australia travel itinerary 4 weeks

Your Perfect Australia Itinerary For 1-4 Weeks

Post last modified: January 3, 2024
Post category: 10+ Days / Australia / Itineraries

Australia is huge! Like the size of the continental U.S. huge. So don’t assume you can see it all in a few days. You need a month or more to travel to all of the territories in Australia. And Australia can be expensive. However, Australia is also the most amazing place we’ve ever been! And we want you to have an amazing Australian vacation too. So we’ve put together our three week Australia itinerary that includes all the best stops along the Eastern coast. We’ve also included plenty of suggestions to help you plan a 1, 2, 3, or 4 week Australia itinerary that is perfect for you.

Stuff In This Post

How Many Days In Australia Is Enough?

You need at least one week to see just one or two regions of Australia. If you want to see all the main tourism areas you’ll need at least one month.

How To Plan Your Perfect Australia Itinerary?

First, you need to decide how much time you have. Next, you need to decide what you really want to see. Sure Cairns has the Great Barrier Reef , but if you don’t like snorkeling or scuba diving, do you really want to spend time there? So what is important to you?

We’ve broken down popular travel regions and listed how many days we think you need to visit that location. You can easily piece together your own itinerary with all of these mini itineraries.

New South Wales – 1 week

Sydney – 3 days
Sydney Day Trips – 1-2 days
Pacific Coast road trip – 3-4 days

Northern Territory – 4 days

Alice Springs – 1 day
Uluru – 3 days

Queensland – 1+ week

Cairns – 4 days ( Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest)
Brisbane – 1 day
The Queensland Coast – 4-5 days

South Australia – 3 days

Adelaide – 2 days
Kangaroo Island – 1 day

Tasmania – 5 days

Victoria – 5 days

Melbourne – 2 days
Phillip Island – 1 day
Great Ocean Road – 2 days

Western Australia – 9+ days

Perth – 2 days
Western Coast Road Trip – 1+ week

How To Get Around Australia?

First, several areas of Australia are perfect for the road trip! And traveling by car in Australia is easy to do. It’s also much cheaper to rent a car in Australia than in the US – something about insurance – which was really nice. Road trips are an affordable way to get around Australia. However, gas can be expensive so make sure you get a vehicle that has good gas milage.

However, Australia is HUGE – did we mention that already. So you can’t drive everywhere unless you have unlimited time. And quite honestly there are some places that you wouldn’t enjoy the drive either. This is where domestic Australian flights come in. Those are also really cheap compared with domestic flights in the US.

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So using a combination of domestic Australian flights and scenic road trips you’ll be able to see all of Australia without breaking the budget.

Three Week Australia Itinerary

This is the three week Australia itinerary that we followed. It was our favorite vacation we’ve ever taken and also one of the cheapest per day. Feel free to use the entire vacation or pick and choose days to make your own perfect Australia itinerary.

Day 1 – Arrive in Australia

A big portion of your morning will likely be spent arriving in Australia and getting your rental car. Most international Australian flights from the U.S. arrive in Sydney so you’ll likely have to take a connecting flight to Melbourne to start this Australia itinerary. We arrived in Melbourne around 11 AM and started this itinerary from there.

First things first, listen to Down Under by Men At Work to start your vacation right!

Then drive straight through Melbourne and on to Phillip Island.

Stay overnight on Phillip Island in a cute home rental.

Day 2 – Phillip Island

On our first day in Australia, we took it easy as we adjusted to the time difference. And what is more relaxing than seeing Australian critters and walking the beach?

While you await the nightly Penguin Parade, consider walking along the beaches or visiting the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit . We would have liked to visit the Grand Prix for a tour but there was an actual event happening when we visited so we walked the beaches instead. However, we did notice that most beaches in the area were beautiful but the waves were too aggressive for swimming when we visited.

Next, head to the Phillip Island Nature Park . Here you’ll get great views of the ocean and you’ll probably spot your first kangaroo/wallaby.

PS: We asked several Australians how to tell the difference between kangaroos and wallabies and the answer was size. When we asked how to tell the difference between a big wallaby and a small kangaroo, no one could tell us.

Grab a quick dinner before it gets dark.

Once it gets dark, the Penguin Parade begins. Grab your tickets ahead of time and come ready to spot the cute tiny penguins as they go to their burrows from the ocean at the end of the day.

Stay overnight on Phillip Island again.

Day 3 – Melbourne

First, wake up early to start your journey back into Melbourne .

Spend the day exploring Melbourne. Keep in mind that there is a free tram that goes through the Central Business District of Melbourne that you can use for all of your transportation needs. So find somewhere to park your car for the day. We chose Melbourne accommodations that had free parking.

For a full list of fun things to do in Melbourne, check out our post here.

Our most highly recommended piece of Melbourne advice for your day is to visit the Queen Victoria Market for lunch. This farmers market meets flea market is a great place to sample some of the local Australian fare. We bought little snacks throughout the market to make up our lunch.

Next, spend your evening enjoying a game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. There are games almost every night and any game is impressive in this stadium.

Stay overnight in Melbourne.

Day 4 – The Great Ocean Road

First, drive west of Melbourne to take the greatest road trip of all time, The Great Ocean Road . This is one of the best road trips we’ve ever been on. The views are gorgeous.

For this part of your Australia itinerary, you’ll drive as far west as you can get in the day along the coast. The Twelve Apostles are the show stopper along this road trip so plan to spend most of your time enjoying these viewpoints.

For more information on visiting the Twelve Apostles, check out the guide here.

Stay overnight along the Great Ocean Road; we stayed in a home rental in Port Campbell .

Day 5 – The Great Ocean Road

You may be able to spend a bit of your day continuing west to finish up any Twelve Apostle sights that you weren’t able to see yesterday.

Then, head back east to Melbourne along the inland road.

Here, you’ll want to spend plenty of time exploring the oldest rainforest and looking for koalas in the wild.

For more details on this two day Great Ocean Road Trip, check out our complete itinerary here.

**Alternative transportation option** We like driving ourselves around and the freedom that gives us. However, if you don’t, you could forgo the self drive options here and ditch the rental car. There are Phillip Island half-day trips and Great Ocean road overnight trips that you can take with tour companies from Melbourne. By buying from this link , we’ll earn a commission at no extra cost to you so we can afford to keep this blog up and running.

Head back into Melbourne and stay overnight near the airport .

Day 6 – Travel and Kuranda

First, catch an early morning flight from Melbourne to Cairns. This flight, with airport and travel time, took about 6 hours. You’ll need an early morning flight if you want to have time to visit Kuranda.

Next, take a taxi from the airport to your accommodations and get your bags stored before heading to Kuranda . You will not need a rental car in Cairns as you can rely on tours to get you around. Take the tram car up to the mountain to explore Kuranda before taking the railroad back down.

Finally, spend the evening walking along the Esplanade Boardwalk and exploring the town of Cairns. Most shops along the boardwalk stay open late.

For more ideas on things to do in Cairns, check out our post here.

Lastly, eat at Prawn Stars . Period. The coolest seafood restaurant we’ve ever been to.

Stay overnight in Cairns . Try to stay somewhere with free luggage storage so you can leave extra luggage on land when you explore the Great Barrier Reef. Lots of hotels in the area offer this as reef tours here are popular.

Day 7 & 8 – The Great Barrier Reef

Next, spend two days on a live aboard dive trip or an overnight snorkeling trip exploring the Great Barrier Reef . This is a bucket list worthy adventure and you need two days to do it. This is because most of the best dive sites are farther out and take several hours to get to. Two days exploring the Great Barrier Reef is totally worth the extra money this overnight tour will cost you. Read more about our tour here.

Return to Cairns in the evening and stay another night there.

Day 9 – Daintree National Park

Take a day tour into the Daintree National Park . Most day trips include visits to Port Douglas, Cape Tribulation and plenty of time in the rainforest.

Stay overnight in Cairns.

Day 10 – Brisbane

First, get another early morning flight from Cairns to Brisbane for the final leg of your trip. We caught another early flight and were in Brisbane before lunch. Once in Brisbane, rent a car as you’ll be driving the Pacific Coast from Brisbane to Sydney.

You’ll likely arrive in the afternoon and there are two great options. First, you can drive a few hours to the Australia Zoo . Alternatively, you can drive a little less for an amazing beach just outside of Brisbane. Some of the best beaches are along this stretch of the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast. Whatever you choose to do it will be fabulous.

Stay overnight in Brisbane.

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary - kangaroo feeding

Day 11 – Brisbane

Next, spend the day exploring Brisbane.

For a full list of activities, check out the things to do in Brisbane here.

Whatever you end of doing, make sure to check out the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary . This is one of the best zoos we’ve ever been to and the opportunity to interact with Australian critters here is amazing.

Check out our full post on what to expect at Lone Pine here.

Day 12-15 – Australia’s Pacific Coast

Spend 4 days making your way down the sunshine coast as you drive one of Australia’s best road trips.

Want more information on all of the stops, we wrote all about our road trip here.

One the end of day 14 of this Australia itinerary, stay overnight in Newcastle .

Day 16 – The Blue Mountains

Start early in the morning so you can spend one full day exploring the Blue Mountains . Additionally, don’t forget to take a tour of the Jeolan Caves as well.

To learn more about our one day Blue Mountain itinerary, check out our post here.

Stay overnight in a home stay in Katoomba.

Day 17 – Bondi Beach

First, spend the morning driving to Sydney, specifically Bondi Beach . Spend a few hours here relaxing and soaking up the sun. After you’re done at the beach, do all or part of the Bondi to Coogee Coastal walk .

Next, return your rental car. You won’t need it to get around Sydney if you are staying near public transport so this will save you a bit of money. Then head to your Sydney accommodations to get checked in a drop off luggage.

Stay overnight near public transportation in Sydney .

Day 18 – Sydney Sights

Spend the first day in Sydney doing a hop-on-hop-off tour of Sydney . We love these types of tours in large cities as it gives us an opportunity to learn about everything but only focus time on the things that interest us.

However, there are two sights that every Sydney visitor needs to see and that is the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera house .

For the breakdown of how we spent our time in Sydney, check out our detailed Sydney itinerary here.

Day 19 – More Sydney

Spend the final day of your Australia itinerary, exploring more of Sydney. There is plenty of history and nature to explore in Sydney. Don’t forget to stop in at the Australian Museum to learn all about the country you’ve been tramping around for the past three weeks of this Australian itinerary.

For a full list of popular things to do in Sydney, check out our list here.

Day 20 – travel home.

Finally, wake up and enjoy your last breakfast in Australia on this final day of your Australia itinerary. Catch a flight home.

Want To Adjust the Australia Itinerary?

One australia itinerary.

With one week in Australia, most people stick to New South Wales. Honestly, this wasn’t our favorite area in Australia . However, it is the region with the most to do packed into the smallest area, which makes it a great spot if you are short on time. It also makes it cheaper as you have to spend less on transportation costs.

Day 1-3 – Sydney – follow Days 17-19 above
Day 4 – Blue Mountains – follow Day 16 above
Day 5-7 – Drive Australia’s Pacific Coast from Sydney to Brisbane, make sure to stop at least one night in Byron Bay

Additionally, with one week in Australia, you could pick two cities to base yourself in and then explore farther afield with days trips.

Our suggestion would be Melbourne and Cairns, our two favorite cities in Australia.

Day 1 – Melbourne
Day 2-3 – Great Ocean Road trip
Day 4 – fly to Cairns, see Cairns
Day 5-6 – Great Barrier Reef liveaboard
Day 7 – Daintree Rainforest tour

However, we understand that most people want to see Sydney on a Australian vacation . So this one week in Australia itinerary includes Cairns and Sydney.

Day 1-2 – Sydney – follow Days 17-18 above
Day 3 – Blue Mountain day trip

Two Week Australia Itinerary

Two weeks in Australia is possibly the hardest Australia itinerary to decide upon. Because you can see a ton of different things OR you can really delve in to a few areas and do some road trips. We would recommend visiting Cairns, Sydney and Melbourne and doing short trips from those areas.

Day 1-2 – Melbourne, with a day trip (or half day trip) to Phillip island
Day 3-4 – Great Ocean Road trip
Day 5 – fly to Cairns, see Cairns
Day 6-7 – Great Barrier Reef liveaboard
Day 8 – Daintree Rainforest tour
Day 9 – fly to Sydney
Day 10-12 – Sydney , follow days 17-19 above
Day 13-14 – Blue Mountains

Four Week Australia Itinerary

With four weeks in Australia, you can add in a visit to Uluru. Honestly, most three week Australia itineraries include a visit to Uluru and skip Victoria. However, when we visited Australia, we’d just got done spending a lot of time in Arizona, so we were kinda desert rock-ed out. However, with four weeks in Australia, you can visit Victoria, then South Australia, the Northern Territory, then Queensland and lastly New South Wales.

Days 1-5 – Victoria – follow the Day 1-5 itinerary above
Day 6 – Continue driving the Great Ocean Road on to Adelaide
Day 7 – Take a day trip to Kangaroo Island
Day 8 – Explore Adelaide in the morning, Fly to Alice Springs in the afternoon
Day 9 – Explore Alice Springs
Day 10-13 – Explore Uluru , including Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon
Day 14-17 – Queensland – follow the Day 6-9 itinerary above
Day 18-28 – New South Wales – follow the Day 10-20 itinerary above

We hope that this three week Australian itinerary has helped you to plan your own Australia vacation. If you need more inspiration for planing your Australian vacation, check out all of our Australia posts here.

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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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East Coast Australia Itinerary – How To Spend 4 Weeks In Oz

Planning your dream East Coast Australia itinerary? Well here’s everything you need to know – inc locations, durations, top tours and more!

Putting together the perfect East Coast Australia itinerary can be tough – with over 2,400km of coastline to explore packing all the top locations and tours into your 4 week Australia itinerary takes some planning!

But no worries – I’ve spent years living, working and travelling around Australia so to help you kick-start your Australia trip here’s my recommendations on how to spend 1 months travelling Australia, including destinations, durations, where to stay and of course all the best trips and tours to check out…

Well hello there Sydney! What better place to kick off your Australia trip than one of the countries most iconic cities? Now I’m not much of a city fan but Sydney isn’t half bad and there’s lots to keep you busy.

Head over to Bondi Beach (admittedly a bit over rated!) but certainly one you have to tick off the bucket list before strolling along the stunning coastal path to Coogee Beach.

And then of course if the world famous Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge where you can grab your postcard perfect snapshot and the realisation that you’ve finally made it to Australia!

If you want to escape the city for the day a trip on the ferry across to Manly Beach is well worth it for some more laid back vibes – or perhaps venture further afield to the Blue Mountains or Port Stephens.

Where to stay = WakeUp! Sydney or YHA The Rocks

Overnight bus to yamba.

One of my favourite little hidden gems of East Coast Australia, Yamba is still pretty off the map as far as international tourists are concerned, so make the most of the stunning and largely empty beaches!

Head down to the famous Angourie Point and keep an eye out for wild kangaroos before enjoy some of the spectacular coastal walks in the area.

For surfers there’s plenty going on – with a huge range of surf spots to choose from, so enjoy the uncrowded lineups!

Where to stay = Yamba YHA now Yamba Central Hotel (but still just as good!)

Ah Byron Bay – my favourite spot on the whole of Australia and one of my top surf destinations on the planet!

As the sign says “slow down, chill out, cheer up” – so get ready for heaps of barefoot, hippie vibes in this once sleepy surfer town.

There are plenty of beaches in Byron Bay so get your boardies/bikini and sunscreen at the ready – and it’s an incredible place to learn to surf or for seasoned surfers to score heaps of fun waves.

In terms of non beach things to do in Byron Bay there’s plenty going on – from skydiving and dolphin kayaking, to Nimbin day trips, scuba diving Julian Rocks and even whale watching.

And then of course there’s the famous Lighthouse walk, which loops from town through to Wategos, Cape Byron Lighthouse and the most Easterley Point of Mainland Australia – which is well worth doing, especially for sunset or sunrise, with an epic Byron Bay breakfast after!

I’ve said 3 nights here but honestly you’ll probably want a few more!

Where to stay = The Surf House or Aquarius Hostel

Brisbane, aka Brissie, aka Bris Vegas is the capital of Queensland and to be honest isn’t my favourite stop, but I know a lot of you like the hustle and bustle of the city!

If you’re looking for a popular day trip out of Brisbane though Australia Zoo (home of Steve Irwin) is a super popular option.

Where to stay = Brisbane YHA

And you’re back at the beach! Noosa is a pretty upmarket beachside town so expect lots of boutique shops and really good places to eat and drink!

Kick back on the beach, take a stroll through the National Park up to Tea Tree Point and the Fairy Pools (whilst keeping an eye out for the wild koalas) and take a day trip kayaking the Noosa Everglades.

Again surfers rejoice – Noosa is home to some of the best point breaks in Australia and a mecca for longboarders, so if you’re into surfing this is going to be a highlight if it’s working.

Where to stay = Halse Lodge

Rainbow beach.

Things are pretty chill in Rainbow Beach – which gets its name from the multi coloured sand dunes. The main event here is a night pre and post Fraser Island tour, which should certainly be part of your East Coast Australia itinerary.

Where to stay = Pippies Beachhouse

Fraser island.

The first of the big Australia overnight tours I’d recommend is Fraser Island – or more importantly an overnight 4×4 tour!

The worlds largest sand island is packed full of incredible adventure and getting the opportunity to drive a 4×4 down the beach highway (yes it’s actually a dedicated highway!) or through the rainforest tracks is always heaps of fun.

Float down Eli Creek, take a refreshing swim in the pictureque Lake Mackenzie and stop off at the iconic Maheno Shipwreck – a Fraser Island tour is always a highlight of anyones trip in Oz.

Top Tours = Pippies (camping), Nomads (hostel style) or DropBear (nature & heritage)

Overnight bus to Airlie Beach

This ones a big one – roughly 18 hours!

Airlie Beach

After a long overnight bus up from Rainbow Beach, it’s time to recover a bit in Airlie Beach – which has a huge public lagoon pool in the middle of town and is the perfect place to soak up the tropical sun, meet some fellow travellers and maybe even have a BBQ too.

I’ve penciled in 3 nights here as you’ll also want a night pre and post Whitsundays tour too…

Where to stay = Nomads Airlie Beach

Whitsunday islands.

The second of the big tours, a sailing trip to the Whitsunday Islands is another East Coast Australia Itinerary must do.

For those looking for the most adventure an overnight sailing trip takes in the famous Hill Inlet Lookout (for those postcard perfect views), Whitehaven Beach and of course plenty of increidble snorkelling too.

There are boat options for all styles too – from backpacker party boats to luxury catamarans.

Or if you really want to go all out Ride To Paradise combines day trips around the islands with a stay on an island resort!

Top Tours = Tongarra, Wings, Powerplay or Ride To Paradise.

Magnetic island.

More island vibes just up the coast from Airlie Beach! You’ll need to make your way up to Townsville where you can jump on the ferry out to Magnetic Island – which is one of my East Coast highlights for sure.

Grab a package deal with either Base (if you like to party) or Bungalow Bay YHA (for more chilled vibes) which include your return ferry, accomodation and welcome drink.

Once you’re on the island make sure you hire one of the famous “Barbie cars” and explore the island – which you can easily zip around in a few hours!

Feed the rock wallabies, meet the wild koalas and soak up some Tropical North Queensland sunshine on the amazing beaches.

Where to stay = Base Magnetic Island (party vibes) or Bungalow Bay YHA (chilled vibes)

Mission beach.

If you want a bit of adrenaline in your East Coast Australia itinerary then Mission Beach is where you’re going to get it!

The big draw here is skydiving – so face your fears and jump out of a plane at 15,000 feet! As well as stunning views across the coastline and Great Barrier Reef skydiving and Mission Beach is also the only beach landing in Australia – so here’s the spot to tick it off the bucket list!

There are miles of empty, palm tree fringed beaches in the area too, so find your own slice of paradise, or maybe drive out into the surrounding area to sample some locally grown chocolate or award winning ice cream.

Where to stay = Scottys YHA or Absolute Backpackers

Time to wrap up your East Coast adventure in Cairns – the crazy party town towards the top of Queensland!

There are heaps of awesome party vibes here – so pencil in a night for some beers at Gilligans and dancing on tables at the Woolshed.

It’s not all party party in Cairns though – its famous as the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef so make sure you book yourself on a day trip to visit one of the nature wonders of the world which can even be seen from space! Whether you snorkel, scuba dive or take the plunge with an intro dive for the first time it’s well worth it.

If you have a bit more time it’s also a really popular spot to complete your full dive course as well – check out Divers Den for that if you’re keen.

If you want to pack out the last few days of your trip I’d also highly recommend the Cairns Waterfall tour and also Cape Tribulation day trips to see more of this amazing part of Australia.

Where to stay = Gilligans

Got longer than 4 weeks.

Not constrained to 4 weeks and want even more fun in your Australia itinerary? Well here’s a couple of extra options for you to fit in…

Add in Melbourne

Instead of starting/finishing in Sydney why not head to its arch rival – Melbourne?! Famous for epic live music, sporting events and thriving coffee culture Melbourne is a great spot to explore. One of the biggest draws though is tackling the Great Ocean Road and visiting the 12 Apostles. Although you can do this as a day trip I’d personally recommend renting a campervan and roadtripping it if you have the time!

Add in Surfers Paradise

Surfers Paradise and the Gold Coast is another great spot if you love the city vibes. Situated between Byron Bay and Brisbane the Gold Coast (aka the Goldie) is the Miami of Australia – with sprawling beaches and pumping nightlife.

Extend Your Stay

Why not just chill out and extend a few stops instead?! Yup if you have a bit longer padding out a few extra nights at some of the destinations will really slow the pace down and allow you to enjoy the East Coast even more!

