So you want to visit Australia?
Blood Ace! (A colorful Aussie colloquialism meaning Very Excellent!)
Quick Facts
- You Should Go!
- It is about a 14 Hour Flight from Los Angeles to Sydney
- Their Winter, is our Summer
- It is Warmer as you Head North
- They Drive on the Left
- Australia is BIG (6thlargest country by area)
- The Country has a mere 8 Territories
- You Cannot “see” all of Australia in 7 days, 10 days, or 2 weeks
- We have an Aussie Specialists certified by the Australian Tourism Board to help plan your Aussie Adventure
Two weeks is enough to get a feel for the country and have a marvelous trip.
If you have 17 days to 21 days, even better! But if you have at least 12 days we can help you plan your trip to help you maximize your time, whether you want to spend your time “on your own” or join a small tour company, embark on an RV Journey or you decide to choose one of the remarkable cruise options we will custom design your Australian Itinerary from beginning to end.
What does your Australian Dream Look Like?
Traveling down deep red roads of the outback to the Great Barrier Reef, you will see things that you have only read about and seen in pictures. Big describes not only the land, but also the experience. Be engaged by magical once in a lifetime experiences. And, yes even fall in love with her as I have, but make no mistake you cannot see everything she has to offer in a few weeks. So before you start planning, you need to decide what are your must sees and your must dos. Oh sure you know about kolas, kangaroos, the Sydney Opera House, and the Great Barrier Reef. Australia is so much more.
Short Starter First Time Itinerary – 11 Days, 8 Nights
Best price starts at 1659.00 per person based on double occupancy including round-trip International Economy airfare on Virgin Australia from Los Angeles to Sydney & Cairns
Your trip starts in Sydney, home to some of Australia’s most recognizable icons – a picture perfect harbor, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House! Head to The Rocks, a restored historic precinct of cobblestone streets and sandstone terraces, where you can explore the city’s intriguing convict history. Visit the Museum of Sydney with its artifacts dating back to when the settlers first arrived. Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge for stunning views of the city or perhaps learn how to surf on Bondi Beach. After four nights in city head to Cairns (CANES), the bustling hub of Tropical North Queensland, the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and the ancient Daintree Rainforest on your doorstep, Cairns is the idyllic destination to be right in the heart of the action. With more than 1,500 species of fish and rainbow-colored coral, visitors have the option to snorkel, dive or stay dry and view from the glass bottom boat to see this amazing natural habitat. Hike the rainforest, journey by rail or soar high above the canopy on a gondola or zip line! Wander through the local markets or dine on exceptional locally grown seafood and produce.
Australia Basics
There’s Nothing Like Australia
In every part of the vast continent you’ll find a wide range of unique experiences and attractions that will deliver an unforgettable vacation. But first, we need to narrow down the areas you would like to explore.
It is important to properly understand the size of Australia.
Australia is the world’s sixth-largest country, despite having a population of a merer 23 million people (that’s less than the state of California). Australian Mainland is almost 2,500 east to west and 2,000 miles from north to south, so the distances and traveling times between cities and major destinations can be significant. We are your Aussie specialist and can help you plan your perfect Australian itinerary from RV roadtrips, to some of the world’s great rail journeys. We will help you plan transportation and travel times to maximize your time in Australia.
Getting Around by Air
When is the best time to travel?
Well as many questions when it comes to traveling the world, the answer is it depends. Their summer is our winter and vice versa so if you’re visiting Australia from December to February it will be summer and you can expect that accommodations will book up very early, especially during the holidays – it is recommended that you plan at least a year in advance. Also of note, it is extremely hot in the red Center. It is also the wet season in the tropical North and you should except hot and humid weather with a beautiful lush and green landscape. It is also Stinger season (i.e. Jelly Fish) in the tropical North Queensland – around Broome and Darwin swimming is not recommended. The summer in Australia can be a great time to visit Southern Australia. Also some animals are seasonal – so if there is something specific on your bucket list, that might dictate when you should travel. For example Dugongs are best viewed in May and June.
