia’s definite must-sees. Each limestone structure stands perfectly unique, eroded by centuries of wind. You can stroll around in the daytime, but we’ve found that this place makes an exceptional stargazing site once night falls.

Hutt Lagoon is a classic case of “you must see it to believe it”. The high salinity is what gives the lake its striking pink hue, which changes with the seasons and time of day. Naturally, it’s an Instagram hotspot — so dress your best and get snapping!

The final stop in the Indian Ocean Drive is Kalbarri National Park . It’s one of the most spectacular parks, with beautiful natural attractions around every corner.

Peek through Nature’s Window at the rocky gorge beyond, or check out the Kalbarri Skywalk . The park’s newest addition hovers more than 100m over the Murchison River, offering panoramic views of the arid landscape below.

If you’re here between Jul–Oct, wander around the Everlasting Wildflower Trail . The space comes alive with a burst of pretty, blooming wildflowers .

Photo credit: @roadtrippersaus via Instagram

Afterwards, follow the road back to Perth on your final day. But, if you have more time, extend your road trip down the Coral Coast .

Read also: 11D Western Australia Itinerary — Coastal Road Trip From Perth To Ningaloo

9) Epic Queensland road trip — Great Beach Drive from Noosa Heads to Rainbow Beach and Fraser Island

Journey time: 4–7 days (~420km) Starting point: Noosa Heads (~1.5hr drive from Brisbane Airport, 8hr flight from Singapore)

Here’s something for the young, wild and free! The Great Beach Drive to Fraser Island is as rugged as Aussie road trips get. In a comfy 4WD, you’ll cruise over 100km of beaches, sandwiched between wild bushland and the dazzling Coral Sea.

As the road trip requires a 4WD for off-road driving, it’s perfect for seasoned travellers. The backseat drivers can handle the road trip playlist and the vehicle access permit 😛

Photo credit: @t.becs via Instagram

Starting from Noosa Heads, take a 5-minute ferry ride from Tewantin or make a 40-minute detour to Noosa North Shore . In this unspoilt paradise, enjoy some beachside activities, or play a game to see who can spot wild kangaroos the fastest.

Photo credit: @manuelo.pro via Instagram

Further up, bask in the endless white sands of Teewah Beach . It’s only accessible via a 4WD so this is where your beachy journey begins! It’s also largely undeveloped — check that you’ve packed enough water and supplies, especially if you’re camping overnight .

Photo credit: @tracks.we.travel via Instagram

Continue on to Rainbow Beach . The lovely coastal town is famous for its coloured sand cliffs, caused by minerals staining the sand over thousands of years. Take a slow stroll and observe the natural swirl of colours ranging from white to ochre and red.

Photo credit: @alexxsadventures via Instagram

Finally, brace yourself for the grand event! From Inskip Point, take a short ferry ride across the ocean to Fraser Island . It’s the world’s largest sand island, and many come to conquer the glorious ‘highway’ that is 75 Mile Beach (that’s ~120km, FYI).

During your drive, swing by the Maheno shipwreck for photos and the Champagne Pools for a natural bubbling ‘jacuzzi’. Be sure to visit Fraser Island’s amazing rainforest too — it’s the only one on this planet that grows on sand!

10) Legendary Pacific Coast Touring Route from Sydney to Byron Bay

Journey time: 9–14 days (~1,000km) Starting point: Sydney Airport (~8hr flight from Singapore)

The Legendary Pacific Coast is another iconic route. The drive from Sydney to Byron Bay up to Brisbane is full of quintessential Aussie experiences — bucket-list-worthy adventures, soft, sandy beaches, and countless places to surf.

The route itself is a 10-hour stretch, but it’s pretty manageable if you break the distance down over two weeks. Following this, beginners would drive for a maximum of two hours every day on smooth, sealed roads.

If you’re not keen on exploring the famous Blue Mountains , opt for the quieter Bouddi National Park . Hop on the many scenic tracks , which feature sandstone cliffs, isolated beaches and vibrant native bush.

Photo credit: @sand_dune_adventures via Instagram

Further up north, the adventures begin! Port Stephens is where you’ll find the Southern Hemisphere’s largest moving coastal dunes — and there’s no better way to explore this shifting desert than with quad bikes (your first step to a 4WD!).

Read also: 9-Day Australia Road Trip Itinerary Around The Best Of NSW — Sydney, Blue Mountains and Beyond

Warning: Once you’re in Byron Bay , you might find it terribly hard to leave. The sun-kissed seaside town is arguably the best-kept secret in New South Wales , and there’s absolutely no shortage of things to do.

Read also: Byron Bay Guide: 25 Things to Do in NSW’s Ultimate Hipster Paradise

Experiences we 100% recommend include surfing at Main Beach , dining on fresh seafood at Catch-A-Crab , and watching the sunrise at Cape Byron Lighthouse . Meanwhile, Chris Hemsworth recommends diving at Julian Rocks (no kidding!).

Photo credit: @goldcoast_themeparks via Instagram

If you’re itching for more road trip adventures, drive a little further up to the Gold Coast or Brisbane in Queensland . Take your pick from hair-raising Gold Coast theme parks or the mellow Brisbane Brewing Co .

Read more: 2-Week Australia Road Trip from Sydney to Byron Bay — Discovering NSW’s Legendary Pacific Coast

Driving tips and planning for an unforgettable road trip in Australia

In a land so vast and wondrous, not exploring Australia on a road trip is a real shame. Even then, whether you decide to stay in the cities or hit the road, this country won’t have any problems curing your wanderlust !

All you need to do is find underrated things to do , or seek out socially-distant natural wonders . Hey, safety is sexy, no?

Speaking of safety, here are some useful driving tips for the long road ahead 👇 (1) Rent a GPS or download offline Google maps. Mobile reception isn’t available in remote places like National Parks. (2) Follow the speed limit — even in rural areas. Take it from us, the fines are hefty. (3) Watch out for wildlife on the roads. Drive at the recommended speeds, so that you can slow down or brake in time if an animal crosses in front of you. (4) Similarly, avoid driving in the dark as animals are more active then. If you do, use your high beam to see further ahead. Drop it when there are cars in the other direction (they’ll do the same too).

Need more ideas to plan your next Australia road trip? Find more guides and detailed maps for self-driving itineraries here !

Featured and Facebook image credit: @tracks.we.travel via Instagram

Which Australia road trip are you keen to go on? Share your plans in the comments!

This post is brought to you by Tourism Australia .

For more travel inspiration, follow us on Facebook , Instagram , YouTube , and Telegram !

View this post on Instagram A post shared by thetravelintern.com (@thetravelintern) on Jul 29, 2020 at 4:31am PDT

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Australia Travel Guide

Last updated on June 24, 2023 by Shannon

Australia has been built for travel and tourism and is thus incredibly popular with travelers all over the world. The backpacker culture is particular well developed because Europeans and Israelis can easily get a year work visa.

Table of Contents

Fast Facts About Australia Travel

Australia is nearly as big as the continental US and has incredibly disparate landscapes; you can participate in nearly any type of adventure and fun activity: world-class diving, climbing, hiking, sky-diving, wine tastings, bush walks, camping and surfing are just a sampling of the sheer diversity in Oz. The culture is super-laid back, locals are friendly, and the backpacker community is warmly embracing of both newbies and old-hat travelers alike.

Vegetarian Friendly? Absolutely. No problem for vegetarians here, Australia even has a deep fried version of a veggie burger that I’ve never had anywhere else (breaded cheese and spinach). Fruit is plentiful and the hostel breakfasts offered throughout the country even have some great protein options to get the day off to a good start: toast with peanut butter or vegemite.  Eating out can get pricey so you’ll be cooking yourself a lot of meals at the well-stocked hostel kitchens anyway!

Internet Accessibility : Australia only gets three out of five because internet was expensive . Like, seriously pricey because of the Telstra monopoly. Many of the tour booking agencies will offer a bit of free internet if you’ve booked with them. McDonalds was also just starting to offer widespread free WIFI as I was leaving – this will be a life-saver since there are still small towns that had no internet access except the local libraries. Many hostels offer it, particularly on the major backpacker route between Cairns and Sydney, but other than that it can be unexpectedly tricky.

Transportation : This is a non-issue in Australia; anywhere you want to go, you can get there easily. The Greyhound bus is a great option. There is a bit of a train network as well in some areas. Also, a lot of backpackers rent vans and travel the country that way so you can frequently just catch a ride between cities if they’re heading in the same direction! It’s reasonably priced and simple – in addition to all of the public options the organized tour industry is incredibly prevalent and that’s a viable route too.

World Travel Planning Tips + Resources

From the best travel gear to how to pick travel insurance—a detailed list of resources, tips, and advice to help you plan an amazing trip.

Pre-Trip Reading Inspiration: Books About Australia

Check out my recommended books, music, and movies to inspire and learn about Australia—why not grab one and read it on the plane?!

Australia (FILM) : Runs toward the typical Hollywood fare, but well acted and again, will show some of the previous conflicts and politics that shaped modern Australia…old told with a romantic Hugh Jackman-y sub-plot and engaging story. .

Rabbit-Proof Fence Novel ( FILM ): Every traveler should see this moving film either before heading to Australia, or while your traveling through the country. The story centers on Australia’s Stolen Generation and the controversial aboriginal policies in the 1930s that took mixed-raced aboriginal children from their parents for “re-education.”

The Harp in the South by  Ruth Parks : An older book that gives a look at a growing and struggling Australia when the country was first being developed. Shows a side of Sydney, and Australia, that is only an echo now.

If you can’t read any of these travel book recommendations then read up on the  history of Australia online before you travel there.

Recommended Guidebook

Considered a backpacker’s bible by many, the Lonely Planet Australia is a beast of a book, but worth its weight in gold if you’re truly exploring the entire country. The transportation sections of the guidebook comes in handy the most on the road, giving you detailed options on how to cross the vast expanses of Australia!

Find more regional fiction and nonfiction  books and long-reads .

Best Things to Do in Australia

Boy is this a hard thing to pin down! There are so many things to do across the continent of Australia that there is no single online guide that is going to share everything you need to know. But, across my more than four months traveling in Australia (two months backpacking and two months “living” there with a friend), I’ve seen and done a whole lot that I am keen to share.