Plan Your Perfect Trip

Want to plan your perfect East Coast Australia itinerary no matter how long you have?

Then I highly recommend chatting to the crew of RTW Backpackers who can help you piece together travel passes, campervan hire, hostels, day trips and everything else you need to make the most of your time in Australia!

Fill out their Custom East Coast Package form and they’ll put together a free itinerary for you including heaps of deals and discounts!

Putting together your East Coast Australia itinerary?

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Australia Road Trip Itinerary for up to 5 Weeks

By Author Jurga

Posted on Last updated: November 13, 2023

Australia Road Trip Itinerary for up to 5 Weeks

Are you looking for the best Australia itinerary ? It’s a tough choice – there are just so many options… Nevertheless, in this post, we try to give you a good starting point on how to best plan your Australia road trip itinerary . Find out!

Good to know: This 5 weeks Australia itinerary is structured in such a way that it includes separate ‘itinerary blocks’ per area (Sydney, Melbourne, Red Center, etc.). So you can just pick the areas that interest you the most and plan your own perfect Australia road trip.

We visited Australia twice. The first time we followed a standard East Coast itinerary from Cairns to Sydney and, to tell you the truth, were quite disappointed. The 5-week Australia road trip itinerary that I share in this article is based on our second road trip in Australia. We planned this trip ourselves, spent many hours perfecting this itinerary and we absolutely loved this trip!

This Australia itinerary covers many highlights that we thought were worth our time the most. After all, when you fly to the other side of the world, you really want to see the best of the best, right?

We spent more than a month in Australia with kids and visited many different regions. Our Australia itinerary started in Sydney and the Blue Mountains , followed by the Red Centre . We then visited Kangaroo Island and the Great Ocean Road . We spent 10 days in Tasmania and ended our Australian road trip in Melbourne .

Below you can find our 5-week Australia road trip itinerary in a nutshell. It includes a day to day planning of our Australian road trip and some practical tips.

Would I change anything to this Australia itinerary? Not much. I would add some extra days here and there, but this itinerary pretty much covers all the highlights in each place. And who has so much vacation time… We could only do this trip because our kids were still young and we weren’t tied to school holidays at that time…

There are a few popular regions of Australia we didn’t cover during this trip – the Great Barrier Reef and the Northern Territories around Darwin, also Western Australia.

We skipped the Great Barrier Reef because we had been there in the past and because our kids were too young to go snorkeling. We left Darwin for another time as well because we visited Australia in November and it’s rainy season in the North. But if you have more time, I definitely recommend adding these two areas to your Australia itinerary as well. Here you can find a suggested trip itinerary for Darwin area .

If you have even more time in your Australia itinerary, Western Australia is also beautiful, especially if you like nature destinations. Just keep in mind that distances are big and so you’ll need at least a few weeks extra if you want to add Perth and Western Australia to your Australian itinerary.

Australia trip itinerary featuring Sydney and the Blue Mountains, the Red Centre, Kangaroo Island, the Great Ocean Road, the Grampians NP, Melbourne, Tasmania and more - plan your trip! #Australia

Planning tip: Below you can find our Australia road trip itinerary. To help you plan your trip easier, I split our Australia itinerary into separate blocks per region .

That way you can easily mix and match these ‘blocks’ depending on which areas you want to visit. This will allow you to plan your trip Down Under and create your own perfect Australia itinerary, using our tips and suggestions. Take a look!

Sydney and The Blue Mountains – 4 Days

Probably every Australia itinerary will start or end in Sydney. It’s such a beautiful city and there is so much to see – definitely worth a stop. We don’t spend much time in cities when we travel, but we spent two days in Sydney and loved it. We also visited the nearby Blue Mountains and I think that this stunning area is also a must when visiting Sydney.

Here is what our itinerary in the Sydney area looked like:

Day 1: Arrival in Sydney. Stay in Sydney for 2 nights (we recommend InterContinental Sydney ).
Day 2: One day in Sydney . With a family, check out these top attractions and/or Taronga Zoo .
Day 3: Featherdale Wildlife Park and the Blue Mountains. Stay in Leura for 1 night (or you can simply book a day tour from Sydney).
Day 4: Blue Mountains. Sleep near Sydney Airport for 1 night (we stayed at Novotel Sydney International Airport ).

TIP: You can either rent a car for the last two days or spend more time in Sydney, stay in the city, and book a day trip to the Blue Mountains . If you travel without kids, I think it’s a much better option to just stay in Sydney. Unless you want to spend more time exploring the Blue Mountains, of course. In that case, you may want to stay there for a few more days.

Sydney is a must in any Australia trip itinerary

Australia’s Red Center – 6 Days

If there is one part I would include in every Australia itinerary, it’s the Red Center. It’s just so typically Australian and so unique that you really shouldn’t miss it. The trip between Alice Springs and Ayers Rock including West MacDonnell Ranges and Kings Canyon is probably one of the most special trips we ever did, not just in Australia.

Below is a short version of our daily schedule. Here you can find our detailed 6- day itinerary for Australia’s Red Centre, from Alice Springs to Uluru.

Day 5: Flight Sydney – Alice Springs. Stay in Alice Springs for 1 night.
Day 6: Alice Springs – West MacDonnell Ranges – Glen Helen. Stay in Glen Helen for 1 night.
Day 7: Glen Helen – Kings Canyon. Stay in Kings Canyon for 1 night.
Day 8: Kings Canyon – Uluru (Ayers Rock). Stay in Ayers Rock Resort (Yulara) for 2 nights.
Day 9: Uluru – Kata Tjuta National Park.
Day 10: Uluru – Kata Tjuta NP and drive back to Alice Springs. Stay in Alice Springs for 1 night.

TIP: You will need a 4WD for this itinerary. It’s possible to do this trip driving only on paved roads as well, but in that case, you will need to cover the distance of almost 700 km between Glen Helen and Kings Canyon on the paved road (instead of 250km via the Mereenie Loop).

If you decide to do that, then take your time to explore the gorges of the West MacDonnell Ranges a bit more and spend a night in Alice Springs again, before continuing to Kings Canyon. If you are only planning to drive from Alice Springs to Uluru, you can do it in a regular car. We always use the RentalCars website to find the best deals for car hire.

READ MORE: Red Centre Itinerary – from Alice Springs to Uluru

Australia Red Centre itinerary for the most complete road trip including all the highlights like Ayers Rock, Kings Canyon, West MacDonnell ranges and more

Adelaide and Kangaroo Island – 5 Days

I am so glad we included Kangaroo Island in our Australia road trip itinerary. It became one of our favorite places Down Under and one I’d like to return to again.

Here is an overview of our Kangaroo Island itinerary:

Day 11: Flight from Alice Springs to Adelaide. Stay in Adelaide for 1 night.
Day 12: Adelaide to Kangaroo Island. Stay on Kangaroo Island for 4 nights.
Days 13 – 15: Kangaroo Island.

Good to know: You will need to rent a car in Adelaide and take a ferry to Kangaroo Island . We rented a car from Adelaide and dropped it off in Melbourne. After visiting Kangaroo Island, we continued our Australian road trip via the Grampians National Park and the Great Ocean Road to Melbourne (see further).

Kangaroo Island to Melbourne via the Grampians NP and the Great Ocean Road – 7 Days

This part of our Australia itinerary required a bit more driving, but the two main highlights – Grampians National Park and the Great Ocean Road were more than worth it. Here is how our road trip itinerary between Adelaide and Melbourne looked like:

Day 16: Kangaroo Island to Robe. Stay in Robe for 1 night. There isn’t much to see in Robe, but you need to break the long drive somewhere in the area.
Day 17: Robe to the Grampians National Park. Stay in Halls Gap for 2 nights.
Day 18: The Grampians National Park.
Day 19: The Grampians to Warrnambool. Stay in Warrnambool for 1 night.
Day 20: Warrnambool to Lorne (Great Ocean Road). Stay in Lorne for 2 nights.
Day 21: The Great Ocean Road. TIP: try to spot some wild koalas at the Kennett River first thing in the morning.
Day 22: Lorne to Melbourne Airport and flight to Tasmania. Stay in Hobart for 1 night.

As you can see, we skipped the city of Melbourne at this point and flew straight to Tasmania. This is because we came back to Melbourne at the end of our Australia trip for the flight back to Europe (see further).

LEARN MORE: Best Stops on the Great Ocean Road

The Great Ocean Road is one of the must see places in Australia

Tasmania – 10 Days

While not many people include Tasmania in their Australia trip itinerary, it’s really worth a trip if you have at least a week to spare. It’s probably worth it for just a few days as well, but it really depends on how much time you have. Below you can see what our itinerary in Tasmania looked like.

TIP: You will need to rent a car in Hobart for this Tasmania trip.

Melbourne – 2 Days

Days 33-35: Melbourne and flight back to Europe.

If you like visiting cities, you can easily spend several days in Melbourne. We spent here one full day and half a day before heading back home.

The Ultimate 4-Week Australia Road Trip Itinerary

Want to get a camper or drive to discover the highlights of Australia? If you’ve a month+ in Australia there are so many amazing road trips you can do.

Most people tend to choose either the East or West Coasts which you can complete in two to three weeks, but why not mix a bit of some of the other Aussie states like The Northern Territory and South. Australia too.

If you do want to see the highlights and also venture off the tourist trail here’s one for you true adventurers who have longer on the road and want to see it all.

This one month itinerary encompasses the best of the East Coast itinerary, plus the iconic Great Ocean Road and an epic trail through the outback to Uluru added on the end. If you’ve even longer (lucky thing), and have a flexible schedule add a a few more weeks or a month if you want to factor in more hammock-hanging and hangovers. You can easily tag the West Coast on, too!

This itinerary is perfect if you are thinking about renting a camper van, this is a very safe and affordable way to travel, it gives you flexibility and saves you a fortune on accommodation which in Australia is super expensive.

Ultimate Australia in a Month Itinerary (Starts Cairns, ends Alice Springs)

Day 1: Cairns

Be sure spend a few days in Cairns and visit the incredible Great Barrier Reef. Then pick up your camper or rental in Cairns and become acquainted with the newest member of your wolf pack on a day-drive north to Cape Tribulation via the Daintree. Head back to Cairns for sunset.

Day 2: Mission Beach

Head south down the coast to Mission Beach where you can skydive, snorkel or just hang in a hammock. Paradise!

Day 3-5: Whitsunday Islands

It’s a six-hour drive from Mission Beach to Airlie Beach, the jumping off point to the Whitsunday Islands. Townsville makes for a fun lunch stop. Spend a few days island hopping the Whitsundays on a cruise or tour with like-minded travellers before hopping back into your campervan! Who knows – you might have gathered a land convoy on your voyage.

Day 6: Rockhampton

Head south for a few hours to Rockhampton, a small town famous for its steak production. Choose to have a rest stop here before you complete the long drive down the Sunshine Coast to Rainbow Beach in the same day, or set up camp for the night.

Day 7-9: Fraser Island

Rainbow Beach is the jumping off point for Fraser Island, home of Lake McKenzie, Champagne Pools, a pretty cool looking shipwreck and that amazing beach you can blaze along in a jeep! Enjoy!

Day 10-11: Brisvegas

Head to Brisbane via Noosa for a night of bright lights and big city livin’. Or drinking, and the rest.

Day 12: Take a short drive to the Gold Coast

If you can, rise early and take in Springbrook National Park along the way before catching the sunset at beautiful Burleigh Heads.

Day 13-15: Byron Bay

Byron Bay is only an hour south of the Gold Coast. Set up camp or check into one of the buzzing hostels, hop on a surfboard or just watch the pros on some of the best surfing beaches in Australia . If you fancy doing more, spend an afternoon exploring nearby Nimbin, a colourful, offbeat traveller community founded in the seventies.

Day 16: Coffs Harbour

Drive three hours from Byron Bay to Coffs Harbour, one of the hidden gems of Australia. Driving across the East Coast can get a bit beach heavy, so if you’re in the mood for switching your views of ocean blues to forest greens, Coffs Harbour has to be a stop on your itinerary.

Head straight for Dorrigo National Park for panoramic views across luscious, thick jungle-scapes and gentle hikes to Crystal Waterfall, where you can even walk behind it. Or for a more relaxing day, you can just chill on the beach.

Day 17: Explore Sydney

It’s a long drive from Coffs Harbour to Sydney, but there’s plenty of beaches and stunning scenery to soak up along the way. Over the next few days discover the highlights of Sydney , one of the most iconic cities in the world. Take in the Harbour Bridge, Opera House, Bondi beach, Manly, and be sure to spend a night out in The Rocks area.

Day 20-22: Blue Mountains

After a few days sightseeing in Sydney head to the nearby Blue Mountains National Park. That’s if you can drag yourself away from Sydney’s cosmopolitan culture and picture-perfect beaches, the Blue Mountains are an absolute must-see, and only a couple of hours’ drive away.

The National Park is a massive 11,400 km2 of blue haze hovering over millions of trees with abundant wildlife all around you, perfect for a day trip. Opt to visit for the scenic lookouts or get your walking boots on – the hiking tracks range from ‘I didn’t come to Aussie to exercise’ to ‘I really need to walk off three months of bad diet choices while travelling’, so all fitness levels are covered.

Don’t miss the small town of Katoomba, the world-famous Three Sisters or the epic Wentworth Falls – let’s just say TLC had no idea what they were talking about when they told us not to go chasing them.

From the Blue Mountains head south down the Pacific Highway to Australia’s cultural capital, Melbourne .

Days 22: Melbourne

Take in the highlights of Melbourne, easily one of the best cities to visit on any Aussie itinerary. The city centre is walkable and there are so many great shops, cafes, bars and restaurants.

Day 23-25: Great Ocean Road

Head down the Great Ocean Road – the daddy of all roadies, towards Grampians National Park. Warning: these views will blow your backpack off. Spend your 25th night in Adelaide and get some rest before an early rise to start the Outback stretch of your four-wheeled adventure.

Day 26-30: Outback Adventure

The Adelaide to Alice Springs stretch of your roadie will take you north up the Stuart Highway through the heart of the red centre. We recommend you stop off overnight in Glendambo, before carrying onto the interesting mining town of Coober Pedy where you can spend another night under the stars.

Day 31: Hello, Uluru!

Watch the sunrise over Australia’s most famous rock formation… from the back of your trusty four-wheeled friend. Romantic, ey. This will be one of the highlights of your trip. Then head to the nearby town of Alice Springs.

This itinerary is really quick and fast paced, if you prefer a more slower relaxed pace and want to see as much as possible you could easily make the itinerary a few weeks longer. Also although the Outback is where my itinerary ends, if you have 6-8 weeks, from Alice Springs you could travel north to Darwin , across to Broome, then down the beautiful West Coast to Perth .

If you are planning an epic trip Down Under check out my Australia backpacking guide for more tips. Or if you like to idea of moving here, find out information about working holidays in Australia .

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Plan Your Trip to Australia: 7 Top Itineraries

Written by Karen Hastings Updated Jul 26, 2022

Australia is a land of staggering contrasts spread out over a landmass almost as big as the continental US, so planning the perfect itinerary entails pinpointing your preferences. Coral reefs, islands, rainforests, and ravishing beaches rim the coast, and rugged canyons and red deserts of haunting beauty stretch across the interior.

To get the most out of your visit to Australia, it's best to fly between the top places to visit and concentrate on a particular area of the country. If it's your first visit to the Land Down Under, you might want to start with a version of the top Australia itinerary on our trip planner: Sydney, Rainforest, & Reef, highlighting the east coast's most popular tourist attractions. Then, depending on your interests and time constraints, you can use the other Australia itineraries, organized by region, as building blocks to customize your adventures.

Travel to Australia can require some long flights — especially if you're visiting from the Northern Hemisphere. A week to 10 days is the minimum recommended time to visit Australia, as distances are vast, and jet lag can take a couple of days to pass. Note that if you're planning to see the highlights of both the east coast and the west coast, it takes about five hours to fly from Sydney to Perth.

Wherever and whenever you decide to go, Australia is one of the world's most rewarding places to visit, with spectacular scenery, incredible wildlife, and some of the friendliest people on the planet.

Plan your trip with these top Australia itineraries.

1. Sydney, Rainforest & Reef

2. the northern territory: the top end & the red centre, 3. queensland: the sunshine coast, fraser island, & the whitsunday islands, 4. melbourne and the great ocean road, 5. western australia: perth, coral reefs, broome, and the kimberley, 6. south australia: adelaide, the barossa & clare valleys, and kangaroo island, 7. tasmania: the apple isle loop, map of australia: top itineraries, when is the best time to visit australia.

East Coast Itinerary Highlights : Sydney, Blue Mountains, Cairns/Port Douglas, Daintree Rainforest, Kuranda, the Great Barrier Reef

Visiting Australia for the first time? This itinerary is ideal if you only have about a week to 10 days to see the highlights. It offers a quintessential slice of the stunning east coast.

Start in Sydney and visit all the iconic attractions such as the Sydney Opera House , the Sydney Harbour Bridge , Bondi Beach , and the Rocks . After exploring the top attractions in the city , choose from an alluring line-up of day trips from Sydney . The Blue Mountains is one of the most popular.

From Sydney, fly up to Cairns , the most popular gateway to Far North Queensland's top tropical attractions, including the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest ; the quaint rainforest village of Kuranda ; and Cape Tribulation , where two of the world's richest ecosystems (rainforest and reef) merge in a sublime mingling of blues and greens.

Alternatively, you can base yourself in the sleepy tropical town of Port Douglas (about 60 minutes' drive north of Cairns). It lies a little closer to the reef, and charms visitors with its relaxed tropical feel and friendly locals. If you have more time, consider adding on some of the itineraries below.

Read More: Top-Rated Beaches in Sydney, Australia

Northern Territory Itinerary Highlights : Darwin, Kakadu National Park, Nitmiluk National Park (Katherine Gorge), Alice Springs, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Watarrka National Park (Kings Canyon)

The Northern Territory offers a taste of the Australian Outback. Stark red deserts, magnificent rock formations, and spectacular wilderness areas are some of the top things to see here.

Fly into Darwin, the main gateway for the tropical Top End, as it's called in Australia. Stay a night or two here soaking up all the fun attraction in Darwin , such as the famous Mindil Beach Sunset Market , the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory , and Stokes Hill Wharf. Thrill seekers can cage-dive with saltwater crocodiles at Crocosaurus Cove .

From Darwin, rent a car and drive about 255 kilometers to World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park , Australia's largest national park and one of the planet's most awe-inspiring wilderness areas. Take a Yellow Water or Guluyambi boat cruise to see crocodiles and water birds, or hike to ancient Aboriginal cave paintings.

From Kakadu, you can drive about 180 kilometers to Katherine Gorge in Nitmiluk National Park , with its series of 13 stunning steep-walled gorges. Explore the area on a scenic cruise, hike the trails, or paddle along the Katherine River in a kayak or canoe.

From the nearby town of Katherine, fly to Alice Springs in Australia's Red Centre. This is the gateway to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park , where Uluru (formerly Ayers Rock), one of Australia's top tourist attractions, rises 348 meters above the red-hued desert. About 40 kilometers from here, you can explore the dome-shaped rocks called Kata Tjuta (the Olgas).

If you have time, drive about 290 kilometers from Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park to Watarrka National Park (Kings Canyon) for more breathtaking outback scenery and one of Australia's top hiking trails : Kings Canyon Rim Walk .

Read More: Top-Rated Things to Do in Australia's Northern Territory

Central & Southeast Queensland Coastal Itinerary Highlights : Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Fraser Island, Hervey Bay, Airlie Beach, the Whitsunday Islands

Sun, sea, sand, and sailing are the top attractions of this tour through Southeast and Central Queensland. Fly into the Sunshine Coast airport in Marcoola (one hour and 35 minutes flight time from Sydney), and explore some of the Sunshine Coast's surf-lapped beach towns and gorgeous beaches .

Soak up the scene with a stroll along the Mooloolaba Boardwalk, one of the top things to do in Mooloolaba ; surf some waves at Coolum Beach ; or bask on the beaches of Caloundra . Traveling on a budget? Take your pick from some of the best campgrounds on the Sunshine Coast .

If you're looking for a stylish base, stay in the beautiful beach resort of Noosa Heads . You can rest your head at some of the Sunshine Coast's top resorts. While you're here, hike through Noosa National Park ; spend an afternoon on magnificent Main Beach , swimming, surfing, or sunning; and stroll along Hastings Street , with its fantastic restaurants and boutique shops.

From Noosa, you can take day trips to explore all the top things to do on the Sunshine Coast . Save time, too, for a visit to the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. Here, you can visit cute country towns like Maleny and nearby Montville.

You can also join a tour to K'Gari (Fraser Island ), the world's largest sand island, or rent a 4WD and embark on a self-drive tour of this stunning UNESCO World Heritage site. Stay a night or two exploring the sparkling freshwater lakes, sweeping beaches, dunes, shipwrecks, and rainforests.

Hervey Bay , the gateway to Fraser Island, is also worth a visit. Whale watching is one of the most popular activities here, as well as fishing, sailing, and a range of other water sports.

From Marcoola, fly to Whitsunday Coast Airport in Proserpine (PPP). It's about 25 kilometers from Airlie Beach , the gateway to the idyllic Whitsunday Islands . From here, charter a boat and sail around these sun-soaked islands strung along the southern stretches of the Great Barrier Reef, or hop aboard a multi-island cruise.

Popular islands include family-friendly Daydream Island , Hamilton Island (the only Whitsunday island with its own airport), Long Island , and Hook Island . For a luxury island hideaway, hop aboard a helicopter to Hayman Island . With its silky soft silica sand, Whitehaven Beach is one of the top beaches in Australia and a must-see destination on your island-hopping adventure.

