17 days in Australia 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.

Kick off your visit on the 30th (Wed): have fun at Esplanade Lagoon Pool, get a new perspective on things with Boat Tours & Water Sports, and then look for all kinds of wild species at The Jack Barnes Bicentennial Mangrove Boardwalk. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 31st (Thu): trek along Esplanade Boardwalk, admire the natural beauty at Botanical Gardens, and then surround yourself with nature on a nature and wildlife tour.

For photos, where to stay, and tourist information, read our Cairns driving holiday planner.

Zurich, Switzerland to Cairns is an approximately 25-hour flight. Traveling from Zurich to Cairns, you'll lose 9 hours due to the time zone difference. Expect much hotter temperatures when traveling from Zurich in October; daily highs in Cairns reach °C and lows reach °C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 31st (Thu) so you can drive 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.

On the 1st (Fri), see exotic creatures in open habitats at a safari tour, discover the deep blue sea with a scuba or snorkeling tour, and then stop by With Sugar. Keep things going the next day: get great views at Flagstaff Hill Lookout, admire nature's wide array of creatures at Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas, and then identify plant and animal life at Hartley's Crocodile Adventures.

Plan a Port Douglas trip in moments using our itinerary builder.

You can drive from Cairns to Port Douglas in 1.5 hours. Other options are to take a shuttle; or take a bus. In October in Port Douglas, expect temperatures between °C during the day and °C at night. Cap off your sightseeing on the 2nd (Sat) early enough to travel to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.

Please note that visitors are no longer allowed to trek up Uluru.

Located right in the center of Australia, the national park boasts perhaps the country's most iconic natural symbol and a sacred place for the region's indigenous people--as well as Kata Tjuta, a collection of 36 red rocks forming an equally distinctive sight.

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is known for nature, museums, and outdoors. Your plan includes some of its best attractions: explore the striking landscape at Uluru, take your sightseeing to a higher altitude at Kata Tjuta / Mount Olga, get engrossed in the history at Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre, and view the masterpieces at Walkatjara Art.

To see maps, reviews, where to stay, and other tourist information, read our Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park trip planner.

Fly from Port Douglas to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in 6 hours. Alternatively, you can drive. The time zone difference moving from Australian Eastern Standard Time to Australian Central Standard Time is minus 0.5 hours. Traveling from Port Douglas in November, you will find days in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park are somewhat warmer (°C), and nights are little chillier (°C). Finish up your sightseeing early on the 5th (Tue) so you can travel to Melbourne.

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

When in Melbourne, make a side trip to see The Great Ocean Road in Torquay, approximately Torquay away. There's still lots to do: take in nature's colorful creations at Royal Botanic Gardens, admire the masterpieces at National Gallery of Victoria, walk around Fitzroy Gardens, and see the interesting displays at Melbourne Museum.

To see ratings, maps, traveler tips, and more tourist information, read Melbourne trip itinerary planning site.

Fly from Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park to Melbourne in 5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive. Due to the time zone difference, you'll lose 0.5 hours traveling from Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park to Melbourne. Traveling from Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in November, expect nights in Melbourne to be slightly colder, around °C, while days are much colder, around °C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 8th (Fri) 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, beaches, and parks. Your plan includes some of its best attractions: see a show at Sydney Opera House, take in nature's colorful creations at Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, enjoy the sand and surf at Bondi Beach, and take a stroll through Darling Harbour.

For traveler tips, reviews, and other tourist information, read our Sydney trip planning app.

Traveling by flight from Melbourne to Sydney takes 4 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train. Traveling from Melbourne in November, expect somewhat warmer with lows of °C in Sydney. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 13th (Wed) early enough to travel back home.