3 Weeks in Australia & New Zealand - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas

Itinerary #1: Epic Australia & New Zealand: Cities, Beaches & Mountains

This itinerary that combines the highlights of Australia's eastern and southern coasts with outdoor adventures and Māori culture in New Zealand is an excellent option for first-time visitors. There's urban exploration in Sydney, hiking in the Blue Mountains, snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef, a hot-air balloon ride and champagne breakfast in Yarra Valley, a Glowworm Grotto tour in Matamata, a jet boat ride in Queenstown, and more. With several free days and a comfortable pace, it's also well-suited to those that prefer a flexible schedule. 

Start with a walking tour of Sydney's sites and a guided visit to the Sydney Opera House. Then, keep your camera close on a hike in the Blue Mountains, where you can see the iconic Three Sisters rock formations, koalas, kangaroos, and more. Catch a flight to Queensland and spend a day snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef. Take the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway to Kuranda for souvenir shopping at the Heritage Market before flying to Melbourne. Hit the highlights with the help of the City Circle tram, then check out street art, local boutiques, and café culture on a tour of Melbourne's laneways and arcades. 

See Yarra Valley from a hot-air balloon, then enjoy a champagne breakfast at Balgownie Estate, followed by wine tastings. Witness the "Penguin Parade" on Phillip Island before flying to Auckland, New Zealand. Hike the rainforests of the Waitakere Ranges, then take a luxury bus to Rotorua with stops that include a boat ride at Glowworm Grotto and a Hobbiton tour in Matamata. Observe geothermal activity in Waimangu Valley, then experience Māori culture and cuisine at Mitai Māori Village. Fly to Queenstown for a jet boat ride on Dart River and a tour of the Milford Sound / Piopiotahi fjord before departure. Learn more

Itinerary #2: Australia & New Zealand Natural Wonders Road Trip

Covering more ground, outdoorsy travelers and photographers will enjoy the opportunities to experience the natural beauty of Australia and New Zealand on this road trip. Adventures include a Dreamtime walk at Cape Tribulation, a tour of the rainforests and waterfalls in Litchfield National Park, a guided tour of Uluru and the local flora and fauna, a glacier walk in Franz Josef / Waiau, and geothermal activity in Rotorua.  

Ease into your trip with a free day to explore Cairns before heading to Cape Tribulation for a Dreamtime walk with local Kuku Yalanji. Take a dip at Palm Cove Beach before joining a snorkeling excursion at the Great Barrier Reef. Catch a flight to Darwin, where you can take a tasting tour, browse the stalls at Mindil Beach Sunset Market, and enjoy a sunset cruise. Tour the rainforest and waterfalls at Litchfield National Park before flying to Uluru. Learn about the rock art, cultural significance, and local flora and fauna on a guided tour of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, then experience the pretty Field of Lights dinner.

Fly to Sydney and set sail on a dinner cruise. Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge, take a surf lesson, or join a walking tour on a free day in the city. Fly to Christchurch, New Zealand, and make your way to Franz Josef / Waiau for a glacier walk or helicopter tour. Continue to Queenstown with a stop at the Blue Pools. Fly to Wellington and see the sites along the City to Sea Walkway. Drive to Napier, stopping for dinner and a wine tour en route. Ride the Huka Jet on the Waikato River, then observe geothermal activity at Craters of the Moon before joining a Māori celebration and feast at Te Pā Tū. Learn more

Itinerary #3: Active Adventures in Australia & New Zealand: Sydney, Cairns, Queenstown, Christchurch & Auckland

Ideal for energetic travelers, this advenutre who prefer a fast pace and a variety of outdoor activities that include adrenaline-inducing experiences such as bungee jumping in Queenstown and sky diving in Wānaka. With multiple opportunities to experience boats, catamarans, kayaks, and steamships—at Sydney Harbour, the Great Barrier Reef, Bleinhem, Auckland, and elsewhere, this trip is also suited to travelers who enjoy being on the water. 

See Sydney from the water on a sunset dinner cruise. Then, enjoy a hike in the Blue Mountains that ends at the iconic Govetts Leap lookout. Before climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge, take a bike tour of Sydney's sites. Fly to Queensland next, where you can snorkel the Great Barrier Reef or view it from a semi-submersible craft. Ride the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway over Barron Gorge with a stop at CSIRO Interpretive Centre. Fly to Queenstown, New Zealand, and cruise across Lake Wakatipu to a local farm for a barbecue. Cruise Milford Sound / Piopiotahi and trek Routeburn Track before a bungee jump and a jet boat ride.

