Australia is a continent-sized playground where ancient Aboriginal songlines meet modern skylines. From Sydney’s sandstone coves and sail-white Opera House to Queensland’s coral gardens and Melbourne’s art-splashed laneways, every day reads like a fresh chapter. Distances are vast here, so we’ll leap by air between regions and spend our time on the good stuff—wild vistas, wildlife, and world-class food.

Expect encounters with kangaroos and koalas, luminous reefs, eucalyptus-clad mountains, and a coffee culture that borders on religion. The Blue Mountains unfurl just beyond Sydney; in the tropics, rainforest drapes over the coast; down south, cliffs and shipwreck lore line the Great Ocean Road. It’s a spectrum of Australia in one elegantly paced, 14-day itinerary.

Practical notes: Seasons are reversed (summer Dec–Feb). Sun is fierce—pack SPF, a hat, and reef-safe sunscreen. Most visitors need an eVisitor/ETA. Tipping is optional but appreciated. Cities use tap-to-pay transit (Sydney’s Opal; Melbourne’s Myki), and domestic flights are the most time-efficient way to hop between hubs.

Sydney

Sydney glints with light—harbour ferries carving crescents, surfers at Bondi, cockatoos wheeling over sandstone headlands. The city’s story arcs from Aboriginal Gadigal Country to a convict outpost and, today, a confident culinary capital. Base yourself near the water or in lively inner-east neighborhoods for easy access to icons and beaches.

How to get there: Search international and domestic flights to Sydney on Trip.com or compare on Kiwi.com. From the airport, the train or rideshare gets you to the CBD in ~15–25 minutes.

Where to stay: For harbour views and a pool beside the Opera House, book Park Hyatt Sydney. For an easy Darling Harbour base with family-friendly rooms, try Novotel Sydney Darling Harbour. Great-value hostels include Sydney Central YHA, Wake Up! Sydney, and pods at The Capsule Hotel. Browse more stays on VRBO (Sydney) or Hotels.com (Sydney).

Days 1–5: Icons, beaches, and Blue Mountains

• Opera House secrets and stories: Step inside the world’s most recognizable performing arts venue and learn its audacious engineering saga on the Sydney Opera House Official Guided Walking Tour.

  

  Wander the foreshore to the Royal Botanic Garden and Mrs Macquarie’s Chair for postcard angles.
• Bondi to Coogee coastal walk: A cliff-top path past saltwater pools and pocket beaches. Fuel up with ricotta hotcakes at Bills (Darlinghurst) or shakshuka at Shuk (Bondi). Grab a flat white at Single O (Surry Hills) or Japanese-Nordic brunch at Edition Coffee Roasters (Haymarket).
• Harbour at golden hour: Toast the skyline on the Sydney Harbour Sunset Dinner Cruise, departing Darling Harbour. Expect light commentary, city lights, and a slow glide past the Bridge and Luna Park.

  

• Day trip to the Blue Mountains: Misty valleys, eucalyptus oil haze, and the Three Sisters. Small-group options keep it personal—the award-winning Blue Mountains Small-Group Tour with Scenic World, Sydney Zoo & Ferry includes rides, wildlife, and a river cruise finale.

  

• Optional splurge: See Sydney’s geometry from above on a Sydney Harbour Scenic Helicopter Flight—look for the tiny ant trail on the Harbour Bridge.

  

Eat & drink like a local: For Cantonese banquets, Mr. Wong (CBD). For wood-fired theatrics and rare seafood, Firedoor (Surry Hills). Tuscan steaks at Bistecca (CBD). Contemporary Japanese at Cho Cho San (Potts Point). For quick bites: Marrickville Pork Roll (banh mi legend), Fish Butchery (sustainable seafood takeout), and Chat Thai (late-night Thai). Nightcaps at Maybe Sammy (art-deco cocktails) or Opera Bar beside the water.

Next stop—Cairns (Day 6): Morning flight Sydney → Cairns is ~3 hours, usually US$100–250 one-way. Compare fares on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Cairns

Cairns is the warm, easygoing gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics Rainforest. Esplanade boardwalks replace beaches here (the lagoon is perfect for a dip), while day boats whisk you to coral bommies teeming with parrotfish and turtles. Inland, vintage trains and gondolas glide above jungle canopy to artsy Kuranda.

Where to stay: Walk to the marina from Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns. For social vibes and a pool scene, Gilligan's Backpacker Hotel & Resort. For families, cabins and splash zones at Cairns Coconut Holiday Resort. See more on VRBO (Cairns) or Hotels.com (Cairns).

Days 6–9: Reef days and rainforest rails

• Outer Reef day on a fast superyacht: Snorkel two prime sites with pro briefings and a hearty lunch on the Great Barrier Reef Snorkeling and Diving Cruise from Cairns.

