28 days in Australia Itinerary

A modern metropolis of glassy skyscrapers, waterside boulevards, and lush residential neighborhoods, Perth sits on the edge of the Swan Coastal Plain.

On the 1st (Tue), contemplate the long history of The Perth Mint, pause for some photo ops at Kings Park War Memorial, and then admire the natural beauty at Kings Park & Botanic Garden.

For where to stay, traveler tips, maps, and more tourist information, go to the Perth trip maker tool .

Adelaide to Perth is an approximately 5.5-hour flight. You can also take a train; or drive. Due to the time zone difference, you'll gain 1 hour traveling from Adelaide to Perth. When traveling from Adelaide in January, plan for a bit warmer days and about the same nights in Perth: temperatures range from 38°C by day to 20°C at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 1st (Tue) so you can travel to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.

For quintessential Outback scenery and culture, you can't beat a holiday in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, a World Heritage Site.

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is known for nature, museums, outdoors, trails, and classes. Your plan includes some of its best attractions: take in the dramatic natural features at Uluru, trek along Kuniya Walk, explore the galleries of Walkatjara Art, and contemplate the waterfront views at Mutitjulu Waterhole.

For photos, ratings, reviews, and other tourist information, refer to the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park tour website .

Traveling by flight from Perth to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park takes 9.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive. Traveling from Perth to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, you'll lose 1 hour due to the time zone difference. Prepare for a bit warmer weather when traveling from Perth in January: high temperatures in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park hover around 43°C and lows are around 26°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 4th (Fri) to allow time 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.

Spend the 5th (Sat) among aquatic life with a scuba or snorkeling tour. Spend the 6th (Sun) spotting exotic species with a safari tour. Next up on the itinerary: look for all kinds of wild species at Hartley's Crocodile Adventures, tour the pleasant surroundings at Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas, and make a trip to St Mary’s by The Sea chapel.

To find more things to do, traveler tips, reviews, and more tourist information, refer to the Port Douglas online vacation builder .

You can do a combination of flight and shuttle from Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park to Port Douglas in 6 hours. Alternatively, you can drive. While traveling from Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, expect little chillier days and about the same nights in Port Douglas, ranging from highs of 37°C to lows of 28°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 7th (Mon) early enough to go by car 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.

Spend the 8th (Tue) among aquatic life with a scuba or snorkeling tour. Spend the 10th (Thu) wandering through the wild on a nature and wildlife tour. There's much more to do: trek along Esplanade Boardwalk, take in the exciting artwork at Bones and Jones, take in the waterfront at The Jack Barnes Bicentennial Mangrove Boardwalk, and have fun at Esplanade Lagoon Pool.

To find more things to do, reviews, ratings, and tourist information, read Cairns trip tool .

Traveling by car from Port Douglas to Cairns takes 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus; or take a shuttle. In January, daytime highs in Cairns are 37°C, while nighttime lows are 28°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 10th (Thu) so you can travel to Fraser Island.

Fraser Island is known for nature, beaches, outdoors, historic sites, and spas. Your plan includes some of its best attractions: explore the activities along Lake McKenzie, kick back and relax at Eli Creek, and stroll through Seventy-Five Mile Beach.

For maps, ratings, reviews, and more tourist information, refer to the Fraser Island journey tool .

Do a combination of flight, ferry, and car from Cairns to Fraser Island in 10.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of train, car, and ferry; or do a combination of bus, ferry, and car. Traveling from Cairns in January, plan for a bit cooler nights in Fraser Island, with lows around 24°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 14th (Mon) so you can travel to Lord Howe Island.

Bursting out of the Tasman Sea, Lord Howe Island offers stunning scenery and many sandy beaches.

Kick off your visit on the 15th (Tue): learn more about the world around you at Lord Howe Island Museum, enjoy the sand and surf at Lagoon Beach, and then kick back and relax at Ned's Beach. On the 16th (Wed), you'll have a packed day of sightseeing: trek along Lord Howe Island Walking Trails, then explore the striking landscape at Ball's Pyramid, and then take your sightseeing to a higher altitude at Mt Gower.

For traveler tips, photos, where to stay, and more tourist information, read our Lord Howe Island online travel route planner .

Traveling by combination of car, ferry, and flight from Fraser Island to Lord Howe Island takes 9.5 hours. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 16th (Wed) early enough 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: see a show at Sydney Opera House, trek along Bondi to Coogee Beach Coastal Walk, wander the streets of Darling Harbour, and stroll through Manly Beach.

To find ratings, maps, more things to do, and other tourist information, read our Sydney travel route planning site .

You can fly from Lord Howe Island to Sydney in 3.5 hours. In January, daily temperatures in Sydney can reach 32°C, while at night they dip to 23°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 21st (Mon) to allow enough time to drive to Katoomba.

Located off of the Great Western Highway, Katoomba is the main hub of the City of Blue Mountains.

Take a break from Katoomba with a short trip to Norman Lindsay Gallery & Museum in Faulconbridge, about 32 minutes away. Next up on the itinerary: admire the sheer force of Wentworth Falls, make a trip to Echo Point Lookout, get great views at Hargraves Lookout, and appreciate the extensive heritage of The National Pass.

For reviews, traveler tips, where to stay, and tourist information, go to the Katoomba trip itinerary builder site .

Getting from Sydney to Katoomba by car takes about 1.5 hours. Other options: take a train. January in Katoomba sees daily highs of 34°C and lows of 20°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 24th (Thu) early enough to travel to Melbourne.

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, meet the residents at Melbourne Zoo, explore the world behind art at National Gallery of Victoria, and explore the galleries of Shrine of Remembrance.

To see photos, more things to do, ratings, and other tourist information, you can read our Melbourne attractions tool .

Do a combination of train and flight from Katoomba to Melbourne in 6 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train. Plan for a bit cooler nights when traveling from Katoomba in January since evenings lows in Melbourne dip to 17°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 28th (Mon) early enough to travel back home.