Planning a trip to Australia for the first time can feel like a daunting task, because of Australia’s vast size and remote location. The number of beautiful places in Australia can be overwhelming, but even if you only have two weeks in Australia you can see so many of the country’s most beautiful sights and destinations. In this 14 day itinerary for Australia, you’ll visit the UNESCO World Heritage Listed Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest, cuddle koalas & see kangaroos, emus, wombats & platypus, experience the most vibrant cities in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, beach hop on the Gold Coast and in Sydney, and choose between exploring the Barossa Valley or Uluru!

Australia is an enormous country, approximately the same size as the USA. While you can’t see all of Australia in 2 weeks, you can see many of the country’s greatest hits. From pristine natural wonders, to unique wildlife, gorgeous landscapes and to world class food & wine, this 2 week Australia itinerary has a bit of it all!

In case you’re new here, my name is Genevieve and I’m Australian, and live in Melbourne. I’ve travelled all over Australia, and these are the places I’d recommend making time for if you’re planning your first trip to Australia for 2 weeks. If you’ve got longer, check out my itinerary for one month in Australia along the east coast.

How to get around Australia

Flying is the best way to get around Australia. You can fly between each destination in this 14 day itinerary of Australia. You’ll need to hire a car to reach the Barossa Valley, and if you plan to drive to Byron Bay from the Gold Coast. Otherwise, you don’t need a car on this itinerary.

2 Week Itinerary for Australia

• Day 1-3: Cairns & Great Barrier Reef
• Day 3-5: Brisbane
• Day 5-7: Gold Coast
• Day 7-9: Sydney
• Day 9-12: Melbourne
• Day 12-14: Barossa Valley OR
• Day 12-16: Uluru

This itinerary moves at a pretty steady clip, because I know that Australia is a once-in-a-lifetime trip for many people. I’ve included a variety of the best things to see & do in Australia in the two week itinerary, to maximise your time here. Most of this itinerary is on the east coast of Australia, to reduce your travel time.

I’ve suggested two different options for the end of the trip: The Barossa Valley or Uluru. Uluru will require a few extra days, and it will depend on the time of year that you’re visiting as it is best visited from May-October.

The Barossa Valley is an easy win, and is a great option if you love food & wine, or are looking for a more leisurely end to your trip.

You could take this itinerary at a slower pace by adding a night in Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Sydney or Melbourne. At the end of this post, I’ve also suggested four other destinations that you might consider if you have more time, or if you’ve already visited some of the destinations in this itinerary. The extra destination ideas are The Whitsundays, Tasmania, the Great Ocean Road and Perth.

Map

Day 1-3: Brisbane

Start your two weeks in Australia with a few days exploring Brisbane, the capital city of Queensland. Brisbane is the fastest-growing city in Australia and has changed dramatically in the last 15 years. The pretty river city has a lively energy and a welcoming, laidback lifestyle. The city is especially fired up at the moment, getting ready to host the 2032 Olympic Games!

Brisbane enjoys year-round sunshine and warm weather, so make the most of it with al fresco dining along Howard Smith Wharves on the Brisbane River, or from one of Brisbane’s best rooftop bars. Enjoy Brisbane River views during a stroll through South Bank & by Streets Beach, and spend an afternoon at the best modern art gallery in Australia, GoMA. 

Leafy James Street in New Farm is one of Brisbane’s hottest destinations, lined with Australian and international designers,  some of Brisbane’s best new restaurants and the luxury Calile Hotel. My favourite restaurants here are SK Steak & Oyster, Hellenika and Agnes. I stayed at the Calile for a week before our wedding, and it was the oasis of calm I desperately needed before the big day!

A day at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is a must if you want to cuddle a koala, and get up close to some of Australia’s most iconic wildlife. In addition to koalas, Lone Pine is home to several species of kangaroos and wallabies, as well as emus, echidnas, wombats, the elusive platypus, and more!

