Australia Itinerary 2 weeks – Best Places to Visit
Australia Itinerary 2 weeks – Best Places to Visit
Australia is such a beautiful but vast continent where you can see incredible things. The distances are huge to drive so choosing the right itinerary is important to have an enjoyable time. In this short Australia itinerary 2 weeks is what you have and you must be well organised to see all important places.
We have travelled around Australia and spent a lot of time in the outback and national parks. Based on this experience we hope this knowledge can be helpful to organise your dream holiday in Australia.
In this itinerary, you find two major Australian cities, Uluru, Cairns attractions and the Great Barrier Reef. We recommend arriving/departure from Melbourne or Sydney as from these cities you get many flight options to suit your calendar.
Day 0 – Arrive to Melbourne
If you arrive from the USA or Europe consider a big-time difference that can affect your sleep. You can be very tired before your body adjusts to a new time zone. We use melatonin pills to minimize jet lag after the flight.
We recommend being in Melbourne in the morning so you have the full day and night to get rest and prepare for your 2 weeks in Australia itinerary.
For such a short time book your accommodation in the city centre so you don’t need a car to find most of the places. Remember – you can always take Uber in Australia to move between tourist locations.
Day 1 – Discover Melbourne
Start a day with the best coffee in the world
Everybody knows that in Australia you can get the best coffee in the world. Don’t waste your time and start your day with a caffeine kick before heading to Melbourne attractions.
Visit Federation Square – 1 hour
Federation Square is home to many world-class events and is the cultural hub in Melbourne where everybody meets. It is located in the heart of Melbourne opposite the historic Flinders Station and Swanston Street.
Admire Melbourne Street Art – 1 hour
Discover many renowned art scenes painted in the city’s laneways. The art is changing often to every time to visit Melbourne you see something new.
Melbourne Skydeck – 1 hour
It takes only 38 seconds to be on the roof of Melbourne in the Melbourne Skydeck. It is the third tallest building in Australia where you can admire stunning views of Melbourne.
Queen Victoria Markets – 2 hours
Queen Victoria Markets are the historic landmark of Melbourne. It is a vibrant and busy place with more than 600 small businesses where you can buy everything from fruits and vegetables, local and imported foods to clothing and souvenirs.
Old Melbourne Gaol – 2 hours
Old Melbourne Gaol is a former jail and current museum on Russell Street. The three-storey building displays information about the prisoners and staff of the past. One of the famous things to see is the death masks of the executed criminals.
At one time, the museum had Ned Kelly’s skull on display but it was stolen in 1978.
Crown Casino – 3 hours
Crown Casino is not only for gamblers. It is a huge complex full of hotels, restaurants, entertainment and of course casino. It is one of the most iconic places worth visiting or having dinner at their alfresco restaurants.
Take a River Cruise – 2 hours
Why not book yourself for a morning or sunset tour. You can admire Melbourne from Yarra River while you eat breakfast, lunch or dinner. It is one of the best ways to see Melbourne city without too much walking.
Royal Botanic Gardens and Art Gallery – 1 to 3 hours
Located in walking distance to Federation Square the Botanic Gardens and Art Gallery are two you would not like to miss.
Day 2 – Great Ocean Road – 12 hours
Stand on Teddy’s lookout and see the craggy cliffs that tower above the ocean.
The Twelve Apostles are located 220 km from Melbourne, so make sure to start the trip early in the morning (6 am). Plan it yourself by hiring a car or if you want to be stressed free book the trip with one of the Great Ocean Road tour providers.
Day 3 – Phillip Island – 8 hours
Alice Springs Desert Park – 4 hours
The Desert Park is home to a variety of Australian native animals including kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, echidnas, snakes and birds. Enjoy the Free Flying Bird Show – one of the best bird shows we have seen in Australia.
Telegraph Station – 1 hour
Telegraph Station Historical Reserve is the birthplace of Alice Springs township. The site has many well-preserved buildings with on-site displays where you can learn more about the life of the first settlement in Alice Springs.
The place was established in 1871 to relay messages between Adelaide and Darwin.
Western and Easter MacDowells
We listed the Western and Eastern MacDowells ranges here as a sneak peek of what you can do the next time you visit Australia for a longer period of time.
