21 days in Melbourne, Sydney & Queensland Itinerary

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

You'll get in some beach time at Half Moon Bay and St. Kilda Beach. Escape the urban bustle at Melbourne Boat Hire and Sandridge Beach. There's still lots to do: take in nature's colorful creations at Royal Botanic Gardens, tour the pleasant surroundings at Melbourne Zoo, make a trip to Flinders Street Station, and enjoy breathtaking views from Eureka Skydeck 88.

To see where to stay, photos, reviews, and tourist information, refer to the Melbourne sightseeing planner .

Manchester, UK to Melbourne is an approximately 26-hour flight. You can also do a combination of flight and train. The time zone changes from Greenwich Mean Time to Australian Eastern Standard Time (Victoria), which is usually a 10 hour difference. Prepare for much warmer weather when traveling from Manchester in January: high temperatures in Melbourne hover around 32°C and lows are around 17°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 19th (Sat) early enough 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.

Visit Bondi Beach and Coogee Beach for some beach relaxation. Escape the urban bustle at Bondi to Coogee Beach Coastal Walk and Maroubra Beach Rocky Climb. There's still lots to do: catch a live performance at Sydney Opera House, tour the pleasant surroundings at Clovelly, enjoy the sand and surf at Camp Cove, and snap pictures at Sydney Harbour Bridge.

To see other places to visit, where to stay, ratings, and other tourist information, go to the Sydney road trip app .

Getting from Melbourne to Sydney by flight takes about 3.5 hours. Other options: do a combination of shuttle and flight; or drive. Traveling from Melbourne in January, plan for a bit warmer nights in Sydney, with lows around 23°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 23rd (Wed) to allow enough time to travel to Airlie Beach.

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 24th (Thu): look for all kinds of wild species at Wildlife Areas. Here are some ideas for day two: take a memorable tour with Tours.

For where to stay, traveler tips, and other tourist information, read our Airlie Beach online road trip planner .

Getting from Sydney to Airlie Beach by combination of flight and bus takes about 6 hours. Other options: do a combination of flight and ferry; or drive. Traveling from Sydney in January, expect somewhat warmer with lows of 28°C in Airlie Beach. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 25th (Fri) early enough to ride a ferry to Whitsunday Island.

Start off your visit on the 26th (Sat): contemplate the waterfront views at Hill Inlet and then tour the pleasant surroundings at Whitehaven Beach.

To see ratings, traveler tips, other places to visit, and tourist information, read our Whitsunday Island road trip app .

Getting from Airlie Beach to Whitsunday Island by ferry takes about 1.5 hours. Expect a daytime high around 36°C in January, and nighttime lows around 26°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 26th (Sat) 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.

Step out of the city life by going to Scuba & Snorkeling and Hartley's Crocodile Adventures. Take a break from Port Douglas with a short trip to Palm Cove Beach in Palm Cove, about 42 minutes away. Spend the 28th (Mon) spotting exotic species with a safari tour. The adventure continues: stop by With Sugar.

To find reviews, where to stay, other places to visit, and more tourist information, go to the Port Douglas tour itinerary planner.

You can do a combination of flight and shuttle from Whitsunday Island to Port Douglas in 4 hours. Other options are to do a combination of bus, flight, and shuttle; or do a combination of train and taxi. In January, plan for daily highs up to 37°C, and evening lows to 28°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 29th (Tue) so you can travel to Cape Tribulation.

A lush headland that's part of the forested Daintree Region, Cape Tribulation was so named by Lieutenant--later Captain--Cook in 1770, when his ship ran aground in the area.

Start off your visit on the 30th (Wed): take in the dramatic scenery at Alexandra Bay Waterfall, then take some stellar pictures from Walu Wugirriga Lookout, and then take a peaceful walk through Daintree Rainforest - Cooper Creek Wilderness. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 31st (Thu): enjoy the sand and surf at Cape Tribulation Beach, then kick back and relax at Myall Beach, and then stroll through Thornton Beach.

Before you visit Cape Tribulation, use our trip planner to discover what you can do and see there.

Traveling by combination of car and ferry from Port Douglas to Cape Tribulation takes 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus. In January, daytime highs in Cape Tribulation are 37°C, while nighttime lows are 28°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 31st (Thu) early enough to take a bus 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.

Take a break from the city and head to Scuba & Snorkeling and Esplanade Boardwalk. Spend the 2nd (Sat) wandering through the wild on a nature and wildlife tour. There's still lots to do: tour the pleasant surroundings at Trinity Beach and look for all kinds of wild species at The Jack Barnes Bicentennial Mangrove Boardwalk.

To find maps, traveler tips, and tourist information, you can read our Cairns trip itinerary planner .

Traveling by bus from Cape Tribulation to Cairns takes 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive. In January, plan for daily highs up to 37°C, and evening lows to 28°C. On the 4th (Mon), you're off tohome.