How many days do you need in Sydney, Uluru & Melbourne?
- Most travelers spend 10-12 days in Sydney, Uluru, and Melbourne combined
- Visiting Sydney, Uluru, and Melbourne in 6 to 9 days is possible, but it will feel rushed
- With 13 or more days, most travelers choose to add more stops to their trip
- The most common extensions are Cairns, Port Douglas, and Palm Cove
How Many Days to Spend in Sydney
Recommended Itineraries for Sydney, Uluru & Melbourne
Recommended Itinerary for 11 Days
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Melbourne, Explore | Melbourne |
| Day 2 | Drive Great Ocean Road, Twelve Apostles & Loch Ard Gorge | Melbourne |
| Day 3 | Phillip Island Tour | Melbourne |
| Day 4 | Free Day in Melbourne | Melbourne |
| Day 5 | Fly to Uluru | Uluru |
| Day 6 | Uluru Sunrise & Field of Light Experience | Uluru |
| Day 7 | Fly to Sydney, Explore | Sydney |
| Day 8 | Guided Tour of Sydney & Luncheon Cruise | Sydney |
| Day 9 | Blue Mountains & Wildlife Park | Sydney |
| Day 10 | Free Day in Sydney | Sydney |
| Day 11 | Depart Sydney |
This trip to Australia starts in Melbourne with city exploration, a scenic drive along Great Ocean Road, and a visit to the penguins of Phillip Island. Head to the center of the country to explore Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, with sunrise hikes through the national park, stargazing tours, and the Field of Light art exhibit. End your trip in Sydney, where you'll cruise the harbor, tour historic neighborhoods, visit nearby beaches, and explore the Blue Mountains. Read more
Recommended Itinerary for 12 Days
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Melbourne, Optional Activities | Melbourne |
| Day 2 | Best of Melbourne by Bike, Afternoon Food Tour | Melbourne |
| Day 3 | Great Ocean Road Day Trip | Melbourne |
| Day 4 | Phillip Island Tour & Penguin Parade | Melbourne |
| Day 5 | Fly to Uluru | Uluru |
| Day 6 | Sunrise Tour of Uluru, Kata Tjuta Hike & Field of Light Dinner | Uluru |
| Day 7 | Fly to Sydney, Optional Activities, Speakeasy Pub Crawl | Sydney |
| Day 8 | The Rocks Walking Tour, Sydney Harbour Cruise & Manly Beaches | Sydney |
| Day 9 | Day Trip to the Blue Mountains | Sydney |
| Day 10 | First Nations Cultural Experience, Opera House Tour, Night Bridge Climb | Sydney |
| Day 11 | Self-Guided Tour of Sydney's Neighborhoods & Beaches | Sydney |
| Day 12 | Depart Sydney |
Leave no stone unturned on this epic 12-day adventure that covers the best of southern, northern, and southeastern Australia. You'll journey from the up-and-coming city of Melbourne and travel along the Great Ocean Road, followed by a trip to the mystical rock formations dotting the arid deserts of the Red Centre. End the trip in Sydney, where you'll explore this handsome metropolis on city tours, boat tours, and beach excursions—you'll even take a day trip to the rugged Blue Mountains. Read more
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Extended Itineraries
10-Day Itinerary Including Cairns
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Melbourne | Melbourne |
| Day 2 | Day Tour of Phillip Island & Penguin Parade | Melbourne |
| Day 3 | Day Trip Along the Great Ocean Road | Melbourne |
| Day 4 | Fly to Uluru | Uluru |
| Day 5 | Explore Uluru, Kata Tjuta National Park, Fly to Cairns | Cairns |
| Day 6 | Day Trip to Green Island | Cairns |
| Day 7 | Day Trip to Kuranda | Cairns |
| Day 8 | Fly to Sydney, City Sights Tour | Sydney |
| Day 9 | Day Trip to Blue Mountains National Park | Sydney |
| Day 10 | Depart Sydney |
Cover the highlights on this 10-day tour that perfectly combines urban exploration with outdoor excursions starting in the cultural capital of Melbourne—a great jumping-off point to explore nearby Phillip Island and the Great Ocean Road. Venture into the "Red Center" to visit the iconic Ayers Rock before flying out to tropical Cairns to cuddle with a koala and snorkel the Great Barrier Reef. End your stay with a Sydney city tour and a day trip to Blue Mountains National Park. Read more
