Navigating Your Australian Adventure: Refining the Itinerary

Australia Travel Planning - Part 4

This article is the fourth installment of planning an Australian Itinerary. If you need to review, these are the other articles: Part 1 - Deciding What to See and do, Part 2 - Before Booking Your Flights, and Part 3 - Where to Stay.

With a rough framework of what the trip looks like, I can now detail the itinerary. How many days do I want to spend on organized tours versus how many days wandering around the cities or getting lost in the surrounding suburbs.

Sailing the Whitsundays is one of the top day trips in Australia

This post will review some of the techniques I used for my Australia trip.

If you still need a reason to visit Australia, read this article:

Reasons Why Australia Should Be Your Next Vacation Destination

From part 1 of the Australia Travel Planning series, I outlined some of the highlights I wanted to see in each city:

• The Pinnacles (Perth)

• Margaret River (Perth)

• Rottnest Island (Perth)

• Hidden laneways with vibrant street art (Melbourne)

• See the penguins on Phillip Island (Melbourne)

• Great Ocean Road / 12 Apostles (Melbourne)

• Yarra Valley Wines (Melbourne)

• Bondi Beach / Iceberg Pools (Sydney)

• Sydney Opera House (Sydney)

• The Blue Mountains (Syndey)

• Manly Beach (Sydney)

• Bondi to Coogee Coastal walk (Sydney)

• Great Barrier Reef (Cairns)

• Atherton Tablelands (Cairns)

• Port Douglas Beaches (Cairns)

• Lizard Island (Cairns)

• Airlie Beach / Whitsundays (Mackay)

• Cape Hillsborough Kangaroos (Mackay)

• Brisbane / Gold Coast

  

  Gold Coast beaches seem to stretch for miles. This one is near Currumbin.

  Review Websites

The next step is to review the various websites to discover the best ways to visit these attractions and/or regions.

Third-Party Suppliers

I usually start with known tour websites such as Viator and Get Your Guide. They are fantastic at suggesting the most popular tours and if you need to book them in advance. There are usually slight variations between the companies with prices and inclusions so you can pick which one is your preference.

TripAdvisor is also helpful as it provides reviews of popular sites and tours. It will sometimes provide direct links to the local tour provider if you wish to book direct rather than through a third party.

Hotel booking sites like Booking or Expedia have also added attractions to their booking engine. If you regularly book hotels through these sites, you may receive a discount bonus on your attractions if booked through them.

City’s Tourism Website

You can also get valuable information from the city’s website under their tourism sector.

Travel Blogs

Or if you are looking for a more personal experience, travel blogs may be what you are looking for. (Hint - to help get through the repetitive ads and third-party suppliers, try adding “-blog” at the end of your search query.

Refining Tips for your Itinerary:

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when refining your itinerary:

• Mode of transportation on tours. Tours could be by bus, mini-bus, segway, train, boat, ferry, bicycle or walking. If you want to avoid crowds, look for small group tours. Bicycle tours could be on a regular bike or an ebike. For walking tours, look at the distance walked. Is is a walking tour in the CBD or is it a hike of several kilometres. Knowing this information prior to booking can provide a better experience. I like to use 2-3 km in 3 hrs as a reference point for city tours, while more than 4km is a hike.

• Mobility. If you are mobility challenged, look to see if there is any mention of stairs or rough terrain. Is the tour or attraction wheelchair accessible?

• Meals. Full day tours often include the lunch in the price but not always. Be sure to read the fine print. They may stop for a lunch break but the cost is an additional fee. Same goes for alcohol. If you are on a wine, beer or distillery tour, are the tastings included?

• Meeting points. Just because a tour is within a city during a search, the meeting point may be out of the central area so you need to get there prior to the tour. Furthermore, some tours are only one way so be sure the start and end point fit into your plans.

• Tours through your accommodation. Some larger hotels or some hostels may have an onsite concierge or travel agency offering discount rates if your are staying there. Be sure to review this once you have your accommodation nailed down.

• Public transportation. Unless you plan on renting a car, you will need to do some research regarding the public transportation in the city you wish to visit. Can you get everywhere you need to? Do you need a special pass? Does Uber work or is there a local equivalent?

• Meet-ups. Occasionally there are local meet-up groups though social media sites like Facebook or Meet-up that provide tourist tips and/or possible options to meet up with a local resident. Yes, there is some risk involved but if you are in a public place, you should be fine.

• Language. If English is not your first language, are there options for multi-lingual headsets?

• Personal Tour Guides or Private Tours. These may be a great option if you are a couple, family or small group. Again, be sure to check on the inclusions, mode of transportation, and length of time. These tours tend to be pricier than group tours but sometimes the fee is for the car load rather than per person. A private tour may also give you more or less time at an attraction as you desire whereas a group tour has a set itinerary.

  

  Kuranda scenic train tour offers a glimpse into the rainforest near Cairns

How Have I Used These Tips?

For my upcoming 10 week trip to Australia, I scoured the third-party tour sites and made a list of what I must-see and what would be nice to see. However, I do not plan on booking any of my activities until arriving.

Since much of my stay (when not with friends) will be at hostels, I plan on utilizing any discounts they may offer. Furthermore, in a hostel, there may be like-minded individuals who have cars and are looking for an extra passenger to share the cost. This is a great way to not only see the local attraction but also to interact with fellow travelers.

As always, be cautious with strangers but do not let fear take away from an incredible experience.

Conclusion

In conclusion, refining your Australian adventure itinerary is a dynamic and rewarding process that requires a balance between organized tours and spontaneous exploration. By considering factors such as transportation, mobility, meal inclusions, and local insights, you can tailor your travel experience to suit your preferences and needs.

Whether you’re booking in advance or waiting until you arrive, using resources like third-party suppliers, city tourism websites, and hostels can help you discover unique opportunities and hidden gems.

Most importantly, remain flexible and open to new experiences—some of the best memories come from the moments you didn’t plan for.

With these tips in hand, you’re now ready to embark on an unforgettable journey through Australia, where every turn holds the promise of adventure.