02
The story
What a country. What a contrast. What a trip.
🇦🇺 Australia
Around the World Trip
Our Full Hub
Australia —
the trip that had everything
Our around-the-world adventure with friends: flying from Singapore into Perth, across every corner of Australia, through Tasmania, New Zealand and the Northern Territory, then home via Honolulu and LA. Australia alone gave us two dives on the Great Barrier Reef, K'gari's sand dunes, a Whitsundays catamaran, the Sydney Opera House, Palm Beach twice for Home and Away, a helicopter over the Twelve Apostles, Phillip Island's little penguins, Alice Springs saloons and three unforgettable nights at Uluru. This page is the whole story — with eleven full destination guides waiting below.
Watch our Sydney video first
11
Destination
guides
guides
2
Dives on the
Great Barrier Reef
Great Barrier Reef
3
Nights
at Uluru
at Uluru
2
Palm Beach visits
(for Brax)
(for Brax)
✈️ Singapore
→
🌇 Perth
→
🐠 Great Barrier Reef
→
🏝️ K'gari
→
⛵ Whitsundays
→
🌴 Gold Coast
→
🏄 Byron Bay
→
🌉 Sydney
→
📺 Palm Beach ×2
→
🏛️ Canberra
→
🚁 Twelve Apostles
→
🐧 Melbourne
→
🪨 Uluru
→
🤠 Alice Springs
Australia around the world trip
Great Barrier Reef diving
Whitsundays catamaran
Sydney Opera House
Palm Beach Home and Away
Twelve Apostles helicopter
Melbourne penguins
Uluru travel guide
Alice Springs outback
Australia from Ireland
01
Where we went
Eleven guides. One huge continent.
Our Australia journey — mapped
From Perth on the west coast to the Great Barrier Reef, down the East Coast and into the Red Centre, this is the route behind the guides below. Tap any marker for our memory from that stop and a direct link to the matching destination guide.
West Coast
East Coast
Southern Journey
Red Centre
Each stop from our Australia adventure now has its own dedicated travel guide — full stories, photos, videos and practical tips. Tap through to any destination that catches your eye. Tasmania sits at the very end as a linked journey on its own dedicated page.
01
West Coast
Perth
Where our Australian chapter began — flying in from Singapore, a private taxi city tour and a couple of nights in the most isolated major city on earth.
Read our Perth story →
02
Great Barrier Reef
Cairns & the Great Barrier Reef
Our base for two dives on the Great Barrier Reef — one of our favourite experiences of the entire adventure.
Explore Cairns & the Reef →
03
Queensland
K'gari (Fraser Island)
The world's largest sand island — freshwater lakes among vast sand dunes, wild dingoes and one of Queensland's most extraordinary landscapes.
Discover K'gari →
04
Coral Sea
The Whitsundays
Our time in the Whitsundays included Daydream Island, surrounded by the Coral Sea and some of Queensland's most memorable island scenery.
See the Whitsundays →
05
East Coast
Gold Coast & Surfers Paradise
Skyscrapers, huge beaches and surf culture — including the day I tried surfing at Surfers Paradise, as part of our East Coast journey.
Read our Gold Coast story →
06
NSW Coast
Byron Bay
Australia's easternmost point — an easy-going East Coast stop, plus a memorable ranch overnight during our trip.
Read our Byron Bay story →
07
Queensland
Brisbane
Queensland's river city — another stop from our Australia travels and a natural gateway to the wider south-east Queensland region.
Read our Brisbane story →
08
Harbour City
Sydney
The Opera House, Bondi, the Blue Mountains — and two trips to Palm Beach for Home and Away. Brax was there on day two.
Read our Sydney story →
09
Capital
Canberra
Australia's planned capital — parliament, the National War Memorial and the lake at the heart of it, on the road south from Sydney.
See our Canberra day →
10
Great Ocean Road
Melbourne & the Twelve Apostles
Coffee and laneways, a helicopter flight over the Twelve Apostles and the Phillip Island little penguins waddling up the beach at dusk.
