3 Week Itinerary to Go to Australia

We get a wide range of emails from our readers who have to go to Australia nonetheless they solely have various weeks journey time and so ask our advice on the place to go and what to see in Australia.

This publish one of the simplest ways to journey Australia in three weeks will reply a wide range of their questions.

Uluru is a ought to see when you go to Australia

If that’s your first time planning a go to down under, these are the places in Australia I would advocate to see the highlights and profit out of your time touring in Australia.

All through our road journey spherical Australia we met a lot of folks visiting Australia for a quick interval, most of them on a tour.

In the event you occur to want to journey independently like us, journey is a gigantic enterprise down under and it’s easy to go it alone.

I’m going to advocate a listing of places to go to in Australia, how prolonged to stay in each location, what to see and do, even the place to sleep at night. I’ll take a wide range of the guesswork out for you.

Planning to journey rapidly? Permit us to help you notice what to do and when. Our pre-departure checklists will arrive in your inbox on the right stage of the journey planning journey and allow you to know what to take care of. They’re free.

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In the event you occur to look at this three week Australia itinerary, you’ll get to go to Australia’s two most interesting cities, Sydney and Melbourne, the Good Barrier Reef, the Daintree Rainforest, Uluru, the Outback, see wildlife, and the Twelve Apostles on the Good Ocean Freeway.

In spite of everything, I’ve to go away out some fantastic places like Western Australia and Tasmania. It’s merely not doable to do all of it in three weeks!

I understand the necessity to see as lots as doable, notably in case you’re visiting from the USA the place most of you solely have a typical two-week journey.

Nonetheless Australia is an infinite nation, almost the similar dimension as a result of the USA. Can you take into consideration doing the whole US in three weeks? It’s unattainable, significantly when you add in flying and driving cases.

The subsequent itinerary simply is not set in stone, please use it as a data and alter it to suit your desires, timeframe and funds. Take what you need, and go away the rest.

3 week itinerary to go to Australia

Days 1, 2, 3 – Go to Sydney

In the event you go to Australia you probably can’t miss Sydney.

Aside from being Australia’s largest metropolis, there are a whole lot of reason why Sydney could be in all probability probably the most visited.

The gorgeous harbourside location, the enduring seashores, fantastic consuming locations, unbelievable cafes and pubs, world heritage web sites, terrific buying, unimaginable festivals, a multicultural inhabitants, and good yr spherical local weather.

So don’t merely use Sydney as a gateway to Australia, with lots to see and experience give your self three days. Perception me, Sydney obtained’t mean you can down.

How one can get into Sydney when you arrive on the airport:

Hop on the Sydney Airport Hyperlink Put together which takes quarter-hour (grownup $17, infant $14).

Get your self an Opal Card which is a superb card you excessive up to have the ability to pay your fares on trains, buses, ferries and light-weight rail.

Or, catch an Uber. (Use this code if it’s your first time to grab a free journey ql3dc).

The airport hyperlink is expensive, so usually an Uber works out to be concerning the similar value and is further useful. You’ll be able to do a value estimate by way of the Uber app sooner than you request it to double take a look at

If you’re inside the metropolis, I like to recommend you e guide your lodging inside the Sydney CBD so that you simply’re centrally located to profit out of your go to, and several other different of Sydney’s highlights could also be taken in completely free or low-cost simply by strolling spherical.

Points to do in Sydney

Stroll spherical Spherical Quay – Top-of-the-line place to start your go to is in Spherical Quay, the precept transport hub of Sydney Harbour and the place two of Australia’s most well-known landmarks reside; Sydney Opera Dwelling and Sydney Harbour Bridge. Keep in mind taking a 1 hour tour of the Opera Dwelling. In every other case, merely wander spherical and take your “I was proper right here” image.
Royal Botanic Gardens – you probably can’t beat the serenity and harbour views from these gardens. Have a picnic or take a stroll and admire the assorted varied sorts of crops and metropolis views on a free self-guided strolling tour.
Uncover The Rocks District – The Rocks District is a historic area of Sydney and my favourite part of the CBD. It’s home to Sydney’s oldest pubs, cobblestone streets, weekend markets, and views of the harbour.

Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge – climbing one of many well-known bridges on the earth is a as quickly as in a lifetime experience. Take each a dawn, day, twilight, or night climb and take inside the breathtaking views. (Information successfully upfront).
Stroll all through the Sydney Harbour Bridge – a cheaper selection than climbing is to simply stroll all through for FREE and soak up the similar views on a lower stage. Or go to the Pylon Lookout for $11 and get unbelievable views plus 3 ranges of shows to check in regards to the historic previous of the Bridge.
Bondi Seashore to Coogee Coastal Stroll – one among my favourite free points to do in Sydney. A shocking coastal stroll and the correct methodology to spend a wonderful few hours in Sydney.

