📍 Australia

PACIFIC PARADISE: SYDNEY TO THE CORAL REEF KINGDOMS

Q: What weather should you expect?

Peak Season (December-February): Summer holidays, warmest weather, perfect for beaches, highest prices, most crowded attractions, school holidays. Shoulder Seasons (March-May, September-November): Excellent weather, fewer crowds, moderate prices, ideal for most regions and outdoor activities. Winter (June-August): Perfect for tropical north (dry season), ski season in Snowy Mountains, cooler in south, lower prices except ski areas. Regional Variations: Northern Australia best in dry season (May-October), southern regions pleasant year-round, consider vast distances and climate zones.

Coral gardens bloom beneath warm waves, rainforest whispers ancient secrets, island peaks pierce a turquoise sky. The east coast is Australia's crown jewel.

≈ 13

Days

Stops

📖 8 min read 🔄 Last updated: 2026-01-17

Sydney and its opera house, Byron Bay and its waves, the Gold Coast, Whitsunday Islands, Mission Beach rainforest and diving at Cairns. Australia's east coast is a permanent spectacle.

Sydney: iconic harbor brilliance
Byron Bay: coastal cool soul
Whitsundays: island paradise hopping
Cairns: reef immersion complete

Your day-by-day itinerary

Day

Sydney

opera house harbor iconic soul

6 photos

Day 1

🔍

Discover

Sydney Opera House - UNESCO World Heritage listed monument

Harbour Bridge and panoramic bay views

🎯

Activities

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Bondi Beach

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The Rocks - Sydney's historic quarter

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Royal Botanic Garden

Day

Yamba

fishing village river mouth

4 photos

Day 2

🔍

Discover

Yamba surf beaches

Clarence River mouth

🎯

Activities

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Surfing the renowned waves of the NSW north coast

Day

Byron Bay

lighthouse bluff spiritual coast

5 photos

Day 3

🔍

Discover

Cape Byron Lighthouse - Australia's easternmost point on the mainland

Byron Bay beaches - Main Beach and Wategos Beach

🎯

Activities

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Surfing and surf schools

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Kayaking and horseback riding along the coast

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Byron Bay local markets

Day

Gold Coast

theme park surfer energy

5 photos

Day 4

🔍

Discover

Surfers Paradise - Gold Coast's iconic beach

Warner Bros. Movie World - themed amusement park

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Activities

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Lamington National Park - rainforest hiking

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Springbrook National Park and its waterfalls

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Water activities and surfing

Day

Brisbane

river city cultural crossroads

3 photos

Day 5

🔍

Discover

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary - world's largest koala sanctuary

Kangaroo encounters and koala watching

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Activities

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South Bank Parklands and artificial beach

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Brisbane Botanic Gardens

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Australia Zoo (1 hour north) - Irwin family zoo

Day

Noosa

glamorous hinterland resort village

6 photos

Day 6

🔍

Discover

Noosa Everglades - one of only two Everglades systems in the world

Noosa Heads National Park

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Activities

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Kayaking in Noosa Everglades

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Noosa Markets

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Sandboarding on Carlo Sandblow dunes

Day

Rainbow Beach

coloured sands dune cliffs

4 photos

Day 7

🔍

Discover

Colored sand dunes of Rainbow Beach

K'gari (Fraser Island) - world's largest sand island

🎯

Activities

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4WD tour on K'gari

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Whale watching (seasonal)

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Swimming with dolphins

+1 Optional activities

Day

Airlie Beach

backpacker tropical gateway

6 photos

Day 8

🔍

Discover

Airlie Beach Lagoon - free artificial lagoon

Gateway to the Whitsundays islands

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Activities

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Day cruise to Whitehaven Beach

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Heart Reef - heart-shaped coral formation

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Diving and snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef

Day

Whitsundays

seventy-four islands sailing paradise

6 photos

Day 9

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Discover

Whitehaven Beach - white silica sand beach

Castle Hill - granite hill with panoramic view

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Activities

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Multi-day island cruise

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Reef HQ Aquarium - coral reef aquarium

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Ferry to Magnetic Island (20 min)

Day

Townsville

reef access warm city

6 photos

Day 10

🔍

Discover

Magnetic Island - largest wild koala colony

Horseshoe Bay and Alma Bay beaches

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Activities

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Koala watching in their natural habitat

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Snorkeling on coral reefs

Day

Magnetic Island

koala island tropical escape

6 photos

Day 11

🔍

Discover

Mission Beach shores lined with rainforest

Surrounding waterfalls

🎯

Activities

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Island tour by convertible car

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Forts Walk hike - World War II remnants

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Snorkeling excursion to the Great Barrier Reef

+1 Optional activities

Day

Mission Beach

cassowary rainforest coral beach

3 photos

Day 12

🔍

Discover

Day 1: Cairns Esplanade and public lagoon

Day 1: Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef

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Activities

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Skydiving with views of the coast and reefs

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Cassowary spotting in the rainforest

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Day 1: Snorkeling/diving excursion on the Great Barrier Reef

+1 Optional activities

Day

Cairns

reef capital tropical adventure

3 photos

Day 13

🔍

Discover

Day 2: Wet Tropics rainforest - UNESCO World Heritage site

Day 2: Kuranda Scenic Railway - scenic train through the forest

Day 2: Wet Tropics rainforest - UNESCO World Heritage site

Day 2: Kuranda Scenic Railway - scenic train through the forest

🎯

Activities

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Day 1: Sea turtle and reef shark observation

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Day 2: Skyrail Rainforest Cableway - cable car above the canopy

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Day 2: Kuranda village and craft markets

+3 Optional activities

🗺️ Itinerary map

🗺️ Nearby itineraries

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🛡️ Travel advice - Australia

Check official recommendations

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❓ Frequently asked questions

What weather should you expect?

Peak Season (December-February): Summer holidays, warmest weather, perfect for beaches, highest prices, most crowded attractions, school holidays.

Shoulder Seasons (March-May, September-November): Excellent weather, fewer crowds, moderate prices, ideal for most regions and outdoor activities.

Winter (June-August): Perfect for tropical north (dry season), ski season in Snowy Mountains, cooler in south, lower prices except ski areas.

Regional Variations: Northern Australia best in dry season (May-October), southern regions pleasant year-round, consider vast distances and climate zones.

How many days should I plan?

We believe you will enjoy this itinerary best by dedicating between 10 and 16 days. The next step will allow you to adjust the duration of your stay.

What to discover in Australia?

Unique wildlife, stunning beaches, and vast Outback create the ultimate adventure destination. From Sydney Opera House to Great Barrier Reef and Uluru's spiritual presence. Experience Aboriginal culture, world-class wine regions, and cosmopolitan cities alongside dangerous animals. Australia offers life-changing experiences across diverse landscapes and vibrant cities.