19 Days in Australia - 4 Unique Itinerary Ideas

Itinerary #1: Ultimate Australia: City, Reef, Outback & Top End

Perfect for first-time travelers to Australia, this ultimate highlights itinerary covers a lot of ground, including six provinces and territories. Standout experiences include a guided road trip down the Great Ocean Road from Melbourne, a sunset dinner and light show at Uluru, and an exploration of the rugged landscapes and Indigenous culture around Darwin. Fly to Cairns to check the Great Barrier Reef and the world's oldest rainforest off your bucket list, then celebrate the end of your journey in Sydney with a dizzying climb up the iconic bridge and a dinner cruise past the city's most famous landmarks.

Your adventure begins in Melbourne, where you'll start with a guided exploration of its famous laneways and see the city from a local's perspective with a bike tour through its leafy neighborhoods. Explore more of the surrounding landscapes with a guided drive down the Great Ocean Road as you sit back and admire the dramatic coastline and the Twelve Apostles, a group of ancient rock formations. Then, spend a day at Phillip Island, stopping at the Moonlit Sanctuary Conservation Park to meet kangaroos, wallabies, and koalas.

Fly to Adelaide next to admire the city's history and architecture at Adelaide Oval and Victoria Square before meeting local vendors and sampling treats at the Adelaide Central Market. Hop over to Kangaroo Island for bush walks and wildlife spotting amid its protected reserves, then it's off to the outback as you fly to Uluru in time for an evening lights show. You'll also explore a working cattle station on a 4WD adventure at Mount Conner and see the sunrise over Uluru from atop a camel before flying to the far northern city of Darwin to learn about Aboriginal culture at Kakadu National Park.

Things start to wind down on the east coast, as you fly to Cairns and transfer to Palm Cove's tropical beachside village. Spend a day snorkeling at three sites around the Great Barrier Reef, followed by meeting members of the Kuku Yalanji community and river snorkeling in the UNESCO-listed Daintree Rainforest. Wrap up in Sydney to admire iconic sights such as the Sydney Opera House from a sunset dinner cruise. Spend your remaining days exploring the city by bike, scaling the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and taking a day trip into the eucalypt forests of the Blue Mountains. Learn more

Itinerary #2: Australia's Wild Side: Tasmania, the Outback & the Reef

This off-the-beaten-path tour will appeal to intrepid travelers who want to experience some of Australia's more remote treasures alongside the classic highlights. It starts in Tasmania, where you'll meet rare wildlife and learn about early convict history at Port Arthur. Then, fly to the mainland and get behind the wheel for a scenic road trip from Melbourne to Adelaide, ending with an evening of wining and dining in Australia's "foodie" city. Venture into the Red Centre for cultural experiences in Alice Springs and Uluru, fly to tropical Queensland for Great Barrier Reef fun, and end in Sydney with a day of relaxed sightseeing.

Begin in Hobart, Tasmania, for a time-traveling trip into Port Arthur's convict past and an after-dark visit with Tasmanian devils at the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary. Spend a day exploring the pristine beaches of Bruny Island, take a wilderness cruise along the coastline of Tasman National Park, and follow in locals' footsteps on an Old Hobart pub tour. Then it's on to the mainland and Melbourne, where you'll get to know Victoria's capital with a "café culture" walk before getting behind the wheel and setting off along the Great Ocean Road to spend a night in the lively town of Port Campbell.

Continue your road trip along the Shipwreck Coast to reach Mount Gambier, where you'll end the day with local wines and a country pub meal. Then, drive a final stretch of the Limestone Coast to Adelaide, hanging up your keys to follow a local foodie guide through the Adelaide Central Market and the city's best cocktail spots. Thoroughly wined and dined, trade South Australia for the Northern Territory as you fly to the desert town of Alice Springs to get your first glimpse of the Red Centre with a hot-air balloon flight.

