From rock to reef: the perfect two weeks in Australia

In just 2 weeks, I managed to visit four major cities across four different states, see many native Australian animals, experience different climates, and admire fantastic landscapes. This gave me a whole new perspective on visiting Australia for a fortnight, and now I would highly recommend it to anyone.

Tricks to tackle jet lag 

Jet lag can be tough when you travel to Australia, especially when you’re visiting for a short time. You cannot afford to spend the first week of a two-week trip feeling rubbish. However, there’s an easy way around this problem if you plan your flights wisely and give yourself time to rest between the journeys. 

I flew from London with Singapore Airlines aboard their A350, which is super comfy even in economy, and the staff are wonderful. I set off on a morning flight from the UK to Singapore, which took 13.5 hours. The entertainment system is great - I watched 4 films and managed to read a bit, staying awake the whole time. 

When I arrived in Singapore, it would have been about midnight in the UK. I booked the Ambassador Hotel at the airport for 11 hours, which is conveniently located in the transit area of Terminals 2 and 3. I managed to get a proper sleep and take a shower before tackling the next 7-hour flight to Melbourne. I arrived in Melbourne fresh as a daisy and managed to stay awake all day, going to bed at 9 pm.

Where to stay in Melbourne 

I stayed at the very conveniently located voco Melbourne Central by IHG. This is a new hotel with lovely decor, featuring a heated rooftop pool backed by a tropical living plant wall. The hotel feels modern and classy, with the signature ‘Sky Lobby’ on the sixth floor, which gives a bit of novelty to the check-in process.

Exploring Melbourne 

Melbourne is a great city with five million inhabitants and absolutely loads to do. Although it’s definitely big, you can get a good feel for it in a day. Getting around Melbourne is super easy, as trams run for free throughout the city. They go only 2 directions within a square, so it is very easy to use and impossible to get lost!

Personally, I recommend booking a local city tour, especially if you’re short on time. I joined a walking tour that gave me a lot of local insights, and I loved every bit of it. I was guided through atmospheric shopping lanes, passing terraces full of people eating and drinking Melbourne’s famously good coffee.

One of our first stops was iconic Flinders Station, where people used to meet under the giant clock in times before mobile phones. Street art is legal in designated parts of Melbourne, so we walked through colourful AC/DC Lane admiring the murals, even finding a Banksy on the way. 

The Yarra River runs right through central Melbourne, and it’s a good way to get your bearings in the city. The river is lined with towers and beautiful buildings from the 1800s, so it’s worth taking a stroll along the banks, stopping for coffee and cocktails along the way.

On the outskirts of Melbourne, the Fitzroy area is a lovely place to visit with a lively, creative atmosphere. To me, it felt like a mix between Brooklyn and New Orléans, with old-looking buildings, more street art, interesting flea markets, coffee shops, and thrift shops. 

The evenings in Melbourne are busy, and there’s a great buzz to the city after sunset. You’ll find lots of live music, amazing restaurants and lively bars, so you definitely won’t get bored! I only spent a day in Melbourne, but I would recommend spending at least three nights here.

French Island 

The next day, I took a day trip to French Island and Phillip Island. French Island is only 15 minutes from the coast and home to just 110 inhabitants who live in virtual isolation. It’s a great place to see koalas and echidnas in their natural habitat, as the landscape is totally untouched.

 There are no tarmac roads on the island, so all tours involve a 4WD. As we travelled across the island, our guide told us all about the native wilderness. Afterwards, we stopped for lunch at a local farm before taking another crossing to Phillip Island.

Exploring Phillip island 

Just a 2-hour drive from Melbourne, Phillip Island is a lovely place to visit. There’s a handy bridge from the mainland, so it’s very easy to reach. The scenery is beautiful and wild, and, in the summer, it’s a great surf spot. 

My main goal was to see the natural ‘penguin parade’. The island is home to the smallest penguins in the world, standing at just 33 cm tall. At sunset, they swim to the shore in groups, giving you a great show. 

They always travel en masse because there are hundreds of birds of prey ready to swoop down and grab them. It’s a matter of safety in numbers! The place has seating and guides to explain what they’re doing.

Sydney Harbour and Bondi Beach 

Next, I flew to Sydney. The drive from the airport to the CBD is only 30 minutes, so you’ll be downtown in no time. First, I went to iconic Bondi Beach. The whole area is really pretty and makes you want to stay for days. 

