Mon's Voyage

So you’re looking to travel to Australia? Australia can be a daunting place to travel to due to its remote location and size, not to mention what you’ve probably heard in the news about spiders, sharks, boxing kangaroos and snakes!

Australia isn’t so intimidating if planned out correctly and you stick to one region where you can see some key highlights of this beautiful country. I recommend at least 2 weeks while visiting Australia because firstly it’s a bloody long flight from anywhere, and secondly the distances are very far between most places. If you have longer, I’d recommend a road trip over 28 days, which would be a true adventure.

I’ve lived in Australia for 20 years across 3 different states. I’ve travelled Australia far and wide and love what the country has to offer. The below tips are my local recommendations to help you plan out your trip to down under!

Who is this itinerary for? Couples, solo travellers and families who want to see the main highlights of the East Coast of Australia, only have 14 days and are not on a shoestring budget (this one includes a lot of flights, which unfortunately aren’t so cheap!).

14 day itinerary for East Coast Australia

Day 1 to 4: Sydney

Likely you’ll be flying into Sydney, so it’s the best place to start! There’s so much to see and do in the capital, and it is truly one of my favourite cities in the world. With beautiful beaches, bustling cafes, lively markets and historical buildings, Sydney has something to offer for everyone.

Sydney has year round incredible weather, so there really isn’t a ‘bad’ time to visit, although the winter months do get a little colder and aren’t as suitable for a dip in the ocean.

How to get to Sydney

There are a lot of direct flights into Sydney’s international airport Kingsford Smith, although from some destinations these can be crazy expensive and have inconvenient stopovers. If you can’t get a direct flight, I recommend flying into the international hubs of Singapore, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Dallas, Dubai or Qatar of all which have direct flights into Sydney ranging from 8 to 14 hours.

Where to stay in Sydney

There are so many beautiful places to stay in Sydney, but if it’s you’re a first time, I recommend staying somewhere central like Surry Hills or the Rocks. There are a lot of good options ranging from a dorm in a hostel to a harbour view room in a 5 star hotels in these areas, so there’s something for everyone. My favourite places to stay are the YHA (hostel with a great view), QT (central boutique hotel with a cinematic theme), or the Park Hyatt (most beautiful hotel in Australia).

Day 1

You’ll probably be a little jetlagged on your first day, so I recommend getting your bearings by having a little stroll around where you’re staying. Grab a coffee and some food and start exploring. Try a flat white (we’re famous for them) and If you’re staying in the Rocks or Surry Hills, these areas have so many beautiful cafes, shops and street stalls. You can also walk over to the Opera House for a stunning view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge for sunset.

Day 2

Sydney siders love waking up early and heading to their favourite cafe for a coffee and breakfast/brunch in their suburb, so I’d recommend you start your morning the same way and begin to get those rays of sun. I love the cafes in Surry Hills as they have a very European feel about them plus some amazing coffee and food.

If the weather is good, which it usually is, get in your active wear and walk along the famous Coogee to Bondi path. This is a relatively low difficulty walk, with stunning views of Sydney’s coast line. You can catch a ferry or bus from the CBD (and use your credit or debit card to tap on for a ticket), or even walk directly from the CBD, which takes a little longer.

For a late lunch or dinner, there are so many options in Bondi where you can dine outside and watch the surfers. Head back into the city and go bar hopping if you’re looking to extend the night, after all you deserve it!

Day 3

Catching the ferry from Circular Quay to Manly is something I take every Sydney first-timer. The ferry ride is around 30 minutes and have stunning views of the harbour. It’ll cost you around $7 AUD, which is slightly more than a bus, but so worth it! Again, you can use your credit or debit card to tap directly on at the gate instead of having to go buy tickets.

Once you get to Manly, start exploring this retro neighbourhood. There are dreamy surfers, amazing buskers and talented skateboarders everywhere in this area. When you’re ready for lunch, grab some fish and chips and head to the beach to enjoy.

If you’re up for a swim, Shelley beach is a beautiful spot with less intense waves and slightly more quiet than the main beach of manly. You can easily walk here from the centre of Manly.

If you head back into the city, I recommend going to China Town for a bite to eat. Australia has some of the best Asian food in the world due to our large migration from Asia (including myself, yay!). There are so many options to choose from including Thai, Indonesian, Malaysian, Chinese cuisines. If you’re there on a Friday night, make sure you head to the markets in the middle of China Town as this is the best spot to try lots of food from around Asia!

Day 4

If you want to jam pack your schedule, head up to the Sydney Harbour Bridge and walk up the stairs and across to the other side, it’s a good way to get in some exercise with a view before your flight to your next destination!

Head to the airport via taxi or train, and get ready for your next spot.

Day 5 to 7: Byron Bay

You’re going to next fly into Byron Bay, just an hour flight from Sydney. The Sydney airport is just 20 minute via train from the CBD, so it won’t be a long trek to get there.