15-Day Itinerary Including Port Douglas
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Sydney | Sydney |
| Day 2 | Morning City Tour of Sydney, Sydney Opera House Tour | Sydney |
| Day 3 | Day Trip to the Blue Mountains | Sydney |
| Day 4 | Free Day in Sydney | Sydney |
| Day 5 | Fly to Port Douglas, Optional Activities | Port Douglas |
| Day 6 | Full-Day Barrier Reef & Coral Cays Boat Tour | Port Douglas |
| Day 7 | Free Day in Port Douglas | Port Douglas |
| Day 8 | Day Trip to Kuranda Village & Rainforest Tour | Port Douglas |
| Day 9 | Fly to Uluru, Sounds of Silence Dinner | Uluru |
| Day 10 | Full-Day Cave Hill Tour | Uluru |
| Day 11 | Fly to Melbourne, Melbourne Self-Guided Cultural Tour | Melbourne |
| Day 12 | Tour of Melbourne's Laneways & Arcades, Discover Melbourne's Sports Scene | Melbourne |
| Day 13 | Full-Day Phillip Island Tour & Penguin Plus Viewing Platform | Melbourne |
| Day 14 | Morning Yarra Valley Balloon Flight & Wine Tour | Melbourne |
| Day 15 | Depart Melbourne |
Travel from city to sea, rainforest, and outback on this well-rounded tour of Australia, starting in Sydney and visiting its most iconic sites. Head to Port Douglas, where you'll discover marine life near the Great Barrier Reef. Explore Kuranda and its rainforest to mingle with butterflies at the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary. Watch the sunset behind Uluru, then dine under the desert stars. Finish up your journey in eclectic Melbourne and take a hot-air balloon ride over wine country. Read more
16-Day Itinerary Including Cairns, Adelaide & Darwin
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Melbourne | Melbourne |
| Day 2 | Melbourne Sightseeing | Melbourne |
| Day 3 | Melbourne Free Day | Melbourne |
| Day 4 | Fly to Adelaide, Explore | Adelaide |
| Day 5 | Day Trip to Kangaroo Island | Adelaide |
| Day 6 | Fly to Uluru, Explore | Uluru |
| Day 7 | Free Day in Uluru | Cairns |
| Day 8 | Fly to Darwin, Explore | Darwin |
| Day 9 | Kakadu National Park | Darwin |
| Day 10 | Fly to Cairns, Explore | Cairns |
| Day 11 | The Great Barrier Reef | Cairns |
| Day 12 | Cairns Free Day | Cairns |
| Day 13 | Fly to Sydney | Sydney |
| Day 14 | Sydney City Sights | Sydney |
| Day 15 | Free Day in Sydney | Sydney |
| Day 16 | Depart Sydney |
This well-rounded 16-day tour of Australia's highlights is sure to delight any first-time visitor. You'll explore the hidden laneways of artsy Melbourne and the famous landmarks of Sydney, learn about Indigenous culture at Uluru in the country's Red Center, and discover tropical Queensland with an excursion to the Great Barrier Reef. Along the way, you'll meet kangaroos at Kangaroo Island, search for crocodiles at Kakadu National Park, and have free time to enjoy a few day trips of your choosing. Read more
How to travel between Sydney, Uluru & Melbourne
How to get to Uluru
Uluru is right in the center of Australia, in the southwestern corner of the Northern Territory, and is a long way from pretty much everywhere. The nearest town is Alice Springs, and that's still more than 200 miles (330 km) away. But Uluru is also one of Australia's most popular tourist attractions, so it's quite easy to get to from elsewhere in Australia. Here's what you need to know about getting to Uluru. Read more
How to get from Sydney to Melbourne
Australia's two biggest cities, Sydney and Melbourne, look quite close together on the map, both being in the southeast of the huge country. But there are still 545 miles (877 km) between them. Here's how to get from Sydney to Melbourne. Read more
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