Koala in a tree, Australia

Ten-Day Australia Itinerary for Families: City, Wildlife, and Beach

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist

Countries Visited

Australia

Places Visited

Sydney, Blue Mountains, Adelaide, Kangaroo Island...

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Suggested Duration

10 Days

Kangaroos hop across sun-scorched plains as children play on golden beaches. The mountains are blue, and there is a rainbow beneath the water, making it all feel as magical as you always imagined. Welcome to an iconic family vacation down under with ten days combining three signature elements of the Australian experience. Explore the city with three days in Sydney and its surroundings, and then escape to Kangaroo Island for intimate wildlife encounters. Lounge around the coast in Port Douglas,...

Customizable Itinerary

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Trip Highlights

  • Safely experience the Australian bush together, encountering hopping kangaroos and wallabies
  • Explore Sydney on a bicycle tour and learn to surf at Bondi Beach
  • Escape to the beach with a three-night stay in Port Douglas
  • Discover the colors and marine life of the Great Barrier Reef on a day tour that includes semisubmersible and snorkeling activities
  • Learn about Aboriginal culture on an intimate tour of Daintree Rainforest
  • Encounter hundreds of seals and koalas, just some of the wildlife spotted during your two days on Kangaroo Island
  • Spend a day in Adelaide, playing on the beaches of South Australia
  • Cruise along the Parramatta River after a day in the surreal Blue Mountains

Detailed Description

Australia is home to both iconic colors and extraordinary experiences. It is also a destination for connecting with both culture and nature as a land where there is an incredible amount of space for families to be together. Of all its famous appeal, there are three elements of the Australian experience that truly standout for those visiting as a family. An energetic city draped along the water, all of the weird and wonderful wildlife and then beach escapism with Australia’s endless coastline. Douse in some Aboriginal culture and the Great Barrier Reef, and you have a near complete Australia tour in just ten days of travel.

This family tour is designed around these experiences, a three-center vacation with Sydney, Kangaroo Island, and Port Douglas. Fly between these destinations and you will also get to explore three Australian regions, comparing New South Wales with South Australia and Queensland. Accommodation is handpicked to keep you central, while still providing the space that Australia invariably provides. Many of your tours will be private and can be adjusted to your children’s ages and interests, notably the wildlife safaris on Kangaroo Island.

Sydney is an iconic place to start, and every visitor is surprised by how compact the city is, and how easy it is to get around. Gain some initial impressions on your first day before a cycling tour of the city on day two. Then ride the tram to Bondi Beach and take a surfing lesson. A private guide will take you to the Blue Mountains on day three, where you can hike through eucalyptus forest and admire the dramatically carved peaks. It will be a great destination for all ages, including boardwalks that work with strollers. Your three days in Sydney also include a stop at Featherdale Wildlife Park and a cruise down the Parramatta River beneath the famous bridge and past the opera house.

Fly to Kangaroo Island via Adelaide, and you will have 48 hours on a wildlife safari. Nowhere else in Australia has so many indigenous animals in such a relatively small space, and wallabies and kangaroos hop around your accommodation. Koalas are seen in abundance as this is their final refuge, while seals bask on some of the beaches and even a platypus may make an appearance. You will explore Flinders Chase and Seal Bay with your local guide, with walks in the wild and lots of intimate first-hand encounters. On day six, you will fly to Adelaide and have an afternoon on the beach, a necessary overlay as the only direct flight to Cairns leaves early in the morning.

From Cairns, you will travel an hour north to Port Douglas, a quieter beach town with a very relaxing atmosphere. These final three days provide downtime, the kids running on wide open beaches as Queensland’s sultry atmosphere takes hold. On day eight, you can visit Daintree Rainforest nearby, with  your Aboriginal guide teaching you about different plants with a chance to learn how to make soap and toothpaste by squashing certain leaves, which is always eye-opening for kids. Cruise to an outer reef on day nine, with snorkeling and a semisubmersible craft showcasing the kaleidoscopic color of the Great Barrier Reef. Day ten provides leisurely time around the beach before your evening departure.  See what else our top Australia travel specialists can do for you on your custom vacation.

Starting Price

$3,245 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

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