New South Wales
- Home to Sydney
- Blue Mountains
- Hunter Valley Wine Country
New South Wales is like a mini-Australia in a smaller package with beaches, rain forests, a vibrant city life, wild life experiences and the reef. We recommend a minimum of 3 days, but you can easily spend two-weeks exploring all the sights New South Wales as to offer.
Sydney is the Capital of NSW with its near perfect climate, world famous architecture and iconic Harbour including the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge there is no better place to start your trip and the best place to fly into from the US. Sydney’s eastern suburbs are home to Bondi Beach, Coogee Beach and Watson’s Bay.
In the greater NSW Territory, visitors will discovery stunning natural attractions including five World Heritage Areas, 800 National Parks, and 721 diverse beaches.
Best place to splurge: Lord Howe Island
The Blue Mountains encompass over 4,000 square miles, a short 90 minutes trip outside of Sydney. Visit for the day, or spend a night or two exploring the vast area with magical ancient rock formations, Jenolan Caves, thundering waterfalls, eucalyptus-filled valleys and majestic canyons. Enjoy the thrill of taking the world’s steepest passenger railway from the valley floor to the canyon rim.
Did you know?
Australia’s only true alpine region, the Snowy Mountains where you will find the continent’s five highest peaks are located in NSW.
The Outback in New South Wales
The landscape of the Outback was shaped by the eons of rain, wind, sun and dust leaving extraordinary rock that dot the landscape around Mungo National Park, while Mutawinji Historic site offers timeless aboriginal rock art.
Queensland
Queensland is home to some of the most amazing aquatic and coastal experiences in the world whether you love wildlife, swimming, sailing, kayaking, surfing or just lazing around on the beach all day – the possibilities are endless. Queensland’s islands and beaches are a true national treasure. Just off the coast is The Great Barrier Reef with some of the world’s best diving and snorkelling as well as incredible island resorts accessible by plane, boat or helicopter from Port Douglas, or Cairns.
Queensland stretches more than 4,500 miles from the tip of Cape York to Coolangatta near the border of New South Wales. Queensland lifestyle must be experienced to be believed. Along the coast, wetlands, rivers and sand island like Fraser Island provide beautiful natural experiences which play an important part in maintaining the health of the delicate marine ecosystem including Australia’s Nature Coast spanning the Sunshine Coast and Fraser Coast.
Queensland’s coastal lifestyle doesn’t stop with swimming and surfing. Indulge in fine food and wine while gazing at splendid coastal scenery, dining alfresco, sipping cocktails from an infinity-edge pool overlooking the Pacific Ocean or simply lie in the pristine white sand and bask in splendid sunshine.
As the official start of the Southern Great Barrier Reef, Bundaberg’s glistening coastal water and bountiful marine life are just waiting to be explored. While further north, Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsunday’s is a regular in the Top Ten beach lists of the world. It is also still possible to find a private stretch of sand at places like Rainbow Beach, Agnes Water, Bingil Bay at Mission Beach or the palm fringed Four Mile Beach in Port Douglas.
You can also catch a wave in Southern Queensland where anyone from a first timer to a pro can enjoy perfect waves year-round in the crystal clear waters of the Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast. Think of the Gold Coast like a sprawling Miami
with beautiful beaches, high rises and plenty of things to do for every taste and budget. If adventure is more your style, take a 4×4 tour along the beach highway, or try stand-up paddle boarding, kite surfing or even sand boarding on Moreton or North Stradbroke Islands near Brisbane.
GREAT BARRIER REEF
Stretching along 1,400 miles the Great Barrier Reef is is the only living structure on earth that can be seen from outer space. It is the world’s largest and longest coral reef ecosystem comprising 2,900 coral reefs and 1,050 islands and coral cays. It was the first coral reef to be awarded World Heritage status and is home to an abundance of marine life offering a unique set of experiences and reasons for visitors to return.
Its size means there are dozens of different ways to access this wonder, with tour operators in seven coastal destinations and each with their own unique natural advantages. Tours range from one day options to overnight experiences and multiple day small boat cruises. A visit to the Great Barrier Reef wouldn’t be complete without experiencing the ‘Great Eight’ a list of must-see charismatic mega marine life encounters including: clown fish, giant clams, manta rays, Maori wrasse, potato cods, sharks, turtles and whales.
