Australia is the kind of country that ruins everywhere else. Not immediately. But eventually you'll be somewhere perfectly nice and find yourself thinking about the light on Uluru, or the Great Barrier Reef at 8am, or waking up in the West MacDonnell Ranges with zero phone reception and a sky full of stars. Australia tours are what we do, and we've been doing them long enough to know which ones are actually worth your time.
Six states, two territories, 20,000km of coastline, and a Red Centre that looks like another planet. You're not short on options. The hard part is choosing.
The East Coast (where most people start)
The classic East Coast run from Cairns to Sydney, or the reverse, is one of the great backpacker routes in the world. And it holds up.
Cairns is the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, the Daintree Rainforest, and some of the best dive sites in the country. The Whitsundays are further south: 74 islands, sailing trips, and Whitehaven Beach. Then K'gari (Fraser Island), the largest sand island on Earth. Then Brisbane, Byron Bay, and Sydney.
A bus pass is the most flexible way to do it. Or go full guided with one of our East Coast fully guided tours. Already know where you want to start? Browse start in Cairns, start in Sydney, or start in Brisbane packages.
The south and the cities
Sydney needs no introduction but rewards going beyond the obvious. The Blue Mountains are two hours west and genuinely dramatic. The Hunter Valley is wine country worth a day trip.
Melbourne is the city that grows on you fast. Drive the Great Ocean Road west. See the penguins on Phillip Island. Or head straight into the Outback on one of our Melbourne Outback tours.
Adelaide is the underrated one. Great food, the Barossa Valley an hour away, Kangaroo Island off the coast, and shark cage diving at Port Lincoln for the brave. Also the jumping-off point for the Red Centre via the Adelaide to Uluru route.
The Red Centre and the Outback
Uluru stops people in their tracks. Not metaphorically. The 348-metre sandstone monolith at the dead centre of the country is one of the most affecting places in Australia, and no photo does it justice.
Browse Uluru and Red Centre tours, plan time in Alice Springs, or go full overland with an Alice Springs to Darwin or Alice Springs to Adelaide tour through Coober Pedy and the Flinders Ranges.
The Top End
Darwin is further north than most people realise, and the country around it is extraordinary. Kakadu and Litchfield are both within reach for day trips or multi-day tours. The Yellow Water Billabong at dawn in Kakadu is one of the best wildlife experiences in the country, full stop.
Browse Darwin and Top End tours or commit to the full overland route south with a Darwin to Uluru and beyond tour.
The West Coast
Perth is the most isolated city in the world and completely comfortable with that. From here you can go north through the Kimberley to Darwin, or south through Margaret River wine country.
Browse West Coast tours including Perth to Broome, Kimberley tours, Perth to Darwin, and Rottnest Island (yes, the quokkas are as good as the photos).
Tasmania and the surf coast
Tasmania is the one people keep putting off and then can't stop talking about. Cradle Mountain, Bay of Fires, Wineglass Bay, MONA. Give it ten days minimum.
And if you want to actually learn to surf while you're doing the East Coast, surf camps are the way in. Spot X in Arrawarra is beachfront, set in a National Marine Park, and pairs perfectly with a bus pass.
Build your own Australia trip
Not sure where to start? Check the Australia deals page for what's running, browse East Coast packages, or use our design your own East Coast deal tool. Need a vehicle? We've got campervans and car hire sorted too.
Talk to our team and we'll build the whole thing around your budget, your timeline, and the parts of Australia you actually want to see.
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