Bondi to Bronte stroll – a ought to do when you go to Australia

Catch the ferry to Manly – a reasonable methodology to experience beautiful Sydney Harbour with stunning views of city is to catch the ferry from Spherical Quay to Manly and once more. In Manly, stroll down the palm tree-lined Corso in route of the seaside for an ice-cream, stroll spherical to picturesque Shelly Seashore, or seize a cold beer at Manly Wharf Lodge. Time your return ferry journey once more to the Quay to coincide with the sunset behind the harbour bridge.
Surry Hills – stroll spherical one among Sydney’s most artistically-vibrant neighbourhoods with outdated terrace properties, a terrific combination of cafes, consuming locations, wine bars and pubs. Wander Crown Highway, Bourke avenue and Cleveland streets.
Queen Victoria Establishing – Located on George avenue. The place to go for the perfect pattern boutiques, jewellery and homeware, plus cafes and consuming locations.
Darling Harbour – energetic harbourside precinct solely a 10-minute stroll from the CBD and has cafes, bars, consuming locations, an enormous youngsters playground and a program of unbelievable free Sydney leisure every week
Stroll by way of Hyde Park – Australia’s oldest park and city’s central open inexperienced home. The park incorporates St Mary’s cathedral plus fairly just a few monuments and statues, and the central pathway by way of the park is a formidable fig-lined road.
Hit the seashores – Sydney is thought for its seashores, which might be good free points to do in Sydney. From the Northern Seashores to the Japanese Suburbs you might have many good seashores to find. Our favourites: Bronte and Coogee inside the japanese suburbs – and it is important to go to well-known Bondi Seashore a minimal of as quickly as. Manly, Freshwater, and Palm Seashore on the northern seashores.

Bronte Seashore

Taronga Zoo – Catch the ferry from Spherical Quay to Taronga Zoo which is positioned in a pure bushland setting with spectacular views over the harbour. All types of Aussie and worldwide animals with keeper talks and animal encounters makes for a terrific half-day as a family outing. Get your tickets proper right here.
Sydney Tower – for $18 go as a lot as the best of Sydney Tower, city’s tallest free-standing development standing at 309 m (1,014 ft) above the CBD. It has an commentary deck with superior views of the skyline. Get your fast observe entry ticket proper right here.
Art work Gallery of NSW – free to enter and one among Australia’s foremost paintings museums with collections of Australian, Aboriginal, European, Asian and fashionable paintings.

The place to stay in Sydney

Funds lodging in Sydney:

Mid-Stage lodging in Sydney:

Luxurious lodging in Sydney:

Additional Sydney journey recommendations:

For a novel and native maintain ponder reserving with Airbnb.

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Days 4, 5, 6 – Go to Cairns

Cairns Lagoon

Catch a flight from Sydney to Cairns (3 hour flight) and take a look at into your lodging in Cairns metropolis so that you simply’re good and central.

As one among Australia’s best vacationer cities and gateway to the Good Barrier Reef, Cairns is vibrant with a great deal of consuming locations and cafes to take care of you cheerful.

The local weather is commonly fantastic, you probably can stroll spherical at night and have hundreds to do, and the instances are stuffed with an infinite amount of choice to find the surrounding areas.

Whereas Cairns is mostly about getting out on the Good Barrier Reef, the surrounding hinterlands and shut by rainforest are positively worth exploring.

Points to do in Cairns

Swim on the Cairns lagoon – the cruelty of the north is you get scorching summers nonetheless you probably can’t swim inside the seashores, they’re stuffed with stingers (jelly fish that will severely harm you, even kill you). There’s moreover various crocs spherical too. The first seaside in Cairns could be further of a mud flat. To not concern, the man-made Cairns lagoon gives you exactly what you need. Crystal clear waters, seaside views and life guards. It’s a cool place to laze spherical and browse your e guide.
Day journey to the Good Barrier Reef – an actual marvel of the world that is 2,300km prolonged and consists of 900 islands and a pair of,900 explicit individual reefs. It’s the world’s largest coral reef and the most important dwelling development on the planet. There are a whole lot of selections for getting out on the reef, among the many predominant operators are Reef Magic Cruises, Quicksilver Cruises, and Reef Experience. And this publish explains how we expert the reef!

Inexperienced Island – a coral cay surrounded by white sandy seashores and opulent coral reefs. You probably can snorkel straight off the shore and there’s a nice boardwalk by way of the forest to the alternative facet of the island.
Rusty’s Farmer’s Market – somewhat little bit of a Cairns institution and one among probably the most reasonably priced farmers’ market I’ve visited in Australia.
Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park – I actually like Tapajukai Aboriginal Cultural Park for its simplicity and the correct right down to earth strategy the native people share their custom. We watched dancing reveals, made a fire with sticks, and acquired up on stage and danced and sung with them, found abbot the didgeridoo, bush treatment and meals, and had a chance to throw boomerangs and spears.
Stroll or cycle the Cairns Esplanade – take a stroll alongside the Esplanade in Cairns, watch the daybreak then seize breakfast at one among many busy cafes and consuming locations that line the strip.

