Australia rewards the curious. Ancient Aboriginal stories run through landscapes as modern as the Sydney skyline and as timeless as the Blue Mountains. In a single week you can sip flat whites by the harbour, trace cliff-edge trails, and float above coral gardens alive with parrotfish and turtles.

Food here is fresh, inventive, and proudly local—think Sydney rock oysters on the quay, fragrant Southeast Asian flavors in hidden laneways, and tropical produce from Cairns’ weekend markets. Coffee culture is serious: you’ll find single-origin espresso bars on nearly every corner. Tap water is safe; sun protection is essential year-round.

Practical notes: Many nationalities need an ETA/eVisitor to enter Australia; apply before you fly. Distances are vast—domestic flights are easiest between cities. In Sydney, use an Opal card for ferries, trains, and buses. On the reef, choose reef-safe sunscreen to protect corals, and book popular tours in advance—peak months (June–October) fill quickly.

Sydney

Harbour city, culinary capital, and gateway to sandstone cliffs and eucalyptus forests—the best of Australia convenes in Sydney. The Opera House and Harbour Bridge frame a working port where ferries crisscross to beaches and bays. In nearby Surry Hills and the CBD, roasters and chefs set the pace for Australia’s café and dining scene.

Top sights range from the Royal Botanic Garden and The Rocks’ convict-era lanes to coastal walks between Bondi and Coogee. Day trips deliver a different world: the Blue Mountains’ Three Sisters and temperate rainforest sit just a couple of hours away.

• Stay: Browse stays on VRBO Sydney and Hotels.com Sydney. Specific picks: Park Hyatt Sydney (iconic harbour views), Novotel Sydney Darling Harbour (family-friendly near Barangaroo), budget-social Wake Up! Sydney or historic-views Sydney Harbour YHA.
• Get in: Fly into SYD. Compare fares on Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com. From the airport, the Airport Link train to the CBD takes ~13 minutes.

Day 1: Arrival, The Rocks, and Harbour Sparkle

Morning: In the air en route to Sydney. Hydrate and set your watch to local time.

Afternoon: Land, drop bags, and stretch your legs through The Rocks’ cobblestone lanes. Pause at La Renaissance Pâtisserie for a Paris-meets-port macaron and espresso, then wander to the Argyle Cut to see hand-hewn sandstone carved by convicts.

Evening: Sunset drinks at Opera Bar—oysters and a spritz with Opera House and Bridge in perfect alignment. Dinner nearby at Mr. Wong (Cantonese classics, dim sum, and roast duck in a moody 1930s warehouse) or Bar Totti’s (house-made woodfired bread, antipasti, and market-fresh seafood). Cap with a nightcap at The Baxter Inn (deep whisky list, standing-room buzz).

Day 2: Icons by Day, Harbour by Night

Morning: Flat whites and avocado toast at Single O Surry Hills (a benchmark roastery). Then take the official Opera House tour to step behind the shells and hear the engineering and performance stories that shaped a global icon.

Book: Sydney Opera House Official Guided Walking Tour

Afternoon: Stroll the Royal Botanic Garden to Mrs Macquarie’s Chair for postcard views, then pop into the Art Gallery of NSW’s expanded contemporary wing. Late lunch at The Glenmore’s rooftop (classic Aussie pub plates with a million-dollar view) or at Chinatown’s Mamak (Malaysian roti and satay cooked over charcoal).

Evening: Cruise into blue-hour magic with a harbour dinner on MV Sydney 2000—watch the skyline light up as you pass Fort Denison and Luna Park.

Book: Sydney Harbour Sunset Dinner Cruise from Darling Harbour

Optional splurge: See the harbour from the sky on a 20-minute flight departing near Mascot.

Book: Sydney Harbour Scenic Helicopter Flight

Day 3: Blue Mountains Day Trip (All Day)

Trade sails for sandstone on a small-group tour: misty valleys, the Three Sisters at Echo Point, and thrilling Scenic World rides (glass-bottom Skyway, steep Railway). Many tours include a native wildlife stop (see koalas and kangaroos) and a river ferry back to the city—an epic loop from cliff-tops to harbour lights.

Book: Blue Mountains Small-Group Tour from Sydney with Scenic World, Sydney Zoo & Ferry

Pre-tour fuel: Bourke Street Bakery (lamingtons, sausage rolls). Post-tour dinner: Chinatown’s Chat Thai (late-night Thai staples) or Surry Hills’ Foreign Return (Indian regional plates and spice-forward cocktails).

Travel to the next city: On Day 4, fly Sydney → Cairns. Compare fares/times on Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com. Typical nonstop: ~3 hours; fares often $120–$250 one way on Jetstar/Virgin/Qantas when booked early.

