3-Week East Australia Tour Packages
What if you could explore Sydney's iconic Opera House, visit the koala hospital in Port Macquarie, and paddleboard with the Gumbaynggirr community? It’s possible! Sail the Whitsundays with onboard jacuzzi, and hike Magnetic Island's Forts Walking Track. Australia's east coast delivers adventure and Indigenous culture beautifully across three amazing weeks.
Insider tips: Recommended 3-week East Australia tour itineraries
Compiled by
MelissaEast Australia travel expert at TourRadar
16 Day Australia Itinerary, incl. Sydney and Great Barrier Reef
A 16-day Australian journey stretches from Sydney Harbor cruise to Brisbane's South Bank precinct. The route covers 11 destinations including Cairns for Great Barrier Reef, Melbourne for Great Ocean Road, and Uluru's sacred Aboriginal sites, with 20 meals and luxury accommodations.
- Days 1-3
Sydney & Blue Mountains
Start at Bondi Beach before 9 AM to watch local surfers. Take your Opera House tour in late afternoon when the crowds thin out and the lighting is better for photos. A past visitor shared: "The harbor cruise was a highlight, but book the 2 PM sailing for the best light on the Bridge." Plan a full day for the Blue Mountains and get to Featherdale Wildlife Park early before the tour buses roll in.
- Days 4-5
Uluru (Ayers Rock)
Fly 3.5 hours to Australia's Red Centre. Get to your sunset viewing spot 45 minutes before the posted time to see the colors change. Bring warm clothes for sunrise viewing. The base walk takes about 3.5 hours so wear good walking shoes.
- Days 6-9
Melbourne & Great Ocean Road
Explore Melbourne's laneways after 10 AM when Hardware Lane's coffee scene comes alive. Set aside a full day for the Great Ocean Road. Leave Melbourne early to beat the crowds at the Twelve Apostles. One traveler noted: "The Loch Ard Gorge was actually more impressive than the Twelve Apostles—spend extra time there."
- Days 10-12
Cairns & Great Barrier Reef
Stay in Cairns to access the reef. Book your reef cruise early in your stay in case of bad weather. Take the first Skyrail up to Kuranda at 8:30 AM to avoid the heat. The cable car ride takes 1.5 hours with two stops.
- Days 13-16
Brisbane & Sunshine Coast
Use Brisbane as your base for day trips. Head to the Sunshine Coast early to spend more time at Noosa Beach. Book the Tangalooma dolphin feeding well in advance since it fills up quickly.
Sydney Australia
195 miPort Macquarie Australia
79 miCoffs Harbour Australia
118 miByron Bay Australia
37 miSpringbrook Australia
4 miLamington National Park Australia
19 miGold Coast Australia
44 miShow 9 more
Brisbane Australia
74 miNoosa Australia
69 miFraser Island Australia
14 mi75 Mile Beach Australia
77 miNoosa Australia
505 miAirlie Beach Australia
15 miWhitsunday Islands Australia
212 miGreat Barrier Reef Australia
202 miAirlie Beach Australia
141 miTownsville Australia
8 miMagnetic Island Australia
8 miTownsville Australia
106 miMission Beach Australia
68 miCairns Australia
16 Day Australia & Fiji Itinerary, incl. Sydney and Great Barrier Reef
A 16-day Australian adventure spans Brisbane, Cairns, Melbourne, and Sydney. Stops include Australia Zoo, Great Barrier Reef snorkeling, Kuranda Scenic Railway rides, and Blue Mountains exploration, followed by time in Fiji.
- Days 1-4
Brisbane & Surrounds
Arrive in Brisbane before 3 PM to explore the riverside South Bank precinct. Head to Australia Zoo on day 2 via early shuttle. You'll need about 6 hours to see all the wildlife shows. Visit Tamborine Mountain and the Glow Worm Cave. Pack a light jacket since the caves stay cool. The Byron Bay trip takes 10 hours so bring snacks and water.
- Days 5-7
Cairns & Great Barrier Reef
Take a 3-hour flight to tropical Cairns. The Barrier Reef cruise leaves the Marina at 8 AM. If you get seasick easily take motion sickness tablets. A recent visitor noted: "The morning snorkel spot had better visibility before the afternoon winds picked up." For the best Kuranda experience take the scenic railway up and cable car down.
- Days 8-9
Melbourne Region
After flying in spend free time exploring Melbourne's laneways. The Phillip Island penguin parade brings you back late around 11 PM. The viewing area gets cold at sunset so bring warm clothes. Book the dinner cruise well ahead during peak season.
- Days 10-12
Sydney Highlights
Start early for the full-day Blue Mountains tour. Wear comfortable shoes for walking the Scenic World trails. Visit the Opera House first thing before crowds arrive then head to Bondi Beach when the cafes are busy. Take in stunning nighttime views of the Bridge and Opera House on the harbour dinner cruise.
- Days 13-16
Fiji Finale
Fly 4 hours to Fiji. Bring reef-safe sunscreen and a hat for the cultural village tour. Choose an early island cruise departure to get more beach time. Most return flights to Australia leave mid-afternoon letting you enjoy a relaxed final morning.
East Australia 21 Day Tour Packages You'll Love
Australia Great Discovery
Real Australia (21 destinations)
AUSTRALIA – Fiji Highlights with Brisbane Cairns Melbourne Sydney
Oz East Coast + Work 20 Days
East Coast Highlights - 3 Week | ULTIMATE
Ultimate Australia (With Sailing)
Oz East Coast Adventure 20 days
Melbourne to Cairns Adventure
Ultimate Australia (Without Sailing)
Contrasts of Australia and New Zealand (With Internal Air)
What people love about 3-week East Australia tours
- East Coast Highlights - 3 Week | ULTIMATE
Tour guide was great the whole trip really put a lot of effort in to make sure everything was sorted and everyone was having a great time throughout the trip. I think the itinerary could do with a few more free days earlier on in the trip and would’ve liked to swap 2/4 days in cairns to stop off at noosa. Overall I loved the tour and would 100% recommended it to any traveller. As it was my first time on a tour like this I really appreciate that sam (tour guide) made me feel safe and secure the whole trip allowing me to relax and enjoy the whole experience.
- Oz East Coast Adventure 20 days
The 3-week East Coast tour was absolutely fantastic! It was very well-organized and included a great variety of activities. My personal highlight was K’gari Island – such an incredible experience. A huge shoutout to our group leader, Elliot! His positive and fun personality added so much to this amazing trip. I would definitely recommend this trip to anyone looking for an unforgettable adveenture.