Read our Melbourne story →
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Northern Territory
Alice Springs
A memorable Red Centre stop — the Royal Flying Doctor Service museum, Outback pub atmosphere and the landscapes around Alice Springs.
Explore Alice Springs →
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Red Centre
Uluru
Three unforgettable nights at the heart of the Red Centre. Some places are famous for a reason.
See our Uluru experience →
This was part of an around-the-world trip we did with friends — flying from Singapore into Perth and eventually making our way home via the Northern Territory, New Zealand, Honolulu and LA. Australia took up a huge chunk of that adventure and delivered something completely new at every single stop.
The East Coast tour — Cairns, the reef, K'gari, the Whitsundays, the Gold Coast, Byron Bay, Brisbane, Sydney and the road south to Melbourne — gave us one memorable stop after another. Then the Northern Territory, which we did independently after New Zealand, added an entirely different dimension: Alice Springs, the Royal Flying Doctor Service and three nights at Uluru.
We also spent time in Tasmania — which completely caught us off guard and turned out to be one of the most jaw-dropping places on the entire trip. And from Australia we continued the adventure into New Zealand — which is covered in its own page.
03
The highlights
The moments that stayed with us
Great Barrier Reef — two dives
One of our absolute favourite experiences of the entire trip. We did two dives and absolutely loved seeing the colour, marine life and sheer scale of the reef from underwater.
K'gari (Fraser Island)
The world's largest sand island — utterly gorgeous. Freshwater lakes among vast sand dunes, wild dingoes and a landscape unlike anything else we saw in Australia.
Whitsundays catamaran
Our catamaran day in the Whitsundays was one of the standout days of the trip — beautiful water, islands and the famous Whitehaven Beach.
Helicopter over the Twelve Apostles
We saw the Twelve Apostles by helicopter and absolutely loved it. Seeing the limestone stacks and the Great Ocean Road coastline from the air gave us a completely different perspective.
Opera at the Sydney Opera House
Going to see an opera at the Sydney Opera House is one of those things you do because you absolutely have to — and it completely delivered. Inside is as extraordinary as outside.
Palm Beach — twice (for Brax)
Missed the cast on the first visit. Went back the next day. Saw Brax. Completely worth it. Absolutely delighted. No further explanation required. 😄
Melbourne & the little penguins
We loved Melbourne's food, cafés and city atmosphere, but seeing Phillip Island's little penguins waddling up the beach at dusk was one of the most memorable parts of our visit.
Three nights at Uluru
The most unforgettable part of the entire Australian adventure. Three nights gave time to really experience the place — watching the light change, understanding the significance and feeling the extraordinary silence of the Red Centre.
04
Where it started
Perth — the most isolated city on earth
The Australian adventure began in Perth — flying in from Singapore, our first stop on Australian soil. We hired a private taxi driver who gave us a personal city tour of Perth and the surrounding area, which was a lovely way to get oriented. Perth is pleasant — clean, sunny, beautifully situated on the Swan River — but honestly it felt a little devoid of character compared to what was coming. Nice to begin there; the real adventure was ahead.
05
Under the water
Diving the Great Barrier Reef
"One of the best things we've ever done — full stop."
We did two dives out of Cairns on the Great Barrier Reef and rate them among our absolute favourite experiences of the entire around-the-world trip. For us, diving was an unforgettable way to experience the reef. If diving is suitable for you, check the current health, certification and safety requirements with your chosen operator; snorkelling is another popular way to experience the reef.
Disclosure: If you book through this link we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
06
The East Coast tour
K'gari, the Whitsundays, Gold Coast & Byron Bay
K'gari (Fraser Island) was gorgeous — the world's largest sand island, with freshwater lakes sitting incongruously in the middle of sand dunes, dingoes roaming the beaches and a landscape that looks like it shouldn't exist but absolutely does. A brilliant stop that often gets overlooked.