Cairns

Tropical gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics rainforest, Cairns moves at beach speed. Spend mornings on the Esplanade, afternoons island-hopping or exploring waterfalls, and evenings at breezy marina restaurants with live music and local prawns.

Beyond the reef, ride the Skyrail over ancient rainforest to Kuranda, or detour to Palm Cove for powdery sand and pandanus shade. Weekends center on Rusty’s Markets—mangoes, sugar-banana smoothies, and spicy snacks from across the Pacific and Asia.

• Stay: Explore VRBO Cairns and Hotels.com Cairns. Specific picks: Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns (steps from reef boats), Gilligan's Backpacker Hotel & Resort Cairns (budget with a pool scene), or family-friendly Cairns Coconut Holiday Resort.
• Getting around: Many reef tours depart Marlin Marina—walkable from central stays. For Kuranda, consider the Skyrail up and the scenic railway down for varied views.

Day 4: Fly North, Settle In, Esplanade Sunset

Morning: Fly Sydney → Cairns (~3 hours). Book on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Grab a window seat for reef-and-rainforest views on descent.

Afternoon: Check in and wander the Cairns Esplanade boardwalk. Cool off in the free Lagoon pool, then browse Rusty’s Markets (Fri–Sun) for tropical fruit and banh mi or samosas.

Evening: Sunset drinks at Salt House (marina views, woodfired menu) followed by dinner at Ochre Restaurant—native ingredients like crocodile, kangaroo, and lemon myrtle done with finesse. For casual, try Prawn Star: dine on a moored trawler with buckets of local prawns and bugs.

Day 5: Full-Day Great Barrier Reef Cruise

Sail a fast catamaran to two distinct reef sites to snorkel with schools of fusiliers, technicolor parrotfish, and (often) graceful turtles. Beginners get thorough briefings; certified divers can add dives. Expect reef interpretation talks, good food, and five-ish hours on the water.

Book: Ocean Freedom Great Barrier Reef Luxury Snorkel and Dive Cruise

Alternate similar full-day: Great Barrier Reef Snorkeling and Diving Cruise from Cairns

Post-cruise dinner: Bayleaf Balinese (satay lilit, slow-cooked rendang) or Hemingway’s Brewery (reef-to-river seafood baskets and local craft beer).

Day 6: Island Time or Rainforest Heights

Option A – Green Island (Half or Full Day): Cruise to a sandy cay ringed by seagrass meadows—great for first-time snorkelers and families. Choose snorkeling or a glass-bottom boat, then laze under pandanus trees between dips.

Book: Snorkelling or Glass Bottom Boat at Green Island from Cairns

Option B – Kuranda Rainforest: Ride the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway above Barron Gorge, explore Kuranda’s galleries and butterfly sanctuary, then return via the Kuranda Scenic Railway through hand-carved tunnels and over heritage bridges. Lunch on Barramundi and chips or a tropical salad in the village.

Evening: Back in Cairns, grab gelato along the Esplanade and dine at Perrotta’s at the Gallery (Mediterranean-leaning plates, alfresco), or book Ochre if you missed it. Night owls can stroll the Night Markets for souvenirs.

Day 7: Sunrise Stroll and Departure

Morning: Sunrise walk along Muddy’s Playground boardwalk to spot pelicans and herons. Breakfast at Blackbird Espresso (house blends, excellent brekky rolls) or Wharf One Café (harbourside, good for families). Pick up last-minute mangoes or macadamias.

Afternoon: Fly home from Cairns Airport. Check carriers and connections on Trip.com or Kiwi.com; allow 2 hours for domestic check-in and reef-souvenir packing.

Evening: In the air, reliving reef colors and harbour lights.

Extra Tips & Local Gems

• Coastal walk: In Sydney, the Bondi–Coogee Walk strings together cliff-top vistas, ocean pools, and cafés—start early and swim at Bronte Baths.
• Coffee culture: Order a “flat white” (velvety microfoam) or “long black” (espresso over hot water). Many cafés close by 3 pm—go early.
• Reef etiquette: Don’t touch coral; keep fins up. Use reef-safe sunscreen and a rash guard for sun protection.
• Costs: Sydney–Cairns flights from ~$120–$250 one way when booked 3–6 weeks out; reef day trips ~$150–$230 per adult depending on inclusions.

In one week you’ve tasted Sydney’s harbour glamour, walked among Blue Mountains eucalypts, and drifted above Cairns’ coral gardens. Australia is a continent of contrasts—and this itinerary gives you the city sparkle and tropical calm that keep travelers coming back.