  

  Guides share coral ecology; introductory dives are available if you’re curious.
• Small-group luxury catamaran: Prefer a boutique vibe? The Ocean Freedom Great Barrier Reef Luxury Snorkel and Dive Cruise balances two distinct reef sites with excellent crew and relaxed service.

  

• Green Island for a flexible half- or full-day: Ideal for mixed-ability groups—choose snorkelling or a glass-bottom boat on the Green Island Eco Adventure.

  

• Rainforest day with vintage rail and sky gondola: Combine wildlife encounters and village markets on the Grand Kuranda including Skyrail and Kuranda Scenic Railway. The Barron Gorge views are spectacular.

  

Eat & drink in Cairns: Coffee first at Caffiend (laneway brunch with house ferments), Blackbird Laneway (seasonal filters), or Bang & Grind (robust espresso). Graze Rusty’s Markets (Fri–Sun) for tropical fruit, fresh juices, and sugarcane pops. Dinner highlights: Ochre (native ingredients—try crocodile or Davidson plum), Prawn Star (seafood feasts aboard moored trawlers; casual and joyful), Tamarind (Thai-forward fine dining), and Salt House (marina views). Nightcaps at Three Wolves, a cozy small bar hidden off the main drag.

Next stop—Melbourne (Day 10): Morning flight Cairns → Melbourne is ~3.5–4 hours, typically US$120–280 one-way. Check fares on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Melbourne

Melbourne is Australia’s creative engine: tram rattles, bookish cafés, hidden cocktail bars, and galleries tucked into 19th‑century arcades. The laneways are living canvases; the restaurants are ambitious yet welcoming. It’s also your springboard to coastal epics and ferny mountain steam trains.

Where to stay: Sky-high rooms and a pool with city views at Crown Towers Melbourne. Riverside elegance at The Langham, Melbourne. Great-value and social at Space Hotel or budget-friendly Ibis Budget Melbourne CBD. Explore more options on VRBO (Melbourne) or Hotels.com (Melbourne).

Days 10–14: Laneways, penguins, and a legendary coast

• City immersion: Start with espresso at Patricia Coffee Brewers before weaving Degraves Street and the Block & Royal Arcades. Pop into the National Gallery of Victoria (free permanent collection) and stroll the Yarra Southbank at dusk.
• Great Ocean Road day trip: Clifftop vistas, surf towns, koalas in the wild, and the Twelve Apostles. Go with a small group on the Great Ocean Road Small-Group Eco Tour for expert commentary and photo stops at Loch Ard Gorge and Gibson Steps.

  

• Phillip Island penguins at sunset: By day, meet kangaroos and koalas; by night, watch little penguins waddle ashore on the Full-Day Phillip Island Tour with Kangaroo, Koala and Penguin Parade.

  

• Steam through rainforest: Ride open-sided carriages past towering mountain ash on the Puffing Billy & Rainforest Tour, with time for birdlife and village cafés in the Dandenongs.

  

Where to eat & drink: Coffee royalty at Proud Mary (filter flights) or Industry Beans (coffee science), plus Lune Croissanterie for textbook viennoiserie. Brunch at Higher Ground or Hardware Société. Pasta dreams at Tipo 00; Southeast Asian energy at Chin Chin; wood-fired elegance and martinis at Gimlet at Cavendish House; pan-Asian crowd-pleasers at Supernormal. Wine bars to linger: Embla (wood-fire and ferments) and Bar Liberty (inventive small plates). For casual bites, Miznon’s pillowy pitas or D.O.C for true Neapolitan pies.

Departure: Flights home or onward from Melbourne Tullamarine. Allow ~30–45 minutes from the CBD to the airport depending on traffic. Compare fares on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Trip pacing at a glance

• Days 1–5: Sydney city highlights, beaches, and a Blue Mountains day trip.
• Day 6: Morning flight to Cairns (~3 hrs).
• Days 6–9: Great Barrier Reef cruises and Kuranda rainforest.
• Day 10: Morning flight to Melbourne (~3.5–4 hrs).
• Days 10–14: Laneways, galleries, Great Ocean Road, Phillip Island, and Dandenongs.

Good to know: Bring a light jacket year-round (coastal breezes; Melbourne weather shifts quickly). For the reef, book at least one full-day outer reef trip and one gentler Green Island day for balance. Always follow local guidelines when interacting with wildlife and respect Traditional Owners and Country.

Final word: In two weeks, you’ll trace Australia’s greatest hits—from sails and sandstone to coral and coastline—without rushing. The mix of city culture, reef adventure, and road-trip drama makes this itinerary a perennial favorite for first-timers and return visitors alike.