Planning a Trip to Australia? Use This Detailed Guide

Australia is a wild and wonderful place. I’ve been lucky enough to study abroad there — shoutout to the University of New South Wales! — and spend some time there in an adult fashion with Brian.

Planning a trip to Australia on our own was pretty easy. The toughest bit was deciding where we wanted to go on Brian’s first trip. This country is packed with adventure, and distances between places of note are wide.

Whether you’re just starting your planning or knee-deep and want to make sure you’re not missing out on anything, use this guide to help you plan the trip of your dreams.

Australia is one of our favorite places on the planet, so it’s going to get really positive around here in a minute.

How to Plan the Perfect Trip to Australia

To start planning your first trip to Australia, there are a few things to think about before you book. Here are a few bits of travel advice to get you started before we get into the details:

• Plan your route based on the time you have. Don’t count the first day you arrive, as you’ll likely be recovering from the flight over.
• Set a budget. Flights will likely eat up the bulk of your budget. You can find budget-friendly accommodations in most of the major cities from there.
• Check visa requirements. Most travelers will need a visa for trips to Australia. You can book these online in many cases, and they’re valid for up to 90 days.
• Book your flights. Book your flights or set alerts to watch for price fluctuations and jump on a budget-friendly flight.
• Book internal transportation. Choose between domestic flights, road trips, trains, or buses to move between cities.
• Check on tour availability. This is especially true if you want to do something like dive the Great Barrier Reef.
• Book accommodations. I list these after your excursions just in case you’re booking something bucket listy, but the order here is interchangeable.
• Make a packing list. I’ll get into some tips later, but at the very least, make sure you include clothing that makes sense for your itinerary.

How many days do you need to see Australia?

Plan a trip where you spend at least a week in Australia if you’re only targeting one region. Consider the fact that you’ll likely be dealing with some incredible jet lag, as well, no matter where you’re coming from.

With more time, you can add time on the road to explore lesser-known spots. With less time, you may want to stick to one city, like Sydney.

The Best Time to Visit Australia

As with most places, the weather in Australia will depend on where you’re at. Generally, the further north you go, the warmer it will be, so you may want to avoid certain regions in Australia’s hot summers.

Their winters never really get that cold if I’m using my Midwestern roots as a standard, but most would consider South Australia quite chilly during their winters.

Really, if you find a good deal to Australia, don’t let the time of year bother you too much. You’ll have things to do no matter the season!

Here’s a closer look at Australia’s seasons to help your planning:

• Spring (September-November): This is an ideal time for wildlife spotting, including baby kangaroos, or joeys, to be more accurate. Temperatures are pleasant throughout the country.
• Summer (December-February): These are the wettest months of the year, particularly in Darwin and Cairns. December and January are also peak months, as both tourists and locals hit the beaches to take advantage of their holiday time.
• Autumn (March-May): The country is entering that ideal “not too hot, not too cold” band. Wine festivals are common during this time in Australia’s wine region, particularly in South Australia.
• Winter (June-August): I’ve only been to Australia during its winter months. I was still able to dive in the Great Barrier Reef, but Melbourne was quite wet and chilly. Pack layers and you’ll be good to go.

Fun fact: Warm waters mean the potential for beach closures due to all kinds of critters that like to call Australia home, e.g. saltwater crocodiles and box jellyfish. Don’t just read posted signage before entering the water. Read and heed!

How to Get to Australia

Flying into Sydney will score you the best deals, even if Sydney isn’t your final destination.

The high season for flights to Australia is during the summer and the holiday months, from December to January. If you’re traveling during that time, book your flights well in advance.

If you’re booking regional flights once you’re already in Australia, Jetstar, Rex, and Virgin Australia are popular options.

Unless you’re a New Zealand citizen, you will need a visa to enter Australia for up to 90 days. American citizens may apply via an app through the Electronic Travel Authority.

How to Get Around Australia

Unless you’re sticking to one region of the country, flying will be the most efficient way to see more of what the country has to offer. If booked well enough in advance, you can get decent deals on regional carriers.

If you’re comfortable driving on the left side of the road (with your steering wheel on the right side of the car), self-drive tours and road trips are an option.