The Whitsundays were everything they promised. Out on a catamaran in the middle of some of the most beautiful water in the world — the Coral Sea, dotted with islands, the impossibly white sand of Whitehaven Beach in the distance. One of those days where you keep stopping to make sure what you're seeing is actually real.
The Gold Coast was a proper switch of pace — skyscrapers meeting huge beaches, surf culture everywhere, and the day I tried surfing at Surfers Paradise (with mixed but memorable results). Byron Bay then brought the more relaxed East Coast energy — easy-going, sunny and the kind of place that immediately makes you want to slow down. And there was the overnight stay on a ranch too — one of those unexpected tour stops that turned into a brilliant memory. Brisbane rounded out the region, sitting on the river as the natural gateway to south-east Queensland.
07
The Harbour City
Sydney — sunshine, opera & two trips to Palm Beach
Sydney is everything it's supposed to be — the Opera House is as magnificent in person as in every photograph, the harbour is stunning and the sunshine is relentless. Going to see an opera at the Sydney Opera House was a bucket list moment done properly — inside the building is as extraordinary as outside it. Beyond that, Sydney gave us brilliant beach time at Bondi, the harbour walk, and the Blue Mountains as a stunning day out west.
📺 The Palm Beach situation: Went to Palm Beach day one — missed the Home and Away cast. Went back day two. Saw the cast. Saw Brax specifically. Absolutely delighted. Zero regrets about going twice. This is what travel is about. 😄
Brax was there on day two ✨
08
The road south
Canberra, the Great Ocean Road & Melbourne
After Sydney, we rented a car and drove south — stopping in Canberra for a day. Australia's purpose-built capital is genuinely interesting — the parliament buildings, the National War Memorial, the beautiful lake at the heart of the planned city. Then came one of the great moments of the entire trip — a helicopter flight over the Twelve Apostles on the Great Ocean Road. Extraordinary from the ground; on another level from the air.
Melbourne had a character completely different to Sydney, with a brilliant food and café scene. One of our highlights was Phillip Island's little penguins — seeing them waddle up the beach at dusk was genuinely magical.
09
The Red Centre
Uluru, Alice Springs & the Northern Territory
"Three nights at Uluru — the most unforgettable part of the entire adventure."
After New Zealand, we travelled independently into Alice Springs for our Northern Territory adventure. We visited the Royal Flying Doctor Service museum, enjoyed the Outback pub atmosphere and then spent three nights at Uluru. Having several nights there gave us time to experience the Red Centre at a slower pace and appreciate the cultural significance of Uluru to the Anangu people.
Our guide to Alice Springs reel
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One very Australian memory
And yes — there had to be a koala
Our Australia archive
Among all the cities, road trips, beaches and huge landscapes, Australia's wildlife was part of the experience too. This little fella earns a place in the travel archive — because you cannot come home from Australia without a koala moment.
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Plan your own trip
Explore Australia with TourRadar
🇦🇺 Multi-day toursTourRadar
Four very different ways to see Australia
Australia is enormous, so an organised multi-day trip can make a lot of sense if you'd rather have the route, transport and major arrangements brought together for you. These four options match different parts of the country and different styles of trip.
Tasmania
A dedicated Tasmania itinerary for anyone who wants to spend proper time exploring the island rather than treating it as an add-on.
View Tasmania tour →Oz Intro — 10 Days
A compact Australia introduction if you want a structured first taste of the country without committing to a huge itinerary.
View 10-day Oz Intro →Wet Coast
An East Coast-style adventure option for travellers who want the beaches, tropical side and social road-trip feel of Australia.
View Wet Coast tour →Great Ocean Road
A natural fit with one of our own standout Australia memories — the Great Ocean Road and Twelve Apostles, which we saw by helicopter.