Read More: Top Tourist Attractions in Queensland

Victoria Itinerary Highlights : Melbourne, The Great Ocean Road, Phillip Island Penguin Parade, Mornington Peninsula, Grampians National Park, Wilsons Promontory, the Yarra Valley, and Dandenong Ranges

Australia's rugged south coast is home to one of the country's most staggeringly beautiful stretches of coastline. Fly into Melbourne, the vibrant capital of Victoria , and explore all the fantastic restaurants, shops, museums, galleries, and other attractions.

From here, you can choose from an adventure-filled list of Melbourne day trips . The most famous is a self-drive or guided tour along The Great Ocean Road , one of Australia's most breathtaking scenic drives. In Port Campbell National Park , gape at the Twelve Apostles , the wind-sculpted rock formations rising from the thrashing surf. Hike the Great Ocean Walk or, for a bird's-eye view, fly over the coast in a helicopter. In Torquay , surfers can ride the legendary swells of Bells Beach or visit the Australian National Surfing Museum .

In the hinterland, lush forests, zipline adventures, and treetop walking tours await. Other popular day trips from Melbourne include the Phillip Island Penguin Parade and the golden beaches of the Mornington Peninsula .

For fantastic hiking and bushland scenery, venture to Grampians National Park (260 kilometers from Melbourne), Wilsons Promontory (200 kilometers from Melbourne), or the Yarra Valley and the Dandenong Ranges (25 kilometers from Melbourne).

Western Australia Itinerary Highlights : Perth, the Margaret River, Ningaloo Reef, Broome, the Kimberley

About a five-hour flight from Australia's east coast, Western Australia is a wonderland of wilderness areas, wildlife, coral reefs, and beautiful beaches. This diverse and sparsely populated state is often overlooked by international travelers due to its distance from Sydney, but it delivers jaw-dropping beauty without the crowds.

Look at a map of Australia, and you'll see the ebullient state capital of Perth flung in the southwestern corner of this vast state. Start your tour here, and spend a day or two exploring all the attractions in the city .

Save time to venture out of the city, too. Day trips from Perth are particularly appealing. Take a cruise up the winding Swan River to the Swan Valley , or down river to Fremantle , Perth's vibrant port city. From Fremantle, you can also catch a ferry to ravishing Rottnest Island , rimmed by beautiful white-sand beaches and turquoise shallows.

Spend a few days at the Margaret River , about a three-hour drive from Perth. This prime grape-growing district offers great surf breaks, beautiful beaches, scenic coastal hikes, and a bounty of fresh produce and artisan foods.

After a taste of the city and surrounds, fly from Perth to Broome (flight time 2.5 hours) and ride a camel at sunset along the sweeping sands of Cable Beach . Want to get your heart pumping? Head to Horizontal Falls. One of Australia's top outdoor adventures , this exhilarating experience usually includes a seaplane flight over the falls and the rugged red cliffs of the northwest coast to Cape Leveque . Then you touch down for a succulent seafood lunch on the water, and a jet boat ride through the falls.

If you have more time, venture deep into the rugged Kimberley to see spectacular Purnululu (Bungle Bungle) National Park , a UNESCO World Heritage site, and Mitchell Falls, or plan a rugged 4WD adventure along the Gibb River Road . Return to Perth.

Still more time? Fly from Perth to Exmouth (a two-and-a-half-hour flight to Learmonth airport) and explore nearby World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef , the world's largest fringing reef. Easily accessible from shore, this rich ecosystem is famous for the whale sharks that swim here from March through October, and you can swim with these gentle giants on an organized tour.

With more than 500 species of fish and 300 species of coral, the marine reserve is also a prime diving, snorkeling, and fishing destination . From here, drive 50 minutes to Cape Range National Park with its red-hued gorges and rugged canyons.

Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions & Places to Visit in Western Australia

South Australia Itinerary Highlights : Adelaide, the Barossa & Clare Valleys, Kangaroo Island, Flinders Ranges National Park

Sophisticated yet refreshingly slow paced, Adelaide is one of Australia's underrated cities and the gateway to the top places to visit in South Australia .

Spend a day or two in this gracious state capital exploring the many museums, galleries, and gardens. Then rent a car and drive about an hour from the city to the beautiful Barossa Valley (about 60 kilometers north of Adelaide) and the Clare Valley . These fertile lands are prime grape-growing regions and favorite foodie destinations, thanks to their bounty of fresh produce and fantastic restaurants.

From Adelaide, you can also drive about 45 minutes south to the pretty Fleurieu Peninsula. This scenic region offers golden beaches, great surf, farms, and more fabulous restaurants.

From the Fleurieu Peninsula, catch a ferry to Kangaroo Island, one of the state's top tourist destinations. You can also fly here in about 30 minutes from Adelaide. The island is famous for its pristine beaches and abundant wildlife. Fresh local produce is also a highlight — among the many gourmet delights are fresh seafood, free-range eggs, and Ligurian honey.

Close-up wildlife viewing is one of the top things to do on Kangaroo Island . In addition to the island's namesake marsupials, you can also see koalas, seal lions, New Zealand fur seals, echidnas, penguins, whales, and many species of birds. Save time to visit Flinders Chase National Park, with its strangely contorted rock formations and scenic hiking trails, as well as the fascinating limestone caves of Kelly Hill Conservation Park .

If you have more time, consider adding a safari to your itinerary and plan a road trip to Flinders Ranges National Park. About a five-hour drive from Adelaide, it's a favorite haunt of artists and photographers who appreciate the rich hues of shifting light on the arid landscapes.

Highlights : Hobart, Port Arthur Historic Site, Freycinet National Park, Launceston, Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park, Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, Mount Field National Park

Tasmania (affectionately called "Tassie" by the Aussies) is a nirvana for nature lovers. The island is Australia's smallest state and an ideal destination for a self-drive tour. Almost half of its landmass is protected by national parks and World Heritage Areas, providing a pristine playground of wild rivers, misty peaks, lakes, and densely wooded forests. It's also called "the Apple Isle" because it was once one of the world's major apple producers.

Today, the state is famous for its fabulous fresh produce and artisan foods. No matter where you go, save time to savor some succulent seafood, fresh fruits, and creamy cheeses along the way. This loop through some of Tasmania's top attractions takes about five or six days plus a night or two in Hobart at each end.

Fly into Hobart, the state capital, and drive or hike to the top of kunanyi (Mount Wellington) for spectacular views over the city. Browse the shops and galleries at Salamanca Place and see cutting edge art at MONA.

After exploring Hobart , drive about an hour southeast of Hobart and tour the Port Arthur Historic Site , a former penal colony and one of the top things to do in Tasmania . After this sobering dose of convict history, explore the rugged sea cliffs and sheltered coves of nearby Tasman National Park . About 55 minutes from Hobart by car and ferry, Bruny Island is also worth a visit. Take a tasting tour of the island's gourmet treats and artisan produce, or explore the natural beauty of South Bruny National Park .

From Hobart, drive 2.5 hours northeast to World Heritage-listed Freycinet National Park for superb scenery and the perfect slice of white-sand beach at dazzling Wineglass Bay . You can explore the park on scenic drives and hiking trails — the Wineglass Bay Circuit is one of the top hikes in Australia .

From Freycinet National Park , drive about two hours to charming Launceston , Tasmania's second largest town. Here, you can admire the elegant Victorian architecture on heritage trails, visit beautiful Cataract Gorge, and tour World Heritage-listed country estates not far from the city.

From Launceston, drive south to Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park and explore stunning landscapes featuring alpine heathland, glacier-carved crags, sparkling lakes, and ancient forests. From here, drive about two hours to Strahan , a great base to explore the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park . Cruise along the Gordon River, or raft the whitewater rapids of the mighty Franklin River, one of Australia's top outdoor adventures.

From Strahan, drive 300 kilometers back to Hobart through Tasmania's World Heritage-listed wilderness areas. If you have time, stop by Mount Field National Park on the way. Hike the beautiful nature trails and see triple-tiered waterfalls.

The best time to visit Australia depends on where you want to go. To maximize your sightseeing, it's a good idea to avoid the tropics in the wet season (December to April), but every season offers unique experiences.

Winter (June through August) is a wonderful time to visit the Red Centre, when desert temperatures are milder during the day. Winter is also the dry season in Far North Queensland and the Whitsundays, which typically means sunny days and comfortable temperatures for swimming and island hopping. And of course, winter is a prime time to play in Australia's best ski resorts .

Summer (December through February) is a great time to visit the southern states, especially Tasmania. At this time of year, the warm, sunny days are perfect for basking on some of Australia's best beaches .

Planning to visit several destinations? Spring and autumn in Australia are usually good times to visit most parts of the country.

More on Australia

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All for Your Next Road Trip!

Australia Road Trip: 4 Weeks Budget Itinerary of My Plan

What will you do if you have four weeks (1 month) planning an Australia road trip? Undoubtedly, Australia is a reasonably large hinterland with many attractions worth visiting. However, you have to drive for a long time with your complete patience.

This article will share my trip experience with an Australian road trip itinerary of 30 days! Guess you’re still confusing what place & what route should be your plan. You don’t need to worry; I will help you figure out your plan; check it out!

4 Weeks Australia Road Trip Route Overview

First, to let you understand, I’ve created this route map for you:

Road trip around Australia 4 weeks drive route map Australia

If you ask me: “ Can you travel to Australia in a month? “Yes! For sure!”

I was a backpacker with an Australian working holiday visa. I stayed full for two years and have been to many beautiful places so far away. It made me couldn’t realize a hundred kilometers far, and some people are still living there; it’s incredible!

It’s a different culture, just like Genghis Khan leading his army expanding Mongolia by horse. But today, we just raised our exploration by driving a comfort vehicle, hitting those places & enjoying your burger & beer.

During my road trip experience in Australia, I summarized nine driving routes expanding around Australia. Continuously reading my route reviews, and you can arrange your trip plan and add some places you want. Whether you are a backpacker, short-term tourist, or resident, these routes are worth your road trip. Click here to learn more about these 11 road trip routes.

You can choose these 11 drive routes anyway and try finishing them, filling your vacation for about one to three weeks, or you can follow this article, planning yours in 30 days.

4 Weeks Australia Road Trip Plan

I finished this 30 days Australia road trip by self-driving and here sharing my experience. In this four week’s route map, I divide these six parts below:

Week 1- Melbourne to Uluru to Alice Springs. There is two parts trip planner. The first is Melbourne to Adelaide, and the second is Adelaide to Uluru.
Week 2- Alice Springs to Broome. Heading north to Darwin and turn to Western Australia to Broome.
Week 3- Broome to Perth. It’s fantastic, and you will have a great escape with lots of natural attractions >> Read Trip Planner .
Week 4- Perth to Melbourne. It’s a quiet drive trip when you are on the way—feeling and thinking about your life. There are two parts to this trip planner first from Perth to Adelaide and the second from Adelaide to Melbourne . When you go back to Melbourne, that means four weeks of road trip accomplish!

In total, it takes you four weeks to complete six main routes. Each route curtain has many essential tourist details. When you click any link on the list, you can see more facts about route reviews, petrol stations, suggested attractions, things-to-do lists, etc.

This Plan is Best For All Travelers!

These routes are also accessible for most drivers because they are the main roads like highways, not ”unsealed” roads. “ So you need to worry about needing 4WD (If you have, that’s better)

In the below chapters about these four parts, you will cross many countrysides & beautiful attractions. And what places like towns, attractions, restaurants, supermarkets, petrol stations & accommodations you should be in each day road trip review. So please don’t miss this article and this website!

Preparation Before the Australia Road Trip

I was a backpacker in Australia for two years. To be exaggerated, maybe I could use it for the whole year in Australia, but I had to consider my budget, so I used the most streamlined way to play for 30 days. List these conditions below to let you know what I am doing:

Me & my friend, just two people.
A 2nd-hand wagon vehicle, SUV, or 4WD is much better.
Simple luggage, even soft bags.
Essential items in the baskets.
At least AUD 4,000 per person, better much more for affording any accidents.
Some coins for using equipment in facilities.
Boost SIM cards and others that have a “PrePaid Plan” SIM.
Dri”er’s LDriver’sboth we can drive for a long time.
No driving at night time.

Car Service for Australia Road Trip

About our vehicle, that wagon was helpful for us to complete whole trip routes, then scrapped after this road trip. To ensure that the car still works well, we already make appointments for a car service every 5000 km. In this road trip experience, we performed 2-time car maintenance, first in Darwin and the second in Perth .

However, the maintenance of the actual replacement of more parts was before my trip; my friend spent about 1,500. But he only let me share all the fuel and maintenance costs of this trip.

Car Rent – A Big Problem for Travelers

I know that such a trip is simply impossible to complete for shorter travelers because it will cost a lot of money on car rental, fuel, and car service. In terms of Australia’Australia’sil prices, this isn’t easy. Therefore, most car rental companies will not allow you to drive more than 3,000 kilometers.

Plus, you will charge additional fees for more than 2,800 kilometers. It does not include other consignment fees and insurance. So about hews days road trip plans for short-term tourists, you just pick ONE of them and finish it.

As these six parts of the Australia road trip plan, you can choose any route you want to complete, and of course, the starting point will be different.

Why Don’t Add Don’ts, Brisbane, Sydney & Canberra in This Plan?

There are many beautiful attractions in Australia, including these beautiful cities. My first stay was in Cairns, then I moved to Brisbane, to Sydney the following year, and then briefly visited Canberra. Although I have lived and worked in these places for several months, these places are too familiar to me.

You can add big cities as stopping points on your road trips; you can get any supplement for your trip here. Compared to those natural attractions in the distance, I think you should focus on getting to those beautiful natural attractions. Don’t forgDon’tat your days are limited.

I Have To Finish Something Before The Big Trip

Before the Australia road trip, we had a discussion. I sent my plan to my partner, and she said, “You’ve already been to these states, so you don’t need to go eastern again!”. Plus, suppose we start up from Cairns to Central Australia. In that case, we will miss some attractions like Coober Pedy in interior South Australia.

So she adjusted the route to set Melbourne as a start point. She had a farm job in interior Victoria, and I was in Tasmania. So I took a ferry ( Spirit of Tasmania ) leaving TAS, and we met at Port of St.Kilda, using her car as our main transport for this road trip.

Melbourne is The Best Point to Start Australia Road Trip 4 Weeks Itinerary

As mentioned in the previous paragraph, Melbourne is an ideal starting point. Here’s why:

First, this’s my experience; why to start from Melbourne that, I recommend it because it’s a convenient city you that can get any accessories, gear, arrange your luggage & load some foods from specific retail stores just like pasta, Chinese food, and Indian food ingredients (I knew there are many Asians stay in Melbourne even other big cities in Australia)

Good For Airport & Ferry Landing for You

Also, Melbourne is a “transfer point” linking eastern & north states. So Western can head to Adelaide, Perth & Uluru, North head to Canberra, Sydney & Brisbane, etc.

There’s TuThere’sne International Airport which is near Melbourne City. At the same time, you arrive as your trip starts, so you can come by airplane, take a bus to the city center even if you don’t want to drive.

Overall, I recommend Melbourne City as your starting point for an Australia road trip, no matter how many days you are.

Are you ready? Let’s start the 4-week Australia road trip!!

Week1 – Melbourne to Alice Springs

The trip starts from Melbourne, through Adelaide and Uluru, and heads north to Alice Springs, the center of Australia’s mainland. But, first, you need to complete Melbourne to Adelaide.

Melbourne to Alice Springs drive route map Australia

In my driving experience, you need at least two days to complete Melbourne to Adelaide.

As I said, Melbourne City is where you can prepare for it; first, the most important thing is to buy food and fill it up. The next half is not convenient. You can also take a city tour in the Melbourne city center for one or two days before you go.

As for Adelaide, I regard it as a final resting point so that the city tour will add to the end of the self-driving journey.

So get started from Melbourne, leave Mel city. Like escape from the city to the countryside, you will see many natural attractions filling your drive route.

My partner and I will move forward on this trip by the number of days I have performed.

About Melbourne to Adelaide, to get the whole trip planner, Click Here for this route overview, and I will take you to review each part of the drive trip route in more detail.

Then, the next part is Adelaide to the inland of Australia.

Adelaide to Darwin is a long driving journey, more than 3,000 kilometers away.

I know that doesn’t matter for many tourists. However, this means you must have the ability to drive for a long time, testing your body’s strength, patience, and willpower, and ultimately overcome dozing & boredom.

Better you need at least 9-10 days to complete the part journey. But in this part, I divided this route into two parts: Adelaide to Alice Springs and Alice Springs to Darwin for the next week’s trip series.

By the way, I’m an experienced driver who can drive for more than 5 hours without rest. So the next journey is for reference only. You don’t need to completely imitate my route, including the arrival of overnight points, which will be tiring if you try.

To get the whole trip planner from Adelaide to Darwin, Click Here for this route overview.

You got two parts of route reviews, and now, let’s starlet’s1 to day7 drive trip!

Day 1 – Melbourne to Warrnambool through Great Ocean Road

Route Navigation from Melbourne to Warrnambool

Estimated driving time: 4 hr 50 min
Estimated distance: 345 km

Check this route on Google Map>>

Place Passed:

As this route, you will cross these places:

Geelong – A big town near Melbourne where you can load food, get a toilet, get some water & let’s move to Memorial Arch at Eastern View – This’s a point where you can see the “The Great”Ocean Road” sign; st”p here & get a photo before moving. Also, popular attractions worth controlling & see the ocean, notice many people & group tours stopped there so be aware of your speed.
Lorne – This’s a bThis’sul bay where many people surf & enjoy the sun at Lorne Beach; you can stop here & load food at a restaurant. After that, turn to C151 Highway and head to Twelve Apostles, as seen on my Google Map route. You will be turning too many different roads for at least an hour, so stay focused and drive.
Twelve Apostles – Main attraction must go is Great Ocean Road, a popular and beautiful place to see these giant rocks!
Loch Arch Gorge – A beautiful bay with a white sand beach can enjoy this realistic view, but a bit cold for this water.
Warrnambool – A great town you can stay for surfing, but we go shopping at Coles supermarket & break at a hostel. The hostel is good, especially Warrnambool Beach Backpackers . This backpackers is the nearby beach you can have a beach walk & enjoy the surf wind. Cars can park at the rear of the building. Click Here to find more accommodation in Warrnambool.

Our Experience:

On the first day, I strongly recommend a trip to the Great Ocean Road, where there are spectacular coastal scenery, several huge rocks standing on the sea. The natural landscape formed by the erosion of the sea breeze is not artificial; so beautiful. Also, I’ve been to Great Ocean Road twice (my travel partner had three times!).

One time was there was in May 2017 & the other in March 2018. This second, I just only visited “ Loch Ard Gorge .” I ignored” Twelve Apostles because I didn’t get it last time, and many tour groups stopped there, especially the Twelve Apostles! So you know it’s a popular place that most people would like to be.

When you leave Melbourne, along A1 Highway, then transfer to Geelong to The Great Ocean Road, you can visit these popular attractions, “Twelve Apostles.”

How to plan the trip on the Great Ocean Road? More 11 Highlights for you >> Read More .

After tripping along Great Ocean Road, I suggest you stay a night in Warrnambool. It’s the nearest town & on the way direct also there are several hotels & backpackers. So Melbourne to Warrnambool is just a 1-day tour from daytime to evening!

Day 2 – Warrnambool to Adelaide

The Art Gallery of South Australia SA Australia

Route Navigation from Warrnambool to Adelaide

Estimated driving time: 7 hr 03 min
Estimated distance: 609 km
Penola – Just a small town, a point turn is heading north.
Naracoorte – Small town where we had a lunchbox by self-prepared at the park. By the way, don’t forget to prepare your lunch because it’s expensive at restaurants. Along the way, you will see many extensive vineyards. For backpackers, Naracoorte & Penola has the opportunity to find a job in the vineyard.
Keith – A point turn to the major highway to Adelaide; I suggest you fill the fuel here because you will drive the longest road for several hours.
Murray Bridge – A medium town, you can load some food & get a toilet. Also, some places you can see recommend the bridge view on Murray Bridge.
Hahndorf – It’s a German-style town Close to Adelaide City where you can stop here for a walk and enjoy the pig legs meal & beer. It’s a good place you can stay overnight. Click here looking for accommodation>>
Adelaide – It’s a major city in South Australia, so many Gothic architectures in the city center but we will leave soon tomorrow so keep the city tour in the end. Click here looking for accommodation>>

Left Warrnambool, if you check your Google Map, Google will show you the shortest route from Warrnambool to Penola. And then Naracoorte, Keith (link on A1 highway), Murray Bridge, Hahndorf, Adelaide. So initial driving from Melbourne to Adelaide must through 800km takes over 8 hrs!

Suppose you don’t have time to drive one more day to rest and stay in Adelaide for one night. But Warrnambool to Adelaide is just 6.5 hrs driving 604 km, so only a 1-day approach, including yesterday’s Road tour, two days in total.

But this is just the beginning of the trip. I didn’t take the tour in Adelaide; instead, I headed north. If you want to take time in Adelaide, leave at least one more day for this beautiful “Germany style” city.

Wh”re Do We Stay?

We forgot to say that to get closer to the driving distance with Uluru, and we did not spend the night in Adelaide. However, we later found accommodation in Clare , a small town on the B82 highway in the north of Adelaide city; I put this accommodation link in Clare if you need it.