We drove up and down the coast of Western Australia on our last trip without incident but with an abundance of caution, as kangaroos like to jump out onto the road after dusk.

READ MORE: Check out some of the fun experiences we had on that trip in our day trip guide from Perth!

If you want to plan a road trip in Australia, all you’ll need is to be at least 21 years of age, a valid driver’s license, and a credit card to rent a car.

If you’ve got the time, Australia offers some scenic opportunities for long-distance train travel, like the Indian Pacific that will take you from Sydney all the way to Perth.

These are alongside more affordable train journeys between the major transportation hubs. The NSW TrainLink can take you from Sydney to Brisbane, Melbourne, and Canberra, and the Queensland Rail Travel connects Brisbane and Cairns.

Australia’s national bus operator, Greyhound, also offers long-distance, albeit slow, transportation options.

How much does a trip to Australia cost?

Expect to spend at least $2,500 per person for a week in Australia to cover flights, accommodations, dining, and activities. That can add up if you’re looking for ideas for a family vacation.

The cost of a trip to Australia depends on a few different factors, starting with your flight. You can find a good deal on a flight from Los Angeles for under $500. (We did!) That’s not likely from most origin points.

Australia’s national currency is the Australian dollar. Credit cards are widely accepted, but it’s never a bad idea to carry some small bills on you if you have a hankering for a coffee or a local newspaper for whatever reason.

Top Places to Visit in Australia

You could spend a full year exploring Australia from coast to coast and still miss out on some incredible things. Here are my most wow-worthy places to add to your Australia itinerary.

The Great Barrier Reef

I’ve been lucky enough to dive in the Great Barrier Reef twice. I’ve also been unlucky enough to see the effects of global warming on this natural wonder up close.

The warming oceans have caused coral reef death and degradation, including the coral bleaching that’s most obvious. Do your part on your visit and only wear reef-safe sunscreen.

Here are a few options:

• Sun Bum Original SPF 50 Sunscreen Lotion
• Thrive Natural Mineral Sunscreen
• Goodspread Universal Mineral Sunscreen

That all said, any visit you’re able to make to see the reef in person is an incredible experience. If you can’t dive, snorkel. If you can’t snorkel, take a boat tour.

While the colors weren’t as vibrant on my more recent visit, a more sobering visit is still important to see the effects of climate change.

Interested in a guided experience? Check out these options:

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park

A visit to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park tends to make you feel quite small. Back when I visited Australia’s Red Centre in college, you were still “allowed” to climb Uluru, despite the natives’ sentiments on the matter.

Thankfully, that practice was officially ended by 2019.

Note: I use the word “allowed” a bit loosely here. Uluru has always been sacred land, and it was never permitted for visitors to climb due to that fact. Local officials only installed chains to prevent injury to those doing it anyway. I would have rather Darwin have a say here.

To visit the park, which is technically part of the Northern Territory, you’ll need to get to Alice Springs or the park’s official airport in Yulara. The Alice Springs to Yulara flight is only 45 minutes, but you can also connect from most major Australian cities.

As we were all on a budget back then, we took the overland route, a scenic five hours or so from Alice Springs.

Interested in a guided experience? Check out these options:

Sydney

You’ll likely fly into Sydney anyway on any Australia itinerary, so you may as well spend a few solid days exploring this vibrant city.

Have cocktails outside the Sydney Opera House. Get those classic shots of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Explore the best beaches that rival anything you’ll find on the Gold Coast. With more time, head out to the Blue Mountains.

I’ve now been able to return to Sydney a few times, and it’s one of my favorite cities in the world. I think that’s why we moved to San Diego for a while. It reminded me of the Australian version.

Interested in bucket list experiences around Sydney? Check out the options below:

Margaret River

On a more recent trip with my husband, I knew I wanted to see Western Australia, a part of the country I hadn’t explored on my study abroad adventure. Perth was fantastic and delicious, but it was the Margaret River region that truly did it for me.

First of all, there are goats you can visit everywhere you look.

Perhaps more importantly, you can visit these goats after sipping on some delicious wine in the region. (There are 60 wine regions in Australia!)

I’d love to return as our weather wasn’t the greatest, but you don’t want to miss out on the Margaret River if you find yourself on the less popular side of the country.

