Australia’s two greatest hits—Sydney and Melbourne—play different melodies. Sydney dazzles with sandstone headlands, ferries skimming a perfect harbour, and beaches that define the city’s rhythm. Melbourne hums with creativity: laneway murals, avant‑garde dining, and an obsession with coffee that borders on philosophy.

Across seven days you’ll trace First Nations stories and colonial chapters, sail under the Harbour Bridge, walk coastal cliffs, and road‑trip to shipwreck shores. Expect wildlife encounters, knockout viewpoints, and a dining scene that ranges from humble bakeries to white‑tablecloth legends.

Practical notes: Australia drives on the left, tap water is safe, and contactless payments are widely accepted. Sun is strong—pack SPF 50 and a hat. Use Sydney’s Opal and Melbourne’s Myki for public transport. For flights into Australia or between cities, compare fares on Trip.com and Kiwi.com.

Sydney

Sydney is a water city. Ferries ply the coves of a flooded river valley the Gadigal people have known for millennia. Victorian terraces in The Rocks overlook a skyline crowned by Jorn Utzon’s sculptural Opera House and the steel arc of the Harbour Bridge.

Top hits include a harbour cruise at golden hour, the Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk, Taronga Zoo’s bushland with a million‑dollar view, and the Blue Mountains’ sandstone amphitheatre. Food skews fresh—Sydney rock oysters, Asian‑influenced seafood, and world‑class coffee culture.

Stay near the water for easy access to ferries and coastal walks. Choose Circular Quay/The Rocks for icons on your doorstep, or Darling Harbour/Surry Hills for dining and nightlife.

Where to stay (Sydney):

• Iconic luxury: Park Hyatt Sydney (harbourfront rooms facing the Opera House).
• Great for families: Novotel Sydney on Darling Harbour (walk to SEA LIFE, Barangaroo dining).
• Budget/social: Wake Up! Sydney Central (next to Central Station).
• Value with views: Sydney Harbour YHA (The Rocks rooftop terrace).
• Quirky micro-stay: The Capsule Hotel (minimalist pods off Hyde Park).

Browse more stays: Hotels.com Sydney | VRBO Sydney

Getting in: From Sydney Airport (SYD), the T8 Airport Line reaches the CBD in ~15 minutes (~A$20). Rideshares take 25–40 minutes depending on traffic.

Flight deals to Sydney: Compare on Trip.com and Kiwi.com.

Day 1: Arrival, The Rocks, and a Harbour Dinner Cruise

Afternoon: Land in Sydney and drop bags. Shake off jet lag with an easy loop of Circular Quay: watch buskers by Customs House, frame the Opera House from the Overseas Passenger Terminal, and peek into the laneways of The Rocks. Coffee stop: The Fine Food Store (small-batch flat whites and an almond croissant to tide you over).

Evening: Board a sunset dinner cruise to see the city ignite from the water—gliding past the Opera House, under the Harbour Bridge, and along Darling Harbour. Book: Sydney Harbour Sunset Dinner Cruise from Darling Harbour.

Post‑cruise nightcap: Maybe Sammy in The Rocks for theatrical cocktails that riff on 1950s glamour; try the Italian Dirty Martini with Sicilian olive brine.

Day 2: Opera House, Royal Botanic Garden, and Harbour Views

Morning: Breakfast in Surry Hills at Paramount Coffee Project (filter flight and miso butter on toast) before a guided tour of Australia’s most recognizable building. Book: Sydney Opera House Official Guided Walking Tour.

Afternoon: Stroll the Royal Botanic Garden to Mrs Macquarie’s Chair for classic skyline photos. Lunch at Opera Bar for seafood platters and harbour breezes, or try the MCA Cafe for salads with a view.

Evening: Dinner at Mr. Wong (Cantonese banquet—Peking duck and typhoon‑shelter king prawns). If you prefer steak, Bistecca serves Tuscan‑style bistecca alla Fiorentina by the gram, carved tableside. Finish with gelato at Rivareno on Crown Street.

Day 3: Blue Mountains Day Trip (World Heritage wilderness)

Full‑day small‑group tour to waterfalls, rainforest valleys, and the Three Sisters, with Scenic World rides and a harbour ferry return. Expect lookouts, temperate rainforest boardwalks, and encounters with Aussie wildlife.

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

Return to the city by late afternoon/early evening. Dinner back in Surry Hills at NOMAD (wood‑fire flatbread with house‑made charcuterie and burrata) or Chin Chin Sydney for bold Thai flavors.

Day 4: Bondi to Coogee Walk, Beach Time, and Taronga Zoo (optional heli)

Morning: Start with breakfast at bills Bondi (ricotta hotcakes or sweet corn fritters). Swim at Bondi’s north end or check the Icebergs ocean pool. Walk the clifftop path to Coogee (6 km, 1.5–2.5 hours) passing Tamarama and Bronte; detour for a flat white at Bronte’s Three Blue Ducks.

Afternoon: Ferry to Taronga Zoo for native wildlife backdropped by the harbour. Book: Taronga Zoo Entry Ticket with Sydney Harbour Ferry.

Thrill‑seekers: opt for a 20‑minute helicopter flight over the Opera House and Bondi. Book: Sydney Harbour Scenic Helicopter Flight.

Evening: Back in the CBD, dine at Bar Totti’s (wood‑fire bread, stracciatella, and tuna carpaccio) and grab a martini at Maybe Sammy or a negroni at Cantina OK! before tomorrow’s flight south.

