Dreamtime Dive and Snorkel, Cairns, Queensland © Tourism Australia

Dreamtime Dive and Snorkel, Cairns, Queensland © Tourism Australia

Dreamtime Dive and Snorkel, Cairns, Queensland © Tourism Australia


Trip overview

10 days
Plane, car and boat
6,500km (4,037mi)

Day 1: Sydney’s Bondi Beach

Begin your ultimate Aussie journey by exploring Sydney’s sun-soaked harbour, surf beaches, al fresco dining scene and diverse cultural attractions.

Day 2: Sydney Harbour

One of the world’s great natural waterways, Sydney Harbour is home to the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge as well as lush parks, sandy beaches and historic islands.

Day 3: Sydney to the Blue Mountains

1.5hrs 102km (63mi)

The World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains National Park, west of Sydney, is dotted with charming villages, dramatic waterfalls, plunging cliffs and rugged bushwalking tracks.

Day 4: Sydney to Alice Springs

3hrs 2,022km (1,256mi)

From Sydney, move on to the beating heart of the outback, the Northern Territory town of Alice Springs.

Day 5: Alice Springs to Uluru

5hrs 468km (291mi)

Make the drive (or fly) from Alice Springs to Uluru. The mammoth red monolith isn’t just an Australian icon, it’s also a deeply sacred place.

Day 6: Uluru to Kata Tjuta

0.5hrs 56km (35mi)

From Uluru, drive to Kata Tjuta, a natural wonder of ochre-coloured domes emerging from the desert.

Day 7: Uluru to Brisbane

3hrs 2,216km (1,376mi)

Fly to Brisbane, the capital of Queensland and a river city known for its thriving arts scene.

Day 8: Brisbane to Cairns

2.5hrs 1,700km (1,056mi)

Fly from Brisbane to Cairns, the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest.

Day 9: Great Barrier Reef cruise from Cairns

Stretching 2,300km (1,430mi), the Great Barrier Reef is made up of thousands of coral reefs and hundreds of islands.

Day 10: Cairns to the Daintree Rainforest

2.5hrs 124km (77mi)

One of Australia’s most magnificent natural wonders, the Daintree Rainforest is an easy drive from Cairns.