60 days in Melbourne & Cairns Itinerary

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

Your itinerary includes some good beach time at St. Kilda Beach and Eastern Beach Reserve. Get in touch with nature at The Great Ocean Road and Werribee Open Range Zoo. Explore Melbourne's surroundings by going to Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park (in Pearcedale), Healesville Sanctuary (in Healesville) and Sovereign Hill (in Ballarat). Dedicate the 16th (Sat) to wine at some of the top wineries in the area. Spend the 28th (Thu) wandering through the wild on a nature and wildlife tour. And it doesn't end there: learn about all things military at Shrine of Remembrance, examine the collection at National Sports Museum, steep yourself in history at Old Melbourne Gaol, and explore the world behind art at National Gallery of Victoria.

To find ratings, other places to visit, where to stay, and tourist information, use the Melbourne day trip tool .

Hamburg, Germany to Melbourne is an approximately 25-hour flight. You can also do a combination of train and flight; or do a combination of flight and train. Due to the time zone difference, you'll lose 9 hours traveling from Hamburg to Melbourne. Traveling from Hamburg in November, you will find days in Melbourne are warmer (26°C), and nights are somewhat warmer (11°C). Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 5th (Thu) to allow enough time to 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.

Visit Palm Cove Beach and Four Mile Beach for some beach relaxation. Escape the urban bustle at Scuba & Snorkeling and Safaris. Change things up with these side-trips from Cairns: Daintree National Park (in Cape Tribulation), Mossman (Shannonvale Tropical Fruit Winery & Mossman Golf Club) and Palm Cove (Hartley's Crocodile Adventures, Kayaking & Canoeing, & more). Spend the 20th (Fri) exploring nature at Mowbray National Park. Spend the 27th (Fri) exploring nature at Barron Gorge National Park. There's lots more to do: stroll through Trinity Beach, kick back and relax at Wonga Beach, meet the residents at Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas, and trek along Esplanade Boardwalk.

For other places to visit, more things to do, maps, and other tourist information, read Cairns trip planner .

Fly from Melbourne to Cairns in 5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train. In December, Cairns is somewhat warmer than Melbourne - with highs of 36°C and lows of 26°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 30th (Mon) to allow time to travel back home.