How to explore Australia: where to start and end your trip

Once you’ve decided to go to Australia, you can let the fun begin. Plotting a route around this huge, friendly land of red-scorched bush, sophisticated coastal cities, tropical islands, coral reefs and rainforest-edged beaches is where the pleasure starts. It’s like being the proverbial kid in a candy store, where every pick is a good one.

First decision is where to land. Sydney is an obvious choice for its unmissable harbour, fresh food, and meandering seaside suburbs, but you could also opt for the quieter, English-influenced Perth, from where you can nip down to the Margaret River vineyards. Arty types might want to kick things off in Melbourne, while foodies can tick off some of South Australia’s coolest culinary experiences in Adelaide.

Over on the east coast, you can fly into the buzzing capital of Queensland, Brisbane, a city which seamlessly blends nature and urban energy. It has idyllic islands on its doorstep too while ancient rainforests lie inland.

Whichever of the nine entry airports you choose – and it might come down to timings, or suitable stopovers along the way – do fit in variety once you’re there. There are countless routes that can see you starting your holiday in one part of the country and flying home from another, with itineraries tailored to your likes and interests. After all, this is not a country that can be ticked off with one stop.

If you’ve been to Australia before and ticked off the big cities, connect with the real Oz Outback in Darwin, at the tip of the Northern Territory. Here you can bond with your inner Mick Dundee at Crocosaurus Cove, a saltwater crocodile and reptile park, by popping on your bathers to experience those big snappers up close in the Cage of Death. Kakadu National Park is nearby, too, offering hikes to beautiful waterfalls for swimming beneath, river cruises and scenic flights.    

From there, you might jump on a flight right down to Adelaide, Melbourne or Sydney. Known as the ‘wine capital of Australia’, Adelaide’s many vineyards, cellar doors and tasting rooms will give you plenty of wine tasting opportunities. Factor in a world-class food market, thriving dining scene and cool cafe culture, and you can see why Adelaide is a must-visit for gastronomes. Very leafy, with wide-open boulevards and a refreshing sea breeze, it’s cool, calm and collected, but also plays host to exciting festivals and has boutique hotels, avant garde galleries and fashionable boutiques. All the ingredients then, for an exciting city break.

Western Australia is Oz’s largest and most extraordinary state, famed for its striking and contrasting landscapes that switch between white sand beaches, ancient red rock formations and the lush greenery of the state’s southern regions.

Nature lovers are well catered for here: you can dive with whale sharks or snorkel with manta rays at Ningaloo Reef, swim with wild dolphins, and enjoy dramatic coastal walks, legendary surf and tranquil bays near Margaret River in the biodiverse southwest. And that’s before you even get to car-free Rottnest Island and its super cute quokkas - the wallaby-like marsupials captured in countless tourist selfies.  

Rottnest is just a short boat ride from Perth, a sun-drenched city loved for its laid back lifestyle and easy going nature. There’s so much for visitors to see and do, from big-city attractions and myriad to bars, restaurants and cultural activities. And when you want to kick back, the informal surrounds of its pristine parkland, nearby bush and river and ocean beaches are the perfect place to do so.

Meanwhile, over in the sunshine state of Queensland, you’ll find the sultry riverside metropolis that is Brisbane with its buzzy dining scene and outdoorsy lifestyle. Other laidback, sun-drenched centres include Noosa on the Sunshine Coast, where you can watch surfers at play, feast on seafood by the sands and spot koalas in the wild.

It’s an easy drive from here to K’gari (formerly Fraser Island), the world’s largest sand island and a protected beauty spot. It’s definitely worth a visit, as are the Whitsundays – tropical islands around which you can hire a skipper and yacht for a few idyllic days of sailing and dolphin spotting. One of them – Hamilton Island – even has its own airport and offers the best base for trips to the Great Barrier Reef. Take your pick from a trial dive, snorkel or boat tour.

With this route, Cairns makes a perfect final stop from which you can fly home, but of course, itineraries depend on how long you have. If you’re in Australia for six weeks, you can see everything. If it’s only two, pick a city to land in and explore from there, before hopping on an internal flight to take in the Outback or tropical wilds as a contrast. In a country this vast and varied, there are endless exciting options.