16 days in Cairns, Brisbane & Sydney Itinerary

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.

Take a break from the city and head to Scuba & Snorkeling and Palm Cove Beach. You'll get in some beach time at Trinity Beach and Yorkeys Knob Beach. Explore the numerous day-trip ideas around Cairns: Hartley's Crocodile Adventures (in Palm Cove) and Safaris (in Port Douglas). And it doesn't end there: take in the waterfront at The Jack Barnes Bicentennial Mangrove Boardwalk, hunt for treasures at Rusty's Market, get interesting insight from Tours, and pause for some photo ops at Cairns Cenotaph.

To find where to stay, ratings, photos, and other tourist information, refer to the Cairns online itinerary planner .

York, UK to Cairns is an approximately 26-hour combination of train and flight. You can also do a combination of train, bus, and flight; or do a combination of train and flight. The time zone difference when traveling from York to Cairns is 10 hours. Expect much hotter temperatures when traveling from York in April; daily highs in Cairns reach 34°C and lows reach 26°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 4th (Sat) so you can travel to Brisbane.

Queensland’s biggest town and state capital, Brisbane has an attractive, manicured image based around its riverside aesthetic as well as the contrast between its high-rise center and extensive urban greenery.

Get outdoors at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary and Captain Cook Highway. Your itinerary includes some good beach time at Moffat Beach and Dicky Beach. Next up on the itinerary: let little ones run wild at South Bank Parklands, get great views at Mount Coot-tha Lookout, and admire the natural beauty at City Botanic Gardens.

Plan my trip to Brisbane with suggested itineraries provided by Inspirock.

You can fly from Cairns to Brisbane in 4 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of flight and bus; or drive. Traveling from Cairns in May, things will get a bit cooler in Brisbane: highs are around 27°C and lows about 15°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 7th (Tue) to allow enough 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.

You'll enjoy a bit of beach vacationing at Bondi Beach and Clovelly. Visiting Bondi to Coogee Beach Coastal Walk and The Opera House to the Botanic Gardens Walk will get you outdoors. When in Sydney, make a side trip to see Shelly Beach in Manly, approximately 36 minutes away. Spend the 11th (Sat) exploring nature at Sydney Harbour National Park. The adventure continues: kick back and relax at Manly Beach, stroll through Coogee Beach, wander the streets of The Rocks, and snap pictures at Sydney Harbour Bridge.

To see maps, where to stay, reviews, and other tourist information, go to the Sydney trip site .

Traveling by flight from Brisbane to Sydney takes 4 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of bus and flight; or drive. In May, daytime highs in Sydney are 24°C, while nighttime lows are 14°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 12th (Sun) so you can travel back home.