12 days in Australia Itinerary

The state of Victoria crown jewel, Melbourne boasts shaded streets, leafy residential neighborhoods, vibrant street life, and a picturesque city center.

Get a sense of the local culture at Melbourne Museum and Old Melbourne Gaol. Attractions like National Gallery of Victoria and Shrine of Remembrance make great kid-friendly stops. There's still lots to do: take in nature's colorful creations at Royal Botanic Gardens, see the interesting displays at Australian Sports Museum, stop by The Junk Company, and take a stroll through Melbourne Central.

To find more things to do, ratings, traveler tips, and other tourist information, use the Melbourne holiday planner.

Durban, South Africa to Melbourne is an approximately 19-hour flight. Due to the time zone difference, you'll lose 8 hours traveling from Durban to Melbourne. In June, Melbourne is little chillier than Durban - with highs of 16°C and lows of 6°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 12th (Wed) early enough to travel to Canberra.

A planned city with streets laid out in elaborate, geometric patterns and founded specifically to serve as the capital of the emerging Australian state, Canberra has a self-sufficient atmosphere.

Kick off your visit on the 13th (Thu): explore the world behind art at Drill Hall Gallery, then look for gifts at Scott Leggo Gallery, then get engrossed in the history at Australian War Memorial, and finally engage your brain at Questacon.

For reviews, where to stay, photos, and other tourist information, use the Canberra trip planner.

You can fly from Melbourne to Canberra in 3.5 hours. Other options are to drive; or take a bus. Traveling from Melbourne in June, you can expect nighttime temperatures to be slightly colder in Canberra, with lows of 0°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 13th (Thu) to allow enough time to travel to Sydney.

Lent iconic status as a result of its famous bridge and opera house, Sydney has a down-to-earth charm that enhances its spectacular setting and functional efficiency.

On the 14th (Fri), enjoy the sand and surf at Bondi Beach, go for a walk through The Opera House to the Botanic Gardens Walk, then see a show at Sydney Opera House, and finally stop by The Rocks. Here are some ideas for day two: explore the world behind art at Brett Whiteley Studio, see the interesting displays at Australian National Maritime Museum, then look for gifts at Sydney Fish Market, and finally snap pictures at Sydney Harbour Bridge.

To find traveler tips, other places to visit, where to stay, and tourist information, read our Sydney tour itinerary tool.

Traveling by flight from Canberra to Sydney takes 3 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. Prepare for somewhat warmer weather when traveling from Canberra in June: high temperatures in Sydney hover around 21°C and lows are around 11°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 15th (Sat) so you can travel to Gold Coast.

A city of towering skyscrapers, sandy beaches, and tree-lined streets, Gold Coast has an unpretentious air complemented by a citywide focus on sports and the arts.

Start off your visit on the 16th (Sun): get up close and personal with brilliant marine life at Sea World Theme Park.

For reviews, ratings, maps, and other tourist information, go to the Gold Coast online trip planner.

Getting from Sydney to Gold Coast by flight takes about 3.5 hours. Other options: drive; or take a bus. June in Gold Coast sees daily highs of 24°C and lows of 13°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 16th (Sun) to allow time to drive to Brisbane.

Queensland’s biggest town and state capital, Brisbane has an attractive, manicured image based around its riverside aesthetic as well as the contrast between its high-rise center and extensive urban greenery.

On the 17th (Mon), admire the masterpieces at Queensland Art Gallery and then stroll around South Bank Parklands.

To find reviews, more things to do, and tourist information, read our Brisbane online tour planner.

Traveling by car from Gold Coast to Brisbane takes an hour. Alternatively, you can take a train; or take a bus. June in Brisbane sees daily highs of 24°C and lows of 13°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 17th (Mon) early enough to travel to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.

Please note that visitors are no longer allowed to trek up Uluru.

Located right in the center of Australia, the national park boasts perhaps the country's most iconic natural symbol and a sacred place for the region's indigenous people--as well as Kata Tjuta, a collection of 36 red rocks forming an equally distinctive sight.

On the 18th (Tue), hike along Kuniya Walk, explore the activities along Mutitjulu Waterhole, then explore and take pictures at Uluru, and finally trek along Uluru Hiking Path. Keep things going the next day: take in the exciting artwork at Walkatjara Art Uluru, then take an in-depth tour of Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre, then take your sightseeing to a higher altitude at Kata Tjuta / Mount Olga, and finally explore the striking landscape at Walpa Gorge.

To find more things to do, reviews, where to stay, and tourist information, go to the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park route planning app.

Fly from Brisbane to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in 6 hours. Alternatively, you can drive. The time zone difference when traveling from Brisbane to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is minus 0.5 hours. Traveling from Brisbane in June, expect slightly colder with lows of 7°C in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 19th (Wed) so you can travel to Perth.

A modern metropolis of glassy skyscrapers, waterside boulevards, and lush residential neighborhoods, Perth sits on the edge of the Swan Coastal Plain.

Kick off your visit on the 20th (Thu): contemplate the long history of The Perth Mint, then walk around Kings Park and Botanic Garden, and then get engrossed in the history at The Nostalgia Box Museum.

To see maps, more things to do, where to stay, and more tourist information, use the Perth vacation site.

Fly from Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park to Perth in 11.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive. The time zone difference when traveling from Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park to Perth is minus 1.5 hours. In June, daily temperatures in Perth can reach 23°C, while at night they dip to 9°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 20th (Thu) so you can travel back home.