What to Do if You Only Have 1 Week to Visit Australia
Australia is so vast it is impossible to see it all in 1, 2 weeks or even 3 weeks. So although we recommend spending at least 2 weeks in Australia, there are a few things you can experience if you only have 1 week. In 1 week you will only be able to see perhaps one city, or a few natural wonders. Any trip to Australia is memorable, so with careful planning you can maximize your time and be able to see some of the major sights.
Don’t try to cram every sight in and exhaust yourself. Use the following guide to make the most out of your trip. If you only go for 1 week to Sydney, you can still have spectacular introduction to this great city. Must see sights are the Sydney Harbor Opera House, The Sydney Harbor Bridge, The Queen Victoria building, which offers a high end, elegant shopping experience; see the Sydney Aquarium, and Bondi beach which is one of the top 10 beaches in Australia.
Another majestic sight to see is The Blue Mountains, a 90 minute drive from Sydney. The Blue Mountains is comprised of a kaleidoscope of contrasts and color rich in Aussie bush and wildlife that has a blue-haze horizon. Take a trip to the Blue Mountains and experience a true escape from the negatives of city life and the rush-rush of urban atmospheres while providing a chance to experience a great combination of spectacular scenery, wildlife, plants and the clean freshness of mountain air.
Now if you want to experience and see sights besides the city, there are 2 main choices. The Great Barrier Reef, but you have to allow time for flying. The other choice is Uluru, or Ayers Rock. Ayers Rock is one of the most impressive landmarks in Australia.
Here is a sample itinerary of what to see in 1 week:
Day 1: Arrive in Sydney
Check into your hotel and recover from jet lag. If you arrive in the morning and have a full day ahead of you, try to stay up. Head to Circular Quay, get a fantastic view of Sydney Harbour Bridge before visitng Sydney Opera House and soaking up some history at The Rocks.
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Day 2: Explore Sydney
Ride to the top of Sydney Tower; you can view all of Sydney’s landmarks, including the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour, and even the Blue Mountains beyond. For an introduction to Australia’s wildlife, head to Taronga Zoo or the Sydney Aquarium.
Day 3: The Blue Mountains
Explore the beauty of the Blue Mountains—only 2 hours from Sydney. At the end of the day, head back to Sydney and have dinner somewhere with a view of the harbor.
Day 4: Cairns, Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef
Take the earliest flight you can from Sydney to Cairns—flight time is 3 hours—and check into a hotel in the city, which on such a tight schedule will make getting to the major attractions quicker and easier than staying on the out-of-town northern beaches. Explore the city a little and see some wildlife.
Day 5: A Day Trip to the Reef
The trip to the outer reef takes about 2 hours, and once there, you will spend your day on a pontoon with about 300 people. Divers must spend another 24 hours in Cairns before flying. If you prefer to snorkel, ride the glass-bottom boats, and soak up the sun,
Day 6: Kuranda, a Rainforest Village
Take a trip to the mountain village of Kuranda aboard the steam train along the Kuranda Scenic Railway, past waterfalls and gorges. In Kuranda, explore the markets and the nature parks and maybe take a Kuranda Riverboat Tour.
Day 7: Cairns to Sydney
In the morning, head to the airport for your flight to Sydney. Unless you are lucky enough to have an international flight directly out of Cairns, you will spend most of your last day in Australia returning to Sydney.
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