60 days in Australia Itinerary

Queensland’s biggest town and state capital, Brisbane has an attractive, manicured image based around its riverside aesthetic as well as the contrast between its high-rise center and extensive urban greenery.

Explore Brisbane's surroundings by going to Warner Bros. Movie World (in Oxenford), Sea World Theme Park (in Main Beach) and Surfers Paradise (Richard Lu Acupuncture and Chinese Massage & Surfers Paradise Beach). And it doesn't end there: walk around South Bank Parklands, look for all kinds of wild species at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, admire the natural beauty at Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt. Coot-tha, and shake up your sightseeing with a climbing tour.

To see more things to do, traveler tips, where to stay, and tourist information, refer to the Brisbane trip planner.

Chicago, USA to Brisbane is an approximately 20.5-hour flight. Traveling from Chicago to Brisbane, you'll lose 16 hours due to the time zone difference. Traveling from Chicago in January, things will get warmer in Brisbane: highs are around 84°F and lows about 71°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 7th (Sun) to allow time to drive to Mooloolaba.

Once just a small port at the mouth of Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba is now a hotbed of tourism and a place more than worth adding to your Sunshine Coast itinerary.

Explore the numerous day-trip ideas around Mooloolaba: Maleny (Gardners Falls & Maleny Botanic Gardens & Bird World). There's much more to do: cool off at BLAST Aqua Park Coolum, experience the excitement of SunJet Simulations, kick back and relax at Maroochydore Beach, and admire the natural beauty at Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Garden.

Plan trip to Mooloolaba with our itinerary maker to find out where to go and what to do.

Drive from Brisbane to Mooloolaba in 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus; or do a combination of train and bus. January in Mooloolaba sees daily highs of 83°F and lows of 70°F at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 12th (Fri) to allow enough time to travel to Fraser Island.

Fraser Island is known for nature, wildlife, and beaches. Your trip includes some of its best attractions: contemplate the waterfront views at Lake McKenzie, see Australian Sunset Safaris Day Tours, head off the coast to Waddy Point, and kick back and relax at Eli Creek.

To see traveler tips, photos, maps, and other tourist information, read our Fraser Island vacation builder app.

You can do a combination of flight, ferry, and car from Mooloolaba to Fraser Island in 7 hours. Other options are to do a combination of car and ferry; or do a combination of bus, train, car, and ferry. In January, daytime highs in Fraser Island are 87°F, while nighttime lows are 70°F. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 18th (Thu) to allow enough time to 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.

Change things up with a short trip to Shelly Beach in Manly (about 36 minutes away). Next up on the itinerary: see a show at Sydney Opera House, examine the collection at Australian National Maritime Museum, stop by The Rocks, and enjoy the sand and surf at Bondi Beach.

To find more things to do, ratings, maps, and tourist information, read Sydney travel tool.

You can do a combination of car, ferry, and flight from Fraser Island to Sydney in 8.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of car and ferry; or do a combination of car, ferry, and train. When traveling from Fraser Island in January, plan for a bit cooler days in Sydney, with highs around 82°F, while nights are about the same with lows around 68°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 24th (Wed) early enough to drive to Katoomba.

Located off of the Great Western Highway, Katoomba is the main hub of the City of Blue Mountains.

Katoomba is known for sightseeing, nature, and trails. Your trip includes some of its best attractions: take in the dramatic scenery at Wentworth Falls Lookout, grab your bike and head to Narrow Neck Trail, scramble along the landscape with a canyoning and rapelling tour, and make a trip to Sublime Point Lookout.

To see more things to do, where to stay, ratings, and tourist information, you can read our Katoomba trip tool.

Traveling by car from Sydney to Katoomba takes 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or take a bus. Expect a daytime high around 85°F in January, and nighttime lows around 64°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 30th (Tue) so you can travel to Hobart.

Snaking up the side of a rounded, tree-dotted hill, Hobart sits between Tasmania’s sprawling mountains and the vast estuary of the River Derwent.

Change things up with these side-trips from Hobart: Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary (in Brighton), Wild Ocean Tasmania (in Eaglehawk Neck) and The Parsonage (in Port Arthur). On the 1st (Thu), give your taste buds a day to remember with a local gastronomic tour. Next up on the itinerary: take in the awesome beauty at Mount Wellington, admire the natural beauty at Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, get to know the fascinating history of Battery Point Sculpture Trail, and admire the masterpieces at Museum of Old and New Art (Mona).

