Australia Travel Guide
Priya Nair· Asia Editor
Updated September 12, 2026 · 9 min read
Australia is a continent with a coastal population: Sydney's harbour, Melbourne's lanes, the Gold Coast's surf, the Whitsundays' sailing and Cairns' reef on the east; Uluru and the Outback in the middle. Planning figures: cities AU$150–170/day, the reef trips AU$200+.
The classic route: Sydney (4) → the east coast (7) by flights and buses, or the red-centre add-on (3) to Uluru.
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Sydney covers the harbour, Bondi and the Blue Mountains. Melbourne adds the lanes and the Great Ocean Road. The east coast runs Byron → the Whitsundays → Cairns and the reef. Uluru is the red heart; Tasmania the wilderness add-on.
- East coast: Sydney 4 → Byron 2 → Whitsundays 3 → Cairns 3.
- Icons: Sydney 3 → Uluru 2 → the reef 3.
- South: Melbourne 3 → the Great Ocean Road 2 → Tasmania 4.
The Domestic-Flight Arithmetic
Australia's distances demand flights: Sydney–Cairns is 3 hours, Sydney–Uluru 3.5. Book the Jetstar and Virgin hops with the international ticket; the Greyhound buses serve the coast slowly and cheaply.
The East Coast Arc
Sydney to Cairns, two weeks.
Day 1 · Sydney — harbour
The Opera House and the Rocks.
Day 2 · Sydney — Bondi
The coastal walk and Icebergs.
Day 3 · Blue Mountains
The Three Sisters' cliffs.
Day 4 · Sydney — flex
Manly or the markets.
Day 5 · Byron Bay
The lighthouse and the surf.
Day 6 · Brisbane & Gold Coast
The river city and the headland.
Day 7 · Whitsundays
Whitehaven's silica swirls.
Day 8 · Sail day
The snorkel stops.
Day 9 · Cairns
The Esplanade and the reef gateway.
Day 10 · The reef
The outer-reef snorkel or dive.
Day 11 · Daintree
The rainforest and the river.
Day 12 · Uluru add-on
Fly to the red centre.
Day 13 · Uluru sunrise
The rock's colour change.
Day 14 · Departure
Fly out via Sydney.
Practical planning info
Money
- Cities AU$150–170/day; reef trips AU$200+.
- Domestic flights AU$80–200 per hop.
When
- May–October is the dry, reef-safe window north.
- The south is best November–April.
Frequently asked questions
East coast or the Outback?
First trip: the east coast. The Outback's Uluru deserves its own flight and two nights.
Is Australia expensive?
Mid-priced: AU$150–170/day in the cities, with the distances adding flight costs.
How many days for Australia?
Two weeks does the east coast plus Uluru; three adds Tasmania or the west.
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