15 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.

Melbourne is known for museums, shopping, parks, nightlife, and zoos & aquariums. Your plan includes some of its best attractions: take in nature's colorful creations at Royal Botanic Gardens, tour the water at your own pace with Melbourne Boat Hire, see the interesting displays at Melbourne Museum, and admire the masterpieces at National Gallery of Victoria.

To see other places to visit, photos, ratings, and more tourist information, read Melbourne trip planner.

Manchester, UK to Melbourne is an approximately 26-hour flight. You can also do a combination of flight and train. The time zone difference when traveling from Manchester to Melbourne is 10 hours. Plan for much hotter temperatures traveling from Manchester in January, with highs in Melbourne at 32°C and lows at 17°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 7th (Tue) to allow time to 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.

Sydney is known for nightlife, trails, beaches, parks, and museums. Your plan includes some of its best attractions: don't miss a visit to Sydney Opera House, take a stroll through Darling Harbour, stroll through Manly Beach, and kick back and relax at Bondi Beach.

To see ratings, photos, where to stay, and tourist information, read Sydney tour itinerary planner.

Traveling by flight from Melbourne to Sydney takes 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of shuttle and flight; or drive. Plan for a bit warmer nights when traveling from Melbourne in January since evenings lows in Sydney dip to 23°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 12th (Sun) early enough to travel 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.

Kick off your visit on the 13th (Mon): discover the deep blue sea with a scuba or snorkeling tour. On the next day, see exotic creatures in open habitats at a safari tour.

For traveler tips, other places to visit, photos, and tourist information, read our Port Douglas route planner.

Traveling by combination of flight and shuttle from Sydney to Port Douglas takes 7 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or do a combination of train and bus. In January, Port Douglas is a bit warmer than Sydney - with highs of 37°C and lows of 28°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 14th (Tue) to allow time to drive 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.

On the 15th (Wed), see some colorful creatures with a scuba or snorkeling tour. On your second day here, identify plant and animal life at Wildlife Areas.

For maps, photos, traveler tips, and more tourist information, you can read our Cairns road trip tool .

Traveling by car from Port Douglas to Cairns takes 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus; or take a shuttle. Expect a daytime high around 37°C in January, and nighttime lows around 28°C. On the 17th (Fri), you're off tohome.