Cairns Esplanade at twilight
Skyrail Rainforest Cableway

Atherton Tablelands – about an hour south-west of Cairns, spend a day exploring this space, we significantly cherished the waterfall circuit. Select up a rental vehicle as you’ll be needing one anyway over the next few days inside the subsequent a part of my suggested itinerary.

The place to stay in Cairns

Funds lodging in Cairns:

Mid-level lodging in Cairns :

Luxurious lodging in Cairns –

For a full report of accomodation selections in Cairns on the world’s best reserving website click on on proper right here.

Days 7, 8, 9 – Freeway journey Cairns to Cape Tribulation

Palm Cove jetty at daybreak

In the event you occur to haven’t purchased one already, now it’s time to pick up your rental vehicle in your three day loop drive from Cairns to Cape Tribulation by means of Port Douglas and soak up the best that Tropical North Queensland has to produce.

It’s one of many enchanting areas in Australia.

I don’t advocate you do this drive as a day journey from Cairns though, it’s 140 kms a technique and can possible be too rushed, so each maintain at Port Douglas and do a day journey from there (85 km’s a technique) or maintain inside The Daintree and uncover.

Freeway journey from Cairns to Port Douglas

This drive is one among Australia’s most scenic coastal roads, you’ve purchased the rainforest on one facet and the Good Barrier Reef on the alternative.

In the event you occur to had been to drive from Cairns to Port Douglas with out stopping it is going to solely take you one hour, nonetheless ponder stopping at Palm Cove alongside the best way during which.

Palm Cove is a vibrant village and considered to have one among Australia’s most idyllic seashores (there’s a delegated swimming area all through stinger season).

There’s a beachfront playground for teenagers and a wonderful esplanade to stroll forwards and backwards alongside for espresso, gelato or numerous consuming locations to dine in.

Port Douglas

In the event you occur to don’t head straight to the Daintree, Port Douglas is a unbelievable place to base your self and uncover further of the tropical north. And it’s moreover one different good base to exit on to the Good Barrier Reef.

Points to See and Do in Port Douglas:

4 Mile Seashore – swim, stroll, or laze under a palm tree.
A day on the Barrier Reef – check out Quicksilver, Wavelength or Calypso. Barrier reef excursions from Port Douglas could also be found proper right here.
Sailaway Reef and Island Excursions – take a sunset cruise, afternoon cruise, or full day cruise. See further crusing excursions proper right here.
Mossman Gorge – the southernmost end of the Daintree Rainforest. It’s historic and pristine. A boardwalk takes you to the Mossman River and a unbelievable swimming area.

Mossman Gorge

The place to eat & drink at Port Douglas:

Surf Membership Bar and Bistro – native’s favourite for lunch, dinner, espresso and drinks.
On the Inlet – Good location. Go early and feed George (a 250kg Groper fish).
Yacht Membership – Unbelievable location and seafood. Good value meals and well-priced drinks.
Courthouse Lodge – It’s an absolute ought to for beer and up to date prawns.
The Tin Shed – Watch the boats can be found late afternoon and profit from probably the most cost-effective drinks in town.
Salsa Bar – Great ambiance and meals. Unbelievable cocktails and margarita jugs!

The place to Preserve in Port Douglas:

Funds lodging in Port Douglas:

Mid-level lodging in Port Douglas:

Luxurious lodging in Port Douglas:

For a full report of accomodation selections in Port Douglas on the world’s best reserving website click on on proper right here.

The Daintree Rainforest

Daintree Discovery Centre

At 110 million years outdated, the Daintree Rainforest might be the oldest present rainforest on the earth, even pre-dating the Amazon.

It’s World Heritage listed and sits smack bang alongside facet the Good Barrier Reef – the one place on the earth the place two World Heritage web sites meet. It’s a ought to go to part of Australia!

From Port Douglas, the furthest north we now have been is to the spectacular Cape Tribulation (85 km’s a technique).

Cape Trib is a headland located all through the Daintree.

Points to do inside the Daintree Rainforest:

Cape Kimberley – the first seaside you come to in Daintree Nationwide Park.
Alexandra Lookout – stop proper right here for beautiful views out over the Alexandra Differ and Snapper Island.
Daintree Discovery Centre – do the self-guided audio tour and aerial walkway.
Cow Bay
Maardja Botanical Stroll – the 540m boardwalk follows the creek by way of a chunk of rainforest and former the eerily twisting roots and vines of the mangroves to a lookout over Noah Creek.
Cape Tribulation – the prettiest of the seashores inside the Daintree. Stroll alongside the seaside after which once more as a lot because the Kulki boardwalk.

Cape Tribulation Seashore

Dubuji Boardwalk – the 1.2km boardwalk winds its strategy by way of the mangroves, shaded by it’s cowl of monumental fan palms, strangler figs and vines foremost proper right down to Myall Seashore.
Myall Seashore
Kayaking at Cape Tribulation.

