7 days Australia: Sydney + Cairns + Uluru + Melbourne

Trip map

Click each numbered marker to see the corresponding day.

Day by day

1. 1

   Day 1

   Arrival Sydney

   Paris-Sydney via Singapore or Dubai flight (22-24h total, Singapore Airlines/Qantas/Emirates A380, €1100-2500 return depending on season). Free eVisitor (subclass 651) for French (online application immi.homeaffairs.gov.au 72h before, valid 1 year, 3-month tourist stays). Land at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (10 km from CBD). Time difference +9h winter / +8h summer (southern hemisphere, reversed seasons). Transfer to CBD: Airport Link train (AUD 20, 13 min to Central Station), taxi AUD 50-60, Uber AUD 35-50. Settle hotel: Park Hyatt Sydney (facing Opera House, AUD 900-2000 - 'most expensive room in Australia'), Shangri-La (CBD Opera + Harbour Bridge view AUD 400-800), Ovolo Woolloomooloo (AUD 300-500 boutique design), cheaper option YHA Sydney Harbour (hostel AUD 35-90). Evening first Australian dinner: Quay Restaurant (3 hats, Opera House view, AUD 350/person 9-course tasting), Doyles on the Beach (Watson's Bay, iconic fish & chips AUD 30-50).

   Tips

   • · eVisitor FREE for French, online application 72h before
   • · 22-24h flight via Singapore or Dubai, €1100-2500 return
   • · Time diff +9h winter / +8h summer (southern hemisphere)
   • · Sydney Airport Link train: AUD 20, 13 min to Central Station
   Sydney →
2. 2

   Day 2

   Sydney: Opera + Bridge + The Rocks

   Morning Opera House (1h guided tour, AUD 45, or interior show AUD 60-300 depending on programme), photos from Mrs Macquarie's Point (iconic viewpoint with Opera + Harbour Bridge in same frame). Royal Botanic Garden adjacent (free, 30 hectares). Afternoon The Rocks (first colonial quarter 1788, Saturday-Sunday market), Sydney Harbour Bridge (BridgeClimb AUD 280-420/person, 3h30 ascent with harness — signature experience) OR pedestrian crossing (45 min, free, Opera House view). Pylon Lookout (AUD 24, more accessible BridgeClimb alternative). Dinner Rockpool Bar & Grill (AUD 170/person, premium meat) or Ester (Chippendale, AUD 90-130).

   Tips

   • · Opera House: AUD 45 guided tour, iconic photo Mrs Macquarie's Point
   • · BridgeClimb: AUD 280-420/person, 3h30 signature ascent
   • · The Rocks: first 1788 colonial quarter, weekend market
   • · Royal Botanic Garden: free, 30 hectares adjacent to Opera
   Sydney →
3. 3

   Day 3

   Bondi Beach + Coogee walk

   Morning Bondi Beach (10 km east of Sydney, bus 333 from CBD AUD 5, 30 min): 1 km of golden sand, iconic surf scene. Breakfast Speedos Cafe (seafront, AUD 20-30 with smashed avo). Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk: 6 km of spectacular coast (2-3h walk), passing Tamarama, Bronte, Clovelly (successive beaches + pink sandstone cliffs). Lunch Three Blue Ducks (Bronte) or natural bath Bronte Baths (free, rock-carved pool, tides). Afternoon continue to Coogee or back Bondi for beginner surf (AUD 80-150/hour lessons). Dinner Icebergs Dining Room (Bondi, AUD 120-200, sea view) or Sean's Bondi (AUD 110-160).

   Tips

   • · Bus 333 Sydney-Bondi: AUD 5, 30 min
   • · Bondi-Coogee Coastal Walk: 6 km, 2-3h, beaches + cliffs
   • · Bondi beginner surf lessons: AUD 80-150/hour
   • · Bronte Baths: free natural rock pool
   Sydney →
4. 4

   Day 4

   Sydney → Cairns flight + Great Barrier Reef

   Morning domestic Sydney → Cairns (CNS) flight (3h, AUD 200-500 return, Qantas/Virgin/Jetstar). Arrive Cairns, tropical climate (5th south parallel). 0h time difference (same Sydney zone). Settle hotel Cairns: Shangri-La Hotel The Marina (AUD 300-500), Crystalbrook Riley (AUD 250-450), Esplanade option Hilton Cairns (AUD 200-400). Great Barrier Reef boat excursion afternoon (depart Cairns Marlin Jetty, 8am-5pm, AUD 220-280/person, lunch included). Operators: Reef Magic (Marine World platform), Sunlover Reef Cruises (Outer Reef + Moore Reef pontoon). Activities: 2 snorkeling sessions, optional scuba diving (+AUD 90), coral fish + sea turtle + ray + sometimes reef shark observation. Snack included. Back 5pm. Dinner Salt House (Cairns seafront, AUD 50-90).