From there, I set off on a beautiful coastal walk to Coogee Beach. Exploring the beaches on foot is a great way to grab some fresh air, soak up the atmosphere and admire the ocean views. 

Next, I headed to Sydney Harbour, which totally exceeded my expectations. It has breathtaking views, especially at night. I opted for a dinner cruise with Journey Beyond, which was a wonderful experience. The cruise was very chic, and the food was delicious, so I highly recommend it.

Exploring the Sydney Opera House 

I started the following day with a guided tour of the Sydney Opera House, which gave me a much better understanding of this iconic and unique building. The guide explained the history of its construction and took us to see the main auditorium, which is very impressive. 

Touring the Sydney suburbs 

Next, I took another wonderful local tour to different beauty spots around the coastline, such as Camp Cove and Watson Bay. We drove through a handful of high-profile Sydney suburbs, learning about the buildings and local history along the way. The areas that we visited included Double Bay (jokingly known as ‘Double Pay’), Rushcutters Bay, and Woolloomooloo.

Sipping and sailing in Sydney Harbour 

After a tasty lunch stop, we headed to the harbour for a ‘sipping and sailing’ wine-tasting boat tour. It’s a wonderful way to spend a sunny afternoon in Sydney and learn about the locally grown varieties of wine. Although I personally don’t drink, it was interesting to hear the stories from the young French guide who emigrated to Australia to start his own wine company. 

Dinner at Capella Hotel 

We ended our day with an amazing dinner at the Capella Hotel, with fantastic food in a very chic environment. Once the Department of Education building, Capella offers understated, sleek luxury with a heritage twist. Voted one of the top 50 hotels in the world in 2025, it’s definitely worth staying here if you can. The spa facilities are out of this world, and the restaurant is a true delight.

Visiting Broken Bay Oyster Farm 

My next stop in New South Wales was the wonderful Hunter Valley, with its rolling vineyards. On the way there, we broke up the journey with a memorable visit to Broken Bay Oyster Farm. This is the only oyster farm in New South Wales, so it really is one of a kind. Here, we discovered some of the secrets of pearl farming on a river cruise, learning about the history of pearling in Australia and the art of pearl grading. The tour finished with an oyster shucking demonstration and tasting session.

Exploring the Hunter Valley 

If you’re a wine enthusiast, you can’t miss the Hunter Valley if you’re visiting Sydney. It is definitely the place to go, and a lovely change of scenery from the city. Only three hours from Sydney by road, it’s easily accessible and 100% worth the journey. 

During my trip to the Hunter Valley, I visited the vineyards at Poole’s Rock, Audrey Wilkinson, and Tulloch Wine and Chocolate. It was a beautiful, relaxed day amongst gorgeous rural scenery. After a day of tastings, I recommend staying at the voco Hotel, in the heart of the valley. It’s the perfect place for an overnight stop.

Staying at Taronga Zoo 

Next, I headed back to Sydney to stay in the very interesting Taronga Zoo, situated right on the harbour. It’s an amazing location with a variety of animals to admire. The rooms have views overlooking gardens full of kangaroos and koalas, and the restaurant serves exquisite food. It’s not somewhere that I’ll forget in a hurry!

Off to Uluru 

I was so thrilled to fulfil one of my lifelong dreams and reach Australia’s Red Centre. It’s been on my bucket list for decades. From Sydney, the Jetstar flight to Ayers Rock Airport takes 3.5 hours. After picking up your luggage, there are shuttle buses available to take you straight to your hotel. 

The drive to Uluru’s resort town, Yulara, is 10 minutes. Once you are there, everything is nearby and easily accessible. There’s only one road, so it’s impossible to get lost. It has a town square, a handful of restaurants (including the lovely Gecko Café and Ayers Wok Noodle Bar), and a camel farm. There is a free resort shuttle operating from 10.30 am to midnight that loops from the town square to all the neighbouring resorts, so getting around is a breeze.

Experiencing Wintjiri Wiru 

There are all kinds of tours that you can take during your stay at Uluru. Personally, I would recommend Wintjiri Wiru, an immersive performance that showcases Anangu culture. It’s an open-air theatre, set atop a dune, with incredible views out to Uluru and Kata Tjuta. 

On arrival, you’ll be served canapés and have the opportunity to try native ingredients. Then, you’ll be given a gourmet hamper to tuck into as the sunset colours the sky. Just after dark, the show begins. It’s a breathtaking mix of choreographed drones, lasers, and projections of both light and sound that takes you through the Anangu story.