View Great Ocean Road tour →Disclosure: These are affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Book Australia experiences
Book Australia experiences with GetYourGuide
Great Barrier Reef dives, Sydney Opera House tours, Twelve Apostles helicopter flights, Uluru experiences, Phillip Island penguin tours and much more:
Powered by GetYourGuide
Disclosure: If you book through these links we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
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Common questions
Australia FAQ
Is the Great Barrier Reef worth diving?
We absolutely loved it. We did two dives on the Great Barrier Reef and they remain among our favourite experiences of the entire trip. Diving gave us an unforgettable view of the colour, marine life and scale of the reef.
Is Uluru worth the long journey?
For us, yes. We spent three nights at Uluru, which gave us more time to experience the Red Centre and appreciate the cultural significance of the place to the Anangu people.
Is Palm Beach worth visiting for Home and Away fans?
Absolutely — and go twice if you miss the cast on the first visit, like we did! Palm Beach is a beautiful spot in its own right but for anyone who grew up watching Home and Away it is a proper pilgrimage moment. We can confirm Brax was there on the second visit. 😄
Is Alice Springs worth visiting?
We were glad we visited Alice Springs. The Royal Flying Doctor Service museum was a highlight for us, and we enjoyed experiencing the Outback atmosphere before continuing through the Red Centre.
Is Melbourne worth visiting?
We found Melbourne very different from Sydney and loved its food, cafés and city atmosphere. Seeing the little penguins at Phillip Island was one of the highlights of our visit.
Is the Twelve Apostles helicopter worth it?
We did the helicopter flight ourselves and absolutely loved it. Seeing the Twelve Apostles and the Great Ocean Road coastline from the air was one of the standout experiences of our Australia trip.
Can you do Australia on an around-the-world trip?
Australia is one of the great around-the-world trip destinations. Our route ran from Singapore through Perth, across the East Coast, through Tasmania, New Zealand, the Northern Territory and then on to Honolulu and LA. It is one of the classic around-the-world routes and Australia rewards the effort of getting there enormously.
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Before you go
Australia packing essentials
Australia means heat, beach stops, Outback landscapes and long travel days all on the one trip. These are a few useful essentials to consider for an Australia trip.
High SPF sunscreen
Absolutely essential — the sun in Australia is no joke, especially at the reef and in the Outback. High SPF is a must.
View on Amazon →Wide-brimmed hat
The sun is intense — a proper hat makes sightseeing, diving and Outback exploring so much more comfortable.
View on Amazon →Water bottle
Essential in the heat — especially heading into drier areas like Alice Springs and the Northern Territory.
View on Amazon →Insect repellent
Worth having for tropical areas, evenings near water and anywhere around Uluru at dawn and dusk.
View on Amazon →eSIM card
Handy across such a vast country — maps, bookings and staying connected without expensive roaming.
View on Amazon →Travel adaptor
Australia uses Type I plugs — different to Ireland. Don't arrive on day one with nothing charged.
View on Amazon →Portable power bank
Long days out taking photos will drain your battery faster than you think — especially at the reef and at Uluru.
View on Amazon →Hiking boots
Handy for the Uluru base walk, Blue Mountains trails and any outdoor days in the national parks.
View on Amazon →Disclosure: These are Amazon affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
🚗 Hiring a car in Australia?
We rented a car for the Sydney to Melbourne leg — it made all the difference for stopping at the Twelve Apostles and Canberra at our own pace. Klook has competitive car rental rates worth checking.
Disclosure: If you book through this link we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Related journeys
Where Australia fits into the bigger trip
Australia was one huge chapter of a much bigger around-the-world trip. If you're planning a similar route, our other journey guides may help.
One country, one enormous trip
Planning your own Australia adventure?
Dive the reef. Get out on the Whitsundays. Go to the Opera House. Drive to the Twelve Apostles. Spend three nights at Uluru. Australia rewards every bit of effort you put into it.
Affiliate disclosure: if you book through our links we may earn a small commission at no cost to you. We only recommend experiences we've done ourselves.