60 days in Australia Itinerary

Once just a small port at the mouth of Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba is now a hotbed of tourism and a place more than worth adding to your Sunshine Coast itinerary.

Popular historic sites such as Chenrezig Institute and Sunshine Castle are in your itinerary. For shopping fun, head to The Original Eumundi Markets or Atrium Gallery at Buderim Craft Cottage. You'll find plenty of places to visit near Mooloolaba: Yandina Historic House (in Yandina), Montville (Montville Art Gallery & Artworks in Clay by Anne Gentry-Smith) and Maleny (Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve & Art on Cairncross). The adventure continues: enjoy the sand and surf at Mooloolaba Beach, take in the exciting artwork at Tina Cooper Gallery, see the interesting displays at Mapleton Observatory, and see majestic marine mammals with a dolphin and whale watching tour.

To see more things to do, reviews, ratings, and more tourist information, you can read our Mooloolaba day trip planning website.

St. Petersburg, Russia to Mooloolaba is an approximately 30-hour combination of flight and car. You'll lose 7 hours traveling from St. Petersburg to Mooloolaba due to the time zone difference. Prepare for much hotter weather when traveling from St. Petersburg in December: high temperatures in Mooloolaba hover around 32°C and lows are around 23°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 3rd (Fri) so you can drive to Gold Coast.

A city of towering skyscrapers, sandy beaches, and tree-lined streets, Gold Coast has an unpretentious air complemented by a citywide focus on sports and the arts.

Visit Surfers Paradise Beach and Coolangatta Beach for some beach relaxation. Visit Cape Byron Lighthouse and Victoria Bridge Abutment for their historical value. Explore Gold Coast's surroundings by going to Brisbane (Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, Queensland Museum & Sciencentre, &more) and Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre (in Murwillumbah). Next up on the itinerary: try out the rides at Sea World Theme Park, buy something for everyone on your list at Harbour Town Premium Outlets, get to know the resident critters at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, and look for gifts at Japanache.

For more things to do, ratings, and more tourist information, read Gold Coast day trip planner.

You can drive from Mooloolaba to Gold Coast in 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take a shuttle; or take a bus. In January in Gold Coast, expect temperatures between 33°C during the day and 24°C at night. Cap off your sightseeing on the 16th (Thu) early enough to travel to Sydney.

Lent iconic status as a result of its famous bridge and opera house, Sydney has a down-to-earth charm that enhances its spectacular setting and functional efficiency.

Appreciate the collections at Australian National Maritime Museum and Billich Gallery. You'll visit kid-friendly attractions like Sydney Opera House and Sydney Fish Market. You'll find plenty of places to visit near Sydney: Shelly Beach (in Manly) and Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park (in Blacktown). The adventure continues: enjoy the sand and surf at Bondi Beach, explore the world behind art at Brett Whiteley Studio, wander the streets of Darling Harbour, and get engrossed in the history at Hyde Park Barracks.

To see traveler tips, where to stay, maps, and other tourist information, go to the Sydney travel planner.

Getting from Gold Coast to Sydney by flight takes about 3.5 hours. Other options: drive; or take a bus. Expect a daytime high around 32°C in January, and nighttime lows around 23°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 28th (Tue) early enough to travel to Melbourne.

The state of Victoria crown jewel, Melbourne boasts shaded streets, leafy residential neighborhoods, vibrant street life, and a picturesque city center.

You'll explore and learn at Melbourne Museum and Immigration Museum. Popular historic sites such as Old Melbourne Gaol and St Joseph's Church are in your itinerary. Get out of town with these interesting Melbourne side-trips: Kitty Miller Bay (in Ventnor), Panorama Garden Estate (in Boneo) and Koala Conservation Centre (in Cowes). There's much more to do: admire the masterpieces at National Gallery of Victoria, take a stroll through Melbourne Central, see the interesting displays at HMAS Castlemaine, and kick back and relax at St. Kilda Beach.

To see reviews, other places to visit, ratings, and more tourist information, you can read our Melbourne trip planner.

Getting from Sydney to Melbourne by flight takes about 3.5 hours. Other options: drive; or take a train. Plan for slightly colder nights when traveling from Sydney in January since evenings lows in Melbourne dip to 17°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 11th (Tue) to allow time to travel to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.

Please note that visitors are no longer allowed to trek up Uluru.

Located right in the center of Australia, the national park boasts perhaps the country's most iconic natural symbol and a sacred place for the region's indigenous people--as well as Kata Tjuta, a collection of 36 red rocks forming an equally distinctive sight.

Let the collections at Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre and Walkatjara Art Uluru capture your imagination. Bring the kids along to Uluru and Valley of the Winds. There's more to do: take in the awesome beauty at Kata Tjuta / Mount Olga and hike along Kuniya Walk.

For where to stay, traveler tips, maps, and other tourist information, you can read our Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park tour website.

Traveling by flight from Melbourne to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park takes 5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive. The time zone difference when traveling from Melbourne to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is minus 0.5 hours. Traveling from Melbourne in February, things will get somewhat warmer in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park: highs are around 43°C and lows about 25°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 14th (Fri) so you can travel to Cairns.

A neat, cosmopolitan city of shaded plazas and laid-back neighborhoods, Cairns serves as a popular base for exploration of the surrounding region and the Great Barrier Reef, as well as a center for watersport activities like surfing or waterskiing.

Visiting Scuba & Snorkeling and Palm Cove Beach will get you outdoors. Kids will appreciate attractions like Nature & Wildlife Tours and Village Gallery. Go for a jaunt from Cairns to Herberton to see Historic Village Herberton about 1h 35 min away. Next up on the itinerary: stroll through Trinity Beach, take in the exciting artwork at Doongal Aboriginal Art Gallery Cairns, admire the masterpieces at KickArts Contemporary Arts, and browse the exhibits of Underart Gallery.

To see other places to visit, ratings, where to stay, and other tourist information, read Cairns trip itinerary builder.

You can fly from Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park to Cairns in 4.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive. Traveling from Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park to Cairns, you'll lose 0.5 hours due to the time zone difference. When traveling from Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in February, plan for little chillier days and about the same nights in Cairns: temperatures range from 36°C by day to 28°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 19th (Wed) early enough to drive to Port Douglas.

A holiday in Port Douglas balances an activity-filled getaway with plenty of opportunities to relax, thanks to its proximity to the Great Barrier Reef and bustling beach life.

Kick off your visit on the 20th (Thu): discover the deep blue sea with a scuba or snorkeling tour, view the masterpieces at Ngarru Gallery, and then look for gifts at With Sugar. On the 21st (Fri), you'll have a packed day of sightseeing: take an in-depth tour of Port Douglas Court House Museum and then identify plant and animal life at Hartley's Crocodile Adventures.

To see traveler tips, where to stay, maps, and tourist information, read Port Douglas trip planner.

Traveling by car from Cairns to Port Douglas takes 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a shuttle; or take a bus. Expect a daytime high around 36°C in February, and nighttime lows around 28°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 21st (Fri) so you can travel back home.