   Tips

   • · Sydney-Cairns flight: 3h, AUD 200-500 return Qantas/Virgin
   • · Great Barrier Reef excursion: AUD 220-280/person, lunch included
   • · Operators: Reef Magic, Sunlover Reef Cruises
   • · Scuba +AUD 90, snorkeling included basic
   Cairns →
5. 5

   Day 5

   Cairns → Ayers Rock (Uluru) flight

   Morning Jetstar Cairns → Ayers Rock (AYQ) flight (2h45 via Brisbane or Sydney stopover, AUD 350-650 return, few direct flights) OR Sydney → Ayers Rock direct (3h30, AUD 400-700 return, daily Jetstar). -30 min time difference Sydney → Ayers Rock (Australian Central Time). Land Ayers Rock Airport (AYQ), 5 km from Yulara village (only village near Uluru). Settle Voyages Ayers Rock Resort (Anangu-owned hotel group): Sails in the Desert (AUD 450-700/night, 5*), Desert Gardens Hotel (AUD 300-500, 4*), Outback Pioneer (AUD 180-280, 3*), camping/caravan Ayers Rock Campground (AUD 40-80/night). Afternoon first Uluru visit (10 min by car from Yulara, park entry AUD 38/person valid 3 days): Mala Walk (2 km, 1h, Anangu rock art) + sunset observation at Sunset Viewing Area (Uluru changes colours red to purple, iconic photo). Dinner Sounds of Silence (AUD 160/person, outback gastronomic dinner + wine tasting + Milky Way observation + didgeridoo - SIGNATURE).

   Tips

   • · Sydney/Cairns-Ayers Rock flight: Jetstar, AUD 350-700 return
   • · Yulara: only village, Voyages Resort hotels (Anangu-owned)
   • · Uluru entry: AUD 38/person, valid 3 days
   • · Sounds of Silence: AUD 160 outback dinner + Milky Way SIGNATURE
   Uluru →
6. 6

   Day 6

   Uluru: sunrise + base walk + Kata Tjuta

   WAKE 5am for Uluru sunrise at Sunrise Viewing Area (Talinguru Nyakunytjaku, 30 min from Yulara, Uluru + Kata Tjuta panorama — signature experience). Afternoon Uluru Base Walk: complete 10 km circuit around the monolith (3h30 with breaks, depart Mala Carpark — flat trail, partially shaded). Discover Anangu sacred sites (Mutitjulu Waterhole, rock art, caves — RESPECT photo-forbidden zones). Uluru climbing FORBIDDEN since 26 October 2019 for Anangu culture respect (official return 1985). Afternoon Kata Tjuta (the Olgas, 36 domes 50 km from Uluru): Walpa Gorge (easy 2.6 km trail, 1h) or Valley of the Winds (demanding 7.4 km, 3-4h). Yulara dinner: Tali Wiru (rooftop, AUD 360 gourmet outback dinner) or Pioneer BBQ (AUD 45, cook your own kangaroo).

   Tips

   • · Uluru sunrise: depart 5am, Sunrise Viewing Area
   • · Uluru Base Walk: 10 km, 3h30 on foot, flat
   • · CLIMBING FORBIDDEN since 26 Oct 2019 (Anangu respect)
   • · Kata Tjuta Valley of the Winds: 7.4 km, 3-4h demanding
   Uluru →
7. 7

   Day 7

   Ayers Rock → Melbourne flight + Paris return

   Morning Jetstar Ayers Rock → Melbourne (MEL) flight (3h, AUD 250-450 return) — alternative Ayers Rock-Sydney direct return Paris. Land Melbourne. If sufficient layover: Federation Square + Yarra River walk + free CBD tram + iconic cafe Pellegrini's or Hosier Lane (street art). Queen Victoria Market (Wed-Sun) or St Kilda (seafront penguins at sunset). Return car MEL airport. 4h airport margin (international transit). Melbourne → Paris CDG flight via Singapore/Dubai (Singapore Airlines/Qantas/Emirates, 23-25h return). -9h time difference back to France. End of Australian trip. Souvenirs: eucalyptus oil (AUD 12-25), vegemite (AUD 4-8, typical Australian taste), Australian opals (AUD 50-500+ depending on quality), koala/kangaroo plush kids (AUD 15-40), Aboriginal decorative boomerangs.

   Tips

   • · Ayers Rock-Melbourne flight: 3h, AUD 250-450 return
   • · If Melbourne layover: Federation Square + Hosier Lane street art
   • · St Kilda: seafront + sunset penguins
   • · Souvenirs: opals (AUD 50-500+), eucalyptus oil, vegemite
   Melbourne →

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