The place to eat & drink inside the Daintree:

Mason’s Cafe – the burgers are legendary. Select your animal: wild boar, emu, crocodile or kangaroo.
Daintree Ice Cream Agency – for $6 get a bowl of ice cream with 4 scoops. The flavours depend upon what they’ve made in the meanwhile primarily based upon the distinctive fruits which have been harvested from the orchard.
Thornton Seashore Cafe – great spot to stop for lunch or breakfast correct on Thornton Seashore.

The place to Preserve inside the Daintree Rainforest

Funds lodging in The Daintree:

Mid-level lodging in The Daintree:

Day 10 Go to Alice Springs

Alice at sunset from ANZAC Hill

Return your rental vehicle to Cairns airport then fly to Alice Springs and go to Australia’s most well-known Outback metropolis and begin your Outback journey (Qantas and Virgin Australia fly direct).

Alice Springs is a thriving, spirited outback centre well-known for the persona of its locals and fashionable and traditional paintings as a result of the pure wonders.

Framed by the MacDonnell Ranges and the desert panorama, Alice has the entire conveniences of a up to date township imbued with a rich dwelling Aboriginal customized and European explorer historic previous.

Spend a day or per week exploring the web sites of Alice Springs.

Select up a 4-wheel-drive rental vehicle in Alice Springs for the next 5 days of exploring Central Australia.

Points to do in Alice Springs

Telegraph Station Historic Reserve – research in regards to the constructing of the Overland Telegraph Line from Port Augusta in South Australia to Darwin. Onsite cafe and strolling and biking tracks.
School of the Air visitors centre – research in regards to the world’s largest classroom, overlaying better than 1.3 million sq. kilometres.
The Kangaroo Sanctuary – Stand up shut with kangaroos on the home of Brolga, star of the documentary assortment Kangaroo Dundee – BBC UK / Nat Geo USA. Do the guided sunset tour!

Savannah holding a baby roo on the Kangaroo Sanctuary

Royal Flying Medical medical doctors Service Museum – research one among many largest aeromedical organisations on the earth, providing intensive foremost nicely being care and 24-hour emergency service to people over an area of seven.3 million sq. kilometres.
Desert Park – see the animals that reside in Central Australia’s habitats.
Anzac Hill – for a panoramic view of the town. Daybreak is the correct time as you watch the photo voltaic slowly rise to delicate up the MacDonnell Ranges and beautiful desert metropolis beneath.

The place to Preserve in Alice Springs

Funds lodging in Alice Springs:

Mid-level lodging in Alice Springs:

Extreme-end lodging in Alice Springs:

Days 11 – 15 Go to Uluru & Pink Centre Method

The Pink Centre Method is probably going one of many Australian Outback’s good drives, stretching from Alice Springs to Uluru and taking inside the stunning landscapes of Kings Canyon and Ormiston Gorge.

Day 11 – Go to Alice Springs to Glen Helen Homestead

Glen Helen Gorge

Proper this second’s drive is roughly 177 km’s from Alice Springs to Glen Helen Homestead taking in among the many most interesting environment in Central Australia alongside the West MacDonnell Ranges.

Points to see & Do inside the West MacDonnell Ranges:

Simpsons Gap (23km from Alice Springs by means of Larapinta Drive) -prominent waterhole is a crucial religious website to the Arrarnta Aboriginal people. At dawn or dusk, Simpsons gap is renowned as a spot to see Black-footed Rock-wallabies alongside the outlet’s fast strolling observe.
Standley Chasm (40km) – When the photo voltaic’s delicate shifts all through the cleft, the partitions of Standley Chasm glow golden, orange and purple. There’s a fairly 15- 20 min stroll alongside the creek beside unusual historic cycads, and the place spring-fed swimming swimming pools give the valley floor a lush, tropical oasis actually really feel. Onsite cafe.
Ellery Creek Large Hole (57km) – a favourite swimming hole for the locals and a terrific spot for a picnic.
Ochre Pits (22km from Ellery Creek) – brightly coloured small cliffs that native Arrarnta Aboriginal people have used for 1000’s of years for his or her ceremonial paint. The layers of white, yellow and purple ochre of the cliffs are so rich and earthy.
Ormiston Gorge (24km) – the biggest and prettiest swimming hole. It’s moreover probably the most well-liked. There is a kiosk open proper right here and apparently serves an excellent ice espresso.

Ormiston Gorge

Glen Helen Gorge (11km) – The eternal waterhole at Glen Helen Gorge is a favourite home to many species of desert wildlife and lies on the headwaters of the Finke River, the place you probably can stroll alongside the riverbed between the gorge partitions to see fabulous cycads. The usual householders take into account Glen Helen Gorge is the home of an historic and extremely efficient Rainbow Serpent.

In a single day at Glen Helen Homestead Lodge which affords motel room kind lodging for households or singles plus caravan and tenting web sites. There’s a restaurant, bar, gasoline (diesel & unleaded) and a swimming pool.

