Tips for Planning a Great Trip to Australia

For many, Australia is a far off destination filled with exotic animals and friendly locals. Recent surveys have shown that Australia ranks first on many Americans’ travel bucket lists. Bell is Australian and we return to the island continent every few years to visit family and explore new destinations. Australia is on the bucket list of many and requires careful planning due to the long distance. Here are some tips for planning a great trip to Australia!

Our most recent visits to Australia came in 2020 and 2023. These two visits covered South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and Queensland. 2023 was certainly a better year to visit – post 2020 bushfires and the two year COVID lockdown in Australia.

Bondi to Coogee Beach, Australia Coastal Walk. Alex Kallimanis received an honorable mention in landscape/seascape photography at the 29th annual North American Travel Journalists Awards for this photo.

Where to Travel in Australia Based on Your Interests

Wine Lovers

It’s no secret that Australia has great wine, and is a fantastic destination for wine lovers. The Barossa Valley, near Adelaide is regarded as the best wine region in Australia. Hunter Valley in New South Wales (a couple of hours drive north from Sydney) is also fantastic. The Yarra Valley in Victoria (near Melbourne) also offers great wines amidst pretty landscapes.  

rows of grape vines, with roses planted at the end and overlooking the hills at dusk

Australia’s three main wine regions are all worth visiting. Plan to visit the wine region near the city you’ll be visiting – whether it’s Sydney, Melbourne or Adelaide. Nearby New Zealand is also great for wineries, including Waiheke Island, a short ferry ride from Auckland.

This article breaks down key differences between Australia and New Zealand, to help you the ideal trip tailored to your interests! Both countries are great for wineries, but New Zealand generally gets the edge for its dramatic landscapes and incorporation of native Maori language and culture into everyday Kiwi life. Australia generally wins for city getaways and diversity of wildlife in its national parks.

On a side note, if you are wondering “can I bring vape to australia“, you will need to research the right information on whether or not you would need a prescription for that. 

Additionally, for those considering long-term prospects, familiarizing yourself with Australia’s Skilled Occupation List can provide insight into potential career opportunities during your visit.

Australia’s Indigenous Wildlife and the Outdoors

Want to see Australian animals up close? You’re most likely to see kangaroos in the wild during rural drives, or even on a golf course. Koalas, wombats and Tasmanian devils are trickier to see in the wild. The Ballarat Wildlife Park, a short drive outside Melbourne is a good place to see Australian animals. You might even get to hold a koala. In Queensland, just north of Brisbane is Australia Zoo, founded by famous wildlife enthusiast Steve Irwin.

Koala sleeping in a tree

Do you enjoy spending a lot of time outdoors? Australian has visitors well covered with idyllic remote locales as well as stunning landscapes close to cities (like the Blue Mountains near Sydney). Plan to visit destinations like Tasmania, Uluru, the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest in Queensland, Northern Territory or Western Australia. But even South Australia, close to Adelaide, fits the bill, a region that is often regarded as having the friendliest people in Australia.

Sports

Are you a sports fan? Melbourne, Australia is considered the sports capital of the nation. Melbourne hosts the country’s biggest annual tennis tournament every January fortnight, during the Australian Tennis. It’s a wonderful event, and a busy couple weeks for Melbourne hotels (so plan accordingly).

Melbourne also has the nation’s biggest formula one race – the Australian Grand Prix. The Melbourne Cup, held at Flemington Race Track each November, is the most prestigious horse race – equivalent to the Kentucky Derby.

Boxing day cricket being played at the MCG
The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MSG) has a capacity of 100,024 people

Australian football championship is also held in Melbourne each year. The Grand Final is held at Melbourne Cricket Grounds. The venue has a capacity of over 100,024 people, making it the largest sports venue in the southern hemisphere. The Boxing Day cricket match at MCG, often played between Australia and New Zealand draws a huge crowd and has great energy.

Arts

Melbourne is also considered the arts capital of Australia. Melbourne’s wide ranging arts scene includes the National Gallery of Victoria, which hosts important exhibitions ranging like European impressionists, surrealist art and contemporary works. The Ian Potter Gallery is a must for seeing great Aboriginal art. Hosier Lane is popular for street art and a magnate for Instagrammers.