Venture deeper into the outback to reach Uluru, where you'll meet an Anangu artist for a dot painting workshop, visit a local camel farm, and experience the dazzling Field of Light art installation. Catch another flight to Port Douglas and the Queensland coast to meet orphaned animals and hand-feed koalas and wallabies at the Tropical Animal Rehabilitation Centre. A cruise and snorkeling tour to Mackay Coral Cay will let you explore the Great Barrier Reef before you fly to Sydney to wrap up your trip at the Royal Botanic Gardens and Taronga Zoo. Learn more

Itinerary #3: Australia's Active Great Barrier Reef & East Coast Road Trip

Road trip down Australia's east coast with this active self-drive adventure that starts in the tropical paradise of Palm Cove. Dive into the Coral Sea to explore the Great Barrier Reef, then fly to Brisbane for a bike tour around the Sunshine Coast metropolis. From here, you'll hit the road south toward Sydney, winding your way along some of the country's loveliest beaches and bays as you hop from sleepy surf villages to funky beach towns and vibrant coastal communities. Stretch your legs and get your adrenaline pumping between drives with waterfall hikes, dolphin-spotting kayak trips, and private surf lessons. 

Arrive in the relaxed beach town of Palm Cove, nestled between the ancient Daintree Rainforest and the Coral Sea, and start your trip with a full-day underwater exploration of the Great Barrier Reef. Back on dry land, you'll meet the Kuku Yalanji community to spend a day foraging for Indigenous "bush tucker" and mastering the art of spearfishing in the world's oldest tropical rainforest. Fly south to Brisbane next, and get to know Queensland's "Sunshine Capital" with kayaking and biking tours, plus an in-depth look at the country's wildlife at the famous Australia Zoo.

From there, hop in your rental car and set off down the coast and into New South Wales. Stop at Springbrook National Park's waterfalls and continue past the Numinbah Valley and the Natural Bridge rock formation to reach the counter-culture surf mecca of Byron Bay. Stretch your legs with a day of hiking in the hinterlands of Nightcap National Park, then get back out on the water as you kayak alongside pods of dolphins. Continue to Coffs Harbour to snap a photo with its kitschy "Big Banana" and sit down to a dinner of local seafood.

Spend a night in Port Macquarie, where more sweeping beaches and an iconic lighthouse await, then enjoy the final stretch of your drive along the Central Coast, stopping en route in Port Stephens to sandboard down its massive dunes. The fun doesn't end once you reach Sydney; a tour of the Opera House, a day trip into the Blue Mountains, and a twilight climb up the Sydney Harbour Bridge are all on the agenda. Celebrate the final day of your coastal adventure in fitting fashion with a private surf lesson on the iconic Bondi Beach. Learn more

Itinerary #4: Australia's Ultimate Self-Drive Adventure

Keep the self-drive theme but throw the outback, Melbourne, and the Hunter Valley into the mix with this alternate highlights tour. Ideal for travelers looking to experience local culture at a relaxed pace, it starts in Sydney with neighborhood tours and a harbor cruise. You're off to Alice Springs for a desert road trip to Kings Canyon and Uluru, then catch another flight to Melbourne for a quick drive down the Great Ocean Road. The final leg takes you to sunny Brisbane, where you'll get behind the wheel once more and chart a coastal course for Sydney, looping inland to include tasting tours in Australia's most famous wine region.

Land in Sydney and start exploring via a sunset harbor dinner cruise, a guided walk through the city's oldest neighborhood in The Rocks, and some downtime for sun and surf at Bondi Beach. Then, fly to Alice Springs to get a glimpse of life in the outback, visiting the Royal Flying Doctor Service Museum and the Kangaroo Sanctuary before picking up a rental car and setting off into the desert via the adventurous Mereenie Loop. After a sunrise Kings Canyon Rim Walk, continue to UNESCO-listed Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park to search for ancient rock art and chart the stars from the base of Uluru.

Next, fly to Melbourne, Australia's cultural capital. Here you can learn about Aboriginal art at the Koorie Heritage Trust, then follow a local guide through the city's historic arcades and lanes to find cool cafés and colorful street art. Another road trip is in store afterward as you pick up a rental car and take a quick return journey down the Great Ocean Road, overnighting in Port Campbell and stopping at historic gold mining towns, koala colonies, and Australia's oldest lighthouse along the way. 

One more flight takes you to the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane, where you'll spend some time getting to know the cosmopolitan city's vibrant South Bank. Then grab the car keys for a final drive down the coast, taking your time as you explore the beaches of Byron Bay and Port Macquarie, admire Pacific views from the Cape Byron walking track, and turn inland for a full-day tasting tour of the Hunter Valley, Australia's oldest wine-growing region. The relaxed theme continues with a final day at your leisure in the laid-back Sydney beachside suburb of Coogee. Learn more

More Great Australia Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to Australia? Check out these other Australia itineraries, with outdoor adventures, cultural trips, and best-of tours to hit the highlights.

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