Day 12 – Go to Kings Canyon

a highlight when you go to Australia’s Pink Centre

Benefit from breakfast out on the deck at Glen Helen Homestead. The views out over the West Mac ranges are stunning and it’s fairly serene watching the eagles soar quietly above looking for their very personal breaky.

Depart Glen Helen and drive 225km alongside the Mareenie Valley Freeway and in a single day at Kings Canyon Resort.

Remember to have a full tank of gasoline, water and meals supplies. This a part of road is unsealed and could also be badly corrugated, that’s why we advocate a 4×4 vehicle for clearance and luxurious and administration not on account of it’s technical off-road driving.

Some people drive this in a 2WD.

Kings Canyon Resort affords cosy lodging and lodge kind rooms plus tenting and caravan web sites. Facilities embody 2 consuming locations, 2 swimming swimming swimming pools, and a petroleum station.

Mountaineering Kings Canyon

Iconic Kings Canyon is solely 7 km from the resort.

The 5.5km Kings Canyon Rim Stroll in Watarrka Nationwide Park affords spectacular views of the canyon and exquisite dome shaped rock formations and the colours change as a result of the photo voltaic continued its journey up.

We did it at daybreak with our three and six-year-old daughters, with the one steep part of the stroll being the climb to the best firstly.

Additional excursions of Alice Springs

Be taught further – Doing the Kings Canyon stroll with youngsters

Kings Canyon to Uluru (metropolis of Yulara)

The drive from Kings Canyon to Yulara, the precept metropolis on the gates into Uluru-Kata Tjuta Nationwide Park the place the entire lodging and retailers are, is 300km.

This is a full day tour to Kings Canyon from Uluru.

Days 13, 14, 15 – Go to Uluru

Sunset at Uluru is a ought to when you go to Australia

Uluru, beforehand commonly known as Ayers Rock, is the religious coronary coronary heart of the nation and a ought to see when you go to Australia.

You’ve perhaps seen tons of of photos and TV commercials of Uluru, nevertheless it certainly’s a spot it is a should to see and actually really feel, on your self.

Manufactured from arkosic sandstone, Uluru stands 348 metres extreme and is taller than The Eiffel Tower and a pair of.5 cases the height of Sydney Harbour Bridge.

We extraordinarily advocate you don’t fly in and out in a rush, Uluru desires a number of night to grasp it’s magnificence!

Points to do at Uluru:

Uluru Sunset – the are various lookout spots for sunset and every lookout affords a definite perspective of the colorful and ever altering colours. Probably the most well-liked sunset spot is the official Uluru Sunset Lookout about 10 kilometres down the road by way of the doorway gates of the park (entry cost $25 for 3 days).
Uluru Daybreak – we dragged the kids up and doing at 5.am every single day and jumped inside the vehicle for the 20-minute drive from Yulara into the park (daybreak was spherical 6.20am). For our first Uluru daybreak, we headed once more to the Talinguru Nyakunytjaku lookout. Be warned, that’s the place hordes of people and tour buses converge and was very busy even inside the off-season.
HOT TIP – for a terrific Uluru daybreak silhouette, on one different morning we headed once more to the sunset lookout spot as you get the rock blocking the photo voltaic as she rises. Whereas all people heads to the Talinguru Nyakunytjaku lookout for daybreak, we had this sunset spot all to ourselves!

Base stroll – The loop stroll is 10 kms throughout the bottom and it took us 3.45 hours with a 3 and seven-year-old and taking a whole lot of photos. The stroll is completely flat, merely bear in mind you’re inside the Outback so it’s most interesting to start early at first delicate to beat the heat. The park opens day-to-day at 5am and we advocate starting on the Kuniya strolling stage and heading anti-clockwise. Take a whole lot of water, snacks and fast breaks
Cycle the underside – once you’re decrease than strolling the ten.6 kilometres throughout the bottom, a terrific totally different is to lease bikes from Outback Biking ($30 for 3 hours) or carry your private and bike it. We had a tag-along for Kalyra who beloved the reduction of letting daddy do a whole lot of the peddling, and little Savannah took inside the sights in a baby seat on the once more of Caz’s bike.

Free Ranger Guided Mala Stroll – your third selection once you don’t want to walk or bike the whole 10.6 kilometres of Uluru is to participate inside the two-kilometre return stroll (1.5 hours) free ranger guided Mala stroll.
Sunset drinks – A changing into farewell to our time at Uluru was sipping on various glasses of champagne with the dad and mom from AAT Kings as a result of the sunset over the rock. You probably can e guide a sunset viewing bubbly experience proper right here.
Sunset Camel Expertise – one among many distinctive strategies to absorb Uluru is on the once more of a trusty camel. Our kids, and us giant youngsters, fully cherished this experience with Uluru Camel Excursions. Information a sunset experience proper right here.

Sunset drinks at Uluru

On our bucket report is the Sounds of Silence consuming experience under the celebrities (when the kids are a bit older) and a helicopter flight sounds fantastic too!