Day 3 – Adelaide to Coober Pedy

Route Navigation from Adelaide to Coober Pedy

Estimated driving time: 9 hr 23 min
Estimated distance: 876 km
Clare – It’s a small town where we stayed for a night; if your plan is the same as us, put this as a start point on your map.
Port Augusta – It’s a critical stop point where you must have done all Preparation like fuel fill-up, download map & food loading.
Pimba – It’s a small town where you can stop here to have lunch & fuel reload.
Lake Hart – Amazing attraction with flat white salt filling this lake, but no water while we arrived in burn weather, don’t walk foot. Here you will see some car wrecks. I don’t know if someone would try to drive into this lake.
Glendambo – A tiny town you can stop to take a break & fuel reload. Also, the last village before Coober Pedy makes sure you are already full of energy before you leave.
Coober Pedy – A full opal underground town worth being! You can visit the underground museum to learn how those residents live here for a lifetime. Respect their culture & do not take anything opal stones away. Click Here looking for accommodation in Coober Pedy>>

Left Adelaide (We left from Clare), then passed Port Augusta & headed north first. So we shall give to the central and get those unforgettable attractions in the center of Australia.

When you arrive in Port Augusta, I highly recommend that you do everything here:

Fill up fuel.
Buy food and water.
Go to the toilet.
Download offline Google Maps.

Why? Focus on fuel prices. It will significantly affect your distance and budget. Fuel prices will rise after you leave Port Augusta. This stuff in the inland areas is epic high, so I recommend filling up the fuel at each stop.

Something You Need To Notice Before Inland

Another thing is that your mobile will lose all signals. At the same time, on the way inland, you have to download the route from Google Map to ensure the navigation is working.

Don’t buy a mosquito tent for your face to prevent many flies from hitting your face.

In our experience, we saw AUD$139/L at Port Augusta but AUD$159/L at Pimba. This price only demonstrates the first small town entering the inland region; a “welcome gift” surprises us.

Port Augusta connects the road to Coober Pedy as a relay point, and the other side leads to Perth. So it is a critical supply point you must grasp. By the way, this is also your last chance to eat Hungry Jacks if you like it.

After several hours of driving, finally, we arrived at Coober Pedy, a place full of opals.

Coober Pedy, where structures are in the protein rock, is a unique underground town!

At this route, at least drive 9 hrs from Adelaide to Coober Pedy; there’s other & unsealed ground, but still have some places worth being. Of course, you have to experience staying in underground accommodation!

Where Do We Stay?

It was almost five o’clock evening when we arrived here, so we could not enter the opal museum. Instead, we had to go to Uluru the next day; we only used to explore the town in one or two hours and went to the Radeka Downunder Underground Motel , which was cheap.

You can use its kitchen for cooking for tomorrow, and rooms are underground via their stairs, and the opal is at your bedside.

Suppose you are driving a camper van on this trip. In that case, I suggest you get off and experience opal underground accommodation and enjoy the incredible feeling.

Click Here to search for accommodation in Coober Pedy>>

Day 4 – Coober Pedy to Kings Canyon

Route Navigation from Coober Pedy to Kings Canyon

Estimated driving time: 7 hr 53 min
Estimated distance: 764 km
Marla – A small town where you better stop, fill fuel & take a break. Notice this can only be one town on the road.
SA/NT Border – After several hours of driving, SA/NT Border will see this sign “Welcome t” Northern Territory.” Get off ” take a photo as your mark, signed.
Ghan – This is a critical stopping point. Whether going to Kings Canyon or Uluru, you must pass through this petrol station and turn left; recommended that you fill up the fuel here because it will cost more to go inside. The distance is very long, and you can take a break here, drink water, eat lunch, and go to the toilet.
Red Centre Way – This is just a sign to remind you that you have to make a right turn towards Kings Canyon, and there is a long way to get to the final Kings Canyon.
Kings Canyon Resort – This is the only stopping point near Kings Canyon. It is not only the caravan park site but also the rooms, open-air kitchen that lets you cook, public baths, swimming pools, and many flies that hit your face. Before arriving here, you will first see the millennial rocky terrain stretching along the roadside, vast and spectacular. Highly recommended that you book early based on your travel time to avoid no seats. We were lucky, and the parking site allowed us to park overnight. Click Here for more detail>>

You have heard the Uluru but maybe not listened to the Kings Canyon. Consider our route & budget; go for Kings Canyon first because these two places are very far apart. I also strongly recommend that you do this, as it helps you shorten your driving time. Since you are going to Uluru, don’t miss Canyon, Uluru is the next day.

Left Coober Pedy headed to Kings Canyon first. It’s a very long-distance driving journey, which also tests patience. You must exercise patience to the extreme, and your butt sits in the driver’s seat for a long time, and your eyes should focus on the front. Also, don’t fall asleep.

Along the way, there is no mobile signal. Make sure you have downloaded the offline version of Google Map about this route.

Kings Canyon is a spectacular attraction, but it is also the farthest because one must drive a whole day and at least one night stays near Kings Canyon.

Day 5 – Kings Canyon to Uluru, stay in Yulara

Route Navigation from Kings Canyon to Yulara

Estimated driving time: 3 hr 52 min
Kings Canyon Walk – Witness this vast canyon, don’t miss it! It’s fantastic and worth it!
Mount Connor Lookout – It’s a huge rock that looks a lot like Uluru. Some people call it fake Uluru directly, and it stands far away and cannot reach it. In addition, there is a ramp behind this lookout. You can see a giant sea salt lake when you walk up, but you can’t approach it.
Curtin Springs – This is a halfway relay point and the only petrol station on the midway. It was expensive, but you can only accept it.
Area De Descanso – It’s a rest area found on the road; if you feel tired, you can rest here for a bit of rest.
Yulara – This is the only small town near Ayers Rock. Most of the accommodation here. There is also a small square with restaurants and an IGA supermarket. What impressed me most was that the toast was in the refrigerator. You can choose your favorite accommodation here. Considering your budget, we suggest you stay at Ayers Rock Campground .
Uluru Entry Path – You will encounter this outpost before heading to Ayers Rock. You must buy tickets to enter. We chose AUD 25 / person for a three days pass.
Kuniya Car Park – It’s a place that lets you park the car and walk into the Ayers Rock for a small natural lake, a unique attraction.
Uluru Sunrise Viewing Area – A viewpoint lets you see the sunrise. Although they recommend you go there in the morning, you can sit here for a great sunset view, what a beautiful light.

Before you leave Kings Canyon Resort, you have to fill up the fuel; that’s another petrol station, despite the terrible price of AUD$202/L in our experience.

Tour Kings Canyon from morning to noon, prepare your water, wearing hiking shoes. There’s noThere’shere, so apply sunscreen and bring an umbrella. If you want to get the Walk Track about Kings Canyon in advance, Click Here to get the map.

About Rim Walk trails, you only need to pick one of them. If you have enough time, you can try to take the north walk and get a chance to see a small lake. But considering our travel time, we decided to choose the south walk. Both trails can see this vast canyon. There is no protective equipment here, and you should never get too close to the cliff.

After we finished Kings Canyon, it was about 10 am, and we headed to Uluru through the authentic way. From Kings Canyon to Uluru is a long moving distance; when you look at Google Maps, you will find that it will take at least half a day to move. Yulara is the only stop town near Uluru and a tourist town. Staying in this place could see Uluru straightly. You will have a mobile signal only after arriving at Yulara.

To grasp the dusk of the day in Uluru, we arrive at Yulara before 5 pm as much as possible. We will live in Ayers Rock Campground , the only caravan park. Other resorts are expensive. Click Here if you are interested. Living in Ayers Rock Campground , they can look directly at Ayers Rock (Uluru) from their viewing platform.

Then, go to Uluru before sunset, but a pass ticket requires an entry.

When you arrive at the vast Ayers Rock, you can’t wait to walk around it but believe me, and it takes more than half a day to walk alone. So it is better to drive around it. And you can park your car at Kuniya Car Park; it’s a place that lets you walk into the rock to figure out a small lake inside.

After inside, it’s time to shoot the sunset; go to Uluru Sunrise Viewing Area & enjoy the beautiful light. We had great shots in Uluru at dusk.

Day 6 – Kata-Tjuta & Uluru, stay at Yulara

Route Navigation from Uluru to Kata-Tjuta

Estimated driving time: 1 hr 34 min
Estimated distance: 121 km
Kata-Tjuta – There are two attractions worth visiting here: Valley of Winds & Mount Olga. Through the designated trails here, you will enjoy the enormous rock wall surrounding you, which replaces all the heights of the Empire State Building you know.
Kata-Tjuta Mount Olga – When you were have visited the Valley of Winds, you have to drive to the parking lot here in Mount Olga, get off and walk for a while. It is also fantastic canyon scenery; Oh, look at those TINY people far away from you.
Uluru Sunset Viewing Area – It’s another excellent place for you to enjoy the gradation of the sun setting on this Ayers Rock from the other side. Many photographers will capture these beautiful pictures here, and the gradation tone seems to be dancing. The more fantastic galaxy sky appears when the sun is completely down. In an entirely light-free field of vision, you can choose to stay here and listen to the sounds from the universe.

Initially, we were worried that we would encounter kangaroos back in Yulara. Fortunately, we were lucky that we had never experienced this way. Then take a good rest.

We also saw the Field of Light Show near Uluru this evening; this beautiful artistic beauty is worth your visit! We just happened to catch a shuttle bus to get here. But, unfortunately, they had to take their bus. So we were waiting at the Ayers Rock Campground Entry. If you are interested in this attraction, Click Here to buy tickets.

The critical part of our Australia road trip is the Ayers Rock (Uluru), not only this giant rock. But Kata-Tjuta, on the other side, is also one of the must-see attractions for this trip. These attractions are all in the same national park.

That day, we went to Kata-Tjuta for a hiking trip with high temperatures at that time, until the Valley of the Winds of Kata-Tjuta and then returned.

Note: Make sure you bring enough water by your side, drink at any time, and fill it up at their water reload station in the park.

As you can see on Google Maps to be near Uluru, this route, but when I was at Uluru, I saw Kata-Tjuta, those “big rocks” appearing in my sight. So it’s too far by an hour driving!

We Are Just Ants in Giant V

And then you have to go to Valley of the Winds by walk, which takes 1 hour, they show the electric temperature sign before entering; then you keep moving. Once over 36 degrees, don’t enter.

We were lucky to arrive there & enjoy the lovely valley, the rock wall very tall surrounding us never seen before, what really amazing!

After Kata-Tjuta, go to Uluru again to catch the sunset on another side.

Typical Sunset at Uluru

Central Australia includes Uluru (Ayers Rock), Kings Canyon, Kata-Tjuta & Yulara. What marvelous & unforgettable within a vast natural front of you; also, we heard that there’s a light show that will finish after March 2018. But it might extend, so that’s why we were to central Australia at first.

Whether there’s a light show, so we visit Uluru & Kata-Tjuta is most remarkable. You can enjoy hiking, walking on the trails around these huge rocks, and enjoying the sunset & sunrise with different views.

Click Here to look for accommodation in Yulara.

Day 7 – Yulara to Alice Springs

Road trip on the way to Alice Springs NT Australia

Route Navigation from Yulara to Alice Springs

Estimated driving time: 4 hr 41 min
Estimated distance: 447 km
Curtin Springs – A petrol station lets you fill up, but I recommend reloading at Yulara.
Ghan (Erldunda Roadhouse) – A stopping point you have visited, now stop there again & don’t forget to fill your fuel up.
Alice Springs – I call it an oasis in the desert. The only town with the largest in the center. There are supermarkets to get you more food and water, and there are many attractions worth visiting. However, we considered the time at that time, only stayed here for one night, and then continued to move north the next day. Click Here to look for accommodation in Alice Springs.

After the Uluru trip, we drove back on the same way to Ghan, then turned north to Alice Springs.

Let me talk about another thing, and if you are participating in a tour group, the trip will arrive at Alice Springs. So if you are a short-term traveler with a car rental, I suggest you drop the car at Alice Springs. It’s close to the limit for most tourists from Melbourne or Adelaide; renting a car can run for nearly 3,000 kilometers. So it should be OK to finish at Alice Springs.

Then, driving with patience to this town in central Australia. Click Here to look for accommodation in Alice Springs.

Week 2 – Alice Springs to Broome

Alice Springs to Darwin to Broome drive route map Australia

From the center of Australia to the northern and western, it’s another 3,000 km drive trip. There’s noThere’sway or things to stop you; all you need to do is move forward and control your steering wheel.

From Alice Springs to Darwin, you couldn’t take one day; that’s a far away! Some places worth stayover for you, details in the below section, or you can read another route review article from Adelaide to Darwin.

Click Here for this route review from Adelaide to Darwin to get the full details.

From Darwin to Broome, stayed through Timber Creek , beyond the Border of WA , and stayed one night in Fitzroy Crossing (Halls Creek is better for you). This route will take at least three days, two nights driving, and finally reach the beautiful seaside of Broome!

Click Here for this route review from Darwin to Broome to make sense.

Day 8 – Alice Springs to Pamayu

Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve NT Australia

Route Navigation from Alice Springs to Pamayu

Estimated driving time: 6 hr 46 min
Estimated distance: 673 km
Ti Tree – A small town where you take a break, fuel, fill up & have lunch.
Wycliffe Well Holiday Park – It’s an incredible place combining alien themes and seeing Aliens in Aliens’ art and flying saucer graffiti. We refilled here and visited their shops. They sold some dolls and masks on the piece of aliens, which seemed like a Halloween idea. However, the store posted some news reports, mentioning that there have been alien landings here and some photos. I don’t get the news; maybe just a gimmick.
Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve – There are a lot of weird rocks stacked here. It is full of unique places, and you can take photos after passing by.
Tennant Creek – A small town you can take a break from here.
Warumungu – This’s a mThis’soint but very important. The road to Cairns is connected here, and the further north, you will reach Darwin. So, if you want to go from Cairns to Darwin, this town is a must, and of course, you can stay here overnight.
Pamayu – It’s a small town that we decided to stay here in suddenly. Here you can fill fuel, have meals & take a break. After comparing Elliot and Warumungu, Pamayu was our final decision because this camping area is a relatively high rate. Click Here for detail.

On this day, we continued to hurry, but we did not forget to look for beautiful spots; we found a few in the middle. So please take a look at our route.

We continued to hurry on this day’s route. We did not forget to look for beautiful spots; we found a few in the middle. Please take a look at our route.

Initially, we wanted to stay in Warumungu, but suddenly in Pamayu. It’s OK; tIt’scan is flexible. A friend told me to DO NOT stay in Elliot’s cElliot’srea. It was terrible there. It was full of mosquitoes and toads at night.

Day 9 – Pamayu to Katherine

Route Navigation from Pamayu to Katherine

Estimated driving time: 5 hr 34 min
Estimated distance: 539 km
Daly Waters – This is a small village just after Elliot. There is a cool bar. When we went in, we saw a lot of lingerie hanging on the bar. There are many banknotes, antiques and metal parts collections, and traffic warning lights outside the bar! So many exciting things here. Maybe those customers accidentally left their stuff here.
Mataranka – This town is also an excellent place to stop for lunch. The Caravan park is also full of quality, but we didn’t stay overnight here. Click Here looking for accommodation.
Mataranka Thermal Pool & Rainbow Springs – Just when we thought this was the only place where we didn’t expect to find Rainbow Swim Pool not far away from the map. It is an apparent natural swimming pool with clean water. When the sun shines on this pool surface, it will reflect a rainbow, which is very beautiful! We just need this kind of place to relax the tight body. So jump!
Katherine – It is a big town not far from Darwin. If you are going to Western Australia, you must pass here to get more food and water and several petrol stations. Click Here looking for accommodation.

After these few days of driving, we have not had good enough sleeping quality. Besides that, we almost slept in the car. So even though I’m easy fall into a deep sleep, I’m still kenned by mosquitoes sometimes.

Today, we finally arrived in this big town, Katherine; it’s essential for us because only one way is to turn to Western Australia here. So we continuously headed north to Darwin in our Australia road trip experience, broke a few days, and headed west to WA. There are also several best attractions worth visiting, like Katherine Gorge in Nitmiluk National Park.

But on this day, we have to rest first, so we arrange some attractions the next day.

Day 10 – Katherine to Darwin

Katherine Gorge in Nitmiluk National Park NT Australia

Route Navigation from Katherine to Darwin

Estimated driving time: 4 hr 43 min
Estimated distance: 431 km
Katherine Gorge – It’s a spectacular checkerboard wall, but my friend said it was more like a stack of bricks. What do you think?
Spectacular Jumping Crocodile Cruise – Crocodile feeding show here! Buy a ticket, sit on the tour boat & enjoy the Meat Bites Show!
Darwin City – The northernmost city is in Australia, with many resort hotels, shopping malls, and retail stores. We are here for car maintenance, shopping for food, laundry, fueling, and a few drinks. Don’t forget to eat fish & ships that have not to eaten for a long time.

Before we arrived in Darwin, we visited Katherine Gorge, located in Nitmiluk National Park. What a spectacular rocky landscape; it must take their guided boat. In addition, you can walk their trails to enjoy different views along this river and waterfalls hidden in the valley.

But if you want to do it all, it will take several days, so we only do the tour boat tour, and then we see a rock wall that looks like a chessboard. Since there are no trails to get here, you must buy tickets at the visitor center. Click Here for more detail.

My partner took this picture; he just walked along the trail to shoot, not join me on a boat tour.

There are several national parks near Katherine; Kakadu is another typical but too large area, so we arrange it for another day. Today, we just enjoyed Katherine Gorge, then headed to Darwin.

Saw Crocodile? Feed it Now!

We will arrive in Darwin soon; add another tour before entering the city – The Crocodile Feeding Show!

I found that swamp-like terrain on roadsides feels like flooding. Plus, I thought about crocodiles. Would those crocodiles come out of the woods? But, of course, we didn’t have this kind of accident at all, and don’t let it happen!

Closer to home, we went to Spectacular Jumping Crocodile Cruise; we had to buy tickets and board their sightseeing boat. The staff held fishing rods and a few pieces of raw meat. Soon after the ship was sailing on the river, several crocodiles swam over.

The crocodile rushed out of the water to bite the piece of raw meat, just like a guy hungry for several days. It was fascinating to watch the crocodile burst out of the water. This itinerary is dangerous, so you must consider it for short-distance tourists and stay with you if you have children.

Click Here for more detail about this cruise tour.

Finally, we arrived in Darwin! 1/3 trip has finished! Now it’s time to have car maintenance & takes a break because it has reached 5,000 km away.

Well, I think there are no more splash attractions worth in Darwin Centre. Rather than a trip to Kakadu National Park & Litchfield National Park, as long as you are willing to drive there for several days.

Click Here to look for accommodation in Darwin.

Day 11 – Stay in Darwin

We stayed in Darwin for two days and two nights. The last day was moving from Katherine, one day for car service. The next day moving to Katherine, then turned to Western Australia.

It is our wagon; pick us to expand more lovely & amazing things for Australia road trips. First, of course, I need mechanic service after a ten days route of about 5000km. My friend has made an appointment for assistance before entering the city. She was brilliant, arranged many things, and just let me drive for most routes, and I appreciated my partner!

Don’t Forget to Cook at Home.

Our breakfast cooked by my partner is excellent made, simple ingredients like egg, ham, mushroom, vegetables, and a cup of tea, that’s so yummy!

Don’t ForgDon’t Wash Your Clothes!

I forgot to say that you have to find the self-service laundry in Darwin Centre cause piles of dirty clothes have already been ten days, need a wash!

Click Here for laundry in Darwin>>

And don’t forget to load enough food before you leave Darwin!

Extra Tour – Kakadu & Litchfield (Optional)

As in the previous paragraph, you have the two best itineraries during your stay in Darwin: Kakadu & Litchfield National Park .

Kakadu & Litchfield are the best choices for adding to your driving trip plan while staying in Darwin, as long as you finish the car service. Even though we didn’t go there, my friends have experience there, and they said it’s beautiful. And said it was worth enjoying the cooling river, seeing the Waterfall, and forest fulling natural for you.

Next time I will share more details about these two National Parks tours in this blog.

Even if you want to take a driving tour around Darwin, I believe you will have a good time at Litchfield & Kakadu National Parks before leaving.

Is all your car service & everything done? Now, it’s time to move to Western Australia!

Day 12 – Darwin to Timber Creek

Road trip on the way to Broome from Darwin WA Australia

Route Navigation from Darwin to Timber Creek

Estimated driving time: 6 hr 9 min
Estimated distance: 607 km
Katherine – Same place we belong but stay for lunch, rest, then turn to Timber Creek. Only this place can be your rest point for fuel, food loading & others. Remember always to keep your car full of petrol.
Timber Creek – Why choose this place for a night? By your estimate driving time is 6 hours and there’s another town than town instead so it’s the best choice for you. You can stay at Wirib Store & Tourism Park within fulling facilities like BBQ, swim pool, motel room, or parking site. Warning: Beware crocodiles & aboriginal, don’t let kids along near the forest.

With car service by changing oils, parts, & other accessories, our car is now ready for WA!

On Day 12, it was time we left Darwin in the morning, had lunch at Katherine, and loaded some food at Woolworths supermarket. Before we go, Katherine, attractive in Katherine Hot Springs, wants to have a look, not soak. Unfortunately, it was under construction while we arrived, so we left and kept moving.

We were on the Victoria Highway to WA; it’s the only way heading to Western. We almost arrived at Timber Creek after the whole day of driving. It’s lovely they provide a motel room with two single beds, BBQ equipment, and a clean public shower room at Wirib Store & Tourism Park . Just pay $35 per person for one night. But beware, crocodiles probably appear because they park near the river. So we didn’t swim in the pool, keep it till Broome.

