7 days in Brisbane & Cairns Itinerary

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.

Step out of the city life by going to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary and Surfers Paradise Beach. Bring the kids along to Queensland Museum & Sciencentre and South Bank Parklands. Go for a jaunt from Brisbane to Oxenford to see Warner Bros. Movie World about 44 minutes away. The adventure continues: explore the world behind art at Queensland Art Gallery and take in the spiritual surroundings of Nepalese Pagoda.

To see reviews, where to stay, other places to visit, and more tourist information, refer to the Brisbane road trip planning tool.

The Route module shows you travel options from your home to Brisbane. Expect a daytime high around 32°C in December, and nighttime lows around 23°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 28th (Mon) to allow time to travel 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.

Visiting Scuba & Snorkeling and Safaris will get you outdoors. Family-friendly places like Trinity Beach and Esplanade Boardwalk will thrill your kids. Explore the numerous day-trip ideas around Cairns: Palm Cove (Spas & Palm Cove Beach) and Historic Village Herberton (in Herberton). There's still lots to do: hike along Wrights Lookout.

To find maps, reviews, where to stay, and other tourist information, refer to the Cairns visit site.

Fly from Brisbane to Cairns in 4.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train. When traveling from Brisbane in December, plan for a bit warmer days and about the same nights in Cairns: temperatures range from 36°C by day to 26°C at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 1st (Fri) so you can travel back home.