My 5 Favorite Travel Experiences in Australia

Diving with the Fishies on the Great Barrier Reef Fun Melbourne Day Trips Hiking the Giant Staircase in the Blue Mountains Outside of Sydney Holy Kangaroos Batman! First Days sightseeing in Sydney

Cairns is the center of the diving universe in Australia—this the Mecca for divers and snorkelers keen to explore the Great Barrier Reef . There are other cities where you can dive (Port Douglas most notably and the Whitsunday Islands too). The city is vibrant with activity and located in the far north of Queensland.

There is city is generally the end/beginning of the popular Cairns to Sydney backpacker route and with that title has a ton of activities, even though diving and snorkeling take the top honors and focus of tourism in this city. Most of the backpacker and travel activity is built up around the esplanade and huge lagoon swimming pool.

Things to Do in Cairns

• Diving: You have choices. Like, a lot of choices. I used Deep Sea Divers Den and loved them. I originally wanted to use Pro Dive Cairns but they were booked up way ahead of time; both would be a great option. If you’re a dive enthusiast then consider the live-aboard options, you go out further from the shore to slightly less busy spots on the reef. I did a three-day live-aboard—the best I could afford and I got in several amazing dives before they ferried me back to shore. The food is tasty and these dive companies are incredibly well organized—they have options for every budget and every combination of experiences. ** My Great Barrier Reef diving experience
• Rainforest Meets Reef: The Daintree Rainforest is the oldest in the world. Literally. It’s a UNESCO spot and so worth the multi-day excursion from Cairns. There are frogs, rare flowers, and the Mossman Gorge – all totally unique to anywhere else in Australia, and totally unique in the whole world, in fact.
• Rafting, Cultural Tours, Ballooning, etc: There are endless options in addition to diving – Oz is the land of packaged tours so it’s easiest to head to Peter Pan travel booking agency , tell them what you want and they’ll organize the companies and experiences.  I used them a lot and had good success and less stress. Plus they have free internet.

Where to Stay in Cairns

Northern Greenhouse : 117 Grafton Street, Cairns 4870. A great spot, totally walkable to the Esplanade and all of the popular bars and activities. All of the dive shops and tour agencies will pick you up from outside. They have internet, free breakfast, luggage storage and they pick you up from the airport. Fun organized activities (BBQ) but yet not a total party hostel, so you can get a good night’s sleep.

The Woolshed: 24 Shields St, Cairns QLD 4870. They have special fixed price backpacker meals early in the night, then crazy amounts of partying as the evening wears on. A really fun spot to meet other backpackers!

Restaurants

Hostel kitchen: Australia is expensive and most hostels have a kitchen (Northern Greenhouse has a HUGE one) so I cooked my own dinner and saved my dough to go out for beers later in the evenings.

Melbourne is the red-headed stepchild of the cities in Australia; while Sydney is very pretty and yuppy Melbourne has a much edgier and alternative vibe. It has a lot to offer as far as big cities go and is actually a favorite big-city travel spot from all of the cities I’ve visited around the world.

It’s easy to get around on the buses and trams to nearly any part of the city, so transportation, once you’re in Melbourne, is not an issue at all. The Internet can be a problem and expensive, so you have to stay at a hostel with wifi if you need it for work.

Things to Do in Melbourne

I did not rent a campervan or car so day trips were the best way to catch these sites around Melbourne!

• Philips Island : The worlds smallest penguins, fairy penguins, live on Phillip Island – they are incredibly cute and eco-friendly tours leave early in the morning from Melbourne and return in the evening. I loved Go West tours – the groups are of a reasonable size and they plan several activities throughout the day. This is a great tour for animal lovers since you also stop at an animal conversation center with emus, koalas, kangaroos, and more! ** My experience and travel tips for Phillips Island from Melbourne
• Great Ocean Road : Touted as the most scenic drive in Australia, it just might be true. It’s gorgeous. You’ll have a really long day if you take the tour, but the sites are pretty and if you’re a fan of nature and beaches then this is ideal. ** My experience and travel tips for the Great Ocean Road from Melbourne
• Explore the CBD with Coffee : The streets of Melbourne’s Central Business  District are vaguely reminiscent of Europe – they’re tiny and cramped but full of delightful boutiques, street food stalls, and coffee shops with tables spilling into the already thin walking path. It’s a really fun way to explore the city and rub shoulders with the locals, literally. ** My first days exploring Melbourne
• St. Kilda Street Market : This Sunday market on the Upper Esplanade has tons of arts and crafts, vendors, and food and it looks out over the beach. Worth visiting if you’re in town for a Sunday, but don’t extend your stay for it :)

Where to Stay

• Home at the Mansion : On my most recent trip through Melbourne in late 2016 I stayed here and loved it. There are some long-term backpackers living there, but it generally has a great vibe and you just can’t beat the location. They have privates that make for a budget-to-midrange option with convenience if you’re keen too. If you’re on a budget, or keen to see other areas, I stayed at  Melbourne Central YHA  my first time through the area and it’s a spotless hostel that is friendly and welcoming to all, including families. This hostel is quieter than some, which is normal for a YHA hostel, and it’s run more like structured boarding house institution than many nearby hostels.
• Base Backpackers St Kilda : Base Backpacker hostels are offered throughout Australia and Oceania. These hostels can range a bit more expensive, but Base has high standards and a lot of extra amenities. If you’re heading to St. Kilda, you can’t miss with this if you’re looking for a fun, engaged backpacker environment.
• Alto Hotel on Bourke is a gorgeous boutique spot in a very central spot if you want nice-to-midrange.

Melbourne is a huge city. It really depends on where you stay, but head to the CBD for the little cafes popping out into the streets.

St. Kilda also many great vegetarian eats. You’ll be totally covered.

Sydney was my absolute first stop of my round the world trip and I was still taking off my travel training wheels as I explored the city. It’s a pretty city with a huge backpacking community – this is a hub for backpackers with working visas who are trying to save up money to travel around Australia.

That means there is a lively nightlife and all of the hostels have long-term backpackers living right out of the rooms. The transportation is fantastic and can get you all over to anywhere a tourist might possibly want to visit.

Things to Do in Sydney

• Sightsee the Opera House and Harbor: This is a no-brainer because the iconic Sydney Opera House is the first stop for many travelers. I recommend that you walk through the Royal Botanical Gardens and to  Mrs Macquarie’s Chair, then curve along the water’s edge toward the Opera House – it’s a lovely walk and worth the time, plus this is where you get many of those iconic shots of the bridge and Opera House together. ** My first days exploring Sydney
• Hike in the Blue Mountains : My favorite Sydney activity and most important tip – go see the blue mountains that are just a two hour train ride outside of Sydney. The blue haze from the eucalyptus trees give the landscape an ethereal look. Katoomba is the most popular city and worth staying a couple of nights if you’re keen on hiking. ** My Blue Mountain hiking experience
• Toronga Zoo : Boats leave from Sydney’s Circular Quay and ferry over to the Toronga Zoo – this is hands-down the best setting for a zoo in the world, as you hike up the hills and visit the various areas you have unparalleled views of Sydney Harbor and the CBD. I used the zoo as a way to take visual note of the dozens of dangerously venomous spiders and snakes that inhabit Australia.

Where to Stay:

Blue Parrot Hostel : Located in Potts Point, this hostel is just outside of the sketchier area by a block or two, but still close to all of the backpacker action in Kings Cross. There were a lot of people living in the hostel (which makes the rooms stinky) but they had nice community areas and gave great tips and recs for the city.

Australia Travel Stories

My very first round the world trip way back in 2008 started in Sydney, Australia. My travel stories, however span that trip, as well as subsequent trips back to the country to explore areas that I missed the first time around. Each Australia travel story and update was shared in real-time as I travel blogged my way around Oz. Pick up the adventure wherever you fancy:

A Little Story… (Mis)Adventures in Hiking the Giant Staircase in Katoomba

A Little Adjustment… Sightseeing Sydney Safely as a Solo Female Traveler

A Little Confusion… Adventures Hiking Wentworth Falls in Australia’s Blue Mountains

A Little Adventure… Eating Water at Surg Lessons in Byron Bay, Australia

A Little Friendship… Exploring Australia’s Lakes Entrance & Surviving the Storms

A Little Adventure… Driving the Sands and Beaches of Fraser Island

A Little Advice… On Spending Christmas Alone as a Solo Traveler

A Little Different… The Magic of Rainy Waterfalls on Uluru

A Little Adventure… Hiking the Rim of Kings Canyon in Australia

A Little Confession… Facing Fears of Traveling Solo in Southeast Asia

A Little Adventure… On a Mission to Pet Kangaroos in Bateman’s Bay!

A Little Charm… Visiting the Kiama Blowhole, Australia

A Little Relaxing… Hitting My Groove & Sunning on the Beaches of Wollongong

A Little Hunkering… Hiding from the Biggest Storm of the Year

A Little Internet… Why is the Internet So God-Awful in Australia? (And How to Get Connected)

A Little Update… Prepping to Visit Uluru in the Australian Outback

A Little Adventure… Scuba Diving Australia’s Great Barrier Reef

A Little Exploring… How to Visit the Great Ocean Road & Phillip Island

A Little Travel Memory… Goodbye Ye Faithful Apostles

A Little Serenade… Six Songs for a Happy Birthday!

A Little Celebration… Happy New Years from Noosa Beach

A Little Adventure… Sailing Australia’s Whitsunday Islands for Christmas

A Little City… Exploring Trendy, Alternative, Melbourne

1 thought on “australia travel guide”.

Dear Shannon I really like this blog. I find that animals are very special in australia we don’t have those animals here in Chile. Animals like Spiders or serpientes surprised me . I also liked the food, it is quite special and varied , Chile didnt are so varied. I really liked that Australia is so big and that you can never know everything because it has many tourist places. Also that it has so much sea and so many beautiful beaches.I would love to visit this country because it has a very different culture from that of my country and I also love the landscape of Australia. I would like to meet different people. I like your blog. I thank you for the information.

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Restaurants almost always have high chairs available.  