Exploring Kata Tjuta

Kata Tjuta is solely 50km’s up the road from Yulara and is equally as spectacular as Uluru.

Beforehand commonly known as The Olgas, this group of huge historic rock formations consisting of 36 ochre-coloured domes are unfold over an area of better than 20 kilometres.

The sandstone domes are believed to be spherical 500 million years outdated.

Scorching tip – for an extra smart daybreak silhouette of Uluru head to the Kata Tjuta dune viewing area.

Walks at Kata Tjuta:

The 2.6 km Walpa Gorge stroll is the shorter and less complicated of the two walks.
The longest path is the 7km Valley of the Winds Stroll.

Kata Tjuta at sunset

The place to stay at Yulara

Funds lodging at Yulara, Uluru:

Mid-range lodging at Yulara, Uluru:

Luxurious lodging at Yulara, Uluru:

Uluru to Alice Springs

The drive from Yulara once more to Alice Springs is 447km by means of the Lasseter Hwy and Nationwide Hwy 87.

Alternatively, in its place of driving once more to Alice Springs and catching a flight to Melbourne, chances are you’ll do a one-way drop off of your rental vehicle at Ayers Rock Airport, which you’ll be able to do by way of RentalCars.com and fly to Melbourne from there.

You merely should weigh up the worth of a one-way rental drop off versus return and the fully totally different flight prices to Melbourne from each Alice or Ayers Rock!

Jetstar, Qantas and Virgin Australia fly direct to Melbourne from Ayers Rock Airport.

In precise reality, once you obtained’t to shorten this complete itinerary and skip Alice Springs and the Pink Centre Method, you probably can fly direct from Cairns to Ayers Rock Airport, then onto Melbourne.

Merely an selection, or a strategy in order so as to add additional days on the totally different locations.

Days 16, 17, 18 – Go to Good Ocean Freeway

Select up your rental vehicle from the airport and hit the Good Ocean Freeway, well-known in Australia and across the globe as top-of-the-line drives on the planet.

Beginning one hour open air of Melbourne inside the metropolis of Torquay, it stretches over 250 kilometres to Warrnambool, and attracts tens of 1000’s of vacation makers yearly.

Whereas the tour buses crazily drive this in sooner or later, don’t merely rush to the 12 Apostles in your vacationer snap. Decelerate and respect all it has to produce.

Go to the entire rock formations and cities, stroll on a seaside and inside the rainforest, see a waterfall and wildlife, sit at a lookout and be present.

I prefer to advocate a minimal of three nights / two days overnighting in Lorne, Apollo Bay and Port Campbell alongside the best way during which.

Scorching Tip – drive from Torquay to Warrnambool (East to West). That strategy you’ll be on the left facet of the road closest to the ocean and likewise you’ll be succesful to drag over less complicated to the entire view elements.

Points to do on the Good Ocean Freeway

Torquay (104 km’s from Melbourne) – Bells Seashore is one among Australia’s most well-known shopping seashores. Go to the Australian Nationwide Shopping Museum. Do a chunk of the Surf Coast Stroll.
Anglesea (18 km) – get some photo voltaic on Anglesea’s predominant seaside, a big sandy expanse beside the Anglesea River. Stroll alongside the rugged shoreline or head inland beside the Anglesea River on the 44-kilometre Surf Coast Stroll.
Aireys Inlet (9 km) – Minimize up Degree Lighthouse was in-built 1891 and is perched on the cliffs 70 metres above sea stage. Stroll alongside surrounding cliff excessive tracks to see rocky reefs, rock swimming swimming pools and sheltered coves (maintain your eye out for whales in season).
Lorne (20 km) – a picturesque metropolis positioned correct on the Good Ocean Freeway. Good cafes, distinctive retailers boutiques, galleries and Otway Nationwide Park is in the doorstep. Benefit from a stroll on the seaside, a bike expertise alongside the foreshore out to the pier, have a espresso at Lorne Seashore Pavilion and try a burger from The Bottle of Milk. Teddys Lookout is a quick drive up the hill behind Lorne. Drive as a lot because the picnic area on the end of George Highway and stroll a quick distance to profit from the spectacular views of the Good Ocean Freeway from the lookout.
Lorne –> Apollo Bay Drive – our favourite stretch of road alongside the GOR. Be able to stop for photos hundreds. This stretch of road has among the many most picturesque environment inside the space. It hugs the cliff-face as a result of it winds by way of the Good Otway Nationwide Park and rolling farmland.
Apollo Bay (47 km’s from Lorne) – seaside village half-way alongside the Good Ocean Freeway and surrounded by Otway Nationwide Park State Forest. Mariners Lookout affords panoramic views of Apollo Bay’s metropolis centre, the harbour and seashores up and down the coast, located on the northern end of metropolis off Marriners Lookout Freeway. Climb aboard a kayak, arise close to native seal colonies or be part of a deep sea fishing journey. There are sunset seaside rides on horseback, reward retailers, galleries and tea properties along with quite a few culinary delights on provide – fishing is a crucial native enterprise so seafood is on a regular basis on the menu!