Day 13 – Timber Creek to Halls Creek

Route Navigation from Timber Creek to Halls Creek

Estimated driving time: 10 hr 36 min (Time Zone will be changed after across the border)
Estimated distance: 796 km
DAFWA Kununurra Checkpoint Charlie – This’s an essential place before you enter WA, don’t bring fruits & other dangerous items.
Kununurra – It’s the best place for backpackers. You can see some farms along the river water resource coming from Lake Argyle . There are several motels & resorts where you don’t need to worry about where to sleep.
Warmun – This’s a small town where you can take a break and have lunch. The best place is Warmun Roadhouse , where you get food & fuel.
Purnululu (Optional) – Really wild place you can visit the most famous attraction, Echidna Chasm & The Bungle Bungles . Just turn left at Old River. Once you decide to visit these points, you need one more day to stay in Purnululu.
Halls Creek – Good enough place you can stay night three caravan parks & motels you can choose. Health Service, IGA supermarket, car service, etc., is a medium town with many people.
Fitzroy Crossing (Optional) – We stayed here cause the Time Zone changed; for two more hours, we arrived at about 17:00. Tanunda Caravan Park is our rest point where we had bbq and saw some backpackers living in their motel rooms. Or you can try Fitzroy Worker’s C Worker’s elf-catering area.

Before entering Western Australia, you must ensure that you shouldn’t bring fruits and vegetables. Police found these veggies from our car, and they required must to take them off by their policy. So finally, they will throw them away; fortunately, no fines on us, sorry about that.

They want to make sure that diseases without fruits and vegetables affect the agricultural environment in Western Australia.

After we took off the fruits, we passed the Checkpoint.

Western Australia it’s now wilderness for Australia road trips. However, there are still some attractions worth visiting, like Purnululu National Park & others. You can read this article which talks about this attraction & guide. >> Read More .

Time Zone will be changing.

After crossing the border, you got two more hrs for driving extended sunset.

For most attractions in Western Australia, you can try to camp in the wild. However, as long as you have enough food, water, and fuel, make sure your car already does mechanical maintenance. In the above link, you will read about three wild tourist attractions near Purnululu. Or, you can head to Halls Creek if you consider the budget and time. It’s a smaIt’sown with a caravan park & motel where you can stay at night.

We choose to keep moving forward, heading to Fitzroy Crossing for a stay, so today, we have a full day driving within 10 hours. We stayed at Tanunda Caravan Park , which has accessible facilities like a public shower room & toilet and self outdoor kitchen. Still, the broken toaster, using ours instead, and we had BBQ meat which I bought from IGA, just a tiny pack.

Also, we met some Chinese friends working in this town, staff in IGA with good money, and living in this park’s motel. And there’s an adorable kitty around us. So we had a good time at night.

Day 14 – Halls Creek to Broome

Route Navigation from Halls Creek to Broome

Estimated driving time: 7 hr 0 min
Estimated distance: 686 km
Fitzroy Crossing – We were here for one night at Tanunda Caravan Park. If you come from Halls Creek, stay here and take a break, loading food at IGA.
Willare (Optional) – There’s a There’s Bridge Roadhouse & Caravan Park you can take a rest, load food & fuel, just an option.
Broome/Kimberley – This’s a bThis’sn. After three days of moving, you can stay here, take a break, and enjoy water chilling at the resort. We went to Kimberley Klub YHA. Unfortunately, it’s now permanently closed. Got Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa instead of a 5-stars hotel, or you can choose other better hotels in Broome .
Horizontal Waterfall (Optional) – This is an isolated place where there’s no way we could arrive. On a special tour, they pick you up by light aircraft & yacht; of course, you can buy their photos taken by a drone. It’s beautiful, but it’s a costly tour, AUD 800 for each person. Just my partner went, and I stayed in Broome. Click here to see this attraction. Click here for tour information.

Before we arrive at Broome, there are several towns near us, Fitzroy Crossing (We already passed), Derby, and Willare.

Derby is a medium town close to the seaside, but it’s not fit our route plan differently. So instead of a T-shaped intersection, we turn left, heading to Will are & reaching Broome.

I asked my partner if you booked the tour for Horizontal Waterfall? “Yes, I can’t wait!” She said,” She called me to hurry to Broome cause I already booked a half-day tour for it; we were moving & hit the top speed forward. So finally, we arrived in Broome just 4 hours before lunchtime.

Broome is a fantastic town producing pearls; that’s amathat’sWe visited some jewelry stores that sell most pearl rings, pearl necklaces, earrings, etc. And we saw many backpackers here for a working holiday.

They work at local restaurants, bars & hostels, even some people who are construction workers. It’s a great place that lets people chill, relax, and enjoy the vacation at the beach & resort.

Exploring Epic Falls in Australia Road Trip

We stayed in Broome for one day, and you can book a tour for seeing Horizontal Waterfall for half-day if you like. A fantastic time & attraction that you have never seen before, only in Broome, worth being. But I didn’t go with my partner because of my limited budget; she’s rich than me.

The horizontal Waterfall is a complete natural attraction without any development, so many islands around there. No route when you try to navigate. So if you want to see this attraction, booking a tour is the best choice.

This pic is one angle view taken from the yacht while passing the Horizontal Waterfall. If you type and search on Google Map, just show the “Horizontal” Waterfall tour booking” in Broom,” but the reallocation is here .

I went to see the dinosaur footprints close to the coast during her waterfall tour in the afternoon. It’s not easy to move here because of the rugged rocky terrain; careful with your legs.

The spotlight in Broome Night

Another particular highlight in Broome is the “ Moon Stair. ” Its moonlight reflects on the ocean and looks like a staircase on the sea, but it happens with a full moon rising between March and early November. You have to stay near Roebuck Bay in clear weather with flat tide time. If you are interested in it, Click Here for tide info. We weren’t lucky on the best date for full-moonlight rising (even flat tides on that day), so we gave it up. Click Here for a full moon rising time in Broome.

What a whole day is staying in Kimberley Broome; we had a good time. After chilling but fun-fill in Broome, it’s time to sleep and move forward.

Week 3 – Broome to Perth

Broome to Perth road trip drive route map Australia

This Broome Perth drive route is typical for most people because you can visit many beautiful attractions. Almost long driving until arriving at Perth makes you tired but enjoys all-natural.

To get the complete route review about Broome to Perth, Click Here for this route overview.

Day 15 – Broome to Karratha

Route Navigation from Broome to Karratha

Estimated driving time: 8 hr 48 min
Estimated distance: 846 km
Port Hedland – Great big town along the seaside after Broome, you can take a break, have lunch, load food, have toilet & filling fuel.
Roebourne (Optional) – It’s a small town that lets you retake rest, an optional stopping point considering if you don’t have enough hours.
Karratha – Why choose here as our stay night point? It’s a medIt’stown, a shopping mall & many restaurants, petrol stations here, and we decided Karratha Backpackers for one night at the lowest price.

After chilling in Broome, it’s time to go. We filled fuel at Roebuck Plains Roadhouse, it’s a place at a T-shaped intersection, turning south to Port Hedland. You have to keep moving cause there’s no petrol station before Port Hedland, don’t stop if you are through 8 Miles Beach, up to you, you are now on the way to flat vast sight ground sometimes, you will see stagnant water coming in from the roadside, nothing else here so, keep moving.

Filling your fuel once you arrive at Port Hedland, leaving lunch here, taking a short break, do not stay too much longer cause we need to move.

Why Karijini Doesn’t inDoesn’tustralia Road Trip Plan? It’s So BeIt’sful Why Don’t You Go?

“Hey bro, why don’t you go to Karijini ? It’s the best attraction you should be!” One of my friends talked to me, but we are on a limited budget for the trip. So if we head to Karijini, we need 2-3 days including driving & accommodation for it, even though that Waterfall looks so lovely! So many friends strongly recommend Karijini to me, now recommend to you, you can arrange this part route, the route will be like this .

It’s an 18 hrs drive route, longer than our 9 hrs route to Carnarvon, so that’s why we went to Karratha instead of Karijini. 2-3 days need you to consider if you have enough trip budget.

After Port Hedland, we arrived at Karratha. It’s a reaIt’slong way of driving, testing your body energy & focusing.

Day 16 – Karratha to Billabong WA

Carnarvon Space and Technology Museum WA Australia

Route Navigation from Karratha to Billabong WA

Estimated driving time: 9 hr 11 min
Estimated distance: 886 km
Minilya – A rest point lets you take a break, have lunch, and fill fuel after driving for at least 4-5 hours.
Carnarvon – A medium town that is great for backpackers because there are several orchards around, close to the seaside
Gladstone scenic lookout – A special place on the hill, many stuff piles here which people left as a memorized sign checked-in, attractive, but a bit strong wind so be careful standing.
Billabong WA – It’s a roaIt’se rest point, convenient for caravan vans shortly to stay, a roadhouse, and a caravan park here. We stayed at Billabong Roadhouse .

Stay one night in Karratha and then drive through Carnarvon, heading south. As you follow this route that I suggested yesterday, it will miss Karijini National Park’s morPark’sral attractions. However, if you have enough budget, you can turn to Karijini.

This day trip is another long drive without attractions. Take a break, have lunch at Minilya and keep moving until Carnarvon. And we saw a radar (OTC Tracking Station) & rocket at’s NASA and Technology Museum at the roadside. That’s incredible; I guess this town is a space technology research base for NASA. Still, there’s no shuttle launch pad, in my impression. We just take photos, not go in, and keep moving. Click Here for the official website if you are interested.

Carnarvon is not in our point of stay at night, just moving, and saw a special Gladstone scenic lookout at the highway roadside. It’s on a hill; the pile of personal stuff here seems like a memorial sign that many people have.

Besides this stuff, we were in the afternoon sunset, with a bit strong windy keep moving, stayed one night in Billabong Roadhouse . It’s just at the roadside for stay & we filled fuel after almost 9 hrs driving.

Why choose Billabong as our point of stay night? As the route map mentioned, we try to move to Perth quickly on a limited budget, ignoring some beautiful places near Shark Bay. That’s close to the west point of Australia’s mainland. But it’s another 4WD adventure worth touching.

Extra Places List You May Try:

Here’s an Here’splace list that we miss but you can arrange; even you are not the 4WD vehicle, consider adding it to your Australia road trip plan:

Exmouth – A stunning beach & you can dive with whales. You have to turn to Minilya-Exmouth Rd. before Minilya.
Coral Bay – Another beautiful bay you can stay chill before arriving at Exmouth; it’s a small town close to the seaside on the roadside of Minilya-Exmouth Rd.
Denham – Stunning beach and sunshine worth enjoying; just turn to Shark Bay Rd. at Hamelin Pool, then drive about one hour.
Monkey Mia – Another beautiful beach you can see many dolphins come to you, really fun-fill worth to be.

Top Popular Attractions List You Should be. >> Read More

Day 17 – Billabong WA to Geraldton

Route Navigation from Billabong, WA to Geraldton

Estimated driving time: 5 hr 26 min
Estimated distance: 446 km
Nature’s WNature’salbarri National Park) – It’s a stunning attraction that you cannot miss! A natural-shaped place located in the center of the river canyon. You have to buy a ticket to enter Kalbarri National Park, park your car, then have a walk there. And there are several attractions close to the seaside around Kalbarri, and you need a drive for them.
Principality of Hutt River (Nain, Optional) – This’s an ordinary & historical place. It looks like a village but a self-declared principality. We were lucky to see the King. Leonard passed in 2019 and dissolved on 3 August 2020. So it’s now bit’s a place named “Nain” search on Google Maps.
Hutt Lagoon – A sizeable pink lake near us; stay and have a look.
Geraldton – This’s a mThis’stown where you can stay at night, load food, and fill fuel.

Keep moving from Billabong through Kalbarri; it’s a pretty splash experience in the Western. We’ve beenWe’veature’s WNature’s Kalbarri National Park, Principality of Hutt River (Nain), Hutt Lagoon pink lake, stay a night in Geraldton.

For this beautiful attraction in this photo, that’s why do we move quickly from the northwest. This point is just in the middle riverside canyon in the Kalbarri National Park, naturally shaped and looks like a window. You must pay the entry ticket of AUD 6, park your car, and to this point, walking trails.

Don’t forget to bring your water & face tent, still many flies around you! When you walk around feels like at King Canyon, a bit blurry but windy. So many tourist groups come here so be careful, and finally, you can see that stunning window. “It looks like many cookie piles,” My partner said, “Similar, but it let me imagine chocolate pie piles.”

The newest point, Kalbarri Skywalk , is another way you can try, but we didn’t go there. It’s similar to King Canyon; go for it if you are interested.

After we left Kalbarri National Park, we visited some points. A town called Kalbarri nearby, close to the coast, looks beautiful.

Best Coast Attractions near Kalbarri:

Here’s a lHere’song the coast which natural-shaped rock plates piles with blue ocean, add to your Australia road trip plan:

Pelican Feeding Point Kalbarri – This’s a feeding show at Kalbarri town beach but not feeding every day.
Jakes Point
Red Bluff Lookout
Mushroom Rock
Rainbow Valley
Eagle Gorge Lookout
Island Rock
Kalbarri Castle Cove
Natural Bridge Kalbarri

Just choose one or two for a visit; you don’t need to visit all; hold your time.

Nain (Principality of Hutt River) – A Past Country Surprising Us

After these points are shortly visited, we turn to the interior unsealed road heading to Principality of Hutt River, located at Nain if you search on Google Maps. My partner didn’t understand why I drove here. She feels a bit bored, and it just looks like a village with some houses, buildings, and a vast farm.

However, she became interested after reading some knowledge about the country’s establishment at their center. They have an “official teller” for entry and exit stamps on my passport. What a formal entry this country respected.

Best wishes to King. Prince Leonard! (We met him in 2018 while he was 92 years old)

It’s Now JIt’s”Nain”

2020 Updated: The King dissolved this country on 3 August 2020. Leonard passed away in Feb. 2019. So now this place has left the “Nain” search on Google Map. So this place seems like a village that you can choose to add or not, optional.

We took some photos at Hutt Lagoon, a pink lake, the biggest pink lake in Australia we saw; after that, we kept moving.

Staying at Geraldton, it’s a time to have dinner, fill the fuel, and go shopping. Coles, Woolworths there that you can get much more food no need worry hungry.

We stayed at Geraldton Belair Gardens Caravan Park ; there are several caravan parks around this town, all you can consider.

Day 18 – Geraldton to Perth

Route Navigation from Geraldton to Perth

Estimated driving time: 5 hr 18 min
Estimated distance: 448 km
Port Denison (Optional) – A port place where you can take a break and enjoy the excellent seafood.
Leeman (Optional) – It’s a small town, and many caravans stay here for much fresh seafood.
Jurien Bay – It’s a beautiful beach that chills you, and you can stay here for lunch and enjoy your fish & chips takeaway.
Cervantes (Optional) – Another rest point you can take a break.
The Pinnacles Desert (Nambung National Park) – It’s an incredible natural attraction where you can see many natural stone pillars. You need to drive in, park, and then get off and walk to touch these rocks.
Sandboarding (Lancelin) – it’s another full-sand attraction where you can take sandboard surfing, rent a board & enjoy the whole white sand place! But be aware of your car parking. Don’t let Don’tick in the sand. (Our experience, lol)
Perth City – This is an epic milestone and means that we have completed 2/3 of our Australia road trip. Before entering the city, your route will be a city highway, but I suggest avoiding tolls while setting your navigation. Perth is the largest city in Western Australia, and you can buy & take the most you need. Of course, don’t forget to make an appointment car service cause the second 5,000km has reached.

From this day, there is no need for a long driving route; you can enjoy the fresh seafood in the town upon the place list. We went to Jurien Bay jetty, a white beach, and enjoyed the seafood takeaway. We have several days without taking away, so today, we have some lobsters, fish & chips, and some beers at Lobster Shack-Cervantes, WA .

Beware Your SLR

With everything fresh in our belly, now is the time to visit some good places. We went to Nambung National Park to see many pillar rocks (another style Stonehenge looks like). So get car parking, buy tickets, and enjoy photography.

One day, my friend was in WA and on a trip here with her roommates; she tried to take some photos with her SLR camera. But, unfortunately, strong sand windy broke her leg, and she felt disappointed that trip. So I just here for some pictures and sent them to her as filling up regrets. But night galaxy sky photography excepted, lol.

Filling in Whitesands!

Next, we went to Lancelin Sand Dunes to enjoy the fun of sand surfing. By renting a sandboard for AUD 20 per one, you can enjoy whole white sanding. Also, you can rent dirt bikes & ATVs, but we didn’t. We tried to leave the car parking area, and it’s a bit bad luck that the car stuck in the sand, just a little bit but success drove leave, it’s OK so never parking vehicle on to the sandy area.

When staying in the city, what’s the accommodation for low-budget travelers & backpackers?

Finally, we almost arrived at Perth closed evening at about 17:00, and it’s a long time not saw a big city & tall buildings. Our driving route was becoming a city highway through the suburbs & center. But remember, you have to avoid tolls in navigation before entering Perth.

In our experience of Australia road trips, we are not high budget, so we just made most overnight bookings like caravan parks. Seldom motels & backpackers (cheapest), no hotel, only one night in a resort (Broome).

Get Your Luxury Share Home Property

It seems like only backpackers & hotels will have only two options for staying in the city. However, considering the limited budget doesn’t spend too much in the town, and we book share rooms through Airbnb. We were lucky to get a luxury house living with one guy and his doggy.

His accommodation made us feel like a millionaire, with modern indoor decoration, high-quality texture shower room & comfortable bedrooms. We own a separate single room. He got a backyard garden with luxury decoration and statues like in Europe; what an epic accommodation! Important is, only AUD 40 per person each night!!!

We stayed in his house for three nights, really great value for money!

Click Here for Perth AirB&B>>

Day 19 – Stay in Perth, Fremantle, or ferry to Rottnest Island

Perth is a major city in Western Australia; we stayed for three nights.

Today we did a car service, and then took a city tour by public transport around the city center & Fremantle.

Another best choice is tripping on Rottnest Island.

Rottnest Island is an independent island located on the left coast of Perth. It’s reallIt’srth a visit, a chilling walk, enjoying the bike riding around the island, and just taking a ferry at Fremantle. Click Here to check the ferry time.

You can enjoy the most comfortable sea breeze and the blue waters; you can also see many adorable quokkas around you. Just find them near some trees, but DO NOT touch, hug or feed that wildlife by WA Government Animale Protect Rules .

It’s worth it sying here for a day, but we still choose to go back and forth to take a boat back to Perth in the evening. So, in short, the island is worth a one-day trip.

Day 20 – City tour in Perth City

Although I’m not interested in a city tour, there are attractions worth visiting around Perth near the Swan River. Fremantle Markets , The Roundhouse , Rainbow Sea Container , Blue Boat House , Kings Park & Botanic Garden , Bell Tower & Elizabeth Quay are worth visiting.

Today we met some friends who live in Perth for a working holiday, talking & walking in the city center. So having a Korean BBQ dinner was a perfect time for us!

Day 21 – Car Service, Food Loading & Accessories Filling

Our B&B accommodation book on the AirBnB WA Australia

That day, we stayed in Perth, got our car back, then bought some food, and a water bottle, filling the fuel. All Preparation for the next part of the Australia road trip after Perth City.

Click Here to find Woolworths supermarket>>

Click Here to find Coles supermarket>>

Week 4 – Perth to Melbourne

It’s another long week for your road trip, and the route distance is more than 3,500 km to bring you back to Melbourne. So in this week’s trip plan, I divided it into two parts: Perth to Adelaide and the second is Adelaide to Melbourne.

Perth to Melbourne drive route map Australia

Now, it’s time to move on; we left Perth and headed to more unknown places we knew, only in our car, face to face, listening to music, and keep moving.

To get the complete detail about Perth to Adelaide, Click Here for this route overview.

To get the complete detail about Adelaide to Melbourne, Click Here for this route overview.

Day 22 – Perth to Albany through Busselton

Route Navigation from Perth to Albany

Estimated driving time: 7 hr 30 min
Estimated distance: 650 km
Gnomesville is our first attraction after Perth, where a special place piles many tiny dolls & toys; here, it made me think about the Blue Elf cartoon.
Busselton Jetty – The longest jetty in Australia, you need to reach the end by taking their tour train or walking. We just take a break, have lunch then leave.
Nannup (Optional) – it’s a small town for taking a break; there are several attractions that you can add to your trip plan.
Gloucester Tree (Optional) – It’s insane because I like rock climbing. When I saw several giant trees with steel ladders & woody houses, I felt excited, but my partner didn’t like it; we just drove through and didn’t go there; you can add this to your plan.
Walpole (Optional) – It’s our stay point because it’s nighttime we were here. We stayed at Tingle All Over Budget Accommodation . There’s a scene near the backpackers if you’re there.
Albany – It’s our next town today, but it’s too far to drive for us. If you ignore attractions from Perth and head to Albany, it should be fine.

This part is a bit complex because of so many attractions around southwest Australia, but we just came across some places that are unique & remarkable after checking the map.

We went to Gnomesville. It’s a forest with so many various dolls & toys put here; it looks like a Blue Elf cartoon. My partner told me she feels scared when looking at those dolls, but I feel nothing. There are still some families that come here and take photos; kids enjoy this special place.

Then, we went to Busselton to see the longest jetty. It’s epic; it must take their train to the end, but we didn’t walk the whole jetty and keep moving to Albany. While driving through many forests, the time was close to evening, and it was against our road trip principle (No Drive At Night Time)

We didn’t hit these places, neither natural caves nor lighthouses near the west end, those we had already visited before.

We originally intended to say that we should look at the southwestern attractions. But found that if you stay in Busselton for one more night, you will have to drive to Wave Rock for a long time.

We stayed at Walpole just before Albany because it was late for us. Tingle All Over Budget Accommodation is the best & cheapest backpacker for most travelers.

