Australia has long been on many a bucket list because of its unique location on the other side of the Equator. This country, the sixth largest in the world, includes the Australian continent, Tasmania, and several other islands, promising amazing diversity in terms of topography and experiences. From the rich history and culture of the First Nations and colonial architecture to natural splendour and contemporary life, you can savour it all on a visit. With all that going for it, we wouldn’t blame you for feeling a bit overwhelmed if you’re thinking of planning a holiday in Oz. But, no worries, as they say Down Under – here’s our 10-day Australia itinerary to get you started on your exploration.
Begin with our selection of the most beautiful places to visit in Australia.
Best time to visit Australia
The seasons will be reversed as you head to the southern hemisphere. A rough demarcation would be spring (September-November), summer (December-February), autumn (March-May), and winter (June-August). But note that the weather can be considerably different in different parts of Australia. It is a whole continent after all!
Each region and activity has its high points. The ideal Australia itinerary for beach lovers would work in December, January, or February as they are the best months to enjoy summer sunshine. For those planning their trip around snorkelling at the Great Barrier Reef, the cooler months between June and August are the best time to visit, being the most affordable and with fewer tourists. If you’re looking to ski or savour snowy slopes, head to New South Wales and Perisher near Sydney or Falls Creek and Mount Hotham near Melbourne in winter.
For this multi-faceted Australia itinerary that we have put together for you, the shoulder seasons of March to May and September to November are the best time to visit so that you can experience the best of the cities and countryside. You may get a little rain, but the temperature will be more pleasant for outdoor adventures and hikes.
Australia itinerary days 1-2: G’day, Sydney!
Fly into Sydney, one of Australia’s most sophisticated cities, packed with plenty of action and beauty. The Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, the busiest in the country, is only eight km from the Central Business District (Sydney CBD), a great place to stay if you’re here for only a day or two. From the Radisson Blu Plaza to the W and the Hyatt Regency to The Fullerton, there are plenty of options to pick from. Taxis are relatively expensive, but the easiest way to get to your hotel in the city, especially since the distance is not that large. If you stay in the Circular Quay or Darling Harbour areas, you’ll be near all the sights and the stunning waterfront. You could also opt to stay on Bondi Beach if sun, sand and surf are what you are looking for in Sydney. In the evening on day 1, after you’re settled in your hotel, stroll through the neighbourhood and soak in the slick Sydney vibe.
Pub-hopping, surfing and more… Explore our selection of the best things to do in Sydney.
On day 2 of this awesome Australia itinerary, it’s time to check out the stylish Bondi Beach area! Snorkel, surf, sunbathe or people-watch on the sand. Head indoors for cultural sustenance at the historic Bondi Pavilion or get your fill of Aboriginal art at the Cooee Art Gallery. If it’s the weekend, you could shop for souvenirs at the Bondi market. Later, enjoy a scenic ferry ride from Circular Quay to Manly Beach, taking you past the iconic Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. On your return, walk over the bridge and explore the historic village of The Rocks below, promising a fascinating old-world atmosphere with narrow, cobblestone streets and the oldest surviving pub in the city — The Lord Nelson. This area also has some stately Gothic revival mansions open to visitors. When you step out again, remember to catch the spectacular sunset near the bridge – the Opera Bar, next to the Opera House, offers a good spot for this. Head to Chinatown for the best dinner.
Check out this list of the best restaurants and cafes for a delicious summer visit to Bondi Beach.
Book your stay at Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel at Circular Quay via Booking.com
Book your stay at Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel at Circular Quay via Agoda.com
Days 3-5: Blue Mountains, Mparntwe, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
Hop on a train this morning from Sydney Central Station and make day 3 memorable with a trip to the Blue Mountains. The comfortable two-hour journey will bring you to Katoomba, from where Echo Point and Three Sisters sandstone towers are only 10 minutes away. If you love trails, you’ll enjoy the easy 45-minute one towards the Jamison Valley and the three-hour hike down the Giant Stairway that takes you through the cliffs. If you’d rather have someone else do the hard work, head to Scenic World and defer to the engine of the world’s steepest passenger railway, taking you to the Scenic Cableway or the glass-floored Scenic Skyway. Unwinding over afternoon tea at an Art Deco café in Katoomba is a popular way to relax and with good reason.