It is possible to attend some of the walks within one day but to fully admire the place you need more time. The key highlights are the Standley Chasm, Redbank Gorge, Ormiston Gorge or Serpentine Gorge.
If you feel adventurous you can go for a 220 km long Larapinta Trail hike through the West MacDonnell Ranges – something to plan for the future.
Day 5 – Uluru and Field of Light
Make sure to go for an 11 km walk around Uluru to fully admire this ancient rock.
In the evening, book your spot for the Field of Light and enjoy a spectacular exhibition of the 50000 glass spheres that come to light along with the darkness.
Stay in the famous Ayers Rock Resort and the next day you are ready to visit Kata Tjuta.
Day 6 – Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon
This 6 km walk is spectacular. To this day we think it was one of the best walks we did in Australia. It starts from a steep incline over 500 steps, but later on, it goes mostly on the top of the gorge with some boardwalks or bridges. The hike can be completed within 3 to 4 hours. Make sure you bring enough water with you.
Once you finish the walk, it will be late afternoon, so drive back 330 km to Alice Springs as tomorrow morning you are catching a flight to Cairns.
Day 7 – Cairns attractions
Spend enough time in Kuranda. Visit the local markets where you can buy local souvenirs. When you are ready to come back hop in on the Sky Rail and enjoy the spectacular views of Cairns.
Day 9 – Daintree Rainforst and Cape Tribulation
Northern Australia rivers and estuaries are infested with saltwater crocodiles, so never swim or stay close to the bank.
Daintree Rainforest is where you learn about the World Heritage tropical rainforest, its flora and fauna. If you go for one of the walks in the centre or around Cape Tribulation there is a good chance you can spot an ancient bird – cassowary.
On the way out, grab a good coffee or a snack in the on-site cafe. Drive further north 25 km to see the beautiful Cape Tribulation beach. Right there, you can go for a few boardwalks in the rainforest and later rest in the small cafe located at the entrance to the beach.
On the way back, eat dinner in Port Douglas. Book yourself a plate in Salsa or Rattle & Hum restaurant (our favourites),
Day 10 – Great Barrier Reef
You should be in Sydney before lunchtime, so after you check in to your hotel, pack your daily backpack and start sightseeing in this modern and beautiful city.
Book your hotel at the Rocks to have a walking distance to Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera.
There are many ways to enjoy Sydney. If you stay on the Rocks, first walk your way to the Harbour Bridge and enjoy the sweeping views of Sydney Harbour. You can actually book yourself for a climbing tour as well.
Then, head to the famous Circular Way where you can find many shops, gardens, museums and restaurants. Don’t rush – this place deserve a moment. It is a perfect place to stay for lunch or dinner.
In the late afternoon, go to the iconic Sydney Opera and after visit the Royal Botanic Garden. It will be plenty for the day.
Day 12 – Sightseeing cruise and Sydney Tower Eye
Going around and seeing all the places would take you the whole day, but make sure to reward yourself with a SkyFeast on the Sydney Tower Eye. You have to book ahead but there is something you remember for life.
Day 13 – Trip to Blue Mountain
Today it is time to see the famous Blue Mountain. You can hire a car or campervan or book yourself for a daily tour. The things to see are native Australian animals at Feahterdale Wildlife Park, Three Sisters at Echo Park and Scenic World.
Day 14 – Wildlife Sydney Zoo or Aquarium
The time goes fast. Your last day in Australia will be around animals. After all, you desire a bit of break after two weeks of flying, driving, walking and snorkelling.
Wildlife Sydney Zoo and Sydney Aquarium are located close to each other, so you won’t waste time walking around.
Inside the Zoo, you see the kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, platypuses, crocodiles, wombats, Tasmanian devils, quokkas, numbats and many more.
Sydney Aquarium is where you learn about the magical underwater world: sharks, rays or even dugongs. Make sure to prebook it so you won’t miss out.
Australia Itinerary 2 weeks – Summary
Fourteen days is a short time span to see everything in Australia. It is a huge country with big driving distances. There are many more places to visit like Kimberley, Ningaloo Reef, Coral Bay in Western Australia, Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks in Northern Territory, South Australia and all east coast attractions in New South Wales and Queensland.
But if you are short of time, two weeks is enough to see the most iconic places in Australia to bear in your mind forever.