Melbourne also hosts a wide range of performing arts, including theatre, film and comedy festivals.

Australian Gastronomy

A couple things you should try, that are fairly ubiquitous regardless of the Australian state you are visiting, are iced coffee and salt and lemon-pepper squid. Australian style iced coffees are like a cross between an affogato and an American iced coffee. They have a scoop of ice cream and a dollop of heavy whipping cream. Yummy on the palate, tough on the waistline!

2 pictures, one of a glass with iced coffee toped with cream and chocolate sprinkles, the other photo is is over fried calamari in a restaurant

Salt and lemon-pepper squid can be found on a wide range of Australian menus from pub food to higher end restaurants. The squid is lightly fried, so crispy on the outside and tender throughout. It is a dish we enjoy ordering multiple times at different restaurants during a visit.

Save Money on Travel to Australia with Travel Hacks

Australia is far from everywhere, and especially the east coast of the USA and Europe. We’ve made the trip from both regions and the flights range from pretty expensive to very expensive. But you don’t have to pay full price and you shouldn’t! Each year we save thousands on travel thanks to credit card sign up bonuses. On many of the cards, the annual fee is $0 or just $95, and they come with lots of bonus points or miles that you can use towards flights.

The reward bonus on many travel credit cards can equal over $1,000 in value. These credit cards are much more valuable than department store credit cards for travelers. As long as you balance old credit cards to new credit cards and ensure the balances are paid your credit score won’t be negatively impacted, but we still avoid store credit cards and maximize travel reward card bonuses.

Alex and Bell along the Yara river with Melbourne skyline in the back

When I visited Australia last year I actually cashed in Delta miles for a free roundtrip flight to Tokyo from Washington, DC. After spending a week in Japan, I flew direct from Tokyo to Melbourne on Qantas free thanks to Citi points. I was able to visit both Japan and Australia on the same trip – and saved around $2,000 on my flights’ thanks to miles and points!

Pick Your Australia Destinations Carefully

Booking.com

Australia is a vastly large nation. Trying to see it all is a bit like visiting the USA and believing you can see it all. You won’t come close unless you have lots of time. In other words, months, and if you try, you’re likely to be exhausted. For most, Australia is a once-in-a-lifetime trip. So take some time to reflect on the type of traveler you are. Beach areas, especially on the east coast are more populous with 85% of Australians living less than 30 or so miles from the beach.

Due to this population distribution, getting to some of Australia’s more remote areas will take time as you will have to drive long distances, or if you fly you can expect to pay higher prices for the convenience. Finally, most commercial flights take you it Sydney or Melbourne and will need to plan around one of these hubs.

Beach at sunset with purple clouds and cliffs off in the background

City Travel

If you enjoy city getaways, then you should plan to spend time in Sydney and Melbourne, with some regional trips from there. Keep in mind around 35% of Australia’s population reside in these two cities. These cities are vibrant and there is always something to see and do. Sydney is famous for the opera house and harbor bridge.

Melbourne is famous for sporting events and the arts. Bell’s mum and brother live in Melbourne. When visiting, we always have fish and chips on the beach. For a local favorite, grab some fish and chips from Saltwater Grill and head to South Melbourne Beach to stuff yourself and the friendly seagulls!

Bell and her mum with fish and chips at the beach

Sydney Highlights

Alex giving a thumbs up to the Sydney harbor bridge

The Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge are probably Australia’s two most iconic landmarks. Grab a table outside at Opera Kitchen and enjoy a stunning view of both these landmarks over tasty food and drinks. There are wonderful rooftop bars and restaurants around downtown Sydney, to take in views of arguably Australia’s most picturesque city. The Rocks district is home to some of Australia’s most historic pubs.

Alex and friends enjoying a beer with the sydney skyline

Bondi Beach is the most famous beach in Australia. Hike the moderate 6km Bondi to Congee Beach cliff walk as it is magnificent. Cap it off with dinner and drinks around sunset along Coogee Beach. Read about great Sydney pubs and restaurants in my previous article!