Find accommodation in Brisbane

Best Things to Do

• Meet koalas & kangaroos at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
• Shopping & dining on James Street 
• Dinner & drinks on Howard Smith Wharves
• Southbank Parklands & Streets Beach
• Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA)

Find guided tours in Brisbane

Where to stay in Brisbane

• Brisbane CBD – The W
• Fortitude Valley – Hotel X
• New Farm – Calile Hotel

Getting there & away

Fly in & out of Brisbane airport.

Day 3-5: Cairns & Great Barrier Reef

Continue your Australian odyssey with a few days in Queensland’s tropical north. Cairns is the gateway to two of Australia’s most spectacular natural treasures, the Great Barrier Reef & the Daintree Rainforest. All that tropical sunshine will certainly help you get over your the last of your jetlag!

The Great Barrier Reef is the biggest reef system in the world, with more 2900 reefs and 900 islands. It stretches along the coastline of northern Queensland, but Cairns is the best place to visit from. Book a day trip in advance, there are dozens of day tours to the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns to choose from. If you have time, add a day trip to pretty Green Island just off the coast of Cairns for snorkelling in the shallows, off the beach.

On your second day in Cairns, hit the road again to visit the UNESCO World Heritage listed Daintree Rainforest. The Daintree is the oldest tropical rainforest in the world, and is millions of years older than the Amazon. This pristine, ancient rainforest is home to more than 400 protected species, and there are more different species of trees in one hectare of the Daintree than in the entirety of the UK!

The best way to experience the Daintree is to book a day tour from Cairns. Often these tours include other great stops along the way, like to Port Douglas, Cape Tribulation or a cruise on the Daintree River.

One of the other best things to do in Cairns is to visit Kuranda, a rainforest village tucked up high in the mountains. Visiting Kuranda is as much about the journey as the destination, as you can take the Kuranda Skyrail (gondola) and the Kuranda Scenic Railway to and from the village.

Find Hotels in Cairns

Best Things to Do

• Day Tour to the Great Barrier Reef
• Day Tour to the Daintree Rainforest
• Cape Tribulation
• Port Douglas
• Kuranda Skyrail

Find Cairns & Great Barrier Reef Tours

Getting there & away

Fly in & out of Cairns International Airport. This part of the trip is a bit of a dog leg, but there are few international flights into Cairns.

Day 5-7: Gold Coast

The Gold Coast is the most famous beach destination Australia  and is worth squeezing into your 2 week trip to Australia. Spend your time on the Gold Coast beach hopping, learning to surf and enjoying fresh seafood at oceanfront restaurants or on the beach with takeaway from a local fish & chip shop. Stay in Broadbeach, Burleigh, Surfers Paradise or Coolangatta. 

If you visit between June-November, you can go whale watching on the Gold Coast and spot beautiful humpback whales as they migrate along the east coast of Australia.

Alternatively, drive further south to cross the border into New South Wales, and stay in Byron Bay. Byron Bay has been a hot spot for decades, but it’s intensified in recent years after Chris Hemsworth & Elisa Patyk moved there, driving up the already sky high house prices. You could also just visit Byron on a day trip from the Gold Coast.

Find Hotels on the Gold Coast

Best Things to Do

• Burleigh Beach
• Burleigh Heads National Park
• Views from Skypoint
• Oceanfront dinner at The Tropic or Rick Shores
• Whale watching

Day 7-9: Sydney

Sydney is the largest city in Australia, and home to so many iconic Australian sights. You can see the Sydney Opera House, Darling Harbour and the Sydney Harbour Bridge in a twenty minute walk around Circular Quay. Start at the Royal Botanic Garden, behind the Opera House, and after you’ve seen Sydney Harbour Bridge, explore The Rocks, which is one of Sydney’s original neighbourhoods.

Spend a day beach hopping, by starting at Coogee Beach and then taking the Coogee to Bondi Coastal Walk along the dramatic coastal cliffs. There are plenty of beautiful beach stops along the way, including Gordons Bay, Clovelly, Bronte and Tamarama Beach. This is my favourite thing to do in Sydney! Alternatively, skip the activewear and head straight to lunch at the iconic Icebergs restaurant in Bondi, overlooking the pool and Bondi Beach.

