Last checked: November 2026.
For a 7 day Australia itinerary, spend three nights in Sydney, two in Melbourne and two in Cairns for the Great Barrier Reef. Flights link these cities, and each takes roughly one and a half to three hours. Don’t add more regions, because airport time and distance use up a lot of your trip.
How Long Do You Need in Australia?
Australia is about the size of the continental United States, so distance shapes every plan. Use these rules of thumb.
- 3 days: one city and its nearby coast.
- 5 days: two cities, or one city plus one short trip.
- 7 days: two cities plus one nature stop.
- 10 days: three regions, with a slower pace.
What Are the Approximate Travel Times?
These are typical flight times and can vary by airline and wind. Check your booking for exact times.
| Route | Typical journey |
|---|---|
| Sydney to Melbourne | About 1 hour 30 minutes by air |
| Sydney to Brisbane | About 1 hour 30 minutes by air |
| Sydney to Cairns | About 3 hours by air |
| Sydney to Uluru (Ayers Rock) | About 3 hours 15 minutes by air |
| Melbourne to Hobart | About 1 hour 20 minutes by air |
| Sydney to Perth | About 5 hours by air |
What Can You Do in 3 Days?
Stay in Sydney and keep the plan simple.
- Day 1: Circular Quay, the Opera House exterior, The Rocks and a harbour ferry.
- Day 2: a coastal walk and a beach, such as Bondi. Allow time for a swim only at patrolled areas.
- Day 3: a day trip to the Blue Mountains by train. It takes around two hours each way, so start early.
What Can You Do in 5 Days?
Combine Sydney and Melbourne. You’ll lose about half a day to the flight, including airport transfers.
- Days 1 to 3: Sydney, as above but skip the day trip if you’re short on time.
- Day 4: fly to Melbourne and walk through the central laneways.
- Day 5: markets, galleries and a food stop in Fitzroy or Brunswick, then fly home or onward.
What Does a 7 Day Australia Itinerary Look Like?
- Days 1 to 3: Sydney. Use one full day for the harbour and one for the coast.
- Day 4: fly to Cairns, about three hours.
- Days 5 and 6: a reef day trip and a rainforest or Port Douglas day. Port Douglas is roughly an hour by road from Cairns.
- Day 7: fly out from Cairns, or return to Sydney for an international flight.
Prefer a city-and-food week? Swap the reef for Melbourne and Hobart.
What Does a 10 Day Australia Itinerary Look Like?
- Days 1 to 3: Sydney.
- Days 4 to 6: Melbourne, with an overnight on the Great Ocean Road if you want to see the Twelve Apostles. The drive is roughly four hours one way, so a day trip is tiring.
- Days 7 to 9: choose Cairns for the reef or Uluru for the desert. Don’t try both.
- Day 10: buffer day for departure and weather delays.
Choose X If You Want…
- Choose Cairns if you want sea and snorkelling.
- Choose Uluru if you want desert landscapes and Aboriginal culture, and you can handle heat or cold nights.
- Choose Tasmania if you prefer walking and a slow pace.
How Should You Plan Transport Between Stops?
Flying is the practical choice for most legs in this guide, and trams, trains and ferries cover each city. For comparison tables, rail and coach times, car rental rules and city transport cards, use our guide to getting around Australia instead of building those details into your plan. Tight connections are the main risk, so leave a buffer before any international departure.
How Do the Seasons Change Your Route?
The north and the south work in opposite months. Cairns and Kakadu are easier from about May to October, in the dry season, while Sydney and Melbourne are most comfortable in spring and autumn. Bushfire risk is higher in some regions from October to February, according to the UK FCDO. Our best time to visit Australia guide shows the detail month by month.
Fit the route to the season rather than the reverse. A reef-first week in the wet season, roughly November to April, can bring rough boat trips and stinger-season water, and the Red Centre is a poor choice for midsummer walks.
Tips for Planning Your Route
- Count flight time, airport time and transfers, not just the headline flight time.
- Fly into one city and out of another to save backtracking.
- Check the season, since the north and the Red Centre have strong weather limits.
- Book tours and park passes early for busy months.
Common Itinerary Mistakes
- Planning too many flights in a short trip.
- Trying a Great Ocean Road day trip with no rest.
- Arriving in Cairns or Darwin without checking the season.
- Ignoring time-zone changes between states.
Itinerary Checklist
- Confirm your visa before booking non-refundable flights.
- Leave one flexible day for weather.
- Download offline maps for remote drives.
- Check current alerts from official sources such as the US State Department or the UK FCDO.
For more route ideas, visit Tourism Australia.
Australia Itinerary FAQs
Is 7 days enough for Australia?
It’s enough for one or two regions. A week in Sydney, Melbourne and Cairns is realistic. Anything more will feel rushed.
What is the best 10 day Australia itinerary?
Sydney, Melbourne and one nature stop such as Cairns or Uluru. That gives you city life, culture and a major landscape without too many flights.
Can you do Sydney and Melbourne in one trip?
Yes. The flight takes about an hour and a half. You can also take a long train or drive, but it takes much longer.
Should you rent a car in Australia?
In big cities, public transport is enough. For the Great Ocean Road, Tasmania or coastal Queensland, a hire car gives more flexibility. Remember that Australians drive on the left.
Once the route is set, compare areas in where to stay in Australia and use the best places to visit in Australia to check how long each stop needs. Confirm entry rules in the Australia visa guide for tourists and the airport options in flights to Australia before you buy tickets.