Otways Nationwide Park – head into the Otways and immerse your self amongst tall bushes and massive tree ferns, and beautiful waterfalls – Triplet Falls is a highlight. The stroll is a few 1 hour return loop. And the 2km Shelley Seashore Circuit Stroll is top-of-the-line fast walks on the Good Ocean Stroll.
Kennett River – have to see koalas inside the wild? Top-of-the-line koala viewing spot is Kennet River, alongside the Grey River Freeway, merely in the midst of metropolis. Otway Lighthouse Freeway is one different well-liked spot. Merely seek for the crowds of people and observe their gazes up for quick koala recognizing.
Twelve Apostles (87 kms from Apollo Bay) – Port Campbell Nationwide Park is home to these big limestone constructions tower 45 metres above the ocean and had been original some 20 million years previously. There are solely eight remaining (the rest have fallen) and forming the backdrop are these magnificent cliffs as a lot as 70 metres extreme. Scorching Tip – get there for daybreak or sunset so that you simply miss the hordes of people and tour buses that arrive spherical lunchtime (we stayed in a single day in Port Campbell, 15 km drive and drove once more for sunset).

Don’t miss the Twelve Apostles when you go to Australia

Gibson Steps – just down the road from the Twelve Apostles Visitors Centre are the Gibson Steps. Stroll down these steps on to the seaside for a close-up view.
Loch Ard Gorge – a few minutes drive west of The Twelve Apostles. Named after the ship Loch Ard, which ran aground on shut by Muttonbird Island on the end of a three-month journey from England to Melbourne.

Loch Ard Gorge

The Grotto – is principally a sinkhole. Take the steps down the cliff face to the underside and look by way of and likewise you’ll get visibility of the ocean previous a pool at low tide. Pretty cool.
London Arch (London Bridge) – original by a gradual course of of abrasion and initially was a whole double-span and linked to the mainland. The arch nearer to the shoreline collapsed unexpectedly in 1990.
The Arch – this naturally sculptured arch stands 8 metres extreme and is located 6km west of Port Campbell.
Bay of Islands – head a little bit of further south to Peterborough and likewise you’ll uncover the paranormal Bay of Islands and Bay of Martyrs. Nearly as beautiful as 12 Apostles, however rarely talked about.

Excursions of the Good Ocean Freeway

The direct drive once more to Melbourne from Warrnambool is 255 km (roughly 3 hrs) by means of the Hamilton Hwy/B140 and M1. Drop off your rental vehicle on the airport and make your strategy into city.

Melbourne Airport is located 25 km from the Metropolis Centre. The Sky Bus affords a day by day shuttle service 24/7 direct to Southern Cross Station inside the metropolis ($19 a technique).

Moreover they provide a lodge drop off and select up service – ask for particulars on the counter.

For people who have to do a tour of the Good Ocean Freeway, you probably can check out these excursions from our companion Get Your Data.

Days 19, 20, 21 – Go to Melbourne

We love Melbourne, it’s perhaps our favourite Australian metropolis and feels very European.

The draw again is it comes with the four-seasons-in-one-day local weather patterns. Placed on layers!

There truly is one factor for everyone in Melbourne, it does not matter what your funds or tastes are. Moreover, it is a well-known reality amongst Australians that they make the best espresso inside the nation!

Points to do in Melbourne

Metropolis Circle Tram – leap on the FREE metropolis circle tram service (route 35) that operates inside Melbourne’s CBD and passes foremost vacationer sights. The loop takes about 45 minutes and you’ll get off at any one among many many stops to find further on foot, and is likely one of the greatest methods to get spherical to a whole lot of Melbourne’s inside metropolis highlights.
Federation Sq. – Fed Sq. occupies a whole metropolis block correct on the banks of the Yarra River and immediately reverse Flinders Highway Put together Station and St Paul’s Cathedral inside the coronary coronary heart of city. There’s museums, galleries, consuming locations, bars, festivals and pleasing. And the Melbourne Buyer Centre is located underground. Such a cool metropolis sq.!

Federation Sq.

Buying – city laneways, significantly between Flinders, Elizabeth, Bourke and Swanston Streets are terrific. Little Collins Highway could be excellent for relieving you of some of your cash. Moreover check out Prahran and Chapel Highway which runs from the Yarra River inside the north to Brighton Freeway inside the south, traversing the suburbs of South Yarra, Prahran, Windsor, St Kilda and St Kilda East.

St Kilda – leap on a tram and head to this seaside escape. It’s the closest and greatest seaside to get to from city, merely 6km away, and it’s Melbourne’s most well-known seaside. There’s exterior consuming and bars, many with bay views, and the sunsets are pretty explicit. Acland Highway is the place to go for cafes and consuming locations, however as well as for the well-known cake retailers. West Seashore Cafe is appropriate on the sand and Jerrys Milkbar is a reworked milkbar with a little bit of playground out the once more and superior banana bread. Check out Carlisle St in St Kilda East, easy stroll from Acland St. A lot much less touristy, a bit grimey, nonetheless a whole lot of character and good cafes.