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A complete guide to solo travel in Australia

Updated On 23rd February, 2024

Solo travel in Australia is a dream on many peoples bucket lists and well, it is not hard to see why,

Maybe it’s the tropical climates, the wildlife, the laid-back beachy lifestyle, the epic road trips or the backpacker goals lifestyle that has you dreaming of a trip down under, or maybe it’s a combination of them all?

Whatever it is, if you’re looking for a guide to solo travel in Australia, look no further. I got you!

I’ve solo travelled through Australia on 4 (fortunate) occasions now and so in this travel guide, I am going to share with you all the tips, tricks and knowledge I have from my solo travel in Australia.

Get your pen and paper at the ready, by the end of this post you will have all the inspiration ready to book your solo trip to Australia.  You will not regret it!

Other blog posts/guides you may find useful:

• Australia Travel Guide
• Farm work in Australia: Finding a job, top tips and advice
• Visiting Fraser Island and The Whitsundays: Australia on a backpacker budget
• A guide to freedom camping on the east coast of Australia
• Hiring a camper van in Australia and New Zealand: Your questions answered
• A complete guide to budgeting for backpacking Australia
• 13 ways to save money whilst backpacking Australia

My complete guide to solo travel in Australia…

Whether you are planning a 3-week solo trip, a couple of months travelling or even a whole year on a  Working Holiday Visa , Australia is a world-class location to do all three in. I don’t even know where to start luring you in with adventures I’ve been on here; I’ve had  so many  incredible ones. Here are a few blog posts to get you started…

• The best things to do in Australia
• Cairns to Sydney: The alternative East Coast Australia bucket list

It’s in Australia that you’ll be able to sail the beautiful  Whitsunday Islands , snorkel or scuba dive on the  Great Barrier Reef , explore  Fraser Island ,  Skydive , hang out in  Sydney  or  Melbourne  and of course visit the ultimate surf town of  Byron Bay…  and you can do it all solo!

Solo travel in Australia is so easy, particularly when compared to other countries so don’t worry about meeting people, being on your own or not having people to travel with. Australia is a haven for solo travellers. I’d say its one of my top 3 recommendations for a first-time solo traveller.

For the ultimate East Coast Australia bucket list,  check out this post.

For an alternative East Coast Australia bucket list,  check out this post.

EXPLORE AUSTRALIA ON MY BLOG HERE

Is solo travelling popular in Australia?

The answer is a massive  YES .

If you’re part of the Global Travellers Facebook group ( join here ), you’ll see that the majority of the conversations about Australia are all about solo travel and even arranging meet-ups. There are SO many people doing it and there’s so many of you in the same boat – it’s just about putting yourself in the right places to find eachother.  I got you!

I’m sure many will vouch for me when I say,  ‘the moment you arrive in Australia, you realise how easy it is to navigate solo’.

I get it though, it’s a daunting thought going it alone and so it might seem super tempting to join, say a 30-day organised group tour instead. Group tours have their place in Australia for sure and if you really need to ease yourself in with an ‘intro’ one – by all means rock it. However you can end up paying  a lot  for these tours and then wishing you’d been smarter with your pennies.

Instead, I’d recommend simply booking small bits of your trips separately, e.g. transport, hostels and some of the main tours. All of the latter are all set up in a way that allows for backpackers to be spontaneous if they want. Then step out of your comfort zone, take a leap of faith and go solo travelling in Australia!

If you change your mind, you can always book onto a group tour when you’re there but… I believe in you!

Don’t forget!  My good friend Sammy owns  RatPack Travel  (a discounted booking platform for Australia and New Zealand Travels). They can help you…

– find the best prices and options for transport, trips and tours around the all the key destinations in Australia – create a personalized travel calendar with recommendations for your trip – answer any questions you may have – have an incredible time!

Click here  to send  RatPack  a WhatsApp message ( +61 490 149 348 ) and to get the ball rolling.

Don’t forget you can use my code  MOLLIE10  for  10% off  any trip or transport booking you make.

How do I meet people in Australia?

Sometimes you’re just in the right place at the right time but sometimes just have to get out of your comfort zone and simply say hello.

All of the hostels are totally geared up for solo travellers. The best way to meet people in hostels is at the organised events, in your room (choose a larger mixed dorm to meet people!), or in the common areas. If there’s a BBQ or a beer pong tournament, join in, and I am sure you’ll not only have a great time, but you’ll also meet awesome people. The best tip I can give you is to just  smile and say hello  or even compliment someone on how good their food smells if you’re in the kitchen.

It’s worth remembering that you’re all in the same boat; chances are other solo travellers are feeling just as nervous as you are. Be the one to make the first move (not in a creepy way haha).

Typically solo travellers and travellers in general coming to Australia will travel the east coast from Sydney to Cairns (or vice versa).  This is the most popular route to take.  So whether your travel dates tie in with new found friends or not, it’s not uncommon to bump into people several times along the coast! You become like one big family.

If you know your dates or locations, pop a message on the  Global Travellers Facebook group  and I have no doubt you’ll find a travel buddy to meet up with!

Worried about making friends while you’re solo travelling?  Here are all my top tips!

If you’ve never stayed in a hostel before,  click here for my hostel top tips and hostel packing essentials!

Should I go on group tours and experiences when I solo travel in Australia?

Absolutely! Like I said before… group tours definitely have their place in Australia.

For example when it comes to the likes of the  Whitsundays  or  Fraser Island  – group tours are second to none. 3 days with a group of backpackers in  amazing locations, full of fun and incredible experiences  is definitely going to bond you. You might even find you’ll be travelling in the same direction as others following the trip and  you’ll have a new travel buddy ! 

Some of my favourite memories and bonds have been on these group tours in Australia. I’d definitely say get a Whitsundays group tour and Fraser Island group tour on your Australia bucket list.

Booking the Whitsundays:

The  Whitsundays sailing  tours leave from Airlie Beach and, depending on which boat you’ll choose, you’ll find yourself with a group of travellers from all over the world in a similar age range. The day times will be full of sailing, exploring beaches, snorkelling and the evenings are full of fun and drinks under the stars. You’ll be sharing large cabins with other backpackers on the tour as well as spending every day together, you’ll have  instant friends  and… people to help you get THE perfect shot!

See my guide to booking the best Whitsundays boat for you  here.

Don’t forget you can use my code MOLLIE10 for  10% off  any trip or transport booking you make with  RatPack Travel .

Booking Fraser Island:

Oh, Fraser Island.  If you go on one of the 4WD Tag Along tours, you’ll be in convoy of 4 jeeps with 7 people in each 4WDs. Road trip goals. Have an epic road trip playlist ready that includes some classic singalongs! Over the 3 days, you’ll be driving on beach highways, swimming in freshwater lakes and camping under the stars .  Just like the Whitsundays, you’ll share accommodation, transport and spend every day with the group. It’s the perfect way to meet other backpackers who also love to explore. 

See my guide to booking the best Fraser Island trip for you here.

See my solo travel vs. booking onto group tours blog post here if you still can’t decide which route to take.

Is solo travel in Australia safe?

I’ve always felt very safe in Australia when I’ve been travelling. The people here are kind and the cities are safe. Obviously, just like anywhere you travel, always have your wits about you and don’t put yourself in any situations that you wouldn’t at home. As a rule of thumb, I keep in touch with my family when I’m travelling and make sure I have data and battery on my phone (a power bank is really useful to travel with!)

Check out  my top tips for solo travel as a female in this blog post.

See my top tips for staying safe when travelling solo  here.

How do I get around Australia?

I travelled by bus the first time I travelled around Australia. It was so easy and convenient, and every bus was full of backpackers sharing stories and tips. I got the  Greyhound Hop on Hop off  bus pass which basically allowed me to travel from Sydney to Cairns on any Greyhound bus and stopped off at all the destinations I wanted to visit, it’s  definitely a way of travelling I’d recommend for a solo traveller .

Another thing to remember is that domestic flights in Australia are super cheap, so if you are on a short timeframe check out  Skyscanner  or  Jetstar  for flights.

If you prefer a bit of freedom, why not book a campervan through RatPack and road trip it!? I hired one from Sammy at RatPack when I did a  5-day Great Ocean Road road trip.

• See my guide to planning your transport in Australia here.
• Check out my guide to Greyhound buses in Australia here.
• If you want to find out more about hiring a camper in Australia, click here.

If you opt for the Greyhound bus pass, instead of booking direct,  click here  and use the code  MOLLIE10  for 10% off the direct rate with RatPack Travel. You can also use the discount for campers!

How much of my trip to Australia should I plan?

As a solo traveller, I always like to have a rough idea of where I’m going and what I’m doing. For Australia the choice is yours however I’d say it’s  pretty essential to pre-plan your trip if you are going in the peak season (November – February).  The popular trips trips get booked up around 3-4 weeks in advance during peak time. With everything else you can be super flexible with and keep it spontaneous.

What happens if things go wrong?

Whether you are travelling solo or with friends, there is always scope for plans to change or things to go ‘wrong’. The first thing to do is to not panic; there’s always a solution! It’s pretty normal when travelling to be faced with a few hurdles, be it weather affecting your plans, suddenly feeling lonely or needing to go and see a doctor.  See my advice for feeling homesick when travelling here.

Medically, if you need to see a doctor urgently, the emergency number is  000.  Save it to your phone! Find hospitals near you  here . If you need to see a GP for something less urgent, most are open Monday-Friday 9-5, but you’ll need to book an appointment (it’ll cost 50-70 AUD). Make sure you get  travel insurance  – medical bills in Australia add up  really  quickly!

If you ever feel lonely,  don’t forget  that your family and friends are a quick WhatsApp or FaceTime away. The best way to overcome loneliness is to put yourself out there and socialise at the hostel events or common areas or join a tour with other backpackers. Don’t be scared though; feeling nervous before travelling is normal. Getting out of your comfort zone is one of the best things you can do.  Get the flight booked and let the adventure begin…

The weather can’t be controlled, but try and check the forecast regularly before you make concrete plans, and if the weather calls off an activity you really wanted to do, embrace the storm and do that activity another day!

