Australia's size and its distance from Northern Hemisphere destinations are the two most daunting things about planning a visit. It's a long way to come for just a week, but if that's all you can spare, you still want to see as much as possible. While our inclination is to immerse ourselves in one spot, we're aware that not everyone wants to do that. Seeing as much as you can is often a priority.
Australia is a complex and fascinating place, merging ancient Aboriginal culture with modern life. You'll learn a lot in a week or two but will have just scraped the surface of this vast nation.
If you're a first-time visitor, with only 1 or 2 weeks, you may find these two itineraries most helpful: Australia in 1 Week or Australia in 2 Weeks. These itineraries can be shifted around to suit your needs; you could substitute the Cairns section of Australia in 1 Week for the Uluru/Red Centre suggestions in Australia in 2 Weeks, flying from Sydney to Uluru.
If you've been to Australia before, or have already visited our major icons -- Sydney, the Great Barrier Reef, or Uluru (Ayers Rock) -- you might want to focus on another aspect of the country. You may even want to head out West to see the lesser-known, but very rewarding, parts of the country. If you're bringing your family with you, our Australia for Kids itinerary may give you some ideas to keep the young ones occupied (at the same time entertaining their parents).
You might also review our "Best ofs" to see what experiences or sights have special appeal to you, and adjust the itineraries to suit your own interests.
Getting around this vast continent, where the major attractions are thousands of miles apart, is daunting and time-consuming. Flying is the only way to cover long distances efficiently, but unfortunately it can also be expensive. Remember to allow flying time in your itineraries and don't try to pack too much in on the days you fly -- even domestic flights can be around 3 hours, and can be draining.
Our best advice is to take a tip from Australians: If the pace gets too hectic, just chill out and reorder your sightseeing priorities. Take time to meet the locals and ask their advice on what you should see as well.
Australia Travel Experiences
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Australia Top Moments
Well, I figured since we had spent so much time in Oz.. I would compile a list of the best moments. Now.. if I missed a great one..... Continue reading »
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Australia
The first true leg of our RTW trip began in Australia, as we landed in Darwin on 2 July.The first ten or so days we rented a 4x4 and drov... Continue reading »
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Olympic City
Jim's old buddy Stuart hosted us in beautiful Sydney. He acted as social coordinator, surf instructor, chauffer, and city... Continue reading »
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Life in Oz
Monday - PerthArrived early in the morning after a good flight where I had nobody next to me so I was able to grab about 4 hours sleep.&n... Continue reading »
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Australia - Sydney
We arrived in Australia with mixed feelings. Gutted that we were leaving Africa but excited about catching up with friends and having hom... Continue reading »
