How to make the most of your 10 days Down Under

Day 1: Take a dip at Bondi Beach

Welcome to sunny Sydney. Begin the day with a stroll along the spectacular clifftops between Bondi, Tamarama and Bronte beaches. A round trip should take about 1 1/2 hours. Finish with a dip at the Bondi Icebergs pool or a surfing lesson at Bondi Beach. You can then sit down for lunch at one of Bondi's many cafes, such as The Bucket List, where you can enjoy a bucket of prawns overlooking the beach. In the afternoon, take the bus up the hill from Bondi Beach to the shopping precinct of Paddington, where you can browse the fashion boutiques of some of Australia's best designers, such as Camilla and Marc, Lee Mathews and Scanlan Theodore. Stop for coffee at Sonoma Cafe down Glenmore Road.

Day 2: Head out on Sydney Harbour

Wake early to climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge for breathtaking views across the harbour. Afterwards, meander through The Rocks, Sydney’s historic quarter. On weekends, local artisans set up shop at The Rocks Markets, where you can pick up unique souvenirs to take home. Art lovers should leave time to explore the Museum of Contemporary Art, which sits on the Circular Quay side of The Rocks. In the afternoon, catch the ferry from Circular Quay to Manly, a 30 minute ride. With a long, sandy surf beach and lively esplanade, Manly is a wonderful spot to experience laid-back Sydney life. Relax over dinner at Manly's Papi Chulo, which specialises in seafood and smokehouse meats. 

Day 3: Nature and old-world charm in the Blue Mountains

Just under two hours drive west of Sydney are the Blue Mountains. Catch a train, bus or day tour to Katoomba to see the impressive rock formation, the Three Sisters. Scenic World in Katoomba features a cableway, a walkway over the rainforest canopy and a glass-floored skyway. Suspended 270 metres (886 feet) above ancient ravines, this is an unparalleled way to view the mountain range in all its blue-hued glory. You can spend a few hours at Scenic World, then come back down to earth with a visit to the neighbouring village of Leura, which is pretty and charming and just the spot for some afternoon tea and shopping. It has friendly cafes, antique shops and a must-visit candy store. Head back to Sydney for the night.

Day 4: Fly to the outback town of Alice Springs

Wake up for an early morning three-hour flight from Sydney to the beating heart of the outback, Alice Springs, and spend the day exploring this unique and fascinating town.

Surrounded by red dirt and hauntingly beautiful mountain ranges, Alice itself is quite compact and built on relatively flat terrain, making it great for walking about. Stroll through the pedestrian-only main street, Todd Mall, exploring its many shops, cafés and art galleries. Visit Araluen Arts Centre, a reputable Aboriginal art gallery that is home to works by one of Australia’s most famous Indigenous artists, Albert Namatjira. Then head to the Olive Pink Botanic Garden, a 20-minute walk from town, to see native flora and have some lunch at its rustic outdoor eatery, the Bean Tree Cafe.

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Day 5: Discover Uluru

Alice Springs is the perfect base to explore the natural wonders of the Red Centre. Join a tour company such as Emu Run, which offers tours from one to four days long, or hire a car of your own to set off on a true Aussie adventure.

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is a four- to five-hour drive south-west of Alice Springs and includes both Uluru (formerly Ayers Rock) and the 36 domes of Kata Tjuta (formerly the Olgas).

Head to Uluru first, a rock formation created entirely from sandstone half a billion years ago. It stands at 348 metres (1,141 feet) high and has a circumference of 9.4 kilometres (5.8 miles). But beyond the geology, it is a spiritual landmark for the local Anangu people. Uluru is inseparable from Tjukurpa, or traditional law, with the stories of the creation ancestors still visible around the rock. Learn about these stories with an Aboriginal-led tour, like the one offered by SEIT Outback, or sign up for a dot painting experience led by one of the local artists from Maruku Arts.

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Day 6: Experience Field of Light and Kata Tjuta

Experience the ever-changing palette of Uluru at sunrise with a tour of the acclaimed art installation Field of Light, set glittering at the base of Uluru. You’ll get a complimentary ticket with your Tali Wiru experience, or you can book directly.

Then take the road 50 kilometres (31 miles) west of Uluṟu to reach Kata Tjuta, a natural wonder of 36 domes covering more than 20 square kilometres (7.7 miles). Kata Tjuta is an extremely important site for Anangu men, and while everyone is welcome to explore the walking tracks, the stories and cultural knowledge associated with these rock formations are not shared with visitors. You can walk among the domes on the easy Walpa Gorge Walk, or tackle the four-hour Valley of the Winds Walk right into the heart of the landscape.

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Day 7: Fly to the tropical city of Cairns

Take the 2 1/2 hour flight from Ayers Rock Airport to Cairns, the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest. Head to Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park, just 15 minutes drive out of Cairns, and be immersed in Australia’s Aboriginal culture with authentic music, dance and storytelling. In the evening, stroll along Cairns Esplanade before sitting down to dinner at The Raw Prawn seafood restaurant, Tamarind at the Reef Hotel Casino or Salt House, overlooking the water. 

Day 8: Explore the world’s largest reef

Stretching 2,300 kilometres (1,430 miles), the Great Barrier Reef has more than 3,000 coral reefs, 900 islands and 1,500 species of fish.

There are plenty of ways to experience the reef. Book a day cruise with operators such as Passions of Paradise or Quicksilver Cruises to snorkel and dive among vivid coral gardens and colourful fish. For a longer stay, you can book a three-day liveaboard dive and snorkelling cruise with ProDive Cairns. Dreamtime Dive & Snorkel combines a full-day Great Barrier Reef cruise with Indigenous cultural storytelling from traditional owners with historical connections to the sea country visited. The cruise offers a rare educational opportunity to explore the reef with sea rangers whose north Queensland sea country stretches from the Frankland Islands to Port Douglas. Book a scenic flight to get a bird's-eye view of the Great Barrier Reef.

Day 9: Take in spectacular scenery at Daintree National Park

Today, immerse yourself in the spectacular scenery that is the Daintree Rainforest, a unique place where lush tropical rainforest meets white sandy beaches. The Daintree's incredible variety of wildlife includes more than 400 species of birds, the most famous of which is the large, flightless and endangered southern cassowary.

Head 2.5 hours north of Cairns by car (self-drive or on a tour) to explore the mighty world heritage-listed Daintree Wilderness Area. See the rainforest from horseback while you're riding along the beach, or take the Aerial Walkway to the Canopy Tower at the Daintree Discovery Centre. Join Walkabout Cultural Adventures or Adventure North Australia to immerse yourself in Kuku Yalanji traditions, including learning to throw a spear, mud crabbing, sampling bush foods and exploring forests and gorges through Aboriginal eyes.

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Day 10: Back to city life in Brisbane

From Cairns, fly just over two hours to Brisbane, the capital of Queensland and a city known for its thriving arts scene.

Enjoy the city’s cultural highlights with a spot of museum-hopping. Start at Brisbane's City Hall to see the fascinating Museum of Brisbane, featuring boundary-pushing interactive multimedia works. Then walk the Kurilpa Bridge – a modern, multimillion-dollar artful masterpiece in itself – to Brisbane's primary arts precinct, South Bank. Here you'll find the Queensland Art Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA), the Queensland Museum, and as you walk further south along South Bank, the Queensland Performing Arts Centre. Choose one that takes your fancy to explore – none will disappoint.