Find tours in Sydney

Best Things to Do

• Bondi Beach
• Coogee to Bondi Cliff Walk
• Sydney Opera House
• Sydney Harbour Bridge

Find hotels in Sydney

Days 9-12: Melbourne

Melbourne is Australia’s capital of culture and sport. Melbourne is the second-largest city in Australia and is known for its laneway bars & restaurants, coffee, culture & vibrant, diverse communities. There are so many amazing things to do in Melbourne! Start by exploring the famous laneways covered in street art in the Melbourne CBD, notably Hosier Lane and ACDC Lane. Check out my guide to 20 of the best things to do in Melbourne for first time visitors, for more ideas.

Dine at some of the country’s best restaurants, bars and pubs, and soak up some culture at the National Gallery of Victoria. Visit Melbourne’s most famous beach neighbourhood, St Kilda, or head to historic Italian neighbourhood, Carlton, and trendy Fitzroy on the northside. Head to the South Melbourne Market on the weekend for a market brunch, or make a reservation months in advance for Attica, the best restaurant in Australia. Check out my itinerary for 3 days in Melbourne, to help plan your first trip to the city.

Find Tours in Melbourne

Best Things to Do

• Explore Melbourne’s laneways & street art
• Eat at the best restaurant in Australia, Attica
• South Melbourne Market
• National Gallery of Victoria (NGV)
• Soak up the colourful atmosphere in St Kilda
• Visit Melbourne’s Little Italy in Carlton

Find Hotels in Melbourne

Day 12-14: Barossa Valley

End your 2 weeks trip to Australia in the Barossa Valley, Australia’s premier wine region. Many first time travellers to Australia don’t realise that Australia is home to dozens of world class wine regions, that compete with the likes of the Napa Valley and Europe’s best. The Barossa Valley is the oldest and considered to be the best (although, that’s a good way to start an argument in Australia!)

The Barossa Valley is in the state of South Australia. Consider spending an afternoon or evening in the capital, Adelaide, before driving to the Barossa Valley. Adelaide is a small city, but is home to some excellent bars and restaurants, especially on Leigh Street and Peel Street. If you have time, check out Adelaide Central Market for a lively market breakfast or lunch. On your way from Adelaide to the Barossa Valley, make a detour to Penfolds Estate, just outside the Adelaide CBD. Penfolds is Australia’s best heritage wine brand, and the tour of the winery estate is a must-do for wine lovers. End with a tasting of the famed Penfolds Grange!

In the Barossa Valley, visit some of the oldest and grandest wineries in Australia, including Seppeltsfield, Yalumba and Chateau Yaldara. One of my other favourites it’s Henschke, in the Eden Valley. Make a reservation for lunch at acclaimed chef Maggie Beer’s restaurant, The Farm Eatery, and a reservation for dinner at Vintner’s.

Note that Australia has a lower legal drinking limit than in the USA, and it is very strictly enforced. Be safe and sensible if you are self-driving around the Barossa Valley. Better still, book a wine tour and leave the driving to someone else!

Find a winery tour in the Barossa Valley

Best Things to Do

• Yalumba
• Henschke
• Lunch at The Farm Eatery
• Dinner at Vintners

Find accommodation in the Barossa Valley

Getting there & away

Fly in & out of Adelaide Airport. You’ll need to hire a car to drive to the Barossa Valley, which is 1 hour from Adelaide. There are a few small towns in the Barossa Valley, we stayed in Tanundah which is well located and has a range of B&B style accommodation.

Day 12-16: Uluru

Option two is an extension of your trip, to visit Uluru. 

Uluru is an icon of Australia, located in the heart of Australia’s Red Centre. I haven’t  yet been to Uluru myself, but it is very high on my bucket list – I’m hoping to go in the next two years. You’ll need more than 48 hours to visit Uluru, due to its remote location. There are a number of accommodation options within Ayers Rock Resort, and Uluru tours and experiences available to make the most of your experience. Uluru is also a great place to book an Aboriginal tour or experience in Australia.