St Kilda Seashore

See penguins at St Kilda Pier at dusk – why go to Phillip Island for the penguin parade when there is a free one correct inside the metropolis? The fairy penguins can be found and convey smiles to all people who sees them.stkildapenguins.com.au
Queen Victoria Market – who doesn’t love an outstanding open air market? The Queen Vic Markets has one factor for everyone. Seize some up to date produce and head to each Fitzroy Gardens or Carlton Gardens for a picnic.
Wednesday Night Markets (summer time season months) – Queen Vic Markets come alive with good avenue meals, with selections from in all places on this planet. It was like a number of night meals market you’d uncover in Asia, buzzing with atmosphere and low-cost (for Melbourne) avenue meals. Keep music and family nice.
AFL recreation – once you’re proper right here all through the AFL (Australian Soccer League) season, it is important to try a recreation. The atmosphere inside the big MCG (Melbourne Cricket Flooring) is in distinction to the remainder on this nation.
Fitzroy – for the cafes and consuming locations, to not level out the whole boutique retailers, many catering for a hip crowd.
Lygon Highway – for all points Italian. We advocate Tiamo for good and fairly priced Italian. And Brunetti’s is a Melbourne institution for espresso, muffins and pastries.
Laneways – Melbourne is thought for its laneways. Centre Place is a busy laneway between Flinders Lane and Collins Highway and residential to various vibrant bars, cafes, consuming locations, boutiques, sushi bars and retailers, along with just a few of Melbourne’s most interesting examples of avenue paintings and graffiti. As is Degraves Highway. {{Hardware}} Lane has a whole lot of good Italian. Royal Arcade is outdated and actually beautiful (good chocolate retailer too).

Centre Place

Espresso – Melbournians are obsessive about espresso and make it increased than most. Proper right here’s a listing of some most interesting espresso spots on Lonely Planet and the Tourism Australia website.
South Monetary establishment – a nice place to walk spherical on the Yarra River with good views once more over city, and numerous consuming and bar selections.

Riverland Metropolis Beer Yard – merely down by Fed Sq. and subsequent to the Yarra is an effective spot for a beer and a meal inside the photo voltaic and to look at the rowers on the river and overlooks the Princess Bridge. Seems like London within the summertime. They’ve a youngsters menu too!
Hosier Lane – a lots celebrated landmark on account of its refined metropolis paintings (graffiti lined partitions). A 2 minute stroll from Federation sq. and runs between Flinders St and Collins St. Native and worldwide artists use the partitions as a quick canvas for his or her works, and the paintings could also be very attention-grabbing to try.

Hosier Lane

Chinatown – if there’s a Chinatown in town, we’re there! Not typically are we upset, and our monetary establishment stability is on a regular basis fully happy. One place in Melbourne we saved going once more to was the favored Camy Shanghai Dumpling and Noodle Restaurant – not for the posh and fancy, it’s an actual Chinese language language experience with beneath par service, nonetheless their dumplings had been a highlight and low-cost!
Botanic Gardens – take the family for a picnic or sit on the banks of the Yarra and watch the world go by.
Cycle the Bayside Foreshore – stretch the legs on a bike expertise from St Kilda to Brighton Seashore and try the colourful bathing packing containers.

Eureka Tower – affords stunning views from the perfect commentary deck inside the southern hemisphere, Eureka Skydeck at 297 metres/88 flooring. I prefer to advocate going up merely on photo voltaic down so that you simply experience Melbourne by day and since it slips into night.
Stroll alongside the Yarra River and a BBQ on the river monetary establishment in Summer season.

The place to stay in Melbourne

For a full report of the best lodging in Melbourne that we researched click on on proper right here.

Funds lodging in Melbourne:

Mid-level lodging in Melbourne:

Luxurious lodging in Melbourne:

For a novel and native maintain ponder reserving with Airbnb.

Fearful about the entire deadly animals in Australia? Don’t be. This publish will help ease your fears. I hope!

Best selling Excursions in Australia

Fearful about touring alone and the logistical hassle of planning a go to to Australia? G Adventures is our hottest recommendation for group excursions for his or her prime quality, journey and restore to giving once more to native communities. See all Australia group excursions proper right here.
You might also want to look at Intrepid Excursions, one different small group tour agency we’re capable of advocate. See their Australia excursions proper right here.
Our companion, the Get Your Data tour agency affords tour operators with many Australia excursions and sights tickets. They’ve the underside prices, assured — no reserving costs or hidden charges.

You probably can pre-book tickets and skip the highway at excessive sights and cancel as a lot as 24 hours sooner than. Some best-selling excursions are beneath:

Check out these superior excursions of Australia with our companion Get Your Data.

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