After arriving and settling into your hotel, take a gentle exploratory walk through The Royal Botanic Garden, enjoying harbor views and a relaxed picnic by the lawns near Mrs Macquarie's Chair; it's a perfect way to stretch your legs and get your first photos of the water. Continue with a short ferry ride from Circular Quay to Taronga Zoo for close-up encounters with native wildlife and a panoramic introduction to Sydney's skyline before returning to town for lunch.
Wander through the historic laneways of The Rocks for afternoon shopping at weekend markets and artisan stores, then stop at Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA) for a quick dose of modern Aussie art and harbor-facing galleries. Finish with a late-afternoon climb up to the viewing platform at St Mary's Cathedral forecourt or grab a coffee at a café on George Street, watching the city transition toward a sunset ferry-lit skyline.
As the sun dips, enjoy a waterside dinner at Doyles on the Beach in Watsons Bay for fresh seafood and unobstructed harbor views, then stroll the clifftop path to Hornby Lighthouse for a peaceful sunset panorama. Afterwards, head to Campbell's Stores in Woolloomooloo for a nightcap beside the wharf or join a twilight guided ghost walk through nearby historic lanes for an atmospheric finish to your first Sydney day.
Start with a relaxed breakfast at Bennelong Pavilion beneath the sails of the Sydney Opera House, then join a guided behind-the-scenes tour to learn about its architecture and catch morning light on the harbor. Afterward stroll through the nearby Royal Botanic Garden's Government House precinct toward Macquarie Street, popping into the historic Hyde Park Barracks Museum for convict-era stories before a coffee break at a laneway café in Circular Quay West.
Head into the historic heart of the city with a guided food-and-history crawl through The Rocks Market precinct, sampling local cheeses, artisanal bread and boutique chocolates while a guide recounts early colonial tales; pause for panoramic harbor photos from the elevated walkway near Observatory Hill. Continue to the nearby precinct of Argyle Cut and Argyle Street to explore boutique galleries and craft shops, then relax with an afternoon tea or specialty coffee at Susannah Place Museum's neighborhood cafés before wandering the cobbled lanes toward the harbor for sunset plans.
As dusk falls, wander toward Barangaroo Reserve for a riverside stroll and public art installations, then settle in at The Crown Sydney's rooftop bar for cocktails with sweeping views of the harbour and skyline. After drinks, head to Circular Quay West's live-performance spots for an intimate gig or ferry across to Milsons Point to dine at a cosy bistro beneath the lights of the Harbour Bridge, finishing with a leisurely night-time walk across the bridge for glittering city panoramas.
Catch an early train or a small-group coach from Central Station and arrive in the town of Katoomba to begin with a hearty breakfast at Yellow Deli before heading to the Three Sisters Lookout for sunrise light on the sandstone peaks. Continue with a leisurely cliff-top walk along the Prince Henry Cliff Walk, pausing at Sublime Point for sweeping valley views and a short guided Indigenous cultural talk at Echo Point Visitor Centre to learn Dreaming stories tied to the landscape.
After your cliff-top walk, take the scenic Scenic World cable car and skyway to cross Jamison Valley, then enjoy a relaxed lunch at the café by Katoomba Falls where you can watch the waterfall cascade while refueling. In the early afternoon, join a guided Aboriginal cultural walk at Glenbrook Native Plant Reserve to learn about local bush foods and medicines, then finish with panoramic photos from the lesser-known Govetts Leap Lookout for dramatic views of the Grose Valley as the light softens.
As daylight softens, head to Leura Village for a relaxed stroll along boutique-filled Leura Mall and pop into cozy tea rooms for a warm snack; linger at the charming Everglades Historic House & Gardens to watch the garden lights and enjoy a quiet late-afternoon concert or tea service if available. Finish with dinner at a local mountain bistro in Katoomba featuring regional produce, followed by stargazing from Gordon Falls Reserve where the valley hush reveals a clear southern sky and the soft glow of distant towns.
After your flight from Sydney, settle into your hotel then head to Cairns Esplanade Lagoon for a refreshing swim and a relaxed breakfast at a nearby café while watching waterfront life unfold; follow this with a stroll through the adjacent Cairns Regional Gallery to see local Indigenous and contemporary art. Mid-morning, join a short wildlife-focused walk at Cairns Botanic Gardens to learn about tropical plants and spot colourful birds before boarding an afternoon transfer or continuing your exploration of the reef region.