Top tip :  RatPack Travel  are the only agent that offers 100% full refund on any cancelled trips due to weather. RatPack knows that travelling sometimes isn’t perfect so if a big old storm rolls in and cancels your trip, you can expect all your money back.

CLICK HERE TO WHATSAPP RATPACK TRAVEL NOW (+61 490 149 348)

Looking for more top tips for solo travel in Australia?

Check out my video below, or my complete guide to  budgeting for backpacking through Australia here !

SEE ALL MY YOUTUBE TRAVEL VIDEOS HERE

Have you solo travelled in Australia?

What are your top tips? I’d love to know about your experience!

Love as always + happy adventuring,

Did you find this post helpful? I’d love you to share it for me.

I can’t do this without you.

Pin and save this blog post for later…

IT’S LOVELY TO MEET YOU

I’M MOLLIE AND I STARTED THIS BLOG BACK IN 2013 WHEN I HEADED OUT ON MY FIRST BACKPACKING ADVENTURE. 

I’D LOVE TO SHARE THE JOURNEY WITH YOU, WE’VE GROWN A LOT SINCE THEN!

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Here you will find all my travel blogs on Australia

Australia! What a country, so vast, so beautiful. But also, so much variety, different animals and different types of landscape! We travelled to Australia twice. The first time we only saw Cairns (for diving to the Great Barrier Reef) and Sydney. And that first time tasted like more and so now we go to Australia for a second time! This time we will stay a lot longer and travel from Brisbane to Melbourne in seven weeks*: a road trip to explore the east coast of Australia.

We share all our experiences, knowledge and impressions in blogs about Australia. Blogs with tips, travel guides, nice hotels and possible itineraries for Australia! But also personal diary blogs about this beautiful country.

The ultimate itinerary for the east coast of Australi a

Below you will find the ultimate itinerary for a road trip of the east coast in Australië! This itinerary is for six weeks, but can be shortened into two or four weeks in Australia!

The six-weeks itinerary for Australia is as follows: Brisbane – Fraser Island – Noosa -Gold Coast – Byron Bay – Sydney – Great Ocean Road- Melbourne

All of our blogs on Australia

The most popular Australia blogs:

• Australia travel budget : How expensive is a road trip through Australia?
• Australia east coast itinerary : the ultimate guide for a roadtrip along the east coast of Australia!
• The ultimate travel guide Byron Bay !
• Must do: a self-drive road trip through Fraser Island!

Facts about traveling through Australia

Best p eriod:  November till March How long:   2 weeks to 6 months Favourite hotels:  click here for an overview of the best hotels in Australia !  

Flight deals: click here  for the most actual flight deals to Australia! Type of trip:  backpacking, road trip, couple, family trip

Get a 20% discount on a Spaceships campervan for your last minute vacation in Australia! Book & travel before the 20th of Decem ber and have the same pick up and delivery location !  Click here for the deal and more information!

All of our blogs on Australia:

Hotel guide australia: the best hotels on the east coast of australia, budget australia and prices: what does a road trip in australia cost, travel guide brisbane, australia: 12 things to do in 3 days in hotspot brisbane, things to do in byron bay australia: 9 hotspots and the best beaches, fraser island 4x4 self drive: a 3 day itinerary to this famous island in australia, diary blog australia: brisbane, fraser island, noosa and the fear of the coronavirus, itineraries east coast australia: ultimate road trips for 2 to 6 weeks traveling along the coast, diary blog | the impact of the coronavirus on our world trip: immediately going home, noosa australia: 6 cool things to do in and around noosa at the sunshine coast.

* Unfortunately, the coronavirus threw a spanner in the works and we had to return home after three weeks Australia. As a result, we were only able to visit the north of the east coast.

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Cairns travel blog — the fullest cairns guide & suggested 3 days itinerary in cairns for first-timers.

Referring to Australian tourism, travellers immediately think of big cities that have been famous for a long time such as Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Perth but perhaps few visitors know today the city of Cairns also has been becoming a new tourist paradise which attracting millions of visitors every year. Cairns is a harmonious city of combination of modern, bustling beauty with unspoiled nature. Cairns also impresses visitors with its breathtaking natural landscape from poetic golden sand beaches to mangrove forests, primeval forests and spectacular mountain ranges. In particular, a World Heritage Area recognized in 1981 – Great Barrier Reef is one of the 7 new natural wonders of the world. If you’re planning a trip to Australia this summer, you definitely can’t miss Cairns. So, what to do and how to plan a perfect budget trip to Cairns for the first-time? Let’s check out our Cairns travel blog (Cairns blog) with the fullest Cairns travel guide (Cairns guide, Cairns tourist guide, Cairns visitor guide, Cairns Australia travel guide) from how to get there, best time to come, where to stay, best places to visit and top things to do and suggested Cairns itinerary 3 days to find out the answer!

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The city of Cairns is located in the north of Queensland State, Australia was established in 1876. It was named after the Governor of the state of Queensland at that time, William Wellington Cairns. Cairns about 1,700 km from Brisbane and 2,420 km from Sydney with an area of 1,687 km² and a population of nearly 280,000 people.

From Cairns, you can head straight to the tropical fertile highlands of Atherton Tablelands, riding along the Savannah Way – a route of highways and major roads in the northern Australia that linking Cairns with Broome in Western Australia or learn about the history and traditions of the indigenous inhabitants at the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park. Even more wonderful, you can hiking to Australia’s northernmost point on the Cape York Peninsula.

Cairns guide: Overview of Cairns

Cairns is a small city in Far North, Queensland, Australia. The city of Cairns is very beautiful, modern, peaceful and there are so many things to do, to see, especially it has two World Heritage Areas are the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics of Queensland.

Initially, it was established to serve miners at the Hodgkinson Mineral Area. However, today Cairns has become a famous tourist city that attracts a large number of tourists around the world by countless attractive and interesting destinations. Cairns is one of the top 10 destinations for international tourists. According to Wikipedia, this is the fourth most popular destination for international visitors after Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. However, there are less domestic tourists come here because it is too far away and isolated from major Australian cities.

Cairns travel blog: When to go?

Cairns climate has two characteristic of seasons: Wet and dry. The wet season starts from December and lasts until February or March. Winter is dry and cool from April or May and usually lasts until September. October and November are considered the peak season of scuba diving and snorkeling activities because the weather conditions during this time are most ideal.

The water temperature in the coral reef areas ranging from 22 degrees Celsius (in winter) to 29 deegrees Celsius (in summer), making it suitable for most times of the year to explore these areas. The weather in the tropical rainforest is similar but the rainforest is more attractive in the blooming season. July and August are the best times to watching Minke whales and humpback whales as they migrate along the coast. November marks the annual coral spawning season, making the scenery so breathtaking that you can only see on the Discovery Channel.

Cairns Australia travel guide: Getting there

Getting to Cairns from other Australian cities you can travel by bus, train or the most convenient way is by plane. Airfares from Brisbane to Cairns ranging from AU$ 115 – AU$ 250 with low-cost carriers like Jetstar or Tiger Air. You can find cheap and affordable tickets and suitable routes on Skyscanner, Google Flights or Kayak.

Airport information

The airport is only about 7km from the city center of Cairns. So, after arriving at the airport, you can take a taxi to get to the hotel you booked in advance, traveling time about 10 minutes for AU$25.

If you do not take a taxi, you can also use the Sun Palm Shuttle express bus with the fare of AU$ 16 / adult to Cairns CBD, and AU$ 27 to the Northern Beaches and to Port Douglas.

Additionally, you can hire a transfer service in advance here , it picks you up at the airport and will drops you off at the door of your hotel.

Cairns travel blog: Getting around

The main taxi station is located at Lake Street in the city center. Call 131 008 or visit www.blackandwhitetaxis.com.au for more information. Besides, the blue Sunbus is a cheap and reliable means of transportation. These buses run to suburbs, northern beaches and Palm Cove, and also offer service to smaller towns, including Atherton Tablelands, Cooktown, Kuranda, Mission Beach and Port Douglas.

Cairns guide: What to do and where to go?

The great barrier reef.

Great Barrier Reef is one of the most tourist attractions in Cairns. It is the largest coral reefs in the world and home to a wide variety of marine life including 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 2,300 kilometers over an area of approximately 344,400 square kilometers. This is one of the 7 new natural wonders of the world. It is the only natural wonder the world you can see from space.

• Great Barrier Reef Cruise (GBRA)

You can reach the Great Barrier Reef in just 90 minutes to 120 minutes away from the city center of Cairns, the world’s largest coral reef. With blue and transparent water that seems to be seen at the bottom, Great Barrier will surely attract you at first sight. It is one of the most enjoyable experiences in Cairns. You can snorkeling or scuba diving to observe the diversity of coral reefs and thousands of different sea life.

On the way to the coral reef you will stop by an island called Green Island. This island has only 37 acres area but this is the only island owns the Rain Forest in which there are many kinds of birds and very rare and special trees.

Great Barrier Reef Cruises from Airlie Beach or Hamilton Island

You can book a boat tour to enjoy cool sea breeze, fresh air and watch the romantic, poetic scenery here, you can also dive into the water to see a variety of colorful corals as well as swimming with sea creatures of all kinds such as whales, stingray, dolphins, sea turtles…

From June to October, the average temperature of seawater is 26 degrees Celsius, this is a best time for you to snorkeling and watching the coral.

Dolphins and whales watching

The city of Cairns is known for its diverse marine activities and if you love to watching dolphins and whales, you’ve come to the right place. There are many tour operators operating cruising excursions and you will find a wide range of marine species here depending on the time you visit.

The Great Barrier Reef forms a spawning sanctuary for cetaceans (whales and dolphins) with 35% of the total species of whales and dolphins living in the oceans chose the reef as their home. In particular, in the period from July to September, there are over 2,000 humpback whales migrate to the city of Cairns to giving birth and raising their babies, making a round trip of over 10,000 km from the waters of Antarctic.

Kuranda Village and Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park

Coming here you will have the opportunity to learn about the customs, culture and history of the first people once live in Australia. Watching them perform traditional dances, throwing boomerang – a very special weapon that hits the enemy and turns back to the pitcher.

