Suggested Itineraries

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: "In 1 Week" or "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 "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 still very rewarding, parts of the country. If you're bringing your family with you, our "For Families" itinerary may give you some ideas to keep the young ones occupied (while entertaining any parents at the same time).

You might also review our "Best of's" 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.