Note: Less popular can be a really great thing. We found excellent deals on accommodations and car rentals exploring Western Australia, as there’s just less competition here vs. New South Wales.

Interested in wine tours around the Margaret River? Check out these options below:

Kakadu National Park

If dinosaurs still walked the earth, I’m pretty sure you’d find them in Kakadu National Park, one of Australia’s most impressive national parks.

Hike to waterfalls and take a well-deserved dip, peruse some of the world’s greatest concentrations of rock art, or take a croc spotting tour. With more time, take a side trip to Litchfield National Park.

Fun fact: There are more than 10,000 crocodiles in the park. Visit from August-November if you want to see a higher concentration of crocs during your visit.

Kakadu is known for its biodiversity, so no matter what you decide to do, pay attention to not only what you see, but what you hear while you’re there.

The park is home to about a third of the country’s bird species and a fifth of the country’s animal species, and not all of them are there to kill you.

Interested in guided tours for Kakadu? Check out these options:

More Places to Visit in Australia

I’m lucky to have spent an extended period in Australia, so there are quite a few attractions I didn’t mention up top. Here are a few more places I’ve loved:

• Adelaide: Charming Adelaide is a great option if you don’t want to go all the way to the Margaret River for wine. It’s a good base for Kangaroo Island, too.
• Brisbane: The highlight of our visit here was a trip to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, where we met some of the crankiest koalas in Australia, or so it seemed.
• Daintree Rainforest: This is one of the world’s oldest rainforests, home to rare wildlife and lush landscapes that will feel very Jurassic Park.
• Melbourne: I owe this one a visit, as Brian and I didn’t make it happen after my wet trip there in college. It’s a great access point for the Great Ocean Road, too.
• Perth: If there were a sixth spot in my list of best places to visit in Australia, it would have gone to Perth. We loved our time in this laidback city.

READ MORE: Love the sound of those rescued koalas? You’ll want to plan a trip to see Chiang Mai’s elephants.

Australia Travel Itineraries

We know not everyone has two weeks to get away. With a week, you can still do quite a bit, but I’d urge you to give yourself a buffer day or two at the start to account for jet lag. You’re likely coming off a long flight to get to Australia.

Here are a few trip ideas for a full week’s worth of activities as you plan your Australia itinerary:

Option 1: Sydney & the Great Barrier Reef

• Day 1: Arrive in Sydney.
• Day 2: Explore Sydney.
• Day 3: Depart for Cairns.
• Day 4: Dive the Great Barrier Reef.
• Day 5: Depart for Port Douglas.
• Day 6: Visit Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation.
• Day 7: Return via Sydney.

Option 2: The Australian Outback

• Day 1: Arrive in Sydney.
• Day 2: Explore Sydney.
• Day 3: Fly to Uluru.
• Day 4: Tour Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.
• Day 5: Drive to Kings Canyon.
• Day 6: Explore Kings Canyon.
• Day 7: Return via Sydney.

Option 3: Western Australia Wonders

• Day 1: Arrive in Perth
• Day 2: Explore Perth.
• Day 3: Explore Rottnest Island or Fremantle.
• Day 4: Explore Lancelin and Nambung National Park.
• Day 5: Drive to Margaret River.
• Day 6: Tour Margaret River.
• Day 7: Depart via Perth.

Amazing Facts About Australia

Australia is a weird and wonderful place. Check out some of my favorite fun facts about Australia. If anything, they make for great talking points after you’ve had some coldies:

1. You probably hear people joke about all the things that can kill you in Australia. Of the 25 venomous snakes in the world, you can find 21 of them in Australia.
2. Western Australia has made several attempts to secede from the rest of Australia. As a former transplant to California, I feel you.
3. The Aboriginal culture is the oldest culture on Earth, with the group’s ancestors going back 75,000 years.
4. The stromatolites in Western Australia are said to be the oldest evidence of life on the planet.
5. There are more than 140 marsupials living in Australia, including their national animal, the red kangaroo, and those chunky wombats. Their poop is cube-shaped.

What to Pack to Australia

Deciding what to bring to Australia depends on what you plan to do once you’re there. If you’re here for nature adventures, you may need some hiking gear. Most itineraries involve some time in the water, too.