Due to Uluru’s desert climate, the best time of year to visit Uluru is May-September, when it is dry and cooler. During this time the average maximum daily temperature is usually between 20-30 degrees celsius (68-86 degrees Fahrenheit). October-April is known for scorching temperatures and rain, so it’s not the best time to visit but it will be cheaper.

If you’re visiting between May-September, it’s a great time of year to visit Uluru, but if you’re travelling between October-March I’d recommend visiting the Barossa Valley instead. Or if wine isn’t your thing, check out one of my other suggestions below.

Getting there & away

Fly in & out of Ayers Rock (Connellan) Airport to get to Uluru. It is a 5 hour drive from Alice Springs to Uluru, so don’t make the mistake of flying to Alice Springs!

Extra destination ideas

If you’ve got extra time, or want to swap one of the above destinations out, consider the Whitsundays, Tasmania, the Great Ocean Road or Perth.

The Whitsundays

If you’re visiting between May-October and want to luxuriate on one of the most beautiful tropical islands in the world, add a stop in The Whitsundays between Cairns and Brisbane. The most popular islands to stay on in the Whitsundays are Hamilton Island, Hayman Island and Daydream Island.

Whichever island you choose, take a day cruise in the Whitsundays to Whitehaven Beach, on Whitsunday Island. Whitehaven Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world!

Fly from Melbourne to Proserpine on the mainland and catch a ferry to the islands, or fly direct to Hamilton Island.

Tasmania

Australia’s island state looks small compared to Australia, but it’s the same size as Ireland! Visit Tasmania for beautiful scenery, charming and historic small towns and a laidback pace. Hobart is the capital of Tasmania and is the most popular spot for first-time visitors, with a beautiful setting, stunning food & wine and the quirky MONA (Museum of Old & New Art). You could also visit Wineglass Bay & Freycinet National Park on a 3 day trip from Launceston, like I did. Fly into Hobart or Launceston.

The Great Ocean Road

If you’re visiting during the warmer months, consider adding a road trip along the iconic Great Ocean Road from Melbourne. Stop in Barwon Heads and Torquay on the first day, before reaching your accommodation in lovely Lorne. The next day, drive to Apollo Bay, the famous Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge & Port Campbell. Inland, consider visiting Great Otway National Park’s beautiful waterfalls.

The wind will make this trip bitterly cold in winter, so I’d recommend going to The Whitsundays instead if you’re visiting in the middle of the year. The Great Ocean Road is densely forested and is at risk for bushfires, so be alert to changing conditions or fire warnings if you visit during summer.

The Great Ocean Road starts 2 hours’ drive from Melbourne.

Perth

Perth is on the west coast of Australia, in Western Australia. It’s the most isolated capital city in the world, so the travel time may influence your decision about whether to visit. If you have time, spend 3 days based in Perth. Visit beautiful Cottesloe Beach, spend an afternoon in Fremantle or make a day trip to Rottnest Island to meet some friendly quokkas! 

Fly from any capital city to Perth.

The Best Airlines in Australia

Australia has four major domestic airline carriers: Qantas, Virgin, Jetstar and Rex. I’ve flown with all of these airlines and would fly with any of them. Usually I just pick depending on which airline has the best flight times & offers the best price.

Qantas & Virgin are full service airlines, and include checked baggage. Jetstar is a budget airline operated by Qantas, so you’ll get cheaper flights but will need to purchase checked baggage. Rex is a regional airline, connecting regional routes that the bigger airlines don’t always service.

When is the best time to visit Australia?

Australia is amazing, year-round. However, some parts of Australia are best visited during peak or shoulder seasons.

Cairns, the Whitsundays and Uluru are all best visited during dry season, when it is cooler and there is very little rain. This is approximately from May to October. During wet season, from November to April, expect high humidity, scorching temperatures and heavy rainfall with the possibility of wild storms, or even cyclones (hurricanes) in Cairns.

Melbourne has famously variable weather, similar to that in San Francisco. Melbourne is most likely to be warm and sunny from December to March, but it is beautiful year-round. Visiting Melbourne is less about the great outdoors and more about the city’s vibrant lifestyle and culture, so don’t worry too much about the best time to visit.

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