After settling in, head to Fitzroy Island day-trip departure point for a relaxed afternoon option - catch the short ferry to Fitzroy Island to snorkel fringed reefs, walk to The Lighthouse for coastal views, and enjoy a casual beachfront lunch at the island café. If you prefer to stay mainland-side, take a leisurely bike ride along the Cairns Esplanade boardwalk extension to Trinity Wharf for waterfront shopping and a late-afternoon fresh seafood snack while watching charter boats prepare for evening reef trips.
As twilight falls, enjoy dinner at Salt House, a waterfront restaurant with shared plates and sweeping views of Trinity Inlet, then wander the nearby mangrove-edge boardwalk to listen for nocturnal birds and watch fishing boats glide by. Afterward, join a guided evening cultural stroll through Cairns Night Markets to sample local street foods, browse Indigenous art stalls, and finish with dessert and coffee at a laneway café near Grafton Street before returning to your hotel.
Board an early fast catamaran from Cairns Marlin Marina to reach a protected outer-reef platform like Norman Reef or Low Isles, where you can join a guided snorkel circuit to float above vibrant coral gardens and spot green sea turtles and schools of parrotfish. Back on the platform, take a guided introductory dive with an instructor at Reef Base or relax on the sundeck with a reef ecology talk that explains coral health and the best citizen-science ways to record sightings before a mid-morning reef-side brunch.
After a morning on the outer reef, return toward shore and join a guided glass-bottom boat tour to explore shallow gardens around Green Island Marine National Park, then stroll the island's Fringing Reef boardwalk to spot colourful reef fish from viewing platforms. Later, head back to Cairns and visit the Great Barrier Reef Aquarium for a close-up interpretive session on coral restoration, followed by a sunset seafood dinner at Prawn Star beside the marina to reflect on your reef encounters.
After returning to Cairns, unwind with a sunset cocktail cruise departing from Cairns Marlin Marina Sunset Cruises, where live music and reef-to-plate canapés set a relaxed tone as the sky fades. Later, savour a seaside dinner at Ochre Restaurant tasting contemporary Australian dishes with native flavours, then join a guided night-walk at Saltwater Creek Boardwalk to hear mangrove wildlife and spot bioluminescent plankton from wooden viewing platforms.
Rise early and board the heritage Kuranda Scenic Railway for a journey through lush gorges, then disembark to explore the elevated walkways and butterfly aviary at Kuranda Village where local markets and Indigenous craft stalls offer morning browsing. Continue with a guided rainforest canoe trip on the Barron River to spot freshwater wildlife and learn Aboriginal river lore from a local guide before a riverside brunch at Rainforestation Café featuring tropical fruit tastings and native-flavoured jams.
After a rainforest-morning in Kuranda, transfer north to the Daintree and take a guided lowland walk through Mossman Gorge Boardwalk to see towering cycads and hear Kuku Yalanji storytelling; pause for a picnic by the crystal-clear creek and try a supervised rockpool swim. Later, join a crocodile-spotting cruise on the Daintree River at Cape Tribulation to watch for estuarine wildlife and finish with a late-afternoon visit to the interpretive Daintree Discovery Centre canopy tower for sweeping rainforest-to-reef views as the light softens.
As dusk falls, take a guided nocturnal walk through Jindalba Boardwalk to spot elusive night birds and glow-in-the-dark fungi while your guide points out nocturnal rainforest creatures and Aboriginal bush-medicine plants. After the walk, enjoy a relaxed dinner at Mossman Gorge Café (or the riverside Kuranda Barron Falls Retreat if you returned via Kuranda), savouring local reef-to-rainforest dishes by candlelight before a short, peaceful night-spotting cruise on the Daintree River to listen for frogs and search for eyeshine of tree-dwelling possums.
After your flight, settle into your hotel then head to Queen Victoria Market for a colourful breakfast of fresh pastries and local produce while soaking up the market atmosphere; browse specialty stalls for Victorian cheeses and coffee to fuel the day. Continue with a relaxed riverside walk along the Yarra River Promenade toward Southbank Arts Precinct, stopping at Federation Square to duck into a contemporary exhibition and grab an early-lunch snack at a riverside café before an afternoon of exploring Melbourne's laneways.
After settling in from your flight, wander through the leafy streets of Fitzroy to browse vintage boutiques and street art-lined Brunswick Street, stopping for a late-afternoon coffee and cake at Industry Beans. Continue with a stroll through nearby Carlton Gardens to visit the ornate exteriors of the Royal Exhibition Building, then take a short tram to Chapel Street for boutique shopping and a pre-evening aperitif at a local wine bar before the laneways come alive.