The abbreviated list below is what we found helpful on our trip to Australia:

• Hiking shoes: If you’re doing any exploring in the Outback, bring along a durable hiking shoe. There’s that joke that there are all these things that can kill you while you’re in Australia. A sturdy shoe will offer some additional protection.
• Sun hat: You’ll want something to protect your face while you’re out on the Australian coast. Most sun hats are packable if you don’t want to wear them on the airplane, although that may suggest to some that you’re a celebrity.
• Swimsuit: Bring a swimsuit if you’re headed to the Australian coast or are interested in water activities. The style you bring along will depend on what’s on your itinerary.
• Thongs: No, I’m not talking about not butt floss. You’ll need some thongs, or flip-flops if you’re not an Aussie, if you’re having terrific beach times in the summertime.
• Wet bag: Bring along a wet bag, especially if you won’t be doing laundry on your trip to Australia. It’ll keep your suit and travel towel from getting everything else in your luggage funky and wet.

Local Australian Foods

Australian food isn’t generally known as being a culinary delight, but some of it isn’t all that offensive.

Here are some of the weird and wonderful local offerings:

• Barramundi: A popular seafood option, this local fish is typically served up pan-fried.
• Chiko Roll: This is Australia’s version of an egg roll. It’s a savory, flaky snack stuffed with meat and veggies.
• Curry Pie: There’s a lot of Southeast Asian influence in street foods found in Australia. Curry pies, in particular green chicken curry pies, are a staple.
• John Dory: This local fish is typically caught all along the eastern coast. It’s a common fillet used in Australia’s version of fish and chips.
• Kangaroo: Similar to venison, kangaroo is a popular protein as the country is overrun with marsupials. Go to a steakhouse and you’ll see it on the menu.
• Meat Pie: Much like the curry pie, Australians also enjoy encasing other proteins in a pie form. And why not? It’s delicious and filling.
• Pavlova: New Zealanders will say they are the creators of the meringue dessert, but that doesn’t mean Australians eat any less of it.
• Tim Tam: This one’s not scary at all. A Tim Tam is a delightful chocolate biscuit found throughout the country’s supermarkets.
• Vegemite: Vegemite, typically served on toast, is a savory dark paste that is best described as thick. It’s made of leftover brewers’ yeast extract. I dare you.
• Witchetty Grub: This isn’t something you’ll find at food stands. A witchetty grub is gypsy moth larva popular with Aboriginal communities and now, bush tuckers.

Special Events & Festivals in Australia

If you’re planning a trip to Australia during a specific time of year, consider whether there are any festivals or holidays occurring. You may want to attend special events or avoid them, as holidays often mean business closures.

Here are a few notable dates across Australia:

• Sydney Festival: The Sydney Festival is an arts festival that has been running since 1977. Headliners come from the arts to entertain Aussies for weeks each January.
• Byron Bay Blues Festival: The Byron Bay Blues Festival is the largest event of its kind in Australia. Headliners are a big deal, e.g. Lenny Kravitz.
• National Folk Festival: Canberra celebrates its National Folk Festival each April with music, dancing, comedy, and more (e.g. puppets) over four days.
• Sydney Film Festival: It isn’t Cannes, but the Sydney Film Festival does compete as an international draw for not only Australia’s best films but worldwide features.
• Darwin Festival: The Darwin Festival began in the 1970s to bring the community together following a cyclone that tore through the Northern Territory.

Where to Stay in Australia

Where you stay in Australia depends on your itinerary. We liked the Crystalbrook Albion in Sydney. If you’re visiting Brisbane, the Holiday Inn Express Brisbane Central is a budget-friendly option.

If you’re lucky enough to have Western Australia on your agenda, we recommend the Ingot Hotel Perth or Metro Hotel Perth City. The Caves House Hotel and Apartments is a nice stopover in the Margaret River region.

Otherwise, browse Booking.com or Hotels.com for your options across Australia. Vrbo is my Airbnb alternative.

You can plan your own trip to Australia.

As I’ve said already, the hardest part will be narrowing down your options as far as what you’d like to see in the time you have. There are so many places in this country that feel so worthy of that time that you’ll surely be planning your return trip before it’s over.