12 days in Melbourne & Tokyo Itinerary

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

Family-friendly places like Royal Botanic Gardens and Melbourne Zoo will thrill your kids. Change things up with these side-trips from Melbourne: Sovereign Hill (in Ballarat), Werribee Open Range Zoo (in Werribee) and The Great Ocean Road (in Torquay). There's lots more to do: get the lay of the land with Walking tours, pause for some photo ops at Shrine of Remembrance, see the interesting displays at Melbourne Museum, and contemplate the long history of Old Melbourne Gaol.

To find where to stay, traveler tips, other places to visit, and more tourist information, go to the Melbourne trip planner.

In December, daytime highs in Melbourne are 30°C, while nighttime lows are 14°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 2nd (Thu) to allow time to travel to Tokyo.

Tokyo holds the status of most populous metropolitan area in the world--a fact you'll find tangible as you walk the bustling streets and explore its diverse neighborhoods and cultures.

Kids will appreciate attractions like Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo Tower. Go for a jaunt from Tokyo to Maihama to see Tokyo DisneySea about 40 minutes away. There's still lots to do: don't miss a visit to Meiji Jingu Shrine, get engrossed in the history at Edo-Tokyo Museum, take in nature's colorful creations at Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, and take in panoramic vistas at Tokyo Skytree.

To find reviews, other places to visit, traveler tips, and tourist information, use the Tokyo trip planner.

Getting from Melbourne to Tokyo by flight takes about 14.5 hours. Due to the time zone difference, you'll gain 1 hour traveling from Melbourne to Tokyo. In January, Tokyo is colder than Melbourne - with highs of 11°C and lows of 1°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 5th (Sun) to allow enough time to travel back home.