Travelers to Australia typically plan a trip for about 16 days when combining Sydney, Cairns, Melbourne, and Adelaide with Uluru and Darwin. If you're not interested in Uluru and Darwin, 11 to 14 days is enough for your Sydney, Cairns, Melbourne, and Adelaide trip. Meanwhile, a fast-paced highlights trip is possible in 10 days for travelers with limited time. Read on for the best itineraries, including Sydney, Cairns, Melbourne, Adelaide, and beyond.

How many days do you need in Sydney, Cairns, Melbourne & Adelaide?

  • Most travelers spend 11-14 days in Sydney, Cairns, Melbourne, and Adelaide combined
  • Visiting Sydney, Cairns, Melbourne, and Adelaide in 10 days is possible, but it will feel rushed
  • With 15 or more days, most travelers choose to add more stops to their trip
  • The most common extensions are Uluru and Kangaroo Island

How Many Days to Spend in Sydney

Recommended Itineraries for Sydney, Cairns, Melbourne & Adelaide

Recommended Itinerary for 11 Days

View of Australia's iconic Sydney Opera House
View of Australia's iconic Sydney Opera House
Day Highlights Overnight
Day 1 Arrive in Melbourne, Optional Activities & First Nations Heritage Melbourne
Day 2 Morning Laneways & Arcades Tour, Best of Melbourne by Bike Melbourne
Day 3 Great Ocean Road Trip Melbourne
Day 4 Fly to Adelaide, Optional Activities Adelaide
Day 5 Kangaroo Island Wildlife Tour Adelaide
Day 6 Fly to Sydney, Guided Bike Tour Sydney
Day 7 Hike the Harbour Bridge, Optional Activities Sydney
Day 8 Fly to Cairns, Rainforest Adventure & Nocturnal Wildlife Tour Cairns
Day 9 Great Barrier Reef Tour to Green Island Cairns
Day 10 Daintree Rainforest Tour & 4WD Adventure Cairns
Day 11 Depart Cairns  


Combine the best of Australia's big cities with wildlife excursions and nature tours to create an 11-day adventure you won't soon forget. See the highlights of Melbourne, Sydney, and Adelaide by foot and bike, take road trips down the scenic southern coast, and hop over to a protected island home to kangaroos, koalas, and wallabies. Then jet off to tropical Cairns to explore the coral islands at the Great Barrier Reef and the ancient rainforests at Daintree. Read more

Recommended Itinerary for 12 Days

Discover wildlife in Daintree's Mossman Gorge
Discover wildlife in Daintree's Mossman Gorge
Day Highlights Overnight
Day 1 Arrive in Melbourne Melbourne
Day 2 Melbourne City Tour Melbourne
Day 3 Tour the Great Ocean Road Melbourne
Day 4 Fly to Adelaide Adelaide
Day 5 Day Trip to Kangaroo Island Adelaide
Day 6 Fly to Sydney, City Tour Sydney
Day 7 Day Trip to Blue Mountains National Park Sydney
Day 8 Free Day in Sydney Sydney
Day 9 Fly to Cairns Cairns
Day 10 Free Day in Cairns Cairns
Day 11 Day Trip to the Great Barrier Reef Cairns
Day 12 Depart Cairns  


Covering four states, this perfectly curated itinerary features Australia's top attractions in 12 days, providing visitors with a well-rounded experience. Beginning in cool and trendy Melbourne, you'll work your way around the country to the cosmopolitan cities of Adelaide and Sydney, ending the trip in Cairns. Along the way, you'll drive the scenic Great Ocean Road, hang out with kangaroos and seals on Kangaroo Island, climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and explore the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Queensland. Read more

Plan your trip to Australia
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Extended Itineraries

16-Day Itinerary Including Uluru & Darwin

Coastal Walk in Australia
Coastal Walk in Australia
Day Highlights Overnight
Day 1 Arrive in Melbourne Melbourne
Day 2 Melbourne Sightseeing Melbourne
Day 3 Melbourne Free Day Melbourne
Day 4 Fly to Adelaide, Explore Adelaide
Day 5 Day Trip to Kangaroo Island Adelaide
Day 6 Fly to Uluru, Explore Uluru
Day 7 Free Day in Uluru Cairns
Day 8 Fly to Darwin, Explore Darwin
Day 9 Kakadu National Park Darwin
Day 10 Fly to Cairns, Explore Cairns
Day 11 The Great Barrier Reef Cairns
Day 12 Cairns Free Day Cairns
Day 13 Fly to Sydney Sydney
Day 14 Sydney City Sights Sydney
Day 15 Free Day in Sydney Sydney
Day 16 Depart Sydney  


This well-rounded 16-day tour of Australia's highlights is sure to delight any first-time visitor. You'll explore the hidden laneways of artsy Melbourne and the famous landmarks of Sydney, learn about Indigenous culture at Uluru in the country's Red Center, and discover tropical Queensland with an excursion to the Great Barrier Reef. Along the way, you'll meet kangaroos at Kangaroo Island, search for crocodiles at Kakadu National Park, and have free time to enjoy a few day trips of your choosing. Read more

How to travel between Sydney, Cairns, Melbourne & Adelaide

How to get from Sydney to Cairns
Sydney and Cairns are both on Australia's east coast, but Sydney is about 1,500 miles (2,400 km) south of the tropical northern Queensland city. Here's how to get from Sydney to Cairns. Read more

How to get from Sydney to Melbourne
Australia's two biggest cities, Sydney and Melbourne, look quite close together on the map, both being in the southeast of the huge country. But there are still 545 miles (877 km) between them. Here's how to get from Sydney to Melbourne. Read more

Map

Map of Sydney, Cairns, Melbourne & Adelaide: Best Itinerary Ideas
Map of Sydney, Cairns, Melbourne & Adelaide: Best Itinerary Ideas