12 days in Australia Itinerary

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.

Take a break from Port Douglas with a short trip to Spas in Palm Cove, about 48 minutes away. Spend the 3rd (Mon) among aquatic life with a scuba or snorkeling tour. There's lots more to do: take an exotic tour of a safari tour, admire nature's wide array of creatures at Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas, and explore the gorgeous colors at Opal Reef.

For maps, other places to visit, traveler tips, and more tourist information, go to the Port Douglas trip itinerary builder app.

London, UK to Port Douglas is an approximately 24-hour flight. The time zone difference when traveling from London to Port Douglas is 10 hours. In April, Port Douglas is much warmer than London - with highs of 34°C and lows of 25°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 4th (Tue) to allow time to drive 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.

On the 5th (Wed), take a tour by water with Boat Tours & Water Sports.

To find other places to visit, maps, ratings, and tourist information, use the Cairns trip planner.

Drive from Port Douglas to Cairns in 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a shuttle; or take a bus. Expect a daytime high around 34°C in April, and nighttime lows around 26°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 5th (Wed) early enough to fly 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.

Sydney is known for nightlife, sightseeing, and beaches. Your trip includes some of its best attractions: see a show at Sydney Opera House, admire the natural beauty at Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, take a stroll through The Rocks, and visit Darling Harbour.

For ratings, maps, traveler tips, and more tourist information, use the Sydney trip planner.

You can fly from Cairns to Sydney in 4.5 hours. Other options are to drive; or take a train. Prepare for slightly colder weather when traveling from Cairns in April: high temperatures in Sydney hover around 26°C and lows are around 17°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 8th (Sat) early enough to catch the flight to Melbourne.

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

On the 9th (Sun), see the interesting displays at Melbourne Museum, get to know the resident critters at Melbourne Zoo, and then enjoy breathtaking views from Eureka Skydeck. Keep things going the next day: walk around Fitzroy Gardens, admire the natural beauty at Royal Botanic Gardens, then pause for some photo ops at Shrine of Remembrance, and finally make a trip to Block Arcade.

To find photos, more things to do, maps, and other tourist information, you can read our Melbourne road trip planning tool.

Fly from Sydney to Melbourne in 3 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train. In April, Melbourne is little chillier than Sydney - with highs of 23°C and lows of 11°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 10th (Mon) to allow enough time to fly to Perth.

A modern metropolis of glassy skyscrapers, waterside boulevards, and lush residential neighborhoods, Perth sits on the edge of the Swan Coastal Plain.

Kick off your visit on the 11th (Tue): steep yourself in history at Fremantle Prison, enjoy some diversion at The Nostalgia Box Museum, and then walk around Kings Park and Botanic Garden.

To see traveler tips, where to stay, other places to visit, and tourist information, read our Perth attractions planner.

Fly from Melbourne to Perth in 6 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a train. The time zone difference moving from Australian Eastern Standard Time to Australian Western Standard Time is minus 2 hours. Prepare for somewhat warmer weather when traveling from Melbourne in April: high temperatures in Perth hover around 31°C and lows are around 15°C. You will leave for home on the 12th (Wed).