Australia is the place where ancient land meets urban wander. The vast plains, stylish cities, unimaginable blue water and some of the best beaches the world has to offer are all part of the package. Oh, and don’t forget the friendly locals!
So if you’re planning a trip here, we get it. But for many, Australia seems like an entire world away, and it’s not as simple as hopping on a plane and rocking up to your hotel. If you want to get the most from Australia, you need to make sure you plan ahead.
You need time to save up, decide where you want to go and what you want to do, and of course, make sure you get those plane tickets. And we can help you do just that.
In this guide, we will take you through the different things you need to consider when planning a trip to Australia, so you can plan the getaway of your dreams.
When is the best time to visit Australia?
When we think about going to Australia, we tend to picture bright golden sunshine and blue skies. But believe it or not, this isn’t always the case.
As such, you need to make sure you choose the right time of year to go for the best weather. You want it to be dry and sunny, but for many of us, you also don’t want it to be too hot. So before you even think about booking your plane tickets, you need to decide when you want to go.
Although, as a general rule Australia is a year-round destination, there are some better times to go, and this will also depend on what region you plan on visiting. It depends on your own preferences and what you are hoping to do and see out there. The dry season stretches from May to October and offers warm sunny days and cool nights for a comfortable night’s sleep.
The wet season is November to April, and this can be very hot and humid with some incredible thunderstorms. Although for many, this isn’t the ideal time to visit, it does make for an incredible landscape and some breathtaking waterfalls in the national parks as the water levels rise.
However, if you want to avoid extreme heat, it’s best to go in spring or early autumn, so either September to November or March to May. Although June to August is the dry season, it can actually get chilly in some parts of the country so it might be best to avoid these months.
Keeping all of this in mind it’s important to remember that it is a huge country, and there are several different climates depending on where you go. So get some careful thought as to where and when you want to travel.
How long should you stay in Australia?
It may not be possible for everyone to stay in Australia for months and months on end, as much as you might like to. But we suggest that you give yourself at least two to three weeks to truly experience this wonderful country, particularly as it can take you a day or two to get over the jetlag.
Ideally, you would stay as long as you can; if this is not possible, then it’s a good idea to plan ahead and have a few ideas of places you’d like to visit in mind. This will help you to make the most of your itinerary and your time there.
Where to visit in Australia?
Australia is 7.6 million square kilometers in size – that’s huge! So unless you plan on staying for years, it’s unlikely that you’re going to see the whole country. Therefore, to get the most out of your time, it is a good idea to decide on some other places you want to visit.
This can be easy if you already have one particular region or landmark in mind; if you have no idea where you want to start, let us help. There are so many incredible places to go and things to see and do. Here we have pulled together a few of the highlights to get you started:
- Sydney – Sydney Opera House
- Melbourne – Great Ocean Road and The Royal Botanic Gardens
- Canberra – The nation’s capital
- Cairns – Great Barrier Reef
- Queensland – Whitsundays and Port Douglas
- Fraser Island
- Gold coast
- Tasmania – Wine Glass Bay
- Raintree Rainforest
- Darwin
Which of these fantastic regions, cities and landmarks you choose will very much depend on where you’re going, and whether you plan to travel whilst you’re there. If you’ve got more time, we highly recommend traveling around a bit and seeing different places.
How to get around Australia?
As Australia is so vast, you need to be strategic with your travel to make sure you get maximum exploring time. If you need to travel some distance, internal flights might be the best and most affordable option.
You can also travel on the train, and there are several famous journeys worth doing. You can catch The Indian Pacific, which travels between Sydney and Perth or the legendary Ghan, which travels between Adelaide and Darwin.
Some love to do an Australian road trip which can be so fun! Just remember that if you’re covering a large distance, you need to be prepared for long drives and dusty landscapes with not a lot in between. That said, there are some incredible routes you can take that allow you to get around and see the country.
Tips for booking flights to Australia
Finally, once you’ve thought about when and where you want to go, you need to book your initial flight. If you have a departure and return date, that’s great! If not, you might want to book a one-way ticket and see how you get on. If you’re ready to book, we have some tips for you:
- Book as early as possible to make sure you get the best deal
- Look out for airline sales
- Fly at off-peak times, and you can save yourself some money
- Consider upgrading to business or first class; after all, it is a long flight
- Decide whether to go direct or do a stopover
- Take a night flight so you can sleep most of the way
Take all of this into account, and you can find the best flights with the right airline to kick start your trip in the best possible way.
I’m currently planning my move to Australia, so this was really helpful, particularly for the flight tips! I wish I could fly business class haha