Sydney Hotels

Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel

The Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel is also home to Australia’s oldest pub, dating back to 1841. The boutique hotel has 8 well-appointed rooms with amenities that offer a comfortable stay. It’s within walking distance of Australia Square, Circular Quay and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Room prices start at $210 Australian ($141 US) per night and include a complimentary continental breakfast. Keep in mind that “hotel” in Australia sometimes just means a pub, be you can also stay at this historic venue!

Four Seasons Sydney

The Four Seasons Sydney offers luxurious rooms overlooking the Sydney Opera House and Circular Quay. The hotel has an on-site bar, restaurant, fitness center and swimming pool. Rooms are stylishly designed and feature boutique Christian Lacroix toiletries. Enjoy sweeping views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera from its rooftop.

All rooms at Four Seasons Hotel Sydney have been carefully designed and subtly furnished with the highest quality amenities. Each room offers an LCD TV, slippers and free Christian Lacroix toiletries.

Regional Trips from Sydney

Alex taking a selfie in front of a pack of camels in the sand dunes

You can use Sydney, Australia as a base to explore the nearby Blue Mountains National Park – either on a tour or by car. If you enjoy wine, drive northwest a few hours to the lovely Hunter Valley wine region. Explore the amazing coastline driving as far north as Nelson Bay. You can even go for camel rides at Anna Bay – along a dune filled beach that feels a bit like the landscape of a picturesque Middle Eastern destination.

Melbourne Highlights 

Flinders Street station in Melbourne with blue slies

There are beautiful art galleries across the globe. In Melbourne, a unique gallery to visit is the Ian Potter Gallery that exhibits Australian art from both indigenous Australians and other Australian artists. It is housed at Federation Square, which many Melbournians considered an eyesore when it was being built, but have come around to viewing it as part of the unique urban landscape of the city.

Melbourne is the sports capital of Australia. The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) is the largest stadium in the southern hemisphere, with a capacity of 100,024 people. It hosts the AFL Grand Final (Australian rules football) championship each year, as well as major cricket matches like the Boxing Day Test. Melbourne hosts the Australian Open every year – one of tennis’ four grand slam tournaments.

The biggest formula one race in Australia, The Australian Grand Prix, takes place in Melbourne each year. The Melbourne Cup is equivalent to the Kentucky Derby, and held at Flemington each year. Melbourne also has many great golf courses around the city. Consider playing a round at the Albert Park course.

Boxing day cricket being played at the MCG

If you are planning a visit to Melbourne, read my previous article on Great Things to do in Melbourne, from sports to arts.

Where to Stay in Melbourne?

Intercontinental

There are several great luxury hotels in Melbourne. Among them, The Intercontinental Melbourne offers a plush stay that we have enjoyed. Built in 1891, the InterContinental Melbourne is one of the city’s last remaining examples of 19th-century Victorian Gothic architecture. Located in the heart of Melbourne’s Central Business District on Collins Street, the hotel features amenities like a day spa, indoor heated pool and fitness center.

Royce Hotel

Royce Hotel offers a fantastic location right on St Kilda Rd, near the Royal Botanic Gardens. The 5-star boutique hotel’s rooms feature views of downtown Melbourne or tree-lined St Kilda Rd. The Royce Hotel has a fantastic location between downtown Melbourne and St. Kilda Beach. You can jump on one of several trams that run along St Kilda Rd and quickly be in downtown Melbourne. You can also go the other direction on the #16 or 3A tram to quickly travel to St Kilda Beach.

Regional trips from Melbourne 

Bell grew up an hour or so train ride from Melbourne in the town of Ballarat. Ballarat is famous for being a gold rush town. If you’d like to step back in time, you can visit Sovereign Hill to learn about mining and life on the fields. If you go mid-week you can see Australian school children dressed in costume in school. Bell participated in this program all the way back in the 90s! There is also the Ballarat Wildlife Park, which offers the opportunity to get up close to Australian wildlife including those infamous Tassie Devils!

Up close with a koala at the Ballarat Wildlife Park.

