Australia had been on my bucket list for as long as I can remember! And surprisingly, although my expectations were really high for the trip, they were still somehow exceeded.
After the first day I landed in Sydney, I already knew that I would need to plan another trip (or more!) back to the land down under. To me, it felt like a cleaner, safer Los Angeles and I absolutely loved my time in Australia.
I feel like I was pretty well-prepared for my trip, due to a ton of research and years of dreaming of visiting! However, there were still a few things that surprised me that I wish I knew ahead of time.
This Australia travel guide will help answer all of those burning questions you have before your first trip, like when is the best time to go? Do you need a visa to visit Australia? Where should you go for your first visit? And more!
Let’s get into it…
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Since Australia is below the equator, their seasons are opposite of most other countries, including the United States and all European countries. Their seasons tend to fall in the following months:
Summer: December – February
Fall: March – May
Winter: June – August
Spring: September – November
The best time to visit Australia depends on what you are looking to do and where you want to go!
Summer is the most popular time to visit Australia, especially since that is winter almost everywhere else. However, that will be when flights and hotels are the most expensive. Summer is also peak stinger season.
Winter is the best time to visit places like the Great Barrier Reef and the Whitsundays, as that is the dry season in Australia. This will give you the best visibility underwater to snorkel and scuba dive.
With the lower temperatures and less rain, you will have a lower risk of running into stingers. However, the weather will still be very warm (mid-70s Fahrenheit / low-20s Celsius) in Northern Australia, where the Great Barrier Reef is located.
Spring and Fall are great times to plan your Australia travel, as it will be low season. You can score great deals on flights and hotels, and will be able to avoid larger crowds.
I visited Australia in early to mid December, at the start of their summer! It was amazing overall, but honestly the weather was a bit hit-or-miss, depending on the day.
When we first landed in Sydney, it was rainy for the first couple days, but then eventually passed and was beautiful and sunny. This made for the perfect weather.
We also spent a few days in Cairns, which is very North, and it was really hot and humid this time of year. Next time I go to Australia, I honestly don’t think I would go back North during the summer.
For the few days I was in the Whitsundays, it was sadly rainy and I wasn’t able to do the Whitsunday Islands and Heart Reef Scenic Flight. I had really, really been looking forward to doing this, so definitely need to plan a visit to come back during the winter!
All this being said, I genuinely do not think you can wrong with when you visit Australia! There is so much to do, regardless of the weather and I had the best time.
Do you need a visa to visit Australia?
Yes, a Visa is required for US Citizens, regardless of your type of visit. When planning your Australia travel, be sure to check the official Australia Government Department of Home Affairs website for the most updated information on Visa requirements.
As my visit was less than 3 months, I applied for the Australian Electronic Travel Authority (ETA). This visa allows me to travel to Australia as frequently as I want, within 12 months since my application was approved.
I did this by downloading the Australian ETA app and following the prompts to apply. There was an AUD20 fee to apply, and I was approved within an hour of applying.
Important Note: you need to apply for a visa from outside Australia. So make sure you do this well before your trip so that you don’t get stuck at the border!
Where are the best places to go in Australia?
First and foremost, if this is your first trip to Australia, I definitely think Sydney needs to be on your itinerary. It’s the capital of New South Wales and one of the biggest cities in Australia!
The good news is, typically the cheapest flights from the US or other countries are flying into Sydney. It’s a great place to start your trip and has a little bit of everything to offer – from laidback beaches to fast-paced city vibes and fantastic restaurants.
Since I am not from Australia, and have only spent two weeks there, I will just cover the places I visited!
After Sydney, we went to Cairns for 4 nights. Specifically, we stayed a little bit more north of Cairns at this cute beach town called Palm Cove.
I would definitely recommend visiting Cairns for a few days – from here you can easily get to the Great Barrier Reef! But would suggest going in a season besides summer – it was really quite hot and humid, which made it a bit unbearable at times.
If you’re looking for beaches with warm water to swim in, I highly recommend going to the Gold Coast! I was here solo for 2 days and had so much fun.
It’s between Brisbane and Byron Bay, so you can easily take day trips to either spot.
And last but not least, I went to the Whitsundays for a few days which was absolutely STUNNING. Unfortunately, it was raining pretty much the whole time we were there, so I really need to come back, but this absolutely needs to be on your Australia bucket list.
For all of the spots I visited and recommend in Australia, I’ve linked my Travel Guide on Google Maps to help you plan your trip:
Western Australia is really high on my bucket list for my next trip to Australia. Although it’s a lot harder to get to, the photos and videos of the beaches I have seen are STUNNING and absolutely worth the long haul.
If you have more questions when planning your trip to Australia, feel free to send me an email or DM on Instagram! And be sure to follow along for more Australia travel content.
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