15 days in Australia Itinerary

A city of towering skyscrapers, sandy beaches, and tree-lined streets, Gold Coast has an unpretentious air complemented by a citywide focus on sports and the arts.

You'll find plenty of places to visit near Gold Coast: Brisbane (Channel Seven Wheel of Brisbane, Roma Street Parkland, &more). And it doesn't end there: enjoy the sand and surf at Surfers Paradise Beach, try out the rides at Sea World Theme Park, experience the excitement of Infinity Attraction, and find something for the whole family at Warner Bros. Movie World.

To see reviews, traveler tips, where to stay, and tourist information, go to the Gold Coast online driving holiday planner.

Sydney to Gold Coast is an approximately 3.5-hour flight. You can also drive; or take a bus. In December, daily temperatures in Gold Coast can reach 32°C, while at night they dip to 22°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 31st (Thu) to allow time to travel 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.

Get out of town with these interesting Cairns side-trips: Port Douglas (Port Douglas Court House Museum, Opal Reef, &more), Palm Cove (Spas & Palm Cove Beach) and Hartley's Crocodile Adventures (in Wangetti). Spend the 1st (Fri) among aquatic life with a scuba or snorkeling tour. There's much more to do: stroll through Esplanade Boardwalk, learn about winemaking at Shannonvale Tropical Fruit Winery, hike along Wrights Lookout, and have fun at Muddy's Playground.

To find other places to visit, ratings, and other tourist information, read Cairns trip itinerary site.

Traveling by flight from Gold Coast to Cairns takes 4.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train. In December, Cairns is somewhat warmer than Gold Coast - with highs of 36°C and lows of 26°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 5th (Tue) to allow time to travel to Emerald.

Emerald has massive rainfall and floods every year, but it's also a place where you can drink local wine while you peruse a display of locally mined gemstones in the town's quiet center.

Start off your visit on the 6th (Wed): browse the different shops at The Plaza @ Emerald, then take in nature's colorful creations at Botanic Gardens, then walk around Vicki Peters Park, and finally make a splash at Emerald Aquatic Centre.

For ratings, traveler tips, where to stay, and tourist information, use the Emerald trip builder.

The Route module can help you plan travel from Cairns to Emerald. In January in Emerald, expect temperatures between 40°C during the day and 26°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 7th (Thu) early enough to travel to Terrigal.

Terrigal is a major coastal suburb of the Central Coast region of New South Wales, Australia, located 12km east of Gosford on the Pacific Ocean. Get out of town with these interesting Terrigal side-trips: Norah Head Lighthouse (in Norah Head) and Caves Beach (in Swansea). And it doesn't end there: enjoy the sand and surf at Avoca Beach, stroll through Macmasters Beach, don't miss a visit to The Skillion, and get to know the fascinating history of The Entrance Heritage Walk.

To find ratings, other places to visit, maps, and tourist information, go to the Terrigal online trip itinerary maker.

Use the Route module to find suitable travel options from Emerald to Terrigal. Expect little chillier weather when traveling from Emerald in January: highs in Terrigal hover around 32°C, while lows dip to 23°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 9th (Sat) so you can drive back home.