Quick answer
Ten days in Australia fits three nights each in Sydney, Cairns and Melbourne. See the Opera House, harbour and Blue Mountains, spend a full day on the Great Barrier Reef and ride the Kuranda railway, then drive the Great Ocean Road and watch the Phillip Island penguins. Mid-range land costs start at about ₹1,45,000 per person.
The route
- Sydney
- Blue Mountains
- Cairns
- Great Barrier Reef
- Melbourne
- Great Ocean Road
Day-by-day plan
- 1
Day 1
Arrive in Sydney
Morning: Land at Sydney airport; Air India flies non-stop from Delhi, and other cities connect via Singapore, Kuala Lumpur or the Gulf. The airport train reaches the city in about 15–20 minutes.
Afternoon: Walk Circular Quay, the Opera House forecourt and The Rocks.
Evening: Walk across the Harbour Bridge at sunset for views back to the Opera House.
Stay: Circular Quay or Sydney CBD
- 2
Day 2
Sydney Harbour
Morning: Guided Sydney Opera House tour, then the Royal Botanic Garden to Mrs Macquarie's Chair.
Afternoon: Ferry to Taronga Zoo for koalas and harbour views, or to Manly for the beach.
Evening: Dinner at Darling Harbour.
Stay: Circular Quay or Sydney CBD
- 3
Day 3
Blue Mountains
Morning: Train or tour to Katoomba, about two hours, for Echo Point and the Three Sisters.
Afternoon: Scenic World's railway and cableway, then a wildlife park stop on the way back.
Evening: Stop in Harris Park, near Parramatta, for Indian street food on the way back to the city.
Stay: Circular Quay or Sydney CBD
- 4
Day 4
Bondi, then fly to Cairns
Morning: Bondi Beach and part of the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk.
Afternoon: Fly about three hours to Cairns.
Evening: Stroll the Esplanade lagoon and night markets.
Stay: Cairns city or the Esplanade
- 5
Day 5
Great Barrier Reef
Morning: Board an outer-reef boat or pontoon trip, about 90 minutes out to sea.
Afternoon: Snorkel, dive or use the glass-bottom boat and semi-submarine.
Evening: Back by 5 pm; easy dinner and an early night.
Stay: Cairns city or the Esplanade
From November to May wear the stinger suit the boat provides. Take seasickness tablets before boarding if you are prone to it.
- 6
Day 6
Kuranda rainforest
Morning: Kuranda Scenic Railway up through the rainforest gorges, past Barron Falls.
Afternoon: Kuranda village and markets, then the Skyrail cableway back down over the canopy.
Evening: Free evening in Cairns.
Stay: Cairns city or the Esplanade
- 7
Day 7
Fly to Melbourne
Morning: Fly about 3.5 hours to Melbourne.
Afternoon: Explore the laneways, Federation Square and Flinders Street station on the free city trams.
Evening: Dinner along Southbank by the Yarra river.
Stay: Melbourne CBD or Southbank
- 8
Day 8
Great Ocean Road
Morning: Early start for the coastal drive past Torquay, Lorne and Apollo Bay.
Afternoon: The Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge.
Evening: Return to Melbourne by about 8–9 pm.
Stay: Melbourne CBD or Southbank
It is a 12-hour day. A guided tour avoids driving a winding road on the left while tired.
- 9
Day 9
Melbourne and Phillip Island
Morning: Queen Victoria Market (closed Mondays and Wednesdays) and the Royal Botanic Gardens.
Afternoon: Drive about two hours to Phillip Island; see koalas at the conservation centre.
Evening: Penguin Parade at dusk, then back to Melbourne late.
Stay: Melbourne CBD or Southbank
- 10
Day 10
Departure
Morning: Last coffee and shopping on Bourke Street or Chapel Street.
Afternoon: Transfer to Melbourne airport; Air India flies non-stop to Delhi at the time of review.
Evening: Flight home.
Is 10 days enough for Australia?
Ten days is a good first trip if you limit yourself to three regions. Sydney gives you the harbour and the Blue Mountains, Cairns the Great Barrier Reef and rainforest, and Melbourne the Great Ocean Road and penguins. Trying to add Uluru or the Gold Coast in the same ten days means a flight almost every other day.
Families with younger children often swap Cairns for the Gold Coast theme parks. In June to October, keep Cairns; that is when reef conditions are best.
How this route works
This is an open-jaw trip: arrive in Sydney and fly home from Melbourne, with two domestic flights in between. Book domestic flights with a checked bag included, as low-cost fares charge extra for luggage. Cities are well connected by public transport, so you only need a car, or a tour, for the Great Ocean Road and Phillip Island.
What this itinerary costs
Mid-range land costs start at about ₹1,45,000 per person, twin sharing, for nine nights in 3–4 star hotels, both domestic flights, a reef day, the Kuranda trip, the Great Ocean Road tour, Phillip Island and breakfasts. International flights and the visa are extra. See the Australia trip cost for budget and luxury tiers.
Declare all food, including spices and homemade snacks, on your arrival card. Australia's biosecurity fines are strict.
Before you book
Apply early using our Australia visa guide, check the best time to visit Australia, and pick a Sydney base from where to stay in Sydney. More ideas are on things to do in Australia.
Frequently asked questions
Should I choose Cairns or the Gold Coast in a 10-day trip?
Can I add Uluru to this Australia itinerary?
Is this itinerary good for senior citizens?
How we checked this page
Last reviewed
Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.
