Discover 
Australia

Australia is vast: flying from Sydney to Perth takes about as long as flying to Bali. Domestic flights with Qantas, Virgin Australia, Jetstar and Rex make it easy to reach most holiday regions.

• Cairns or Whitsundays (Hamilton Island, Proserpine): about 3 hours from Sydney or Melbourne

• Uluru (Ayers Rock Airport): about 3 to 3.5 hours from Sydney or Melbourne

• Hobart and Launceston: about 1 hour from Melbourne, 2 hours from Sydney

• Perth: about 4 to 5 hours from the east coast

Once you arrive:

• Hire car: the best way to explore most regions, from the Great Ocean Road to Margaret River and Tasmania.

• Campervan or 4WD: ideal for longer road trips through the outback or along the coast.

• Tours and transfers: often the easiest way to reach the reef, islands and remote national parks.

• Long-distance trains: the Ghan (Adelaide to Darwin) and Indian Pacific (Sydney to Perth) are bucket-list experiences in their own right.

Australia's climate varies hugely from north to south, so the best time depends on where you're going.

Tropical north (Cairns, Port Douglas, the Whitsundays, Darwin, Broome): May to October is the dry season, with warm days, low humidity and calm seas. November to April is the wet season, which is hot, humid and stormy, with marine stinger season along the coast.

The Red Centre (Uluru, Alice Springs): April to September brings mild days and cold nights. Summer temperatures often exceed 40°C.

The south (Tasmania, Victoria, South Australia, southern WA): December to March is warm and ideal for beaches, hiking and wineries. Autumn brings colour and harvest festivals; winter suits cosy getaways and the snowfields.

East coast (Sydney, Byron Bay, Gold Coast): good year-round, with beach season from October to April.

Tropical North Queensland and the Whitsundays

• Great Barrier Reef: snorkel or dive from Cairns or Port Douglas, or stay overnight on a reef pontoon.

• Whitehaven Beach: some of the whitest silica sand in the world. Take a seaplane or sail around the Whitsunday Islands.

• Daintree Rainforest: the world's oldest tropical rainforest, where the rainforest meets the reef at Cape Tribulation.

• Kuranda: ride the Skyrail cableway over the rainforest and take the scenic railway back down.

The Red Centre

• Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park: watch sunrise and sunset over Uluru, and walk the base with an Anangu guide.

• Field of Light: Bruce Munro's art installation of thousands of glowing lights in the desert.

• Kings Canyon: the Rim Walk is one of the outback's great hikes.

Tasmania

• Hobart and MONA: the Museum of Old and New Art, Salamanca Market and a thriving food scene.

• Freycinet National Park: the walk to Wineglass Bay lookout, then oysters at Coles Bay.

• Cradle Mountain: alpine walks, wombats and cosy lodges.

Western Australia

• Margaret River: wineries, surf beaches and caves, about three hours south of Perth.

• Ningaloo Reef: swim with whale sharks from March to July, and humpback whales from August to October.

• Broome: camel rides at sunset on Cable Beach and the Staircase to the Moon.

• Rottnest Island: cycle between bays and meet the quokkas.

Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia

• Great Ocean Road: the Twelve Apostles, Lorne and koalas in the trees at Kennett River.

• Sydney and the Blue Mountains: harbour cruises, Bondi to Coogee walk and the Three Sisters.

• Byron Bay: beaches, hinterland markets and Australia's most easterly lighthouse.

• Barossa Valley and Kangaroo Island: world-famous shiraz, plus sea lions and native wildlife on Kangaroo Island.

Island resorts: Hamilton Island, Hayman Island and the Whitsundays for pools, beaches and reef trips on your doorstep.

Port Douglas: a relaxed resort town that's the best base for both the reef and the Daintree.

Outback lodges: at Uluru, choose from resort hotels in Yulara to luxury lodges with views of the rock.

Tasmania: wilderness lodges at Cradle Mountain and Freycinet, and design hotels on Hobart's waterfront.

Wine country: boutique stays among the vines in Margaret River, the Barossa, the Hunter Valley and the Yarra Valley.

A domestic holiday can be as simple or as indulgent as you like. As a rough guide per person, per day, excluding flights:

• Budget: around A$100–160 for holiday parks, self-catering and a hire car

• Mid-range: around A$250–400 for hotels, restaurant meals and tours

• Luxury: A$800+ for island resorts, outback lodges and private experiences

Travelling outside school holidays makes a big difference to prices, especially in the tropics and on the islands.