Byron Bay is a cute, hippy town in Northern New South Wales, and is an absolute must for first timers visiting. With stunning beaches, cute cafes, boutique shops, it’s the perfect place to unwind and enjoy an Australian beach town.

How to get to Bryon Bay

There are direct flights to Ballina Byron Gateway Airport, which is just a 30 minute drive from the centre. You can also fly into Gold Coast airport, which is a 50 minute drive from the centre.

Where to stay in Bryon Bay

There are so many cute Airbnbs in this area which have views of the ocean and are right in the centre, I recommend this over a hotel in this area.

Day 5

After checking into your hotel, spend your first day wondering around the shops around the town centre. There are lots of cute cafes, fashion boutiques and even breweries and distilleries. Walk down to the beach for sunset and enjoy some champagne while on the beach.

Day 6

Start your morning by walking up to the Byron Bay lighthouse. It’s a relatively short walk and you get some spectacular views up the top! Once you get back down, you can have a nice lunch back in the town centre or grab some goodies from the supermarket to have a BBQ, there are loads of free BBQs in the area, but if you’re lucky you may even have one at your accommodation i.e if you’re staying at an Airbnb. You definitely need to give one BBQ a go if in Australia!

Day 7

Either spend your day relaxing at the beach or if you’re up to it, I recommend a drive to the Gold Coast to see the iconic skyscrapers next to some iconic Australian beaches prior to flying out. Both Byron Bay and Gold Coast airports aren’t too far from each other but note it may be a good idea to get a hire car if you’re thinking of exploring both areas.

Remember, the currents can be strong here so always swim between the flags!!

Day 8 to 10: Whitsundays

You’re going to take another quick hour flight to Hamilton Island and stay here for a couple of days. The airport in Byron Bay is very close to the main town, however if flights are a bit expensive from Byron, you can try your luck at the Gold Coast airport, only a 47 minute drive away.

The Whitsundays are one of the most iconic places in Australia with white sand beaches, amazing snorkelling and crazy nightlife. While here I recommend taking a sailing trip to some of the other islands to snorkel or just to soak up the sun and swim at some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

How to get to the Whitsundays

There are two main airports, Hamilton Island Airport which is very continent if you’re staying on the island as it’s right in centre. Or Airlie Beach, which is also a nice place to stay on the mainland, a 30 minute drive from the town centre.

Where to stay in the Whitsundays

This place has a HUGE range of budget to $$$$ places to stay, depending on your vibe. There are hostels such as the YHA in Airlie Beach, or the Beach Club on Hamilton Island for something fancy. You must book your accomodation in advance as once I was stuck sleeping in my car as everything was sold out in the whole Whitsundays because I left it too late!

Day 8

Once you get into Hamilton island and rest a little, you can grab a bus which takes you around the island for some lovely views and scenery. If you like golf, there’s also an island right next to Hamilton island specially for golf!

Spend your evening relaxing at a nice bar or restaurant and get some of Australia’s best seafood.

Day 9

When I was in the Whitsundays, I did an amazing snorkelling tour on a yacht. We had a group of around 10 and sailed around the islands snorkelling and swimming in some very beautiful beaches. I recommend spending a day to do this and note it’s a whole day, so clear the day (but they usually feed you on the boat)! Make sure you get one which includes the famous Whitehaven beach.

Day 10

Enjoy some more of Australia’s amazing coffee and get ready to fly out to your next destination from Hamilton Island Airport!

Day 11 to 13: Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef

You’ll next fly to Cairns, right up in the north of Australia. I used to go to Port Douglas as a kid and loved it, which is right next to Cairns but much less of a backpackers vibe. Try and avoid the north in tropical season as this area can be prone to flash flooding due to heavy rain, although this means less tourists, so take your pick.

How to get to Cairns

There are direct flights from a lot of cities in Australia to Cairns Airport, just a 7 minute drive from the centre.

Day 11

Okay, this is where we’re going to jam pack your schedule a little. Ideally you would have had an early flight from Hamilton Island and will drive right up to the Daintree Rainforest, organise a visit to this beautiful spot for an afternoon walk through some spectacular rainforest.

Day 12

Time to check out the Great Barrier Reef. Organise a snorkelling or diving all day tour to see the highlights of the reef, there are so many out there, but make sure you book in advance!

Day 13

For the last night, head back down to Cairns and stop off at some beautiful spots on the way and enjoy your last night in the bustling city before your flight in the morning.

Day 14: Sydney

International flights are unfortunately limited from Cairns and can be expensive so you’ve likely booked a return in and out of Sydney. Head back to the capital and spend your last night relaxing at a beautiful hotel in the city centre, such as the Park Hyatt or QT.

• Day 1 to Day 5: Sydney
• Day 6 to Day 10: Blue Mountains
• Day 11 to Day 13: Gold Coast & Byron Bay
• Day 14 to Day 17: Whitsundays
• Day 18 to Day 21: Uluru & Alice Springs
• Day 22 to Day 24: Melbourne
• Day 25 to Day 27: Great Ocean Road
• Day 28: Fly out of Melbourne