Highlights:
- Visit The Whitsundays, voted one of the world’s top beaches
- Experience the Great Beach Drive, starting from the Sunshine Coast
- Visit Agnes Water & Town of 1770
- Camp on the beach at Rainbow Beach on Fraser Island
- See kangaroos on the beach at Cape Hillsborough
Whale Season
The coast of Queensland is a nursery for Humpback Whales from June through to September. Dwarf Minke Whales, also migrate to Cairns and Great Barrier Reef
between May and August.
Wild Dolphins
A visit to Moreton Island is the nightly dolphin feeding where a pod of these friendly marine animals swim in close to shore to meet and be hand fed. Just north of the Sunshine Coast at Tin Can Bay, there is also a chance to interact with wild Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins.
Lady Island Elliot Island
Lady Elliot island is a coral Cay located on the southern tip of Australia’s world heritage Great Barrier Reef. The island is only about a hundred acres in size, small enough to walk around in 45 minutes and located within the highly protected “green zone” of the Marine national park providing sanctuary for more than 1200 marine species . The island is regarded as one of the best diving and snorkeling sites due to its location and outstanding water clarity. Also known as the home of manta ray where these gentle giants of the sea can be seen feeding around the island throughout the year and in larger numbers during the winter months.
You can choose to stay on Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort where there is just 41 modestaccommodations. This resort is renowned for best practices environmental measures which include the construction of hybrid solar power station, water treatment plant in composting technology. If you are a water lovers or bird watcher you should considering adding a stop her to your Australian itinerary.
Port Douglas
Port Douglas is located in the far north of Queensland, Australia. It’s known for its beach resorts and as a base for visits to both the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest reef system, and Daintree National Park, home to biodiverse rainforest. In town, Macrossan Street is lined with boutique shops and restaurants. Curving south is popular Four Mile Beach. One entrance to Daintree National Park is located south of the Daintree River at Mossman Gorge where a visitor centre has been built from where tourists take a shuttle bus to the gorge, where they can take a walk or a refreshing swim.
The most spectacular and oldest part of the Daintree rain forest is north of the Daintree River. After crossing the river on an old fashioned cable ferry there is a range of boardwalks and untouched beaches to explore, and the endangered cassowary can be encountered anywhere.
Must-Do Tour: Skyrail and Kuranda Scenic Railway https://www.skyrail.com.au/cairnstours/skyrail-kuranda-rail
Northwest Territory
The Northwest territory is home to some of Australia’s most famous landmarks including Uluru, Alice Springs and Darwin as well as Kakadu National Park.
The Red
Must-Do: Sounds of Silence
The Sounds of Silence offers the best of the Red Centre distilled into four magical hours. An evening of dining under the sparkling outback sky. Your Sounds of Silence experience begins with canapes and chilled sparkling wine served on a viewing platform overlooking the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. As the sun sets and darkness falls, listen to the sound of a didgeridoo and join your table of fellow travelers for an unforgettable dining experience.
Red Center Experience:
The red centered is considered the spiritual center of Australia. The Anangu people of Uluru have been the traditional custodians of the ancient lands for generations balancing the intricate relationship between people, plants, animals and the landscape. Archaeological evidence shows Aboriginal people have lived in the center of Australia for at least 30,000 years. For those looking at gaining a deeper understanding of the area and culture we highly recommend SEIT Outback Australia – offering day tours to an extended 4-day 3-night option that will give you an understanding of what this country means to the aboriginals. SEIT (Spirit, Emotion, Intellect & Task) Outback Australia is a small group tour company that offers visitors educational tours that promise the visitors will leave with a better appreciation of life in the outback and a newfound understand inextricable connection between the wildlife, land and culture.
The Ghan
The Ghan is a legendary train that splits the continent in half from Alice Springs to Darwin. No other mode of travel evokes a frontier spirit, a romantic connection to the land than on a train. The Ghan legend stems from the 1930s when the first Afghan cameleers arrived in Australia. On that momentous journey, the train was dubbed ‘The Afghan Express’ and then shortened to the legend it is today, ‘The Ghan’. Regarded as one of the world’s greatest rail journeys, The Ghan delivers so much more than an extended train ride. It promises access to parts of Australia no other holiday can come close to – the perfect balance of comfort and adventure culminating in an experience that will move you in every sense of the word. With packages ranging from 5 nights to 16 nights there is an option that can enhance any custom Australian Itinerary.