To find more things to do, maps, traveler tips, and more tourist information, go to the Hobart trip itinerary planning tool.

Traveling by combination of train and flight from Katoomba to Hobart takes 5.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of car and ferry; or do a combination of train, bus, and ferry. Traveling from Katoomba in January, things will get little chillier in Hobart: highs are around 73°F and lows about 54°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 3rd (Sat) so you can travel to Cowes.

Resting on the northern coast of Philip Island, Cowes is sandwiched between a coast and a forest.

Step out of Cowes with an excursion to The Great Ocean Road in Torquay--about 3 hours away. Next up on the itinerary: meet the residents at The Nobbies Centre, take in the waterfront at The Nobbies, tour the pleasant surroundings at Kitty Miller Bay, and head off the coast to Phillip Island Nature Parks - Koala Reserve.

To find photos, where to stay, maps, and other tourist information, read Cowes tour planner.

Traveling by combination of flight and ferry from Hobart to Cowes takes 4.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of car and ferry; or do a combination of bus, ferry, train, and taxi. Traveling from Hobart in February, you will find days in Cowes are somewhat warmer (79°F), and nights are about the same (59°F). Finish up your sightseeing early on the 9th (Fri) so you can go by car to Melbourne.

The state of Victoria crown jewel, Melbourne boasts shaded streets, leafy residential neighborhoods, vibrant street life, and a picturesque city center.

Dedicate the 13th (Tue) to wine at some of the top wineries in the area. On the 16th (Fri), spend a fun day on foot with Walking tours. The adventure continues: admire the natural beauty at Royal Botanic Gardens, kick back and relax at St. Kilda Beach, enjoy unforgettable views with a balloon tour, and examine the collection at Melbourne Museum.

To find where to stay, reviews, and tourist information, use the Melbourne attractions tool.

You can drive from Cowes to Melbourne in 2 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of taxi and train; or do a combination of bus and train. In February, plan for daily highs up to 81°F, and evening lows to 57°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 16th (Fri) so you can fly to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.

Please note that visitors are no longer allowed to trek up Uluru.

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is known for nature, sightseeing, and museums. Your trip includes some of its best attractions: make a trip to Uluru, take in the awesome beauty at Kata Tjuta / Mount Olga, take in the pleasant sights at Lungkata Walk, and stroll through Uluru Hiking Path.

For where to stay, maps, other places to visit, and tourist information, read our Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park attractions planning app.

You can fly from Melbourne to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in 5 hours. Another option is to drive. The time zone difference when traveling from Melbourne to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is minus 0.5 hours. Prepare for somewhat warmer weather when traveling from Melbourne in February: high temperatures in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park hover around 98°F and lows are around 71°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 19th (Mon) so you can catch the flight 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.

Explore the numerous day-trip ideas around Cairns: Palm Cove (Spas & Palm Cove Beach). Spend the 21st (Wed) among aquatic life with a scuba or snorkeling tour. Spend the 22nd (Thu) wandering through the wild on a nature and wildlife tour. And it doesn't end there: trek along Esplanade Boardwalk, take an exotic tour of Billy Tea Safaris, get up close and personal with brilliant marine life at Cairns Aquarium, and stroll through Trinity Beach.

For traveler tips, other places to visit, ratings, and tourist information, you can read our Cairns trip builder site.

You can fly from Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park to Cairns in 4.5 hours. Another option is to drive. The time zone changes from Australian Central Standard Time (ACST) to Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST), which is usually a 0.5 hour difference. When traveling from Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in February, plan for a bit cooler days and about the same nights in Cairns: temperatures range from 88°F by day to 75°F at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 24th (Sat) to allow time to drive 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.

Change things up with these side-trips from Port Douglas: Alexandra Bay Waterfall (in Diwan) and Cape Tribulation Beach (in Cape Tribulation). Spend the 25th (Sun) among aquatic life with a scuba or snorkeling tour. There's still lots to do: see exotic creatures in open habitats at a safari tour, look for gifts at Coffee Works Port Douglas, get to know the resident critters at Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas, and trot along with a tour on horseback.

To find where to stay, ratings, other places to visit, and other tourist information, go to the Port Douglas visit planner.

Drive from Cairns to Port Douglas in 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a shuttle; or take a bus. In February, plan for daily highs up to 88°F, and evening lows to 75°F. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 29th (Thu) to allow time for the flight back home.