3-Week East Australia Tour Packages

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.

  

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  • 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.

    

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• 20 Day East Coast Australia Itinerary, incl. Brisbane and Cairns

  The 20-day coastal route features a 3-day K'Gari 4x4 adventure, 2-night Whitsundays sailing, Magnetic Island's koala trails, and Mission Beach adrenaline activities. The path leads from Brisbane's Lagoon to Cairns' Great Barrier Reef.

  

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  • Days 1-2

    Brisbane

    Start in Brisbane and check out the city's outdoor lagoon. It's a great spot to recover from your flight and meet other travelers. One visitor said: "Having the lagoon right in the city was perfect for getting over jet lag and meeting other travelers." On day two visit Australia Zoo in the morning to catch the first animal shows. End your day in Fortitude Valley for some of Brisbane's best nightlife.

    
  • Days 3-6

    Rainbow Beach & K'gari (Fraser Island)

    Take a morning shuttle to Rainbow Beach before heading to K'gari. Keep your bags light for the Fraser Island trip since you'll be moving around in 4WD vehicles and camping. You'll spend the next few days driving on beach roads and exploring this massive sand island. Visit Lake McKenzie early before others arrive. Bring good walking shoes since the sand gets very hot during the day.

    
  • Days 7-9

    Whitsundays

    Spend a night in Airlie Beach before your two-night sailing trip through the Whitsundays' 74 islands. Bring motion sickness pills just in case. A recent visitor noted: "Whitehaven Beach's silica sand is unlike anything I've seen - bring water shoes as it gets scorching hot by 10 AM."

    
  • Days 10-11

    Magnetic Island

    Take the short ferry from Townsville to "Maggie Island." Book a beachfront place to stay and do the Forts Walk early to spot koalas. Get a Barbie car to check out the island's 23 beaches. Paradise Bay is quiet and worth finding.

    
  • Days 12-13

    Mission Beach

    Great for adventure sports. Book your skydive for the morning when views of the reef and rainforest are clearest. You can go white water rafting on the Tully River any time of year but expect higher waters during wet season from November to April.

    
  • Days 14-20

    Cairns & Great Barrier Reef

    Make Cairns your base for the final week. Book reef trips early in case weather causes cancellations. Try the outer reef spots for better visibility. One traveler said: "The second reef site was incredible, with way fewer boats and better coral." Visit the Atherton Tablelands waterfalls later in the day when the sun hits Millaa Millaa Falls perfectly.

    

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• 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.

  

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  • 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.

    

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