Day 23 – Albany to Wave Rock

Nature's Bridge near The Gap WA Australia

Route Navigation from Albany to Wave Rock

Estimated driving time: 4 hr 17 min
Estimated distance: 382 km
The Gap – It’s a nice place, and there’s a more substantial sea wave you can feel, and you can see the giant wave under you; that’s so exciting!
Natural Bridge – This place is naturally shaped near The Gap by walking, but you cannot climb on that bridge; look.
Pingrup – A small town lets you take a break, have lunch, fill fuel and keep moving.
Lake Grace (Optional) – Another place you can take a break.
Wave Rock – It’s a stuIt’sg place, natural wave-shaped, everybody tries to set pose or climb (Never climb), worth staying here for one night. Many caravan parking companies choose here for stay.

Today we went back to the natural place; we went to The Gap & Natural Bridge in Torndirrup National Park near Albany.

There are many attractions worth visiting, like beautiful beaches around Albany. All-natural shaped for Nature’s BNature’sd The Gap, seeing the sea wave, both of which are spectacular rock formations.

After Torndirrup National Park, we headed north straight to the most classic landscape attraction, Wave Rock.

Suppose you want to drive to Wave Rock. In that case, it’s a bit far away but worth it, just through some small towns & touch wild, need to take a long time driving via inland highway in patience. This attraction makes you feel amazing when you see this most natural engraving made by God.

We stayed at Wave Rock Motel for a night; the following day, we saw a shoe tree and kept moving.

Day 24 – Wave Rock to Esperance through Ravensthorpe

Road trip on the way to Ravensthorpe WA Australia

Route Navigation from Wave Rock to Esperance

Estimated driving time: 3 hr 53 min
Lake King (Optional) – A small town that lets you take a break.
Ravensthorpe – A town that enables you to take a break & have lunch, fill fuel, and keep moving.
Esperance – This Is our destination for one more day because we want to visit some fantastic attractions. But before that, we stayed at Esperance Bay Holiday Park , an excellent caravan motel.

This route is a short distance from Wave Rock to Esperance; we keep moving, nothing special on the way, took a break and had lunch at Ravensthorpe. But the weather was not good, and we saw some flashlights in the sky far away from the flat ground; feel cooling but better than burning these days. So keep moving to our destination Esperance.

We will stay here for two nights. The best caravan motel is Esperance Bay Holiday Park , in our experience.

Day 25 – Tour in Esperance

Route Navigation around Esperance

Estimated driving time: 2 hr 7 min
Estimated distance: 153 km
Esperance Stonehenge – Like UK Stonehenge, this is artificial, a farm place we visited before Lucky Bay.
Lucky Bay – This’s fantastic for our journey today. So aqua, light blue ocean, and total white sand beach like heaven you have never seen before. We stayed here for 2-3 hours and had bbq lunch.
Twilight Cove – It’s a naturally shaped rock close to the beach with a blue ocean.
Blue Heaven – Another seaside near Twight Cove, great view.
Rotary Lookout – A platform you can see the whole coast and chill.
Pink Lake – It’s our fIt’s attraction for a day trip, unfortunately not pink color & entire lake. We just take photos for the mirror effect.

Why did we decide to stay in Esperance for the whole day? Because of this beach, Lucky Bay!

We were on the way to Lucky Bay, through Esperance Stonehenge. Unfortunately, it was closed, so keep moving until seeing this full aqua beach.

When we saw this beach, I felt extremely excited, got out of the car in the parking lot, changed swimwear, and ran to this HEAVEN!! WOOHOO~~~

Cool water under sunshine, full white sandy more than the Lancelin Sand Dunes. We took many photos, enjoyed the cooling aqua, and chilled us. Also, we saw two kangaroos appear at the beach. That’s reaThat’snny; they just walk through without any negative for us. We stayed here for several hours, having BBQ lunch, enjoying some wine, good wine with whole aqua white attractions, bravo!!

Touch More Aqua

After Lucky Bay, we went to several attractions in the afternoon, driving & visiting those whole blue places.

These attractions like Twilight Cove, Blue Heaven, Rotary Lookout, etc., along the coast. Finally, we took photos at Esperance Pink Lake in the sunset evening, just some poses with a mirror of the salt lake. Then we stayed in Esperance and finished this beautiful day.

Day 26 – Esperance to Norseman

Route Navigation from Esperance to Norseman

Estimated driving time: 6 hr 23 min
Estimated distance: 588 km
Super Pit – It’s a whole giant mining site in Kalgoorlie that we have never seen before; it’s our fit’s look at a mining site. If you want to visit there, don’t try to pass the main thru (Access denied from their door guard); turn to KCGM Super Pit Lookout and enjoy the mining site view.
Kambalda (Optional) – There’s a salt lake Lake Lefroy near this town and a nearby mining site. Still, you cannot enter, go to Red Hill Lookout and have a look if you are interested.
Norseman – This town is the first touch in this day trip, but we just drive through in the morning and back here for a night. We stayed at Bottlemart Express – Norseman Hotel .

Time to leave Esperance, head north again to Kalgoorlie. We have a special tour for a mining site visiting, just through Norseman, and keep moving. First, we went to Super Pit to view a vast mining site. It’s a fantastic site for mining, we saw several mining trucks with massive tires, but they seemed tiny in our sight; imagine how big that mining site is.

Then, we went to Kalgoorlie to see some gold & jewelry at local stores; photo takes are not allowed. It was an eye-opening sight for us. Time passed quickly, and we went back to Norseman to stay.

Day 27 – Norseman to Eucla

Route Navigation from Norseman to Eucla

Estimated driving time: 7 hr 21 min
Estimated distance: 711 km
Balladonia – It’s the farthest point for most drivers, filling fuel, taking a break, and having lunch. After that, prepare to head to STRAIGHT.
West End of “90 Mile Straight” – This’s the most straight highway in Australia. You can take a photo with this billboard, then get started focusing! (Remind: Always keep awake for your driving cause it’s all straight!)
Caiguna (Start 90 Mile Straight from East) – 90 miles straight end for us after about one more hour of driving, slow down and stop near the billboard. Take photos and be careful of those road trains if you want to stand on the highway’s board.
Cocklebiddy (Optional) – This’s a small town that lets you take a break.
Madura (Optional) – It’s another point that lets you take a break.
Mundrabilla (Optional) – Another point is to let you take a break. But if you want to stay the night earlier, consider this point to your Australia road trip plan.
Eucla – It’s our final destination on this day; it was turned to evening sky when we arrived. Also, we didn’t see other vehicles frequently on this highway; most drivers called it “Alone Highway.” So we stayed at Eucla Motel .

This day, we called it “Alone Day” because we had the most prolonged and nothing car near us on the highway, only a road train truck on the way at high speed passing you. So I strongly suggested this route to keep full fuel along with each point and cause a far distance like SA to NT.

The highlight of this route is the “90 Mile Straight” it’s the most straight highway in the world and the only way back to Melbourne for a complete Australia road trip. We took some photos on the billboard before, focusing entirely on one half-hour. After this straightway, take a break and have lunch at Caiguna.

And why do we choose Eucla as our destination? Simply, moving more distance will be close to the trip end.

I remind you to ensure you are in total energy and focus. Without any too loud music & phone looking, you need to pay full attention to the way. Kangaroos appear someplace you never know, so focus.

Finally, we arrived at Eucla Motel at 6:30 pm; let’s have the best dinner at the motel restaurant! Enjoy the fish & chips and beers!

Day 28 – Eucla to Streaky Bay

Route Navigation from Eucla to Streaky Bay

Estimated driving time: 6 hr 19 min
Estimated distance: 601 km
SA/WA Border Crossing – This’s a bThis’scheckpoint for anyone who enters the WA from SA; we just leave WA without check.
Great Australian Bight (Border Village SA) – It’s a long seaside that lets you see how great the coast of the Australian Bight is. Stunning but scary height (They set short, tall fences you still can have a look). Beware of your speed cause you easily miss that turn.
Penong Windmill Museum – This’s a special place to collect various windmills here; also, we take a break and have lunch.
Ceduna (Optional) – A small town that lets you take a break if you need.
Streaky Bay – This’s a bThis’sul port bay as a destination for our day road trip.

We visited Eucla Jetty near the Eucla Motel in the morning, drove there, parked the car, and got off for a walk. It’s an unIt’sed beach so that you can full aqua & white sand beach, really stunning! You can add a color similar to Lucky Bay to your alone trip if you have a car.

Alright, it’s time to leave Western Australia; beyond the border, we were now back in South Australia. WA has finished. There is no need to check your car while passing through the border of the WA checkpoint.

Keep Moving Along the Coast

Another stunning attraction is the Australian Bight. It would be best if you had car parking at the lookout (check the place list), walk to that lookout, and see this stunning coast, which is epic but scary when standing on the platform. We noticed some caravans parking here; most of them were family and elderly couples.

We take a break at Penong Windmill Museum, eating lunch with those windmills, like in Netherland.

Then, we will cross several towns, and we will inadvertently decide to stay in Streaky bay (Considerate driving distance & hrs). This small town along the sea is also beautiful. We stayed at Streaky Bay Hotel-Motel . Good room decorating & best self-service restaurant has yummy food here as dinner & breakfast.

Day 29 – Streaky bay to Port Augusta or Adelaide

Route Navigation from Streaky Bay to Adelaide

Estimated driving time: 8 hr 33 min
Estimated distance: 771 km
Murphys Haystacks – It’s a naturally shaped rock pile that looks like a dinosaur egg. They were carved by wind erosion for a long time, with free entry.
Pildappa Rock – It’s a giant rock similar to Ayers Rock (Uluru). You can climb to the top and be careful of the scary height and free entry.
Minnipa (Optional) – A small town that lets you take a break and have lunch.
Kyancutta (Optional) – A small town that enables you to take a break.
Kimba (Optional) – Another small town that enables you to take a break.
Port Augusta – After several hours of driving, we almost went back to this town, this circle from western, we finished the main route of our road trip. You can consider staying here for a night or keep moving back to Adelaide.
Crystal Brook (Optional) – A small town lets you take a break before entering the city.
Adelaide City – We visited here again but stayed at North West Adelaide Port Adelaide Backpackers, the cheapest self-service facilities. What about city tours? Well, up to you.

We drove through this longest highway with two attractions visiting, Murphys Haystacks & Pildappa Rock. All wild attractions let us stand just like in Ayers Rock, have a bit of a walk & have some photos, really special-shaped places worth driving. But our time is not much, and we have to arrive in Adelaide on this day because of budget control and reach a 30 days limit.

Following this route as that pic is also the only way to go back to Adelaide through Port Augusta, you just across many small towns & vast ground unknown farms. You just need to pay attention to your fuel when you see a petrol station at the roadside.

I will complete the longest route through SA, NT, and WA as our millstone. So Check this point ; you know what I mean.

Initially, we wanted to head to Port Lincoln; considering the time and budget, we skipped this place below the Southern and returned to Adelaide City through Port Augusta straightly.

Finally, we arrived at Adelaide at night time safely; no need to worry about kangaroos on this way. Port Adelaide Backpackers is our last accommodation in this road trip plan. We met some friends and shared our experiences with them. They are backpackers with still invalid visas; they feel shocked that we can make this long driving road trip for four weeks (30 days). They will follow this article to plan for themselves.

Day 30 – Adelaide to Melbourne

State Library of South Australia SA Australia

Route Navigation from Adelaide to Melbourne

Estimated driving time: 10 hr 26 min
Estimated distance: 882 km
Murray Bridge (Optional) – This’s a medium town where we belong. Many backpackers work here, but it’s another story; tell you later.
Bordertown – This’s a town close to the border of SA/VIC; you can take a break and have lunch.
Horsham (Optional) – A small town you can take a break if you need.
Bendigo (Optional) – This’s anoThis’sest town to visit. A gold mine town just like Super Pit in Kalgoorlie, an optional place you can add.
Ballarat (Optional) – A big town where you can take a break and have dinner; it’s night.
Melbourne City – It’s our final destination for our road trip; we drove back to the city center as we finished! Welcome back to Melbourne!

In Adelaide City, everything is simple! We took a tour of the city center this day. Although, in our trip plan, we just visited some places in the University of Adelaide, like the State Library of South Australia, a historic site with limited visitors. We were lucky we were inside, led by their manager in off time.

There are many places worth visiting near Adelaide City. You can even go to Kangaroo Island & Victor Harbour in west South Adelaide, but you better need 3-4 more days for driving. It’s not our plan; you can take research and add to yours.

We only wanted to save money on the last day, so we left Adelaide directly and headed back to Melbourne through the main highway. Bendigo is another option you can consider; it’s a go-through past.

Once we arrived in Melbourne, our Australia road trip was complete with these tall buildings; almost 30 days and one month were enough!

In this final part of the article, we finished the 4-week Australia road trip! Congratulations, you have a safe long-drive journey!

How Much Does It Cost for The Australia Road Trip 30 Days Plan?

I save the most, not spend too much on an expensive purchases like restaurants & hotels. As a backpacker, every dollar must be in control. But I can drive all routes of Western Australia through Central in 30 days. It just cost $4,000 for me! Average spent $100 in a single day! What do you think? Expensive or cheaper?

Also, we visited over 100 beautiful attractions along this route by controlling the budget every day in the limited payout. So if you are planning an Australia road trip itinerary on your own, $4,000 is an indicative amount per person covered most of all!

Do you want to know the complete details for the Australia road trip in the budget?

Do you want to know how I limit and control my budget & route planning?

This report shows you how I plan an Australia road trip in 30 days, $4,000 per person. Click Here Read Detail>>

Is This Plan Good for Visitor Visa in Shorten Traveler?

I must say, this route counts over 12k kilometers totally with 3-time car service. In my experience, the first time car service is before the road trip, and the second is in Darwin. Third, in Perth, separated each 5k kilometers and must make appointments for a car mechanic.

That means you must own this car in 2nd hand with valid registration. Unless you are a permanent resident or working holiday backpacker, it might be difficult for those on a visitor visa.

If you rent a caravan, camper van, or SUV, you must consider your main route and budget for vehicle rent. You usually need to pay an extra fee once your car exceeds 3,000 km.

Check our Resource Page for car rental service if you need it.

Does Road Trip Finish?

NOT YET AT ALL!

I will share route research in East Coast Australia during my working holiday and two years of experience in other posts. Don’t worrDon’tut that. It’s easy to link the East Australia trip to the West Australia route. Still, if you want all-around AUS, only one thing you need is to get much more money at first & bring you to freedom mainland!

But first, let’s get on the route from Melbourne through Uluru around Western Australia! Ready to move out!

Here’s the download link below & you can get it for FREE!

>> Free Download Copy Road Trip Itinerary!

Plan Your Next Road Trip by Reading This Australia Guide Book!

Action-packed Australia travel itineraries for every length of trip

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During our family’s gap year trip around the world , we spent a generous seven weeks touring around Australia, hitting five different states including countless cities, towns, villages and national parks. For most of the world, Australia is not close or inexpensive to get to – we figured we might as well explore as much as possible once we got there! If your family is considering a trip Down Under, check out our best itineraries for Australia, the top things to do in Australia with kids and our tips for visiting Australia on a budget (as much as possible – the country is expensive compared to many others, no matter how you slice it).

A note about car seats in Australia

Be advised that Australia has very specific laws on car seat usage. While most countries allow visitors to use their approved seats from home, in Australia it is only legal to use seats that meet the joint Australia/New Zealand standard.

We have heard that enforcement of that rule is most stringent in Victoria (Melbourne) and New South Wales (Sydney) and we spent tons of time there road tripping, so we opted to rent car seats with our car rental for that leg of our journey. You may be able to get away with using a US- or European-approved full-size car seat (NO backless boosters allowed) but if you are stopped it is a ticketable offense.

We used our portable car seats for the rest of our time in Australia without incident. Find out more in our detailed guide to travel with car seats .

Best itineraries for Australia

Every family has their own time constraints when planning a vacation – school, work and money all come into play. In general, we’d recommend allowing at least two weeks for a trip around Australia. It will probably take a few days to adjust to the very different time zone and the country is massive.

Itinerary for one week in Australia

Sydney area – 3 days

Port Douglas – 4 days

If you can really only muster one week to visit Australia, we recommend spending two or three days in Sydney (since you most likely have to fly there anyway) and then fly up to Cairns to explore tropical North Queensland for the remaining time. This east coast Australia itinerary will show you some of the country’s highlights in a very short time. If possible, book an open jaw ticket that arrives in Sydney and departs from Cairns. If that isn’t possible, there are many affordable flights connecting the two airports.

While we liked Sydney, we found that it’s similar enough to other major cities (like our home base in Los Angeles) that it doesn’t warrant that much time. In your two days you can hit the highlights: take in a view of the Opera House from the Royal Botanical Gardens, pop into the Art Gallery of New South Wales for a brief visit to see some contemporary Aboriginal art, enjoy a ferry across the harbor, and tackle the famed coastal walk between Bondi and Bronte beaches. If you have a few extra hours, we’ve heard that Taronga Zoo is lovely and has wonderful views (though it’s very expensive to visit).

You may also need a little time to let your body adjust to the time difference, but the good news is that Sydney’s bountiful sunshine and clean coastal air should speed up the process. Check out these tips for beating jetlag with little kids.

Far North tropical Queensland, on the other hand, offers a much more unique experience! There are so many awesome things to do in Cairns and Port Douglas that you won’t find anywhere else in the world – like walking rainforest bush tracks with an Aboriginal guide or snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef . Check out our full itinerary for five days in Port Douglas .

Use the interactive map to find vacation rentals and hotels in Port Douglas, Australia

Australia itinerary: 2 weeks

Sydney area – 7 days

Port Douglas – 7 days

With two weeks to visit Australia, you can give Sydney and the surrounding area a more complete look and at a slower pace. In addition to the activities mentioned above, consider taking a day trip or two outside of the city. Kaiama is just two hours away by train, and gives you a taste of the charming seaside towns and impressive blowholes that dot the Sapphire Coast of New South Wales. While we didn’t make it to the Blue Mountains, that’s another easy day trip by train if you’re interested in seeing waterfalls and doing some hiking. Check out these awesome spots in New South Wales !

Allow a week to explore the tropics with our Cairns itinerary. You’ll see the rainforest, the reef and more. You can consider heading to one of the nearby islands for crocodile-free swimming and snorkeling, exploring Cape Tribulation or spending a little time in the city of Cairns at its stunning botanical garden (or the super-cool playground). If you’re looking for an Australia itinerary for 10 days, just cut two days off of Sydney and Queensland each.

Australia itinerary: 3 weeks

Melbourne area – 5 days

Sapphire Coast drive – 6 days

Sydney area – 5 days

Port Douglas – 5 days

If you can allow three weeks for your time in Australia, things start to get really interesting! Instead of zooming around taking in high-impact tourist sites every day, you’ll have time to slow down and travel through one of our favorite parts of Australia, the Sapphire Coast !

Rather than starting in Sydney, book your tickets to fly into Melbourne . Spend a few days exploring the city and nearby areas – some of our top things to do in Melbourne include family-favorite ACMI (Australian Centre for the Moving Image), eating at Lakhsa King, a daytrip to the nearby Mornington Peninsula for a winery lunch and tasting at Foxey’s Hangout and a one-night trip along the Great Ocean Road to see the Twelve Apostles. Consider taking a trip out to Phillip Island to see the nightly penguin parade ! If you’re visiting with kids, check out these family-friendly Melbourne activities suggested by a local.

While we opted to rent a car in Australia to go explore outside of the cities and found it very easy, if you aren’t comfortable driving overseas you can always research one of these Great Ocean Road tours from Melbourne and spend the rest of your time in the city.

With a rental car at your disposal, drive the whole way up from Melbourne to Sydney instead of flying! There are so many picture-perfect coastal towns, peaceful natural parks and secluded beaches that it’s impossible to see everything. You’ll have amazing opportunities to see Australia’s most famous residents in their natural habitat. We spent four nights on the drive, and would have spent more if we’d known just how amazing the region is. Check out our complete guide to the drive from Melbourne to Sydney .

Green Cape Lighthouse, Ben Boyd National Park near Eden, Australia

Be aware that the car rental companies do charge a one-way drop off fee – and if you pick up your car at the airport, even that fee will be subject to the extra airport surcharge. If you rent car seats, those will be subject to the airport surcharge. It’s extremely frustrating! Our advice ( which we sadly didn’t follow ) is to pick up the car in town when you need it rather than from the airport. Check our rentalcars.com for the best rates.

Once you get to Sydney, check back above for our two week itinerary to find out our top things to do in Sydney and a full itinerary for visiting Queensland .

Use the interactive map to find vacation rentals and hotels in Sapphire Coast drive, Australia here

Australia itinerary: 4 weeks (or more!)

Perth/ Margaret River or Red Center or Tasmania – 7 days

If you plan to spend a month or more, you can follow our three week itinerary for Australia above and then tack on a visit to Western Australia (including Perth and Margaret River), to Australia’s Red Center to see majestic Uluru (Ayer’s Rock) rising from the desert (make sure to pack these essentials if you’re heading to the outback) or even to rugged Tasmania.

We really debated which of these areas to visit, and we decided on WA and Tassie. Visiting Uluru has long been one of my dream destinations, but we were in Australia during the hottest part of summer and we were pretty sure the kids would be miserable in the inhospitable temperatures surrounded by hoards of flies ( every single person we know who has visited told us about the flies!). There are several ways to get to Uluru – you can fly to Ayers Rock Airport directly or you can fly to Alice Springs and then drive 450km. We hope to include a visit to the Red Center on our next family trip to Australia!

Western Australia, on the other hand, is extremely family friendly and easy to access! We took a non-stop flight on Jetstar from Cairns to Perth, and then enjoyed five days each in Perth and Margaret River at free HomeExchange homes. Check out our favorite things to do in Margaret River with kids , or learn about our action-packed day tour from Perth to see the famous Pinnacles of WA.

