2 min summary Best time to visit Map & highlights Things to do Queensland New South Wales Northern Territories Tasmania South Australia Independent travel Tips Responsible tourism

Australia map & itineraries

Our Australia map and itineraries page allows responsible travellers to learn about locations from Kakadu National Park to Tasmania with the Kimberley, Uluru and Kangaroo Island in between. Sample Australia itineraries and travel times in Australia are all featured on this page to help you make the most of your time Down Under.

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Australia map & highlights

Getting around Australia definitely whips you into the walkabout spirit and if you are planning to travel under your own steam then more power to you. Self-drive routes along the Great Ocean Road, the Coral Coast and the Legendary Pacific Coast, between Sydney and Brisbane, take you past some of the world's most enticing shores where parking up for a picnic or impromptu barbecue can turn into a real event. Trains tend to stop at every single stop; however, there are a couple of coast to coast routes that go from Sydney to Perth (via the Blue Mountains and Barossa Valley) and Adelaide to Darwin (via Katherine and Alice Springs), both of which take four days and three nights.

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Our Australia Holidays

1. Fraser Island
2. Great Barrier Reef
3. Great Ocean Road
4. Kakadu National Park
5. Kangaroo Island
6. Melbourne
7. Philip Island
8. Sydney
9. Tasmania
10. The Blue Mountains
11. The Kimberley
12. Uluru

Fraser Island

1. Fraser Island

Fraser Island is the world’s largest sand island and stands out from the bounty of beautiful beaches on Queensland’s South Pacific coast. Fraser's just a 45min ferry ride and features coloured sands and freshwater lakes, many of which are the cleanest on the planet. Hikers should check out the 90km walk that, although relatively easy, does require participants to be self sufficient for up to eight days.

Fraser Island

Great Barrier Reef

2. Great Barrier Reef

There are several ways to maximise time in the Great Barrier Reef with snorkelling, scuba diving and accompanying a marine biologist on a glass bottomed boat all adding to the natural attraction. As several reefs are close to the (900) islands’ white sand shorelines everyone can appreciate the mesmerising marine life whilst, on land, rainforest trails offer a totally tropical alternative.

Great Ocean Road

3. Great Ocean Road

Aside from being an awesome stretch of Victoria’s coastline, running from Apollo Bay to the Twelve Apostles, the Great Ocean Road is also the world’s largest war memorial dedicated to the soldiers of WW1. A marathon route and over 100km of walking trails will take you via cliff tops, waterfalls, rivers and sandy beaches, accompanied by kookaburras, wombats, kangaroos and koalas.

Great Ocean Road

Kakadu National Park

4. Kakadu National Park

Kakadu features over 280 species of birds, many of which are endangered, including Gouldian finch, red goshawk and hooded parrots. A hike or river cruise amongst the billabongs, mangroves, woodlands and waterfalls unveils untold animal encounters so expect to see several sets of beady eyes as crocodiles, wallabies, possums and water monitors watch you pass. Check out the Aboriginal rock art, too.

Kangaroo Island

5. Kangaroo Island

Sea lions slipping in Southern Ocean spray, rock formations that are nothing short of remarkable and sheep farming tour guides who know landscapes as intimately as their own flock; Kangaroo Island never fails to deliver. Honey from Ligurian bees, ‘pure’ sheep cheese and locally produced wines are all worth the trip however, it will be Seal Bay, Cape du Couedic or the dunes at Little Sahara that last a little longer.

Kangaroo Island

Melbourne

6. Melbourne

Calling all cosmopolitan sports fans and festival goers: Melbourne is Victoria’s city of choice and promises boutique shopping arcades, Victorian era architecture and the world’s largest tram network. With a population that combines Greek, Vietnamese, Chinese and Indian, Melbourne is majorly multicultural as expressed in the restaurants, food halls and huge, open air market, the Queen Vic.

Philip Island

7. Philip Island

The south and west coasts of Philip Island have been designated Important Bird Areas and although the nightly penguin parade on Summerland Beach does attract flocks of tourists, this also helps to pay for the island's preservation. Philip Island remains relatively untouched with seals and pelicans blending with friendly locals and surfable swells to create a charming old town ambiance.

Philip Island

Sydney

8. Sydney

Unmistakable harbour views place Sydney up there with the best of them and if you’re planning to spend a few days skipping between trendy bars, botanical gardens, art galleries and the gentrified streets of the Rocks then why not? Outer suburbs such as Bondi, Coogee and Cronulla offer sandier days out with the 10km Spit Bridge to Manley walk providing a scenic stroll via untouched bush land.

Tasmania

9. Tasmania

With 19 national parks and 300 smaller islands, including Macquarie, Flinders and King, Tasmania showcases some of the world’s finest wilderness and is much more than just a ‘tag on’ destination. Often termed Australia’s ‘veggie basket’, exploring the island on a self drive tour is a really exciting option with farm stays and family-run B&B’s definitely the best way to taste the Tassie difference.

Tasmania

The Blue Mountains

10. The Blue Mountains

Just 50km from Sydney but a world away in scenic terms, the Blue Mountains provide day trippers and overnight visitors with railed paths, panoramic points and Australia’s steepest aerial cable car, alongside unforgettable photo ops. An early start allows for a full day in the Blue Mountains from Sydney with a train to Katoomba and a bus to Echo Point letting you off at the Seven Sisters.