Here’s our selection of the best things to do in Australia – beaches, mountains, and outback adventures included.
Another day, another journey on your exciting Australia itinerary! On day 4, fly three hours to Alice Springs/ Mparntwe to go walkabout in the Olive Pink Botanic Garden, and charming pedestrian-only Todd Mall, then check out aboriginal art at one of the many galleries here. If you are into wildlife, The Kangaroo Sanctuary is a good stop to meet kangaroos on your Australia itinerary. If you’re here in April, you can drive to the outskirts and the millennia-old MacDonnell Ranges to witness the wonderful light installations telling the story of thousands of years of Aboriginal culture, a part of the 10-day Parrtjima Festival. Visit in October to partake in the Bush Food Festival, which will allow you to feast on Aboriginal culinary faves and have an immersive cultural experience with music, cinema, and art.
A must-visit in this region is the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, home to Uluru rock that dates back half a billion years! A five-hour drive from Alice Springs on day 5 of your Australia itinerary will bring you to Uluru. The right way to discover the secrets and understand the stories of this natural formation, a spiritual centre for the Anangu locals even today, would be to take an aboriginal-led outback tour of the Red Centre. Later, drive 50 km to Kata Tjuta, the natural wonder featuring 36 domes stretched over more than 20 sq km. A walk through this sacred site is visually beautiful but also spiritually vibrant. At the end of the day, relax with a camel ride or dinner under the stars. Sails in the Desert is a resort promising décor inspired by the Aboriginal way of life, boasting an impressive collection of Indigenous art throughout the property and in its gallery.
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Book your stay at Sofitel Melbourne On Collins via Booking.com
Book your stay at Sofitel Melbourne on Collins via Agoda.com
Australia itinerary days 6-7: To Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef
After experiencing the most expansive and exquisite sunrise at Uluru, start day 6 of your Australia itinerary with a flight to Cairns. The 150-minute plane ride from Ayers Rock Airport will bring you to Queensland’s primary city. The UNESCO sites of the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest are accessible from here. But first off, we recommend a visit to the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park for a fun immersion into Aboriginal culture. Spend the evening at the Cairns Esplanade, taking in the public art, appreciating the talent of the lively buskers, relaxing in one of the many parks, and maybe even trying your hand at a barbecue! The waterfront has many great options for dining out.
Surfing at iconic beaches, hiking in lush rainforests, and enjoying the vibrant nightlife… experience some of the best things to do along Queensland’s iconic Gold Coast.
They say the Great Barrier Reef in the Coral Sea is the biggest living structure on Earth and one of the few visible from outer space. But even if it didn’t have that distinction, it’s quite a special place to visit, with 3,000 coral reefs, 980 islands and 1,500 species of fish reportedly spread across 2,300 km. Of course, you will only see a small section of the mega magnificence of this UNESCO World Heritage site.
On Day 7 of your Australia itinerary, you’ll need to plan which islands and reefs you want to see. Some are connected by plane or helicopter, while most can be reached by boat. There are many options and repeat visitors tend to go to the lesser-known ones. As a first-timer, you can try snorkelling at Agincourt Reef and Lady Musgrave Island and diving at Heron Island. At Lady Elliott Island, you can swim close to manta rays, while Hamilton is good if you’re travelling with kids and Hayman is perfect for a couple’s getaway. You could even sign up for a Great Barrier Reef cruise if you want to stay longer and extend your Australia itinerary.
Book your stay at Brisbane Marriott Hotel via Booking.com
Book your stay at Brisbane Marriott Hotel via Agoda.com
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Australia itinerary days 8-10: Brisbane and Melbourne
If you have the luxury of more time to explore Australia, you could spend another day in and around Cairns. The Daintree Rainforest beckons, another unmissable UNESCO heritage experience about a three-hour drive away. Among the numerous bird species, the endangered Southern Cassowary is the cutest and most difficult to spot. Apart from horse riding, walking trails, and the aerial walkway on day 8, you can also learn the traditional Aboriginal ways of hunting, fishing, and foraging with a local tour operator.