Kuranda Day Tour from Cairns, Northern Beaches, or Port Douglas

Kuranda is a village surrounded by rainforest and one of the most attractive places to visit in Cairns. It has many great attractions such as the aviary, wildlife park and Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park. Kuranda Village is a must-see place for those who love nature, peace and tranquility. Without high-rise buidlings and houses or hustle and bustle life, Kuranda was idyllic with pretty small wooden houses, green trees and red dirt roads.

Visiting Kuranda market, you will surely be attracted by the intricately crafted handicrafts, the fabrics or colorful brocade clothes characteristic of indigenous peoples.

• Grand Kuranda Experience

Another interesting experience here is you can take a scenic train through Kuranda. This is a trip by steam locomotive which passing many sights of the rainforest surrounding the village. You also can watch the rainforest by riding by Skyrail Rainforest Cableway . Or you can enjoy both on the same day by taking a train to Kuranda and a cableway ride back to Cairns.

Crystal Cascades

Crystal Cascades is a series of natural water holes (pools) on the Freshwater Creek surrounded by many rocks and magnificent waterfalls. These pools are extremely familiar to locals and recently, many tourists also started coming here and exploring. With the clear water surrounded by large rocks and water from the natural spring source that is extremely cool and pure, surely immersing in these pools will make your soul and body to be relaxed in the maximum and most wonderful way.

• Cairns Canyoning

Crystal Cascades are also known as a popular spot for cliff diving where adventure lovers often jump off the surrounding cliffs into the water below. Its highest point is known as No No Fear. However, this game is quite risky, so you should consider it carefully before trying this thrills.

Address: Redlynch Intake Rd, Lamb Range QLD 4870, Australia Hours: Open 24 hours

Daintree Rainforest

This promises to be one of the most exciting places to visit in Cairns. During your vacation, you can take a zip lining tour in the Daintree rainforest. This rainforest is one of the most beautiful attractions of Cairns. While exploring this place, you can also spotting some of the local rainforest wildlife such as koalas and kangaroos – the animals that make up the beautiful symbol of Australia.

• Cape Tribulation and Daintree Wildlife Tour

Address: 2333 Cape Tribulation Rd, Cape Tribulation QLD 4873, Australia Hours: 8:20AM–5PM

Journey to the past

The Tropical North Queensland is a region that preserves the intact green and long-standing rainforests of Australia. This place is immersed in the heritage; indigenous mysticism; cascading waterfalls and ancient pine trees. The rainforest is also home to a peaceful home to a quarter of the amphibian population, one third of mammals and freshwater fish and nearly half of the country’s bird population. A place you can not miss when coming to the North Tropical Queensland is Mossman Gorge in Daintree National Park.

Cairns Night Markets

If you want to shop in Cairns, this is definitely a must-go place. The night market in Cairns opens at 5pm and has almost everything you need: Clothes, jewelry, electronics, food … Like many other markets, the night market in Cairns city is a shopping paradise for shopaholic. It sells many typical items of local people so you can freely choose and buy souvenirs to give to friends and relatives.

Address: 54-60 Abbott St, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia Hours: 10:30PM

Rusty’s Markets

In addition to the night market, you may also want to visit the Rusty market. This is one of the best places to buy fresh fruits and vegetables. Rusty Market is open on early Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings. Actually, this is quite an interesting place because not only tropical fruits, but this market also offers a variety of foods such as Thai, Vietnamese, and Japanese with relatively cheap prices from AU$ 10 – AU$ 15.

Address: 57/89 Grafton St, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia Hours: Friday: 5AM–6PM/Saturday: 5AM–6PM/Sunday: 5AM–3PM

Cairns Botanic Gardens

The Flecker Botanic Gardens was established in 1886 and has a number of rare plants. Along with the diversity of plants, there are also many species of birds living here. In addition, there are two cafes with various options for breakfast and lunch. The botanical garden is a great place to have a picnic with family and friends.

Address: 78-96 Collins Ave, Edge Hill QLD 4870, Australia Hours: 8:30AM–4PM/Saturday, Sunday: 9:30AM–2PM

Atherton Tablelands Waterfalls

Atherton Tablelands with a collection of spectacular falls located in northern Queensland, including 10 majestic waterfalls and rich tropical forests. Places to visit such as: Australia’s largest Millstream waterfall, Millaa Millaa waterfall with wonderful natural scenery, Nandroya waterfall with many unique shapes… Also, if you love to exploring the rainforests and want to challenge yourself with an exciting trekking trip, this place is the perfect choice for you.

Cape Tribulation Beach

Coming to Cairns, you will have the opportunity to freely indulge in the wild and windy beaches. So, don’t forget Cape Tribulation beach nestled in the Daintree rainforest. Currently in Cairns, there are many day trekking trips through the forest, exploring the ancient ecosystem in the oldest rainforest in the world. You will have more knowledge about flora and fauna after this exciting journey.

Snorkeling and scuba diving

With the largest coral reef system in the world including more than 3,000 coral reefs and a variety of diverse and rich corals, snorkeling or scuba diving and watching coral is an activity you cannot miss when traveling to Cairns. In Cairns, the Great Barrier Reef is listed in the list of natural wonders of the world with a diverse species of marine life, many of which are listed on the red list. Not only that, with about 900 large and small islands off the coast of Queensland, this is the ideal place for you to explore the mysterious of the ocean, watch exotic algae, seaweed, immerse yourself in cool seawater, swimming with whales and more than 1,500 species of fish, more than 100 species of sharks…

Norman Reef Scenic Helicopter Flight and Cruise Half Day Tour from Cairns

Peaceful villages

Explore the two coastal villages of Palm Cove and Port Douglas. Palm Cove is a quiet and relaxing place with ancient Melaleuca trees. You will love your ride in this tranquil and delicate setting. While Port Douglas is a tropical oasis, half an hour to the north of Cairns on a nice path through the forest and along coastline. Port Douglas is the perfect place for you to experience a peaceful atmosphere of a village, a place to recover, regain your spirits and health. Enjoying the turquoise waters of the coral reefs, crystal clear waters at Mossman Gorge or Four Mile Beach with golden sand stretches next to palm trees, surely you will be relaxed and satisfied.

Helicopter tours

Cairns is a beautiful land but have you ever thought of admiring this place from above? You can see this beautiful city from above in a helicopter. The helicopter tour will last around thirty minutes and gives you an incredible and panoramic view of everything of the city, majestic falls, rainforests and the Great Barrier Reef.

This is also one of the best ways to see the Great Barrier Reef. You will also get amazing views of Atherton Tablelands, the Daintree Rainforest and other beautiful spots in the Cairns region. You will also participate in a parachuting trip with an experienced instructor.

Great Barrier Reef Cruise and Scenic Helicopter Flight Tour [Klook Exclusive 10% Off]

Thrilling bungy jumping in the Cairns rainforest

Do you like adventure games? Then try bungy jumping in the Cairns rainforest. This will be an unforgettable experience for you. You will challenge yourself when take a bungee jumping from the top of a tower with a height of more than 50m, this is the most popular activity in Australia, do not forget to wear a helmet and fasten your seat belt to ensure safety. In addition, you can also enjoy romantic dinners or “playing hard” at the skybar at Cairns tower.

AJ Hackett offers bungy jumping service with 16 different styles, including Minjin Jungle Swing – an user-controlled set of jump equipment that allows 3 people to jump and fly through the forest at a speed of 45m / 3.5 seconds, maximum speed at 120km / h. Those who want to see can sit in the high available huts.

Skyrail Rainforest Cableway

Watching the vast landscape from above, enjoying the feeling of floating in the middle of the air and taking pictures of the majestic scenery… is an experience not to be missed. Skyrail Rainforest Cableway was built as a pioneer in the world in the field of environmental tourism. This service gives riders have 90 minutes (one way) or 2.5 hours (round trip) overhead to see the heritage rain forest of Cairns. You can choose to start or end your journey at Caravonica or Kuranda Village. It is better to combine the sightseeing by cable car with other ways like going by train on the Kuranda Scenic Railway for a half or full day tour.

Seeing the lava up-close-and-personal

Normally, being able to see the lava up close wouldn’t be an entertaining idea, but don’t worry, the place is completely safe! At Undara Volcanic National Park, guided tours will take you into an off volcano so you can firsthand see Undara Lava. Only 23 countries have the lava tubes and lava tubes in Undara are said to be the longest in the world.

There’s so much more fun in Undara: You can stay overnight at a tent village or a hut, enjoy a Wildlife tour at Sunset, or watch exciting events like Opera in the Outback is held once a year in October.

Lyquid Nightlife

The city of Cairns is extremely popular with young backpackers from all over the world and a great nightlife scene has popped up to serve. Among the various great spots around, Lyquid is considered the best nightclub in town. The interior is lavish with a beautiful whirlpool entrance and is a great way to meet and mingle with active travelers from around the world.

Cairns guide: Cairns itinerary 3 days, suggested on how to spend 3 days in Cairns

Day 1: the sights in cairns.

Morning: Walking, cycling or skateboarding along The Cairns Esplanade before stopping for breakfast and immerse yourself in saltwater swimming lagoon.

Afternoon: Take a tour with your guide through Cairns Flecker Botanical Garden then visit Cairns Tropical Zoo. Or get up close to crocodiles and tropical fish by boat along the mangrove waterways of nearby Trinity Bay.

Evening: Explore the Cairns Night Markets to find and buy gifts and local Aboriginal artworks. Watch the blazing red sun sink over the horizon at Marlin Marina before kicking off a seafood feast at a restaurant along the Cairns Esplanade.

Day 2: Great Barrier Reef

Taking a full day tour to Green Island, a 6,000-year-old atoll in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Snorkeling to see tropical fish through 15 hectares of colorful coral reefs. Then stop to explore the island’s white sand beaches and lush rainforests. Or you can spend the whole day on a snorkeling excursion in the Great Barrier Reef. Diving into the crystal clear waters and explore secret gardens, floating mounds and sea turtle shelters with an experienced guide.

