Australia marries ancient landscapes and modern verve: a continent where First Nations stories reach back over 60,000 years and world cities sparkle by the sea. In one week, you’ll taste the best of two worlds—Sydney’s harbour icons and coastal walks, and Cairns’ gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and World Heritage rainforest.

Expect big skies, bigger distances, and easygoing hospitality. Sydney dazzles with the Opera House, beaches, and leafy neighborhoods; Cairns hums with reef boats at dawn, night markets after sunset, and the scent of rainforest rain. Cuisine skews fresh and seasonal—oysters and prawns, tropical fruit, and a coffee scene serious enough to convert tea loyalists.

Practical notes: Australia drives on the left, tap-to-pay is ubiquitous, and UV is fierce—pack SPF 50+, a hat, and a reusable bottle. In Tropical North Queensland (Nov–May), swim inside stinger nets and heed local advice. For flights, compare on Trip.com and Kiwi.com; you’ll use contactless Opal cards on Sydney transport and walk everywhere in compact Cairns.

Sydney

Australia’s oldest city is a harbour amphitheatre: sandstone headlands, sail-white shells of the UNESCO-listed Opera House, and ferries zipping between coves. The mood swings from sunrise swims at Bondi to laneway cocktails in the CBD, galleries in the Domain, and sunset over the Harbour Bridge.

Top sights include the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, The Rocks’ cobblestones, the Royal Botanic Garden, and the coastal Bondi-to-Coogee Walk. Neighborhoods worth a detour: Surry Hills for third-wave coffee and wine bars; Newtown for vintage and street art; Manly for surf and laid-back pub decks.

• Where to stay (Sydney): Harbourfront splurge at Park Hyatt Sydney. Midrange with views at Novotel Sydney Darling Harbour. Budget-smart and social at Sydney Harbour YHA or Wake Up! Sydney Central. Browse more on VRBO Sydney or Hotels.com Sydney.
• How to get there: Fly into SYD; nonstop examples include ~14–16h from Los Angeles and ~8h from Singapore. Compare fares on Trip.com and Kiwi.com. The Airport Link train gets you to the CBD in ~15 minutes.
• Eat & drink (highlights): Coffee at Single O (Surry Hills) or Skittle Lane (CBD). Long lunch at The Glenmore rooftop in The Rocks. Dinner standouts include Mr. Wong (Cantonese banquet vibes), The Apollo (Greek share plates, legendary baked saganaki), and Quay for a splurge tasting menu. Sundowners at Opera Bar or cocktail craft at The Baxter Inn.

Day 1: Arrival and Harbour First Impressions

Afternoon: Land in Sydney and check in. Stretch your legs around Circular Quay and the Royal Botanic Garden; the Mrs Macquarie’s Chair viewpoint frames the Opera House and Bridge in one postcard-perfect glance.

Evening: Casual Sydney welcome: grab oysters and prawn cocktails at Opera Bar with live music and ferries gliding by. Or book Mr. Wong for Peking duck and dim-sum hits; end with a nightcap at The Baxter Inn (classic whisky bar down a laneway).

Day 2: Icons, Art, and a Harbour Dinner Cruise

Morning: Step inside the sails on the official tour:

Sydney Opera House Official Guided Walking Tour (60 minutes; learn the wild story of architect Jørn Utzon, acoustic wizardry, and backstage lore). Tickets typically ~$30–$45.

Afternoon: Wander The Rocks’ laneways and weekend markets (if Sat–Sun). Lunch with a view at The Glenmore rooftop or fish and chips at Sydney Cove Oyster Bar. Art lovers can dip into the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

Evening: Toast your first full day on the water:

Sydney Harbour Sunset Dinner Cruise from Darling Harbour (early dinner seating, city lights, and bridge views; from about $85–$110).

Day 3: Full-Day Blue Mountains (Waterfalls, Cliffs, Koalas)

Full-day small-group adventure to the UNESCO-listed Blue Mountains: Echo Point’s Three Sisters, rainforest boardwalks, and Scenic World rides—plus a zoo stop with a koala photo and a Parramatta River ferry ride back to the city. Hotel pickup included; plan ~11 hours door-to-door.

Blue Mountains Small-Group Tour from Sydney with Scenic World, Sydney Zoo & Ferry (multiple inclusions; recognized in TripAdvisor’s 2025 awards; typically ~$150–$190).

On return, dine at The Apollo (share plates, relaxed glow) or hit Spice Alley (hawker-style courtyard near Chippendale) for casual Asian eats.

Day 4: Fly to Cairns + Esplanade Stroll

Morning: Fly SYD–CNS (~3 hours; typical fares $110–$250). Compare on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Taxi/Uber from Cairns Airport to the Esplanade is ~10 minutes.

