2 weeks Australia itinerary - how to plan your dream Australia vacation

The majority of Australians support gay rights and have fought hard to win marriage equality in recent years, finally catching up with the rest of the Western world on this front. Australia will no doubt see an uptick in “rainbow tourism” in years to come, to join the 11% of Australians (or 2.5 million individuals) already out and proud in the country. Find diverse queer communities all over this sprawling land, most concentrated in the gayborhoods of Sydney’s Darlinghurst and Newtown, Melbourne’s St Kilda and Brunswick, or Brisbane’s New Farm and Fortitude Valley. For specific LGBTQ venues, try Oxford Street in Sydney to find community favourites such as the Colombian and the Stonewall, while Melbourne’s Fitzroy and Collingwood neighbourhoods are home to The Laird and Sircuit Bar.

Taking a strict stance on all international visitors except their New Zealand neighbours, Australia requires that all tourists arrive with a visa. If you belong to an EU member country, you can get an eVisitor visa online for just $20 USD with a processing time of just under one week. Similarly, citizens of the US, Canada, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore can apply for the Electronic Travel Authority (ETA).

The largest city in New South Wales and the national capital, Sydney wows newcomers with its iconic skyline and multicultural flair all centred on the glitzy Darling Harbour and Circular Quay. Your Sydney itinerary can be as short or as long as you like, but we’ve allotted just two days for the best bits. This should be enough to explore top attractions such as the observation deck at Sydney Tower and the world-famous Bondi Beach, taking time to sync up with local lifestyles amongst the Rocks District and King’s Cross areas.

If a shopping tour plus beach afternoon doesn’t appeal, try the Sydney Bridge Climb involving harnesses and panoramic views atop the Harbour Bridge. A bike tour is a great alternative to move between Sydney’s best districts, focusing on top foodie spots or historical quarters depending on your priorities! When sunset comes there’s no better option than to enjoy the magnificent views from the harbourside, opting for a sunset dinner cruise to make your Sydney experience even more memorable. If gay Sydney is what you’re after, find it among any number of cocktail bars, trendy cafés, bars and clubs surrounding Taylor Square in Darlinghurst, the city’s main gay district. Come in March to mark the legendary event of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. Discover more to the wonderful world of Sydney with our Sydney travel guide.

Driving west from Sydney, the Blue Mountains quickly dominate the skyline with rugged rock formations stretching across some 140 kilometres of natural reserve. A part of the Blue Mountains Heritage Area, these mountains are just two hours away from the capital and provide the perfect terrain for trekking and view finding among myriad cliffs, waterfalls and subterranean caves. Sign up to a Blue Mountains tour led by local Aboriginal guides to best appreciate the natural environment alongside local art and folklore before settling into a luxury wilderness retreat for the night.

Alternative Blue Mountains accommodation is easily accessed by car in Katoomba, the biggest town towards the edge of the park, hosting resorts for under-the-stars camping opportunities. Though many of the Blue Mountains hotels offer information on how to get around in the park, booking a multi-day tour in Katoomba is also an option, packing in some of the best attractions, such as Echo Point or the Jenolan Caves on a three-day trail. In keeping with our Australia itinerary 2 weeks however, consider doing the Princes Rock Walk in an afternoon, a trail leading to the Wentworth Falls lookout, Kings Tableland and Mount Solitary. The Glenbrook Gorge Track is another slightly longer option but with all the more challenging terrain on the National Pass.

Taking a short flight from Sydney takes us back into the urban jungle, this time to Victorian capital of Melbourne, the cultural heart of the nation. Start your one-day Melbourne itinerary in style with a world-class cup of coffee along Centre Place or Flinders Lane, branching out from there to wind through the lanes of the inner city, marvelling at the fine architecture and European feel. Hop on the City Circle Tram when your legs grow tired, travelling for free through the glittering business district, stopping off at La Trobe or Victoria Streets and moving towards the Queen Victoria Market for arts, crafts and tasty local produce, or even its summer Night Market after dark on Wednesdays.

If the sun is still up and time allows, a half-day trip to the coastal village of St Kilda beckons, a tram ride away and a popular gay hotspot. Ultimately, however, gay Melbourne lies around the fringe neighbourhoods of South Yarra and Collingwood, where open-minded locals flaunt their freedoms and queer street art lines the streets among numerous gay bars and saunas. Follow the trending spots in the city, including speakeasy cocktail bars and artsy performance venues with our Melbourne travel guide.

Though its name might not ring any bells, Cairns is in fact one of the famous places in Australia, home to the mighty Great Barrier Reef resting in Queensland’s marine reserves just off Cairn’s fabulous coastline. Get to Cairns by plane (3.5 hours direct) or consider going the whole hog with Mr Hudson’s coastal road trip from Sydney to Cairns, passing through Brisbane along the way. While of course snorkelling and diving excursions are the main draw of Cairns, the town is also an experienced host, providing lively gay nightlife, high-end lodgings and myriad restaurants within its centre. Beyond diving, another great way to take to the water is aboard a multi-day Great Barrier Reef cruise or glass-bottomed boat for sundown cocktails around Michaelmas Bay. And though beaches are not Cairn’s forte, the Esplanade Lagoon and Pier Marin are worthy alternatives, offering up live music and crafts markets on weekends.

Extending you Great Barrier Reef vacation by a day will allow you to see the unique Pacific world of Far North Queensland in more detail, from the magical Fairy Falls to the river rapid tubing adventures of Ross and Locke. Thinking of taking a shorter road trip? Join us on our compact road trip from Sydney to Cairns.

The barrier reef isn’t Queensland’s only natural paradise however as you’ll soon find on arrival to the Daintree Rainforest, the oldest rainforest on earth dating 135 million years old and marked as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Alongside kingfishers, lorikeets and tree frogs, a walk in the forest will eventually bring you insight of the Cape Tribulation, where white sand beaches slope into warm coral reef waters. Trek the ancient jungle towards Alexandra Lookout for panoramic views over the Daintree River and the Coral Sea before being brought back down to water level for crocodile-infested mangroves served by riverboat cruise. Easily accessible on a day trip from Cairns, Daintree makes for an exciting break from diving enthusiasts, bringing alternative opportunities of zip-lining, tree canopy walks and paddle-boarding in Emmagen Creek.

Culture is also in the offing at Daintree, a reserve that the Kuku Yalanji people have called home for over 50,000 years. Team up with a local indigenous guide who’ll enlighten you on the history of the forest, bush tucker delicacies and traditional medicine, resting up at an eco-luxury lodging nearby.

The most sacred of all Aboriginal sites in Australia, and perhaps the country’s most popular natural wonders, is the majestic Uluru Rock, an iconic sandstone behemoth deep in the Northern Territories. With such harsh weather, the wildlife surrounding Uluru is not the best, but the trekking opportunities around the perimeter more than makeup for the lack of kangaroos. Hire a local guide to learn more about the culture and history of the land, passing through the Field of Light and Kata Tjuta before ending at a common viewpoint come sundown or sunset. While it’s possible to do Uluru in a day, booking on a multi-day camping tour within Kata Tjuta National Park will allow you the comforts of an overland truck, inclusive BBQ fare and cosy sleeping arrangements under world-famous starry skies. Bear in mind that you cannot climb to the top of Uluru these days and photographing some sacred spots is forbidden.