Travel Itinerary for One-Week Travel to Australia
Planning a one-week trip to Australia may sound like an insane plan. Australia is so vast that exploring it within only seven days may be challenging. Nevertheless, it is not impossible with a little bit of good preparation.
To make it easier for you, we’ve prepared a travel itinerary covering must-see places you should visit during this short stay in Australia. The aim of this itinerary is mainly to inspire you and facilitate your travel preparation.
Also, don’t forget about some formalities that may complicate your trip or even destroy it. Ensure you have a good plan with all documents gathered and set off to explore the Aussie Land!
Essential documents for a trip to Australia
Do remember to have documents in hand before starting your journey! Among the documents that you should have to travel to Australia are:
- Australia visa (eVisitor/ETA)
- A valid passport (for at least six months from the date of planned travel)
- A completed and signed Incoming Passenger Card (together with a health and character declaration)
- Insurance policy (recommended)
Day 1: Arrive in Sydney
If you still need to book your flights, consider a flight to Sydney. Your activities on the first day in Australia may differ depending on your flight time and arrival. After your long flight, you may feel jet lag, influencing your sightseeing plans. Start by checking into your accommodation and take some time to rest.
If you arrive in Sydney in the morning, you may have a full day to start the exploration of the city. You may start by grabbing some snacks and a cup of coffee at the nearest cafe and head to Circular Quay to admire a fantastic view of Sydney Harbour Bridge. As a next step, consider visiting the Sydney Opera House and the Rocks for some history.
To wrap up your day, you may take the ferry from Circular Quay to Manly Beach and have dinner at one of the seaside restaurants. That’s it for the first day!
Day 2: Explore Sydney
Spend the second day of your Australian adventure entirely exploring Sydney. If you aren’t afraid of heights, take a ride to the top of the Sydney Tower and go to the glass-floored viewing platforms to view all the city’s landmarks, including the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour, or even the Blue Mountains extending beyond.
After high-altitude attractions, you can experience some Australian wildlife by heading to Taronga Zoo. Alternatively, you can also visit Featherdale Wildlife Park, but keep in mind that you will have to travel there about an hour and a half from downtown Sydney.
For history lovers, yet another alternative may be a stroll through the museums. The most common include the Australian Maritime Museum, the interactive Powerhouse Museum, the Australian Museum, and the Hyde Park Barracks Museum.
The last point on your itinerary this day may be a walk through the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Day 3: The Blue Mountains
On the third day, go on a short trip to the Blue Mountains, located around two hours from Sydney. You may either book an organized tour or go there on your own. For example, take a train from Central Station in Sydney to Katoomba. Whatever transportation mode you choose, do not miss Three Sister rock formations. For best views, go to Echo Point Road, Katoomba.
One more must-see attraction in Katoomba is Scenic World. Take a ride at the
steepest railway in the world and explore the ancient rainforest valley.
After returning to Sydney, have dinner at one of the restaurants and enjoy the city’s night views.
Day 4: Take a flight to Cairns
The fourth day may be focused on visiting Cairns, located three hours away from Sydney. Take the early flight from Sydney and check in at the hotel. It is recommended to book accommodations in the city center. As your travel itinerary is quite tight, you will save plenty of time on getting to the main attractions.
Cairns is famous for being full of ancient natural wonder areas. It is also a popular gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Forest, which is the oldest rainforest around the globe.
If you wish to grasp the best of what Cairns has to offer in just one day, don’t miss Cairns Botanic Gardens, Saint Monica’s Cathedral, and Cairns Esplanade Lagoon.
Of course, take some time to rest, eat, and visit one of the Cairns food spots to enjoy local tastes.
Day 5: Spend a day at the Great Barrier Reef
When you are staying in Cairns, you must take advantage of the opportunity to take a trip to the Great Barrier Reef, leaving from the Reef Fleet Terminal. If you have only one day to explore the Great Barrier Reef, it is best to consider a full-day pontoon cruise package.
During the cruise, you can choose from a wide range of activities, including guided snorkeling safari, scuba diving, and glass-bottom boats.
There are many different packages for travelers of all ages, matching their swimming abilities.
Day 6: Explore Kuranda, a Rainforest Village
As you are not allowed to fly for the next 24 hours after diving, you may plan a short trip to make good use of this waiting time. A great idea would be to visit the Australian rainforests in the mountain village of Kuranda.
While in Kuranda, don’t miss the opportunity to explore the markets with local arts and crafts, where you can buy some unique souvenirs.
Next, you can take a Kuranda Riverboat Tour (approximately a 45-minute tour).
The village also has a wide range of different attractions, such as Koala Gardens and the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary.
At the end, take a Skyrail cableway to return to Cairns. The cable will take you over the rainforest, ensuring sensational and breathtaking views.
Day 7: Cairns to Sydney
Head to the airport in the morning to catch your flight to Sydney. Unless you manage to book a direct flight out of Cairns to your homeland, you will need to spend most of the seventh day of your trip returning to Sydney.
Depending on your flight schedule, you may still have some time for a last dinner at one of the restaurants overlooking the harbor in Sydney. Enjoy this view and your last moments in Australia.
Wrapping Up
We can all agree that visiting Australia in just seven days is an extremely difficult task. However, it is not completely impossible.
With a good itinerary at hand, you may make the most of this short period of time and discover at least a small patch of this incredible and one-of-a-kind land.
Choose one Australian region, consider the distance between the cities, plan well, and go!