As twilight settles, duck into Degraves Street for aperitifs at a bustling café-bar terrace before wandering toward Hosier Lane to admire dusk-lit street art and watch muralists at work. Continue to Hidden Bar (a speakeasy on Hardware Lane) for a crafted cocktail, then cap the night with live jazz at Bird's Basement Melbourne for an intimate late-evening set that introduces Melbourne's vibrant music scene as you transition from coastal Cairns to the city's cultured rhythm.
Begin with a cultured breakfast at Melbourne Museum's onsite café, then explore the museum's immersive Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre to learn First Nations stories and see contemporary Indigenous art installations. Continue with a short tram to the nearby State Library Victoria to admire the domed La Trobe Reading Room, browse the evolving exhibitions in the galleries, and climb the library rooftop garden for a calm city-view start to your museum day.
Spend your afternoon wandering the creative heart of the city with a guided design-tour through ACMI (Australian Centre for the Moving Image) to explore film, gaming and digital culture exhibits, then cross over to the nearby National Gallery of Victoria International for key international and decorative arts displays. Finish with a relaxed riverside walk to Birrarung Marr where public sculptures and riverfront lawns invite a picnic or people-watching break before catching a tram to tonight's laneway dinner.
As dusk falls, wander through Chinatown to sample modern Asian-fusion small plates and inventive dumplings at a lively laneway eatery, then head to Eureka Skydeck for panoramic twilight views of the city and the Yarra as lights come on. Finish with a relaxed late-night dessert and cocktail at Cumulus Inc. Bar or catch an intimate performance at The Forum Melbourne for a cultured end to a museum-rich day.
Depart Melbourne early and drive west to begin your coastal morning at Torquay, where you can stretch your legs on the famous surf sand at Bells Beach and visit the National Surf Museum to learn about Aussie surf culture. Continue along the winding road to the dramatic coastal lookout at Anglesea for a short clifftop walk to spot kangaroos grazing near the fairways, then pause in the seaside village of Aireys Inlet for coffee and a sunrise view from the historic Split Point Lighthouse before heading further toward the iconic coastal highlights.
After morning stops, continue west to the windswept clifftops of The Grotto for a photographer's break, then descend to the sheltered cove of Loch Ard Gorge to walk the boardwalk, learn the shipwreck lore at interpretive panels and explore the small rock pools. Finish the afternoon with a coastal drive to London Bridge and a short trail to nearby viewing platforms for dramatic limestone arches and sunset-ready light, pausing at a seaside café in Port Campbell for a late-afternoon flat white and a slice of local pie.
As daylight softens, pause for a coastal wine-tasting and small-plate dinner at Bells Beach Winery (or a nearby cellar-door) where local cool-climate shiraz and ocean views pair beautifully with seafood crostini. After dinner, take a short dusk walk to Cape Otway Lightstation to join a guided lantern tour and watch the headland glow as lighthouse keepers recount maritime history, then finish the night with stargazing from the coastal clifftop near Muirs Lookout, listening to the surf below and reflecting on your road-trip highlights.
Enjoy a relaxed final morning wandering the leafy precinct of Fitzroy Gardens, where you can sip coffee at the charming Gingerbread House Café and take a peaceful stroll past the Cook's Cottage before it opens, savoring one last dose of Melbourne greenery. If time allows, pop into the nearby Melbourne Trades Hall for a quick look at its heritage interiors and then collect a gourmet takeaway brunch from Lune Croissanterie to enjoy on the tram ride toward the airport or at your hotel as you pack and reflect on the trip.
Spend a relaxed final afternoon exploring Docklands with its waterfront promenades - take a short harbour cruise from Victoria Harbour for last views of the skyline, then browse contemporary design and souvenirs at The District Docklands. Finish with a leisurely late-lunch at Cargo Restaurant & Bar overlooking the water, savouring local produce before returning to your hotel to collect luggage and head to the airport.
For a relaxed final evening, take a twilight riverside stroll through South Wharf Promenade and sip a signature cocktail at The Boatbuilders Yard while watching barges drift past the illuminated docks. Afterwards, enjoy a farewell dinner of modern Australian small plates at Arbory Bar & Eatery on the river deck, then finish with a nightcap and live-acoustic set at the nearby intimate venue The Toff in Town before returning to your hotel to collect bags for departure.