Day 3: Kuranda Rainforest

Take the Kuranda Scenic Railway train through mountains, rainforest, waterfalls and national park to the picturesque village of Kuranda set in a tranquil rainforest. Visitors also can take a boat down the river, see butterflies, colorful parrots, platypus and freshwater crocodiles. Or hike through World Heritage-listed rainforest to the Barron Falls Observatory. Buy aboriginal antiques, handicrafts and jewelry as well as macadamia nuts and tropical juice from village market. Learn how to play a didgeridoo at Doongal Aboriginal Art and watch a famous performance at Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park.

Cairns travel blog: What to eat?

There are many signature dishes in Australia you can find in Cairns such as: Beetroot burger, grilled crocodile meat, grilled lamb, grilled kangaroo, pavlova cake..

Cairns guide: Where to stay?

Below we recommend more best budget, mid-range and upscale hotels with good ratings and reviews you can refer to..

• Pullman Reef Hotel Casino, a top rated 5-star hotel with room rates from $177/night (Check rates on Agoda.com or Booking.com ) .
• Hilton Cairns, a top rated 5-star hotel with room rates from $177/night (Check rates on Agoda.com or Booking.com ) .
• Pullman Cairns International, a top rated 5-star hotel with room rates from $175/night (Check rates on Agoda.com or Booking.com ) .
• Cairns Plaza Hotel, a top rated 3-star hotel with room rates from $89/night (Check rates on Agoda.com or Booking.com ) .
• Mantra Esplanade Cairns, a top rated 4-star hotel with room rates from $89/night (Check rates on Agoda.com or Booking.com ) .
• Mantra Esplanade Cairns, a top rated 4-star hotel with room rates from $133/night (Check rates on Agoda.com or Booking.com ) .

Check out top ratings and reviews hotels in Cairns on Agoda.com or Booking.com .

Cairns guide: Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, from and to Cairns you can refer to

• Shared Cairns Airport Transfer (CNS) from and to Cairns, Port Douglas, Palm Cove
• Kuranda Scenic Railway Heritage Class Admission in Cairns [Klook Exclusive 10% Off]
• Cairns Highlights Half Day Tour
• Unpublished Cairns Reef Tours Full Day Green Island by Big Cat
• Cairns Aquarium General Admission Ticket
• Fitzroy Island Ferry Transfer Ticket from Cairns

Are you looking for more top things to do in Cairns: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Let’s check it out here and Australia here .

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Readers of our stories should not act on any recommendation without first taking appropriate steps to verify the information in the stories consulting their independent financial adviser in order to ascertain whether the recommendation (if any) is appropriate, having regard to their investment objectives, financial situation and particular needs. Providing access to our stories should not be construed as investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any security or product, or to engage in or refrain from engaging in any transaction by Forbes Advisor Australia. In comparing various financial products and services, we are unable to compare every provider in the market so our rankings do not constitute a comprehensive review of a particular sector. While we do go to great lengths to ensure our ranking criteria matches the concerns of consumers, we cannot guarantee that every relevant feature of a financial product will be reviewed. We make every effort to provide accurate and up-to-date information. However, Forbes Advisor Australia cannot guarantee the accuracy, completeness or timeliness of this website. Forbes Advisor Australia accepts no responsibility to update any person regarding any inaccuracy, omission or change in information in our stories or any other information made available to a person, nor any obligation to furnish the person with any further information.

WAS Discovery Travel Insurance Review: Features, Pros and Cons

Updated: Apr 17, 2024, 9:08am

Reviewed By

The Discovery Plan from WAS Travel Insurance could be a good choice for Aussies looking for a no-frills travel insurance policy. However, it only offers a number of standard features of comprehensive policies as optional add-ons and that can make the policy much more expensive than first meets the eye. Regardless, its unlimited medical cover, high age limit of 99 years, and positive customer reviews makes it a viable option for those in the market for a medically focused, no-frills travel insurance policy.

Related: Best Comprehensive Travel Insurance Providers for Australian

• Unlimited medical
• Generous dental of $2,000
• High age limit
• Luggage and cancellation cover not automatic
• Children not included
• More expensive than competitors

Table of Contents

• Featured Partner Offers

About WAS Travel Insurance

What does was travel insurance cover, does was travel insurance cover me for covid, was pricing comparison, was customer service, the bottom line.

Featured Partners

Fast Cover Travel Insurance

On Fast Cover’s Secure Website

Medical cover

Unlimited, 24/7 Emergency Assistance

Cancellations

Unlimited, (Trip Disruption $50,000)

Key Features

25-Day Cooling Off Period, Australian Based Call Centre, 4.6 Star Product Review Rating

Cover-More Travel Insurance

On Cover-more’s secure website

Unlimited, with a $2000 limit to dental

Yes, amount chosen by customer

Southern Cross Travel Insurance

Medical Cover

Including medical treatment, doctors’ visits, prescribed medication, specialist treatment & medical transport costs

$2,500 with option to increase to unlimited

Wise And Silent Travel Insurance, known as WAS, is a Brisbane-based travel insurance company that offers “tailored coverage” to its customers. This tailoring differs from the standard comprehensive travel insurance policies on the market, which usually have a set minimum for standard inclusions for policies, such as lost luggage cover and cancellations.

WAS Travel Insurance is underwritten by Pacific International Insurance Pty Ltd, an Australian insurance company based in Newcastle. While WAS isn’t listed on ProductReview, it has scored a 4.7 star review on TrustPilot from an albeit small number of 39 customer reviews.

Customers highlighted WAS’ staff communication, the ease of applying for coverage, and a “smooth and efficient” claims process.

WAS offers two types of plans, Covid Essentials and Discovery Plan. For the purpose of this review, we analysed the comprehensive option, the Discovery Plan.

As stated, WAS Travel Insurance works a little differently to most travel insurers. Its comprehensive policy is known as the ‘Discovery Plan’, which is available to those aged up to 99 years old and includes unlimited medical in its base cover.

For families travelling together, it’s important to note that children can be added to the policy at a lower rate, but they are not included within a parent/guardians policy as is the industry norm.

Once you start to add to the base cover, WAS Travel Insurance becomes even more complex, with only a handful of medical outcomes covered as standard and far more classified as optional.

For example, credit card fraud is not covered as a standard inclusion; instead, unauthorised use of credit cards can be covered as part of luggage and personal effects, should the policyholder choose to take out this optional extra. Personal liability is not covered automatically, but needs to be selected for coverage up to $2.5 million.

Any trip cancellations are only covered up to the amount chosen by the customer (ranging from $1,000 to $40,000 per customer) and travel delays are covered as optional extras, up to $2,000 per customer. Delays are reimbursed at a rate of $50 per six hours, which is below the industry standard of $200 for every six hours, however no excess applies to these claims. (For missed flight connections, these are only covered should the policyholder choose to add travel interruption cover to their plan.

Rental vehicle excess is also an optional add-on, with the maximum cover of $6,000 for those looking to hire a car during their holiday. In many policies this is covered as standard and does not require the traveller to add it as an optional extra.

Lost Luggage

When it comes to lost luggage, those with WAS Discovery Travel Insurance will need to choose it as an add-on as they are not automatically covered. The lowest option is $1000, while the highest is $10,000 (per traveller).

WAS will only cover an individual item to a limit of $1,000.

WAS Travel Insurance include unlimited medical cover within its comprehensive policy, which extends to additional expenses such as transportation to a medical facility or, in the necessary event, back to Australia.

There is also cover for a medical companion to stay with you during treatment and/or necessary medical-related travel, even if they themselves are not listed on your policy.

Certain pre-existing conditions are also covered if they meet the necessary criteria. The 44 automatically covered conditions include anxiety and depression, diabetes, sleep apnoea and many more.

Other conditions outside of the pre-existing conditions list will not be covered by WAS Travel Insurance.

Covid-19 is included in the unlimited medical cover, which is explained in further depth below.

Is Dental Cover Included?

Dental cover is included in the WAS Travel Insurance Discovery Plan, but not under the unlimited medical expenses. Instead, there is up to $2,000 covered for emergency dental treatment, which is more generous than most insurance policies, which generally top put at $1,000.

Yes, WAS Travel Insurance includes Covid-19 medical expenses within its unlimited medical coverage. It also includes cancellations related to Covid-19, however, that is dependent on how much cancellation cover the policyholder requests.

Related: Travel Insurance And Covid: Are You Covered?

What About Pregnancy?

Pregnancy is covered by WAS Travel Insurance there are unexpected serious complications of pregnancy occuring:

• Up to the 24th week of pregnancy if you’re pregnant with a single child; or
• Up to the 19th week of pregnancy if you’re pregnant with twins or multiple children.

The exclusions include childbirth; the healthcare of a newborn child; pregnancies with existing complications; or pregnancies in which the person has previously had complications with previous pregnancies.

What About Sports and Activities?

WAS covers a range of sports and activities, however, rather than specifying what is covered, it provides a list of the excluded activities being:

• Snow sports;
• Motorcycle or moped riding;
• Racing (except on foot);
• Polo playing;
• Mountain climbing requiring the use of equipment such as pick-axes, anchors, bolts, crampons, carabiners, lead or top-rope anchoring or other specialist equipment;
• Motor sport or motor racing (including training or practice);
• Running with the bulls;
• Professional sports (including training or practice);
• Parachuting, hang-gliding or paragliding; or
• Scuba diving, unless you hold an open water diving certificate or diving with a qualified diving instructor

However, policyholders can choose to add additional adventure packs—snow, motor and cruise—which will then cover them for those sports.

WAS Travel Insurance prides itself on offering budget-friendly insurance policies to Australians; however, the cost of a policy with WAS isn’t as clear cut as many others—largely due to the many different inclusions that one needs to opt-in to.

Forbes Advisor Australia has run quotes against two of our top picks of travel insurance providers for Australians— Travel Insurance Direct and Allianz Travel Insurance —to compare the prices of WAS Travel Insurance when opting-in for a level of cover similar to what these two competitors offer automatically.

As Bali is a top destination for many Aussies, the data below is based on a 28-year-old Australian travelling to Indonesia for a week.

Related: A Guide To Travel Insurance For Bali

This analysis does not include other additional costs that would need to be considered, including sports cover, children travelling, pre-existing medical conditions and so on.

As you can see from the table above, opting in for the same level of cover that is offered as standard by competitors makes the WAS Travel Insurance policy the most expensive of the three.

