10-Day Vibrant Sydney Festival and Australia Exploration Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and Stay

Sydney, Australia on April 23, 2025

9:00am

Check-in at Hotel

Arrive in Sydney and check into your hotel to relax and refresh after your flight. Choose a hotel near the city centre to access festival events easily.
AUD0, 1h0m

10:30am

Breakfast at Bills, Surry Hills

Enjoy a delicious Australian-style breakfast featuring ricotta hotcakes or avocado toast, open from 7am to 3pm.
AUD25, 1h0m

12:00pm

Sydney Festival Welcome Event

Attend the official opening and welcome event at a key city venue to get introduced to the vibrant Sydney Festival happenings.
AUD60, 2h0m

3:00pm

Explore Darling Harbour

Stroll around Darling Harbour, enjoying scenic waterfront views and street performances related to the festival. Open all day.
Free, 2h0m

7:00pm

Dinner at The Ternary

Dine at this waterfront restaurant featuring contemporary Australian cuisine, offering beautiful views of the city skyline, open till 10pm.
AUD50, 1h30m
View Hotel Availability

Day 2: Festival and City Tour

Sydney, Australia on April 24, 2025

8:00am

Breakfast at Brewtown Newtown

Start the day with award-winning coffee and hearty breakfast including cinnamon scrolls or smashed avo, open from 7am.
AUD20, 1h0m

9:30am

Sydney Festival Outdoor Art Installation

Visit interactive outdoor installations showcased in major parks and plazas across Sydney as part of the festival.
Free, 2h0m

12:00pm

Lunch at Spice Alley

Savour a variety of Asian street food in this vibrant laneway market open 11am-9pm, ideal for quick and flavourful lunch options.
AUD25, 1h0m

1:30pm

Art Gallery of New South Wales

Explore contemporary and Indigenous Australian art, facilities open 10am to 5pm, admission free to permanent collections.
Free, 2h0m

4:00pm

Sydney Festival Performance at the Sydney Opera House

Attend a special festival show at the iconic Opera House, showcasing world-class theatre or dance. Check exact show times and book in advance.
AUD80, 2h30m

8:00pm

Dinner at Opera Bar

Dine with spectacular harbour views adjacent to the Opera House, serving modern Australian dishes, open late.
AUD60, 1h30m
View Hotel Availability

Day 3: Harbour and Cultural Sites

Sydney, Australia on April 25, 2025

7:30am

Breakfast at The Grounds of Alexandria

Experience breakfast in a trendy garden café known for fresh, local produce, open from 7am.
AUD30, 1h0m

9:00am

Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb

Join a guided climb on Sydney Harbour Bridge for panoramic views, lasting about 3.5 hours. Important to book ahead. Open all year, starting from 7am.
AUD320, 3h30m

1:00pm

Lunch at Circular Quay

Enjoy fresh seafood and light meals at one of the many cafés facing the water, open 11am to late.
AUD40, 1h0m

2:30pm

Museum of Contemporary Art Australia

Explore cutting-edge exhibits of visual art from Australian and international artists. Open 10am to 5pm, free entry.
Free, 2h0m

5:00pm

Ferry Ride to Manly

Take a scenic ferry ride to Manly Beach, enjoy spectacular harbour views. Ferry operates till around 10pm.
AUD15, 1h0m

7:00pm

Dinner at The Boathouse on Manly

Seaside dining with fresh seafood and beach views, open till 9:30pm.
AUD55, 1h30m

9:00pm

Return by ferry to Sydney

Evening ferry ride back to the city after dinner.
Included, 1h0m
View Hotel Availability

Day 4: Blue Mountains Day Trip

Sydney, Australia on April 26, 2025

7:00am

Early Breakfast at Hotel

Have a quick breakfast at your hotel before departing on a Blue Mountains day tour.
AUD20, 0h45m

8:00am

Depart for Blue Mountains Tour

Join a guided tour heading west to Blue Mountains National Park, famous for dramatic scenery, Three Sisters rock formation, open from dawn till dusk.
AUD150, 7h0m

12:30pm

Lunch in Leura Village

Lunch at a cosy café in Leura village featuring local fare, tour includes this stop.
AUD30, 1h0m

3:30pm

Return to Sydney

Tour bus returns you to Sydney by evening.
Included, 2h0m

6:00pm

Dinner at Din Tai Fung, Sydney CBD

Enjoy famous Taiwanese dumplings and Asian dishes, open till 9pm.
AUD45, 1h30m
View Hotel Availability