Afternoon: Check in and decompress at the free Esplanade Lagoon, then browse Rusty’s Markets (Fri–Sun) for mangoes and fresh juices. Coffee at Caffiend or Bang & Grind.

Evening: Seafood on the water at Prawn Star (boats serving bugs and prawns) or book Ochre for native ingredients (saltbush, kangaroo, finger lime). Nightcap at Three Wolves (small-batch spirits) or a gelato at Gelocchio.

Cairns

Cairns is the tropical gateway where reef meets rainforest. Mornings start with reef boats heading to coral bommies; afternoons might be rainforests, waterfalls, or a lazy swim at a palm-lined beach north of town. It’s compact, walkable, and full of traveler energy.

Top experiences: snorkel or dive the Great Barrier Reef, ride the Skyrail above the canopy to Kuranda, cruise Trinity Inlet, and dine al fresco on the marina. Day trips reach Palm Cove and Port Douglas, but with three days you’ll comfortably cover reef and rainforest.

• Where to stay (Cairns): Waterfront comfort at Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns. Sociable and central at Gilligan's Backpacker Hotel & Resort. Family-friendly at Cairns Coconut Holiday Resort. See more on VRBO Cairns or Hotels.com Cairns.
• Eat & drink: Breakfast at Wharf ONE Cafe (marina breeze) or Lilypad. Lunch at Perrotta’s at the Gallery. Dinner at Ochre (native Australian produce) or Salt House (wood grill, views).

Day 5: Full-Day Great Barrier Reef Snorkel/Dive Cruise

Spend the day on coral gardens with a pro crew, modern gear, and hearty lunch onboard. Expect two outer-reef sites, guided snorkel briefings, and optional introductory or certified dives.

Great Barrier Reef Snorkeling and Diving Cruise from Cairns (fast superyacht; typically ~$180–$230 including lunch and gear).

Back on land, grab sundowners at Salt House, then dinner—try local reef fish or a wood-fired rib eye—followed by a stroll along the illuminated Esplanade boardwalk.

Day 6: Kuranda Rainforest Day (Skyrail + Market Village)

Morning: Ride the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway above the canopy, hopping off at Red Peak and Barron Falls boardwalks for lookouts and ranger talks. Arrive in Kuranda village for crepes at The Petit Cafe and a wander through the heritage markets and Butterfly Sanctuary.

Afternoon: Return to Cairns on the historic Kuranda Scenic Railway, a 19th-century engineering feat that clings to rainforest slopes past waterfalls and hand-cut tunnels. Back in town, cool off at the Lagoon.

Evening: Book Tamarind (modern Asian fine dining with local produce) or keep it casual at Perrotta’s. For a tropical nightcap, try Flamingo’s Tiki Bar.

Day 7: Palm-Fringed Morning + Departure

Morning: Last swim at Palm Cove or Trinity Beach (30–35 minutes north by car; check stinger nets in season). Breakfast beachside—Espresso & Co. in Palm Cove does excellent flat whites and avo toast.

Afternoon: Fly out of Cairns (CNS). If connecting via Sydney, total travel time to many North American gateways is ~16–22 hours including layovers. Compare homebound fares on Trip.com and Kiwi.com. Grab last-minute souvenirs at Cairns Night Markets if timing allows.

In-City Coffee, Bites, and Nightlife—Daily Ideas

• Breakfast favorites: Sydney’s Single O; Bourke Street Bakery (sausage rolls, ginger brulee tart). Cairns’ Wharf ONE Cafe; Caffiend (house roastery).
• Casual lunches: Fishmongers at Bondi; Mary’s (Newtown burger fix); Perrotta’s at the Gallery (Cairns).
• Dinners to book: Quay (harbour fine dining), The Apollo (vibe-y Greek), Ochre (native Australian), Salt House (marina views).
• Drinks: Opera Bar (sunset), The Baxter Inn (whisky), Maybe Sammy (art-deco cocktails), Three Wolves (Cairns speakeasy).

Getting Between Cities

Sydney → Cairns: Morning flight ~3:00–3:15 hours; fares generally $110–$250 one-way. Search and book on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Check baggage policies and consider early departures to maximize your day.

Bookable Highlights (Quick Links)

• Sydney Opera House Official Guided Walking Tour
• Blue Mountains Small-Group Tour with Scenic World, Zoo & Ferry
• Sydney Harbour Sunset Dinner Cruise
• Great Barrier Reef Snorkeling & Diving Cruise (Cairns)

In one curated week, you’ve tasted Australia’s essence—sunrise swims, architectural icons, eucalyptus valleys, and the living kaleidoscope of the Great Barrier Reef. Keep this guide handy; each return visit reveals new neighborhoods, trails, and tastes waiting under Southern Hemisphere skies.