It’s important to note that policy prices for travel insurance will change for a range of factors, including age, destination, length of trip and any specific needs required by the traveller. The above data is to be used as a guide only.

From the limited reviews online, WAS’ customer service staff members have been hailed as being “very patient and helpful”, with their knowledge “making the experience [of submitting a claim] much less stressful”.

WAS can be contacted by phone or email, with different email addresses and phone numbers unique to the service required (emergency assistance, claims, or general enquiries). The full list can be found online here .

Customers can also submit a form online to be emailed back, and are able to submit claims online or over the phone.

WAS may be a risky choice for some customers who choose to opt-out of the optional extra cover for the sake of saving money and end up being under-insured. Some travellers may not realise the importance of personal liability insurance and fail to select it, which could land them in hot water if an accident was to occur overseas. As a comparison, most other insurers include personal liability insurance as standard in their comprehensive policy: Travel Insurance Direct offers $2.5 million in personal liability, while Allianz offers $5 million—with caveats around snow and adventure packs.

Nevertheless, WAS may be attractive to budget travellers who are happy with a no-frills policy, but want to ensure they’re covered for the basics of medical and dental.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is was travel insurance good.

WAS Travel Insurance did not make Forbes Advisor Australia’s top picks for comprehensive travel insurance , but that doesn’t mean it’s not a good option for Aussies looking for international cover. The comprehensive policy offered by WAS is a build-your-own type of plan, meaning it is tailored to the customer individually in terms of cancellation cover, luggage cover, rental car excess and more.

It may be suitable for budget-conscious travellers looking for a no-frills policy that is focused on medical and dental. However, it’s worth noting that when compared to other insurers on the market, WAS ended up being more expensive once the add-ons were included in the quote.

From 38 customer reviews on TrustPilot, WAS received a rating of 4.7 stars.

What policies does WAS Travel Insurance offer?

WAS Travel Insurance offers two policies: Covid Essentials and Discovery. The Discovery Plan is what would be considered its ‘comprehensive’ offering, considering it allows customers to tailor the plan to suit their needs.

How much does WAS Travel Insurance cost?

The cost of WAS Travel Insurance—like any travel insurance provider—is dependent on many factors: your age, your destination, the length of your trip, and any personal requirements such as higher lost luggage cover for specific equipment or items, whether or not you need cover for certain sports and activities, any pre-existing conditions you need covered, and more.

From a quote Forbes Advisor Australia ran of a 28-year-old going to Bali for one week, paying an excess of $250 and opting in to $2000 of cancellation cover, $10,000 of lost luggage cover, and rental car excess, the total WAS quote came to $141.80, which was higher than competitors.

Related: How Much Does Travel Insurance Cost?

Sophie Venz is an experienced editor and features reporter, and has previously worked in the small business and start-up reporting space. Previously the Associate Editor of SmartCompany, Sophie has worked closely with finance experts and columnists around Australia and internationally.

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Fjords, Pharaohs or Koalas? Time to Plan for Your Next Eclipse.

If you can’t get enough of totality, or missed out this time, you’ll have three more chances in the next four years in destinations like Iceland, Spain, Egypt and Australia.

• Share full article

By Danielle Dowling

Are you still a little giddy from the magical moments of totality during Monday’s solar eclipse? Or did clouds swoop in to block your view? Maybe you just couldn’t make it to the path of totality this time. No matter what, the question now is “ Where and when will it happen again?”

“People who have never seen it before, the first words out of their mouth after the totality ends is ‘I’ve got to see another one, this is incredible, this is unbelievable.’ That is when you become addicted to these things and end up traveling no matter where the next one is,” said Joseph Rao, an eclipse chaser and guest lecturer at the Hayden Planetarium.

So, if like Mr. Rao, you’ve developed a raging case of umbraphilia — the love of eclipses — you’ll have three chances over the next four years to see the moon blot out the sun. The first, on Aug. 12, 2026, will start above Greenland, then strafe the west coast of Iceland and move along the Atlantic Ocean and over Spain. Almost a year later, on Aug. 2, 2027, another will skirt the Mediterranean coast of North Africa then cross Egypt and part of the Arabian Peninsula. The third, on July 22, 2028, will cut across Australia and the southern tip of New Zealand.

Future Eclipses

Eclipse chasers will have several more chances this decade to view a total solar eclipse .

Last week, as Victoria Sahami , the owner of Sirius Travel , was preparing to guide a group of tourists in Mazatlán, Mexico, for Monday’s big event, she was also planning for these other upcoming eclipses. Ms. Sahami joined the ranks of the eclipse-obsessed when she witnessed one in Venezuela in the 1990s. “Like many people, I was hooked. There was no going back,” she said.

Total solar eclipses happen fairly regularly — about every one to two years — in locations scattered around the world. “That’s the great thing about them: You wind up in places that you don’t normally go,” Ms. Sahami said.

A major spoiler is weather, which will be a big variable in the 2026 eclipse — one Greenland, Iceland and Spain will see.

“Iceland normally has a lot of cloud during that time of year,” said Paul Maley , who runs Ring of Fire Expeditions . “The data shows Spain to have the higher good-weather prospects of all three. However, the sun is low in the sky and the eclipse ends as the sun hits the horizon at sunset.”

Because of Iceland’s mercurial meteorology, Ring of Fire Expeditions is going all in on Spain, with a 10-day excursion on the mainland. Sirius Travel is offering not only a five-day trip to Majorca but also an eight-day tour around Iceland. It will be based in Reykjavik, and the itinerary will remain flexible on the day of the eclipse so the tour can easily pivot toward the location with the least cloud cover. Ms. Sahami recommends the trip for those who already have a few eclipses under their belt and would be happy just to take in the sights of Iceland if the weather doesn’t cooperate.

The 2027 eclipse, on the other hand, promises to be truly stellar: Luxor, Egypt — the site of numerous ancient temples as well as the Valleys of the Kings and Queens — sits right in the middle of the path of totality and will be bathed in darkness for a full 6 minutes 23 seconds. Weather-wise, it is what Ms. Sahami called “a slam dunk.” “You know you’re going to see it. You know that you’re not going to get any clouds,” she said.

But for all its potential, those considering Egypt should be aware that the State Department has a Level 3 “Reconsider Travel” warning for the country because of the risk of terrorism.

The 2028 eclipse will darken the skies over Sydney, Australia, for 3 minutes 49 seconds. It will be the first time the city has experienced a total solar eclipse since 1857. Ms. Sahami has her eyes on a trip based out of there, while Mr. Maley has chartered a cruise ship off the northwest coast of Australia. It will be winter there, he said, but that isn’t likely to mean bad eclipse-viewing weather.

If you want to see any (or all) of these eclipses, you should get started on planning and booking now, particularly if you want to sign up for a trip organized by a tour company. One of Sirius Travel’s excursions to Luxor is already full.

Scrutinize refund policies and look into insuring your trip. Several companies will fully refund your deposit if you cancel a year in advance. A lot can happen, Ms. Sahami said, “but if you think you’re going to go, why not?”

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

Iran air defences activated amid reports of Israeli strike near city of Isfahan — as it happened

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) has "urged" Australians in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories to leave "if it's safe to do so".

The updated travel advice comes after Iran fired anti-aircraft missiles on Friday amid reports of an Israeli missile strike near the city of Isfahan.

In updated travel advice, DFAT noted "a high threat of military reprisals and terrorist attacks against Israel and Israeli interests across the region".

Look back on our live coverage in our blog below.

• 6:48 AM 6:48 AM Fri 19 Apr 2024 at 6:48am Minister says Australia 'extremely' concerned about potential for 'further escalation'
• 5:46 AM 5:46 AM Fri 19 Apr 2024 at 5:46am An apparent Israeli strike puts US President Joe Biden in a tricky spot
• 4:56 AM 4:56 AM Fri 19 Apr 2024 at 4:56am Australian government updates travel advice for Iran, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories

To leave a comment on the blog, please log in or sign up for an ABC account.

Live updates

That is where we will leave our live coverage.

By Claudia Williams

Thank you for joining us. Here is where things stand:

• Sources say Israel launched an attack on Iranian soil on Friday
• Iranian media reported explosions, which an Iranian official told Reuters were caused by air defense systems
• Three drones over the central city of Isfahan had been shot down, according to state media
• A senior Iranian official told Reuters Iran has no plan to strike back immediately
• A source familiar with the situation said the US was notified before Israel's attack
• The attack came days after Iran launched an unprecedented strike on Israel with a barrage of drones and missiles
• Israel's leadership and the military have not commented on the reports

Egypt 'deeply concerned' over Iran-Israel escalation

Egypt's foreign ministry said it was "deeply concerned" about an escalation of hostilities between Israel and Iran, following reports of an Israeli attack on Iran.

It also warned of the consequences of expanding the conflict and instability in the region.

EU Commission president calls on Israel, Iran to refrain from escalation

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has called on Iran, Israel and their allies to refrain from escalation in the Middle East.

"It is absolutely necessary that the region remains stable and that all sides restrain from further action," she said.

State media says Israeli strike targeted air defence unit in Syria

Israel carried out a missile strike targeting an air defense unit in its south and causing material damage, Syria’s state-run SANA news agency quoted a military statement as saying.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said the strike hit a military radar for government forces. It was not clear if there were casualties, the Observatory said.

The Observatory’s chief Rami Abdurrahman said six Israeli fighter jets entered Syria’s airspace and were flying east when they were spotted by the radar.

The warplanes were seen around the time loud noises and drones were reported near a major Iranian air base and nuclear site early Friday.

That area of Syria is directly west of Isfahan, some 1,500 kilometers away, and east of Israel.

Israelis respond to reports of attack on Iran

  Let's take a look at how residents in Israel have responded to reports of the attack in Iran.