If you have more time in Western Australia (and perhaps even the inclination to rent a camper van) there are tons of places off the beaten path to explore. Check out this awesome two-week itinerary for road tripping Western Australia !

Tasmania was our first stop in Australia, and flights are blessedly cheap between the island’s two airports and Melbourne on the mainland. Beware the open-jaw here: you’d have to pay a one-way drop off fee, but the drive between the two airports is just an easy two hour trip. We decided to save the money and fly in and out of Hobart. Though we spent ten days in Tassie, in truth it would take much more to explore all of its offerings. We didn’t see the unspoiled west side at all! We split our time between Hobart, Bicheno and the Tamar Valley just north of Launceston. Our top things to do in Tasmania include:

Things to do in Hobart

-visiting Port Arthur Historic Site (make sure to head out to Eaglehawk Neck for some awesome fish ‘n chips next to the blowhole)

-an afternoon exploring Richmond (see the bridge and old gaol/jail, and eat ice cream)

-a wine tasting lunch at Cole Valley Winery (buy some bread to take with you!)

-meeting the creatures of Bonorong Wildlife Reserve

Things to do in Bicheno

– kayaking Coles Bay at sunset

-tracking tiny penguins along the beach

-eating amazing fish ‘n chips at the harbor

-taking the very affordable glass-bottom boat tour

Things to do in Tamar Valley

-wine tasting at Holm Oak

-visiting Platypus House to learn about Australia’s unique monotremes

-soaring across Cataract Gorge

Another option, especially if you already plan to drive out on the Great Ocean Road, is to pay a visit to South Australia. You can enjoy the city of Adelaide, taste wine in the Barossa Valley, explore Kangaroo Island and much more. Check out what our Aussie friends at Thrifty Family Travels recommend to do in South Australia and Gold Coast .

Read more: Best things to do in Gold Coast with kids

Tips to budget travel Australia

We aren’t ultra-low budget travelers. But we do try to save money where possible without scrimping on the experiences that make a destination special. Australia is not a cheap place to travel. Our visit to Tasmania (which coincided with school holidays, and for which we didn’t book accommodations very far in advance) was one of our most expensive travel periods during our gap year! Here are a few hints we found for saving money while traveling in Australia

Thinking of making your trip to Australia permanent? Throw yourself an Aussie-themed going away party !

How to save on accommodation in Australia

We were really lucky to be hosted by friends and family for a good chunk of our time in Australia. Thanks guys! We also found wonderful HomeExchange homes to stay in for free during our time in Perth and Margaret River – find out more about HomeExchange here . There are also many options for HomeExchange in Melbourne and Sydney, though in the end we didn’t need to use them. We probably wouldn’t have stayed for as long without the free accommodation we scored.

For all of our other destinations, we used booking.com to find family-friendly places to stay in Australia. Now that we’re such frequent customers, we even get 10% off most bookings with our Genius discount! Check out our favorite simple tips to save more on every reservation.

How to save on food in Australia

Restaurant dining in Australia is pricey thanks to the requirement that workers be paid a living wage and the overall higher cost of food. There isn’t much way around that! We found that by arranging accommodations through HomeExchange or booking.com with a kitchen, we could prepare most of our own meals but still take advantage of Australia’s amazing local produce, meat and dairy. We also ate an unbelievable number of PB&J sandwiches, especially when we were staying on our own.

How to save on flights in Australia

We had been warned about flying Australian low-cost carrier Jet Star. In the end, they offered not only the lowest prices but also the best flight schedules for every single leg! We ended up with three flights on Jetstar and the service was basic but pleasant. We honestly have no complaints. We saved money on Jetstar by paying $49 upfront to join Club Jetstar, which offered additional discounts on tickets and add-ons. We booked the Starter fare for every flight, added seat assignments for everyone and then added only two bags . If we had booked tickets at the Starter Plus level, we would have been paying for two extra bags even though the kids didn’t have luggage! Check our family-favorite Skyscanner for the best flight deals. If you have points with Qantas or Virgin Australia, read about these tricks for maximizing your distance-based awards.

How to save on rental cars in Australia

As I mentioned above, we always find our best rental car deals on rentalcars.com . Fortunately, travelers with the Chase Sapphire Reserve or Chase Ink for Business credit cards can reject all of the insurance offers and use the free credit card coverage in case an issue arises. Our biggest unexpected expense was that the airports impose their extra 30% airport fee even on additional charges like one-way drop off fees and car seat rentals. Boooo! Whether you choose to pick up your rental car in Sydney or in Melbourne, neither city requires a car to get around. So either skip the car entirely, or pick it up in town when you really need it.

Start planning your trip to Australia

Be sure to read these articles to jumpstart your Australia trip planning!

Melbourne to Sydney drive: the ultimate guide
Your 5 day Australia adventure in Port Douglas
Quicksilver Reef Cruises: the best way to see the Great Barrier Reef with kids
The best way to visit Kuranda, the village in Australia’s rainforest
Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures: a family-friendly crocodile tour in Cairns
The Best 10 Things to do on the Gold Coast with Kids
An Insider’s Guide to Visiting Kangaroo Island, Australia
Top 7 awesome family experiences in Margaret River
A spectacular way to see Coles Bay, Tasmania: kayaking with Freycinet Adventures

Australia is a huge country with SO much to see! Don't get overwhelmed with planning, check out these great Australia itinerary options for every length of stay. You'll find practical information on travel in Australia (including Australia on a budget) and detailed travel guides on things to do in Australia for many states. Visit Sydney, Melbourne, Queensland, Tasmania and Western Australia! #Australia #Sydney #Melbourne #Tassie #Queensland #travel #budgettravel #familytravel

What to read next

7 thoughts on “action-packed australia travel itineraries for every length of trip”.

What a great guide! Australia is totally on my bucket list one day!

I’m so glad you found it useful!

Great blog post! Australia is on my travel bucket list. This was so informative! Thank you! ~Elizabeth

Thanks! You’ll get there one day ?

Some good tips here. I loved the port douglas area! Another place Id recommend is byron bay – i lived there for 2 years and theres something very special and unique about that place!

It looks so beautiful! When we eventually get back, I’d definitely like to explore the rest of coastal Queensland more ?

That sounds wonderful. This trip is now on my to-go list! And to go soon! Australia is sooo beautiful.

How To Spend 1 Month In Australia – My 2023 Australia Itinerary

Trying to figure out how to spend 1 month travelling in Australia? Well check out my sample Australia itinerary to pack in the best of the East Coast trail!

Travelling the East Coast of Australia is one of the most popular backpacker routes in the world – it’s packed full of incredible destinations, activities and Aussie goodness and there’s heaps to pack into an Australia itinerary!

But the stretch between Sydney and Cairns is MASSIVE – over 2,000km in total if you’re busing it up the coast – so figuring out where to stop, what to do and how to piece it all together can be a bit of a logistical nightmare, picking the best places to visit in Australia is a tough task!!

yamba yha east coast australia surf backpacker travel

So how would I spend a month in Australia?

Well if you’re planning an adventure on the East Coast here’s a sample Australia itinerary to get you started – from where to stop to the best Fraser Island tours and best Whitsundays tours.

Given the fact that Greyhound Bus Passes are the most popular way to tackle this route I’ve also put in some info about the overnight buses you can use to link everything together too.

How To Spend 1 Month In Australia – My Sample Australia Itinerary

Sydney – 3 nights.

The perfect place to start your Australia itinerary – kicking back in the iconic city of Sydney! Chill on Bondi Beach, take a wander to the famous Opera House and Circular Key, stroll around the incredible coastal footpaths and take the ferry to Manly Beach.

Overnight bus to Yamba (10 hours, 10 mins)

Yamba – 2 nights

One of my favourite places in Australia and probably one of the most overlooked towns on the East Coast Trail. Stay with Shane and Justin at the Yamba Central, join one of their group surf trips or Shanes famous Yamba tour. Good vibes all round! If you have some more time to play with they now offer a Yamba Surf Camp too – so go hit the waves!

Day bus to Byron Bay (2 hours, 12 mins)

dolphin kayaking byron bay australia backpacker cape byron kayaks (2 of 2)

Byron Bay – 3 nights

If you’ve been following my adventures for a while you already know this is one of my favourite places on the planet! Kick back in the Byron bubble for a few days – go kayaking with dolphins , scuba dive at Julian Rocks , take a day trip to Nimbin , learn to surf or just wander up to Cape Byron Lighthouse and the most Easterly Point of Australia.

Check out my Ultimate Backpackers Guide To Byron Bay for more info!

Day bus to Brisbane (2 hours 30 mins – 5 hours 25 mins depending on departure time)

Brisbane – 2 nights

Although I’m not a huge fan of Brisbane I know a lot of you like the glitz and glamour of the city so I’ve included it! It’s also a great base to head to Australia Zoo for the day or head out to Moreton Island for some incredible shipwreck snorkelling.

If that’s not your thing you can always use these 2 nights to extend your stay in Byron ;)

Day bus to Noosa (2 hours 10 mins – 3 hours 15 mins depending on departure time)

fraser island tour noosa rainbow beach tag along australia

Noosa – 2 nights

Another great beachside town! Explore Noosa National Park and spot koalas in the wild, tae some surf lessons and of course make sure you head out on a canoe tour through the Noosa Everglades.

Day bus to Rainbow Beach (2 hours 30 mins)

Rainbow Beach – 2 nights

(one pre and post Fraser Island trip)

More great beaches and an awesome pre and post Fraser Island party vibe!

Handy tip: you need to arrive in Rainbow Beach before 6pm for most of the pre Fraser safety briefings

fraser island tag along tour nomads australia queensland backpacker review

Fraser Island – 3 day, 2 nights tour

One of the must do Australia bucket list items and my personal highlight of any Australia itinerary! Cruise along the beach in a 4×4, drive through incredible rainforest tracks and stop off at locations like Lake Mackenzie, the Maheno Shipwreck, Eli Creek and Champagne Pools.

You could also do your Fraser Island tour from Noosa too if you prefer an overnight hostel option.

Overnight bus to Airlie Beach (this is a bit of a beast at 18 hours 45 mins! You can break it up in Agnes Water/1770 but if you’re short on time suck it up!)

Airlie Beach – 3 nights

(split between pre and post Whitsundays Sailing Trip)

Heaps of party vibes here pre and post Whitsundays Sailing! When you’re not sipping cold beers you can nurse your hangover in the free lagoon swimming pool, hire a kayak and explore the bay or even take a scenic flights over Heart Reef.

sunset shakka airlie beach whitsundays backpacker travel australia

Whitsunday Islands – 2 day, 2 nights Tour

(or 3 day, 2 night if you have some extra days to play with)

Alongside Fraser Island this is one of the big to do’s in Australia. Sail amongst tropical islands, snorkel on the Souther End of the Great Barrier Reef , walk along the famous Whitehaven Beach and grab some postcard perfect shots from Hill Inlet Lookout.

There’s a range of boats to choose from – whether you want to party on the infamous Atlantic Clipper, enjoy the awesome vibes of the Tongarra or enjoy a bit more luxury on board Powerplay.

Day bus to Townsville (3 hours 40 mins – 5 hours depending on departure time)

Magnetic Island – 2 nights (from Townsville)

A great little island escape and the perfect spot to meet some incredible Aussie wildlife – including koalas and super friendly rock wallabies! You can grab a Magnetic Island Package deal for about $140, which includes your return ferry from Townville, accommodation, snorkel hire and even some meals.

Read more about why I love Magnetic Island here.

Day bus to Mission Beach (3 hours 20 mins)

Mission Beach – 2 nights

Time to get your adrenaline on the go! Mission Beach is the perfect base for white water rafting on the Tully River as well as being one of the most popular places to skydive in Australia as you get incredible views over the reef and land on the beach!

Day bus to Cairns (2 hours – 2 hours 15 min depending on departure time)

Cairns – 3 nights

The gateway to the Great Barrier Reef! Head out on a day trip to the Great Barrier Reef or if you have longer complete your open water dive course there too, there are plenty of epic Great Barrier Reef tours to choose from!

When you’re not on the ocean join the crew from AJ Hackett for some bungy jumping or take a day trip to Cape Tribulation or the Atherton Tablelands.

Make It Your Own!

Of course if you’re taking longer on the East Coast you can tailor this itinerary to suit your own time frame – add in some extra nights, some more trips or simply a few days chilling out by the beach!

You could also do your Fraser Island trip from Noosa like I did with Nomads Fraser Island if you prefer a more flash packer option in an on island hostel rather than camping.

2023 update: unfortunately Nomads Fraser Island isn’t currently running, but K’gari Adventures offer an awesome cabin accomodation option.

If you wanted some more surfing fun (like myself!) you can also adapt the start of the trip to include a Sydney to Byron Bay Surf Trip with Mojo Surf, which is a great alternative to the overnight bus.

Personally I’d say 4 weeks is the minimum amount of time you’d need to properly experience the East Coast without rushing it or spending too much time on buses. For more information on time frames check out my “ East Coast Australia – How Long Should You Take ” post.

However if you do only have 3 weeks to play with – check out my Australia 3 week itinerary post .

East Coast Australia Itinerary Package Deal

If you’re looking for the easiest way to get your East Coast Australia Itinerary all booked up and sorted I’ve teamed up with RTW Backpackers and you can book my sample itinerary as a complete package!

It includes accommodation, heaps of day trips and of course my recommended Fraser Island and Whitsundays Tours!

You can even book it all as an open dated Australia itinerary and spread it out over a longer period if you have more time to play with – the perfect opportunity to add in some more time in spots like Byron Bay, indulge in a surf camp or complete your open water dive course!

Plus use the promo code BPB100 to save an additional $100AUD off the price!

Or if you’d like something more customised check out my East Coast Australia Trip Planner and fit in everything you’ve got on your bucket list!

greyhound bus pass route map australia hop on hop off backpacker east coast

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24 November 2017

How to spend four weeks in australia and new zealand.

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How To Spend 4 Weeks In Australia

Gabby Boucher

April 12th, 2024

11 minute read

How To Spend 4 Weeks In Australia Image | East Coast Tours Australia

Four weeks in Australia is an amazing amount of time to see the highlights of the East Coast . We're here to help you decide how to spend your four weeks in Australia! From a suggested itinerary to some recommendations for spending money and how to get around, let our travel experts guide you on your quest to explore Australia in four weeks.

Trees next to Lake McKenzie on K'gari (Fraser Island)

Top destinations to visit on Australia's East Coast

Here is a sample four-week Australia itinerary to get you started. Though you can modify this journey however you like, this route is extremely popular among backpackers in Australia. One month is the perfect time frame to see the best of the East Coast. Though there are other amazing places in Australia, such as the West Coast , the Outback, or Tasmania, it will be near impossible to see all those places plus the East Coast highlights in four weeks. This is an optimised four-week East Coast Australia itinerary that allows you to pack in lots of attractions along the coast without rushing.

Our Four-Week Australian Bucket List

How to get around during four weeks in australia.

You may be wondering how to get to all these amazing destinations while you're in Australia for four weeks. Domestic flights, coach buses , and campervan rentals are the three main methods of transport for backpacking Australia. For long distances, such as Sydney to Melbourne, you can catch a cheap domestic flight that only takes 1 hour. Or you can take overnight buses , or rent a campervan so you can take your time admiring the views along the coast and camp amongst the wilderness.

However you choose to get around Australia is up to you! If you're booking a pre-planned itinerary, coach bus travel will be included so you don't have to worry about booking all your transport. You can also upgrade to a campervan , meaning you can drive yourself around and camp in your cozy vehicle while still participating in the activities. Feel free to ask us if you have any questions about how to get around Australia and we'll recommend the best options for you.

girls leaning out of a van next to a mountain

Four-Week Australia Itinerary – Cairns to Melbourne

Day 1 – 4: cairns, great barrier reef & rainforest.

Begin your four-week Australia itinerary in Cairns, the unofficial hub of Tropical North Queensland. With four days in Cairns, you have plenty of time to explore the bustling city center and take a few days trips. You definitely have to spend a day snorkelling or scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef ! Explore this vast underwater wonderland and see why the Great Barrier Reef is so special.

You can also spend a day or two venturing into the rainforest around Cairns. Head north to the world's oldest tropical rainforest, the Daintree Rainforest . Or head southwest to the lush region of the Atherton Tablelands where you can swim in waterfalls and embark on rainforest hikes. There is so much to do in Cairns , but if you only have four weeks in Australia you'll need to keep moving!

man snorkeling with a turtle on the Great Barrier Reef

Day 5 & 6: Magnetic Island

Just south of Cairns lies the pristine tropical paradise of Magnetic Island . With two days here, you have plenty of time to soak in the natural beauty of this small and gorgeous island. From, snorkelling, swimming, and hiking in the various bays and beaches, to spotting koalas snoozing and snacking in the trees, there are so many fun things to do on Magnetic Island .

girl holding snorkelling gear on a tropical beach

Day 7 - 11: Airlie Beach & The Whitsunday Islands

Continue your journey along the coast until you reach one of Queensland's gems, the Whitsunday Islands . Airlie Beach is the laid-back tourist town on the mainland where you'll base yourself for a trip out to the islands. With four days in Airlie Beach , you can choose to take day trips or you can really immerse yourself in the nautical scenery with an overnight boat tour .

Spending a few days sailing through the Whitsunday Islands is a must on any four week Australia itinerary. Cruise over to Whitehaven Beach, admire the view of the swirling sands from Hill Inlet Lookout, and snorkel in the fringing reefs of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Add on other epic activities like a scenic flight over the Heart Reef or a skydive !

scenic flight over the heart reef whitsundays

Day 12 - 14: Rainbow Beach

As you make your way into southern Queensland, you'll find yourself in the land of golden beaches, cool ocean breezes, and perfect waves. Rainbow Beach is a quaint little coastal town where you can hike up towering sand dunes, go surfing or paddleboarding in the calm waters, and embrace the beachside lifestyle. Spend a few days relaxing here before you jump on an overnight 4WD tour to the world's largest sand island!

Day 15 - 17: K'gari (Fraser Island)

From Rainbow Beach, you can join a tour that brings you onto the ferry and over to K'gari, the magical island formerly known as Fraser Island. On K'gari (Fraser Island) , a world of untouched natural wonders awaits. Walk through towering, dense rainforests, climb over massive sand dunes, swim in crystal clear lakes and creeks, and spot wild dingos roaming along the beach.

Join a camping safari for the chance to camp amongst the rich wilderness on K'gari! These camping tours are also tag-along tours, meaning you can sign up to be a driver and help navigate the 4WD across the sandy island tracks. Or you can book a resort tour if you're looking for a bit more luxury on the island.

two girls standing on a bridge in the dense rainforest

Day 18 & 19: Noosa

The next stop on your four-week Australia Itinerary is Noosa , an incredibly charming coastal city full of fun attractions . Visit the iconic Australia Zoo, kayak through the tranquil Everglades , go surfing on the idyllic beaches, or explore the walking tracks and rock pools of Noosa National Park. Or dive into the cultural scene and browse all the local shops and cafes that populate the town center.

girls holding surfboards on the Main Beach in Noosa

Day 20: Brisbane & Gold Coast

You're heading into the final week of your Australian backpacking adventure! Depart the Sunshine Coast and head south towards the capital city of Queensland. Brisbane is one of Australia's most iconic cities. With nightlife galore, bustling street markets, world-class museums, and impressive landmarks like Kangaroo Cliffs and the Story Bridge, there are so many fun things to do in Brisbane .

Spend the day exploring the highlights of the city, and then continue south towards Byron Bay. On the way, swing by the Gold Coast and go for a swim, grab a bite to eat, stroll around the city, and maybe catch a wave or two.

Day 21 & 22: Byron Bay

You've made it to Byron Bay , one of the most popular backpacker towns on Australia's East Coast. Famous for its bohemian atmosphere, fantastic surf breaks, and stunning coastal views, Byron Bay is sure to capture your heart. Grab a smoothie bowl from a local cafe, try a surf lesson , hike up to the Cape Byron Lighthouse, or kayak with dolphins in the sapphire Pacific Ocean. After a few days in Byron Bay, continue south to the famous metropolis of Sydney!

Byron Bay ocean with surfers and lighthouse in the background

Day 23 - 26: Sydney

As the capital city of New South Wales, Sydney is perhaps the most famous city in Australia. Home to world-famous landmarks like Bondi Beach , the Sydney Opera House, and the Sydney Harbour Bridge, there is plenty to see and do in the city . Wander around the Rocks markets, grab some food in Chinatown, or head to the coast and try the epic Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk.

Make sure you have time for a day trip to the Blue Mountains while visiting Sydney ! This magnificent national park located just west of Sydney is the perfect place to escape the city and breathe in some crisp, fresh mountain air. In the Blue Mountains, you can go for amazing hikes, see majestic waterfalls, and admire the unique rock formations such as the Three Sisters. If hiking isn't your style, you could also book a day trip to the Hunter Valley and go wine-tasting!

couple posing in front of bondi beach sign in sydney

Day 27 & 28: Melbourne

With only two days left in your four-week Australia itinerary, you'll have time for a quick stop in Melbourne ! The capital city of Victoria is known for its trendy coffee scene, prestigious art galleries and museums, and colourful street art . Spend a couple of days wandering through the enticing alleyways and checking out the historic architecture. You could also do a day trip to the Great Ocean Road and see the Twelve Apostles! Then your four weeks in Australia are up, so hopefully you took lots of photos and made some lifelong friends along the way.

coffees sitting on a table at a cafe in Australia

Best 4-week itineraries in Australia

If you're looking to book a 4-week Australia itinerary, these are the best options!