Western Australia
Highlights:
- The Kimberley
- Broom & Exmouth
- Perth
- Freemantle
- The Pinnacles
- Margaret River Wine Area
Its coastline is so pristine, dinosaur footprints still smatter the rocks. Its oceans are so untouched, whales nurse their young in its warm waters. Its living indigenous culture is so ancient, no other can match it. The Kimberley is a beguiling wilderness of UNESCO World Heritage-listed rock formations rising skyward, weathered karst systems that have harbored ancient Aboriginal rock paintings for millennia and thousand-island archipelagos that spread out like confetti on water. Seasonal rainfall flows from the outback and spills over the very crust of the Australian continent. It feeds some of the biggest tropical tides in the world, which in turn create the largest and most spectacular pearls on the planet. Just as it exists in dreamtime stories, the Kimberley lingers in the minds of those yearning to discover Australia’s last true wilderness. A trip to the Kimberley is one of the world’s genuine, once-in-a-lifetime adventures. Combined with the accessibility and exclusivity of a cruise boat journey, it simply doesn’t get any better.
Broome & Exmouth
Broome’s rich and colorful history has created a multicultural melting pot that is reflected in the town’s welcoming and laid-back feel. Warm temperatures and palms deliver a tropical vibe that fits perfectly with the many holiday resorts and the stretch of white sand known as Cable Beach.
Don’t miss
- Watching the sunset on the endless sandy stretch of Cable Beach
- Trying on the perfect white orbs of cultured Broome pearls
- The trip of a lifetime – cruising the Kimberley, departing from Broome
- Seeing the sunset from a whole different perspective – a top a camel
Exmouth
Fringing Western Australia’s northwest coastline where the world heritage-listed Nigaloo Reef Marine Park is one of the world’s largest and most magnificent fringing coral reefs. This intricate Reef system stretches for more than 200 miles at some point is only a few feet from beautiful secluded sandy beaches. It is home to a myriad of marine life including the largest fish ever found the Magnificent whale shark and one of the only places in the world where visitors can swim with whale sharks every day from March through August when the Plankton Rich Waters Drive in search of food. Humpback whales are also in abundance with more than 3,000 beating the area from June to November. Manta rays Cruise along the reef between April and November november Turtles are seen in huge numbers with green loggerhead and hawksbill Turtles beginning their mating season and nesting on the beaches along the coastline. On hot January nights is when the turtle hatchlings will scramble across the sand and race towards the ocean to begin their journey.
Monkey Mia
As a young child I read about a beach in Australia were wild dolphins came in to visit people every day – I wanted to see that! Some things have changed, but Monkey Mia remains a popular tourist destination. Bottlenose dolphins have been coming close to shore for more than fifty years. Although more regulated than it once was, Rangers from the Department of Parks and Wildlife carefully supervise the Monkey Mia Dolphin Experience.
The area was originally used a base for the pearling and fishing industries. In the 1960s, a fisherman and his wife began feeding Bottlenose Dolphins when returning with their catch. As news of the dolphins coming inshore spread, visitors started to come to see them. In November 1990, the waters adjoining Monkey Mia were declared a Marine Park and are managed by the Department of Parks and Wildlife.
The feeding was making the dolphin mother’s lazy – which is why the feedings are now is more strictly regulated.
Freemantle nestled where the river meets the sea, rich in Victorian architecture and remnants from Australia’s days as a British penal colony – you can not only tour the prison but descend below for almost 60 feet down by ladder, explore the tunnels by foot and replica boats – experiencing what the prisoners lived. Claustrophobics Beware!
n e . A compact downtown perfect for strolling amount the many restaurants, and microbreweries
Mt. Borradaile – Indigingious people 50K years
Southern Australia
Adelaide and Kangraroo Island Baroosa valley, Flinders Range