Sunrise over Uluru 

I also recommend waking up to watch the sunrise from one of the observation platforms close to Uluru. There are lots of different viewpoints, and it’s worth the early start a hundred times over. If you book an organised tour, you’ll also learn about the geology of the area and the Aboriginal traditions around the rock. The context really brings an extra layer of meaning to Uluru.

The Field of Lights 

For me, the highlight of my visit to the Red Centre was seeing the famous ‘Field of Lights’. This is an art installation covering the size of seven football pitches, with more than 50,000 colourful lights illuminating the desert as far as the eye can see. You can walk around the exhibition and immerse yourself in the colours under the stars, which is a truly magical experience.

My Tamborine Mountain retreat 

After a magical couple of days at Uluru, I flew down to Brisbane. From there, I took a trip inland from the popular Gold Coast, staying at Tamborine Mountain. This is a gorgeous highland area with lush rainforest and lovely local villages, providing a complete contrast to the Red Centre. 

For a unique view of the rainforest, you can do the Tamborine Mountain Skywalk, which has hanging bridges crisscrossing the rainforest canopy. On the way there or back, you can stop for breakfast at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat and Vineyard, which also now features an alpaca farm. For a touch of luxury, you can also book a hot air balloon flight to admire the rainforest, vineyards, and rolling green mountains. 

A pitstop in Cairns 

Next, I headed further north to Cairns, a vibrant city by the sea and the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. There is a long oceanfront esplanade which is pleasant to walk in the evening, and plenty of activity all along the coastline. There are dozens of restaurants, a popular casino, and a buzzing night market. Cairns offers a huge variety of hotels, and most of them have beautiful swimming pools, which is a ‘must’ because the climate is very tropical!

Visiting the Great Barrier Reef 

No visit to North Queensland is complete without a boat trip to the Great Barrier Reef. I chose a day cruise with Silverswift, which operates small boats and has expert staff. It’s a great option if you want to snorkel or dive safely, with the support of local professionals. 

From Cairns, it took an hour and a half to reach the reef. The cruise stopped at three different spots, and we spent about an hour in each spot, swimming and snorkelling in clear blue water. It’s a day I’ll never forget.

Riding the Kuranda Skyrail 

On the second day, I opted for a Kuranda tour, which included a village tour, a scenic train trip and the famous Kuranda Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. We took the train to Kuranda through breathtakingly lush scenery and stopped for lunch at charming Kuranda Village in the heart of the rainforest. 

Afterwards, we rode back on the gondolas on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, looking down at the gorgeous landscapes over two national parks - Wet Tropics World Heritage Area and Barron Gorge National Park. It was incredible to see the canopy from above. On the way, we paused at Red Peak and Barron Falls, walking along elevated boardwalks to stunning viewpoints.

Cape Tribulation, Mossman Gorge and Daintree Rainforest 

On my last day, I decided to go back to the Daintree Rainforest and explore a little more. I was picked up in Cairns and then dropped off in Port Douglas at the end of the day. The tour allowed me to discover different viewpoints and highlights of the area, so I highly recommend it. 

The walk to Mossman Gorge takes you through thick emerald rainforest, and the whole place has a magical atmosphere. Next, you take a trip along the Daintree River on a crocodile cruise, where you can see crocs up to 8 metres long! After the rainforest adventure, you finish the tour in Cape Tribulation, a castaway beach full of history.

A final night in Port Douglas 

I spent the last night of my trip in Port Douglas, which is a vibrant beach town and the perfect place to end any Queensland holiday. Four Mile Beach is one of the most stunning beaches I have ever seen, and while you can’t swim there, it’s a spectacular place to watch the waves. 

The town has a thriving market, as well as lots of nice restaurants and shops for last-minute souvenirs. If you have time, I recommend staying here for a few days to soak up the atmosphere and relax in the Australian sunshine.

My thoughts about Australia in two weeks 

I left Australia feeling that I had made the most of my two weeks. I discovered and learned so much in just one fortnight, without feeling too rushed along the way. Flying between different areas of the country really cuts down on travel time, allowing me to cover lots of ground in a short time. The organised tours that I joined made it easy to see the highlights of each destination, giving me a great overview of each place.

The Aussie warm welcome is delightful, and I loved the food and the way of life. It’s a country with great respect for its rich wildlife and beautiful environment, which is wonderful to see. If you’re eager to explore Australia and you only have two weeks to spare, don’t be put off. It’s enough time to get a wonderful experience at a reasonably relaxed pace – take it from me!

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