Head to Wānaka for sky diving, then marvel at the Tasman Glacier Lake icebergs and take a hike in Hooker Valley. Continue to Christchurch for a tram dinner before riding the TranzAlpine train to Arthur's Pass National Park. Soak in hot pools at Hanmer Springs en route to Kaikōura, where you'll kayak alongside seals at sunset. Enjoy a whale watching cruise, then drive to Marlborough for wine tasting and the Seafood Cruise. Fly to Auckland for a sailing lesson, then end with a tour of Waitomo Glowworm Caves, followed by a wineries tour and zipline experience on Waiheke Island. Learn more

Itinerary #4: Epic Australia & New Zealand: Auckland, Queenstown, Sydney, Brisbane, Byron Bay & More

Consider this roadtrip for a mix of historical, cultural, culinary, outdoor, and wildlife experiences. There's a bush-to-beach walk in Auckland, a tasting tour in Wellington, an Indigenous Australia theater experience in Brisbane, beach hopping along the coast of New South Wales, a tour of the Sydney Oprea House, and a kayaking safari in Queenstown. 

Begin in Auckland with an America's Cup sailing excursion followed by a guided hike in the Waitakere Ranges. Visit Waiheke Island for ziplining and wine tasting. Then head to Matamata for the Hobbiton tour. Learn about New Zealand's national bird at the National Kiwi Hatchery and continue to Te Puia for a cultural performance and a walk in Whakarewarewa Geothermal Valley. Fly to Wellington, where you'll embark on a tasting tour, then see Zealandia Wildlife Sanctuary by torchlight. Catch a flight to Brisbane, Australia, and immerse in an Indigenous Australian dinner theater experience.

Tour Australia Zoo before choosing either the scenic or Gold Coast route (depending on your preference) to Byron Bay. Drive to Coffs Harbour, stopping for a seafood lunch in Ballina. Continue to Port Macquarie with stops that include a Nambucca River cruise and a swim at South West Rocks. Beach hop to Sydney, where you'll take a bike tour and climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Fly to Queenstown, New Zealand, for a jet boat ride and a kayak safari on the Dart River. Tour Fiordland National Park by bus and boat, then cap off the trip with a cruise and barbecue at Lake Wakatipu. Learn more

Itinerary #5: Australia & New Zealand Cultural Journey

Travelers keen on cultural experiences will appreciate this trip's abundance of Indigenous-led activities as you see more of Australia. Climb the bridge in Sydney with an Indigenous guide, learn about the sacred sites of the Northern Territory while in Uluru, take an Indigenous-led bush walk and hear Dreamtime stories while stargazing in the Pinnacles Desert, walk in the Waitakere Ranges with an Indigenous guide, and enjoy a Māori performance and feast in Rotorua. This itinerary is also best for those that want to spend the majority of the trip in Australia, visiting several states and territories.

See Sydney's best viewpoints on a panorama walking tour, including Dover Heights, then refuel with a lunch cruise in the harbor. Fly to Uluru and enjoy a dining experience that combines the open-air Sounds of Silence dinner with the Field of Light art installation. Spot kangaroos and other wildlife on a 4WD adventure to Mount Conner. Catch a flight to Perth, then take the ferry to Rottnest Island for a chance to see endearing quokkas. Join a bush medicine walk, then learn about Aboriginal astronomy and Dreamtime stories while stargazing in the Pinnacles Desert. Fly to Darwin and do some bird-watching on a wetlands tour.

Immerse in Aboriginal history and the natural beauty of Litchfield National Park before flying to Cairns, where you'll learn about koalas at the Cairns Wildlife Dome, go river snorkeling in Daintree Rainforest, and snorkel the Great Barrier Reef with a marine biologist. Catch a flight to Auckland for a city tour, and a bush and beach walk in the Waitakere Ranges. Continue to Rotorua, where you'll try zorbing (bouncing downhill in an inflatable ball) and enjoy a Māori feast at Mitai Māori Village. On your final day, experience Waimangu Valley's geothermal wonders on a nature walk and cruise. Learn more

More Great 3-Week Australia Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to Australia? Check out these other three-week Australia itineraries, with outdoor adventures, cultural trips, and best-of tours to hit the highlights.