Harbour cities, tropical journeys and the stories of Country
Begin with the places you most want to experience, then give them room on the map. Australia combines harbour cities, reef journeys, island food and art, and the Red Centre. A good trip leaves time for the distances—and for the people who help you see more.
Make time for a hosted Aboriginal community visit: discover Yarrabah’s Arts & Cultural Precinct near Cairns →
Begin with a glimpse of Australia
Tourism Australia’s Ruby and Louie offer a playful glimpse of the country. Start in Sydney, then choose the regions that deserve time in your own itinerary.
Explore Sydney →
02FIRST-TIME FAVOURITE
Laneways, galleries, gardens and a city that gives a café stop a place in the itinerary.
Explore Melbourne →Allow several days; give the coastal road its own journey.
03FIRST-TIME FAVOURITE
A tropical base for reef outings, the Esplanade and a hosted cultural visit to nearby Yarrabah.
Explore Cairns →Allow several nights, with separate days for reef and cultural visits.
Add Tasmania’s waterfront capital, South Australian city life or a carefully planned Red Centre stay.
04BEYOND THE BEATEN PATH
Waterfront history, Salamanca and a Tasmanian stay with art and local produce.
Explore Hobart →Allow several days, with longer Tasmanian journeys planned separately.
05BEYOND THE BEATEN PATH
Markets, galleries and parklands, with South Australian food and wine country beyond.
Explore Adelaide →Allow several days and choose a regional extension.
06BEYOND THE BEATEN PATH
A Red Centre stay shaped by Aṉangu culture, the national park and the desert’s daily rhythm.
Explore Uluṟu & Yulara →Allow several nights, with heat and current park access in mind.
LOOK A LITTLE CLOSER · Australia
New South Wales · A separate outing from Sydney
Escarpments, forest views and walks chosen for the conditions.
Explore this discovery →-jkb- · Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported · Display cropped/resized.
Victoria · A regional coastal journey
Ocean scenery and the Twelve Apostles, with distance between the views.
Explore this discovery →sussexbirder · Attribution 2.0 Generic · Display cropped/resized.
Queensland · Plan an appropriate reef outing
A living marine landscape, best explored with a suitable, well-chosen operator.
Explore this discovery →Luka Peternel · Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International · Display cropped/resized.
SEE HOW THE PLACES FIT TOGETHER
Select a pin or place name to open its guide directly. Gold marks the first-time highlights, teal the places beyond the beaten path.
Outline: Natural Earth, public domain · Approximate place markers; callouts separate nearby places. Orientation only, not navigation.
Build your own journey
Combine Sydney and Melbourne with a realistic flight or overland connection and several days in each.
Base in Cairns, allowing different days for the reef and a pre-arranged Yarrabah cultural visit.
Add Hobart, Adelaide or Yulara according to your season and interests, with the actual connection planned first.
These are choices for building a trip, not one continuous short driving route. Long distances, flights, regional transfers and changing seasons need real time.
More local planning & practical information →
People, Country and the everyday welcome →
Yarrabah: a hosted Aboriginal community visit →
New Zealand can make a worthwhile separate addition when your time and flights allow. Pacific island extensions also need their own connections and entry documents. Leave enough time in Australia first, rather than turning the return journey into another hurried country count.
A few useful essentials
Choose a few regions and check the actual connections before filling the itinerary.
Getting around →Request your Yarrabah visit directly and confirm the hosts’ arrangements before travelling.
Yarrabah booking enquiry →Choose a suitable operator and activities, with current conditions and your party’s needs discussed.
Reef Authority visitor guide →Check current park alerts, suitable walks and cultural guidance.
Parks Australia →Current official travel advice ↗Ask ATA about your itinerary →
Sydney: Kgbo · Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International · Display cropped/resized.
Melbourne: Diliff · Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported · Display cropped/resized.
Cairns: Balou46 · Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International · Display cropped/resized.
Hobart: Lautreca11 · Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International · Display cropped/resized.
Adelaide: Ardash Muradian from Australia · Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic · Display cropped/resized.
Uluru: Kate Branch · Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International · Display cropped/resized.
Blue Mountains: -jkb- · Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported · Display cropped/resized.
Great Ocean Road: sussexbirder · Attribution 2.0 Generic · Display cropped/resized.
Reef: Luka Peternel · Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International · Display cropped/resized.
Yarrabah: Q8682 · Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International · Display cropped/resized.
Film: Film: Tourism Australia. Sources reviewed 28 October 2026.
