A Perfect Tour Of Australia

Day 1–3

Hello Sydney

Say good morning to Australia, taking breakfast overlooking sparkling Sydney Harbour (for more information, click here), and spend at least two days soaking up the city from several angles. Explore history in the Rocks, climb the iconic Harbour Bridge and catch a show at the Opera House. Pick a sunny day to catch a ferry across the harbour to Manly. Graze at a seafront restaurant or learn to surf with the experts.

Days 4–5

Blue Mountains

It’s a short drive or train journey to see the Blue Mountains (for more information, click here), to the west of Sydney. Here you can be as active (canyoning, abseiling and bushwalking) or as inactive (mountain vistas and gourmet meals) as you like.

Days 6–7

Melbourne

A long day’s drive or a short flight from brash Sydney will take you to Australia’s sophisticated southern capital, Melbourne (for more information, click here). Multi-layered Melbourne’s skyscrapers conceal a labyrinth of bluestone alleys that host fashionable boutiques, hipster cafes, and a riot of street art. Galleries, theatres, nightclubs and sporting extravaganzas gild this entertainment and culture hub.

Day 8

Phillip Island

Your best chance of seeing a penguin without heading towards Antarctica is on a day tour from Melbourne to Phillip Island (for more information, click here), where you can also spot koalas and fur seals.

Days 9–11

Cairns

Tropical Cairns (for more information, click here) is a four-hour flight and a climate zone away from Melbourne. Hop aboard a fast catamaran to the Great Barrier Reef and spend a day diving or snorkelling. For a different viewpoint on day two, zip through tropical rainforest on a cable car up to Kuranda for a lunch of tropical fruit.

Days 12–14

Top End

Hire a car in Darwin to explore the best of the Northern Territory’s Top End (for more information, click here). Catch sight of the jumping crocodiles of the Adelaide River and plunge into crystal clear pools in Litchfield National Park. For a cultural insight like no other, take an Aboriginal bush-tucker tour in Kakadu National Park.

Days 15–18

Red Centre

From Alice Springs (for more information, click here), take a day tour to the West MacDonnell Range before moving on to Yulara, five hours’ drive from Alice, to experience the shifting hues of Uluru and Kata Tjuta.

Days 19­–21

Queensland

Southern Queensland, blessed with perfect weather, offers awesome activities in a playground of adorable beaches and rainforests. Brisbane (for more information, click here) is a vibrant gateway to the glitzy Gold Coast, where surfing and theme parks keep the adrenaline flowing.