On day 9 of your Australia itinerary, head to Brisbane, a city full of museums dedicated to art and culture, a little more than two hours away by plane. The South Bank is known for this, while the Kurilpa Bridge is worth a dekko too. Magical Melbourne, with its unique neighbourhoods, historic monuments, pulsating art and theatre scene, gorgeous wine region, and teeming wildlife on the outskirts is just three-and-a-half hours away by air.
Melby deserves a separate visit and our 10-day Melbourne itinerary will help you make the most of this fabulous Australian city.
On the last day of this 10-day Australia itinerary, it’s time to indulge in shopping. Opals and boomerangs are unique gifts to purchase from this country, while foods such as Vegemite spread and Tim Tam chocolate biscuits are popular buys too. Ensure you leave plenty of time to get to the airport in time no matter which city you’re flying out from, in case you face traffic. And also so you have lots of relaxed shopping and leisure time at the airport.
Here’s our selection of the best beaches in Australia.
Book your stay at Oakwood Premier Melbourne via Booking.com
Book your stay at Oakwood Premier Melbourne via Agoda.com
Things to remember when travelling to Australia
- Don’t pack foods that are not commercially packaged and sealed into your luggage, and definitely do not carry fruits and vegetables, wooden items, etc. From feathers to firearms, it’s all prohibited and their forbidding border security will scrutinise every single bag to ensure nothing proscribed enters this island continent. Read the rules and check all your belongings once again before boarding your flight.
- The wildlife in Australia is unique, with a special line of marsupials for you to marvel at. But be it kangaroos, koalas, penguins, potaroos, and all the other amazing animals, birds, reptiles, and plant life that you’ll want to see, remember to always be respectful and careful of their well-being. This includes places that offer cuddles with cute animals, which may seem fantastic for you but may not be as pleasant for the cuddlee.
- With over 10,000 beaches, Australia has a lifetime of experiences to offer. But while you’re in the water, make sure you stay away from rip tides by paying attention to the safety flags and instructions.
- Australian slang is quite charming and colourful. It may be fun to pick up a phrase or two, and helpful to bond with locals better too.
shop the best travel experiences here
(Feature Image Credit: Glenn Lewis/Flickr)
Related: Bookmark This: Australia’s Top Unmissable Destinations & Experiences
The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
The minimum of a week is needed to start your Australia adventure. To really see the whole country, which covers more than a whole continent, it would probably take at least a month.
This would depend on your interests, but if we are speaking cities, then Sydney and Melbourne, the capital Canberra, and others such as Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Hobart, Perth, and more are all interesting in their own way. Australia also has a number of natural wonders that are worth visiting, be it the Great Barrier Reef, Uluru Rock, the 12 Apostles, various wildlife reserves across the nation, etc. As a cultural melting pot too, it has so much to offer from its own Aboriginal culture to the ways of settlers from everywhere.
The time of year and the places you are visiting would determine this. But, since they often joke that the weather in Australia is like four seasons in one day, it’s best to layer up and be prepared for all eventualities, be it rain, shine, wind or snow!
Yes. If you hold an Indian passport, you need to apply for an Australian visa from India to visit. While not all nationalities require a visa to enter Australia, eligibility can be checked on the official website.
Planes, trains, rented cars, buses, boats, ferries, trams, hikes, and taxis (in cities) are all excellent ways to get around. Each region has its own railway network.
Australia is generally considered a safe place to visit. But just as you would while travelling anywhere in the world, remain alert and make sure you keep valuables close. While indulging in adventure activities, ensure you use all the right protective gear and take the necessary precautions as listed by the provider of the service.
Australians are very active as a nation and the country is well geared for things such as surfing, snorkelling, scuba diving, and hiking. You can also watch spectator sports such as Cricket, Rugby, Tennis, and Australian rules football, as well as play yourself in some places. Art and culture are well represented, with plenty of museums and street art to enjoy. The food scene is very rich, with various international cuisines available and café culture vibrant in most cities. Wine tastings and vineyard tours are another way to explore this country.
Written By
Priya Pathiyan
A chronicler of all things culture and lifestyle. Priya\'s forte is fresh perspective on everything. ..Read More