The Kimberley

11. The Kimberley

Camp out in the Bungle Bungles or scramble over boulders to lunch on a wildflower meadow; the Kimberley region of Western Australia promises a rarely matched remote experience. From Aboriginal heritage and untouched beaches on the Dampier Peninsula to bush walks, gorges and striped rocks around Broome, nothing says specially guarded secret more than the Kimberley.

The Kimberley

Uluru

12. Uluru

Wondering how anything survives in such an unforgiving landscape is one of many Uluru ruminations; and as you watch the sun set over Australia’s most iconic rock you may just impart a tiny smidgen of Aboriginal enlightenment. Camping in the Outback and interpretive walks with indigenous guides make Uluru and Kings Canyon all about experiencing Australia’s great outdoors.

Travel Team

If you'd like to chat about Australia or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.

01273 823 700

Calling us from outside the UK?

rosy@responsibletravel.com

01273 823 700

Calling us from outside the UK?

rosy@responsibletravel.com

Australia sample itineraries

East Coast highlights (21 days):
Sydney > Bondi Beach Uluru > The Outback > Cairns > Daintree National Park > Great Barrier Reef > Cairns > Townsville > Airlie Beach > Rockhampton > Brisbane > Toowoomba > Brisbane > Coffs Harbour > Sydney

South Coast highlights (21 days):
Sydney > Blue Mountains > Sydney > Canberra > Melbourne > Tasmania > Melbourne > Great Ocean Road > Adelaide > Kangaroo Island > Adelaide > Barossa Valley > Adelaide > Sydney

West Coast highlights (21 days):
Perth > Geraldton > Kalbarri National Park > Denham > Shark Bay > Coral Bay > Exmouth > Cape Range National Park > Exmouth > Karratha > Port Hedland > Eighty Mile Beach > Broome > Kununurra > Purnululu National Park (Bungle Bungles) > Katherine > Kakadu National Park > Darwin

Northern Territories Highlights (7 days):
Darwin > Alice Springs > Kata Tjuta > Uluru > Kings Canyon > Alice Springs > Western MacDonnell Ranges > Darwin > Kakadu National Park > Darwin

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Australia travel times

The following times give you a rough idea of the travel times between the main attractions in Australia:

Sydney to Melbourne: 90 mins by plane Sydney to Byron Bay: 8 hrs 40 mins via Pacific Highway Melbourne – Tasmania: 11 hrs by ferry or 1hr by plane Adelaide – Uluru: 5 hrs by plane via Alice Springs Adelaide – Kangaroo Island: 2 hrs by road plus 45 mins by ferry Perth – The Kimberley: 11 hrs fly/drive via Kununurra Kununurra – Darwin: 12 hrs 30 mins by bus Darwin – Kakadu National Park: 3 hrs by road Darwin – Cairns: 3 hrs by plane Cairns – Great Barrier Reef: 1 hr by ferry and on foot Cairns – Brisbane: 24 hrs by train Brisbane – Byron Bay: 3 hrs by bus

More about Australia

Best time to visit Australia

Follow our straightforward temperature and rainfall chart to help you discover the best time to visit Australia; and see our pick of the cultural calendar.

Australia travel guide

Put down your camera, throw out your Neighbours box set and let our Australia travel guide lead you on an adventure that will become as much a part of who you are as where you go next.

Things to do in Australia

There are just so many things to do in Australia that this page deserves to be an entire travel guide in its own right.

Independent travel in Australia

Self drive tours of Tasmania; skimming over the Great Barrier Reef; whatever independent travel in Australia you’re looking to achieve, we can help.

Travelling in Tasmania

At just over 300km both ways, Tasmania is like a pop-up book when you delve into it.

Things to see & do in New South Wales

The country’s most populous state is where many people begin their Aussie odyssey, touching down in vibrant Sydney.

Things to see & do in the Northern Territory

Australia’s Northern Territory is all about the great outdoors: the landscape here is big, bold and beautiful.

Things to see & do in Queensland

Queensland is Australia’s tropical treasure trove, where glorious coral reefs lie offshore and ancient rainforests throng with life.

Things to see & do in South Australia

South Australia is like a continent in miniature, home to rugged coastline, vast mountain ranges and ancient forests.

Australia travel advice

Find out how to get around Australia, what to pack and where and what to eat as you read advice and tips from our friends.

Responsible tourism in Australia

There are two major responsible tourism issues in Australia which need to be highlighted.

All our Australia guides

Find all of our Australia guides in one place, including guides for different areas such as the Great Barrier Reef, Tasmania or the Great Ocean Road.

More relevant guides

Written by Chris Owen

ABTA member P7085 so you are fully protected

Photo credits: [Page banner: pixculture] [Fraser Island: Rhain] [Great Barrier Reef: Richard Ling] [Great Ocean Road: superjoseph] [Kakadu National Park: Kjacques] [Kangaroo Island: Jan Hazevoet] [Melbourne: Francisco Anzola] [Philip Island: Travellers travel photobook] [Sydney: Ryan Wick] [The Blue Mountains: Tony Heyward] [The Kimberley: Graeme Churchard] [Uluru: Paul Arps] [Itineraries: jaymcbridecom]

Australia map & itineraries