"Israel attacked Iran land because we were supposed to... we have no other option beside to react, but this is not the way we want it to be, we want to get back to our routine; our life - to run, to live our life, no more wars, enough." — Tel Aviv resident Moshe Pretz

"We're good, you can look around, we're happy here, not from the attack but I think the situation in the Middle East is complicated but Israel will always win and everybody has to know that. So, enjoy your day and hope people in Iran will understand we are not seeking for war but we are seeking for peace and we want to be here safe, so, understand that." — Pavlo Tzuk from Central Israel

"I am very sad that Israel attacked Iran and I am afraid what will happen now, what will be in Israel." —Israeli resident Edna Reshef

Expert says reports indicate it could be a targeted attack

Samir Puri from King's College London said the reported attack appeared to be no where near the scale of the one that Israel had suffered from Iran.

He said this could indicate that it was a targeted attack.

"If Iran has been struck by only a handful of Israel missiles it might have been a very precisely targeted attempt to strike Iranian military facilities, and in particular, facilities Iran might have used to launch its own attack a few days ago on April 13 against Israel," he told ABC News Channel.

Dr Puri said the great uncertainty was whether there would be further waves of Israeli attacks.

"We can't speak of this as a finished episode necessarily," he said. "It is possible that Israel and Iran might back into their more undeclared way of sniping at each other and of striking blows at each other, which has been going on for years and decades through proxies and more covert action. "The reason why this is such a show stopping and perilous moment is that they have not lobbed missiles and drones at each other from their own territory ever before. "We are really hoping to see that this particular cycle comes to an end and clearly nothing is going to solve Iran and Israel's deep enmity in the region across many, many issues, made even worse by the conflict in Gaza. "But we are just hoping to see that it slips away from this current phase."

Oman condemns reported Israeli attack on Iran

In a statementOman's foreign ministry has condemned the reported Israeli attack on Iranian soil, as well as "the repeated Israeli military attacks in the region".

Oman has been acting as a mediator in the Middle East.

Unnamed Iranian official says there's no plan for an immediate retaliation

A senior Iranian official has told Reuters news agency Iran has no plan for immediate retaliation against Israel after sources said Israel launched an attack on Iranian soil.

"The foreign source of the incident has not been confirmed," the Iranian official said on condition of anonymity. "We have not received any external attack, and the discussion leans more towards infiltration than attack."

Iran's airports and airspace reopen

Earlier we covered that Iran had closed its airports in Tehran, Shiraz and Isfahan after the reported attack.

It also cleared flights from the western portion of its airspace for a few hours after the attack, according to FlightRadar24.

State media is now reporting the airports and airspace have reopened.

Minister says Australia 'extremely' concerned about potential for 'further escalation'

Earlier we reported that DFAT had updated its travel advice for   Iran, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories .

Acting Foreign Minister Katy Gallagher has issued a statement following the reports.

"Australia remains extremely concerned about the potential for miscalculation and further escalation of conflict in the region," she said. "This is in no one's interests. "We urge all parties to exercise restraint and step back to avoid a further spiral of violence. "Australia will continue working with partners to try to reduce tensions and prevent further regional spillover."

This was the outcome world leaders were keen to avoid

By Rebecca Armitage

ABC correspondent Isabella Higgins who's currently in Jerusalem, says that after Iran struck Israel last weekend, world leaders have been trying to avoid a tit-for-tat escalation of retaliatory strikes:

"For days, world leaders have been urging calm on Israel, amid fears a major retaliation would drag the region into a serious war. "The Middle East is on the on a precipice … one miscalculation, one miscommunication, one mistake, could lead to the unthinkable – a full-scale regional conflict," the UN's Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said. The Israeli Government made it clear they would respond to last weekend's unprecedented missile and drone attack from Iran. Tehran said the barrage was a retaliatory strike in response to the killing of several Iranian leaders in a presumed Israeli air strike on an embassy in Damascus earlier this month — and the matter was now concluded. The US, UK and European Union have been encouraging Israel to accept a package of international economic sanction in response to Iran's attack and avoid a serious military reprisal. Israel's western partners felt this walked the tightrope of deterring Tehran, without further escalation. But Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the nation would do what it felt it needed to defend itself. "They also have all kinds of suggestions and advice, I appreciate it, but I want to make it clear — we will make our own decisions." These decisions appear to be playing out in front of us right now — and the West will be watching anxiously."

Expert says Israel and Iran both in difficult positions domestically, need to show strong response

University of Melbourne Political Sciences lecturer Dara Conduit has told ABC News Channel the way that Israel and Iran are responding speaks to the severity of the situation.

"The government in Israel and the regime in Iran are both in difficult positions domestically and they both have a really strong need to show to a domestic audience that they are responding to this," she said. "Israel, [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu in particular, needed to do this. Domestically he is in a really tight spot and he is very keen to show strength and also to highlight the regional risks that Israel faces."

Dr Conduit said how Iran was reacting was important with it trying to diminish the reports.

"There is a chance that Iranian officials, particularly the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps will decide we can't accept this and we do need to respond and that is where there is a risk of miscalculation and a risk of mistakes and that is the scary part." she said.

Dr Conduit said she believed both sides were aware that there would not be "any winners of a direct conflict between the two states".

IAEA confirms no damage made to Iran's nuclear sites

An apparent israeli strike puts us president joe biden in a tricky spot.

This is not what the White House wanted, according to Barbara Miller, the ABC's North America correspondent based in Washington DC:  

"The US has been trying to dissuade its ally from retaliating for the Iranian weekend strikes. The message from the administration was that Israel should take the win. With the help of its allies it had repelled the vast majority of the Iranian drones and missiles. The White House announced new sanctions on Iran in a further show of solidarity with Israel. It became increasingly clear however that Israel would act, stoking fears in Washington of an escalating tit for tat situation. From what we know so far this appears to have been a limited action. If that's the case, there will be hope here that Iran may draw a line. An interview Iran's Foreign Minister gave CNN just hours before news of the apparent Israeli action is cause for concern. Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told the network Iran would respond immediately and "at a maximum level" if Israel struck.

Unnamed sources say Israel attacked Iran, state media says Iran defence system destroyed drones

Here is a recap of what is being reported as information continues to come in.

Three people familiar with the matter have told Reuters news agency Israel has attacked Iran.

Iranian state media reported early on Friday that its forces had destroyed drones.  

The reports come days after Iran launched a retaliatory drone strike on Israel.

One source told Reuters the US was not involved but was notified by Israel before the attack.

Iran's Fars news agency reported three explosions were heard near an army base in the central city of Isfahan.

An Iranian official told Reuters there was no missile attack and the explosions were the result of the activation of Iran's air defense systems.

Iranian state TV said that shortly after midnight "three drones were observed in the sky over Isfahan".

"The air defense system became active and destroyed these drones in the sky," state media reported.

The broadcaster later said the situation in Isfahan was normal and no ground explosions had occurred.

The Israeli military had no comment on the reports.

Iranian spokesman says 'quadcopter' drones shot down

We mentioned earlier that an Iranian government official and state-run TV have suggested sites may have been targeted by drones.

We now have some more information on what has been said.

Hossein Dalirian, who is a spokesman for Iran's civilian space program, said on X that several small "quadcopter" drones had been shot down.

A state television reporter in Isfahan said the same in a live report, saying "several small drones were flying in the sky over Isfahan, which were fired at".

Iranian senior commander says no damage was caused

A senior commander of Iran's army has said no damage was caused in the overnight attack, according to state TV.

He added that the noise heard overnight in Isfahan was due to air defence systems targeting a "suspicious object".

Australian government updates travel advice for Iran, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories

By Tom Crowley

In updated travel advice, DFAT notes "a high threat of military reprisals and terrorist attacks against Israel and Israeli interests across the region".

"The security situation could deteriorate quickly, with little or no notice."

DFAT had already advised Australians to reconsider their need to travel to Israel and had warned against travel near Gaza or the West Bank beyond East Jerusalem.

But the request to leave is new.

DFAT warned military attacks could lead to travel disruptions including airspace closures. "Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion International Airport may pause operations due to heightened security concerns at any time, and at short notice."

A stronger 'do not travel' warning was already in place for Iran, but DFAT has updated its advice for that country, saying "regional tensions are high, and the security situation could deteriorate quickly with little or no notice."

Australian government officials have been directed not to leave the cities of Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Ramallah and Tehran as a precaution.

'Do not travel' warnings remain in place for Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Lebanon.

Australian citizens and permanent residents can register their location and stay in contact with officials via DFAT's crisis registration portal.

Nuclear facility in area where explosions heard

Malcolm Davis, an analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, has told ABC News the key facility in the area was the Natanz nuclear enrichment facility.

As we covered earlier, Iranian state media has described all nuclear sites in the area as "fully safe."

Dr Davis said it was a "harder and deeply buried target" and was one of the core aspects of Iran's potential to acquire nuclear weapons.

"There's also a series of military bases nearby that site as well as well as the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps bases in the region," he said.

Dr Davis said Israel could not afford to allow Iran to get nuclear weapons.

"When you look at the size of Israel, the use of a nuclear weapon against Israel by Iran would be an existential threat to Israel itself," he said.

"So, I think that Israel would have every interest in preventing Iran from getting nuclear weapons under any circumstances including if necessary through military strikes."

Could this be the beginning of a broader conflict?

Here's what Allyson Horn, the ABC's Middle East correspondent in Jerusalem, says:  

"I'll start by saying you never know what's going to happen in the Middle East – and that very little is still confirmed on this unfolding issue.

But if, as it appears, these are limited, targeted drone strikes on military facilities in Iran, then it would be considered at the lesser end of the responses that Israel could have exacted.

We need to still see what the damage is in Iran, and whether there have been any civilian casualties, because that could change what Iran decides to do next.

Last weekend, Iran launched a missile barrage against Israel — most of it intercepted by the Iron Dome defence system.

And after that Iranian attack, there was a lot of internal pressure from within Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet, to hit-back immediately, and strike hard.

That doesn't appear to have happened – it wasn't immediate and it appears the US was given warning ahead of time. And it also appears to be only a few drones launched into Iran, targeting limited military sites.

That's not to say that the Israeli response isn't serious – it is. Israel is still directing an attack on Iranian soil, which in itself will be seen as a provocation. And Iran could decide that it has to respond.

So the threat of escalation is high – and it's real.

But, it could also be seen by Iran as an expected response by Israel – and one that didn't target civilians – therefore lessening Iran's appetite to prompt a wider-regional conflict."