Melbourne

Melbourne is Australia’s cultural capital—a city of galleries, indie theaters, live sport, and laneways stitched with street art. Cafes treat espresso like science, chefs turn local produce into art, and neighborhoods each carry their own rhythm from Fitzroy to St Kilda.

Highlights include a Great Ocean Road day trip to the Twelve Apostles, a deep dive into laneway dining, and a visit to the MCG—cathedral of cricket and Aussie Rules. When time allows, the Yarra Valley beckons with cool‑climate wines and distilleries.

Base in the CBD for laneways and trams, or Southbank for river views and easy arts precinct access.

Where to stay (Melbourne):

• High‑end riverfront: Crown Towers Melbourne (pool and spa, dining precinct downstairs).
• Riverside classic: The Langham, Melbourne (Southbank; elegant rooms and a famed breakfast buffet).
• Boutique‑budget hybrid: Space Hotel (rooftop hot tub, near Old Melbourne Gaol).
• Value in the heart of the CBD: Ibis Budget Melbourne CBD.

Browse more stays: Hotels.com Melbourne | VRBO Melbourne

Getting Sydney → Melbourne (Day 5 morning): Fly SYD–MEL in ~1 hr 35 min; fares often A$90–A$180 with multiple departures hourly. Search on Trip.com and Kiwi.com. SkyBus from MEL (Tullamarine) to Southern Cross Station takes 25–35 minutes (~A$24). Overland alternatives exist (overnight coach or a long‑haul train), but flying maximizes your short itinerary.

Day 5: Fly to Melbourne, Laneways, Street Art, and Downtown Bites

Morning: Early flight to Melbourne; drop bags at your hotel. Espresso crawl to reset: Patricia Coffee Brewers (standing‑room perfection) or Dukes at Ross House for a velvety flat white.

Afternoon: Explore Hosier Lane and AC/DC Lane for street art, then weave through Degraves Street and Centre Place for cafes and tiny eateries. Lunch ideas: Hakata Gensuke (rich tonkotsu ramen) or Bowery to Williamsburg (NY‑style sandwiches; go for the Reuben).

Evening: Dinner at Chin Chin (Thai; order the massaman curry and kingfish sashimi) or Gimlet at Cavendish House (wood‑fire fish, prawn cocktail, and a Gibson). Cocktails at Eau de Vie (speakeasy theatrics) or the intimate Romeo Lane.

Day 6: Great Ocean Road Day Trip (beaches, rainforests, Apostles)

Full‑day small‑group tour west to the Shipwreck Coast. Expect surf towns, wild koala sightings, fern‑filled rainforest walks in the Otways, and the limestone stacks of the Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge at golden hour.

Book: Great Ocean Road Small-Group Eco Tour from Melbourne.

Back in the city, late dinner near Flinders Lane: Tipo 00 (silky tagliolini al nero) or MoVida for tapas (beef tartare “on a cracker” and anchoa on crouton).

Day 7: Sport, Brunch, and Departure

Morning: Brunch at Lune Croissanterie (kouign‑amann or almond croissant) or Hardware Société (baked eggs with chorizo). Then walk to the MCG for a behind‑the‑scenes tour and the Australian Sports Museum—perfect for cricket and AFL fans. Book: MCG Tour & Australian Sports Museum.

Afternoon (departure): If time allows, detour through Queen Victoria Market for deli tastings (hot jam doughnuts if the van is parked) or tram to St Kilda for a quick beach stroll. Head to the airport for your afternoon flight.

Extra ideas if you extend: Yarra Valley wine day trip (cool‑climate chardonnay and pinot; distilleries and chocolaterie), sunrise hot‑air balloon over the city, or a Phillip Island Penguin Parade evening tour (best with an extra night).

Dining short‑list to bookmark:

• Sydney breakfast/coffee: Bourke Street Bakery (meat pies, ginger brulee tart), Edition Coffee Roasters (Nordic‑Japanese plates), The Grounds of the City (old‑world coffee house).
• Sydney lunch/dinner: Saint Peter (line‑caught seafood, Gillardeau oysters), Lankan Filling Station (hoppers and sambols), Ho Jiak Town Hall (Malaysian char kway teow).
• Melbourne breakfast/coffee: Industry Beans Fitzroy (siphon brews), Higher Ground (ricotta hotcakes), Shortstop Coffee & Donuts (earl grey/rose donut).
• Melbourne lunch/dinner: Supernormal (lobster roll, peanut butter parfait), Tonka (modern Indian—Goan curry), Flower Drum (classic Cantonese).

Booking pointers: Reserve marquee restaurants and tours a week or more ahead in peak months (Dec–Feb). Whale watching in Sydney runs roughly May–Nov; penguin parades happen year‑round at sunset on Phillip Island.

Transport tip: Both cities’ CBDs are walkable; Uber and taxis are plentiful. In Sydney, ferries double as joyrides—use them to reach Taronga, Manly, and Barangaroo. Melbourne’s central “Free Tram Zone” makes short hops effortless.

Quick links to book: Flights: Trip.com | Kiwi.com. Stays: Hotels.com Sydney | Hotels.com Melbourne | VRBO Sydney | VRBO Melbourne.

In a week you’ll sample Sydney’s harbour sparkle and Melbourne’s creative soul—sipping exceptional coffee, breathing eucalyptus air in the Blue Mountains, and feeling sea spray on the Great Ocean Road. It’s a compact itinerary with big‑ticket views and delicious detours you’ll remember long after your flight home.