14 days in Australia Itinerary

A neat, cosmopolitan city of shaded plazas and laid-back neighborhoods, Cairns serves as a popular base for exploration of the surrounding region and the Great Barrier Reef, as well as a center for watersport activities like surfing or waterskiing.

To find ratings, other places to visit, photos, and tourist information, read our Cairns online day trip planner.

Melbourne to Cairns is an approximately 34-hour car ride. You can also fly; or drive; or take a train. Prepare for much warmer weather when traveling from Melbourne in July: high temperatures in Cairns hover around 79°F and lows are around 64°F. On the 11th (Sun), you're off to Airlie Beach.

Very much a town with an emphasis on the tropical lifestyle, Airlie Beach offers exotic surroundings with palm trees and charming, sandy beaches.

Kick off your visit on the 12th (Mon): get some thrills out on the water with a waterskiing or jet-skiing adventure, then stroll through Airlie Beach Lagoon, and then take in the pleasant sights at Bicentennial Walkway.

Discover how to plan a Airlie Beach trip in just a few steps with Inspirock's itinerary builder.

Traveling by car from Cairns to Airlie Beach takes 8.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of flight and ferry; or drive; or take a bus. When traveling from Cairns in July, plan for little chillier days in Airlie Beach, with highs around 70°F, while nights are about the same with lows around 64°F. On the 13th (Tue), you're off to Fraser Island.

On the 14th (Wed), contemplate the waterfront views at Lake McKenzie.

To find photos, maps, traveler tips, and tourist information, read Fraser Island travel route planner.

You can do a combination of ferry, flight, and car from Airlie Beach to Fraser Island in 13.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of car and ferry; or do a combination of bus, car, and ferry. Traveling from Airlie Beach in July, Fraser Island is a bit cooler at night with lows of 50°F. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 15th (Thu) to allow time for travel to Noosa.

Known for its "green" development and north-facing beach, Noosa is a natural getaway.

On the 16th (Fri), take a stroll through Hastings Street and then enjoy the sand and surf at Noosa Main Beach.

For maps, where to stay, and other tourist information, refer to the Noosa trip itinerary planner.

Traveling by combination of car and ferry from Fraser Island to Noosa takes 7.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of car, ferry, and train; or do a combination of car, ferry, and bus. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 16th (Fri) so you can go by car 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.

Kick off your visit on the 17th (Sat): contemplate the waterfront views at The Brisbane River and then walk around South Bank Parklands. Here are some ideas for day two: identify plant and animal life at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary and then get great views at Mount Coot-Tha Summit Lookout.

To see more things to do, reviews, maps, and tourist information, refer to the Brisbane journey builder app.

You can drive from Noosa to Brisbane in 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus; or do a combination of bus and train. Expect a daytime high around 69°F in July, and nighttime lows around 49°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 18th (Sun) to allow enough time to drive to Southport.

Southport is a suburb and the central business district near the midpoint of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia and has one of the city's largest communities. Start off your visit on the 19th (Mon): get in on the family fun at Dreamworld. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the next day: browse the different shops at Marina Mirage and then buy something for everyone on your list at Harbour Town Premium Outlets.

For ratings, other places to visit, more things to do, and tourist information, use the Southport trip planning tool.

Drive from Brisbane to Southport in an hour. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus; or do a combination of train and tram. Expect a daytime high around 69°F in July, and nighttime lows around 49°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 20th (Tue) to allow enough time to drive to Byron Bay.

Named after Lord Byron's grandfather, Byron Bay is not only famous as the easternmost point of Australia, but even more so as one of the liveliest vacation spots in the country.

On the 21st (Wed), paddle through the water with a kayaking and canoeing tour and then let little ones run wild at Crystal Castle & Shambhala Gardens. Here are some ideas for day two: get interesting insight from Tours.

To find more things to do and other tourist information, go to the Byron Bay trip itinerary planner.

Drive from Southport to Byron Bay in 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or do a combination of tram and bus; or take a bus. Traveling from Southport in July, you can expect nighttime temperatures to be little chillier in Byron Bay, with lows of 43°F. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 22nd (Thu) to allow enough time to travel to Newcastle.

While Newcastle is known for its coal exports, it's also made a name for itself with a cultural boom.

On the 23rd (Fri), let little ones run wild at Blackbutt Reserve and then go for a walk through Newcastle Memorial Walk.

To see more things to do, traveler tips, maps, and tourist information, go to the Newcastle online journey planner.

Getting from Byron Bay to Newcastle by car takes about 7.5 hours. Other options: fly; or drive; or take a bus. Expect a bit cooler weather when traveling from Byron Bay in July: highs in Newcastle hover around 64°F, while lows dip to 43°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 23rd (Fri) to allow time to drive back home.