Day 5: Fly to Melbourne

Sydney to Melbourne, Australia on April 27, 2025

7:00am

Breakfast at Hotel

Grab a hearty breakfast before check-out and transfer to airport.
AUD20, 1h0m

9:00am

Flight to Melbourne

Catch a morning flight from Sydney to Melbourne, approx 1.5 hours.
AUD100, 2h30m

11:30am

Check-in at Melbourne Hotel

Arrive in Melbourne and check-in at centrally located accommodation.
AUD0, 1h0m

12:30pm

Lunch at Hardware Société

Enjoy French-inspired breakfast/lunch dishes in a charming café, open till 3pm.
AUD35, 1h0m

2:00pm

Federation Square and ACMI Visit

Explore the iconic hub of Melbourne with contemporary exhibits at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image. Open 10am to 5pm.
Free, 2h0m

5:00pm

Explore Hosier Lane Street Art

Walk through Melbourne’s famous graffiti laneway, open all the time, vibrant and perfect for evening photography.
Free, 1h0m

7:00pm

Dinner at Chin Chin

Dine at Melbourne’s famous modern Thai restaurant with lively atmosphere, open till 11pm.
AUD60, 1h30m
View Hotel Availability

Day 6: Melbourne Cultural Tour

Melbourne, Australia on April 28, 2025

8:00am

Breakfast at Industry Beans

Start with specialty coffee and innovative breakfast menu items, open from 7am.
AUD25, 1h0m

9:30am

National Gallery of Victoria

Visit Australia’s oldest and most visited art museum, open 10am to 5pm, free entrance to permanent collections.
Free, 2h0m

12:00pm

Lunch at Queen Victoria Market

Enjoy diverse food stalls and fresh produce at this historic market, open until 3pm Mon-Sat.
AUD20, 1h0m

1:30pm

Royal Botanic Gardens

Wander through lush gardens with lakes and native flora, perfect afternoon relaxation, open till sunset.
Free, 2h0m

4:00pm

Eureka Skydeck 88

Experience panoramic views of Melbourne from this observation deck, open 10am to 10pm.
AUD25, 1h0m

7:00pm

Dinner at Attica

Reserve a table at one of Australia’s top fine dining restaurants specializing in local ingredients and innovative dishes, open evenings.
AUD150, 2h0m
View Hotel Availability

Day 7: Great Ocean Road

Melbourne to Great Ocean Road, Australia on April 29, 2025

6:30am

Breakfast at Hotel

Early breakfast and prepare for the day tour departure.
AUD20, 0h30m

7:00am

Great Ocean Road Full-day Tour

Enjoy a scenic coastal drive visiting the Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge, and other natural highlights. Tour includes stops and typically runs 11-12 hours.
AUD140, 11h0m

7:30pm

Return to Melbourne and Dinner

Dinner at Hotel or nearby casual eatery for a relaxing end to the long day.
AUD40, 1h0m
View Hotel Availability

Day 8: Fly to Cairns

Melbourne to Cairns, Australia on April 30, 2025

7:00am

Breakfast at Hotel

Have a fulfilling breakfast before departing to the airport.
AUD20, 1h0m

9:00am

Flight to Cairns

Fly to tropical Cairns to access the Great Barrier Reef, approximately 3 hours flight.
AUD180, 4h0m

1:00pm

Lunch in Cairns Esplanade

Enjoy lunch at one of the many cafes along the waterfront, open throughout the day.
AUD30, 1h0m

2:30pm

Cairns Botanic Gardens

Explore tropical plants and rainforest species, open 7:30am to 6pm, a calm afternoon activity.
Free, 2h0m

6:30pm

Dinner at Ochre Restaurant

Sample native Australian cuisine including seafood and barramundi, open till 9:30pm.
AUD55, 1h30m
View Hotel Availability

Day 9: Great Barrier Reef

Cairns, Australia on May 1, 2025

6:30am

Early Breakfast at Hotel

Fuel up early for the full day excursion to the reef.
AUD20, 0h30m

7:30am

Great Barrier Reef Snorkeling/Diving Tour

Spend the day aboard a boat exploring the Great Barrier Reef coral ecosystems, included snorkelling or diving, tours run till approx 5pm.
AUD200, 9h0m

6:30pm

Dinner at Salt House

Relax with dinner at this waterfront venue offering fresh seafood and sunset views, open till 10pm.
AUD60, 1h30m
View Hotel Availability

Day 10: Relax and Departure

Cairns, Australia on May 2, 2025

8:00am

Breakfast at The Raw Prawn

Enjoy a late breakfast at this popular café known for fresh seafood and relaxed atmosphere.
AUD40, 1h0m

10:00am

Esplanade Lagoon Swim

Spend a few leisure hours at this free public swimming lagoon, perfect for relaxation before departure.
Free, 2h0m

1:00pm

Lunch at Waterbar & Grill

A final meal with views over the marina featuring Australian steaks and seafood.
AUD50, 1h0m

3:00pm

Transfer to Cairns Airport

Head back to the airport to catch your onward flight.
AUD0, 1h0m
View Hotel Availability