4 Week Sydney to Cairns Explorer
4 Week Cairns to Sydney Explorer
4 Week Brisbane to Cairns Ultimate
4 Week Cairns to Melbourne Explorer
4 Week Melbourne to Cairns Explorer

These itineraries are designed to give you the best possible experience on Australia's East Coast. You'll have at least a few days in each place so you don't feel rushed, yet you'll still get to see all of the highlights. These itineraries also organise your accommodation, transport, and tours, so you can really just relax and enjoy yourself without worrying about too much planning and preparation.

aerial view of travellers hiking in the whitsunday islands

How much money do I need for 4 weeks in Australia?

The amount of money you'll need for 4 weeks in Australia varies from person to person, but a standard cost is around $200 AUD per day. This equates to around $5600 for the whole month. But your spending will depend on how to choose to travel! You can explore Australia for as cheap as $100 per day if you prioritise money saving , but you can also spend a lot more if you treat yourself often. Around $200 per day means you'll be staying in hostels and taking public transport but also indulging in some fun tours and excursions.

4 Weeks in Australia Itinerary Cost

A pre-booked itinerary is an amazing way to tackle 4 weeks in Australia. All your tours, accommodation, and transport are covered, meaning less planning and organisation for you! This can make it easier to plan a budget because you'll pay for the whole itinerary upfront and then just need to bring spending money for food, drinks, and souvenirs.

Here are the costs for some of the most popular 4 week Australia itineraries:

4 Week Sydney to Cairns Explorer $3199 ($114 per day)
4 Week Cairns to Sydney Explorer $3199 ($114 per day)
4 Week Brisbane to Cairns Ultimate $4319 ($154 per day)
4 Week Cairns to Melbourne Explorer $3539 ($126 per day)
4 Week Melbourne to Cairns Explorer $3539 ($126 per day)

Average daily costs for food, drinks, and souvenirs

On top of the itinerary price, make sure you allocate some money for daily spending. Most itineraries include a few meals here and there but you're mostly on your own. You can eat cheaply in Australia if you cook your meals at home in the hostel and avoid buying too many pricey cocktails. A mid-range budget allows for some coffees, cocktails, and nice meals out here and there, but not every day. If you indulge in lots of dining out every day, you'll need a much bigger budget. The amount of shopping you do also just depends on your preferences.

Here are some cost estimates for daily spending in Australia:

Tight budget: $60 - $90 per day
Mid-range budget: $100 - $140 per day
Luxury budget: $150 - $250 per day

So just make sure you add the costs of your itinerary with your daily spending to account for how much you'll spend. If you're not booking an itinerary, add up the costs of your accommodation, transport, and tours with your daily spending to plan a budget!

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Is four weeks enough for Australia?

Four weeks is definitely enough time to see the highlights of Australia's East Coast . You can easily make it from Cairns down to Melbourne in 4 weeks, while seeing iconic sights like the Whitsundays, the Great Barrier Reef, K'gari (Fraser Island), Sydney, and more. If you wanted to spend less time travelling and more time enjoying one destination at a time on the East Coast, you could just skip a few destinations such as Melbourne since it's pretty far south.

Of course, having more than one month in Australia means you'd get to see and experience so much more. If one month sounds a bit short to you, consider coming for 6 weeks or even trying a Working Holiday Visa and staying for a year or more! With more time in Australia, you can add on a trip to the Outback or even a road trip around Western Australia. But no matter how much time you have here, Australia is an enchanting place and you're sure to have a memorable experience.

three backpackers posing in Sydney Harbour

Spending four weeks in Australia is bound to be a life-changing adventure.

Don’t hesitate to use our handy diy itinerary planner , chat with a local travel expert or browse our curated itineraries , start your own journey.

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Backpacking East Coast Australia: A 1-Month Itinerary To Kick Start Your Travel Plans

Written by on January 9, 2022 . Posted in Australia , Byron Bay , Sydney , To Do , Travel Tips .

Planning out your first holiday to Australia is an unbelievably exciting time… only to get even better once you arrive and the trip begins! Being such an enormous country with a spectacularly diverse landscape, it can be difficult to know where to begin. An itinerary through East Coast Australia – whether you’re self-driving, on a tour, or a mix of both – is a popular backpacking option, and an excellent choice to begin.

Journeying from Sydney and heading north to Byron Bay, and eventually to Cairns in north-Queensland, the East Coast route showcases so much variety. You’ll encounter classic Australian wildlife, pristine beaches, national parks and rainforests, snorkeling and skydiving opportunities, and so much more.

To help kick start your East Coast Aussie travel plans, we’ve put together an example 1-month itinerary. Although this 30-day itinerary does give you a glimpse into the highlights of what lies along this coastline, we would suggest four weeks as an absolute minimum to experiencing this kind of trip.

4 Week East Coast Australia Itinerary Plan

Day 1-7: sydney.

Capital cities don’t get much better than stunning Sydney, New South Wales. Arrive to Sydney for your first taste of Australia, and you’ll quickly notice the outdoor lifestyle, beautiful beaches and awesome energy that makes this city a favourite for so many. We could write forever about what to do here, so instead we recommend you check out our range of (free) travel guides and tips of what to do and where to go in Sydney . We recommend (at least) seven days in Sydney, to give you enough time to explore the city, enjoy a few themed nights out at Side Bar, as well as day trips to must-see locations like:

The Blue Mountains
Hunter Valley
Royal National Park
Hyams Beach and the South Coast

Where to stay: Look for centrally-located accommodation that enables you to easily travel for day trips out of the city. Wake Up! Sydney Central is conveniently located opposite Sydney’s Central Train Station, connecting you to the Blue Mountains, South Coast and beyond. Buses and trams are also right outside our doors, and you’ll find yourself within walking distance to suburbs like Surry Hills, Darling Harbour, Glebe, and more.

Backpacking or travelling Australia? Book your Sydney accommodation at Wake Up! Hostel in the centre of the city.

Day 7-9: Bondi Beach

In addition to seven days based in Sydney, we recommend staying two nights in Bondi to truly soak up that quintessentially Aussie beach lifestyle. And what better place to do that, than in the very heart of Bondi Beach. What to do in Bondi? Grab a surfboard (complimentary for all guests at Wake Up! Bondi Beach) and take to the famous waves of Bondi; soak in views on a Bondi to Coogee coastal walk; experience the weekend Bondi Markets; venture to Hornby Lighthouse and Watson’s Bay; eat and drink and the endless cafes and bars in the area.

Where to stay: Wake Up! Bondi Beach is your picture-perfect seaside accommodation . Located directly opposite Bondi Beach, you can soak up the views from the exclusive panoramic Rooftop (which also makes for one of the best outdoor gyms or yoga spots!).

Day 9-10: Newcastle or Port Stephens or Hunter Valley

It’s time to travel north to either Newcastle, Port Stephens or the Hunter Valley- depending on your preference.

Port Stephens , on Worimi Country: go here for adventure and epic scenery! Hiking the 2.2km return Tomaree Head Summit trail gives you incredible views of Port Stephens (an instagrammable delight). You can also go sandboarding , quad-biking or camel riding on the Worimi Sand Dunes. These are the largest moving coastal dunes in the Southern Hemisphere, and have great Indigenous significance.

Newcastle : a student city, known for its nightlife! Enjoy the many pubs and bars this city has to offer, from breweries and pubs to cocktail joints and themed bars. Newcastle is also known for its beaches and awesome surf – experience it for yourself at Merewether Beach!

Hunter Valley : If you didn’t manage to do a day trip to the Hunter from Sydney, then you might want to spend a night here instead. One of Australia’s most famous wine regions, here you can enjoy cheese, chocolate, natural beauty and, of course, wine!

Day 10-15: Byron Bay

You’ve made it to a northern-NSW slice of paradise: Byron Bay! Blissed out Byron is an absolute must on everyone’s Australia adventure. This is your place to do as the town’s motto says: Cheer Up, Slow Down, Chill Out. In Byron, you can do as little or as much as you want, but to get you started we suggest having a read of our free travel guides and tips to the area. In just five days, you might not want to leave the town itself. However if you fancy a day trip, add towns like Yamba, Mullumbimby, Nimbin and Minyon Falls or Killen Falls to your list.

Where to stay: Wake Up! Byron Bay offers affordable, laidback Byron accommodation in a beachside paradise setting. Essentially: it’s your perfect paradise escape… while still being budget-friendly! Guests can enjoy complimentary activities every day (including yoga classes, sunrise lighthouse tours, and meditation classes); and you also have access to free bike, surfboard and SUP hire.

Day 15-17: Brisbane

Despite being Queensland’s capital city and Australia’s third largest city, Brisbane has a small-town charm about it, which is welcomed at this half-way stage of the itinerary. In Brisbane, you can enjoy a bit of everything, with something for every type of traveller and personality. It’s got a beer scene, food markets, pumping nightlife, gorgeous botanic gardens, and also some fantastic day trips. We recommend:

Australia Zoo: the biggest zoo in Australia, made famous by the late Steve Irwin and his wife Terri
Moreton Island: take an island tour to spot wild dolphins and go snorkelling in the crystal clear waters
Stradbroke Island: revel in the sublime natural beauty of ‘Straddie’, including its nature hikes, surfing beaches and gorges
Lone Pine Sanctuary: the world’s first and largest koala sanctuary. Hold a koala and get your photo snapped up, or even meet dingos and snakes!

Day 17-19: Noosa

Beautiful Noosa! As you head further north on this East Coast itinerary, you’ll come to experience the spectacular scenery of a more tropical Australia. While in Noosa, kayak the Noosa Everglades and soak in the pristine wilderness. This is a definite must-see and makes for stunning photos. Walk through Noosa National Park and look out (or up!) for sleepy wild koalas in the trees above.

Day 19-22: Fraser Island

The largest sand island in the world, Fraser Island has the MOST incredible nature. And the passionate locals at K’gari Fraser Island Adventures will help you experience it all, with amazing travel experiences that don’t cost the earth. Learn how to drive a 4WD like a local, see the magical Lake McKenzie, swim in creeks with the world’s cleanest water, have fun wildlife spotting, and so much more.

Day 22-26: Whitsundays & Airlie Beach

There are 74 different islands that lie between the northeast coast of Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef. Together, they make up the dreamy Whitsunday Islands. While on these islands, you’ll come to experience some of the whitest sand in the world, dense rainforest, hiking trails, and water so beautiful it’ll make all of your Australia dreams come true. Make sure to have a day out with Ocean Rafting which offers an awesome speed boat ride, snorkelling, and a guided walk. True Blue Sailing provides another guaranteed great option. We love their Atlantic Clipper and New Horizon boats, which both have huge waterslides, jumping platforms, and snorkelling opportunities. For a shorter boat experience, jump on the Solway Lass Sunset Cruise to experience a pirate ship with a rich history.

Day 26-28: Townsville & Magnetic Island

Picture a tropical island paradise, and Magnetic Island is what you’ll find. Accessible by ferry from Townsville (a town worth exploring in itself, particularly for its history), Magnetic Island is your go-to for beautiful coral reefs, sandy beaches, snorkelling adventures and sunshine. You’ll find no shortage of adventure in this part of the world. For the ultimate fun experience, get around the town in a Barbie Car or Topless Jeep Wrangler !

Day 28-30: Cairns

And finally, welcome to the adventure town of Cairns! As well as being the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns offers up so many thrill-seeking activities to do and see. If scuba diving, snorkelling, bungee jumping, skydiving, or white water rafting are on your #backpackingaustralia bucket list – then this is the place to tick them off! You’re in Tropical North Queensland here, so expect to also see photogenic waterfalls. Drive the Waterfall Circuit that’ll have you soaking up the sights of Milla Milla Falls (one of Australia’s most photographed waterfalls), Zillie Falls and Ellinjaa Falls.

Phew! You made it! As you can tell, this 30-day East Coast Australia itinerary is a whirlwind adventure trip. It takes you through the highlights of what lies between Sydney in New South Wales and Cairns in Far North Queensland. While you can absolutely spend more time in virtually every destination, we hope this itinerary provides a base inspiration of where to start your travel-planning.

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Our resident Travel Experts are the ones for you! Free for all guests, we have a dedicated travel team that can assist you in booking your Aussie adventure and making sure you’re set up for the trip of a lifetime! Get in touch today to start the conversation.

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The Perfect 4-Week Western Australia Roadtrip Itinerary.

You guys absolutely loved my Perfect 3-Week West Coast USA Roadtrip Itinerary , so I thought I’d share my perfect itinerary for a Western Australia roadtrip ! I’ve been visiting Western Australia since I was a child, and moved there in 2007 when I was 16 with my Dad’s work. I did Year 11 and 12 of high school there, and I’ve been back every year since we moved back to England to visit friends, so I know it pretty well. Over the years we’ve done many roadtrips in Western Australia, so I’ve got it all figured out with what the best things to see are.

So here it is, the perfect Western Australia Roadtrip Itinerary…

Day 1: Fly to Perth, Australia

Ok, so you want to start by flying into Perth . Take a look at hotels on Booking.com , but I recommend staying in the main city for your first night. Fraser Suites is my favourite hotel in Perth. After that first night you can walk to Bayswater Cars to hire a car. You’re gonna want a 4×4, and make sure you get their insurance (trust me, it’s the best insurance and it cuts down your deposit too). I always use Bayswater Cars every time I’m in Perth, they’re the best car hire company I’ve ever hired from and they’re all just really lovely!Once you’ve collected your hire car, head to Kings Park, and then drive over to Fremantle, and stay in Freo for 3 nights so you can really get a feel for the city. Being based in Freo also means it’s easier to get over to Rottnest Island for a day trip.

Top Things to do in Perth

Day 4: Drive to Margaret River

It’s around a 3 hour drive down to Margs, and I recommend driving through Pinjarra so you can stop off at the famous Pinjarra Bakery for a meat pie. That route is much nicer than the main highway and is often quicker because less cars use that road. Stop off at Busselton on your way from Pinjarra to Margaret River to take a walk on the famous Busselton Jetty, which is the longest wooden jetty in the world at 2km long!If you’re splashing out, stay at the luxury five star Pullman Resort Bunker Bay (see my review here ).

Top Things to do in Margaret River

– Yallingup Caves – Visit some of the wineries on Caves Road (Lenton Brae is a favourite of ours) – Breakfast at Morries in Margaret River – Whale Watching – Busselton Jetty – See the sunset at Sugarloaf Rock – Visit the incredible underground caves

Day 6: Drive to Albany

Wake up bright and early, you’re driving to Albany today with a coupla stops along the way! You want to stop off at Hamelin Bay because there are huuuuge stingrays that swim right up to the beach in the shallows. If you’re feeling brave you can try and give them a stroke – just make sure you stay in front of them. If a stingray feels threatened it can only inflict it’s stinger to go backwards, so as long as you’re standing in front of it, you’ll be fine!You can also stop off at Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse in Augusta, it’s a pretty breathtaking place and a nice little break from the drive. Two other must-do stop-offs en-route is the Gloucester Tree, and the Valley of the Giants treetop walk in Denmark . Two really special places!

Top Things to do in Albany

Day 8: Drive to Bremer Bay

Day 10: Drive to Esperence

Day 12: Drive to Wave Rock

Day 13: Drive to Cervantes

Day 14: Drive to Monkey Mia

Yay for Monkey Mia ! The Monkey Mia Resort is pure and utter bliss. You can chill on the beach, feed the dolphins in the most eco-friendly environment (aka, the dolphins naturally swim in to the beach every day to get their daily fish – no nets or pens involved whatsoever), go on a catamaran cruise to see the Dugongs, and just generally relax. When we were there in one day we saw dolphins, stingrays, and a turtle all from the beach, it was amazing!

Day 17: Drive to Coral Bay

Coral Bay is the Western Australia version of the Great Barrier Reef . However, while the Great Barrier Reef takes hours on a boat to get to, you can quite literally walk out to the reef at Coral Bay. It’s perfect for families and those who prefer snorkelling to scuba diving, and is a great place to spend a few days relaxing and exploring the underwater world and stunning coral reef.

A post shared by Australia (@australia) on Apr 22, 2017 at 11:59pm PDT

Day 22: Drive to Exmouth

If you visit between March and September, Exmouth is where you can swim with the giant plankton-eating Whale Sharks! Exmouth is also where you can visit the Cape Range National Park, and Ningaloo Marine Park.

A post shared by Western Australia (@westernaustralia) on Apr 24, 2017 at 1:18am PDT

Day 24: Drive to Broome

Now, you might decide you’d like to stop at Exmouth and head back down to Perth, or you could drive an extra 13 hours (sorry…Australia is just a really big place OK!) to Broome and the famous Cable Beach, where you can ride camels at sunset. On your way to Broome make sure you pay a visit to Eighty Mile Beach as well!

A post shared by Australia (@australia) on May 30, 2017 at 2:01pm PDT

Day 26: Drive Back to Perth

It’s time to drive back down to Perth, your epic month-long Western Australian roadtrip is almost over. Spend a few days driving back down and stopping off on the way down. Personally I recommend stopping at Kalbarri, which is where the famous Kalbarri National Park is located, and the very famous ‘Nature’s Window’ that you may have seen on various people’s Instagram. You could also stop off at Geraldton after that to help break up the journey even more.

A post shared by ✈🌏 (@louisecrpn) on May 4, 2017 at 3:09am PDT

Day 30: Arrive Back in Perth

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Catherine Lux is a veteran travel blogger by night and the Head of SEO at Havas Media Group by day. Originally from Surrey, she spent four years living in Australia (2007-2009, and 2016-2018), and now lives in London. An ex-party girl sometimes prone to relapses, she loves nothing more than sharing her fine dining and luxury travel experiences with her loyal readers.

Find me on: Web | Instagram

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Hotel review: fraser suites, perth., 15 photos that will make you want to …, autumn bondi beach days., a one-day guide to visiting zion national ….

Ahh this looks like the perfect way to spend 4 weeks – all that amazing turquoise water is definitely calling my name! I would also love to see the sunset from Sugarloaf Rock – that picture is gorgeous and it probably doesn't even do it justice! x

Laura // Middle of Adventure

I'd love to do this itinerary!! Wave rock looks so cool.

Amazing itinerary, thanks. I am planning to go to Australia by the end of this year and I am looking for some inspiration.

Thanks Christine, defo a typo 😉

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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.

two weeks australia itinerary - glen helen gorge

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

two weeks in australia - sydney opera house

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

two weeks australia itinerary - bondi beach sydney

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!

two weeks in australia itinerary - renting a campervan

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.

two weeks in australia - camping in uluru

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.

two weeks in australia - sydney from above

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.

two weeks australia itinerary - sydney harbor bridge

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.

two weeks australia itinerary - blue mountains

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.

two weeks in australia itinerary - melbourne

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.

two week australia itinerary - melbourne

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.

two weeks australia itinerary - great ocean road

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.

two week australia itinerary - great barrier reef

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.

two weeks australia itinerary - daintree rainforest

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

two weeks australia itinerary - cradle mountain

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

two weeks australia itinerary - the pinnacles

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

two weeks australia itinerary - sunshine coast

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.

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Nellie Huang

Nellie Huang is the founder of WildJunket. Originally from Singapore, Nellie has traveled to over 140 countries across 7 continents. As an adventure travel blogger, she has a special interest in unusual destinations and deep experiences. Her work has appeared in many major publications including BBC Travel, CNN and LonelyPlanet.com. Read more about her here and get more life updates from her on her Facebook and Instagram .

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.

australia travel itinerary 4 weeks

IMAGES

VIDEO

COMMENTS

Your Perfect Australia Itinerary For 1-4 Weeks

How Many Days In Australia Is Enough?

How To Plan Your Perfect Australia Itinerary?

How To Get Around Australia?

Three Week Australia Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrive in Australia

Day 2 – Phillip Island

Day 3 – Melbourne

For a full list of fun things to do in Melbourne, check out our post here.

Day 4 – The Great Ocean Road

For more information on visiting the Twelve Apostles, check out the guide here.

Day 5 – The Great Ocean Road

For more details on this two day Great Ocean Road Trip, check out our complete itinerary here.

Day 6 – Travel and Kuranda

For more ideas on things to do in Cairns, check out our post here.

Day 7 & 8 – The Great Barrier Reef

Day 9 – Daintree National Park

Day 10 – Brisbane

Day 11 – Brisbane

For a full list of activities, check out the things to do in Brisbane here.

Check out our full post on what to expect at Lone Pine here.

Day 12-15 – Australia’s Pacific Coast

Want more information on all of the stops, we wrote all about our road trip here.

Day 16 – The Blue Mountains

To learn more about our one day Blue Mountain itinerary, check out our post here.

Day 17 – Bondi Beach

Day 18 – Sydney Sights

For the breakdown of how we spent our time in Sydney, check out our detailed Sydney itinerary here.

Day 19 – More Sydney

For a full list of popular things to do in Sydney, check out our list here.

Want To Adjust the Australia Itinerary?

Two Week Australia Itinerary

Four Week Australia Itinerary

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Where to stay = WakeUp! Sydney or YHA The Rocks

Where to stay = Yamba YHA now Yamba Central Hotel (but still just as good!)

Where to stay = The Surf House or Aquarius Hostel

Where to stay = Brisbane YHA

Where to stay = Halse Lodge

Where to stay = Pippies Beachhouse

Top Tours = Pippies (camping), Nomads (hostel style) or DropBear (nature & heritage)

Overnight bus to Airlie Beach

Airlie Beach

Where to stay = Nomads Airlie Beach

Top Tours = Tongarra, Wings, Powerplay or Ride To Paradise.

Where to stay = Base Magnetic Island (party vibes) or Bungalow Bay YHA (chilled vibes)

Where to stay = Scottys YHA or Absolute Backpackers

Where to stay = Gilligans

Add in Melbourne

Add in Surfers Paradise

Extend Your Stay

Plan Your Perfect Trip

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