26 days in Australia Itinerary

The state of Victoria crown jewel, Melbourne boasts shaded streets, leafy residential neighborhoods, vibrant street life, and a picturesque city center.

Your cultural itinerary includes sights like Melbourne Central and Shrine of Remembrance. Escape the urban bustle at Melbourne Zoo and Warrandyte State Park. Take a break from Melbourne with a short trip to The Great Ocean Road in Torquay, about 1h 40 min away. Spend the 21st (Sat) wandering through the wild on a nature and wildlife tour. Next up on the itinerary: look for gifts at Lightning Ridge Opal Mines, tour the pleasant surroundings at St. Kilda Beach, and take in nature's colorful creations at Royal Botanic Gardens.

To see reviews, ratings, and tourist information, refer to the Melbourne day trip tool .

Mumbai, India to Melbourne is an approximately 15.5-hour flight. The time zone difference when traveling from Mumbai to Melbourne is 4 hours. Expect cooler temperatures when traveling from Mumbai in April; daily highs in Melbourne reach 23°C and lows reach 11°C. On the 23rd (Mon), wrap the sightseeing up by early afternoon so you can travel to Cairns.

A neat, cosmopolitan city of shaded plazas and laid-back neighborhoods, Cairns serves as a popular base for exploration of the surrounding region and the Great Barrier Reef, as well as a center for watersport activities like surfing or waterskiing.

Do your shopping at Tanks Arts Centre and Rusty's Market. Your inner history buff will appreciate Historic Village Herberton and St Monica's Cathedral. Change things up with a short trip to Palm Cove Beach in Palm Cove (about 32 minutes away). Spend the 24th (Tue) among aquatic life with a scuba or snorkeling tour. Next up on the itinerary: kick back and relax at Trinity Beach, trek along Esplanade Boardwalk, browse the exhibits of Bones and Jones, and look for gifts at Luminous Lights.

To see traveler tips, other places to visit, where to stay, and more tourist information, read Cairns holiday planner.

Getting from Melbourne to Cairns by flight takes about 5 hours. Other options: drive; or take a train. When traveling from Melbourne in April, plan for a bit warmer days in Cairns, with highs around 34°C, while nights are much warmer with lows around 26°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 28th (Sat) to allow enough time to drive to Port Douglas.

A holiday in Port Douglas balances an activity-filled getaway with plenty of opportunities to relax, thanks to its proximity to the Great Barrier Reef and bustling beach life.

Step out of the city life by going to Scuba & Snorkeling and Four Mile Beach. Head to Funstuff by Lynda and Sunday Market Port Douglasfor some retail therapy. Spend the 30th (Mon) spotting exotic species with a safari tour. There's still lots to do: look for gifts at Coffee Works.

For other places to visit, maps, traveler tips, and other tourist information, refer to the Port Douglas road trip planning website .

You can drive from Cairns to Port Douglas in 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a shuttle; or do a combination of bus and shuttle. In April, plan for daily highs up to 34°C, and evening lows to 25°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 1st (Tue) so you can travel to Hamilton Island.

A trip to Hamilton Island takes you to a car-free destination mostly covered in bushland.

On the 1st (Tue), get outside with Jetryder and then discover the deep blue sea with a scuba or snorkeling tour.

For maps, where to stay, other places to visit, and more tourist information, go to the Hamilton Island tour itinerary planner.

Traveling by combination of shuttle and flight from Port Douglas to Hamilton Island takes 4 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of taxi, train, bus, and ferry; or do a combination of shuttle, bus, and ferry. Expect a bit cooler weather when traveling from Port Douglas in May: highs in Hamilton Island hover around 28°C, while lows dip to 24°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 2nd (Wed) so you can travel to Fraser Island.

On the next day, take a peaceful walk through Central Station Rainforest and then explore the activities along Lake McKenzie.

To see traveler tips, other places to visit, where to stay, and other tourist information, read our Fraser Island trip itinerary planning site .

Traveling by combination of flight, ferry, and car from Hamilton Island to Fraser Island takes 9 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of ferry, bus, and car. Cap off your sightseeing on the 5th (Sat) early enough to travel to Gold Coast.

A city of towering skyscrapers, sandy beaches, and tree-lined streets, Gold Coast has an unpretentious air complemented by a citywide focus on sports and the arts.

You'll enjoy a bit of beach vacationing at Burleigh Heads Beach and Surfer's Paradise Beach. Get in touch with nature at Burleigh Head National Park and David Fleay Wildlife Park. And it doesn't end there: get some fabulous bargains at Harbour Town Outlet Shopping Centre, look for gifts at Miami Marketta, get in on the family fun at Infinity Attraction, and buy something for everyone on your list at Pacific Fair Shopping Centre.

For where to stay, more things to do, ratings, and other tourist information, read our Gold Coast journey planner.

Traveling by combination of car and ferry from Fraser Island to Gold Coast takes 8.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of car, ferry, and train; or do a combination of car, ferry, and bus. May in Gold Coast sees daily highs of 27°C and lows of 15°C at night. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 8th (Tue) so you can travel to Sydney.

Lent iconic status as a result of its famous bridge and opera house, Sydney has a down-to-earth charm that enhances its spectacular setting and functional efficiency.

Visit Bondi Beach and Coogee Beach for some beach relaxation. Do your shopping at Sydney Fish Market and Haigh's Chocolates Strand Arcade. Change things up with these side-trips from Sydney: Pulpit Rock Lookout (in Blue Mountains National Park), Coachwood Glen Nature Trail (in Megalong Valley) and Logan Brae Orchard (in Blackheath). There's still lots to do: get to know the fascinating history of The Rocks, stroll through Manly Beach, take a stroll through Darling Harbour, and identify plant and animal life at Tambourine Bay Reserve and Warraroon Reserve Walk.

Inspirock's itinerary builder makes planning a Sydney trip simple and quick.

Traveling by flight from Gold Coast to Sydney takes 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of train and flight; or drive. In May, plan for daily highs up to 24°C, and evening lows to 14°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 12th (Sat) early enough to travel back home.