If you want more beach time, you could head over to Phillip Island. We recommend spending the night there because at dusk you can you watch the penguins come ashore after their day out fishing! Alternatively, if surfing is your thing head west along the coast instead and spend a couple of nights in Torquay and surf the waves at Bells Beach.

When planning a regional trip in Victoria, do not miss the Twelve Apostles. The impressive monoliths that rise steeply out of the sea are among the most dramatically beautiful spots in Australia,

Some Other Highlights in Australia

little black Tasmanian devil rest in the autumn leafs
He looks chill, but don’t trust a Tasmanian Devil in the very off chance you encounter one!

If you want to scuba dive or snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef, fly into Cairns, in northern Queensland. There are regular flights to Cairns from major cities in Australia. Rent a car and drive just north of Cairns to explore the beautiful Daintree Rainforest. This is a stunningly beautiful area of Australia to explore.

Brisbane is the capital of Queensland. Just south of Brisbane, Surfer’s Paradise is a popular Australian vacation destination packed with beachside resorts. If you are the type of traveler that wants little part of the possibility for possible encounters with Australian critters in remote destinations, consider making this part of your travel plans.

Street art with a kanagroo dressed like a rapper

If you have the time, or you want to escape the beaten path, Western Australia might be what you are looking for. Perth, the capital, is a bustling city on the west coast. From there, you can plan Perth day trips to pristine beaches and picturesque remote locales. Keep in mind that flying from Sydney or Melbourne to Perth is a bit like flying from New York to Los Angeles.

In other words, it’s best to skip it if you do not have sufficient time. If you can make the time, you will be rewarded with remote white sand beaches, amazing landscapes that seem alien and a truly unique experience. Bell still holds very fond memories from her childhood trip of eating a seafood feast in Exmouth and wandering the white sand beaches near Broome looking for sea urchin shells found whole!

Tips on Avoiding Bush Fires in Australia

The worst of bushfire season in Australia generally runs from around December through February. That is Australian summer when temperatures are at their warmest in the southern hemisphere. If you want to avoid bushfire season, visit outside those months. During bush fire season, download the Australian Fires App, which gives updated regional information on areas to avoid so you can stay safer.

We recently spoke with Christopher Rudder, host of Travel Horror Stories Podcast about traveling in Australia during the worst bushfires on record. Listen to the podcast for more tips on staying safer in Australia as well as stories of other travel misadventures!

If you have any questions on planning a trip to Australia leave a comment below or email me at alex(at)wanderlustmarriage.com and I’ll get back to you!

Pinterest Pin, collage of animals, winery and beach sunset

Disclosure: This article contains some affiliate links. When you book through them, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks in advance for using them! 

Author

  • Alex&Bell

    Alex and Bell originally met while solo traveling after finishing university in 2002, in Brugge, Belgium. Alex grew up in the USA and Bell hails from Australia. During our nearly 20 year marriage we've lived around the world, including spending six years living in the Netherlands and Ireland. We have traveled to nearly 70 countries and enjoy giving readers authentic and quality travel tips. Alex is an award winning travel journalist and travel planner, who also freelances for other outlets. Bell is an award winning PhD scientist who currently works for a non-profit lung cancer advocacy research organization called Lungevity. Happy travels and if you have any questions leave a comment or drop an email!

4 thoughts on “Tips for Planning a Great Trip to Australia

  1. I like how you mentioned being updated on regional information and areas to avoid during the bush fire season. My brother and I want to visit our friend in Australia since it’s becoming summer there now. We’ll be sure to remember where the bush fires are and find a hotel we can stay in.

    1. Hey Taylor. Summer in Australia is a great time to visit as it’s winter in the northern hemisphere! Not sure where you are traveling from but be sure to check travel restrictions for Australia. Australia is currently restricting overseas tourism at the moment to keep their COVID-19 numbers low- so hospitals are not overrun with patients. And yeah, if you visit during bushfire season, download the bushfires app on your phone and stay on top of where the hotspots currently are. Keep in mind they can always pop up, but you’ll be safer on road trips if you monitor the app.

    1. Cheers, Steve. Australia is a big country with so much to experience. Yes, wonderful to explore it in a rental car!

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