14 days in Australia Itinerary

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 1st (Tue): get a new perspective on things with Boat Tours & Water Sports.

To see ratings, maps, and more tourist information, you can read our Airlie Beach trip itinerary planner.

Brisbane to Airlie Beach is an approximately 5-hour flight. You can also drive; or do a combination of train and bus. Traveling from Brisbane in December, you can expect nighttime temperatures to be somewhat warmer in Airlie Beach, with lows of 28°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 1st (Tue) to allow time to travel to Port Douglas.

A holiday in Port Douglas balances an activity-filled getaway with plenty of opportunities to relax, thanks to its proximity to the Great Barrier Reef and bustling beach life.

Escape the urban bustle at Scuba & Snorkeling and Mossman Gorge Centre. And it doesn't end there: take an exotic tour of a safari tour, see the vivid underwater world at Opal Reef, kick back and relax at Four Mile Beach, and identify plant and animal life at Hartley's Crocodile Adventures.

For ratings, more things to do, and other tourist information, refer to the Port Douglas visit planner.

Do a combination of ferry and flight from Airlie Beach to Port Douglas in 6 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. In December, daily temperatures in Port Douglas can reach 36°C, while at night they dip to 26°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 5th (Sat) early enough to go by car to Cairns.

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.

Visiting Scuba & Snorkeling and Nature & Wildlife Tours will get you outdoors. You'll enjoy a bit of beach vacationing at Palm Cove Beach and Trinity Beach.

To see maps, where to stay, and more tourist information, use the Cairns day trip planner.

Traveling by car from Port Douglas to Cairns takes 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a shuttle; or take a bus. In December, daytime highs in Cairns are 36°C, while nighttime lows are 26°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 8th (Tue) so you can travel to Sydney.

Lent iconic status as a result of its famous bridge and opera house, Sydney has a down-to-earth charm that enhances its spectacular setting and functional efficiency.

Visiting Bondi to Coogee Walk and Bondi Beach will get you outdoors. Visit Manly Beach and Clovelly Beach for some beach relaxation. Change things up with a short trip to Shelly Beach in Manly (about 36 minutes away). And it doesn't end there: see a show at Sydney Opera House, go for a walk through The Opera House to the Botanic Gardens Walk, explore the striking landscape at Mrs Macquarie's Chair, and snap pictures at Sydney Harbour Bridge.

For photos, maps, reviews, and other tourist information, refer to the Sydney online driving holiday planner.

You can fly from Cairns to Sydney in 5 hours. Other options are to drive; or take a train. Traveling from Cairns in December, expect Sydney to be a bit cooler, temps between 32°C and 21°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 12th (Sat) early enough to travel to Lord Howe Island.

Bursting out of the Tasman Sea, Lord Howe Island offers stunning scenery and many sandy beaches.

On the 13th (Sun), kick back and relax at Ned's Beach, tour the pleasant surroundings at Lagoon Beach, and then get a new perspective on things with Boat Tours & Water Sports. On your second day here, take in the awesome beauty at Mt Gower, see the interesting displays at Lord Howe Island Museum, and then trek along Lord Howe Island Walking Trails.

To find traveler tips, more things to do, and other tourist information, read Lord Howe Island trip planner.

You can fly from Sydney to Lord Howe Island in 3.5 hours. The time zone difference moving from Australian Eastern Standard Time to Lord Howe Standard Time is 0.5 hours. Finish your sightseeing early on the 14th (Mon) to allow enough time to travel back home.